Gambling is a waste of beer money - having a vice is ok, everyone has some flaw, but multiple vices will drastically increase the negativity in your life.
Tactic Quotation Verse Misappropriation 'built up, and not unto the Lord' 3 Exclusivism 'I am the Lord's' 3 Disputation 'contend one with another' 4 Sophism 'teach with their learning' 4 Cynicism 'deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance' 4 Secularism 'deny the power of God' 5 Historicism 'the Redeemer hath done his work' 5 Empowerment 'he hath given his power unto men' 5 Skepticism 'believe it not' 6 Naturalism 'he is not a God of miracles' 6 Hedonism 'eat, drink, and be merry' 7 Fatalism 'tomorrow we die' 7 Cavalierism 'it shall be well with us' 7 Popularism 'many . . . shall say' 8 Appearances 'nevertheless, fear God' 8 Rationalizing 'justify in committing a little sin' 8 Criticism 'take the advantage of one because of his words' 8 Entrapment 'dig a pit for thy neighbor' 8 Legalism 'no harm in this' 8 Permissivism 'do all these things' 8 Leniency 'God will beat us with a few stripes' 8 Chart 79 The Ways of the Devil 2 Nephi 28:3-30 Charting the Book of Mormon, 1999 Welch, Welch, FARMS Chart 79 Faddism 'many . . . shall teach after this manner' 9 Sensationalism 'false' 9 Egotism 'vain' 9 Imprudence 'foolish' 9 Arrogance 'puffed up in their hearts' 9 Self-Deception 'hide their counsels from the Lord' 9 Persecutionism 'blood of the saints shall cry' 10 Corruptionism 'they have become corrupted' 11 Oppressionism 'rob the poor' 13 Ostentationism 'because of their fine sanctuaries' 13 Narcissism 'their fine clothing' 13 Supremism 'persecute the meek and the poor in heart' 13 Elitism 'stiff necks and high heads' 13 Immorality 'abominations and whoredoms' 14 Distortionism 'pervert the right way of the Lord' 15 Trivialism 'turn aside the just for a thing of naught' 16 Meanness 'revile against that which is good' 16 Dismissivism 'say that it is of no worth' 16 Tantrumism 'rage in the hearts of the children' 20 Emotionalism 'anger against that which is good' 20 Mollifying Pacifism 'others will he pacify' 21 Materialism 'into carnal security' 21 Toadyism 'others he flattereth' 22 Relativism 'there is no hell' 22 Complacency 'wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion' 24 Secularism 'we need no more of the word of God' 29 Faithless Humanism 'putteth his trust in man' 30
There are even those who refuse to follow the Brethren because these individuals have overidentified with a single doctrine, principle, or practice; sadly, they exclude all other counsel, which leads to a dangerous spiritual imbalance. The difficulty with such individuals is that they have a strange sense of justification about that which they are doing. In their intensity they lack, of course, the spiritual symmetry that comes from pursuing, in a balanced way, all the commandments of God. These individuals are so hardened in their devotion to one thing that they are unable to follow the Brethren in all things. It is as if the adversary, upon seeing someone get religious, skillfully deflects their devotion so that it becomes a damaging and not a developing thing. We are responsible for our reactions when we see imperfections in others.
It is strange that when one is remodeling a portion of his house, he expects visitors to be tolerant of improvements that are so obviously underway. Yet while one is remodeling his character, we often feel obligated to call attention to the messy signs of remodeling, or feel called upon to remember aloud things as they were. Forgetting is such a necessary part of forgiving.
It even helps us to be pressed thusly by prophets to choose. John the Beloved, in writing to the Church at Laodicea, said, "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot." (Revelation 3:15.) Many naively assume that it is always better to be lukewarm than to be cold. But lukewarmness can reflect a stubborn spirit of self-sufficiency that keeps some people from following God's leaders. Worse, lukewarmness keeps some from feeling cold chills, which chills can induce a few to a search for warmth and truth!
We may, therefore, see the imperfections in leaders in the Church. How we react to these manifestations of mortality is the key to our salvation—not theirs!
Some things happen to us because of our own mistakes and our own sins, as contrasted with suffering brought on because we are Christian. Peter makes this distinction very well: "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." (1 Peter 4:15-16.) Even indecision—about whether or not to be a believer—can produce its own unnecessary trial and sorrows, as President Brigham Young observed: "As to trials, why bless your hearts, the man or woman who enjoys the spirit of our religion has no trials; but the man or woman who tries to live according to the Gospel of the Son of God, and at the same time clings to the spirit of the world, has trials and sorrows acute and keen, and that, too, continually." (Journal of Discourses 16:123.)