FOOD FOR THE SPIRIT

In the Book of Mormon we learn of the tragedy of Lehonti. Here was a man in a powerful position, who was determined to maintain his watch of safety high on the top of a mountain. "He and those he led were 'fixed in their minds with a determined resolution' that they would not come down from the mount. It only took four tries, each one more bold than the previous, to get Lehonti to 'come down from off the mount.' And then, after having embraced Amalikiah's false promises, Lehonti was 'poisoned by degrees' until he died" (See Alma 47:4-12)

What does it mean to be poisoned by degrees? It means that we are slowly and steadily given doses of poison that our body is able to withstand, so we will not notice the harm that is being caused, until by the final dose, we are destroyed entirely. I believe that this is the way Satan approaches the destroying of powerful latter-day women. He looks for those who are positioned in places of prominence, then talks them down, little by little. Once he has brought them down to their valleys of despair and self-doubt, he begins his crafty process of poisoning their hearts, minds, and subsequently, generations of God's children.

Elaine S. Dalton, Young Women General President put it this way: "Could it be that this may be happening today? Could it be that first we tolerate, then accept, and eventually embrace the vice that surrounds us? Could it be that we have been deceived by false role models and persuasive media messages that cause us to forget our divine identity? Are we too being poisoned by degrees. . . What could be more deceptive than to entice women, young and old, you and me, to be so involved in ourselves, our looks, our clothes, our body shape and size that we lose sight of our divine identity and our ability to change the world through our virtuous influence?" (Elaine S. Dalton, "A Return to Virtue," Ensign, November 2008, p. 79)

Be aware of those voices that are trying to talk us down from the mountain of spiritual safety! Let us, as women be more watchful. Let's be more positive. Let's not allow Satan to poison our understanding of our divine potential. Let us remember, that the Lord sees our hearts, not the number on the scale, or the size on our jeans.