Natasha Peatross Dance 459 Edwin Austin February 10, 2014 Words of Latter-Day Prophets Today, I would like

to focus on the times in which we live and the quality of faith that will be necessary in order to survive some of the difficulties of this life yet to be experienced as young LDS dancers and artists in todays society. Many prophets and leaders have testified and warned us of the approaching difficulties facing mankind at this day in age. It is up to us to be learned and prepare ourselves to stand strong and stay true to who we are and what we know. Like it or not, we live in interesting times. It is an exciting time when we have the rare opportunity to make up our own rules. In our lives we crave and seek individuality, originality and creativity. Philosophies and knowledge fill the atmosphere as technology provides us with the power to reach and influence millions. We live in a time when anything goes and freedom of speech dominates society. Millions of people actively strive to leave their mark on history. Anything seems to go, as men are free to think and act for themselves. As artists we can easily be grouped in with those who hope to have an impact on the world. We are part of a people who love to influence others and get them to think about something under a new light. There is so much going on in the exciting world of dance that it becomes easy for us to lose sight of its sacred potential and why we do what we do. Years of discipline and hard work are put into our talents and passions to reach a certain level of virtuosity. Many become caught up in the selfish task of creating something with the pure intension of fame and glory. It is 1

easy to become obsessed with how an audience will receive or approve of your creation to the point where that is all you create forto satisfy your viewers. In a world of ever decreasing morals and appreciation for traditional values, creating art with this particular mindset is a slippery slope. Neal A. Maxwell helps us better understand what true creativity is. True creativity does not depend entirely for its satisfactions upon consumers. It is a highly personal experience in which we are grateful to the Lord for helping us to see beauty and truth and the order of things, for restructuring our understanding of things, if necessary, to accord with things as they really are. Creative experience is intrinsically satisfying (Maxwell). This is my favorite aspect of art. It is such a deeply personal experience where I can learn more about myself through the creative process. Creativity truly does involve both a process and a result. It springs out of our seeing possibilities that we have not seen before and out of seeing connections between patches of truth and beauty and responding to them in ways we have not done before (Maxwell). It is through art that we are often times able to reconstruct while reinforcing our understanding of things and experiences in order to share them with others. We are able to share our knowledge in a matter of seconds that otherwise may have taken an individual years to learn or experience (Dayley). It is my belief that our art and the things, that we create, should follow such patterns. It is so important to continue standing in truth and righteousness. I can not but help think of the thirteenth article of faith, Be an active seeker of truth and be willing to stay close to our Heavenly Father and

His individualized plan for each of us. We are to use His talents which He has blessed us with to edify and uplift those with whom we come in contact. Keeping the spirit as our constant companion will help us stay where He would have us be as we strive to do His will. As artists we have the ability to influence minds, let us continually be seekers of truth and keep the spirit with us as we create that we may influence the world for better and praise Him. Seek after truth with a humble heart and an open mind, you will become more tolerant of others, more open to listen, more prepared to understand, more inclined to build up instead of tearing down, and you will be more willing to go where God wants you to go(Uchtdorf). In a time of atrophying morals where it is easy to mistake evil for good and good for evil, I can think of no better way to pursue a career in the arts as a professional artist and dancer than by the blessings spoken of by President Uchtdorf. As we actively seek for truth with the spirit of the Lord as our guide and give our talents to the Lord while upholding our standards, we will be blessed to be guided by His spirit and create meaningful art far greater than we would be able to create on our own. Our art will become much more fulfilling and meaningful. For it is His light gives life to our creative potential(Dayley). We will encounter many who have removed themselves from the Light of Christ through pride or disobedience. These individuals will also use the form of art to express themselves, but they are unable to receive the power that would give it life and meaning. In contrast, those who seek to follow Christ are free to receive the enlightenment and pure joy that flows through art centered in Him. There is joy in creativity, there is joy in cleanliness, there is joy in truth, there is joy in

learning. Satan is there to create misery and sadness and he is (and always will) constantly strive to try to make our hearts to fail us. Just as Heavenly Father uses us and our fellow men as His angels to help uplift and be His hands, the opposite is also true. It is important for us to be aware and remember that the adversary also uses our fellow men to pressure or tempt us to fall. Peer pressures and the ideologies of man are some of His biggest tactics he uses. Elder Bednar provides us with some excellent advice: We should endeavor to discern when we withdraw [ourselves] from the Spirit of the Lord [and] attend to and learn from the choices and influences that separate us from the Holy Spirit. If that which is intended to entertain, for example, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, then certainly that type of entertainment is not for us. Because the Spirit cannot abide that which is vulgar, crude, or immodest, then clearly such things are not for us (Bednar). As artists, it is our responsibility to produce arts that are uplifting and good. Art is a powerful tool and can be used to influence many and bring them greater joy and closer to our Savior and virtue.

Work Cited Tanner, N. Eldon. "Integrity." Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Apr 1977: n. Page. Web. <http://www.lds.org/generalconference/1977/04/integrity?lang=eng>. Bednar, David A. "Be Honest." Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Oct 2005: n. page. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. <https://www.lds.org/new-era/2005/10/behonest?lang=eng>. Uchtdorf, Dieter F. "What Is Truth?." Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 2013: n. page. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. <http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/print/cesdevotionals/2013/01/what-is-truth?lang=eng>. Dayley, K. Newell. "Centering the Arts in Christ." Speeches (Brigham Young University). 06 Mar 2001: n. page. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. <http://speeches.byu.edu/?act=viewitem&id=264>. Maxwell, Neal A. "Creativity." Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Aug 1982: n. page. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. <https://www.lds.org/newera/1982/08/creativity?lang=eng>. Bednar, David A. "That We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us." Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints . Apr 2006: n. page. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. <http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2006/04/that-we-may-alwayshave-his-spirit-to-be-with-us?lang=eng>. Russell M. Nelson, We Ar Nelson, Russell M. "We Are Children of God." Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints . Oct 1998: n. page. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. <https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1998/10/we-are-children-ofgod?lang=eng>.e Children of God, October 1998