L O V E

      Last night I went to see a movie that I have been wanting to see for the past week.  I've seen the entire series and am a big fan of it.   Since I've been reading my scriptures more often and praying I find that don't have time to watch TV mindlessly, nor do I wish to watch.  This is quite a phonomenon, since I have always watched TV or read a book to relax.
     It is no secret that our TV programs and movies are getting more violent and vulgar.  The movie I saw last night was no exception.  It was X-men First Class.  I did enjoy the story line, but I couldn't help but notice that the violence and vulgar scenes, while tame to modern day standards, were more sensational than the first X-men movie.  At least this is how I perceived it.  After the movie my family and I talked about how the movie was good but commented on the parts that could have been taken out.  Then we talked about the fact Hollywood will gladly put in scenes that are "edgy" to make people flock to the box office.  The callousness displayed by all media types reminds me of a scripture.  "And the love of men shall wax cold, and iniquity shall abound." Doctrine and Covenants 45:27
     As a matter of fact, I think this issue comes down to a matter of love.  Our society has lost the love of its fellow man, the love of the family, the love of church, and, sadly, the love of country.  We need to remember that Heavenly Father loved us so much that he sent his only begotten son, Jesus, to save us.  Jesus made it possible for us to repent and live with our Father in Heaven again, because He loved us. The apostle John wrote: "Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation of our sins.  Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." 1 John 4:7-11
     I believe with all my heart that our job as children who have received and accepted the gospel is to help spread this message of hope and love.  Our Savior lives.  He bled in Gethsemane and hung on the cross at Calvary so that we can repent and be resurrected.  So I pledge that I am going to try to love my neighbor enough to share the glad tidings of the gospel both in word and by example.  I hope and pray that I can keep the TV turned off and that I can have the fortitude to keep stringently screening what passes before my eyes.  I know that if I do this I will be able to better serve my Heavenly Father.