Are we not all a little like Zeniff. We want life on our own terms and are pretty determined to make it so. Then Satan comes along, just like the Lamanites and makes us offers that on the surface look like they'll help us get what we want. Inevitably though, blinded by our own desires we are led into bondage in one form or another. And we are forced to pay a tax of some sort that, like Limhi's is grievous to be born. It is so with addiction, it is so with debt, it is so with so much of mortality. It is always so if we insist on having life on our own terms.
It was so with me and I was desperate. One day I was listening to The Book of Mormon on my iPod. I was driving down the road at the time. As is often the case, my mind had wandered. Then these words suddenly stood out amid the blur:
33 But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage."I had spent so very much time doing battle with my captor and suddenly Limhi's words turned it all around for me. I was not to do battle with the enemy in pursuit of freedom, I was to turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart and serve Him and let Him deliver me from bondage. I am here to testifiy that this is an eternal principle. Let us let God fight our battles. Let us let him vanquish our enemies. Let us trust and serve Him. Immediately, I noticed that when I turned myself about and began to face God, my troubles were behind me - literally and figuratively. The closer I approached God the further I got from my problems. Of course! The reverse is true also, if I turn toward my troubles, even to do battle with them, I am facing my troubles, but have turned my back on God. We will discover the miracle of this principle as we learn more about the people of Zeniff, Noah, Limhi and Alma. All, like us must submit to an "effectual struggle" but in the end it is always God who delivers us.
2 comments:
33 But if ye will aturn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all bdiligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.
I turn…with full purpose of heart…. I try to serve with all diligence of mind…..I wait upon his will and pleasure to be delivered.
I have struggled with figuring how to turn to God and leave the struggle of my addiction to him. I questioned my friend about this, he said it is a paradox. He said, Mohammad said, “Have faith in God, and tie your camel.”
Somewhere in this delivery I pray for, I must act. I can’t take back control. I must act according to his direction and support.
Too right. I think it was Elder David B. Haight, who quoted Knute Rockney as saying, "I've learned that prayers get answered better when you have big players."
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