Help!

I've just accepted a job that will take me away from the internet for 8 days at a time.  I'll be working as a Wilderness Counselor with troubled youth.  No internet in the wilderness.  This makes a daily entry impractical if not impossible.  If any of you would like to cover the 8 days I'm gone, I'd be happy to cover the 6 days I have off in between shifts.  If not, I guess I'll have to abandon this wonderful experience.  As you are aware, I've struggled to keep up of late.  I've worked two jobs the past week and that and shift work have thrown a wrench in my availability.

So you know, I've not missed reading, just blogging about it.  Thanks for your support and for going along with me on this project.  Again, if someone wants to take over or assist, that would be great!

Thanks,

Myke

Alma - Chapter 27

 

 22 And it came to pass that the voice of the people came, saying: Behold, we will give up the land of Jershon, which is on the east by the sea, which joins the land Bountiful, which is on the south of the land Bountiful; and this land Jershon is the land which we will give unto our brethren for an inheritance.

  23 And behold, we will set our armies between the land Jershon and the land Nephi, that we may protect our brethren in the land Jershon; and this we do for our brethren, on account of their fear to take up arms against their brethren lest they should commit sin; and this their great fear came because of their sore repentance which they had, on account of their many murders and their awful wickedness.

I think this is one of the finest acts of kindness ever demonstrated in the scriptures.  Obviously, people had to abandon their homes and property to make room for the People of Ammon, yet it appears that they did it gladly.  Further they offered to defend the new comers, who were, of course, enemies in the not so distant past. It seems to indicate to me the depth of the conversion and faith of the Nephites.  I wonder if we would be as willing today. 

Not long ago I read a wonderful book by Richard Eyre called The Three Deceivers.  I recommend it highly.  It so clearly and carefully describes the state of being required to do such a thing as we've just seen the Nephites do.  I'm not being critical of us.  Wonderful things are being done on behalf of the people of Haiti.  I just wonder if we would be willing to abandon the land of Payson, or Cedar City or Vernal to make room for the Haitians if they were required to move here for their survival.

Of course that makes me wonder about the value of segregating the People of Ammon, rather than integrating them into the breadth of their Society.  Might not that even be better?  Each question enables some serious introspection on my part.  How about you? 

Alma - Chapter 26

 

I remember reading back in Enos and Omni, I think it was, how the Nephites made repeated attempts to teach and recover the Lamanites.  Perhaps those Missionaries back then weren't as full of faith and preparation as the Sons of Mosiah.  Perhaps the field just wasn't ripe back then as this chapter describes it to have been for Ammon, Aaron, Omner and Himni and their brethren.  One thing is certain.  The Sons of Mosiah were prepared and thrust in their sickle with their might.  The result was thousands of converts.

Doctrine and Covenants Section 4, seems to remove any excuse for us.  The field is ripe and read for harvest.  Now all that remains is that each of us prepare ourselves to thrust in our sickle and reap while the day lasts.  Any one who has experienced the joy of bringing a person into the fold has a pretty good idea of the joy Ammon is expressing in this chapter.  If you've not had such a blessing, seek it, pray for it, thrust in your sickle with your might.  That effort will certainly be rewarded with joy you cannot imagine. 

Alma - Chapter 25

 

I find it very comforting that much of the time God uses the wicked to destroy the wicked.  To a large extent, if we will just focus on Christ and His righteousness, wickedness will consume itself around us.  While The Book of Mormon is full of examples of the righteous having to defend themselves, it is also replete with examples of God fighting their battles for them or allowing their enemies to destroy themselves.  I think if we worry too much about defending ourselves from evil, we will be wasting our lives focused in the wrong direction.  This is not to say we shouldn't fortify homes and families, just a reminder to whom we must look for Salvation.

 16 Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the law of Moses; but the law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ; and thus they did retain a hope through faith, unto eternal salvation, relying upon the spirit of prophecy, which spake of those things to come.

Quite often at LDS Addiction Recovery Meetings, I get the sense that people are too enamored with the 12 Steps.  As I read the above verse today I though it appropriate to substitute the 12 Steps for the Law of Moses in that verse.  Salvation does not come by the 12 Steps.  It is merely designed to help lead us to and strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ and His Atoning Sacrifice.

