The Little Things Matter.

I feel like people need to know and understand the little things, the little transgressions that may not seem so bad, but can actually be just the beginning of their fall.
Music, movies, television, friends CAN and DO influence a person for good or bad. It is our decision who and what we associate with. If we surround ourselves with unclean music, that is anything that the spirit cannot be present for, we will eventually think that it is okay. We will begin to act as the songs say. If we surround ourselves with unclean movies, movies that the spirit cannot be present for, we will eventually think that it is okay. We will begin to act as the movies suggests. Now pay attention to this one. If we surround ourselves with friends we know may be good people but making wrong decisions we will eventually think that what they do is okay. We will begin to act as our friends do.
This happened to me. Many bad things I never could have imagined myself doing or being apart of somehow slowly crept into my life. Satan is clever. He knew how to get me slowly a step at a time. But we shouldn't let this scare us. Something that I have learned as I have gone through the past four years is that we hold how our life is going to be in our hands. We can choose Heavenly Father or we can choose Satan. Unfortunately, for some time, I choose the latter through the choices I made. I made what I thought to be small decisions in the wrong direction which lead to my digression. I listened to music that swore or talked about inappropriate things, I watched rated R movies, I hung out with people who partied. And guess what happened; I fell away from the church.
The small decisions we make, what music we listen to, who we hang out with have an exponential effect on us and our spiritual progression. So let me tell you from experience, choose Christ. He will never lead astray. I cannot imagine what my life would be like without him in it. I was miserable before. Satan tricked me into thinking I was happy, but looking back it was so superficial and "in the moment". That is not what life is about. We were placed here to be successful and happy. Truly happy, not "for the moment" happy. And we can be truly happy if we choose the Lord.
How can we make sure we don't allow ourselves to fall? Well let me tell you ways that have helped me. The primary answers: read the scriptures, pray, and participate in church and church activities. Scriptures; what an amazing tool we have been given to help us return to our Heavenly Father. I know that if we study our scriptures daily, we will be given strength to withstand trials, tribulations, and temptations that come our way. The scriptures have answers, turn to them to find the answers. Pray; the gift of prayer is the reason I am back in the church today. We can talk to our Father in Heaven anytime we need or want to. We can have that relationship with him that WILL strengthen us. Don't ever be scared to turn to the Lord for help when feeling week. He will answer and you will be made whole. Church; church and participating in church activities will help you remember the course. It is an opportunity to surround yourself with strong people and learn more about our Redeemer Jesus Christ.
Now, when it comes to music, television, and friends, how can we distinguish what is okay and what isn't? We all have the gift of the Holy Ghost or the light of Christ. When a song comes on and you have the thought "Oh, this song isn't the best. I should change it." Then change it! That is the spirit talking to you. When you're at a friends house and they begin participating in something you don't stand for, and you have the thought, "I told my self I wouldn't be around this, but..." No "but"! Leave! That is the spirit talking to you. Any thought of needing to change what you're listening to or what you're doing is the Holy Spirit cautioning you. Heed those cautions and you will never go astray.
I am so grateful that I am now able to recognize the things that lead to my fall. I am so thankful the Lord provided a way for me to come unto him again. He provides a way for everyone. I have a testimony that if we do our part in choosing Christ, he will do his part. Our Heavenly Father will save us. He is there for us as we journey through life. He is reaching out with open arms to anyone at any point in their life, so go unto him. Talk to him. He is such a merciful Lord and desires for us to be happy, and we can be through our Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ.