My Mormon Third Eye: I See... When Fighting Wickedness Becomes Happiness

Sunday, March 14, 2010

I See... When Fighting Wickedness Becomes Happiness

Church leadership and doctrine appropriately bombard us with Alma's immortal mantra “Wickedness never was happiness.” Why shouldn't they? An era of unprecedented wickedness and e-ville requires an unprecedented amount of righteous reminders. However, even with the massive sound of a moral flush ringing in our ears as the world is sucked down the symbolic toilet of immorality, the gospel also teaches us that there are ways to become happy fighting wickedness.

Imagine a world of quarrelings, contentions, murderings, plunderings, idolatry, whoredoms, abominations, wars, and destructions. Are we talking about life today? Certainly. Never has wickedness had more opportunities to overcome us. This also accurately assesses the civilization that Captain Moroni faced over 2000 years ago in the Book of Mormon. Yet those days were described thusly: “behold there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni.”

So how did he do it? How did Captain Moroni turn endless rounds of quarrelings, contentions, murderings, plunderings, idolatry, whoredoms, abominations, wars, and destructions into the happiest times of the people of Nephi?

The secret lies in Captain Moroni's penchant for preparation sparked by his longing for liberty. He did not merely wait for evil to come- he prepared for it. He not only built bulwarks around Nephite cities, he also did not hesitate to inspire his people with a love of liberty. The result was that “his armies increased daily because of the assurance of protection which his works did bring forth unto them.”

Could it be that as we prepare to face today's threats to our morality and liberty- spiritually, through our faith and study and prayers; and temporally, through our savings and emergency preparedness and home food production- our ranks of righteousness will “increase daily because of the assurance of protection which our works bring forth?”

I'm rooting for history to repeat itself.

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The Mormon Third Eye Quote of the Week

"As men of the priesthood, we have an essential role to play in society, at home, and in the Church. But we must be men that women can trust, that children can trust, and that God can trust. In the Church and kingdom of God in these latter days, we cannot afford to have boys and men who are drifting. We cannot afford young men who lack self-discipline and live only to be entertained. We cannot afford young adult men who are going nowhere in life, who are not serious about forming families and making a real contribution in this world. We cannot afford husbands and fathers who fail to provide spiritual leadership in the home."

Elder D. Todd Christofferson
Priesthood Session Conference, October 2012

Why My Mormon Third Eye?

When I politely excused myself in the middle of dinner to make a bathroom stop, how did Mom know that I had uneaten peas in my pocket to flush down the toilet? When I came home late from a youth dance and slid quietly into bed to avoid waking parental units, how did Dad know, without looking at the car, that I smashed in the front bumper? When I watch my daughter play a video game, how do I know that she's not ready for her Geometry final?

Its the Third Eye. The notorious eye in the back of the head, the extra view of life that God blesses parents striving to do the right thing so they can see more of life than the children they chase after.

Our third eye also permits us to see things and feel emotions that are too refined, too far on the edge of our standard two-eyed peripheral vision to enjoy in its fullness. I've learned that I have a Mormon Third Eye; that is, as a life-long, fully-dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have unique perspective on how the doctrines of the gospel and the demands of my faith in them intersect every other part of my mortal existence to create the entertaining, self-deprecating kaleidoscope of my life.

So... for those of you bold and bored enough to read this far, every so often I'll be sharing here what my Mormon third eye sees. Third eyes are relatively huge; they see the humorous, the entertaining, the embarrassing, the beautiful, the inspirational, and even the moral and political; however, they tend to ignore the evil, depressing and destructive: there is enough of that in world already!

The Four Secrets to Successful Living

Always Go Where There is Free Food - This includes ward and work parties, wedding receptions and missionary open houses; the money you spend to buy the ingredients for the world-famous triple chocolate cake you bring doesn’t count.
Never Pay Full Price for Anything – See my posts on Black Friday escapades for more information on this.
Never, Ever Press the Red Button - Usually, if you are faced with a red button somewhere, don’t press it – it usually means trouble. For example, the red button launches the missiles. Do yourself a favor and don’t press it.
Any Problem You Face Can Be Solved With Bungee Cords and Duct Tape - Bungee cord and duct tape technology has saved many marriages and ward parties. I’m not just talking about problems with plumbing or keeping groceries from bouncing around the trunk; I know of relationship and family issues that have been solved with creative applications of these two substances.