Alma - Chapter 24

It was a pretty easy principle to swallow when Ammon told Lamoni's father that it would be better if Lamoni were slain than he, in his wickedness.  Now we translate that same principle to the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's.  If I put myself in their position the principle is a little harder to swallow.  Now it is more personal, "It is better if I die that you, if you have not yet repented."

I personally think this is the feeling of these Lamanites.  They have come to know the love and forgiveness of a loving Father.  They are grateful beyond measure for that sweet remission of their sins.  The would never wish to offend Him again.  AND they like the Sons of Mosiah, cannot bear that a soul should go to his grave in a state of wickedness.

The beautiful result of that commitment was the conversion of more than a thousand more of their enemies.  I wonder if we don't place too much weight on living in mortality.  As precious and joyful as it is, in reality it but a moment in Eternity and such a decision to live or die can sometimes have such enormous consequences.  Consequences that might endure forever.

Alma - Chapter 23

 

18 And they began to be a very industrious people; yea, and they were friendly with the Nephites; therefore, they did open a correspondence with them, and the curse of God did no more follow them. 

When we are converted a change is wrought in us.  This change, I believe, is not wrought by ourselves but is rather wrought by the Holy Ghost.  We surrender our will and God takes care of the rest.  This is not to say that we can then sit on our laurels, or derrieres for that matter.  It is to say that the change of heart that results from conversion motivates, empowers, inspires and enables us to accomplish the work of the Lord in our lives and those of those around us.  Truly, the glory belongs to Him, for it is He who lifts the curse of sin, indolence, weakness and dismay. 

Alma - Chapter 22

15 And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up dall that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.

I propose that ultimately, each of us must be come so willing.  We much become willing to do whatever it takes to be born again.  I believe God will evenually show each of us that any other approach to achieving Eternal Life will fail. Sometimes I think I am really lucky to have been an addict.  I am fortunate to have been driven to my extremity.  Having found myself in such a despirate position I finally became willing to do whatever God requires, in order to be free.  That kind of willingness is required of each of us.  We too must be willing to give up kingdoms and possessions and even sins, if we want to know Him.

Alma - Chapter 21

It had to have been more fun to be Ammon, than Aaron on this mission, at least at first.  Was Ammon more worthy than Aaron to have been so blessed?  That's the way we tend to look at things in the world.  We, like Job's buddies tend to think folks deserve their afflictions.  The reverse of that is that we tend to think folks deserve their blessings and prosperity.  While God generally rewards righteousness with prosperity, I don't think it is safe to assume that those whose circumstances don't prosper are necessarily less righteous, or that those who prosper and have the way opened for them are more so.

We hear someone stand in fast and testimony meeting and boast of the wonderful blessing of healing they've experienced, while another sits quietly in the congregation mourning the loss of a righteous spouse who wasn't so blessed.  When we boast of such blessings, it's as though we claim to have deserved them, perhaps implying that someone else did not.  I hope we can take a lesson from Aaron and rejoice in the success of others.  I also hope we can take a lesson from Ammon, who shared his good fortune with those for whom things didn't turn out so well.  Blessings come from God at His pleasure and for His divine purposes.  They don't come because we deserve them.  King Benjamin made it plain that we are unprofitable servants discounting any merit we might claim as reason for God's favor.  Our blessings come as a result of Christ's merits and mercy, not our own.  This is not to say that we should relax our efforts to serve the Lord, its just that as fine as our efforts may be, they still fall short of the glory of God.

Alma - Chapter 20

17 But Ammon stood forth and said unto him: Behold, thou shalt not slay thy son; nevertheless, it were better that he should fall than thee, for behold, he has brepented of his sins; but if thou shouldst fall at this time, in thine anger, thy soul could not be saved.

Maybe this explains the old addage - Only the good die young.  We are each given sufficent probation for our needs on the earth.  How wonderful that Ammon had only one thing in mind and that being the Eternal Salvation of every soul.  This evil King would have slain his own son and still Ammon wished for him to have a change of heart and experience the joy of repentence. 

