Entropy. It’s a concept that describes the natural deterioration of order. It’s a process of degeneration that begins almost instantly, in almost everything.
Buy something new and almost instantly it begins to show signs of being used (at least if you live in my house, with 6 kids). Learn a whole bunch of things and pretty soon you’ve forgotten most of what you learned.
Sit down and try some algebra… that’s entropy. Go look at your kid’s bedrooms… that’s entropy. Stop exercising for a few weeks and then go weigh yourself… that’s entropy. Watch the news for an hour… that’s entropy. Read the Book of Mormon about the rise and fall of great nations… that’s entropy. Ever heard of a missionary that returned and fell away… that’s entropy.
It’s a simple concept really. Any system tends to lose order, or energy, and will continue to do so until there is none left. That is unless there is a constant, steady, reliable, and deliberate stream of energy being put back into the system to maintain its order.
Our own ongoing spirituality is no different - it’s subject to entropy. The moment you stop inputting into the system, spiritual deterioration begins.
That’s the reason why repetition of some of the smallest, most simple things can end up being the most important. Small things like meaningful daily prayer, diligent daily scripture study, weekly church attendance, bi-annual general conferences, etc.
Their cumulative effect is what staves off the entropy that would otherwise engulf us. Hence, through small and simple things are great things brought to pass.
When you read your scriptures, say your prayers, go to church, and partake of the sacrament or work regularly to do good deeds - all of these things build up a spiritual buffer against the adversary. But then every day you venture into the world to face more of his buffetings, his “shafts in the whirlwind”. You face sin and temptation, sorrow and adversity, which weighs you down and wears away the spiritual buffer you’ve worked so hard to create.
Entropy is when you ease back, it’s when you decide “it doesn’t matter” or “I can let it slip for a day”, it’s when you stop inputting into the system. It leaves you without the armor of God, and Satan, who doesn’t rest, is left with all the opportunity he needs.
Spiritual entropy is one of the strongest tools Satan has in his employ. All he has to do… is nothing. Just wait… which is why, again, it’s through the diligent, deliberate, and constant repetition of the simplest things that in the end may make the biggest difference.
Rusty
Filed under: Book of Mormon, Principles | Tagged: Book of Mormon, Christianity, church, entropy, lds, life, mormon, personal, Prayer, religion, Sacrament, scripture, spirituality, theology, thoughts
Perfectly said and I just today I realized this same principle. It wasn’t until I was the receiver of so many kind acts literally sent from God that I was awakened to see my own backward sliding. I am ready to be constant and put one foot in front of the other- every day. Thanks for the thought.
Hi, Thank you for your blog pages, It helps when you can send a friend to your page for some insight into what we believe. And you are so great, at explaining further after my fumbled attempt, A friend asked me, “What do Mormons believe about the “Rapture” I tried to explain, but my attempt was not understood, so could you possibly blog about this subject too. I would appreciate it, and I am sure my friend who is rapidly scaring me with what she comes up with and says that these are her new beliefs, It is amazing to me that she didn’t join the church thirty years ago when I did, but she did not, if she would just look a little deeper into the restored gospel she might find what she needs but she won’t listen, yet, I keep hoping and praying, maybe she will someday. Thanks again. Mona