White is the Ultimate Shade of Love

Real Love

My son and his beautiful wife of almost 3 years

I felt a myriad of emotions this week as Valentine's Day approached and the new movie Fifty Shades of Grey (based off a book of the same name) was released. While I had a beautiful night celebrating with my Valentine husband, I was disturbed by the many people I saw on social media "celebrating" Valentine's Day by going to see this movie, which I find ironic since it is nothing about true love - in fact quite the opposite.  I have not read the book or seen the movie, nor do I plan to, but have heard enough about it to know of its contents.  I am saddened about the message it sends and that people, mostly women, are flocking to see it.

The name is perfectly befitting since keeping us in the "grey" is how Satan disguises the stark reality of sin and degradation. If we could reveal the "true wizard" by pulling back the flashy, silky, grey curtain of glamor and glitz on this movie, people would clearly see that "grey" is really one shade - black: pornography, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and degradation of women. The only reason it is being deemed acceptable and even embraced is because the main character is charismatic and rich, the actors are beautiful people, and it is portrayed in a high class society.  I even overheard a couple of teenagers talking about it the other day saying that Christian Grey was "hot" and "rich" and they would do anything he says if they had the chance. As if all of the above things mentioned are OK as long as good looks, charm, and money are involved.

I wonder how alluring the movie would have been - keeping all the other content the same - had the main male character been a poor gang banger from the hood holed up in a ratty, dilapidated apartment seeking out prostitutes. Satan is far too clever for that. He knows that would have been too stark and "black," and people would have deemed it awful, evil, and abusive, but by keeping it in the "grey," and by wrapping it up in sparkly rich packaging and high flying jets, makes it more enticing, enigmatic, and alluring.  He can reach more people this way - more mainstream people - if he disguises it as "grey." But no matter how its packaged, the effects are the same - black. Even the stars of the movie intimated that they felt dirty and ashamed of  being associated with the movie. Jamie Dorman, who played the male lead, compared it to "Hitler" and said he had to take a shower before he could touch his wife and baby, and Dakota Johnson, who played the female lead, said she didn't want her family or brother's friends to see it "because it's inappropriate." Does that sound like something they're proud of? https://www.lifesitenews.com/static/even-the-co-stars-think-50-shades-of-grey-is-awful-rubbish-and-maybe-even-a.html

 LURED by CHICKEN NECKS 

In his BYU Devotional entitled "Constructing Spiritual Stability," Elder Dale G. Renlund relates a story about the way crabs are sometimes caught. He explained that fishermen often use chicken necks - the cheap, unwanted and meatless part of a chicken to lure crab.  When cooked, it smells like chicken and looks like chicken, so it is basically disguised as chicken. Unsuspecting crab thinking they are in for a scrumptious treat and scurry after the chicken necks as they unknowingly end up in the fisherman's net. There are no hooks or reels needed. The crab follow willingly thinking it's chicken and a delicious dinner. This is a perfect analogy as to how Satan works.  He dresses filth, pornography, and abuse up in dazzling clothes to make it seem tempting and exciting and then sits back in delight as millions of people "swim up" to it. Easy as pie - he doesn't even have to work for it. But just like the crab who are caught and eaten, the results of swimming up to Satan will always be the same trap: pain, sorrow, depression, anger, loneliness, frustration, and devastation. It will never vary and he will always pull the rug out from under us once he's lured us in. 

You can watch/read Elder Renlund's devotional here:  http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=2205

TEACHING OUR DAUGHTERS TO LOVE AND VALUE THEMSELVES AND OUR SONS TO RESPECT AND REVERE WOMEN AS DAUGHTERS OF GOD

I work at a residential treatment center for teenage girls. They are there for a myriad of reasons from cutting, to anorexia, to drug abuse. Many have tried to commit suicide - some of them several times. Feeling empty, lost, used, and worthless are some of their main explanations about wanting to end their lives. Many have been sexually active and been used and abused by young men they thought "loved" them, when in reality it became very clear they were only using them.  The result was always the same. The end of their encounters and relationships left them feeling degraded, worthless, and abandoned.  Now more than ever, we need to be fervent in teaching our children they are children of God and that he intended for them to have a beautiful, loving relationship someday with someone who will love, cherish, and value them above all else.  Women should save themselves for men who will love her like Christ loves his church. He would never do anything to hurt it and will always protect it. When I tell my students I have been married 28 years to the SAME man, many of their mouths drop to the ground is shock. They are further astounded when I tell them I believe in complete abstinence before marriage and total fidelity afterwards.  Many have never witnessed this kind of love and don't even have an idea what it looks like, so those of us who share these values need to counter Satan's tactics by showing young women and young men their worth.

