Spiritual Leeches

We are surrounded by lakes that house spiritual leeches. They are places and people who could potentially harm the sensitive gift of the Holy Ghost we have been given.
Leeches lurk in dark places where they can be hidden. They try and avoid as much light as possible. Sinful behavior does not normally take place in mid-day where everyone can see it. It is done behind closed curtains, or doors. Sinful behavior always tries to hide itself where it thinks it will not be noticed. D&C 50:23-25 explains this principle: "And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness. That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day. And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you;" A major part of avoiding sinful behavior is staying out of "dark" situations. Places, or people that could be harmful to your spiritual well being. The book of Ecclesiastes shares some advice on how we can accomplish this, the preacher says: "Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly as far as light excelleth darkness." (Ecc.2:13). Always standing in light and truth is wise, and will allow you to elude contact with spiritual leeches.
Avoiding spiritual leeches is our best option for spiritual well being. Let me explain why. Leeches, once attached to its host, have an anti-coagulating chemical that drains the blood more fluidly from the host to the leech. Sinful behavior in comparison is similar. Sin does not all the sudden appear in someone's life, rather it works its way in slowly, and once one has sinned to a degree, unless stopped immediately, it will be easier to commit greater sins in the future. For example those with addictions or problems with greed first had a small taste, and then things escalated into something they cannot control on their own. Nephi explained it this way: "Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us. And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God- he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God. And others he will pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: all is well in Zion; yea, Zion propereth, all is well- and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell. (2 Nephi 28:7-8, 21). As we search the scriptures we find many instances where this is the case. The first example we find is in Genesis with the story of Cain and Abel: "But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him." (Gen. 4:5-8). In those few short verses we see how a little sin unchecked can become a big problem. There are also examples in the scriptures of righteous men and women who knew what to do when "sin lieth at the door". Joseph while living in Egypt was tempted by Potipher's wife and Joseph was able to resist temptation partly because he knew the consequences of committing such a sin. He states: "There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Gen. 39:9). We all know how the rest of the story goes, Joseph runs from the "dark" situation that he had found himself in, and we should do the same.
Because of the anti-coagulating chemical that leeches carry, after a leech is removed from its host, the host continues to bleed for an extended period of time. We must understand that the consequences of sinful behavior do not end immediately after the sinful behavior has ceased. If this were the case we wouldn't hear anyone discussing the best food that cures a hangover, or hear any political debate on the topic of abortion. Some sinful behavior has some long term, and even life time consequences (D&C 88:86). It is sad to see the ones we love, or even ourselves submit to sinful behavior, but no matter how much we have been absorbed there is a way out. Christ is the ultimate healer and comforter. Isaiah testified: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isa. 53:5). Christ paid the price to become such. As He explained the sacrament to his apostles he said: "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matt. 26:28). As we dedicate ourselves more fully to his teachings we can feel of his healing power. A story from the Savior's ministry comes to mind: "And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. " (Luke 5:17-24). This is a testament to all that Christ heals both our physical and spiritual wounds caused by sinful behavior.
There are many scriptures that testify of Christ's healing power through the atonement, but my favorite is Alma 7:11-12: "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities." There is no one more qualified to heal us than our Savior. He loves us infinitely, and he gave the infinite sacrifice for sin (2 Nephi 2:7). He is our infinite Savior, and therefore saves us infinitely. We must come unto Him to receive the healing and forgiveness we need.
Eventually we will all be bitten by a spiritual leech. Let us immediately recognize our sins when they occur and learn to come unto Christ with a broken heart and a contrite spirit for healing to take place. We then must avoid the dark and stay in the light.