The majority of the Nephites have hardened their hearts. They have become set in their ways. They don't want to hear any more talk of Jesus coming. It looks like the just want to live in a world where the gospel rules don't apply. The 'most' believing part of the Nephites and Lamanites are still holding fast but the rest have begun 'to depend on the their own strength and upon the their own wisdom' (Helaman 16:15)
Wisdom #1 - 'Some things they have guessed right'
Wisdom #2 - 'It is not reasonable'
Wisdom #3 - 'Why will he not'
Wisdom #4 - 'This is a wicked tradition'(reversal)
Wisdom #1 relates to the following verse in Helaman 16:
16 Some things they may have guessed right, among so many; but behold, we know that all these great and marvelous works cannot come to pass, of which has been spoken.
In our day an unbeliever might explain away prophecies of the past as not having any real value. In essence Jesus guessed right about what will happen in the last days. Some how the unbeliever can discount it and shut it our of his mind. It might have something do with shutting out incongruencies that mess up his neatly ordered paradigm of the world.
Wisdom #2 is contained in verse 17 and 18:
17 And they began to reason and to contend among themselves, saying:
18 That it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come; if so, and he be the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, as it has been spoken, why will he not show himself unto us as well as unto them who shall be at Jerusalem?
Since you can't see it or prove it, it isn't reasonable to believe it. It is convenient to say the Christ will not come for a second time. Again, this belief forces each of us reconsider and improve our ways. This wisdom of reasonableness applies every other unseen thing found in the scriptures. For example, it isn't reasonable to believe that there literally was a Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve resided. Current scientific evidence somehow proves that the Garden didn't exist. The current evolutionary theories are always conclusive and set in stone in every generation bringing about a new wave of unbelief. When the real truth is known, there will not be a conflict between science and faith. We will all say ah ha, that makes perfect sense!
Wisdom #3 is found in verses 18 and 19 but verse 19 will suffice:
19 Yea, why will he not show himself in this land as well as in the land of Jerusalem?
God doesn't reveal himself to me so God does not exist. Or, God makes no such thing known unto me(1 Nephi 15:9), so the thing must not be true. What is not understood is, God only reveals Himself to those that seek Him with real intent and sincerity. He requires everyone to exercise faith first. I believe that it is never God's fault when He, for some reason, doesn't 'show' Himself (through the witness of the Holy Ghost) unto particular individual. If this problem is happening, perhaps something needs to change before the swelling motions (Alma 32:28)begin to occur. This can be either an attitude problem or a sin problem. But, God is waiting for the indiviual to line up with Him. Until then, no answers will come.
The next wisdom is based on the reasoning of the previous wisdoms and arrives at a self justifying conclusion:
20 But behold, we know that this is a wicked tradition, which has been handed down unto us by our fathers, to cause us that we should believe in some great and marvelous thing which should come to pass, but not among us, but in a land which is far distant, a land which we know not; therefore they can keep us in ignorance, for we cannot witness with our own eyes that they are true.
21 And they will, by the cunning and the mysterious arts of the evil one, work some great mystery which we cannot understand, which will keep us down to be servants to their words, and also servants unto them, for we depend upon them to teach us the word; and thus will they keep us in ignorance if we will yield ourselves unto them, all the days of our lives.
If the reasoning is true, than what is being taught by the Church is false. A reversal occurs in the unbeliever's mind that every good, moral, faith-promoting principal that they were ever taught is false. There are no laws from God. The strong foundation of what is right and wrong cracks and wears away. The new sandy foundation seems to hold up for a while but when the next storm comes (personal or prophecied) the new, reasonable tradition proves itself unstable and we see with our own eyes the error of new found belief and ways.
So, get that testimony. If you can only believe in my words (or Alma's) than that's a start. As you begin to believe, you will know what I speak is true because of the swelling motions (you feel good). As you continue to exercise faith in Jesus Christ and correct principles and see the miraculous results in your life, you will become anchored in your faith and be able to cast off the 'wisdom' of the world.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Helaman 7:22-23 What were the people doing that caused Nephi to cry on his tower?
