Moderation in Good Things

My wife and I were in a used book store recently.  Book stores are fun places for me; it's neat to be surrounded by aisles full of shelves full of books.

At the same time, I realize that I will never read most of them.  That's not just because time is short, and I wouldn't have the opportunity to read them all; it's because I know that many aren't worth reading.  The books' quality of writing and worthiness of material are often inadequate, but a lot are just trashy.  A lot of filth is published that doesn't merit being read.

Sometimes I've flipped through a book casually; whether by doing so or by reading a full book I think I've noticed a trend: somewhere between one quarter to halfway through a book, and author will often include a scene containing some sexuality.  In a way I think this is supposed to make the protagonist seem more impressive, but I also figure that the scene is included so as to keep a reader reading far enough that eventually their investment of time in the book leads them to want to keep reading the rest.  Meanwhile, there are hints that lead up to these scenes and entice the reader in the same way.

Maybe I'm wrong about why the trash is there, but it's often there.  The other thing I notice is that there's only a little bit of it.  I'm sure there are plenty of books of other types that are filled with garbage, but in a common novel there's just a bit.  Just enough to taint it, in my view.  It's as if the author, publisher, or average reader feels that, while a lot of sexuality is bad, or "in poor taste", a little bit of sexuality is good.  They might say that we should seek balance, and that "excessive" sexuality would not be great but a lack of it would be "boring", "stale", or negative in some other way.

Of course I would disagree with them.

I notice that something similar occurs in another fiction medium: film.  So often we see a movie that is entertaining and that we like except for a few small parts.  So often.  Sometimes the first thought I have after a movie ends is, "Well, we won't own that one," because of a bit of bad language, sexual innuendo or discussion, or stark violence.  Interestingly, a commonly accepted movie rating, PG-13, allows for this small amount of objectionable material.  Frequently, people tolerate smaller offenses just because they are smaller, and frequently we then become accustomed to them in a way described by Alexander Pope:

Vice is a monster of so frightful mien,

As to be hated needs but to be seen;

Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,

We first endure, then pity, then embrace.

(“Essay on Man,” Epistle II, line 135.)

 

That's the danger.  The danger is that we come to accept something that is bad.

 

I've often heard the expression, "Moderation in all things," or "all things in moderation."  Perhaps it's implicitly understood by some that "all things" doesn't include vice (Joseph Smith clearly used the phrase in the thirteenth Article of Faith to refer to all good things), but I seem to see a lot of tolerance of evil in the world.

If I ever were to share the quote myself, I would feel it necessary to remove the ambiguity by not using the word "all".  I'm definitely comfortable with omitting some things from my life.

 

Having cited either the fact that Jesus and his disciples drank wine or studies that show health benefits of the drink, I've heard people state that alcohol is good in moderation.  Certainly, such a standard does not align with covenants I've made.

 

And certainly, there are many other worldly standards that aren't sufficient for my covenants.

 

Last thoughts for now:
I struggle sometimes when deciding what media I'm going to allow in my home, and deciding on what I'm going to spend money (2 Nephi 9:51 "Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy.")  I'm sure that sometimes I don't find the right balance, but I know that some things shouldn't be a part of my home, my conversation, my meal, or any other aspect of my life.  Instead of seeking moderation in things that are not of God,I know I must "seek after these things" that are "virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy".  Instead of a balance between good and evil, I should find balance between family responsibilities, Church, work, and other worthwhile pursuits.  I sure haven't mastered it yet, but that's my challenge.

With Angel Eyes (Fiction)

The following is pure speculative fiction.  I wrote it a while back and figured it would be good to put here, even though the format is entirely different from my normal blog writing.  I don't claim to have had any experience with this sort of thing, but the narrative illustrates some ideas that make sense to me.

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With Angel Eyes

Mason watched people moving to and fro, performing everyday tasks while oblivious to his presence and also to the presence of Grant and the other, more distant disembodied spirits.  “I always assumed that it was like this, but it’s unsettling to realize it, to think back on the many things I did that…well, that I wouldn’t have done if I’d realized how many people could see.”

