Examine Yourself

            I continue my study of teachings and the travels of the Apostles of Jesus Christ, and I finished 2 Corinthians today. I came across one of the teachings of the Apostle Paul that intrigues me. It reminded me of an experience I had a few years ago while sitting in a Sunday school class and discussing the pride cycle in the Book of Mormon.

            As any student of the Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ knows, the Nephites went through the pride cycle fairly rapidly. The same is true of the Old Testament and the Israelites, so the Nephite experience was nothing new. The pride cycle consists of four basic steps: (1) Righteousness and Prosperity, (2) Pride and Wickedness, (3) Destruction and Suffering, and (4) Humility and Repentance.

            During this discussion I questioned how the Nephites could go through this cycle so rapidly. It seemed that they were righteous one year and wicked the next year. I could not understand how they moved so far so quickly. When I asked my question, the instructor asked a question in return. He wanted to know if my righteousness was on a constant level or if I had my ups and downs. I replied that I too had my ups and downs, but I did not have the wild swings that we were studying. A sister in the back of the room said, “That is because you check yourself before you go too far astray.” That simple sentence answered all of my questions.  I remembered that experience today when I read 2 Corinthians 13:5.

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove our own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

            Paul was teaching the Corinthians to examine themselves. He wanted them to discover where they stood in relationship to the gospel of Jesus Christ. In other words, he wanted them to check themselves. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles discusses Paul’s teachings in a General Conference talk not too many years ago.

All of us should answer these challenges for ourselves. Where is our ultimate loyalty? Are we like the Christians in Elder Neal A. Maxwell’s memorable description who have moved their residence to Zion but still try to keep a second residence in Babylon? [See A Wonderful Flood of Light (1990), 47].

There is no middle ground. We are followers of Jesus Christ. Our citizenship is in His Church and His gospel, and we should not use a visa to visit Babylon or act like one of its citizens. We should honor His name, keep His commandments, and `seek not the things of this world but seek … first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness (“Teachings of Jesus,” Ensign, Nov. 2011, 93).

            Elder Maxwell and Elder Oaks call it “Zion” and “Babylon.” President George Albert Smith called it God’s territory and Satan’s territory. He often repeated the following counsel that he learned from his grandfather, George A. Smith. 

There is a line of demarcation well defined between the Lord’s territory and the devil’s territory. If you stay on the Lord’s side of the line, you will be under his influence and will have no desire to do wrong; but if you cross to the devil’s side of that line one inch, you are in the tempter’s power, and if he is successful, you will not be able to think or even reason properly because you will have lost the Spirit of the Lord.

            So, as we examine ourselves and check our positions, we have to ask ourselves where we are in relationship to the line of demarcation. Are we staying far away from the line and deep in the Lord’s territory, or are we moving towards the line of demarcation and maybe even trying to straddle it? We have the responsibility to check ourselves and must do it often to stay safely in the Lord’s territory.

Line of Demarcation

                We can bring the greatest of all liberties into our individual lives by living true and correct principles.  This liberty comes to us as we learn to live as though Jesus Christ were walking beside us.  We gain this freedom as we invite the Holy Ghost into our lives.

                  The liberty principle for today is number eighteen in a series of true principles suggested by Elder Richard G. Scott in his book

21 Principles – Divine Truths to Help You Live by the Spirit.  I will merely introduce the principle and suggest that you obtain Elder Scott’s book in order to truly understand this principle.  Elder Scott explained that principles “are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances.  A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and challenging circumstances.”  You can see principle #1“True Principles of Freedom” here.  

                  Principle #18 is the simple fact that the temptations of Satan can either destroy us or make us stronger as we resist them.  “Satan knows that correct principles, when observed consistently, will render an individual increasingly resistant to his temptations.  He has developed a comprehensive plan to undermine or destroy each one of them.  For example, to dispose of faith, Satan would plant and cultivate in us the seeds of selfishness.  He knows that if left unchecked, these seeds will grow into a monster that can enslave the divine spirit in man.  Selfishness if ate the root of sin.  It leads to unrighteous acts that debauch and deprave the soul. It reinforces destructive habits that produce a dependence on chemical or physical stimulants that destroy the mind and body. Satan’s program is based on immediate gratification of selfish desires.  He urges us to participate now and pay later.  However, the full, terrible consequences of payment are never revealed until it is tragically late.  The Spirit of the Lord can overpower the stifling effect of selfishness.  That cherished Spirit comes with faith, repentance, obedience, and service.

                “So that you will be forewarned, I will show you how Satan works.  Let us imagine a boundary line, and assume that on one side of this boundary are all of the good things that can be done in life.  They are arranged so that they get better and better as one moves farther from the boundary.  On the other side are all the wrong things that can be done.  They go from bad to worse.  At the boundary it is difficult to discern what is right and what is wrong.  That is where Satan tries to tempt righteous people.  It is a twilight zone where you cannot clearly discern between what is good and what is bad, so it is easy to become confused.  Live well within the area of good and you won’t have any problems with temptation” (pp. 85-86).

                The “twilight zone” described by Elder Scott is real and very dangerous.  People often believe they can walk in this area without getting into trouble.  These people are foolish because they do not understand the danger of “just one drink” or “just one cigarette” or “just a little necking” or “just one R-rated movie.”  People who are wise stay far away from the line of demarcation.