Nephi returns from the north countries to find the Nephites in a state of wickedenss. The Gadiantons have taken over the government. Nephi gets on his tower and crys out to his God regarding the wickedness of the people. People hear him and start gathering around. Does Nephi want them to hear him or is this his custom when he prays? Nephi calls them to repentance. The people are marveling because they don't even know that they have digressed that far regarding righteousness. (v.15) The people are not aware that what the are doing is wicknessness. I bet they are going to church every week and eating and drinking and giving in marriage - being quite normal. They have done something to harden their hearts (v.18).
They had forgotten that the Lord has delivered them from the hands of their enemies(v.20). Unless they repent they will not have the strength of the Lord with them to protect them and will become meat for dogs and wild beasts (v.19).
What were the peoples' iniquities? In Helaman 7:21 we read:
21 But behold, it is to get gain, to be praised of men, yea, and that ye might get gold and silver. And ye have set your hearts upon the riches and the vain things of this world, for the which ye do murder, and plunder, and steal, and bear false witness against your neighbor, and do all manner of iniquity.
The sin is that they have their hearts set upon riches and the vain things of this world. They want to get gain and be praised of men. Their pride results in doing all sorts of natual man things (murder, stealing, bearing false witness, etc.). The natural man does what ever it takes to stay in control. People will do almost anything to keep their riches, be praised, or maintain their place in society.
So, having one's heart set on riches is the problem. It breeds all sorts of evil in our hearts. Since one cannot serve both God and Mammon we will always hate the one and love the other (Mathew 6:24). There isn't any middle ground. Isn't it interesting that riches creates a false sense of security in most people. Instead of securing themselves in the Lord, they replace the Lord with riches and power. 'They do not desire that the Lord their God...should rule...over them....' (Helaman 12:6)
We Americans have unsatiable wants. It seems like an uncontrollable urge. If we have more we want more. If we don't have riches, we hope to obtain them in order to spend it on that which perishes. We covet that which we have not received. (Mosiah 4:25) Jacob tells us that when we obtained a hope in Christ, that our desires change. Riches are no longer used to try to satisfy that which cannot be satisfied (2 Nephi 10:51). We seek and obtain riches for the intent to do good - which is to help those in need (Jacob 2:19). If we can say this in our hearts (with or without riches), we stand blameless before God.
They had forgotten that the Lord has delivered them from the hands of their enemies(v.20). Unless they repent they will not have the strength of the Lord with them to protect them and will become meat for dogs and wild beasts (v.19).
What were the peoples' iniquities? In Helaman 7:21 we read:
21 But behold, it is to get gain, to be praised of men, yea, and that ye might get gold and silver. And ye have set your hearts upon the riches and the vain things of this world, for the which ye do murder, and plunder, and steal, and bear false witness against your neighbor, and do all manner of iniquity.
The sin is that they have their hearts set upon riches and the vain things of this world. They want to get gain and be praised of men. Their pride results in doing all sorts of natual man things (murder, stealing, bearing false witness, etc.). The natural man does what ever it takes to stay in control. People will do almost anything to keep their riches, be praised, or maintain their place in society.
So, having one's heart set on riches is the problem. It breeds all sorts of evil in our hearts. Since one cannot serve both God and Mammon we will always hate the one and love the other (Mathew 6:24). There isn't any middle ground. Isn't it interesting that riches creates a false sense of security in most people. Instead of securing themselves in the Lord, they replace the Lord with riches and power. 'They do not desire that the Lord their God...should rule...over them....' (Helaman 12:6)
We Americans have unsatiable wants. It seems like an uncontrollable urge. If we have more we want more. If we don't have riches, we hope to obtain them in order to spend it on that which perishes. We covet that which we have not received. (Mosiah 4:25) Jacob tells us that when we obtained a hope in Christ, that our desires change. Riches are no longer used to try to satisfy that which cannot be satisfied (2 Nephi 10:51). We seek and obtain riches for the intent to do good - which is to help those in need (Jacob 2:19). If we can say this in our hearts (with or without riches), we stand blameless before God.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Helaman 3:34 and 36 pride and riches
When pride enters into our hearts we stop seeing the right way to live. In Helaman 3:33-34 and 36 we read:
33 And in the fifty and first year of the reign of the judges there was peace also, save it were the pride which began to enter into the church—not into the church of God, but into the hearts of the people who professed to belong to the church of God—
34 And they were lifted up in pride, even to the persecution of many of their brethren. Now this was a great evil, which did cause the more humble part of the people to suffer great persecutions, and to wade through much affliction....
