My Mormon Third Eye: I See... How to Resist Temptation

Sunday, February 20, 2011

I See... How to Resist Temptation

The Mormon Third Eye specializes in bringing to light hidden, little-known, or otherwise under-appreciated remedies for many of the common maladies that seem to befall a typical member of the LDS faith. Technically, dealing with temptation is a challenge for all those who won the war in heaven and earned the right to work out their salvation on earth, but those who were born in the gospel or found it later on in life tend to be much more sensitized to the adversary's lures and strategies.

So... a foolproof, ironclad, proven strategy to resist temptation? Moses is known for a lot of things, e.g., Ten Commandments, parting the Red Sea, leading Israel to the promised land, but many of us don't realize that he was also the messenger the Lord chose to teach us the best way to resist Satan's advances. If this surprises you, don't feel that bad; after all, the Evil One has been working overtime to keep this formula hidden from mankind for thousands of years.

According to Moses, all you have to do is know who you really are, and then make sure the Adversary knows that you know. Here's the scenesetter. After God showed Moses “all the works of my hand,” Satan appears to him and says, “worship me.” Pay special attention to Moses' response to this invitation. For the benefit of the scripturally challenged, I'll include both the inspired version and it's interpretation into today-speak:

Moses 1:13- “And it came to pass that Moses looked upon Satan and said: Who art thou? For behold, I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten; and where is thy glory, that I should worship thee?

Translation: “Who do you think you are? Did you know that I am literally a son of God, created in his image? I have divinity in me! What do you have? Nothing! So why should I pay any attention to you?”

We know that this worked, because in verses 21 and 22, we learn that Satan responded to this divine proclamation by trembling, weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. More than anything else, we learn not only that he can't stand noticing divinity in anyone, he is also a whiner and a poor sport.

So, know who you. Recognize the divine in you. Then tell Satan to get lost.

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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.