SAPPY is BETTER than FILTHY

50 Shades of Purity

As many were buying tickets to 50 Shades of Grey, my husband and I bought tickets to another movie called "Romance in the Outfield." This was a locally-made movie that won't be winning any academy awards, but was rated PG and had the exact opposite message as 50 Shades.  It was about a single man in his 20s who had never kissed a girl because he wanted to wait until he loved someone enough to kiss her.  There were some corny and sappy moments in the movie, and it was predictable, but as we were leaving, my husband said, "I liked it. It was clean and uplifting. I would would rather watch a sappy, B-movie about a decent, integral young man than a movie degrading women and glamorizing pornography." Me too.

Here's the trailer for "Romance in the Outfield." It's clean and has a good message. Go see it! Support movies where men respect women!

     

Who Lives Behind That Door?

The Story Trek

Last summer I stumbled across a TV show on KBYU called The Story Trek. http://www.byutv.org/show/a5d5a631-d2b5-48e6-a0e9-069d50a5524b  It's about a reporter who goes to a random area and chooses a random house and knocks on their door. His film crew and he ask if they can go in and interview the people who live there. Most people are a little taken back, but surprisingly, those who agree to the interview open up to these strangers and pour out their soul. Their stories are fascinating.  What I've learned from this is that everyone, behind every door, has a story.  Everyone behind ever door longs to tell that story, and everyone behind every door wants to feel like they're important.

This is the shiny new Christmas present my husband gave me for Christmas 2012.  Little did I know that it would contribute to our own story trek.  The following spring, just as it was getting bike-riding weather, my husband got a new assignment in our church - Ward Mission leader.  This meant that he would be working closely with the missionaries in an effort to get to know everyone who lived in our ward boundaries and share the gospel with them.  Each night, we would ride our bikes around the neighborhood and look at every door asking ourselves, who lives behind that door? What are their interests? Joys? Sorrows? Struggles?  What is their story? We suddenly saw our neighborhood with new eyes.  Though we had lived in the same house for 20 years, we had never looked at our neighborhood like this before. As we rode around, many times we would see people out in their yards.  We would wave and say hello and sometimes stop and introduce ourselves.  We got to know a lot of people that way.

One evening, as we were riding around, we saw a man out in his yard that we had waved at a few times in the past, so we decided to stop and introduce ourselves.  He had an immaculate yard that had won beautification awards, so as we were complimenting him on it, he started telling us about each and every plant.  He then went in to recruit his wife to take us on a tour of the backyard, equally as beautiful. She had named each plant, tree, and bush and knew the exact care for each one. Before we left, I asked her if she would be willing to have ladies from our church come over one night to have her teach us about horticulture. She said she would love it. (I later confirmed with the Relief Society President that we could have an activity night over at her house in the spring.)  As we drove off, my husband talked about how easy it had been to meet and talk to those people - people we didn't even know, but felt like fast friends after our 1 1/2 hours touring their yard. All they wanted was to tell their story, feel loved, and important. We visited again during Christmas and were invited in to sit down and talk for awhile. We invited them to the church Christmas party.  They weren't able to come because of work schedules, but they said to invite them again.

Open Your Mouths

Elder J. Jay Christensen, a general authority emeritus and ironically the MTC President while I was on my mission, gave a talk entitled "Open Your Mouths, The Courage to Share the Gospel."

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1981/12/open-your-mouths-the-courage-to-share-the-gospel?lang=eng

In it he says that in the midst of everyday situations opportunities present themselves for us to share the gospel. He talks about the power of just opening our mouths and simply letting people know who we are, whom we represent, and what we have to offer.  Wouldn't it be great if all of us got to know who lived behind the doors of those around us and in our sphere of influence?  How might lives change? How might we help each other rise to new heights? How easy can it be to become their friend? How easy will it be to share the gospel once we become friends?

D & C 33:8-10

 

Everyone has a story and everyone is eager to tell it

Everyone wants to feel loved, accepted, and important

Every needs to feel the love of our Savior Jesus Christ

  

Be a Lower Light

Let your light so shine before men, 

that they may see your good works 

and glorify your Father which is heaven.

  ~ Matthew 5:16 ~

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Last year I was called to be a ward missionary for my church, which has blessed my life immensely! My calling is to help bring others to the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; to help people understand His divine mission and how His atonement can change and bless their lives.  During this past year, my testimony of Him and His divine calling has grown more than ever. I have seen many people come to know Him and have seen their lives not just change, but transform. My life was forever changed in September of 1981 when I gained a burning knowledge that He was/is my Savior. I became a new person and a committed disciple of His, and though I fall very short on a regular basis, I just keep trying. My blog is dedicated to discussing His work, His mission, and feeding His sheep. (John 21:15-17) One of the greatest events of my life was when He changed my heart and my life. There is no greater influence on mankind and nothing that will impact change in this world as Jesus Christ and His teachings. I know He is the Savior of the world and that following Him and trying to live as He did can transform our lives. 

President Ezra Taft Bensen, former President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, put it best when he said:

“The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ would take the slums out of people, and then they would take themselves out of the slums.The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature." 

