Living by the scriptures
E-mail story
It's easy. Send a link to the story you were just reading to a friend. Just fill out the form on this page and we'll send it along.
Your name and e-mail address are transmitted to the recipient. Otherwise, it is considered private information; see Privacy policy.
And inasmuch as they follow the counsel which they receive, they shall have power ... to accomplish all things." — Doctrine and Covenants 105:37
Many years ago, when I was a stake president, I had given a talk in conference about the evils in movies and entertainment. I stressed to "just turn it off" or "just walk out." "Don't be lazy and leave it on and don't worry about what others may think when you leave. Don't worry about the money that you've spent for a ticket."
A few months later, I was walking downtown when a young woman from my stake recognized me and came running up to me. She almost shouted to me, "I did it! I did it!" She was so excited and proud. I had no idea what she was talking about so I gently asked her. She said, "Don't you remember? You told us to just walk out if a movie was bad. Well, I did it. The movie was really bad and so I just walked out. I didn't even ask for my money back."
I was reminded of the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 105:37 that says, "And inasmuch as they follow the counsel which they receive, they shall have power ... to accomplish all things."
She certainly felt empowered after that experience. She had done something really fine for her own good and for her own self esteem. At the same time, she had done something really fine for me. I had thought that no one really listens or actually does what I recommend when I preach a sermon. Well, there was at least one! She surely gave me a lift that day.
— Paul F. Mecham, Hunter 4th Ward, Salt Lake Hunter West Stake
