More
and More Free
By
Vickey Pahnke-Taylor
Editor's
note: If you've always wanted to sail
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the company of Vickey Pahnke-Taylor,
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“The things
which we do not begin, we do not have
to stop.” President J. Reuben Clark,
Jr. shared — in these few words — a
powerful sermon about keeping clear
of habits that might impede our progress.
His thoughts speak to freedom in the
most personal sense.
Some years
ago I was very involved in presenting
school programs around the United States
and Canada. These “Positive Choice”
assemblies were warmly welcomed by district
after district, area after area. To
be honest, I was rather baffled at how
receptive principals, administrators
and such were to our programs, and how
quickly they jumped to schedule
their own school’s presentation.
Although
we used laughter, music and audience
participation, I was not aware, at first,
of the ingredient that attracted so
much interest. After a while,
we recognized that the draw seemed simply
that our approach was not one
that used scare tactics or stern rules
and regulations.
We did
not rely on the “been there/done that
and lived to tell about it” approach.
Ours was the idea that “You never have
to start” doing certain things. Amazingly,
this concept seemed fresh and new to
many. Students and teachers alike —
of all religious or philosophical persuasions
— responded to the simple device of
using free agency to choose well. Or
the cheering from some visiting presenters
who celebrated the fact that DISCIPLINE
could make all the difference in their
lives!
The chains
of drugs, alcohol, pornography, lying,
cheating, or whatever will not form
around us if we never attach ourselves
to the first link! By making certain
decisions ahead of time, we pre-determine
that we will not view anything
immoral or degrading, we will not break
the Word of Wisdom (and what wisdom
is contained therein!), or whatever.
When the
time of choice comes, we may be secure
in the decision we made ahead of time,
and exercise discipline to stick with
that decision. There is not as much
tempting power to reach out and grab
us. Our desires can better be kept
in check. We remain more free
from dark worldly stains. More free
to build upon wise decisions.
As Elder
Joseph Wirthlin counseled at General
Conference, October 1980, “Most of us
don’t mind doing what we ought
to do when it doesn’t interfere with
what we want to do. It
takes discipline and maturity to do
what we ought to do whether we want
to or not.”
And what
we ought to do are the things that will
be better for us in the long run. Things
that will add light and strength and
positive opportunities. As youth, life
holds a myriad of possibilities for
you. By choosing to never begin certain
destructive things, you need never waste
energy in stopping those sad habits!
Now, this must be freedom!
I love
the way Elder Russell M. Nelson spoke
of self-mastery:
He lovingly
shows us that instead of being a victim
of our mistakes, we can develop positive
traits and keep our minds, hearts, and
spirits unfettered by much of the darkness
of the world.
Even if
we have made some poor choices in the
past, we may buoy ourselves up and gain
great strength by deciding — disciplining
ourselves — to leave some poor alternatives
alone, and choosing the safety of that
which is “good and virtuous and praiseworthy”
(You might want to read and ponder the
13th Article of Faith.)
Just because
we may have done this wrong or that
incorrectly, we need not add to the
array of poor choices. This is a ploy
of Satan to discourage and keep us bound
up in patterns of negativity.
If we were
to memorize Elder Nelson’s and Elder
Wirthlin’s comments and keep them in
our thoughts, we might eliminate a number
of problems in future situations. Additionally,
we may find more personal freedom as
we use the following “D’s”:
- DECIDE.
Make the decision now. When the
temptation comes, there is no see-
sawing of decision making.
- DUMP
the DOUBT. Trust your inherent
ability to choose wisely. Ask for
help in chasing away self-doubts,
through prayer and from caring loved
ones.
- DEPEND.
Depend on the Lord to help you stick
to your guns.
- DETERMINE.
If we are determined to be better,
our constancy to Christ will gel.
None of us is now a finished
product, but a work of art in progress.
Once we determine to do good, and
remain determined, we free ourselves
to see possibilities instead of
potholes, blessings instead of restrictions.
We speed up the beautiful work-of-art
process!
Because
we take ourselves with us — those character
traits we embody and the personality
we develop — when we die (see Alma 34:32,
34), every ounce of discipline we use
here and now will benefit us in the
short and long term.
Each time
we use self discipline to steer clear
of negative influences, those worldly
things will become less attractive to
us. As we grow in worthiness to associate
with our Father in Heaven and with His
Son, they will continue to tend us and
fortify us. And we become more and more
free!
