Beware the Bee's

Once when I was a kid, summer break came around, and brought with it a particularly hot day. So hot that I decided to run around outside like a mad man without a shirt or shoes on my feet. My mother had previously warned me to put shoes on, so as to avoid a painful sting by a bee, but I chose not to listen. "It was extremely hot out. And whoever heard of bees roaming the ground. Everyone knows they have wings to fly, I will be safe" I reasoned in my head. But alas, my fun could not last. I was stung moments later on the foot by a large bee.

Just like our loving parents hear on earth, we have a loving Heavenly Father who cares about our happiness, who know us personally. He gives us commandments so we don't get stung. I know that as I have followed Christ, obeyed, I have been blessed in all things. I also know that Satan tempts us to do evil, tricks us into believing that wickedness is happiness, lies waiting to sting us when our guard is down. One commandment given from the Lord to prophets from the beginning that protects us, keeps us clean, is the law of chastity.

What is the law of Chastity? The law of chastity helps us see that the power to create children is sacred. It is to reserve sexual relations for marriage between a man and a woman. To be completely loyal after marriage. We also must control our thought, words, and actions by replacing bad ones with good ones. It includes being modest in dress, avoiding pornography in any form. Jesus taught,  "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

Why should we keep it? As with all of Gods commandments, when we keep them we are happy. They are not given to restrict us, but to set us free, to keep us on a good path. As we obey this law, we are blessed with the holy ghost. We will have peace of mind knowing that we are choosing the right. Added confidence will come into our relationships. Greater respect will be in our hearts for our fellow man, for ourselves. When we obey we avoid the sting of sin, which can take awhile to heal, just like a bee sting. We can avoid family problems, heartache, divorce, and deep sorrow by keeping Gods commandment to be clean.

How can I keep it? It all starts from within. Every action is preceded by a thought. As we replace bad thoughts with good ones, we can control our desires to commit sin, by so doing becoming clean and pure. Filling our days with positive thins such as prayer, scripture study, family time, service, will give us power to control our minds, power to become clean because we are consistently practicing it. Also by watching our words and actions, keeping them good. There are few greater blessings that come into our lives than the Holy Ghost, which enters the pure in heart. He will give us added wisdom, courage to choose the right, direction, helping us become an example of the believers. I know Christ lives, that he loves us, that he has given us this commandment for our gain. All of his commandments are within our ability's to follow. For those who may have slipped, God still loves you. Through repentance and Christs atonement, all can be clean again.