36 And it came to pass that the fifty and second year ended in peace also, save it were the exceedingly great pride which had gotten into the hearts of the people; and it was because of their exceedingly great riches and their prosperity in the land; and it did grow upon them from day to day.
Contentions among the people and dissensions in the church (Helaman 4:1) take away the peace the Nephites just months earlier. The rebellious group of Nephites are kicked out of the land. They go to the Lamanites and after a few years persuade the Lamanites to attack the Nephites. The faith of the Nephites has diminished so much due their pride that they no longer had the strength of the Lord. The Lamanite armies succeed in taking half of the Nephite land. The Nephites are slaughtered in those parts of the land.
Why did this happen?
In Helaman 4: 11-12 we read that loss ... the great slaughter... would not have happened had it not been for thier wickedness and their abomination which was among them; yea, and it was among those also who professed to belong to the church of God.
So something is going on with members of the church as well as the non-members.
In verse 12 we read, And it was because of the pride of their hearts, because of their exceeding riches, yea, it was because of their oppression to the poor, withholding their food from the hungry, withholding their clothing from the naked, and smiting their humble brethren upon the cheek, making a mock of that which was sacred, denying the spirit of prophecy and of revelation, murdering, plundering, lying, stealing, committing adultery, rising up in great contentions, and deserting away into the land of Nephi, among the Lamanites—
The first four things mentioned as reasons why the Nephites lost the strength of the Lord and were slaughtered are related to the helping poor. The fifth item seems to have something to do with continuing to participate unworthily in things that are sacred. As these members continue down this path of pride, they deny spiritual gifts and begin doing the general list of wicked things. But, isn't it interesting that choosing to not help the poor is the first four things mentioned. These members stopped following the order of the church established by Alma in giving their substance to the church for redistribution to the poor. They decided to withhold their substance from the poor and spend it on themselves.
My take on these verses is that the members started to get rich and decided not to give their surplus to the church. Pride had entered in and they want to keep their wealth for their own use. As the humble members of the church also got rich they chose to fast and pray becoming humbler and humbler, yielding themselves to the enticings of the holy spirit until they were sanctified. There apparently is a cross roads when a christian is tempted with riches. Does he stay humble and give abundantly to others or does he enjoy the comparison he is making noting that he has more than others. He thinks of all good things he can puchase as well as being able to provide the finer things of life to his children (education, skills, a start in life) and begins to justify the use of his riches to aggrandize himself (cars, home, liesure time, etc.) and his family. He, in a tacit sense, is mocking others by lifting himself and his family above the other members of his congregation. Since he can justify everything he does, he deceives himself into thinking it isn't pride. You see, he is thanking the Lord in his prayers night and day for great blessing bestowed on himself and his family. He is thanking the Lord of his great capacity to make money. He has done his part by thanking the Lord. He ceases to view substance as a gift from God to be freely shared. He continues participating in the church but he has lost a fundamental tenant of the gospel: love thy brother as yourself. In Alms'a church he may have been reprimanded and called to repentance. He now has another choice point: repent or continue believing that it isn't pride that has got a hold of him.
I would enjoy hearing counter positions for what I have just written. I have heard so many growing up in the church. I can accept a few: We are ignorant of the principle; the principle hasn't been freely taught us; we haven't been asked this principle fully yet.
33 And in the fifty and first year of the reign of the judges there was peace also, save it were the pride which began to enter into the church—not into the church of God, but into the hearts of the people who professed to belong to the church of God—
34 And they were lifted up in pride, even to the persecution of many of their brethren. Now this was a great evil, which did cause the more humble part of the people to suffer great persecutions, and to wade through much affliction....
36 And it came to pass that the fifty and second year ended in peace also, save it were the exceedingly great pride which had gotten into the hearts of the people; and it was because of their exceedingly great riches and their prosperity in the land; and it did grow upon them from day to day.
Contentions among the people and dissensions in the church (Helaman 4:1) take away the peace the Nephites just months earlier. The rebellious group of Nephites are kicked out of the land. They go to the Lamanites and after a few years persuade the Lamanites to attack the Nephites. The faith of the Nephites has diminished so much due their pride that they no longer had the strength of the Lord. The Lamanite armies succeed in taking half of the Nephite land. The Nephites are slaughtered in those parts of the land.
