Touch Not the Evil and Unclean Thing
Friday November 9, 2007
Since January I have subscribed to the LDS Church's Daily Gems, a free LDS email subscription, which sends daily quotes from the scriptures and LDS church leaders. In Wednesday's email we were "Warned to Avoid Evil" and I really liked the quote from Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Seventy. He said:"Just as a fish in a mountain stream must be careful of the lures placed in its path to avoid being pulled away from the water, so must you and I be wise in order to avoid being pulled away from a happy, gospel-centered life. Remember that, as Lehi observed, the devil 'seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself' and obtains 'power to captivate' (2 Nephi 2:27, 29) us when we involve ourselves in unclean and evil things. Thus, do not be deceived into even nibbling at unworthy things, for Satan stands ready to set the hook. It was the very real risk of the hook being set subtly or suddenly that let the ancient prophet Moroni--who actually saw our day (see Mormon 8:35)--to pointedly warn you and me to 'touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing' (Moroni 10:30).I've enjoyed these free daily quotes and this one really struck me with the vivid image of a fish being tempted by a hook and lure, like the New Era Poster I've shown here which says, "You're Never Big Enough And you’re never strong enough to toy with sin. (See D&C 88:86.)"
"There is much that is evil and unclean in music, the Internet, movies, magazines, and in alcohol, drugs, and tobacco. As to any evil and unclean thing, my young friends, do not even touch it!" ("The Great Plan of Happiness," Ensign, Nov. 2006, 49-50.)
Through the revelations from our living prophets we can know what things are evil and unclean, such as the guidance we receive from the law of the Word of Wisdom. We can also learn of the misuse of media, the destructive evil of pornography and abuse, as well as how to keep ourselves clean and modest.
But sometimes things are not clearly bad or good. How can we learn to discern what is right and what is wrong? That's when we need the guidance of the Holy Ghost. What experiences have you had? You can share them with us in the comments below or in the LDS Community Forum.
Hi Rachel, nice article. People can also share their thoughts in the forums here by clicking on the link at the bottom left of the page
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Of course! Thanks Deb for the reminder, I added a link to the LDS Community Forum in the post.
I just wanted to say that sometimes as we are not able to see or know all things, the appearance of things may not be evil. But from personal experience, the closer you are with the Holy Ghost, the stronger he speaks to your spirit.
I remember I attended a funeral of a family friend, who was not a member, when I was quite a young girl. As we sat in the pews of this church, my inquisitve nature invited me to pick up a book titled “The translated Bible” or something close to it. As I lifted the book up I immediately felt a strong feeling of fear and evil, and it scared me to the extent that I dropped the book as soon as I touched it.
To this day, I do not know what words were in the book, what revelations were claimed or anything. All I know is that it must not have been from Heavenly Father, because being so little I had no other reason not to be curious, the bad feelings were clear enough to me to know to put the book down.
If we listen to the spirit, and we are trying to do what is right. He will discern evil from good for us and help us to choose the right in all things. I know this to be true. And I say these things in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.
Thank you Alexandria for sharing your thoughts and experience with us; I love hearing people’s spiritual experiences. Yes, the closer we are to God and His spirit the easier it will be for us to recognize his guiding influence and other promptings.