Walk with Him: Spiritual Routines Can Keep Us Safe

If you or a loved one has had surgery, you know there are multiple checkpoints to make sure you’re the right patient, getting the right surgery in the right place. The use of a surgical checklist is a standardized operating protocol designed to prevent medical errors, reduce complications, and improve team communication. As rote and mundane as it could seem, it works and has decreased accidents.
There are similar checklists to stay on the covenant path. Partake of the sacrament every week, study the scriptures daily, pray throughout the day, attend the temple, listen to the Spirit, do service, minister, and repent daily. As rote and mundane as it could seem, it works.
Leaving the safety of spiritual routines can have serious consequences. David, who was once sure and steady, stopped guiding prayers and perhaps changed a morning routine. The results were disastrous as he veered far off course, one decision at a time. The lesson of David is that no one is immune to the tricks of Satan, but having holy habits provides protection.

“One of the great myths in life is when men think they are invincible. Too many think that they are men of steel, strong enough to withstand any temptation. They delude themselves into thinking, ‘It cannot happen to me.’ Borrowing a thought from Bertrand Russell, ‘We are all like the turkey who wakes up [Thanksgiving] morning expecting lunch as usual. Things can go wrong at any time.’ Brethren, it can happen to any of us at any time. So much of our course in life is influenced by forces we only partly perceive.” (President James E. Faust)
“Develop discipline of self so that, more and more, you do not have to decide and redecide what you will do when you are confronted with the same temptation time and time again. You need only to decide some things once. How great a blessing it is to be free of agonizing over and over again regarding a temptation. To do such is time-consuming and very risky.” (President Spencer W. Kimball)