"The Grass is Greener Where You Water It"

This weeks reading assignments focused on martial fidelity. I really appreciated how the different aspects of this topic were discussed. I especially liked how the book "Drawing Heaven Into Your Marriage" pointed how how subtle the adversary can be in destroying marriages, even those marriages that were ordained by God for "Time and All Eternity."

I have often wondered how some people get themselves into a situation where they are unfaithful to their spouse. After reading the articles this week, it became a lot more clear and made me recommit myself to making sure I don't ignore any of those early warning signs that were talked about. From H. Wallace Goddard "We live in a time of great moral pollution. Even if we individually take moral purity seriously, we are surrounded by media and culture that celebrate sex as the currency of the realm. Immodesty commands our attention. Lust encourages our warped thinking. Our screen heroes and our real-life national heroes are as casual about sex as about a night on the town. Our contemporary attitude toward sex creates a desolating scourge. President Kimball has warned us that “infidelity is one of the great sins of our generation. The movies, the books, the magazine stories all seem to glamorize the faithlessness of husbands and wives. To the world nothing is holy, not even marriage vows . . . It reminds us of Isaiah, who said: ‘Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil. . . .’ (Isaiah 5:20).”

While Hollywood makes drama out of lust and seduction, the truly great dramas celebrate something different: faithfulness and holiness. Much like Jesus, Joseph “suffered temptations but gave no heed unto them” (D&C 20:22). In a time when lust is the backdrop to almost all relationships, Joseph stands as an example to us of a pure heart. Joseph honored his covenants above pleasure, lust, threats, prison, or convenience. He gave no place for evil.

I really like the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife. We studied it quite extensively in my seminary class this year- we contrasted how Joseph responded to how David responded later to Bathsheba. Two very strong and chosen prophets made very different choices, and those choices led to consequences- positive one for Joseph and devastating ones for David. It all came down to how they dealt with those first tinges of temptation. Would they yield to it, just a little, or refuse at all costs to participate? We need to be like Joseph of Egypt who fled, even leaving his coat in the process.

Again from H. Wallace Goddard "As my wise colleague James Marshall observes, “The grass is greener on the side of the fence you water.” If we tend our own little patch, even with all its weeds and rocks, we will find a joy that passes understanding. If we sit on the fence and dream, we will lose even our allotted garden spot. And the devil knows that.   We should be prepared for Satan’s attacks. He offers love, fun and a satisfying life. But it is a lie. He wants to get us to violate our covenants. But he has no joy to deliver on his grandiose promises. He is the master of misery. That is all he has to offer.Those who resist the lure and guile of Satan, those who honor covenants, those who tend the little garden of their own covenants, will enjoy sweetness in this life and rewards unmeasured in the world to come."

I have been blessed to have a husband that offers me complete fidelity and I return that same honor to him. We work at it. We often tell each other how much we appreciate that trust and work to make sure that we are not in situations where we could falter. Or as stated earlier we take care to 'water our side of the grass' and look forward to the continues sweetness and blessings that come from honoring our covenants.