“They Have Rewarded Evil Unto Themselves”

(Isa. 3:9, 11; Hel. 14:29–30)

Isaiah foresaw that Judah and Jerusalem would be punished by the Lord as a result of their wickedness. In 587 b.c. the city of Jerusalem was destroyed, and Judah was taken into captivity by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. In a.d. 70, 657 years later, the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and scattered the Jews to various portions of the world. Surely they had, as Isaiah said, “rewarded evil unto themselves” (2 Ne. 13:9).

(Book of Mormon Student Manual, Religion 121 and 122[Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1989], 31.)

In Isaiah it is written: “… your iniquities have separated between you and your God …” (Isa. 59:2). Again, “… they have rewarded evil unto themselves” (Isa. 3:9).

Envy, arrogance, unrighteous dominion—these canker the soul of one who is guilty of them… .

There are two courses of action to follow when one is bitten by a rattlesnake. One may, in anger, fear or vengefulness, pursue the creature and kill it. Or he may make full haste to get the venom out of his system. If we pursue the latter course we will likely survive, but if we attempt to follow the former, we may not be around long enough to finish it.

(Marion D. Hanks, Ensign, Jan. 1974, 21.)

Because of this widespread tolerance toward promiscuity, this world is in grave danger. When evil is decried and forbidden and punished, the world still has a chance. But when toleration for sin increases, the outlook is bleak and Sodom and Gomorrah days are certain to return.

We were in Los Angeles years ago when the news broke of the illicit affair of a certain movie actress, from which she became pregnant. Because of her popularity, it was big news in heavy headlines in every paper in the land. We were not so surprised at her adultery—it was reported to be common in Hollywood as well as in the world generally. But that such dissoluteness should be approved and accepted by society shocked me. The Los Angeles papers took a poll of the people … and almost without exception, … these community members found little fault with her and criticized as “puritanical” and “victorian” those who disapproved. “Let her live her own life,” they said. “And why should we interfere with people’s personal liberties?” In state and nation and across the seas, such toleration for sin is terrifying.

There is no shame. Isaiah again strikes at the sin: … (Isa. 3:9).

That the Church’s stand on morality may be understood, we declare firmly and unalterably it is not an outworn garment, faded, old-fashioned, and threadbare… . When the sun grows cold and the stars no longer shine, the law of chastity will still be basic in God’s world and in the Lord’s church. Old values are upheld by the Church not because they are old, but rather because they are right.

(Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1972], 154–155.)