Listen to President James E. Faust's words from a relatively recent General Conference address, as he raises a warning voice to us all:

In today's society, the difference between right and wrong is being obscured by loud, seductive voices calling for no restraints in human conduct. They advocate absolute freedom without regard to consequences. I state unequivocally that such behavior is the high road to personal destruction (“Obedience: The Path to Freedom,” Ensign , May 1999, 45).

Personal destruction! What a frightening time we live in. The voices around us do call loudly from a variety of venues. Some are transparently evil; others are more seductive. Those voices “sing” in all sorts of pitches and timbres. They come in all shapes and sizes.

For example, some voices call that nudity in movies is a necessary part of love scenes (since when did nudity have anything to do with a well-told love story?). Another example, movie producers defend graphic violence as an “art form,” yet modern-day apostles teach us it deadens the soul of the viewer. Foul language is celebrated as a hallmark of a free-press, which it may be, but it does not edify or uplift.

Just this week my family and I watched two movies back-to-back — an original and its remake. These were both G-rated movies. The first was made nearly 40 years prior to the other. Both shared the same title; both shared the same story line; both shared the same rating.

How amazing it was to see that in the first film, no language of any kind needed to be filtered out. Not so for the second. The second film had casually added a phrase that took the Lord's name in vain various times throughout the film. Painfully I was reminded of President Kimball's guarded protection of the Lord's name, even while “foggy” from anesthesia. How is it that today's world has become so accustomed to such fare that we could accept this as a general audience and as a "G-rating"?

My little family is tired of it. We've purchased a handy DVD device called ClearPlay that screens out all language, nudity and most violence. It has felt heaven-sent to have such a contraption. For example, we rented a movie one evening and utilized the filters for that movie from the ClearPlay device. Scenes with language or crass comments were omitted. The movie, as a result, completely inspired me with its story line and message. I determined I wanted to purchase it.

In fact, the movie had been so inspiring and clean (in other words, I couldn't see any gaping holes because of being filtered), I therefore couldn't imagine what would have given it a PG-13 rating. Curious, I watched the movie without the filtering on. By the end of the show, I was completely turned off by the language and a few crass jokes. The end result? That same film that had initially inspired me with its story line, left me with a horrible taste in my mouth and heart. In the end, I was astonished how removing the foul words and comments beautified the film and brought its inspirational message front and center.

What kind of society have we become that we've accepted the movies, in general, that the screenwriters and directors of today put out? Not only do we NOT complain about them, but we actually support those same filmmakers with our dollars in theaters and stores, even buying the DVDs when they come out.

How easily we "throw out the window" counsel given us from the same general authorities we sustain at each General Conference. And why do we ignore the counsel? Simply because we want to see the movie (OK, maybe you don't, but many do).

On another note, but tied into this article by the end of it, have you recently read the pamphlet the Church has produced for the youth, called For the Strength of Youth ? This is one of several iron rods that has the potential to guide our kids back to the presence of their Heavenly Father (1 Ne. 11:25).

When was the last time your youth read from it on their own? In light of President Faust's words, our youth need to begin to reach for these materials in their own private moments, not just "tolerate" this spiritual fare in a group setting.

And if the youth should be reading and studying this on their own, I want to, too. There are amazing blessings promised therein that I actually want. In light of this, I've decided that one of my New Year's resolutions for this year is to make this pamphlet a part of my life. It should be an amazing journey as I strive to do so, and I invite you to come along!

The Journey Begins

I began this past week to study the precepts contained on the pages of For the Strength of Youth . My intense desire is to apply every facet of this inspired pamphlet in my personal life by the end of this year. I do not want to leave any sentence unapplied. No matter the difficulty, this is my quest. Initially it might seem a small quest, but the deeper I delve, the more I realize how steep the climb!

For example, the first sentence from the “Gratitude” section reads:

The Lord wants you to have a spirit of gratitude in ALL you do and say (emphasis added)” ( For the Strength of Youth: Fulfilling Our Duty to God , 6).

On the surface, this shouldn't be too tough — right? Gratitude in ALL things I do and say? But then again, what about driving down the highway last week between two very slow cars and not being able to pass? Or on a deeper note, what about when my husband lost his job just weeks after we lost our son to SIDS? What about five years later when we had to sell our home we loved because my husband lost his job a second time? What about being diagnosed with Crohns Disease, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue all within three years of each other? What about my…

Well, I think you get the point. All of us have scenarios that are hard to swallow and even more difficult to get through. Does the Lord really want me to have a spirit of gratitude in ALL I do and say? Yes, He does. And the reasons are beautiful ones and eternal. That same section contains a large promise:

Live with a spirit of thanksgiving and you will have greater happiness and satisfaction in life. Even in your most difficult times, you can find much to be grateful for. Doing so will strengthen and bless you” (Ibid.).

