Letter 8 28 2016 Yield

FYI - Jacob Lyman was kind enough to remember me in his weekly email so I'm adding him here.  And for purposes of these letters, I refer to him as I do you, as my son.

My sons:

Last week, I asked one of our YSA girls to give a talk on Chastity.  I had no idea what we'd get because it's a tough topic; today she spoke and we found out, she is simply amazing and brought unique thoughts for everyone to consider.  She quoted this scripture:

O, my beloved brethren, remember the awfulness in transgressing against that Holy God, and also the awfulness of yielding to the enticings of that cunning one. Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spiritually-minded is life eternal.

After quoting that scripture, she discussed the meaning of the word Yield.  In her mind, when you drive, the yield sign means to slow down, look both ways, and then proceed with caution.  Think about this in the context of the law of chastity.  I thought this was a great insight and worthy of sharing with you.

I did a quick look online and added some discussion points on Yield below:

1) to give way to someone or something that one can no longer resist. yield may apply to any sort or degree of giving way before force, argument, persuasion, or entreaty. 

2) suggests full surrendering after resistance or conflict to the will or control of another. 

3) stresses the fact of ending all resistance and may imply either a coming to terms (as with an adversary) or hopelessness in the face of an irresistible opposing force. 

4) implies weakness and helplessness to the one that gives way or an overwhelming power to the opposing force.

Now consider Yield in this context:

For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

You choose to whom and what you yield your heart.  My council is to yield your heart to God.  Consecrate your efforts to him and do your best.  The benefit of yielding to God is that he will make more of your life than you can.

I love you,

Dad