Over the years I have been privileged to attend some very special BYU and BYU-Hawaii Devotionals. Some have had a profound influence on my life. As a student I sincerely enjoyed attending devotionals because I always tried to learn something new and make a resolve to be a better person in some way directly related to the principle that was taught at that particular devotional. Although I'm not a formal student anymore, I still enjoy attending devotionals and learning principles that can improve my life.
One devotional that is of lasting memory to me was when I was a student at Brigham Young University in Provo. Ezra Taft Benson, then President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was speaking at the Marriott Center that day. I don't recall upon what topic he spoke, however, I do vividly remember the impression I felt that day; it was this, that no matter what transgressions we may have committed in the past, we could, from that moment on, resolve to choose the right and forsake sin each and every day of our lives. As a result of his talk, I was filled with much resolution and commitment. In fact, I thought I'd take President Benson's message one step further. I made a resolution that from that moment on, not only would I not sin anymore, I would not even make any mistakes! I was very serious about my commitment! So serious, in fact, that while concentrating on "no longer making any mistakes", I didn't realize that I had walked right into the women's restroom. I did not recognize the little lady figure on the door as a clue to where I was headed, nor did I recognize the pink paint on the wall. So intent was I on concentrating that I would never make a mistake again, that I had no intimation I was going into the women's restroom until standing face to face with a young co-ed who was brushing her beautiful, long hair in front of the mirror. All I can remember was getting out of the restroom as fast as I could. I will be forever grateful to that young co-ed for not screaming for campus security. I have rehearsed in my mind several times how shallow my excuse would have sounded to the security officer. "But officer, I was concentrating on never making a mistake, when I walked into the women's restroom and made a mistake." That resolution was obviously revised the very same day it was made.
I fondly remember attending devotionals that were team delivered by then, President, and now, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland and his wife, Pat. I remember how I could sense then, as a student, their sincere and profound love for each other. I would want to try and emulate that same love in my relationship with my wife.
Coveting
I have chosen as my topic to speak upon the Tenth Commandment. We are all familiar with the tenth commandment, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's."[i][1]
In its simplest form, coveting, or the commandment not to covet, is quite easy to understand. Simply stated, we are not to endeavor to obtain that which does not rightly belong to us. It may be easy for a person, after admiring his neighbor's new Ford Taurus to justify within his mind, "I don't covet my neighbor's new Taurus, I happen to be a Chevrolet man," even as he and his wife travel to the Chevy Autoplex. Or, perhaps his wife justifies within her mind as they turn into the dealership; "I do not covet our neighbor's new Taurus, for I want a Suburban. Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of the Tenth Commandment is to avoid being lulled into seeing our wants become our needs as we observe others seemingly obtain those things that we want.
President Ezra Taft Benson wrote, "Covetousness is one of the besetting sins of this generation, and our covetousness reaches every item forbidden in the commandment, our neighbor's house, his wife, his help, his worldly goods, and everything that is our neighbor's...Covetousness has invaded our homes, our communities, and the nations of the world. It has brought with it greed, avarice, ambition, and love of power. Men scheme, plan, overreach, cheat, and lie to get their neighbor's heritage."[ii][2]
Some might be tempted to say, "We like our neighbors, in fact, our kids always play together; we would never feel to 'scheme, overreach, cheat or lie' to our neighbors." However, we learn from the Savior's parable of the Good Samaritan to the entrapping lawyer, that in His view, everyone is our neighbor.[iii][3] With this clarification, "scheming, overreaching, cheating and lying" come within easy reach for us all.
I am reminded of three related learning experiences from my own youth. Each illustrates a specific point using a knife as the subject. The first story in this trilogy of knives begins when, as a young Boy Scout my troop had a fund raising event to sell tickets for a ward Spaghetti dinner. Back in those days, wards were allowed to charge money for attendance in order to raise local funds. To the Scout that sold the most tickets went a beautiful new Swiss Army knife. I did not have a pocketknife and I knew that every good Boy Scout had to have a good pocketknife. I honorably went about trying to sell everyone I knew a ticket, or better yet, family pack, to our ward Spaghetti dinner. But what began as a noble want, and an honorable process eventually changed course. When the night of the ward dinner finally arrived, I discovered that one other Scout had sold almost exactly the same number of tickets, as had I. I reasoned in my young mind that there was no way I could, or even should, lose. After all, I had invested so much work, time and energy into winning the beautiful Swiss Army pocketknife. I observed that my two close friends were staffing the table were members of the ward, who hadn't previously purchased tickets to the dinner, could make their purchase and enter into the cultural hall. After careful calculation, I convinced my friends, also members of the Scout troop, to credit these members, who had not yet purchased tickets, to my tally.
