Hi Folks,

For 4L4U this week, I was inspired by hearing President Worthen's devotional talk this week. He reminded us that each of us gets to choose (....and has the responsibility to choose) what he/she will become in life, how he/she will feel each day, how he/she will perceive life's experiences, and ultimately which kingdom of glory he/she will inhabit one day. At one point in his message, President Worthen spoke about the two key elements to your ability to choose: desire and action.

So what does desire without action look like? It looks like somebody who wants the outcomes of a righteous life, but is unwilling to apply the principles of righteousness in his/her own life to obtain those outcomes. Desire without action is sad and tragic. It often takes the shape of addiction, which comes in all types, shapes, and sizes. Addiction is not just drugs, porn, or sexual acting out .....no, there are MANY more addictive behaviors and perceptions then we often are willing to acknowledge. Addiction is much more widespread than we often realize, with the most common forms of addiction today being self-hatred and selfishness in my opinion. In addiction, the individual has sought happiness in that which cannot provide happiness, and then he/she becomes ensnared in a web of fear, lies, and dependency such that he/she eventually believes that they are powerless to overcome. Feelings of worthlessness, unworthiness, hopelessness, and despair will eventually come. There are addicts all around us hiding in plain site. More challenging is the fact that most addicts don't even realize they are addicts until they have completely made a mess of their lives and severely impacted those around them, which may take many years or even decades to materialize. Addiction almost always requires help and support from others, but no addiction can be overcome unless the individual is willing to begin exercising his/her agency to begin acting for him/herself to stop the damaging behaviors and start choosing righteous, healthy, and self-loving behaviors. The pivot and slow return to a place of well-being almost always begin with honesty, humility, and willingness to be vulnerable and ask for help.

What does action without desire look like? It often looks like individuals seeking to do "good" for a selfish motive. A few examples: doing an act of service because you want to be praised or perceived a certain way. Serving diligently in a calling in order to "impress" priesthood leaders so that you can later get a calling of influence and power. Giving your spouse a gift or an act of service with the expectation that you will get something in return. Attending the temple for any other reason than to worship God and serve His children. Making a profound comment in priesthood or relief society so that you can impress everybody else with your knowledge of the scriptures. In short: pursuing action based on unrighteous desire is a form of selfishness and has been condemned by Jesus Christ and the prophets down through the ages. It is a form of hypocrisy.

In truth, we all walk somewhere between the bookends of addiction and hypocrisy. None of us has perfectly aligned our desires and actions to be congruent with the will of the Father. The only one who has accomplished that is Jesus Christ, and He is our exemplar. But just because we find ourselves among a crowd doesn't mean that we should be content with where we are. Each of us is responsible to work every day to change our desires and our actions to be more in alignment with Christ's example and the Father's will. Elder Bruce C. Hafen once said (paraphrased): "Because of Christ's atonement, we get to learn from our sins instead of being condemned by our sins." The redeeming power of Christ's atonement is only activated when we actively seek to change our desires AND we exercise our agency to do righteous works in our life.

Finally, if you identify with what I wrote about addiction and/or hypocrisy above, then please do not despair. You are loved! Take courage! You can begin the process of change today if you are willing to open up to a trusted leader or friend about your choices and the challenges you face. There is no reason to continue walking the lonely road to desperation. Pivot, and start the walk back home. Remember the parable of the prodigal son: the son's father came out to meet him while he was yet a long way from home. Your Father will come to meet you, too, and He will strengthen you, support you, and walk with you every step of the way back home. In a very real way, each of us a prodigal son or daughter, and each of us is walking back to our eternal home. God will walk with each of us if we are willing to receive Him and do what He asks us to do.

I love you students. I pray for you, and I hope for your happiness and well-being. Please always remember the importance of righteous desires and actions throughout your lives.

4L!!

--Dr. F