General Conference Book Club Week 12

In Elder Holland’s talk, “Place No More for the Enemy of My Soul,” he addresses the deadly sin of lust.  I attended this session of General Conference, and it actually brought tears to my eyes when he began to speak because I just felt that it was a topic that Heavenly Father wants his children to better understand.  Of all the “deadly sins,” I think none is more widely peddled and embraced than lust.  Men and women are force-fed titillating images and messages at every turn, and the “enemy of our souls” deceives many with unhealthy attitudes about relationships, expectations, and appropriate standards.  As Elder Ballard pointed out in his conference talk, this same enemy tries to convince women that their power lies in their sensuality and that they deserve “exciting” lives of promiscuous adventure.  Elder Holland states the danger:

“In addition to the completely Spirit-destroying impact [lust] has upon our souls, I think it is a sin because it defiles the highest and holiest relationship God gives us in mortality—the love that a man and a woman have for each other and the desire that couple has to bring children into a family intended to be forever.”

When we consider the great power and influence that can come from virtue, it’s no wonder that Satan has chosen lust as one of his central platforms in the campaign for men’s souls.  What principles stand out to you as you study his talk?

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