Samuel the Lamanite continues to preach on the wall of the city, telling people the signs of the birth and death of the Savior, as well as teaching them some basic principles, including the concept and result of agency.
"30 And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.
31 He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you." (Helaman 14:30)
As I read these verses, I thought, this is a very concise description of agency and it's results. He gives a little more emphasis to the idea that you are your own person and can make your own choices, but the results of those choices are 100% your own. If you chose to perish, you choose that on your own. If you choose evil, evil will come back to you. If you choose life, and good, those things will be returned as well. I think this is a difficult principle to "master", yet it is very simplistic in nature.
Now I just need to remember to make the kinds of choices that return back to me what I would like to have returned. I would like life and good returned to me.
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Thursday, March 8, 2018
Exact and Complete Obedience
Typically in the Book of Mormon, the Nephites are the righteous people and the Lamanites are the wicked ones. At this time, they are switched. The Nephites, who had been blessed for their righteousness, started to become prideful and wicked until the point when they were the more wicked of the two groups. The Lamanites, conversely, were the righteous ones.
"And now it came to pass in the eighty and sixth year, the Nephites did still remain in wickedness, yea, in great wickedness, while the Lamanites did observe strictly to keep the commandments of God, according to the law of Moses." (Helaman 13:1)
In fact, I like the phrase used to describe what the Lamanites did. They "did observe strictly to keep the commandments of God". I think often about how I would like people to describe as a person, and I definitely wouldn't mind being described that way.
So Samuel, who was a Lamanite, preached in the Nephite land of Zarahemla, but the wicked Nephites didn't like that he was telling them to repent, so they threw him out of their land and he was headed home.
"But behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, that he should return again, and prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his heart." (Helaman 13:3)
I don't know how I would react. I think this would be a very difficult assignment. I would be afraid for my life. These people are wicked and what would they do to me if I showed back up in their city after having been thrown out already, and not only that, but I show up to do the exact thing that I was thrown out for doing before.
That would be a tough decision. Samuel went right back and they wouldn't let him in. I feel like you could be justified in leaving again. Thoughts of "Hey, I tried" would ring in my ears and perhaps I would convince myself that I am justified in leaving, based on those thoughts. Not Samuel. He just climbed up on the wall and started preaching.
"And it came to pass that they would not suffer that he should enter into the city; therefore he went and got upon the wall thereof, and stretched forth his hand and cried with a loud voice, and prophesied unto the people whatsoever things the Lord put into his heart." (Helaman 13:4)
The words he speaks up on that wall are important, and also not very pleasant for the Nephites. But, he did what was commanded of him.
Can I do the same?
"And now it came to pass in the eighty and sixth year, the Nephites did still remain in wickedness, yea, in great wickedness, while the Lamanites did observe strictly to keep the commandments of God, according to the law of Moses." (Helaman 13:1)
In fact, I like the phrase used to describe what the Lamanites did. They "did observe strictly to keep the commandments of God". I think often about how I would like people to describe as a person, and I definitely wouldn't mind being described that way.
So Samuel, who was a Lamanite, preached in the Nephite land of Zarahemla, but the wicked Nephites didn't like that he was telling them to repent, so they threw him out of their land and he was headed home.
"But behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, that he should return again, and prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his heart." (Helaman 13:3)
I don't know how I would react. I think this would be a very difficult assignment. I would be afraid for my life. These people are wicked and what would they do to me if I showed back up in their city after having been thrown out already, and not only that, but I show up to do the exact thing that I was thrown out for doing before.
That would be a tough decision. Samuel went right back and they wouldn't let him in. I feel like you could be justified in leaving again. Thoughts of "Hey, I tried" would ring in my ears and perhaps I would convince myself that I am justified in leaving, based on those thoughts. Not Samuel. He just climbed up on the wall and started preaching.
"And it came to pass that they would not suffer that he should enter into the city; therefore he went and got upon the wall thereof, and stretched forth his hand and cried with a loud voice, and prophesied unto the people whatsoever things the Lord put into his heart." (Helaman 13:4)
The words he speaks up on that wall are important, and also not very pleasant for the Nephites. But, he did what was commanded of him.
Can I do the same?
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Rewards for the Righteous
There is a slight break here to describe how people are. You can imagine that Mormon, as he abridges the plates, gets a unique insight into people's and societies' overall trends. He describes the blessings that come to those who are righteous.
"...yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him." (Helaman 12:1)
"Therefore, blessed are they who will repent and hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; for these are they that shall be saved." (Helaman 12:23)
However, he also notes that people kind of have a natural tendency to fall away, even when they are being blessed.
"Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, ... doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity." (Helaman 12:2)
"O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world!" (Helaman 12:4)
So, what is a loving Heavenly Father to do about this? Obviously, He wants His children to succeed and be able to receive all the blessings He has to give them. But if left to only that, their eternal salvation (i.e., ability to return and live with God forever) would be in jeopardy. So He has to do some things to help remind people of who they are and where they come from.
"And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him." (Helaman 12:3)
It sounds a little harsh, and this is the reason that some religions have a view of God as being jealous and vindictive. The truth is, if we would be more obedient in times of prosperity, there would be a lot less "chastening with afflictions" and things like that.
I know God has my own best interests at heart, and as I've watched my kids grow up, I begin to see some of the wisdom of His way of doing things. When I do things for my kids, or don't make them work, or don't give them punishments for their misdeeds, I am not just "going easy on them". I am not preparing them for the future, especially when they need to be able to be more independent and move on with their lives.
