E.,
I want to vent a little to you about something, but first let me explain why. President Nelson said something true and overall immensely helpful to me in a recent conference talk, but there's part of it that I have an issue with, and I want to vent about it, and I want to vent about it with you in part with the ulterior motive of proving that just because we don't have the same religious beliefs any more doesn't mean we can't have a conversation about religion that you and I will both enjoy. I think you will "get" my issue with this quote and also why I don't ultimately consider it a big deal, but that it's still worth noting.
The quote is:
"As you think celestial, you will find yourself avoiding anything that robs you of your agency. Any addiction—be it gaming, gambling, debt, drugs, alcohol, anger, pornography, sex, or even food—offends God. Why? Because your obsession becomes your god. You look to it rather than to Him for solace. If you struggle with an addiction, seek the spiritual and professional help you need. Please do not let an obsession rob you of your freedom to follow God's fabulous plan."
Both emphases mine. The bold part I have zero problems with and find immensely helpful. (I've been struggling with a food addiction for years and it's super helpful to have official sanction to think of it as an actual spiritual problem, as opposed to something I consider a spiritual problem but am embarrassed to talk about to anyone else because they won't understand why it matters.)
The underlined part I find unsatisfying and a bit of a cop-out. There's an answer but it's much deeper than that, and if I were talking to Heavenly Father directly he would probably say to me either "There are psychological dynamics in play that result in food addiction doing X to your habits which results in Y or Z" or he would say "It's harmful but you're not at a stage yet where I can explain to you exactly why, except via [analogy]."
I'm not saying President Nelson was wrong to phrase it that way because his job is to talk to the world, not only to Max, and I think the world would generally respond poorly to the kind of explanation Max would benefit from (especially the "you're not at a stage yet where I can explain to you"). But the Holy Ghost says to me at least that the Max-directed explanation exists and would satisfy me.
If I know you, E., I would say you have probably had your own run-ins with explanations that are unsatisfying and a bit of a cop-out. I know how it feels.
--
I could not love thee dear, so much,
Loved I not honor more.
I want to vent a little to you about something, but first let me explain why. President Nelson said something true and overall immensely helpful to me in a recent conference talk, but there's part of it that I have an issue with, and I want to vent about it, and I want to vent about it with you in part with the ulterior motive of proving that just because we don't have the same religious beliefs any more doesn't mean we can't have a conversation about religion that you and I will both enjoy. I think you will "get" my issue with this quote and also why I don't ultimately consider it a big deal, but that it's still worth noting.
The quote is:
"As you think celestial, you will find yourself avoiding anything that robs you of your agency. Any addiction—be it gaming, gambling, debt, drugs, alcohol, anger, pornography, sex, or even food—offends God. Why? Because your obsession becomes your god. You look to it rather than to Him for solace. If you struggle with an addiction, seek the spiritual and professional help you need. Please do not let an obsession rob you of your freedom to follow God's fabulous plan."
Both emphases mine. The bold part I have zero problems with and find immensely helpful. (I've been struggling with a food addiction for years and it's super helpful to have official sanction to think of it as an actual spiritual problem, as opposed to something I consider a spiritual problem but am embarrassed to talk about to anyone else because they won't understand why it matters.)
The underlined part I find unsatisfying and a bit of a cop-out. There's an answer but it's much deeper than that, and if I were talking to Heavenly Father directly he would probably say to me either "There are psychological dynamics in play that result in food addiction doing X to your habits which results in Y or Z" or he would say "It's harmful but you're not at a stage yet where I can explain to you exactly why, except via [analogy]."
I'm not saying President Nelson was wrong to phrase it that way because his job is to talk to the world, not only to Max, and I think the world would generally respond poorly to the kind of explanation Max would benefit from (especially the "you're not at a stage yet where I can explain to you"). But the Holy Ghost says to me at least that the Max-directed explanation exists and would satisfy me.
If I know you, E., I would say you have probably had your own run-ins with explanations that are unsatisfying and a bit of a cop-out. I know how it feels.
--
I could not love thee dear, so much,
Loved I not honor more.
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