Do/Don't Essay

Let me tell you the best kept secret about living a righteous life for God. It's simple. It may not seem like it, but it really is simple. The two hardest things that there are is probably not saying the lord's name in profanity, and not committing adultery within your heart. 

I'm not here to imply that everything is going to be a breeze in your personal religious life, cause it's not. I only mean to say it's plain and simple, not easy. There'll be days when you wish you were dead, and other times when you're on your highest peak. Just... Don't let it get to your head. 

I've collected a brief list of do's and don't's for those seeking a religious life so that you won't be in the dark when beginning out. 

Do: pray always. The most simple of things for religious people of all and any standing within the church. Praying will fill you with passion and the love of God for hours on end. Provided, of course, if you pray correctly. Always invoke the name of God before praying and always thank him afterward. 

Don't: rush through prayers. If there is one thing God despises more, it's when his children don't care about wanting to talk to him. He says time and time again throughout His scriptures, that he enjoys our prayers and wishes us to talk with Him. So pray slowly and lovingly. Actually care about what it is you are saying. 

Do: read your scriptures daily. Knowing how to fend off evil by the scriptures standards is always useful, especially when fiends of hell provoke you or tease you because of your beliefs. They may make up horrendous lies about your religion and try to see you break. But, when you know your scriptures, battle is easy and purely swift. 

Don't: commit idolatry. Committing idolatry is very common and extremely easy, which is why is should be avoided at all costs. Wearing a shirt from a famous singer is one form of idolatry. Having a famous persons poster is another form of idolatry. Excessively talking about a famous person is idolatry. Yes, it is idolatry... And God despises it.  Avoid all forms of it. 

Do: respect your religious leaders. Don't argue with them, just respect them. They know more than you do, that's why they're leaders and you're not. Don't think that just because you're younger, that you have all the answers. And don't think that just because you have tons of questions, that your leader is going to start lying. Your questions mean nothing in reality. Your leader knows what he's doing.

Don't: take all your friends out of religion just because you left. You left because you're just different, your friends aren't necessarily different like you. Don't ruin it for your faithful friends or relatives. They are actually trying to please God.

Do: marry inside your religion. The Bible and the Quran specifically command us to marry inside our religion to avoid conflict. Example given, a religious man marries an atheist girl. Well, it just so happens, that just like Eve, she is easily tempted to drag him down along with her. She hates God, and she won't rest until he does too. When you marry inside your religion, you are two persons who will stop at nothing to please God. And in the Doctrine and Covenants, it says that two persons who will stop at nothing to please God, will gain heaven easily.

So all in all, just do that which is generally obvious, and that which pleases God. I gave you a brief list in hopes that you'll take it serious. Worship God, don't fail him. Do the simple things.