I sympathize with these words:
"And I would that all men might be saved. But we read that in the great and last day there are some who shall be cast out, yea, who shall be cast off from the presence of the Lord;" (Helaman 12: 25)
I wish all men would be saved, but we know that they all won't. That being said, it makes sense to do everything in my power to help those around me as much as I can to not be "cast off".
I'm grateful for a mindful Heavenly Father who knows what's best for me, and is willing to do the difficult thing of "providing" challenging circumstances in life to keep me humble.
"...yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him." (Helaman 12:1)
"Therefore, blessed are they who will repent and hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; for these are they that shall be saved." (Helaman 12:23)
However, he also notes that people kind of have a natural tendency to fall away, even when they are being blessed.
"Yea, and we may see at the very time when he doth prosper his people, ... doing all things for the welfare and happiness of his people; yea, then is the time that they do harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One—yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity." (Helaman 12:2)
"O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world!" (Helaman 12:4)
So, what is a loving Heavenly Father to do about this? Obviously, He wants His children to succeed and be able to receive all the blessings He has to give them. But if left to only that, their eternal salvation (i.e., ability to return and live with God forever) would be in jeopardy. So He has to do some things to help remind people of who they are and where they come from.
"And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him." (Helaman 12:3)
It sounds a little harsh, and this is the reason that some religions have a view of God as being jealous and vindictive. The truth is, if we would be more obedient in times of prosperity, there would be a lot less "chastening with afflictions" and things like that.
I know God has my own best interests at heart, and as I've watched my kids grow up, I begin to see some of the wisdom of His way of doing things. When I do things for my kids, or don't make them work, or don't give them punishments for their misdeeds, I am not just "going easy on them". I am not preparing them for the future, especially when they need to be able to be more independent and move on with their lives.
I sympathize with these words:
"And I would that all men might be saved. But we read that in the great and last day there are some who shall be cast out, yea, who shall be cast off from the presence of the Lord;" (Helaman 12: 25)
I wish all men would be saved, but we know that they all won't. That being said, it makes sense to do everything in my power to help those around me as much as I can to not be "cast off".
I'm grateful for a mindful Heavenly Father who knows what's best for me, and is willing to do the difficult thing of "providing" challenging circumstances in life to keep me humble.
Sunday, March 4, 2018
Not a Whit Behind
All through the scriptures, there are accounts of ultra-righteous people. People like Nephi, who was given the sealing power, who called upon God to place a famine in the land in the hopes that there could be an end to the destruction of the people through bloodshed.
The famine came, people were humbled, and there were many who repented. Nephi, seeing that the famine had worked, asked the Lord to remove the famine, and it was removed.
When we were introduced to Nephi, we were also introduced to Lehi, his brother. Their father, Helaman, made a big deal about both of them, and how he named them after Lehi and Nephi who left Jerusalem, who were righteous men. He wanted them to be like those men, so he told them whenever they think about their names, they should remember their namesakes, so they could remember to be righteous as well.
Then, Lehi sort of falls off the radar a little bit as we follow Nephi and his experiences. Sometimes in the scriptures, this happens and we never hear more about that person. Luckily, in this case, we get the opportunity to find out what happened to Lehi. Or at least, how he turned out.
"And behold, Lehi, his brother, was not a whit behind him as to things pertaining to righteousness." (Helaman 11:19)
I think it's important to remember that Nephi was blessed by God and given the sealing power. He was told (basically) that the Lord trusted him and that he wouldn't ever ask for anything contrary to what God wanted anyway. I feel like this also would apply to Lehi based on this passage of scripture.
Lehi and Nephi went on to do a great many things, preaching the Gospel and performing miracles.
I think I would do well to learn from them and study their habits and their lives and truly become the kind of man who the Lord could say that He knows I wouldn't ever ask for anything more than what He would want me to. I've got a pretty big list of things I need to do before I would have that level of trustworthiness with the Lord. Time to work on it!
The famine came, people were humbled, and there were many who repented. Nephi, seeing that the famine had worked, asked the Lord to remove the famine, and it was removed.
When we were introduced to Nephi, we were also introduced to Lehi, his brother. Their father, Helaman, made a big deal about both of them, and how he named them after Lehi and Nephi who left Jerusalem, who were righteous men. He wanted them to be like those men, so he told them whenever they think about their names, they should remember their namesakes, so they could remember to be righteous as well.
Then, Lehi sort of falls off the radar a little bit as we follow Nephi and his experiences. Sometimes in the scriptures, this happens and we never hear more about that person. Luckily, in this case, we get the opportunity to find out what happened to Lehi. Or at least, how he turned out.
"And behold, Lehi, his brother, was not a whit behind him as to things pertaining to righteousness." (Helaman 11:19)
I think it's important to remember that Nephi was blessed by God and given the sealing power. He was told (basically) that the Lord trusted him and that he wouldn't ever ask for anything contrary to what God wanted anyway. I feel like this also would apply to Lehi based on this passage of scripture.
Lehi and Nephi went on to do a great many things, preaching the Gospel and performing miracles.
I think I would do well to learn from them and study their habits and their lives and truly become the kind of man who the Lord could say that He knows I wouldn't ever ask for anything more than what He would want me to. I've got a pretty big list of things I need to do before I would have that level of trustworthiness with the Lord. Time to work on it!
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