The Cult of Self

I have been reading a lot about worlds events today. And it got to the point where I had to bend to my knees and pray for the world because of how messed up and off we seem to be. I first read an article about how US soldiers are not allowed to stop molestation of young Arab boys from Arab military leaders, even when it is happening on US territory right in front of their faces. I got 3/4 through the article and had to exit out because it was too much for me to read at that time.

Then I read an article about the #shoutyourabortion campaign. With the house rejecting a bill that would protect children over the age of 20 weeks (5 months) from abortions, it just makes me so sad to see the world in the condition it is today. Anywhere above the age of 23 weeks a baby has been shown that life is viable, yet we vote in a law that makes it so abortions can be done on little babies where if a C- section was performed instead of an abortion, that little baby would have life. I believe that some abortions can be merited, but it should never be something you are proud you had to do. You don't hear people shouting and bragging about "I bought a puppy last week because I was feeling sad, and decided I wasn't ready to actually take care of it long term so I took it out back and shot it!" # Killdapuppies, #dempupsaredead. Why would ANYONE brag about killing humans? I get it. Some people say it is their body, their right. But you should not ever be proud to get an abortion, I don't care what the circumstance.

"I've had 2 abortions. I don't have to justify or explain them to anybody. My life is more valuable than a potential life. "

"I had an abortion. My body, my life, my choice. End of story. "

Many women are saying MY choice, MY body, MY decision. No surprise there. In 2014 the new most used word of the year was selfie. Everything is about me, I, myself nowdays. I mean, we all have been selfish throughout mankind, but this takes selfishness to another level. We are now BRAGGING about how selfish we are!! It seems so strange to me. We are a world the values ourselves and our possessions.

Here are some lyric selections from the top 4 songs of 2014

Happy:
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you
Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna do


Dark Horse
Make me your Aphrodite
Make me your one and only


All of Me (as if the title doesn't speak for itself)
Give your all to me
Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you

Fancy:
I'm so fancy
Feels so good getting what I want, yeah
Who that, who that, I-G-G-Y

No surprises there!! The top four songs are all about possession, and self pleasure. We worship and idolize the self. Need I mention more top selling songs recently? Mine- Taylor Swift, Baby- Justin Beieber. Need I go on?

We are so self consumed. I had a flashback to EFY where we were learning scripture mastery today

2 TIMOTHY 3:

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth

I remember stopping and discussing what each of those meant. The first one was complicated ten years ago though. We just described it as being selfish, spending lots of money on yourself for clothing, or just being vain by thinking you were better than everyone. Now,  can think of at least twenty different ways we are specifically lovers of our own selves actively and braggdaciously (Twitter, instagram, selfies, facebook ect.) 

I feel like vs 2 summarizes facebook and teenager electronics problems. 

Vs 3. without natural affection what kind of mother does not have a natural love and instinct to protect and love her unborn child!! Hence, without natural affection. How did we get here?

Despisers of those that are good. No comment needed here.

We are ever learning, but the world will never know the truth of all things....

As we can see, this scripture has already been fulfilled. We are in the last days (that isn't to say it is not going to still get even WORSE.) But we have all bought ourselves a front row seat on the ride "the last days of perilous times". There are no exits to this roller coaster, and while many people are enjoying the thrill and adrenaline of this ride by standing up, not keeping all limbs inside the ride at all times with their seat belts buckled, there will be a time when we flip upside-down, and everyone not buckled in tight will come falling and crashing to the ground.

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

Thomas S. Monson has said. "It would be easy to become discouraged and cynical about the future—or even fearful of what might come—if we allowed ourselves to dwell only on that which is wrong in the world and in our lives. Today, however, I’d like us to turn our thoughts and our attitudes away from the troubles around us and to focus instead on our blessings as members of the Church. The Apostle Paul declared, “God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

So all I can do right now is to love, and by keeping the commandments show God that I love him. The world may turn on itself, but our Shepherd will not desert us.