Just Keep Swiming

As you may have noticed by now I love Disney movies. Another of my favorites is Finding Nemo. Nemo wants more freedom than he has within the confines of his fathers laws. One day he decides to push the limits, go and "touch the butt."(the really big ship). As a result from giving in to his friends temptations, he is caught up by the net, carried away captive to the dentist office. His father, Marlin, worries much for his only son. Upon the realization the Nemo is missing, he searches for his son across the ocean tirelessly, both night and day, with a friend he meets along the way named Dorey. Marlin gets discouraged, even with Dorey singing "just keep swimming." Although he continues to swim,   due to fear and lack of success he loses sight of his goal.

All of us, like Nemo, are subject to temptation. Be it from friends, co-workers, or strangers, come it will. The Devil seeks for us to be miserable like unto himself. He is the author of misery, or sin. How we choose to react to temptation makes the difference in life. The difference is freedom or captivity. A right choice leads to more freedom, while a bad choice leads to captivity.

For those who have fallen due to a wrong choice, the way back to our heavenly father is Jesus Christ. Because of the Atonement, when we repent we receive mercy instead of justice, the consequence of sin. For every action there is a consequence. Just like when Nemo left his friends to touch the boat despite his fathers words to stay, he was free to make that choice. He was not free, however, to determine the consequence, which was captivity by the net of deceit. Satan desire to have us, to catch us in his net. We must be firm, stand strong in the faith of Christ. We must help those who have fallen, search them out.

Sometimes in our journey we will be tempted to believe its OK to "just keep swimming." While its important to move forward, effort without vision is drudgery. Vision without effort is daydreaming. We must finish our course, with faith and effort. I testify that Christ lives. My hope is to return to live with him some day. The choices I make, the effort I put into my life, point towards that hope. I hope and pray to be able to see many, if not all of my brothers and sisters in heaven again.