Grant nodded.  “Of course, whether or not someone can see what we’re doing shouldn’t be our motivation to eschew evil and pursue righteous goals.  It’s actually better for us that we aren’t aware of those who observe our mortal experiences, because it allows us to choose righteousness for the sake of righteousness, or for the sake of our acknowledgement of the Atonement of Christ.  So, the physical limitation, our inability to see things with spiritual eyes, actually helps.

“However, remember that those who can observe you don’t want to revel in your unrighteous choices.  So, while our unrighteous actions are still observable, they are generally less observed.  That same limitation that you’ve been used to also has largely hidden something about your own nature.  Look at these people.  Do you see that some shine brighter than others?”

Mason looked at the people everywhere, and for the first time he paid attention to the way that they glowed.  Indeed, some glowed brightly, while others were dim.  “Yes…why is that?”

“I’m sure you can tell me if you think about it.”

“Well, I always understood that when we were judged, we would have more glory if we were more righteous.”

Grant nodded again, smiling.  “Exactly.  So why would we not also have more glory and brightness before our final judgment?  And let me ask you this: where does the light come from?”

Mason had to think for a moment; Grant let him.  Mason finally replied: “From God.  We shine with the light from God.”

“Right again.  Inasmuch as we allow ourselves to reflect the light of truth from God’s Spirit, His light shines forth from us.  It’s always like that, though to mortal eyes it’s often quite hard to discern.  If you think back, though, I’m sure you can remember times when, for no reason that was evident, someone looked different, brighter in some way, and you could tell that he or she was a faithful disciple of Christ.”

Mason looked again at the people, going about their business in the simple ways he had done so often himself.  “Yes, I do remember times like that.  In fact, after a certain lesson from a seminary teacher I had really hoped to give other people the same impression, or rather, just to shine so that they would want to follow Jesus Christ.”

“Good!  That’s the right idea.”

Mason looked at his own spirit-matter hand.  “I’m relieved to see some light in myself.”

“Surely.  And you can take it as a good sign that you’re here associating with someone else who also bears the light of truth.  But we were speaking, before, about others observing our actions.  Like I said, while our unrighteous acts are observable, they are generally less observed.  When we engage in unrighteous behavior, we inherently shield ourselves from the influence of the Holy Ghost, thus reducing the light around us.”

“So when we’re bad we can’t be seen?”

“No, no, it takes a lot of evil to completely block out the influence of God in our lives, and even then we’re still visible, but it’s more a matter of focus.  Those of us who are observing are naturally inclined to observe those who are shining brightly and turn our attention easily away from darkness.  As a person’s light dims because of wickedness, only their personal angels stay with them to help.  When you sin more seriously and the truth becomes dim around you, only those who really are concerned stay near and watch over you.”

Mason became uncomfortable again.  “So for my bigger mistakes, people were probably still watching.  Maybe someone like my grandpa?”

“Perhaps.”

“I hate that.  I hate knowing that someone else knows what I’ve done.  When it was wrong, I mean.”

“Of course.  Shame is natural and can be very helpful.  Don’t worry about other people knowing, though; it’s better for key individuals to know now than to have your sins proclaimed from the rooftops to the whole world later, and the people who watch over you from above are those who really love you anyway.  They forgive you and still have faith in you.”

Mason lowered his head.  “If I knew, I mean really knew, how things were, I know I wouldn’t have done some of the dumb things that I did.”

“Ah, naturally.  But if we had a full knowledge from the beginning, it wouldn’t be a test, would it?  We wouldn’t really be able to learn and grow.”

“I guess I feel like it would be helpful to have this kind of perspective in order to do the learning.”

