The Ten Commandments: Number Four

4. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.

President Spencer W. Kimball has taught: "Many people build and furnish a home and buy the automobile first and then find they 'cannot afford' to pay tithing. Whom do they worship? Certainly not the Lord of heaven and earth, for we serve whom we love and give first consideration to the object of our affection and desires.

Young married couples who postpone parenthood until their degrees are attained might be shocked if their expressed preference were labeled idolatry. Their rationalization gives them degrees at the expense of children. Is it a justifiable exchange? Whom do they love and worship, themselves or God?

Other couples, recognizing that life is not intended primarily for comforts, ease and luxuries, complete their educations while they move forward with full lives, having their children and giving Church and community service.

Many worship the hunt, the fishing trip, the vacation, the weekend picnics and outings. Others have as their idols the games of sport, baseball, football, the bullfight or golf. These pursuits more often than not interfere with the worship of the Lord and with giving service to the building up of the kingdom of God. To the participants this emphasis may not seem serious, yet it indicates where their allegiance and loyalty are.

Still another image men worship is that of power and prestige. Many will trample underfoot the spiritual and often the ethical values in their climb to success. These gods of power, wealth and influence are most demanding and are quite as real as the golden calves of the children of Israel in the wilderness." (Miracle of Forgiveness, pages 40-42).

DIVINE FAVOR

If we do our best to follow the Savior, He will help and guide our steps. Not long ago, I was working to help finish a basement room and I smelled smoke. Quickly I tried to discover where the smell was coming from. As I did so, the answer presented itself. Smoke, very obviously was rolling out of an old light fixture. For whatever reason, it had not tripped the circuit breaker, so I immediately turned it off.

Was it a coincidence that it happened while I was just a few feet from the problem? What if I had been away running errands or how about it occurring in the middle of the night when we were all sleeping? By the time the closest smoke alarm would have been tripped it may have been too late.

On another day I was backing out of our driveway and felt a strong impression to stop. I did so and discovered a heavy steel ramp leading into a truck trailer was blocking my exit. Had I proceeded, I would have severely damaged both my car and the ramp.

On the way to the temple, I looked both ways before crossing an intersection. As I began to cross, a vehicle suddenly appeared and I was forced to brake hard to avoid a serious accident. Time and time again similar things have happened and I have avoided harm. Am I just lucky? No.

All these things occur and many like them because we are being watched over thru divine providence. As we try to do what's right, God blesses us. Does this mean that we will never have any problems? Of course not; our lives are tests. We are on probation. This is not our home. We are away at school. Just knowing that can change our attitudes about trials and make all the difference in how we view our struggles in life.