When I first learned the Articles of Faith, I remember thinking there was a line that almost seemed to be an afterthought. But the more I examine it, the more I realize it is the secret to a life full of peace. It’s the very last line of the 13th Article of Faith: “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.”
Shocked
Years ago, this line seemed redundant. Of course, we seek after things that are good and uplifting. But as the world has changed, and degrading entertainment has gained popularity, I see the wisdom of this sentence. The other day, on a whim, I watched an episode of a reality TV show that a friend had asked me about. It seemed innocent enough, but the longer the show played, the darker I felt inside. I felt my soul shrivel up! The depravity of the people on the show just seemed to glorify rebellion and immorality. I felt like I was worse after seeing it.
This experience came right after my husband and I had stumbled on a truly awful show the night before. We decided to give it a try because we liked the actor in it. And the preview was witty and funny. But my sweet husband ended up fast-forwarding so much of the show that we only watched 10 minutes of an hour-long production. There was that much crap in it! Truly, the only well-written scene was the one they used for the preview. It was so disappointing!
Find the Virtue
I felt more than a little jaded after those experiences. And then this line from the 13th article of faith came to my mind. “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report”… I definitely hadn’t been watching virtuous television. There was nothing lovely or of good report in those shows. And I felt the icky tar of spiritual darkness sticking to me, weighing my heart down.
So I made a concerted effort to change what I was exposing myself to. I started watching home improvement shows when I wanted a little reality TV in my life. I more closely examined the previews before I committed to watching a show. And I stopped feeling guilty for just turning a show off when I was disgusted with what was portrayed. There is no shame in just walking away.
Streaming
Fortunately, there are streaming services that are genuinely focused on clean programming. BYUTV is one, along with Up Faith and Family, Hallmark, Angel Studios, and Great American Family, to name a few. Sadly, some that used to be clean aren’t anymore. That traumatic reality show experience happened on Disney+! So don’t trust a show just because it is on a generally clean site. Satan is sneaking things in all over the place.
Getting back to my point, the more we seek virtuous entertainment, the happier we will be. As I have cleaned up my viewing habits, I have felt freer. And there is no shame in just turning the TV off and going to do something else. I have discovered some great podcasts that have made me grow. I love Better than Happy with Jody Moore. The one that John Bytheway and Hank Smith created, Follow Him is really interesting. I also love The Lisa show– she is so funny. And the Clutterbug Podcast is awesome too. There is a lot of clean and uplifting entertainment when you look for it. But sometimes you can struggle, that’s why I have suggested a few good ones.
Virtue matters
So why does it matter what we consume? Well, the adage “you are what you eat” applies even more to “you are what you watch”. I have friends who are teachers, and they tell me they can tell who the kids follow on social media and YouTube based on their behavior. I remember having to ban my young son from watching destruction videos (Yes, it’s a thing) because he would inevitably act them out. Even when he promised he wouldn’t, there was always a point when I found smashed things. Because what we watch DOES impact us.
What about our music? Well, there is a reason you don’t turn on soothing classical music when you want to go running. The songs with a beat and high energy have a place. They sure make vacuuming and cleaning the house easier since they rev up my system. But when the chores are done, and you want to unwind that same music can become grating on your nerves. It’s a balancing act, like most of life. Finding where things fit is a skill we spend a lifetime perfecting. And there is virtuous and lovely music in every genre.
Let it guide you
So, to sum up, I found that one line in the 13th article of faith is my new guiding principle. I repeat it to myself daily. And when I turn on the TV, a podcast, or watch YouTube, I ask myself if what I am consuming is in line with it. Is it virtuous, lovely, of good report, or praiseworthy? If not, I need to be doing something else. And I feel a lot freer, a lot more focused, and happy.
Give it a try, I think you will like the changes you feel in your heart. Your life will improve. It’s like a spiritual shower- the longer you seek the good, the more dark sludge you’ll shake off. Good luck, my friends. It may not feel like an easy change at first. But the growth you are capable of is limitless. Don’t let the darkness hold you back.
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