Desire is the universal and usually uncontrolled addiction of mortal beings.
Because of the nature of our affluent society, I am often reminded of the story of the Beggar and the King. The king, while taking his daily walk near the castle wall, came upon a beggar and asked the beggar what he would have the king give to him. The beggar warned the King that he should be careful about what he might promise. The king in a boastful manner said “I am the King, what could you possibly want that I could not give.” The beggar said “Fill my begging cup.” The king called for his staff to put a few shekels in the cup to fill it but when they did, the coins disappeared and the king, not to be outdone, was determined to fill the cup even if all his riches might be gone. More and more of the Kings treasury was brought, even valuable emeralds and diamonds and they all disappeared into the cup. The king’s subjects from all over the kingdom were gathering around the event. Soon the treasury was empty, humbled, the King asked the beggar what his cup was made of that it had such magic? The answer was that it was made of ‘Desire.’
Desire is a human attribute that is insatiable, just like the beggars cup, for when we desire a thing we work hard to obtain the object of our desire. When it finally belongs to us, the object is no longer a desire, it is merely a belonging that is placed on a shelf, or in our closet and may not be seen for months or even thought of again. The human mind then begins the cycle all over again, seeking for something that catches the eye to become the next object of desire. That, something else, soon becomes an obsession until it too belongs to us. Life for most of us is an unending cycle of insatiable desire. Can we ever break the cycle? We can never control desire until we understand it and how it works within our minds. Once we do understand desire, we can then say to ourselves, ‘It is only a desire and I don’t need the object of my desire, for it will only become a burden to me in the process of obtaining it, as well as thereafter.’
The natural man is burdened with desire and until he learns to control it, he will be as one of those described in the 121st section of the D&C.
“Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men…” (D&C 121) And also, “They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the image of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish…” (D&C 1:16)
Those who are able to overcome worldly desire may one day qualify for the greatest gift of all. A desire that is acceptable to the lord: The “…tree of life, whose fruit is most precious and most desirable above all other fruits; yea, and it is the greatest of all the gifts of God. (1 Nephi 15:36)…if you keep my commandments and endure to the end you shall have eternal life. (D&C 14:7)”
May we all learn to control our appetites and may our primary desire be for the greatest gift of all.