Choice

So, you are sitting there watching a movie, playing a game, or reading a book. There is a villain that is trying to rule the world, make money, or just be evil and the good guys of the story are doing their best to stop this nefarious plot. Of course, the villain isn't working alone and has several mooks working for him. This is where today's lesson is: how is the mook reacting to the treatment the villain is sharing?

The villain's pictures are copyrighted.
Enjoy this one instead.

Often, in order to characterize a villain as a true scumbag, writers will have it treat the underlings (also called mooks) with utter contempt. Sometimes I've wondered, "why does [insert mook here] keep following [insert villain here]?" it would be the logical choice to quit the job, maybe even go to work for the good guys. After all, the hero treats his friends kindly, and the cruel boss won't be bothering you anymore. Sometimes this does happen, and it's called a heel face turn (or mook face turn with a bit of help face turn). These are the smart mooks that we should try to be like. (Confused by the terms? Follow the links or visit TVTropes.org to learn more.)
A scripture I've shared before is in 2 Nephi 2:27, and reminds us that we have the same choice presented to the mooks. How often do we make choices that puts us in Satan's camp instead of God's, when one leader will treat us so much better than the other? Just look at the evidence of people being happy, comfortable with who they are, filled with hope and joy as they follow what is found in the scriptures. I know that the presence of Jesus Christ in my life has provided me with more instances of joy than all my game playing, meme consumption, or trope following. I know that you can have the same joy, all starting with investigating The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you want to try it out, mormon.org is the best place to start.

Opinions and Truths

How many buttons? More than an Xbox.

One of the first things you should know about me is that I love computer games. I also enjoy other video games, but they never give the same amount of control as a computer. Two joysticks are simply not as good as a mouse and wasd, and a keyboard has so many more inputs than any controller I've ever seen; just look at it! I'm not here to step on anybody's preferences, since opinions are diverse and we are all free to have them. I know some love the two joysticks and the finesse they give, and there are many other ways to play. I can't say I've tried every game and every way to play it, but I do know what I like and you'll have a hard time convincing me to change just by listing the merits of one way or another. I will admit that I could be convinced if I was given the chance to learn and try out a different method for long enough. It's just an opinion, I can change all the time.

On the other hand, I find it hard to choose a favorite movie or a favorite game. I see a movie or play a game, and I can enjoy it quite thoroughly. However, I have learned how to analyze my entertainment with a different eye and I can find flaws in almost everything I enjoy. As such, I hesitate to call a certain movie or game my favorite because I can see its flaws and I don't want somebody to associate the flaws with what I like. I have decided certain movies are high quality, such as Toy Story (1-3) and Serenity, but these choices are conscious decisions based partly on nostalgia and a love of the genre. This means they might have less weight on you, but I have the right to base my opinion on whatever I want. Of course, if you don't like sci-fi you probably won't even give Serenity a chance, but that's okay. It's just an opinion, and it doesn't have to be based on anything.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ, however, is not an opinion to me. It is a matter of truth, even of absolute truth. Unlike how to play a game, it is true for all people of all situations, times and circumstances. Unlike a favorite movie, it doesn't matter if you like the genre or if you've studied out every little flaw and defect. I did not come to this knowledge because of lengthy testing to see if I like it more than others. I did not choose based on studying it and reasoning that it is the best. I know of this truth because I followed a simple test and found the result to be positive. Trying out a different one will not change my mind. Reasoning against me will only frustrate one of us. Likewise, ignoring me will only harm one of us. Indeed, part of knowing this truth is that you need it as well. You need the truth that can only be found in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You have your agency to choose, but I know that the result of your choice is simple: "liberty and eternal life... or... captivity and death" (2 Nephi 2:27). Please, choose liberty and start by giving the Book of Mormon a chance.