Protecting your Sacred Gift
If someone was trying to kill you, would you just stick around and see what happens?
We all have inside of us a gift given to us by Heavenly Father: the ability to create life. Our loving Heavenly Father wants us to know how precious and sacred this gift really is.
President Ezra Taft Benson said, "Guard your virtue as you would your very life." So if someone was trying to kill you, would you just stick around and see what happens? Of course not! You would run. That's exactly what we should do when faced with a situation that's getting out of hand -- run away! One way to prevent things from going too far is to be careful who you date. In For the Strength of Youth it says "Date only those who have high standards and in whose company you can maintain your standards. A young man and a young woman on a date are responsible to help each other maintain their standards and to protect each other's honor and virtue."
The way to stay morally clean is recognising the steps that lead to immorality:
"Single date
Out very late
Alone in the car
Extended hugging and kissing
French kissing
Hands start to wander
Hands under clothing
Removal of clothing
One laying on top
Sexual relations"
So the way to avoid immorality includes following these steps:
"Double date
Stay in seated, upright position
Keep clothes on
Keep hands to yourself
Do only closed mouth kissing
Keep hugs and kisses brief and seldom
Be with others
Set and keep curfew
Double date" 1
The world treats being immoral as normal and no big deal. Sometimes it seems like "everybody's doing it". But that isn't true. There are many faithful youth who choose to stand up for what's right.
Another lie of Satan is that immorality has no long term consequences. One consequence is the risk of contracting dangerous STDs. One is AIDS. This disease, in most cases, leads to death.
Another long term consequence of being immoral is the likelihood of getting pregnant. When the child is born the mother must face the choice of putting the child up for adoption or raising it. Either way it will be hard for the child and the mother: the mother will have a hard time raising the child or may feel guilty if she puts it up for adoption, and the child may feel unwanted or feel the loss of having only one parent. In On Guard it says "Unwed mothers usually have serious financial hardships." The mother may also resent the child, causing psychological problems.
Young men and women who choose to be immoral face less obvious emotional turmoil as well. They lose their self respect and carry a burden of guilt and regret.
Although they can repent and be forgiven, this does not come easily.
"Decide today to be morally clean. Put a picture of your favorite temple on your bedroom wall. Then pray each morning and night asking Heavenly Father to help you reach that goal. Always remember that you are his daughter or son and you are going to live worthy to return to him one day."2
1.On Guard by Gary and Joy Lundburg Pg.53-54
2.On Guard by Gary and Joy Lundburg
Kristina Haws is 16 and lives in North Platte,Nebraska. She is in 10th grade and likes to dance and sing.
