To whom are we really listening - the world or the Lord?

"I want the world...I want the whole world. I want to lock it all up in my pocket, it's my bar of chocolate. Give it to me now!"

~Veruca singing from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Watja-bringme? Watja-bringme?

~Brother and Sister Bear (Bernstein Bears get the Gimmies)

I've been thinking a lot about that bad case of the Gimmie's that we all get(both seeking life's answers from the world and seeking lifes things from the many,many stores.) I don't care where you live, who you are, what you do for a living -- we are all human and to some extent, we all get the "gimmies."

Personally, I struggle a lot with this. I wish so much that I didn't allow myself to want. I definitely don't compare myself to Veruca but I'd say I fall prey to this temptation almost daily.

I just finished a chapter from Sheri Dew's latest book "God Wants a Powerful People" titled "Mortals make mistakes." I would highly recommend anyone to read this book -- but for now, I'll try to document what I learned.

First of all -- we do make mistakes, such is our nature. We can't beat ourselves up for it -- just try try again. I have been praying for answers to help our Garrett with a few things and last night at the temple one simple solution hit me like a ton of bricks. Funny how I had searched many different earthly options but had yet to go to the temple to talk with Heavenly Father while in His home.

Sheri Dew states the following "Why do we seem to favor earthly counsel over that of prophets, seers, and revelators as well as others called & gifted with priesthood keys, mantles & stewardship to lead us?...Think about it we're promised that if we "receive the Holy Ghost it will show unto [us] all things that [we] should do" 2 Nephi 32:5. "

ALL THINGS!!! Honestly, how can we pass that up? and yet, we do.

Why do I want THINGS, why do I search earthly counsel for ANSWERS? Because I as a mortal, make mistakes....and that's okay, as long as I continue to try to correct them.

She goes on to say " The Savior liberates, while Satan captivates and then captures. The Lord gives us commandments to keep and covenants to make that liberate us because they keep us from enslavement. Lucifer claims that he's all about freedom, but everything he does enslaves. He binds us with his cords and chains, holding us hostage with everything from the bondage of debt to the bondage of addiction. He ensnares us in everything from pornography to prescription medications to money and power."

Coming unto Christ means walking away from the world.

C.S Lewis said: "God knows quite well how hard we find it to love Him more than anyone or anything else, and He won't be angry with us as long as we are trying. And He will help us."(The Quotable Lewis, 409~emphasis added)

Even(or should I say especially) within families, there is judgement, envy, and many other bad feelings that Satan wants us to feel. He tries so hard to tear us apart -- even if it's by who has the best career, education, car, house, calling in church(this one really kills me--ALL callings are equal & for our own learning), social life, crafts, home decor, food storage, fishing pole, four wheeler, snow mobile, boat. and the list goes on and on. Our Pride is our fall.

I once sat in a Relief Society Meeting of a small town where the instructor was telling a story of how those that live on the Wasatch Front are so much more prideful than they that lived on farms because of their 'things' and 'activities.' I took offense(as we shouldn't) and raised my hand(of course) to state that a blanket statement such as that was not only ignorant but showing pride on their part. How can one think that they are "better" than another? We all need to watch out for Pride. It lurks in our thoughts, it can consume us -- as soon as we start thinking it's gone -- it's back again.

The world is definitely trying to get us to dead-end ourselves spiritually. Our wants overcome us and we become captive, if only for a moment, to Satan. I'm not trying to say, by any means, that when we fall prey we are bad people. I also believe STRONGLY that there is nothing the matter with having nice things -- as long as you can afford them. There is nothing the matter with wanting nice clothes -- as long as you can afford them. The things side of this can be touchy because some of us can afford them, and some of us can't. Yet, we ALL want them.(remember the word "nice" is relevant) I really don't like that STUFF is even a temptation. When oh when will the law of consecration come into play? I think I'm gonna LOVE it.:)

I only posted this because when I "talk" about things it helps me to process it. I hope I can reprocess this day after day. Because I NEED it!!