When the evening's dinner and events where completed, the time came to identify the winner of the ticket selling contest. How shocked and happy I feigned when the announcer loudly read out my name as winner of the Swiss Army Knife. To the applause of all I received my reward, knowing in my heart, that I had blighted my name and dishonored the very Scout Law to which every Boy Scout pledges. One of life's caustic lessens soon followed. Before the night was over, the knife that I may have won anyway, honorably and with integrity, was lost, forever. That night, I lost more than the knife. I lost sight of my original and honorable goal. So likewise, many go about with initially honorable goals and desires. However, somewhere along the way, these honorable goals become forgotten in efforts of empty pursuit.
As Students at Brigham Young University-Hawaii, you all should be actively engaged in the process of inquiry and learning for various reasons and towards various ends. One end should be to provide for the needs and comforts of your future families. Always we should have the interests and happiness of our loved ones foremost in our efforts and in our pursuits. This is a noble goal. Nevertheless, far too often, somewhere along the beaten track husbands, wives and individuals are lured, and sometimes, lulled off course. Perhaps it is way off course, or perhaps just a degree or two. Either way, over an extended period of time, if not corrected, an individual or couple will find themselves far from the noble end to which they began the journey. A person may find through sincere and honest introspection that the initial selfless focus of providing for another's happiness has been redirected to an egocentric, focus on oneself.
Elder Neal A. Maxwell said, "So many times prophets warn about the dangers of selfishness, the inordinate and excessive concern with self. The distance between constant self-pleasing and self-worship is shorter than we think. Stubborn selfishness is actually rebellion against God...Selfishness is much more than an ordinary problem because it activates all the cardinal sins! It is the detonator in the breaking of the Ten Commandments."[iv][4] If we covet earthly things, we can make them become our gods and eventually, place them before our God.
President Spencer W. Kimball asks in his book, The Miracle of Forgiveness, "What is the price of happiness?" One might be surprised at the simplicity of the answer. The treasure house of happiness is unlocked to those who live the gospel of Jesus Christ in its purity and simplicity. Like a mariner without stars, like a traveler without a compass, is the person who moves along through life without a plan. The assurance of supreme happiness, the certainty of a successful life here and of exaltation and eternal life hereafter, come to those who plan to live there lives in complete harmony with the gospel of Jesus Christ, and then consistently follow the course they have set."[v][5]
As a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles, David O. McKay said, "You may get that transitory pleasure, yes, but you cannot find joy, you cannot find happiness. Happiness is found only along that well beaten track, narrow as it is, though straight, which leads to life eternal."[vi][6]
When we lose sight of our original course and begin to focus on ourselves, the end result is we inevitably and by the very nature of covetousness, hurt the ones we love, whom often were originally the ones with whom we sought to bring happiness.
"Covetousness has such a blinding power," wrote Thomas Wilson in the eighteenth century, "that all the arguments of the world would not convince a man that he is covetous."[vii][7]
Elder Richard L. Evans of the Council of the Twelve wrote that, "Coveting is a slow, self-produced poison, that does not always outwardly show itself. But as surely as a person permits this poison to take hold of him, it will corrode him, inside himself, and shrivel his soul." [viii][8]
Coveting does not do its eternal poisoning alone. It has close friends and family. Surely advertising gimmicks and media distortions are some of coveting's closest allies. An Arab proverb states that, "Covetousness has for its mother unlawful desire (which I call lust), for its daughter injustice, (to which I would add ingratitude) and for its friend violence."
Earlier in this academic year, BYU-Hawaii President, Eric Shumway, spoke to campus staff and faculty about the ruining nature of four basic human lusts; the lusts for fame, for power, for sex, and for wealth. Each of these lusts has for its mother covetousness.