“I can see why you’d think so, but if you take a bit of time to observe people you’ll find that simply being told a truth isn’t enough to make it powerful in our lives.  In fact, depending on our dispositions, we can very easily blind ourselves to things that ought to be obvious.  Too much information all at once isn’t helpful either, and while you have some extra perspective here, you’re faced with different limitations.  Consider, for example, sacrifice.  Though it’s an incredibly important principle of the Gospel, it’s quite difficult to practice here.  How do you expect to learn the benefit of fasting and giving of your substance to others, when you don’t have much in the way of substance?  There’s really not much that you can learn here that you can’t learn in a mortal experience, and there, you can actually learn most things more fully than you can here.”

They were both silent for a moment before Grant spoke again.  “Come with me.  I’d like to show you something.”

Grant took his hand and began walking, and Mason felt that they were moving very quickly.  When they were still again, Mason found himself in a place he didn’t recognize.  It was a bustling city.

“Look around,” Grant said, “and tell me who those two people are.”

It didn’t take Mason long at all to identify the two people of whom Grant was speaking, for while the crowd of people all around generally only dimly reflected the light of the Holy Ghost, these two particular souls, well-dressed young men shone with a radiance.  Mason figured that there was a natural explanation for this—two young men, walking together and casting light before them.  “Missionaries,” he said.  “They’ve got to be missionaries.”

“They are indeed.”  Grant acknowledged.  “When it comes to light and shining truth, they’re some of the most satisfying to watch.  When the people they teach listen to the Holy Ghost, the light from the missionaries shines out and brightens them as well.  There are other ways by which a given person’s light quickly increases, but the teaching of missionaries is one of the better ways.”

Mason lifted his head and peered toward them.  “Are we going to see that today?”

“These two are pretty reliable, so I wouldn’t be surprised.”

They observed quietly for a brief while, and it gave Mason time to think.  One idea gently nagged him, though he was reluctant to speak it.  “Grant, you said that people don’t get as much attention from angelic observers when they sin,” (and Grant nodded encouragingly,) “but at other times, you do, ah, give people their privacy, right?  Like newlyweds?”

Grant laughed.  “Yes, of course.  Just as we can quickly turn our attention away from the darkness of sin, we are selective about other things as well.  Sacred events are universally considered to by ‘by invitation only’, and something as immeasurably sacred as the physical intimacy of a husband and wife is no one’s business but their own.  It’s quite instinctive to find another place to be, and surprisingly easy to sense when they no longer require privacy.  We’re neither curious about it nor carnal, so it’s not a concern.”

Mason looked down and raised his eyebrows.  “Huh.  Good.  Well, I’d expect things to make sense like that, but I’m glad to hear it.”

Grant still wore a mild smile.  “Though, to bring perspective, those of us that no longer have bodies also don’t get embarrassed like we used to.”

.

Temples and Sacred Things

I like to ask people a certain question. It goes like this: "Answering in one or two words, what do you value?" I explain that their answer doesn't have to be what they value most, just something they value. It's interesting to hear people's answers. (On a side note, my answer used to be friendship, but currently I would say "commitment".)

Another good question for people (one that I've never yet asked) is, "What is sacred to you?"

There have been some who complain about temple ordinances being "secret", refusing to accept the fact that they are sacred. A woman once explained the difference by comparing the temple to another sacred thing: sexual relations between a husband and wife. The woman stated that while it was no secret what they were doing, she certainly wasn't going to talk about it to anyone. Similarly, the body itself is a temple, and while it's not secret what a body generally looks like, it's inappropriate for us to share too much of it with others.

Some people still won't understand, even in light of clear comparisons. I wonder how they would answer my second question. Some people hold nothing sacred.

Last thoughts for now:
I know I should be reserved in speaking of things that are too sacred. Of course, where the temple is concerned, it's good to remember that temples are for everyone. Everyone is invited to come to the temple; if a person is going to fulfill their purpose in living on Earth, they're going to do the same things they would do to get ready for the temple. If everyone did, it would be clear why it's not a matter of "secrets".