("Born of God," General Conference October1985) Click on the link below to read it in its entirety.

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1985/10/born-of-god?lang=eng

Now to explain the name of my blog - Lower Lights Be Burning

Today in church, our teacher talked about the importance of the upper and lower lights in a lighthouse, and that both are necessary to be seen in order for ships to make it safely into harbor. Christ is the constant light in our lives that never goes out. He will always be there and shine to guide our way. We can help and assist others by being another beacon or "lower light" in helping people come to Him. She retold a story given by Elder Boyd K. Packer, a member of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Given at October 2012 General Conference. Here's the link to the talk in its entirety):

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/the-atonement?lang=eng 

"My message is directed to those among us who are suffering, burdened down with guilt and weakness and failure, sorrow, and despair.  

In 1971, I was assigned to stake conferences in Western Samoa, including the organization of a new stake on Upolu island. After interviews we chartered a small plane to Savai‘i island to hold a stake conference there. The plane landed on a grassy field at Faala and was to return the next afternoon to take us back to Upolu island.

The day we were to return from Savai‘i, it was raining. Knowing the plane could not land on the wet field, we drove to the west end of the island, where there was a runway of sorts atop a coral break. We waited until dark, but no plane arrived. Finally, we learned by radio that there was a storm, and the plane could not take off. We radioed back that we would come by boat. Someone was to meet us at Mulifanua.

Port of Savai'i

 As we pulled out of port on Savai‘i, the captain of the 40-foot (12 m) boat asked the mission president if he had a flashlight. Fortunately, he did and made a present of it to the captain. We made the 13-mile (21 km) crossing to Upolu island on very rough seas. None of us realized that a ferocious tropical storm had hit the island, and we were heading straight into it.

We arrived in the harbor at Mulifanua. There was one narrow passage we were to go through along the reef. A light on the hill above the beach and a second lower light marked the narrow passage. When a boat was maneuvered so that the two lights were one above the other, the boat would be lined up properly to pass through the dangerous rocks that lined the passage.

But that night there was only one light. Two elders were waiting on the landing to meet us, but the crossing took much longer than usual. After watching for hours for signs of our boat, the elders tired and fell asleep, neglecting to turn on the second light, the lower light. As a result, the passage through the reef was not clear.

The captain maneuvered the boat as best he could toward the one upper light on shore while a crewman held the borrowed flashlight over the bow, searching for rocks ahead. We could hear the breakers crashing over the reef. When we were close enough to see them with the flashlight, the captain frantically shouted reverse and backed away to try again to locate the passage.

After many attempts, he knew it would be impossible to find the passage. All we could do was try to reach the harbor at Apia 40 miles (64 km) away. We were helpless against the ferocious power of the elements. I do not remember ever being where it was so dark.

We made no progress for the first hour, even though the engine was at full throttle. The boat would struggle up a mountainous wave and then pause in exhaustion at the top of the crest with the propellers out of the water. The vibration of the propellers would shake the boat almost to pieces before it slid down the other side.

We were lying spread-eagled on the cover of the cargo hold, holding on with our hands on one side and with our toes locked on the other to keep from being washed overboard. Brother Mark Littleford lost hold and was thrown against the low iron rail. His head was cut, but the rail kept him from being washed away.

Eventually, we moved ahead and near daylight finally pulled into the harbor at Apia. Boats were lashed to one another for safety. They were several deep at the pier. We crawled across them, trying not to disturb those sleeping on deck. We made our way to Pesega, dried our clothing, and headed for Vailuutai to organize the new stake.

I do not know who had been waiting for us at the beach at Mulifanua. I refused to let them tell me. But it is true that without that lower light, we all might have been lost."

 Mulifanua Beach, Samoa

Elder Packer quotes a hymn called "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy" and talks about how “Jesus Christ is the light and the life of the world. As we fix our gaze on His teachings, we will be guided to the harbor of spiritual safety."  

 Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy

Brightly beams our Father’s mercy

From his lighthouse evermore,

But to us he gives the keeping

Of the lights along the shore.

Let the lower lights be burning;

Send a gleam across the wave.

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

Dark the night of sin has settled;

Loud the angry billows roar.

Eager eyes are watching, longing,

For the lights along the shore.

Let the lower lights be burning;

Send a gleam across the wave.

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

 Trim your feeble lamp, my brother;

Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,

Trying now to make the harbor,

In the darkness may be lost.

Let the lower lights be burning;

Send a gleam across the wave.

Some poor fainting, struggling seaman

You may rescue, you may save.

 

I love this acapella group's version of this song

 

One of my favorite lines is "Trim your feeble lamp, my brother."  No one is perfect, and I am FAR from it (just ask my family), but I hope that my efforts, no matter how small, and my light, no matter how feeble, will testify of Him. As I go through my life, I am committed to be a "lower light" to help those who are searching to find peace and happiness through Jesus Christ.

He is the Light of the World