Sunday, October 23, 2011

Remember Lot's Wife

"Remember Lot's wife." (Luke 17:32) Without going into a lot of detail, I wish to explain the meaning behind this statement made by the Savior Himself.
Lot and his family were commanded to leave Sodom and Gomorrah. Wickedness prevailed, and after countless warnings by the Lord's servants, it came time to destroy it. And destroy He did. The city was leveled. As Lot and his family left their 'old life,' they were commanded not to look back. Unfortunately, Lot's wife's heart remained in that once great city. We presume this because of her longing look towards their abandoned home and plentiful belongings. This action brought the punishment that was promised. She was destroyed with the city.
The Savior reminded His disciples of this tragic event to teach them a lesson. As we follow Christ, we are to do so with full purpose of heart. To truly follow Him, repentance and the accompanied sanctification is prerequisite. Sanctification comes from "yielding our hearts unto God." (Helaman 3:35) As we yield our hearts unto God, we desire to walk away from our old lives and never look back. Paul taught, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4) My friends, true and enduring happiness comes from yielding our hearts unto God. This I have a personal testimony of. The only way we can sincerely follow Him is to walk away from our old lives. We cannot look book. If we dwell on our past, we cannot turn away from our old life. Nephi, a Prophet from the Book of Mormon, declared, "Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, o my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul." (2 Nephi 4:28) If we continue to look back at our old lives, we are giving place for the enemy of our souls.
If we have sinned, we can repent and come unto Christ. Follow Him with full purpose of heart. Be born again. Walk in a newness of life. Sanctify yourself. I can promise you that if you will, He will receive you. And there, in His arms, we will receive a fullness of joy. Isn't that what we all want?
Forgive me for the short length, but I hope that you will recommit yourself to follow the Savior. Here are only a few ways we can truly do so. I love you all. Stay classy.
Elder Hill   

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