                President George Albert Smith declared, “There is a line of demarcation, well defined, between the Lord’s territory and the devil’s.  If you will stay on the Lord’s side of the line, you will be under his influence and will have no desire to do wrong; but if you cross to the devil’s side of the line one inch, you are in the tempter’s power, and if he is successful, you will not be able to think or even reason properly, because you will have lost the Spirit of the Lord.”  (The Miracle of Forgiveness, p. 232.) 

                When we are in the Lord’s territory, we are free to come and go as we desire; once a person steps across the line of demarcation and enters  the territory controlled by Satan they lose freedom to come and go as they choose.  The deeper a person goes into Satan’s territory the stronger the shackles he places on them.  

Line of Demarcation

                    Families, communities, and nations are strengthened when we teach the rising generation about the line of demarcation, a line that we must never cross.  Children and teenagers must be taught that there are thoughts, words and actions which are appropriate and other which are always inappropriate.  In addition, parents, leaders, and teachers must distinguish - and then teach - which thoughts, words, and actions are merely "youthful mistakes which should be corrected and sins that require chastening and repentance."  (See Elder Dallin H. Oaks, "Sins and Mistakes, Ensign, Oct. 1996, p. 62.)

                    When Lehi and his family were traveling through the wilderness to reach their Promise Land, Lehi arose one morning to find "a round ball of curious workmanship" made of fine brass.  There were two spindles in the ball, and one spindle pointed the direction for the family to travel.  The family learned that the pointers in the ball "did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them."  The ball also contained words which gave the family "understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it."  (See Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, 1 Nephi 16:10, 28-29.)

                    According to the Book of Mormon records, Lehi passed the ball down to his son Nephi; the ball was then passed down through the Nephite prophets.  Mormon recorded that King Benjamin passed the ball to his son Mosiah along with the Plates of Brass, the Plates of Nephi, and the sword of Laban.  Mormon indicated that the ball "was prepared by the hand of the Lord that thereby they might be led, every one according to the heed and diligence which they gave unto him."  (See Book of Mormon, Mosiah 1:15-16.)

                    When Alma passed the ball down to his son Helaman, he told him, "And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director - or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.

                    "And behold, there cannot any man work after the manner of so curious a workmanship.  And behold, it was prepared to show unto our fathers the course which they should travel in the wilderness.

                    "And it did work for them, according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day."  (See Book of Mormon, Alma 37:38-40.)

                    Doctrine and Covenants 17 contains a revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet to Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, and Martin Harris, at Fayette, New York, June 1829, just before they saw the engraved plates that contained the Book of Mormon record.  After Joseph and his scribe, Oliver Cowdery, learned that three special witnesses of the Book of Mormon would be designated (see Ether 5:2-4; see also 2 Nephi 11:3; 27:12), Oliver, David and Martin expressed their desires to be those witnesses.  Joseph Smith inquired of the Lord and received this revelation through the Urim and Thummim. 

                    The revelation began, "Behold, I say unto you, that you must rely upon my word, which if you do with full purpose of heart, you shall have a view of the plates, and also of the breastplate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim, … and the miraculous directors which were given to Lehi while in the wilderness, on the borders of the Red Sea.

                    "And it is by your faith that you shall obtain a view of them, even by that faith which was had by the prophets of old.

                    "And after that you have obtained faith, and have seen them with your eyes, you shall testify of them, by the power of God."

                    In teaching my children and various classes about the Liahona, I often desired to an object to show them.  On a recent vacation in Salt Lake City, Utah, I happened to find a brass Liahona and purchased it.  Although I understand that the maker of this Liahona probably did not make it as a replica of the real thing, it is still a good teaching object.  It even contains good counsel that if followed will lead me in the ways of God.  Some of the sayings on it are: "Trust the Prophet" and "Let the Holy Spirit Guide."

                    Just as the family and posterity of Lehi had the Liahona to guide them, we have the words of the prophets and the scriptures as well as the guidance of the Holy Ghost to keep us moving in the right direction.

                    President Thomas S. Monson once said, "May I provide a simple formula by which you can measure the choices which confront you.  It's easy to remember:  `You can't be right by doing wrong; you can't be wrong by doing right'" ("Pathways to Perfection," Ensign, May 2002, p. 100).

                    The counsel of President Monson works exactly the same way as the Liahona worked.  We must exercise faith and be diligent in keeping the commandments of God in order to receive proper guidance in our lives.

                    Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Seventy stated, "As we study the scriptures, we learn that the promises made by the Lord to us are conditional upon our obedience and encourage righteous living.  Those promises must nourish our soul, bringing us hope by encouraging us not to give up even in the face of our daily challenges of living."  (See Ensign, May 2012, p. 40.)

                    Elder Soares then quoted President George Albert Smith, who was repeating counsel from his grandfather when he said, "There is a line of demarcation well defined between the Lord's territory and the devil's territory.  If you will stay on the Lord's side of the line you will be under his influence and will have no desire to do wrong; but if you cross to the devil's side of that line one inch you are in the tempter's power and if he is successful, you will not be able to think or even reason properly because you will have lost the Spirit of the Lord" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church:  George Albert Smith, [2011], 191).

                    The Savior focused on His mission and always put the will of the Father before His own.  He gave us the perfect example, and the prophets give us words of counsel.  We must remember President's Monson's words, "You can't be right by doing wrong; you can't be wrong by doing right."  We must not only stay on the Lord's side of the line of demarcation, but we must stay as deep as possible in the Lord's territory and as far away from the line as possible.  We can strengthen our homes, communities, and nations by teaching the rising generation to trust in the Lord, to listen to the prophets, and the difference between "youthful mistakes" and "sin."