| September 20, 1999 President Kimball’s article, “The False Gods We Worship,” rang very true to me. People don’t mean to . . . well, maybe some do . . . but today many people are putting things of the world above their duties to God. Usually it isn’t a fancy car or even money, at least not for the youth of today. More often than not, it is for love, for school, a girl or a guy, that many people forget to worship their God. It is for social power, for acceptance, that I’ve seen many guys forsake missions, deciding that pursuing the earthly goal of a degree is more important. What has become their idol? Not God. And what about the people who decide they love someone so much, it doesn’t matter what the Lord said, they are in love, therefore an exception to everyone else on this earth, and they can have sexual intercourse before marriage? Who is the idol of the boy or girl who gives up his or her virtue for another? Certainly not God, or it wouldn’t have happened. No, they worship each other; willing to do anything on this earth for the other. Would it change the attitudes of the youth if they realized they are idolizing another human being with their actions? Earthly things, human beings . . . they will let us down. They are imperfect, just as we are, and like Pharaoh from Moses’ time, anyone idolizing these things will not be saved from the Angel of Death. But God will never ever let us down. In some ways, Bennion’s article, “The Weightier Matters,” was very similar to Kimball’s article. He again points out to us how we shouldn’t be so concerned with our fancy meals and lots of money, but more of charity, and being concerned for our fellow men. These, then, are the issues that really matter; and we have been admonished that “ . . . when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of you God” (Mosiah 2:17). So although Bennion took a different route in stating what he thought, the message is very similar; idolize what is real. While it is not apparently obvious at first, Tuesdays with Morrie also centralizes around this theme. Mitch struggles to find happiness in money, a career, and social prowess, while losing out on friendships and love, and most importantly, neglecting his responsibility to start a family. It is through Morrie that Mitch realizes he’s been chasing after “false gods.” Morrie may not be a religious man, and he may not be living according the gospel standards; but he lives according to the truth as he knows it, and he has found the most happiness that is available to him. I think this theme will be visible, at least a little bit, in most forms of writing. People are always struggling to figure out what makes them happy. If they have advice to give, or if they feel they have somehow received a hint, people are eager to share it. In the end, people reach a point where money is not enough, careers and cars and girlfriends are not enough; and then the learning and inspiration comes, if people are humble enough to hear it. |