Can you be too temperate?

Dear friend

There are various "thou shalt not ..." commandments to stop us doing, saying, thinking, eating, drinking, or otherwise engaging in specific proscribed activities. These include stealing, taking the Lord's name in vain, having lustful thoughts, partaking of forbidden substances, and many more. These matters normally involve quite straightforward choices either to obey or not.

But there are some things we might do, or say, or think, etc. that are neither proscribed nor prescribed. These could include playing computer games, eating sweets or candies, (or just eating a lot), sleeping in, watching TV, and many others. These things are not inherently wrong, indeed they are often fun, pleasurable, and relaxing, but they can become habit-forming, time-consuming or addiction-tending.

The Prophet Alma once gave some fatherly advice to his son, Shiblon. He had something to say on this topic, and we can apply it to ourselves. The key line is found in the Book of Mormon, Alma 38:10.

10 ... and I would that ye would be diligent and temperate in all things.

To be temperate is to act in moderation, or to show self-restraint. For Alma this relates to those things in which we might overindulge. The counsel is to be temperate in everything. We are not to get "hooked" on anything in a way that makes us lose some degree of control, pulls us away from doing what's right, or is just not good for us in excess.

Further, in relation to our use of the bounty of the earth, the Lord restated the moderation principle in Doctrine and Covenants 59:20.

20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, ...

And also, in the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 9:25.

25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things ...

If we know we are indulgent or intemperate in some way, that specific issue may have come into our mind as we read this. If so that might well be a sign we need to improve. I believe we can learn self-mastery by controlling our appetites, desires and passions through the grace of Our Redeemer. We can be moderate, measured and modest in everything; except in our discipleship of Jesus Christ.

Samuel.