Cross Yourself

Alma, talking to his third son, Coriantumr, says something that sticks out to me, something that I know I need to hear and remember and that I think every man in this day and age needs to internalize in order to stay faithful to God and his wife (or future wife):

9 Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Oh, remember, and take it upon you, and cross yourself in these things (Alma 39).

Alma's son had been stricken by a loose woman and had pursued her and sinned with her. Clearly he saw this woman and allowed  himself to lust after her, which eventually led to the sinful behavior with her. This thought from Alma reminds me how important it is to keep my eyes in the right place.

I love the imagery of crossing yourself. It could refer to the imagery of one's cross, where we take up our cross daily and carry it, the cross representing the afflictions and difficulties, or in other words the burdens that come along with striving to be a faithful disciple of Christ in a not faithful society. I also think of defense, standing at the ready, or fortifying oneself with armor or shield when I think of this phrase.

I also love some related scriptures in Proverbs which mentions our eyes and where we should keep them:

33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things (Proverbs 23).

This verse teaches me that that which I allow to enter through my eyes can have a great effect upon the core desires of my heart.

25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee (Proverbs 4).

This verse is a classic one that made an impact on me one of the first times I read it and has always stuck with me. I think it is talking about staying focused on our main goal, that of winning eternal life with our Heavenly Father by obedience and faithfulness. This scripture reminds me to focus.