Children of God cannot 'do wrong and feel right'
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Like a fish needs water, one needs the gospel and the companionship of the Holy Ghost to be truly, deeply happy, Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Seventy told young Aaronic Priesthood holders in his priesthood session address Saturday night.
"Because you are the offspring of God, it is incompatible with your eternal nature to do wrong and feel right," Elder Nash said. "It cannot be done. It is part of your spiritual DNA, as it were, that peace, joy, and happiness will be yours only to the degree you live the gospel."
Further drawing a lesson from the experience of fishing, Elder Nash said, "Just as a fish in a mountain stream must be careful of the lures placed in its path to avoid being pulled from the water, so must you and I be wise in order to avoid being pulled away from a happy, gospel-centered life."
He warned young men not to "be deceived into even nibbling at unworthy things," adding that "there is much that is evil and unclean in music, the Internet, movies, magazines, and in alcohol, drugs and tobacco."
"Disguised in such things is a hook that sets subtly and much more suddenly than you dare think — and it can be an excruciatingly painful process to extract the hook," he said.
Citing Alma's experience in the Book of Mormon, Elder Nash held out hope for those who might have been involved with what is evil or unclean, noting the joy that Alma felt as a result of his repentance, this through the Atonement of Christ.
"Repentance is the great enabling principle of the gospel," Elder Nash declared.
"My invitation to each of you tonight is to live the gospel to be truly happy, avoid evil and the misery it brings, and if you have become involved with the evil or unclean thing, make the changes the Lord desires of you for your own happiness," he said.