Why did this happen?
In Helaman 4: 11-12 we read that loss ... the great slaughter... would not have happened had it not been for thier wickedness and their abomination which was among them; yea, and it was among those also who professed to belong to the church of God.
So something is going on with members of the church as well as the non-members.
In verse 12 we read, And it was because of the pride of their hearts, because of their exceeding riches, yea, it was because of their oppression to the poor, withholding their food from the hungry, withholding their clothing from the naked, and smiting their humble brethren upon the cheek, making a mock of that which was sacred, denying the spirit of prophecy and of revelation, murdering, plundering, lying, stealing, committing adultery, rising up in great contentions, and deserting away into the land of Nephi, among the Lamanites—
The first four things mentioned as reasons why the Nephites lost the strength of the Lord and were slaughtered are related to the helping poor. The fifth item seems to have something to do with continuing to participate unworthily in things that are sacred. As these members continue down this path of pride, they deny spiritual gifts and begin doing the general list of wicked things. But, isn't it interesting that choosing to not help the poor is the first four things mentioned. These members stopped following the order of the church established by Alma in giving their substance to the church for redistribution to the poor. They decided to withhold their substance from the poor and spend it on themselves.
My take on these verses is that the members started to get rich and decided not to give their surplus to the church. Pride had entered in and they want to keep their wealth for their own use. As the humble members of the church also got rich they chose to fast and pray becoming humbler and humbler, yielding themselves to the enticings of the holy spirit until they were sanctified. There apparently is a cross roads when a christian is tempted with riches. Does he stay humble and give abundantly to others or does he enjoy the comparison he is making noting that he has more than others. He thinks of all good things he can puchase as well as being able to provide the finer things of life to his children (education, skills, a start in life) and begins to justify the use of his riches to aggrandize himself (cars, home, liesure time, etc.) and his family. He, in a tacit sense, is mocking others by lifting himself and his family above the other members of his congregation. Since he can justify everything he does, he deceives himself into thinking it isn't pride. You see, he is thanking the Lord in his prayers night and day for great blessing bestowed on himself and his family. He is thanking the Lord of his great capacity to make money. He has done his part by thanking the Lord. He ceases to view substance as a gift from God to be freely shared. He continues participating in the church but he has lost a fundamental tenant of the gospel: love thy brother as yourself. In Alms'a church he may have been reprimanded and called to repentance. He now has another choice point: repent or continue believing that it isn't pride that has got a hold of him.
I would enjoy hearing counter positions for what I have just written. I have heard so many growing up in the church. I can accept a few: We are ignorant of the principle; the principle hasn't been freely taught us; we haven't been asked this principle fully yet.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Having a Just God on your Side - Alma 57:26,27
I am now reading the war chapters in Alma. It is 63 BC, still in the era of faith and righteousness among the Nephites. The stripling warriors are miraculously protected a second time where none of them are killed. (Alma 57:25) For the miracle to occur, the Lord orchestrated events so that the army guarding the Lamanite prisoners of war were able to return in the knick of time. The Nephites had lost there prisoners but the Lord answered the faith of believers. In verse 26 and 27 we read,
"And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe—that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power. Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually."
One of the clearest messages in the Book of Mormon is that God fulfills is promises to people that firmly put their trust in Him. He is a just God. He wants us not to doubt but to be believing. I find that this level of steadiness is not an easy thing to maintain! Why do I end up slipping back into a state of unbelief? For me, it has something to do with my natural instincts. The seen world says something different than the unseen world. Maybe I just don't believe that believing, trusting and relying are so powerful. It's too simple! Like the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, I don't understand the meaning of things. Moses put a serpent on a stick and all who looked at the serpent were healed. Alma 30:20 says,
"But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them. If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God... "
So, the key is to stay focused on Christ. Believe that believing in the Son of God will bring to pass miraculous results. Even if the all the Lamanite prisoners are lost, God will fulfill his promises unto those that believe firmly and steadfast in the Son of God.
You will never know what would have happened if you but had some faith!
"And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe—that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power. Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually."