It would be so easy to dismiss our enemies as having no prospect of recovery into the blessed rest of righteousness.  So many would just as soon his enemies were dead and no longer a threat.  Not Ammon, he, following the admonition of the Master, literally and effectively loved his enemies.

Thank heaven, I have been spared thus far.  My prayer is that we all might live long enough to come to a realization of the truth and blessing of the Atonement.

Alma - Chapter 19

I've recently been reading a book called He Restoreth My Soul by Dr.Donald L. Hilton.  Dr. Hilton is a Neurosurgeon.  He has researched the effects of addiction on the brain and discovered significant changes take place in the addict's brain.  Further he has learned that the changes are similar regardless of the type of addiction, be it alcoholism, over eating disorder, gambling, drugs or pornography.  Additionally, recovery brings another change in the brain, back to a quite normal state.  Now observe this verse:

6 Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God—

I get a feeling that the dark veil of unbelief had a physical component which literally alters the brain and effects the way we think.  In the case of Lamoni as in the case of those suffering from addiction, God must transform the brain to heal the damage we've done to it.  From personal experience, this a miraculous process performed by God and not a mechanical process we can accomplish by ourselves.  I have long loved that The Book of Mormon teaches these principles. 

Anyone who has completed the 12 Steps, in whatever form, knows that healing is only accomplished as a gift from God.  This process requires healing, enlightening and transforming change.  Conversion if you will.  Changed from the old to a new creature, having enjoyed and change of transformation of heart.  How wonderful this could happen to someone as wicked and Lamoni, or me, or maybe you.

Alma - Chapter 18

 

It had never occurred to me before that at that time Jehovah was a spirit having not yet received a body.  It seems significant that He had progressed to Godhood in his first estate.

I like the statement describing Ammon as "wise, yet harmless."  After what happened at the waters of Sebus, I suppose there are those who'd disagree.  I don't, those others only dashed themselves upon the rocks of their own wickedness.   I think we can agree from our perspective that being powerful and wise, yet harmless was a wonderful characteristic of this great missionary.  I think wise and powerful, yet harmless is a pretty good definition of meekness.  Ammon was successful because he was Christlike.

I love how Ammon had the courage to teach difficult doctrine.  I remember on my mission I had a hard time teaching tithing.  I had always paid my tithing, but I can't say I was fully converted to the principle.  In my mind, this could be a deal breaker.  I would think, "These people are poor and they're going to have a hard time parting with 10% of their income!"  Still, many did accept the law of tithing and some of those strengthened my testimony of tithing and also of faith, trust and commitment.  Being that weak, I'd have had a hard time telling Lamoni of Laman and Lemuel's departure from the truth.  The other stuff would have been easy, but getting right down to the elephant in the room, takes courage and conviction.  I'd like to think now, I that I'd be more like Ammon.  Clearly, we need to give investigators a little more credit than my "natural man instincts" would.  His sheep truly hear His voice and the truth resonates in honest hearts.  Even "difficult" truth.

Alma - Chapter 17

Isn't this the most wonderful story.  I love the expample of faith, courage, service and integrity Ammon displays.  While his desire is to share the gospel, it is clear that Ammon's service wasn't tainted by ulterior motives.  He would do right by the King regardless of the outcome.  How often do we step up to the plate with a non-member friend, only to dump him if he doesn't immediately respond.  How many Amway salesmen have you known, who made out to be your best buddy, but because you rejected his business opportunity, quickly became the same mere acquaintance he was before he set his greedy sights on you.  I've known member missionaries like that.  A state that is entirely opposite the spirit and approach Ammon showed us.

Part of what made Ammon set such a fine example is explained in these verses:

5 Now these are the circumstances which attended them in their journeyings, for they had many afflictions; they did suffer much, both in body and in mind, such as hunger, thirst and fatigue, and also much labor in the spirit.

9 And it came to pass that they journeyed many days in the wilderness, and they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth, to the knowledge of the baseness of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct.

10 And it came to pass that the Lord did visit them with his Spirit, and said unto them: Be comforted. And they were comforted.