Steve Gilliland, says, "This is lust, the mental pursuit of anything that would be spiritually damaging. It is a mental narcotic that draws us away from our long-range goals. It can lead us to sacrifice all that is valuable for a momentary experience and leave us with nothing but pain and sorrow and confusion."[ix][9]
The Lust for Fame
The lust for fame is always self-consuming and sadly, often self-destroying. President Gordon B. Hinckley asks, "Is not covetousness, that dishonest, cankering evil, the root of most of the world's sorrows? For what a tawdry price men of avarice barter their lives! . . . Good men, well-intentioned men of great capacity, trade character for trinkets that turn to wax before their eyes and dreams that become only haunting nightmares.[x][10]
My Great Grandmother, Martha Cragen Cox, wrote in her memoirs which have since been published, "...I had begun to learn how people, who are wise and active among their fellowmen and honored and flattered by the public, fall into error and silliness under the glitter of their own brilliancy"[xi][11]
It is human nature for us to seek praise and laud for our works and deeds, however, the scriptures teach us to "put off the natural man".[xii][12] It is not possible for the characteristics of charity to co-habitate with a person who lusts after fame, wealth, sex or power. Being "as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things," is inconsistent with seeking to stand out in a crowd, with desiring praise where praise is unearned, with taking responsibility for that with which one is not responsible, or with heavy handedness and self-aggrandizement.
Christ provided the greatest example of colossal accomplishments with total and complete humility. Without any public acclaim, without spotlights shining, without loud public address systems, without cheering crowds, without recognition banquets, and without shining metals, He, and He alone, went into the Garden of Gethsemane to fulfill the work of His Father. Paradoxically, the recognition plaque he received was nailed upon the cross and accurately, yet sarcastically read, "THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS."[xiii][13] The earthly crown he received was one of "platted" thorns. The verbal praise He received was stated with scorn and emphasized with a smote, "Hail, King of the Jews."[xiv][14] He then ascended on the cross, declaring both before and after his atonement, "Glory be to the Father."[xv][15]
The Lust for Power
Regarding the lust for power, the Doctrine and Covenants tell us that "almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose ... will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion."[xvi][16]
The Prophet Joseph Smith exclaimed, "Mankind [is] naturally selfish, ambitious, and striving to excel one above another."[xvii][17] This process of "striving to excel one above another" might appropriately be rechanneled to "striving to excel above oneself".
In an Ensign article, Brother and Sister Jardine state that, "Power begets the thirst for more power...Too often, people refer to themselves as being tough-minded when they are really only mean-spirited. Many of us have felt the bitter yoke of an employer or supervisor who continually put us in our place to remind himself of his place." A piece of ironic folk lore titled, Cohen's Second Law, observes that "the world is divided into two groups, the righteous and the unrighteous, and the righteous do the dividing."[xviii][18]
Applicable to our current world affairs, Elder Albert E. Bowen stated back in 1948, while referring to the tenth commandment, "The observance of this law would rid the world of most of its strife. If applied to the conduct of nations, there would be no war. War results when one nation covets what another nation has or seeks dominion over it...The tenth commandment has to be obeyed before war and contention can cease. It states a universal principle, true for all time; hence, it is subject neither to change nor compromise."[xix][19] As this principle is true for nations, so is it true for individuals.
We can observe the exercising of heavy-handedness or unrighteous dominion almost every day, in the most ordinary ways and by some of the most ordinary people.
Author C. S. Lewis reminds us of the eternal importance of the people around us when he writes, "It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or the other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations, these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit, immortal horrors or everlasting splendors."[xx][20]
This brings me to my second personal story in this trilogy of knives. Like the first, I was a Boy Scout and summer scout camp was rapidly approaching. I still did not have a pocket knife so I asked my mother to use hers. The only one that she owned was given to her by her younger brother and somehow she knew that young boys have the inclination to lose things. I begged and pleaded to use her knife and finally promised that I would take special care of her knife if she'd allow me to use it at scout camp. After all, I insisted, she wouldn't want me to be the only scout at camp that couldn't carve wood, do leather work, and then carve chicken for dinner, all using the same knife! You must remember that at scout camp, one knife is sufficient for everything. My mother finally consented and happily off to camp I went. When I begged for help from my mother, my intentions were good. However, once achieving my goal, I quickly forgot those good intentions and my stated commitments.
