We all have heard the stories about chickens running around after their heads are chopped off. Well, I'm here to tell you that these stories are true. I lived on my grandpa's farm for 5 years where I had the privilege to assist in the process of getting the chicken from the yard to the dinner table. Before my family lived out there, though, an incident occurred during this process to my cousin. (He shall remain nameless because I'm not sure how happy he'd be with me sharing this story.) When he was five years old he wandered a little too close to where they were chopping off the heads and a headless chicken ran right towards him. He began to back pedal very quickly but tripped on a board and fell flat on his back. The chicken then proceeded to run up onto his chest where it finally gave up the ghost. On his chest, a headless chicken. Needless to say, he is still afraid of chickens to this day, and he is now a full-grown adult.
In the Book of Mormon, in Alma 13:12, it states: "Now they, after being sanctified by the Holy Ghost, having their garments made white, being pure and spotless before God, could not look upon sin save it were with abhorrence; and there were many, exceedingly great many, who were made pure and entered into the rest of the Lord their God."
Once we have "been sanctified by the Holy Ghost" or essentially once we have repented and been cleansed of our sin, we must have this same attitude towards sin, that of abhorrence. If we stay close to our past sins, they will still have the ability to chase us down and overcome us, as this headless livestock did to my cousin. This experience has effected his whole life, and his attitude toward chickens. Returning to previous sins can also affect our whole lives for the ill. But, if we remember to leave behind all previous sins and mistakes and turn to our Savior, we will never be dragged down again.
I know that Jesus Christ knows and loves each and every one of us, and that through His Atonement we can all be raised up and move away from past mistakes. What a glorious, hopeful message that is! I bear that testimony of our loving Savior in His name, even Jesus Christ, Amen.
