Mormon Notes: Moral Erosion

I will never forget one time before my mission, when my mother and I were watching T.V. We were flipping through channels and came across the 1950's classic, "From Here to Eternity." Some of you may not be aware of this movie, but there is a certain scene where the male and female leads frolic around the beach kissing. Although the female character was wearing much more than some people do at the gym, my mother began to tell me how this scene (and movie) were very risque at the time.

I was reminded of this today in church because President Clark Monson, our Stake President and son of President Thomas S. Monson (I think he's the youngest in this pic), spoke about the erosion of morality. He reminisced about watching a famous T.V. show where the husband and wife slept in separate beds, because writers and producers didn't want to offend viewers.

Being a biologist, President Monson also discussed a 1970 report about human influence eroding the wilderness in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The report concluded with a statement about the fact that many couldn't understand what the researcher was talking about, because when you visit now, unless you've been before, you have nothing to compare the wilderness too--you have no point of reference.

While tying these facts into his thoughts on moral erosion, President Monson said that our generation "accepts and is satisfied with present societal conditions" because we don't have a previous point of reference. I understand that. Because this is the society we are living in, we don't really know any different. However, we need to watch out for the continual erosion of morality.

President Monson asked us to do four things: 1) Stand up for what you believe in, 2) Stand in Holy Places, 3) Rid yourselves of habits that waste time, and 4) Participate in service activities. He ended by saying we should keep ourselves unspotted from the world and, "always stand up for what is right!" I really believe that this is true and I challenge you to do the same.