One night while all the scouts were appropriately attending nightly devotion, my scout troop, each with our pocket knives, went about pursuing silly boyhood mischief. We seized the opportunity to stealthfully creep over to our rival ward's camp and proceeded to cut the ropes to all their tents. Once their tents were neatly on the ground the watchman's cry was heard that devotion was over and the rival ward's troop was making its way back to their camp. As my troop and I took off on a full run back towards our camp, I slipped my mother's knife into my front pocket. I cannot describe the horror I felt as, almost simultaneously, I remembered the hole in my front pocket and I felt the knife fall down my pant leg and fly out just as I hurdled some small bushes. With the help of my troop, by flashlight we frantically looked for my mother's lost knife until, one-by-one, flashlights went out and I was left alone to try and find the knife and to explain to the rival troop whose tents lay level with the ground how I had managed to lose my knife so near the outskirts of their camp.
It was in the early morning hours of the next day when I finally concluded my repentant prayer. It was with great difficulty that I explained to the Lord how I had maltreated my fellow scouts, how I had been blessed with the pocket knife, for which obtaining was so important to me, only to misused the blessing which I had received, and most importantly, how I had sacrificed the trust of my mother. The power, praise, and acceptance that I had sought in engaging in such youthful folly was hardly worth what I had sacrifice along the way.
Lust for Sex
Transitioning now for a moment to the lust for sex; in Book One of the Fall of Troy, we can read, "Nothing there is to men more ruinous than lust for woman's beauty; it maketh fools of wise men."[xxi][21] We need only to look to the scriptural account in 2 Samuel of David and Bathsheba to see the tragedy that follows when great men allow lusts to mature into covetous conduct, and eventually, into ruinous scandal. There is no wonder why the Lord gave the seventh commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery,"[xxii][22] and then immediately included, in the tenth commandment, "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife or manservant or maidservant." The Lord later elevated this command when He said, "...I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Behold, I give unto you a commandment, that ye suffer none of these things to enter into your heart."[xxiii][23]
Many of the world's greatest economies and empires have fallen because of sensual and wicked leaders. Great empires and economies do not collapse because of external powers or threats; careful history teaches us that they collapse first from within because of moral decay. In his book, This Nation Shall Endure, President Ezra Taft Benson wrote, "Great nations do not fall because of external aggression; they first erode and decay inwardly. . . . The strength of a country is the sum total of the moral strength of the individuals in that country."[xxiv][24]
Elder Neal A. Maxwell comments, "Take away regard for the seventh commandment, and behold the current celebration of sex, the secular religion with its own liturgy of lust and supporting music. Its theology focuses on "self." Its hereafter is "now." Its chief ritual is "sensation", though, ironically, it finally desensitizes its obsessed adherents, who become 'past feeling.'"[xxv][25]
It is interesting that within the "nature man" lies the ability to look at his neighbor's wife and see outward beauty or talents that she possesses which his wife does not; or conversely, the "natural woman's" ability to look at her neighbor's husband and see the influence, or perhaps affluence, which he possesses that hers does not. In such cases, the real attributes and beauties of each wife or husband are overlooked for the surreal.
Steve Gilliland states that, "The degree to which I keep my chastity covenant also generally reflects how strong or weak I am in other areas of my life, and indicate to me how committed to celestial ideals I really am. On the other hand, instead of confronting and working out confusing feelings such as loneliness or inadequacy, Satan would have a person try to flee from them through immorality. But such escapes are only temporary, and so the person seeks to flee again and again, forever unsuccessfully." He asks the question, "But what if a person, because of previous conditioning, has immoral desires? The same principle applies: the presence of desire is not an indication of sin. The question is, what does one do with the desire? Is it allowed to inflame, or is it recognized and then forthrightly directed to leave one's mind...[xxvi][26] President Kimball has informed us that even individuals tempted with homosexual or other abnormal tendencies can, with patience, commitment, and faith, control such desires and permit normal desires to awaken and take precedence over the abnormal." [xxvii][27]
Lust for Wealth
We are finally left with the fourth lust, the lust for wealth. As I stated earlier this morning, the pursuit of material comforts for our families is honorable and noble. However, left unchecked, it can almost transparently transform into an all consuming, and eventually, an all consumed, pursuit of vast emptiness.
