David J Stitt

A Weapon Against Deception

Recently, I was reading in 3 Ne 28. It is about when the Savior was speaking with His disciples and asked them what they desired of Him. Trying to imagine the events of 3rd Nephi is completely out of the realm of that which is normal. It is like trying to comprehend the life we will live during the millennium. Those experiences are utterly beyond anything that most of us will ever experience in this life. I have tried to imagine being with a multitude of people, or in this case 12 men, with the resurrected Son of God. In this instance they were probably gathered in a circle around Him. The scripture says He came and “stood in the midst of them” 3 Nephi 27:2. How does one, as a mortal, imagine a conversation with the Lord that is as real as having guests to dinner? Consider the Creator of the universe, He who atoned for us, standing next to you and after speaking to the group of 12, looking at you directly, individually (3Ne 28:1) and asking you what you desire of Him. That is how aware He is of each one of us, of you.

When Satan tries to deceive you with feelings that make you think that the Savior does not know you, or is too busy for your problems, think of this event and try your best to imagine being there. It will help to bring the truth into your heart and destroy this deception.

David J Stitt

If I did not know better, I would think that airline seats come from manufacturing facilities that make chairs for torturing people. Perhaps their objective is to add just enough padding to keep the passengers from screaming in pain the moment they take a seat. The flimsy padding allows the intense pain to be delayed just long enough for the main door to be closed and the seat-belt-fasten sign illuminated before really kicking in. Seriously, I have found something that decreases the discomfort these “chairs” a little. This past month I was on a flight and there happened to be a blanket and pillow on my seat. I decided to put each one on the arms of the chair to pad my elbows. It made a positive difference in the comfort level. For those of you who also suffer while flying try getting some elbow pads to see if it helps you.

Late on being tagged

David J Stitt

I saw that I was tagged awhile back

These are all random items:

1. I really hate onions, garlic, sour cream, and pickles. Unfortunately, the commonness of these in food limits what I can eat (I have suffered through many meals to be polite in cultures where it is rude not to eat what is served).

2. I sing in the Syracuse Oratorio Society (a choir in Syracuse NY that performs with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra)

3. I love black licorice (my favorite is Kookaburra from Australia)

4. I was once called out of the audience when I was 18 years old at Universal Studios in California to be the 6 Million Dollar Man. I kicked the tire of a truck and blew it out and then picked up the truck with one arm to put a jack stand under it because there was no jack.

5. I love classical music, but my favorite folk music singer is John Denver. I once saw him live at the Salem Oregon Armory Auditorium in the mid-1970s (only a little over 2000 seats) - one of the best live concerts I have ever seen.

6. We have three cats. I seldom call them by their real names. Most of the time I create nicknames for pets.

7. Growing up in the movie theater business I operated the projectors. I have seen The Sound of Music more than 100 times (I stopped counting at 100).

David J Stitt

In central New York the lawns have just gotten to the point that they need to be mowed for the first time this year. The fresh pine cones have dropped to the ground from the trees in the back yard. It was near sunset and I wanted to quickly mow the lawn before it rained again, so I was rushing to beat the setting sun. As I pushed the mower over the pine cones the mower mulched them along with the grass and produced a pine scent that was magnificent. There is no store-bought air freshener that remotely smells as wonderful. As I continued to push the mower I thought that this is one of those times when I need to slow down and enjoy the experience (“stop and smell the ‘pine cones’”). It was peaceful and I am so glad that I made that decision - I still beat the fleeting sun.

As Unique As a Fingerprint

David J Stitt

In my last blog I wrote about the number of rewrites it takes for me to produce text that is clear and accurate. Not wanting to leave you with the impression that writing makes me sad, even though I would like to be able to write faster, with fewer iterations, I really do love the process of developing each passage. I have found that there are two critical ingredients to this evolution. The first is the process of clearly developing the idea, and the second is that difficult-to-define element that draws the reader into the text. For me the goal is to produce wording that will completely hold the readers attention, such that they will even forget that they are reading – as if the concept is directly supplied to the mind. Let me explain; there are rare times when I have been so caught up in a scene from a movie that I realize later, because it seemed so real, that I forgot I was watching a movie. This is a lofty and difficult writing goal – one that I don’t know if I have ever reached. However, when it is achieved it has more power to change lives. I believe that writing style is as unique as a fingerprint, so when this level of writing is reached, the new textual creation is something that is rare, lasting, and one of a kind.

One of the nicest writing compliments I have received was by a friend who told me that he can hear my voice as he reads what I have written. I find it fascinating that personality is so distinctly revealed in writing.

Personality is a complex thing and writing is only one small part of it. However, I think in a small but important way we come to know each other just a little because we read each others words.

