34 Overcoming Temptation
34 Overcoming Temptation
When in doubt, get out.
As a teenager, this little motto went through my head and my
heart many times. I knew that if I had to think about something, or try to
justify it, it probably wasn’t a good idea. I’m glad that I listened to that
little rhyme and that it helped me.
What do you think about Potiphar’s wife trying to get Joseph
to sleep with her?
Genesis
39:9, 12 Though Joseph had been sold by his brothers into Egypt, he quickly
rose in authority and became Potiphar’s top and trusted servant. He put him
over all his affairs, but he drew the line when Potiphar’s wife wanted him to
have an affair with her.
He said, How can I do this thing and sin against God? He wouldn’t do it. But that
didn’t keep her from continuing to try day after day.
Joseph showed his devotion to God by resisting Potiphar’s
wife’s advances.
Life’s kind of interesting. We will all face trials. But we
can do so in the strength of the Lord, if we hearken to His Spirit and choose
to follow Him. Still Satan will notice and play upon our weaknesses, because he
doesn’t want us to succeed.
The temptation that was set before Joseph was to break the
law of chastity. He wouldn’t do it.
What are some of the things we have been tempted with or might be tempted with?
Because sexuality is a healthy and important part of our
spiritual and physical being, we need to learn what is and isn’t appropriate
and set boundaries, like Joseph did, so that our desires don’t become obsessions,
lust, or sin.
When we choose to view pornography or engage in sex outside
of marriage, we offend the Spirit of the Holy Ghost and our own Spirit, and we estrange
ourselves from God. That is not to say that He doesn’t love us, or that we can’t
make things right. He’ll always love us, and His hand is always stretched out
to us to help us rise above the temptations and snares of this world.
Why do you think Heavenly Father has given us the law of
chastity? He wants us to live up to our full potential and to find the greatest
joy in life through proper family relationships.
What did Joseph do when Potiphar’s wife trapped him alone in
the house with all the servants gone elsewhere?
Genesis
39:9–12 9 There is none greater in this house than
I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his
wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against
God?
10 And it came to pass, as she spake to
Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by
her, or to be with her.
11 And it came to pass about this time,
that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there
was none of the men of the house there within.
12 And she caught him by his garment, saying,
Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him
out.
He got himself out of there as fast as he could. I don’t
even think he had any doubts. He just got out. Unfortunately, she pulled off
his clothing as he fled, and then she used that to say that he tried to rape
her, and she screamed for help. She lied to her husband about what really happened
with her made-up story.
We have an advantage over Joseph. We aren’t anyone’s
property. We aren’t purchased by someone to be their servants. So if we are
tempted with things we know are wrong, whether it be physical intimacy that’s
inappropriate, or using substances that are addictive and harmful, or lying about
someone, or bullying; or committing any great error. Because we aren’t bond as
a servant or a slave, we really can say, No, I’m not comfortable with this, I’m
leaving. And we can call our parents or a trusted friend to come pick us up.
When in doubt, get out.
I’m thankful that we here in this room are on the covenant
path. We are here because we are striving to follow the Lord. If we make
mistakes, we need to make necessary adjustments, so that we can feel the
confirming power of the Holy Ghost and again have the confidence of our
Heavenly Father in our lives.
Elder Renlund:
No matter how long we have been off the path or how far away
we have wandered, the moment we decide to change, God helps us
return. From God’s perspective, through sincere repentance and pressing
forward with a steadfastness in Christ, once back on the path, it will be as if
we were never off. The Savior pays for our sins and frees us from the
looming decrease in happiness and blessings.
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