Blights Which Kill How Like The Mistletoe...

Blights which kill How like the mistletoe is immorality. ¶

The killer plant starts with a sticky sweet berry. Once rooted, it sticks and grows — a leaf, a branch, a plant. It never starts mature and full grown. ¶

It is always transplanted an infant. ¶

Nor does immorality begin in adultery or perversion. Those are full-grown adults. Little indiscretions are the berries— indiscretions like sex thoughts, sex discussions, passionate kissing, pornography. The leaves and little twigs are masturbation and necking and such, growing with every exercise. ¶

The full-grown plant is petting and sex looseness. It confounds, frustrates, and destroys like the parasite if it is not cut out and destroyed, for, in time, it robs the tree, bleeds its life, and leaves it barren and dry; and, strangely enough, the parasite dies with its host. ¶

Each seemingly small indiscretion seems powerless as compared to the sturdy body, the strong mind, the sweet spirit of the youth who gives way to the first temptation and who might, like the majestic tree, say: "Ha, little weed, little bottle! I can take you between my lips without harm. I'll look smart and be a good fellow with the crowd. Ha, little indiscretion! You are weak — I am strong. I can discard you at my pleasure." ¶

But years later, I see him once again, and what a change! The strong has become weak; the master, the slave; his spiritual growth curtailed; he has isolated himself from the Church with all its uplifting influences. Has he not suffered a kind of spiritual death, leaving him like the tree — a mere skeleton of what he might have been? ¶

If the first unrighteous act is never given root and the mistletoe never permitted to lodge, the tree will grow to beautiful maturity and life toward God, our Father. ¶

May our youth and all others fortify themselves against the insidious evils of the world that overpower and destroy, I pray, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶

promises entered into with God, the Father, as each worthy member partakes with contrite spirit and deepest reflections concerning the atoning sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father. ¶

Show me the man, woman, or child who truly and sincerely covenants to take upon himself the name of Jesus Christ, and I will show you a person who is upright and honest in all of his dealings. ¶

Show me the man, woman, or child who truly commits himself to always remember, and I will show you a child of God who is without guile, one who is understanding and quick to forgive. ¶

Show me the man. woman or child who makes it a matter of daily and hourly endeavor to keep God's commandments that he has given them and lives that pledge in his every act, his every word, to the very best of his ability, and I will show you one who radiates the true Spirit of Christ and who, if unwavering to the end, will inherit eternal life, which is, according to the Lord, "the greatest of all the gifts of God." (D&C 14:7.) Unfortunately, there are those who choose to commit themselves by covenant to the adversary. Conspiring men have formed secret combinations all through the ages to promote wickedness and evil. Immediately preceding the advent of the Savior on this continent 2,000 years ago, we are told of such a group who "did enter into a covenant one with another, yea, even into that covenant which was given by them of old, which covenant was given and administered by the devil, to combine against all righteousness. ¶

"Therefore they did combine against the people of the Lord, and enter into a covenant to destroy them. . . ." (3 Ne. 6:28-29.) Times have not changed. Less than two months ago, most of you read the disturbing article in our newspapers about a group of individuals who have established a so-called Satanic church, with the sole purpose to participate only in the realms of evil and darkness. ¶

They are in open defiance of and diametrically opposed to all of His holy purposes that bring us together in this great conference. Without a goodly number of God-fearing men committed to the cause of truth, these societies of evil could well take over our society. ¶

The only effective tool against evil and darkness is truth and light, particularly truth and light held in the hands of those bearing God's Holy Priesthood: worthy, dedicated men such as I see before me here today. ¶

No man or boy who has accepted the commitment of priesthood can stand idly by, for if we do not abide in this covenant with the Lord, if we are less than anxiously engaged in doing something about it, he says: ". . . ye are not worthy of me." (D&C 98:15.) The oath and covenant of Priesthood The oath and covenant of the priesthood stands singularly supreme among God's covenants with his children. ¶

The Spirit of the Lord is companion to the priesthood. ". . . all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord; . . . ¶

"And he that receiveth me receiveth my father." (D&C 84:35, 37.) These reassuring promises from the Lord, as though there were not enough, are climaxed by what has to be the most generous reward ever accorded to mortal man. He confirms his part of the contract as repayment for complete faithfulness in these words: "And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father's kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him. ¶

"And this is according to the oath and covenant which belongeth to the priesthood." (D&C 84:38-39.) Oh, my dear brothers and sisters, can't we see the folly of any course except it be that course which is priesthood-centered and pointing toward eternal life? The yoke is easy, the burden is light, the Savior tells us. ¶

(Matt. 11:30.) The only difficult way is the cobblestone byway of periodic indifference, broken covenants, and half-hearted effort. ¶

If ours has been the commitment of baptism, then stand up tall and bear his name with honor and dignity, for the promise is that as we prove faithful over a few things, he shall make us rulers over many things. (See D&C 52:13.) If our commitment is in the form of the sacrament, may we partake each time worthily, that we may always have his Spirit to be with us. (See D&C 20:77.) Such is the unqualified promise from our Heavenly Father. ¶

If ours is the commitment to honor the priesthood, may we do so nobly, using it for the blessing of mankind, that our inheritance may indeed be "all that the Father has." ¶

The commitment we make through our covenants with the Lord is serious business. All else is secondary. His rewards are certain, for he has declared for all to hear: "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." ¶

(D&C 82:10.) Let every father stand fearlessly at the head of his family and accept Joshua's challenge that has stood through the ages: ". . . choose you this day whom ye will serve; . . . but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Josh. 24:15.) May we commit ourselves without reservation. May ours be the whole armor of God, that our calling and election may be made sure, I pray humbly in the name of Jesus Christ. ¶

Amen. ¶