It is interesting that the lust for wealth is very often misguided as the pursuit of happiness. Paul wrote to Timothy, "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."[xxviii][28] Possessing "things" never has been, and never will be, true happiness.
While speaking to a group of university students just like you, President Hinckley said, "I wish every one of you might have some of the good things in life, but I hope your desire will not come of covetousness, which is an evil and gnawing disease. Let not selfishness canker your relationship. Let not covetousness destroy your happiness. Let not greed, for that which you do not need and cannot get with honesty and integrity, bring you down to ruin and despair...
I am satisfied that the Father of us all does not wish His children to walk in poverty. He wants the best for them. He wants them to have comforts and some of the good things of the earth. . . .It is when greed takes over, when we covet that which others have, that our affliction begins. And it can be a very sore and painful affliction."[xxix][29]
Many of you in the audience today have come to BYU-Hawaii from countries staggered with economic poverty. Some of you are nearing graduation. You are facing the choice of returning to your home countries and struggling through the present challenges there or pursuing perceived prosperity elsewhere. Elder Neal A Maxwell says, that "Human history's happiest irony will be that the covenant-keeping, unselfish individuals will finally receive 'all that [the] Father hath'"![xxx][30] This will be as true for you in your native countries as it is here. Father Lehi taught his sons, "Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments, ye shall be cut off from my presence."[xxxi][31] His message that the Lord will "prosper" those who keep His commandments is restated multiple times by prophets through out the scriptures. In his great father's interview, Alma counsels each of his sons, Helaman, Shiblon, and Corianton on this principle. To Helaman, Alma said, "My son, give ear to my words; for I swear unto you, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land."[xxxii][32] To Shiblon, Alma said, "My son, give ear to my words, for I say unto you, even as I said unto Helaman, that inasmuch as ye shall keep the commandments of God ye shall prosper in the land;"[xxxiii][33] and finally, to Corianton, Alma adds these parental pleadings, "Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and cross yourself in these things." He then added, "Seek not after riches nor the vain things of this world; for behold, you cannot carry them with you."[xxxiv][34] Hence, the only real "things" that can make us eternally happy are the "things" of God obtained through appropriate methods and according to eternal principles.
This leads me to my final personal story in the trilogy of knives. I was a seminary student and a junior or senior in high school--and still without a knife. By this time my desire for a good pocket knife was long past. One day in seminary my teacher announced that there would be a combined seminary-class scripture chase near the end of the school year. To the winner would go a beautiful, and huge, hunting knife, complete with leather satchel. When I saw the prize I just knew I had to win it. However, I still remembered the stinging pocket knife lessons learned earlier as a young scout. I knew I could only obtain the hunting knife with honor and with integrity. I also knew that there would be many faster at scripture chasing than me participating in the combined seminary-classes. After thinking about this for several days, I determined that there was only one way I could, with integrity, win--I'd have to memorize every seminary scripture and reference. I began memorizing the scriptures.
In time, the school year drew to an end and the day of the scripture chase finally came. I remember walking into the room where students from the combined classes all sat. On the table before each of the students were their seminary scriptures. Some had painstakingly inserted neatly organized little tabs with the scripture reference written on them. Others had inserted paperclips to each page that held a seminary scripture. Others had calculated that a new set of seminar scriptures would cost much less than the hunting knife. Therefore, they crumpled-up each page containing a seminary scripture. Then there were those few who were really serious about winning. They had implemented all three of these techniques. Their scriptures, when closed, had expanded to about twice their normal size.
I very slowly and deliberately laid my unmarked scriptures down in front of me. It was with my fair share of unrighteous pride that I slowly looked at each student. They glanced at my unmarked book, and then at me. I could sense, although unstated, that I was quickly labeled a non-contender, or in the vernacular of today, a LOSER. The chase soon began and after a few quick wins someone protested that I hadn't opened the book, therefore, I was not technically scripture chasing. To this I responded that not only was I quoting the verse word-perfect, but I was giving the reference, hence, there was no need to open the book. But, to assure fairness, I invited anyone participating in the scripture chase to do the same. With that, the teacher's judgment was in my favor and I won, with integrity, the beautiful hunting knife. Through the passing years, each time I've looked at that knife, it seems to have gotten smaller than it was when I first won it. However, the significance of the learned lessons of honest desire, hard work, integrity and perseverance, which it represents to me, seem to have increased. I learned from this experience that it is acceptable to have and pursue righteous desires through honest and noble means.
