What would YOU do for a Klondike bar?

Everyone is familiar with that catchy little jingle selling chocolate covered ice cream bars.  I didn't realize they only began selling nationally in 1982.  Seems like they have been around longer than that.

It is a brilliant campaign scheme, which they have stuck with because it is so successful.  Suddenly it elevates their product to something worthy of extraordinary effort, not merely the tossing in of a few quarters for a little treat.  Through the years there have been commercials showing people doing silly, even outrageous things just for the privilege of a few bites of ice cream.

Last Sunday evening in my backyard, the bishop of our ward had a Youth Fireside.  He proposed this question to his little flock, "What would you do for a Klondike bar?"  He listened to a few offers, then decided the winner must be the little gal willing to do a back hand spring right there in front of everyone.

Now he had their attention.  He continued by reminding them that the world beckons with the same type of temptations that likewise come at a price.  Problems arise when we are willing to pay too high of a price for something with fleeting or relatively no value at all.

What would you do for your 15 minutes of fame?  What would you do for a spot in the "In" crowd?  What would you do to hold onto a boyfriend? or for a few moments of drug-induced escape?

Too often we are short sighted, seeing only the immediacy of gratification rather than the lasting consequences for poor decisions.

Eternal Perspective is the key.  I find we must ask ourselves frequently if the choices we are making are jeopardizing our eternal reward.  What really is the price attached to our day to day decisions?  Are we willing to sell our birthright, as Esau did, for a Klondike bar, I mean a "mess of pottage?"

Several years ago I stumbled upon a declaration.  I don't know who to attribute it to, but it has inspired me; has strengthened me; has given me the resolve and dedication to stand by the things I know to be true, even at the sacrifice of the fleeting pleasures the world offers.  May I share it with you? 

It may mean I won't be cool.  It may mean I won't be popular, or the life of the party.  That's okay.  Sometimes those things come at much too high of a cost.