Just a game?

I want to study a little bit about hearts and their contents. Lately, my heart has been filled with a lot of things that aren't real... including an MMORPG that Caleb showed me.

So, I realized yesterday two little scales of progression and regression. The first involves human relationships. The second involves the thoughts and intents of our hearts.

1. It is easy to respond to anger and stress in kind
2. It is harder to turn away and say nothing 
3. It is hardest to respond with love and a soft word

And here's the second 

Focusing on things that aren't real is bad. This includes video games, daydreaming, and brushing up on pop culture. (Star Wars, Marvel, etc, etc) 

Focusing on real, corporeal things is better. This includes the amount of money in your bank account, your school work, getting ahead in life, etc, etc.

Focusing on the treasures of Heaven is best. This includes people, temple work, family history work, spiritual knowledge, etc, etc. 

I am partially interested in this study because of the very real weakness I have of focusing on not-real things. I'm a dreamer. I like to dream. I like to escape, whether it be to Domilias, a Galaxy Far Far Away, or a medieval world populated by pixelated workers and knights in armor. 

Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained: “One of the ways Satan … weakens your spiritual strength is by encouraging you to spend large blocks of your time doing things that matter very little. I speak of such things as sitting for hours on end watching television or videos, playing video games night in and night out, [or] surfing the Internet” (“Be Strong in the Lord,” Ensign, July 2004, 13).

These are sort of an anticipatory artillery barrage, I guess. They don't do a lot of damage themselves, but they soften you up for the deadly strike later. And it works! Last night, I definitely did not feel spiritually-focused. 

Here's the letter I sent to Caleb 

I'm also having a problem with this one. I spent 5 hours yesterday on LWG. 

Here's an article that helped me understand just why I feel so lousy afterwards. 

Large blocks of video games are like a spiritual artillery barrage, a 'la D-Day before the allies landed. They don't do a lot of damage themselves but they soften you up for when the temptations move in later. 

Many video games are clean and fun. But just because something is clean and fun isn't a good enough reason to do it. 

The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, 

but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.

--Longfellow

We were born to do great things! Let's be better than this. 

Love you! Keep me responsible. If I'm playing video games, say "wouldn't you rather be reading?" 

With love,

Jarom 

Anyways! So what are some things I can do when I'm tired and I don't want to work? 

1. Close your eyes and listen to good music 
2. Play a game of chess 
3. Go write someone a nice message on facebook
4. Think up the most interesting-sounding topic and go read a Wiki article on it. 
5. Read your book 
6. Stretch and breath deeply 
7. Go for a run
8. Do some push ups or planks 

Here's a good article about why MMORPG's are potentially more addicting than regular games. 

One reason that online role-playing games may potentially be more addictive is that they are essentially a social network with an exciting graphical interface. They fill social needs that may be unmet in the real world. For instance, a teenage boy may not feel popular or successful at high school, but in the online world, he gets a fresh start and a new set of friends. His problem-solving skills and intelligence make him socially important in his virtual community. He steps into a role in which he feels needed and successful.

Abstinence is my only path to moderation. 

If an activity draws you in compulsively, and you find yourself doing it for longer than you intended, then you really ought to exercise the only form of control you have left... don't start. 

Boyde K. Packer said that a certain amount of "down-time" can even be healthy when we are very busy... but when we find ourselves hour after hour, day after day, participating in activities with no relation to eternal progress, then we can know that we are "idling away our time." 

"Games, sports, recreational activities, and even television can be relaxing and rejuvenating, especially in times when you are under stress or heavily scheduled. You need activities that help you to unwind and rest your minds. It is healthy to go onto the soccer field or the basketball court and participate in vigorous physical activity."

 “But I speak of letting things get out of balance. It is not watching television, but watching television hour after hour, night after night. Does not that qualify as idling away your time? What will you say to the Lord when He asks what you have done with the precious gift of life and time? Surely you will not feel comfortable telling Him that you were able to pass the 100,000-point level in a challenging video game."