Be Wise

"And now let us be wise and look forward to these things, and do that which will make for the peace of this people." (Mosiah 29:10)

This last chapter of Mosiah wraps up the reign of the kings. King Mosiah had some sons, and he spoke to them about making them king, but they all turned it down because they had decided to go to the Lamanites to share the gospel.

The verse above is King Mosiah talking to the people about how to proceed with the government when he is no longer able to serve them as king. He recommends to them that since the rightful heir to the throne turned it down, the people change their form of government. He tells them that they need to be thinking of future generations and the effects of the type of government that they choose. As I read that, I couldn't help but think of today's world, and how much better it would be if people who make governing decisions thought this way, looking forward and doing that which will make for the peace of this people, not just what will get them re-elected, or what will help them to push forward their specific agenda.

Mosiah talks to them about all the potential problems with being ruled over by kings. He gave them some examples of wicked kings, like King Noah, and what that has done to the people. So the people are convinced. Mosiah recommends changing to being ruled over by judges, which would be selected by the voice of the people. He tells them that it is common to have some people who would choose evil, but that the majority of the people would usually choose good.

I do wish that more decisions would be made purely on the basis that Mosiah describes in the quoted verse. That people would be wise and look forward, and then just always do that which will make for the peace of the people.