As a teenager my sister Julie found an interesting button on a weird little box. I will try to describe the black plastic box. It fits in your palm, about the size of a big memory card (or small matchbox, depending on your age), but twice as thick, and on the thin top edge there were some grooves. Then at the end of those grooves was a little red button. It looked like you were supposed to slide along those grooves and hit the button down. The grooves along the side were so close that it was hard to get her finger in there to push the button, but even when she pushed the button nothing happened. The box felt empty, so it made sense that the button did nothing.
Julie was on the phone, absent minded, and toying with the box and it's harmless button. She pushed it a couple of times with her finger, and then ran all her fingers through the groove and over the button. The button went down each time, and the spring popped it back up. She ran the fingers on the other hand through the button. Each of the ten fingers on average pushed the button three times as she looked at the calendar and talked on the phone. She looked down at her hands and saw that they were covered in blood.
The little black box was a CD opener. Ever tried to wrestle that plastic off a new CD? My mother hates it, and she saw this black box at the store she bought it. The idea is that you put the CD in the grooves, and that pushes down the button. When the button is pushed down a tiny razor pops up, and the razor cuts the wrapping on your new CD. Apparently it also functions to cut your finger should you decide to push the button manually.
There are so many things in our life that look innocent. A harmless joke, a harmless TV show, but hidden deep inside is a razor that pops up and does a tiny cut on your soul so subtle that you probably don't even notice it. Think of a funny TV show you've seen lately. How was the father portrayed? Most shows are clever and witty, but the fathers are shown as incredibly stupid and worthless. What do we see in our nation? Fathers leaving the family, and the mothers are almost relieved to see them go. Could it be have been cut by something that seemed harmless? These types of problems plagued the Nephites of old, and Jacob told them the results was "many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds" (Jacob 2:35).
My sister's friend who was on the phone heard, "Oh my gosh! There's blood everywhere! MY HANDS! *click* dialtone". You can imagine what her reaction was. It is the reaction many of us feel when our loved suddenly find themselve hurt deeply.
Another easy example is the rampant disdain people show for others under the guise of "wit". Think of a funny TV show, were they funny because they thought of clever ways to insult and belittle each other? Sometimes it can be easy to make fun of other's flaws, but "why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?" (Matthew 7:3).
The attitude can be even more serious when brought to church. God is perfect, and he established a church with His doctrine. Then he lets all sorts of flawed humans try to run it (I think it's so that we can learn). Saul of Tarsus tried attacking church leaders. the Savior said, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks" (Acts 26:14). When we try to poke fun of others, a tiny invisible blade pops up to slice an almost imperceptible cut into our own souls.
My sister ran in the bathroom and finally was able to diagnose the problem. Multiple slices along each finger - about 3 cuts times 10 fingers. And now that she was aware of it she could feel the paper cut like pain. And they bled! A few hours later (thanks to a stay at home mom who was there when she was needed) my sister had white padded balls on the end of all ten fingers. The phone had been answered, and a terrified friend was calmed down. Now came the part where everyone my sister met wanted to know what had happened. She was able to use this story to explain the importance of recognizing the danger in what might appear to be a harmless button.
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