Referencing my experience as a student several years ago at a devotional just like this; we occasionally miss the obvious gender signs on the restroom doors. Sometimes in the hustle and bustle of life we overlook the signals that are placed around to help us. While focusing on various pursuits, we allow eternal directional signs to pass by unnoticed. We ignore the color of the paint on the wall, and we find that somehow, metaphorically speaking, we have entered into the wrong restroom. I testify to you that directional life change is possible, and that God prospers, both spiritually and temporally, those who keep His commandments. He prospers those who are grateful for what they have been given, those accepting of that which they have not; and finally, those who live their lives with complete integrity.
It is my hope that as we live in a world of, as Elder Maxwell refers to it: in-your-face, carnal confrontiveness[xxxv][35], and in a world that openly promotes elusive materialism, which fuels the kindling, and sometimes the raging fires of lust, that we can remember the tenth commandment and remember the example of He who said, "My grace is sufficient for thee."[xxxvi][36] In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
[i][1] Ex. 20:17.
[ii][2] Ezra Taft Benson, This Nation Shall Endure, pg. 65.
[iii][3] Luke 10:25-37.
[iv][4] Neal A. Maxwell, "Put Off the Natural Man, and Come Off Conqueror," Ensign, Nov. 1990, 14.
[v][5] Spenser W. Kimball, The Miracle of Forgiveness, 1969, pg. 259.
[vi][6] David O. McKay, Pleasure vs. Happiness, Conference Report, Oct. 1919, p. 180.
[vii][7] The Ten Commandments Today, p. 144
[viii][8] Elder Richard L. Evens, The Ten Commandments Today, pg. 144.
[ix][9] Steve Gilliland, "Chastity, A Principle of Power," Tambuli, Dec. 1980, 16.
[x][10] An Honest Man, God's Noblest Work," Ensign, May 1976, p. 62.
[xi][11] Martha Cragen Cox, Face Towards Zion: Pioneer Reminiscences and Journal of Martha Cragen Cox, Volume One, p.178.
[xii][12] Mosiah 3:19.
[xiii][13] Matt. 27:37.
[xiv][14] John 19:3.
[xv][15] D&C 19:19; Moses 4:2.
[xvi][16] D&C 121:39.
[xvii][17] The Words of Joseph Smith, comp. Andrew F. Ehat and Lyndon W. Cook, Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, Religious Studies Center, 1980, p. 201.
[xviii][18] James S. and Jeanne N. Jardine, "Avoiding Unrighteous Dominion," Ensign, Sept. 1990, 62.
[xix][19] Elder Albert E. Bowen, General Conference Report, Oct. 1948.
[xx][20] The Weight of Glory, New York: Collier Books, Macmillan Publishing Co., 1980, pp. 18-19.
[xxi][21] Quintus Smyrnaeus, The Fall of Troy, Book 1, line 1004.
[xxii][22] Ex. 20:14.
[xxiii][23] JST Matt. 5:30-31.
[xxiv][24] Ezra Taft Benson, This Nation Shall Endure, p 118.
[xxv][25] Neal A. Maxwell, "Put Off the Natural Man, and Come Off Conqueror," Ensign, Nov. 1990, 14.
[xxvi][26] Steve Gilliland, "Chastity, A Principle of Power," Tambuli, Dec. 1980, 16.
[xxvii][27] Steve Gilliland, "Chastity, A Principle of Power," Tambuli, Dec. 1980, 16.
[xxviii][28] 1 Tim. 6:10
[xxix][29] University of Utah Institute of Religion Fireside, May 21, 1989.
[xxx][30] D&C 84:38.
[xxxi][31] 2 Nephi 1:20
[xxxii][32] Alma 36:1
[xxxiii][33] Alma 38:1.
[xxxiv][34] Alma 39:9, 14.
[xxxv][35] Neal A Maxwell, Encircled in the Arms of His Love, Ensign, November, 2002.
[xxxvi][36] 2 Cor. 12:9.