The Vanilla Deception

Vanilla. You open it up and breathe in its delicious fumes. Oh, so good! You can practically taste it! But you know that you're not tasting it, because it tastes pretty gross.


I was the kid who was more curious than smart, who touched the burner after Mom said, "Don't touch the burner; it's hot!" I really did, and it was hot, and I got burned. Later, Mom said, "Don't put metal into a light socket; you'll get burned." So, one day, I deliberately straightened the top part of a wire hanger and inserted that baby into a light socket. The result: pain, blackness on the wall surrounding the light socket, and a satisfied mind. Oh. Mom was right. Another time, Mom said "Vanilla smells good, but it tastes awful," when we were baking, after I asked if I could taste the vanilla. I waited till she wasn't around, climbed up on the counter, got the vanilla out of the cupboard, opened it, smelled it and wondered, "how can anything that smells so sweet taste bad?"

I did not think about the time Mom was right about the burner. I did not think about the time Mom was right about the light socket. I did not think about how Mom never lied to me. I just drank it. A big gulp.

It was disgusting.

Mom wins again.

I look back and wonder, why didn't I trust her? She'd been right before. The vanilla wasn't particularly damaging or dangerous, as previous incidents had been. But the other incidents had no other appeal besides Mom saying don't do it. The vanilla, however, smelled so good.

Satan makes sin smell like vanilla. Right? I mean pornography (or whatever your addiction, if applicable) is SO appealing! The IDEA, in the right circumstances, is wildly appealing. It smells like vanilla. And it has such a strong, strong smell, that you feel like you just HAVE to taste it, because how can it possibly taste bad when it smells so good? And somehow, in those moments, I forget how sour it was the last time I tasted it, and I can only think of how great of an idea it seems to be. So, I chug the vanilla again, and remember too late why I said "I'll never taste this again!" last time I tasted it.

Heavenly Father has warned us through prophets to avoid pornography! But Satan makes it appealing. Like Vanilla. It seems like it's going to be so great, and fulfill your expectations, but then when you drink it, it's awful.

My 9-year-old daughter was baking with me the other day. I let her smell the vanilla. I asked her if she wanted to taste it. She said, "no, Mom, you told me it tastes bad."

I was impressed and admittedly baffled by her trust. I told her a little won't hurt (holy cow, I'm such a pusher!) and she could taste it if she wanted. She still refused. She trusted me. Even with the sweet smell of vanilla beneath her nose, she trusted me.

I'm so grateful she is stronger and smarter than I am. I am grateful for her example! I hope that the next time my favorite sins beckon to me, that I can remember my sweet daughter's example. Even if the sweet smell is directly under my nose, I hope that I can say, "No. I trust Heavenly Father. He has told me this will taste horrible, and make me feel awful. I trust Him."

I don't want to be that kid anymore, that kid who touches the burner after Mom says not to. I don't want to be more curious than I am smart. I don't want to disregard the Spirit's warnings, in interest of finding out for myself, any longer.

I'm so grateful for the Atonement of my loving Brother! I can be forgiven! I can go Home! I can gain the strength to say no to sweet-smelling sins.