11 And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls.

I like the expression "labor in the Spirit."  These brethren were Missionary Olympians.  If you or I were bound for the Olympics this week we would have spent hours and hours in preparation.  We'd have focused our lives, in training and skill development.  We would have worked hard to be ready for our competetive mission.  Ammon and his brethren took their mission just that seriously.  They wanted to be fully in Spiritual Shape for the big event.  I have to admit that I have not prepared for much of anything with that kind of earnestness - and it shows.  It shows in the kind of results I've experienced.  It is obvious that we must develop, nourish and train our physical selves, why would it not be so with our spiritual selves as well.

It's time to get in shape.

Alma - Chapter 16

I remember, while on my Mission in the Philippines, we experienced a pretty large earth quake.  Folks accosted us on the streets asking if it was the end of the world.  The same thing happened after an especially devastating typhoon.  I think they wanted to know if it was time to repent yet, or if they still had time to mess around some more.  I think it is funny how we tend to fear big disasters and seem to overlook the fact that "the end" is happening all around us all the time.  Every day the paper lists those who've recently met their demise.  The message of Alma and Amulek is a message to all - Repent before it is too late.  It doesn't matter one whit whether we die in Hurricane Katrina or the Haitain Earth Quake or in our sleep in bed tonight; the end of our mortality is coming and now is the time to prepare.

Alma - Chapter 15

 

I was literally taught as a youth, that though you might repent and improve your results at the final judgment, the scars would always remain and you would not be able to achieve the Celestial Kingdom because of the damage you'd done to yourself.  Yes, at Sunday School in LDS Meetings.  It all seemed so hopeless.  I wonder how those teachers views Zeezrom.  I love this story.  I love the hope it brings.  Sherem, Nehor and Korihor might have had the same results if they'd been honest with themselves and humble enough to admit their great error.  Repentance can be very painful and difficult, but if in the end it results in the healing gift of forgiveness and remission of our sins, what joy and opportunity can be had.

 18 Now as I said, Alma having seen all these things, therefore he took Amulek and came over to the land of Zarahemla, and took him to his own house, and did administer unto him in his tribulations, and strengthened him in the Lord.

Amulek's tribulations were, in my opinion, indeed tremendous.  It is very likely that he and Alma were forced to watch his wife(s) and children burned to death.  If that was not the case, they were numbered among his kin who rejected the teachings and pushed him away.  I wonder what would be worse.  While it would be so difficult to watch your family suffer for their faith, it would be somewhat tempered by the promise of heavenly blessings for their commitment to God.  On the other hand, to have your family flatly reject the truth and go on to destruction might be even worse.  I love Amulek and Zeezrom for the strength of the integrity.  I'm sure the Lord has fully healed their wounds and mitigated their sorrow.

Alma - Chapter 14

 

It is interesting how God, at enormous cost, is willing to give us enough rope to hang ourselves with.  It is also interesting how persistently some of us are determined to use that rope.

Alma - Chapter 13

3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.

I think it is utterly amazing to find myself in the position I am in.  According to this verse I, who hold the Melchizedek Priestood, qualified in the pre-mortal life for this privilege.  Couple that with the blessing of being born in this dispensation and the thought is overwhelming. 

If you count the number of people in the history of the world who've even had a pair of shoes the odds against having such a blessing are astronomical.  Add to that all of the other miracles of our age and we are litterally all jackpot winners.  We take so much for granted.  The other day a friend told me that she reads a bedtime story to her distant grandchildren every evening over the internet using Skype.  Generations and generations of grandmothers never had such an opportunity.  How is it that we are so blessed to be able to do such things now?

Do we also take for granted that every worthy male among us may enjoy the blessing of the Holy Priesthood and share that gift with his family.  Never in history has that blessing been so abundantly available.  If I read this verse correctly, all of these brethren were called and prepared from before the foundation of the world.  I wonder if we appreciate the valiant choices we made before we came here.  It is interesting though that being given that fore-ordination could only happen if there was a preparatory redemption made.  Having qualified there did, in no way mean that we would qualify here without the benefit of the Atonement.