The Spirit Will Guide

Last Friday night while Kent was working I was at home and decided to watch a movie on TV. During the movie there were advertisements about a new television series that would be coming up next. The show looked to be a little racy and I had the thought that I should change it when it came on. I convinced myself that if it got bad I could always turn it off. I watched and there was some questionable content, but it was fairly tame in my mind so I continued watching and when the show ended I thought I had found a new show to follow. That night when Kent came home the show was being aired again so I suggested he watch it with me. Kent liked it too and we were excited to see the next episode.

Sunday night was the new episode so I had it set to record and when we saw that it had aired we settled down to see it. Sunday nights are usually when I talk on the phone with my parents so I asked him to stop the recording and let me call my parents first and then we would watch it. He ended up falling asleep so we went to bed without watching it, but all the next day I was dying to watch, but I thought it would be polite to wait for Kent since he had planned to view it with me.


That Monday I turned on a talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks entitled, "Where Will It Lead?" He was speaking of the small and seemingly inconsequential choices we make and what path they will lead us down. He said, "As an example of things to avoid, consider the terrible consequences of partaking of anything that can be addictive. This includes not only tobacco and the alcohol that enslaved my friend’s husband but also the avalanche of pornographic material that assaults our senses on the Internet and in the popular entertainment, including movies and videos. Where does sampling this garbage lead? Church leaders and professionals alike affirm that it leads to the destruction of earthly and eternal family relationships—and sometimes even to prison sentences for abusive behavior. Get mixed up with this garbage and it will lead you to the landfill—the dumping ground of temporal dreams and eternal destinies."


When he said this my mind was immediately taken back to the thoughts I had while watching the previews. I realized that I had ignored those thoughts and therefore was now more tempted to watch a show that I could have easily ignored and forgotten had I listened at first. Now that I had ignored that prompting it was harder to make the right choice. I knew, however, that continuing to ignore that warning could potentially lead to "the destruction of earthly and eternal family relationships." I knew what I needed to do. So I picked up my phone and asked if Kent would be understanding of me deleting the recorded show. He said he was and so I deleted it. 


In retrospect I can see that even though I corrected my course rather quickly there was still damage done. Because I didn't listen the first time Kent and/or I could more easily be tempted to change the channel to that show when we see that it is on. Choosing to avoid it is a choice I can only make for myself and not for Kent. I know that curiosity could work at me and make me want to watch just a little more. Perhaps if I had not listened all would be just fine. Either way I know from my own and others experiences that it is better to listen and not know the outcome than to ignore and wish I had followed the prompting. I am very thankful for the wonderful mercies of the holy spirit.