One of the clearest messages in the Book of Mormon is that God fulfills is promises to people that firmly put their trust in Him. He is a just God. He wants us not to doubt but to be believing. I find that this level of steadiness is not an easy thing to maintain! Why do I end up slipping back into a state of unbelief? For me, it has something to do with my natural instincts. The seen world says something different than the unseen world. Maybe I just don't believe that believing, trusting and relying are so powerful. It's too simple! Like the Israelites wandering in the wilderness, I don't understand the meaning of things. Moses put a serpent on a stick and all who looked at the serpent were healed. Alma 30:20 says,
"But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them. If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God... "
So, the key is to stay focused on Christ. Believe that believing in the Son of God will bring to pass miraculous results. Even if the all the Lamanite prisoners are lost, God will fulfill his promises unto those that believe firmly and steadfast in the Son of God.
You will never know what would have happened if you but had some faith!
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Alma 48:12 - Being Grateful to Serve with Your Gifts
In speaking of Captain Moroni, the narrator says an interesting thing:
12 Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people.
As Moroni gave his service as the commander of the armies of the Nephites, he viewed his abilities as privileges and blessing that he could bestow upon his people. He willingly used his gifts and talents to help others. He was grateful for the opportunity to serve and make a difference.
Do our hearts swell with thanksgiving when we are priveliged and blessed by the Lord?
Is Captain Moroni charging for his services? If you have a gift from God, do you bless the lifes of others with it? Do you believe that it should be given freely for the benefit of all? Does this apply to temporal gifts as well as spiritual gifts? Whatever we are gifted in, we use that gift for the benefit and welfare of others. I think some of us draw the line between spiritual gifts and temporal gives. Spiritual gifts are used to benefit others but temporal gifts (the ability to make money or grow wealth) are used for our own benefit. This seems to be a faulty paradigm. Either we serve God or we serve mammon. You see, it's a paradigm shift. Instead of believing everything that I do temporally is mine and I can do with it as I please, we believe that all gifts both spiritual and temporal are gifts from God and it is a great privelege and blessing to bestow upon others so they can be rich like us. Now, that I believe is following Christ and a major tenant of the gospel.
12 Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people.
As Moroni gave his service as the commander of the armies of the Nephites, he viewed his abilities as privileges and blessing that he could bestow upon his people. He willingly used his gifts and talents to help others. He was grateful for the opportunity to serve and make a difference.
Do our hearts swell with thanksgiving when we are priveliged and blessed by the Lord?
Is Captain Moroni charging for his services? If you have a gift from God, do you bless the lifes of others with it? Do you believe that it should be given freely for the benefit of all? Does this apply to temporal gifts as well as spiritual gifts? Whatever we are gifted in, we use that gift for the benefit and welfare of others. I think some of us draw the line between spiritual gifts and temporal gives. Spiritual gifts are used to benefit others but temporal gifts (the ability to make money or grow wealth) are used for our own benefit. This seems to be a faulty paradigm. Either we serve God or we serve mammon. You see, it's a paradigm shift. Instead of believing everything that I do temporally is mine and I can do with it as I please, we believe that all gifts both spiritual and temporal are gifts from God and it is a great privelege and blessing to bestow upon others so they can be rich like us. Now, that I believe is following Christ and a major tenant of the gospel.
Alma 48:6-7 Preparing the hearts of the people
Humans are highly susceptible. What we listen to, read and watch molds our view of what we believe is right or wrong. If we want to develop the spiritual man within us, we put spiritual things into our minds. If we enjoy the baser things, we fill our minds with that kind of material. If we listen to contentious messages, we either turn it off our start agreeing with what is being said. Captain Moroni and Amalickiah were manipulating their peoples back in the Nephite times. In Alma 48:7 we read:
"Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God."
I agree with what Moroni is doing. We all need to have our minds prepared before the testing occurs. Once our minds are prepared to be faithful, when the trial occurs, enough faith can be mustered to meet the challenge. This is happening every time we read our scriptures. It happens when the prophets confer with us during General Conference.
On the other hand there are many deceiving voices out there trying to get us believe lies. There are base TV shows, music lyrics, talk show hosts, movies, etc. They can help us become more carnal, sensual and devilish. They can make feel contentious. In Alma 48:1 we read:
"And now it came to pass that, as soon as Amalickiah had obtained the kingdom he began to inspire the hearts of the Lamanites against the people of Nephi; yea, he did appoint men to speak unto the Lamanites from their towers, against the Nephites."
