Avoiding the Trap of Sin - Jairo Mazzagardi

  Elder Mazzagardi was Danny's mission president and now he speaks to us as a Seventy assigned in Brasil.  He speaks from his heart and has the Spirit with him.  Here, on that quiet one-on-one walk with his granddaughter he felt the Spirit and it helped him set up a memorable parable for her to remember.  In so doing, as you read the talk, you feel that the story about the stone fence post also was important for him.  It led him to the principles of the tree of life and the fruit.  We need that soft, quiet, still, small voice to spark in us the opportunity to teach, first to our loved ones, then to others, but also important, to our hearts.  The stone post was a victim of plants and was uprooted and its usefulness destroyed.  As we walk or drive here in Brasil, it is easy to see how quickly plants can take over.  We comment about it to each other because it is amazing how fast this happens.  So it is with sin, starting small and innocent looking, it grows quickly.  At the Park here, there is a crew that works every day to keep the park from actually disappearing and the structures decaying.  "The post does not realize what is happening."
  The Tree of Life story shows us that it is worth it to put off sin, to hold the rod, stay on the path.  It also shows us how quickly and easily we can lose the path and feel that we are ok.
  He taught us:

• Be alert because small choices can bring great consequences.
• Sin often starts with choice of friends that lack correct standards.
• Be alert to not let sin grow around us.
• Decisions about standards must be made in advance.
• This I will do because it is right
• This I will not do because it will drag me away from truth.
• If we sin, look for help quickly, alone we cannot escape sin's trap.
• Parents can help.
• Your Bishop can help.

  Then that classic lesson from his granddaughter about priesthood.  After her baptism interview he asked; "how did it go?"  She responded; "Grandpa, an interview is confidential. You know that."