By KRISTEN SONNE
kristen@du2.byu.edu
We can choose not to become angry. And we can make that choice today, right now, said Elder Lynn Grant Robbins, of the Second Quorum of the Seventy.
Satan damages and often destroys families within the walls of their own homes, he said.
'One of his schemes is the subtle and cunning way he has of sneaking behind enemy lines and entering our very homes and lives,' he said. Satan's primary target is the family.
A part of his strategy is to dissociate anger from agency, making people believe they are victims of an uncontrollable emotion. He said becoming angry is a conscious choice, a decision. Because of this, members of the church can choose whether or not to be angry.
'Aggression,...suppressing anger, talking about it, screaming and yelling, are all learned stratgies in dealing with anger,'' he said quoting a speech given by William Lee Wilbanks. 'We choose the one that has proved effective for us in the past.'
The Lord expects us to make the choice to not become angry and it cannot be justified, Elder Robbins said.
'Anger is a yielding to Satan's influence by surrendering our self-control. it is the thought-sin that leads to hostile feelings or behavior,' Elder Robbins said.
If anger is unchecked, it can quickly trigger an explosion of cruel words and other forms of emotional abuse that can scar a tender heart, he said.
The Savior said in Matthew 15:11, 'It is that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.'
Elder Robbins also reminded members of the church in Doctrine and Covenants 121:41-42, 'We are to lead our families 'by persuasion, by long suffering, by gentleness, kindness and meekness and by love unfeigned.''
'May each child's dream of having a family here on earth that is good to them come true,' Elder Robbins said.