The Lamanites were bombarded with war propaganda from towers erected to disseminate information. Previously they were scared of the power of the Nephites. Many had taken oaths never to come against Nephites again. But the constant bombardment from these towers, swayed the Lamanites into taking up arms again. Their towers are equivalent to our air ways.
We need to be careful not to get sucked into the negativity of the age. We need to be careful not watch movies and TV shows that bring out our baser selves. We are what we listen to. So, listen to and watch good, uplifting and wholesome things!
"Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God."
I agree with what Moroni is doing. We all need to have our minds prepared before the testing occurs. Once our minds are prepared to be faithful, when the trial occurs, enough faith can be mustered to meet the challenge. This is happening every time we read our scriptures. It happens when the prophets confer with us during General Conference.
On the other hand there are many deceiving voices out there trying to get us believe lies. There are base TV shows, music lyrics, talk show hosts, movies, etc. They can help us become more carnal, sensual and devilish. They can make feel contentious. In Alma 48:1 we read:
"And now it came to pass that, as soon as Amalickiah had obtained the kingdom he began to inspire the hearts of the Lamanites against the people of Nephi; yea, he did appoint men to speak unto the Lamanites from their towers, against the Nephites."
The Lamanites were bombarded with war propaganda from towers erected to disseminate information. Previously they were scared of the power of the Nephites. Many had taken oaths never to come against Nephites again. But the constant bombardment from these towers, swayed the Lamanites into taking up arms again. Their towers are equivalent to our air ways.
We need to be careful not to get sucked into the negativity of the age. We need to be careful not watch movies and TV shows that bring out our baser selves. We are what we listen to. So, listen to and watch good, uplifting and wholesome things!
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
The easiness of the way
Sometimes as a Latter-Day Saint I think I have it all wrong. When I read verses like the one in Alma 37:40 I start to wonder if I am complicating matters. The verse says, 'For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.' I am not sure I completely understand this verse. I figure that compass represents word of God which comes in various forms: The Holy Ghost, the scriptures, the prophets, etc. It is as easy to give heed to the word of God now as it was for Lehi's family to give heed to the Liahona. Hum, I am still not getting it completely. In 1 Nephi 16:28 I read, 'And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.' Faith, diligence and heed. I first must believe and cast off my doubt. Then I must be diligent. Diligence is the earnest and persistent application to an undertaking; steady effort. It's the steadfast part of the faith. 2 Nephi 31:20 says, 'Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.' I think diligence is akin to being steadfast. So what is heed? Heed is to pay attention to; listen to and consider. Since the writing on the Liahona changed from time to time, so it is today that our instructions from the various sources changes from time to time. As I receive new instruction, I need pay attention to it, listen to it and consider it.
The word 'easy' still bothers me. In verse 46 it says, 'O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.'
Alma is either stating that the way is easy or that it is easy to get side tracked in a pursuit to living the gospel. If the way is truly easy, that would mean that once a person has a change in heart his path through life becomes significantly easier. He believes that he will be guided and directed and comforted as he travels through the vissitudes of life. He is at rest. He has burdens but they a swallowed up in Christ. Slothful means disinclined to work or exertion; lazy. Alma is exhorting his son to keep on working even though he in in the way. I think it is easy to get into the trap of enjoying the nice things of life and forgetting to get out there to do our duty. Serving isn't necesarily fun but it grows our spirits.
I hope to get to a place in my life where the living the gospel is easy. Even though it is easy, we should alway be found doing our next errand from the Lord.
The word 'easy' still bothers me. In verse 46 it says, 'O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.'
Alma is either stating that the way is easy or that it is easy to get side tracked in a pursuit to living the gospel. If the way is truly easy, that would mean that once a person has a change in heart his path through life becomes significantly easier. He believes that he will be guided and directed and comforted as he travels through the vissitudes of life. He is at rest. He has burdens but they a swallowed up in Christ. Slothful means disinclined to work or exertion; lazy. Alma is exhorting his son to keep on working even though he in in the way. I think it is easy to get into the trap of enjoying the nice things of life and forgetting to get out there to do our duty. Serving isn't necesarily fun but it grows our spirits.
I hope to get to a place in my life where the living the gospel is easy. Even though it is easy, we should alway be found doing our next errand from the Lord.
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