How Many Rewrites Will it Take

When I write I am usually disappointed with my first draft. It is intriguing to me how difficult it is to write what I am really thinking so that another person can clearly understand it. I usually need to do three or four rewrites before it begins to resemble my thoughts. Additionally, a space of time between the rewrites allows a fresh look that shorter intervals cannot accomplish.

At this point, even though the writing seems relatively good, I know that it is still probably not, so I have learned to step outside of myself and look at the text from the point of view of someone who does not know me and, of greater importance, cannot read my mind.

As each revision creates more clarity and flow I begin to wonder why it is that I am unable to write the first draft closer to the final copy - why does my mind require all of those steps to come up with the end product? I think that part of the answer involves a limit to the amount of information my mind can process in one step. I know that there are a few who have the unique gift of being able to write the final copy on the first or second attempt. Such ability is amazing to me!

I have tried to imagine Nephi, Jacob, Mormon, or Moroni carving out the characters on the small or large plates of Nephi. I would love to be able to ask them how many times they rewrote the text before they transferred it to the plates.

By the way, this Blog took seven rewrites and additional polishing. Maybe in 20 years I’ll be able to do it in three.

David J Stitt

3-15-2008

I sometimes ask people, after they have given a talk or taught a lesson, for a copy of something that impacted me. With all of the challenges that life presents us, the tasks that deplete us of physical energy, the disappointments, the frustrations, the anger with ourselves over choices that we make, and sometimes the desire to throw in the towel, there is a state of renewing and healing that comes to us when the Holy Ghost uses His power to carry the message “unto” our hearts 2 Nephi 33:1. I feel a unique gratitude to the person who was an instrument in igniting hope, healing, and an aspiration to make a needed change in my life. Sometimes, as a result of this, a person comes to my mind and an idea of what I could do to help them. I have learned by sad experience the disappointment and pain that comes from not acting ASAP when a prompting comes to help someone. Hope and motivation are two of my favorite feelings; they are gifts of the Spirit. It is equally as thrilling to have taught or spoken and then be asked for a copy of something that was said. Both circumstances, giving or receiving something inspiring, bring a unique feeling of happiness.

I don’t know if there is a better example of “all” being “edified” (D&C 88:122) than giving or receiving a hard copy of that which was an instrument of edification. It is an oasis in the desert of all the oppositions in life.

Here is how the Lord put it:
... when all have spoken that all may be edified of all …
(Doctrine and Covenants 88:122)

Years ago I gave the same talk a number of times. I found that it hit home with a lot of people and there was tremendous interest in the subject. The subject was about resisting temptation. To my surprise I received more requests, by far, for copies of it than anything else I had spoken about. A friend suggested that I write a book and after considering it for some time I began. The process was long and difficult and there were multiple publishing attempts but now the result is the book “The Master Deceiver: Understanding Satan’s Lies and How to Resist Them.”
http://www.cedarfort.com/catalog/9781599550800.html

Its publishing has brought much joy and motivation to me and I hope that it might be of some help to many of you.

David J Stitt

When I consider the mass of information that is available to us with just the touch of our fingers it is utterly staggering. Filtering the information we choose to consider should now be elevated to the highest of our priorities. There is so much information that is damaging to our eternal welfare and at the same time so much that that has the potential of edifying us to a level beyond our comprehension. When we lay this fact along side the importance of developing defenses against Satan’s influences the following scriptures take on an added applicability to our present day.

Wherefore, do not spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Hearken diligently unto me, and remember the words which I have spoken; and come unto the Holy One of Israel, and feast upon that which perisheth not, neither can be corrupted, and let your soul delight in fatness. (2 Nephi 9:51)

Now let’s combine 2Ne 9:51 with:

And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.
(Doctrine and Covenants 50:23)

We simply do not have the time or energy to waist on that which is of no worth. We should focus on those things that will fatten us up spiritually rather than those things that only starve us to death. The opposition is so sophisticated now that frittering away our time on that which “cannot satisfy” will destroy our spirituality.

Elder Bednar recently said the following at the World Wide Leadership Training:
"The adversary’s attacks upon eternal marriage will continue to increase in intensity, frequency, and sophistication." David A. Bednar, “Marriage Is Essential to His Eternal Plan,” Ensign, Jun 2006, 82–87


There may have been a time when we could coast a little, but in our day this will no longer work. All three of these escalations (intensity, frequency, and sophistication) can only be overcome by not wasting time on worthless information or entertainment. Instead, we should be spending it on things that actually nourish us.

I have to remind myself of this daily and even then the challenge is still really tough.

This is partly why I wrote the book, “The Master Deceiver: Understanding Satan's Lies and How to Resist Them.”

In future blogs I will discuss more of how this book came to be.