The Moments That Determine Our Real Character

     What do you do in your free time? According to President Gordon B. Hinckley, it defines who you really are. "You can't tell the character of an individual by the way he does his daily work. Watch him when his work is done. See where he goes. Note the companions he seeks, and the things he does when he may do as he pleases. Then you can tell his true character." In other words, what do you do when nobody else is watching? Do you feel more liberty to commit sin, because nobody else is around? Do you seek to be lazy and waste the time away? Or do you seek knowledge, service, and to do the will of the Lord? President Hinckley continues, "Let us take the eagle, for example. This bird works as hard and as efficiently as any other animal or bird in doing its daily work. It provides for itself and its young by the sweat of its brow, so to speak; but when its daily work is over and the eagle has time of its own to do just as it pleases, note how it spends its recreational moments. It flies in the highest realms of heaven, spreads its wings and bathes in the upper air, for it loves the pure, clean atmosphere and the lofty heights. On the other hand, let us consider the hog. This animal grunts and grubs and provides for its young just as well as the eagle; but when its working hours are over and it has some recreational moments, observe where it goes and what it does. The hog will seek out the muddiest hole in the pasture and will roll and soak itself in filth, for this is the thing it loves. People can be either eagles or hogs in their leisure time."

     As youth baseball players get older, the bigger players notice the little guys hitting just as hard and far as them. They realize that the extra effort that the other players put in end up making the difference. Any athlete needs to learn at a young age that starting positions are won in the weight rooms. Size can only get you so far, and eventually it won't be enough. It takes discipline to hit off of a tee every single day. It takes discipline to run a couple miles a day. It takes discipline to push yourself just a little harder. But it takes no discipline to get home from school/work and do nothing all afternoon. In a game of baseball, every position has an assignment every play. In the offseason, every athlete has an assignment every day to make himself/herself better.

     In the world we live in today, we have hog-like habits. I can't go a day at work or school without hearing the phrase, "I can't wait to go home and do nothing." I find myself falling in this trap some days as well. Recently, I have started an in-depth study of the Doctrine and Covenants. I study one section a week, and I dissect each verse. After work one afternoon, I studied D&C 2 from 6:00-9:00pm. This section only contains 3 verses, but there are so many hidden treasures in the scriptures while we are under the influence of the Holy Ghost. I testify that you will be carried away in the Spirit and the Lord will teach you in His way. I have never regretted dedicating an afternoon to personal study.

     There is a lot of free time wasted in the morning hours. D&C 88:124 reads, "...cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that ye may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated." Recently, I started running a couple times a week in the morning. Even though I'm in pretty bad shape, and my body wasn't built for running anyways, I always feel better during the rest of the day. Granted, my lungs and whole body hurt during the runs, but I find it easier to pay attention, be more productive, and have a better attitude during the rest of the day.

     When we let our guard down, and "lay in the mud", Satan goes to work on our minds and hearts in order to lead us away from the straight and narrow. We can't afford to let him win. Each day is part of eternity, and one slip up has the potential to destroy lives. Paul taught, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world...Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;...Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." (Ephesians 6:10-12, 14, 16)

     As a son/daughter of God in the Latter-Days, you are vitally important in the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. With each life you touch, you potentially effect generations and generations of that one person. Satan has upped his game in these last days and seeks to drag as many individuals as he can down to his eternal misery. We have all the resources we need to conquer, but it all depends on our efforts in our free time. The next time you feel tempted to relax and do nothing, feed yourself spiritually and read a chapter from the Book of Mormon. With such an urgency to do the work of salvation, we need every righteous warrior we can get in this fight against sin. Don't let your guard down, and endure to the end!