This process, to gain and express gratitude, can be quite the struggle. In the Book of Mormon we read about a prophet named Enos and his own wrestle to gain a remission of his sins (Enos 1). These kinds of inner battles are real. Learning to control the “natural man” within is one of the most challenging, yet exhilarating experiences we face in this life.

In fact, we glibly recite from the 13 th Article of Faith that "we have endured many things and we hope to be able to endure all things." Those who refuse to shy away from the difficulty of these kinds of pursuits will gain much. The gratitude section in the pamphlet promises much as it teaches us that the way to satisfaction, strength, and blessing is through the principle of gratitude. We can only discover this for ourselves by employing that principle personally.

Returning to the movie discussion, in the pamphlet we read under the “Language” section:

Profane, vulgar, or crude language or gestures, as well as jokes about immoral actions, are offensive to the Lord and to others. Foul language harms your spirit and degrades you. Do not let others influence you to use it (emphasis added) ( Ibid ., 22).

Studies have shown the great influence the media have on today's generation, both old and young. As President Faust stated, “right and wrong is being obscured by loud, seductive voices calling for no restraints.” And those who make movies or who produce TV shows are clamoring for even fewer restraints! Why on earth do we support these individuals in their money-making efforts? Why do we attend their movies? Simply because we want to? Is that really a good enough reason?

An Assignment

Here's an assignment. Perhaps your newspaper includes a weekend entertainment section like mine does, full of which restaurants to visit, what concerts/performers are coming into town, and what movies are out. Accompanying those guides comes a one-paragraph summary of each movie currently showing in theaters. Cut those summaries out and read them alongside with page 17 of For the Strength of Youth , especially this paragraph:

Do not attend, view, or participate in entertainment that is vulgar , immoral , violent , or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in entertainment that in any way presents immorality or violent behavior as acceptable ... Depictions of violence often glamorize vicious behavior. They offend the Spirit and make you less able to respond to others in sensitive, caring ways ... Have the courage to walk out of a movie. (“Entertainment and the Media,” For the Strength of Youth : Fulfilling Our Duty to God, 17).

Before you roll off your chair laughing, “Well, that excludes about 99% of the movies out today,” that is exactly the point. To what level are we obedient to the counsel given us from God's leaders? Or do we set ourselves above the Lord, the prophets, and the law? Do we really think that our children will believe us when we tell them we can watch this kind of stuff but they can't?

President Faust said on another occasion:

We live in a day when many things are measured against the standard of social or political correctness. I challenge that false doctrine of human behavior. The influence of Satan is becoming more acceptable ("Serving the Lord and Resisting the Devil," Ensign, Nov 1995, 3).

“Just how obedient do I need to be,” could almost be the cry of today's generation. Better put, “Just how much can I get away with?” Well, in some respects, the Lord answers, “As much as you please.” But as the first section “Agency and Accountability” in For The Strength of Youth states:

While you are free to choose for yourself, you are not free to choose the consequences of your actions. When you make a choice, you will receive the consequences of that choice. The consequences may not be immediate, but they will always follow, for good or bad ( Ibid ., 4).

Just How Obedient?

Sigh. So many choices in life. So many possibilities. Just how obedient do I want to be? On the other hand, just how much obedience do I choose to trade away to see 90 minutes of fleeting entertainment? For no longer is it just, “Don't watch R-rated movies.” No, now the counsel is much broader, yet more specific. And within those specifics we have choice. This requires more of the honest heart. Will we follow? Or will we act as if we are above the law? The choice is ours. But as the Strength of Youth pamphlet states, the consequences of obedience or disobedience are directly connected to the choices I choose in the first place.

So yes, I am choosing to make this a year of journey for me. I'm going to be dissecting this pamphlet, sentence by sentence, analyzing where I currently am with regard to each principle and what I'm going to do to get to where the Lord hopes I get. I'm going to be finding the scriptures that support these principles. I'm going to be memorizing these pages. I'm going to pursue all the possible good that the Lord holds out. Why would I choose to turn from the spiritual feast He offers?

How peculiar that some think it is ok to see these kinds of movies simply because they are "older." Look what Elder J. Richard Clarke said in General Conference:

For those who bear the priesthood, young men or adults, there is only one standard of moral decency. Any film, television show, music, or printed material unfit for youth is also unfit for parents . Those who rationalize acceptance of immoral material on grounds of maturity or sophistication are deceived. Those who excuse transgression by saying “Well, I'm not perfect” may be reminded that conscious sin is a long way from perfection. (Ensign, May 1991, 42).

It may take me more than a year to apply all the teachings in For the Strength of Youth (rather obvious, because I'm the first one to state how imperfect I am). It may take a lifetime. But I can't tell you how excited I am to get started on this journey! I want to be one of those children who brings the Lord peace, not concern. I don't want to worry the Lord, nor require Him to question my loyalties.

As a result, I'm rather excited for this journey, because the Lord has promised that for every effort, He is there to sustain, to bless, and to smile upon. And I want you to come along for the ride, too!