Mosiah - Chapter 10

As I read this chapter my thoughts kept turning to the traditions of the fathers.  I suppose no family is entirely exempt from being subject to false traditions that have been passed down through the generations.  As I look back through the generations in my own family I can see some traditions that have been eradicated.  I look upon those who made such (in some cases, radical) changes to offer me more light and truth.

Looking at my current situation, I am forced to conclude that some false traditions remain firmly rooted in my family.  I would do well to eliminate those before they are passed on.  The trouble is, false traditions are hard to identify when you've been raised to think they are true traditions.

The previous generation in my own family was highly manipulative.  Marriage helped me identify that one.  Such was not the case in my wife's family, so manipulative practices, which seemed normal to me, were repulsive to her.  I think one of the great blessings of marriage is the light that a new family can shed on the old one.  I suppose this to be the case in all marriages to some degree or other.

I'm convinced that false traditions remain entrenched in my family.  We remain somewhat dysfunctional, though to a lesser degree because of changes others have made.  Now it's my turn.  Trouble is, I can't yet put my finger on what they might actually be.  I think next year I might do well to focus on that problem and see what I can identify to contribute to the progress of my clan.  I think folks on both sides of the veil are counting on me to do just that.

Mosiah - Chapter 9

I am interested in the notion of over-zealousness.  Clearly, in hindsight Zeniff, thought better of his zeal.  I wonder what he could have done to recognize his error as a matter of foresight.  I suspect it may be a matter of being led rather than driven.  I've noticed on the book shelves a popular book called the Purpose Driven Life.  I've even considered reading it.  Somehow, though, my heart rejects the notion of being driven.  I relate it to sheep herding as opposed to shepherding.  I read today on Meridian Magazine about S. Michael Wilcox's retirement.  In the interview, he called himself driven.  Considering the kind of person he is and also considering the quality of his work, I might be unwise to be critical of the driven life.  Still, I find myself prefering to follow a leading Lord to being driven by some purpose of my own, however righteous it seems.

Now, clearly, God supported Zeniff in his zeal, much like God supported Joseph Smith is his quest for treasure in Salem, Massachusetts (See D&C 111), but if they had simply sought the will of the Lord they each might have saved themselves a lot of grief.

I think we do the same kind of thing when we over prepare a Gospel Doctrine lesson or when it requires a U-Haul trailer to deliver visual aids to a Relief Society lesson.  When I was Stake Mission President I was driven.  I was driven by production goals.  I achieved those goals.  Then, when evaluating things at the end of my mission I found that while the results looked good on paper, they were rather hollow in terms of real, fruit bearing results.  If I had not been over zealous, Heavenly Father might have made better use of my time and ambition.

Mosiah - Chapter 8

16 And Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of God, which no man can; yet a man may have great power given him from God. 

 I hope I never underestimate the great gift and calling Heavenly Father has entrusted to our current leaders.  We have among us today 15 Seers.  They have been given great power by God.  It is easy to take those gifts and those servants of the Lord for granted and not fully appreciate how blessed we are to have them.  As I pondered this today I realize I have to take their presence and counsel much more seriously.

Mosiah - Chapter 7

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.

Mosiah - Chapter 6

How would it be if our political leaders didn't want to become a burden upon their constituents.  I heard a Congressman just the other day declare that he had no intention of accepting the lavish pension our legislators have created for themselves.  Kudos to such a man of integrity.

It is characteristic of the true church to keep careful records of those who enter the covenant.  How comforting it is that we are numbered, kept track of, so that we might be nurtured sufficiently to bear fruit.

Mosiah - Chapter 5

I know from experience that this mighty change of heart is available to be had by all.  I also know from experience that such a change is not necessarily permanent.

12 I say unto you, I would that ye should remember to retain the name written always in your hearts, that ye are not found on the left hand of God, but that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called, and also, the name by which he shall call you.

Retaining Christ's name written upon our hearts is a deliberate act.  As di said yesterday, remember, remember, remember.  Later we will read of Nephites who dwindle in unbelief.  The reason?  They forgot.  They didn't remember to fuel the fires of faith, fires that once burned bright and so those fires dwindled and many cases died.

I don't thing the change of heart these people experienced was of such a permanent nature that they were free from the obligation to endure to the end.  The admonition in verse 12 makes that plain.  I have have often been in meeting or situation that equally inspired me, changed me, and motivated me.  But then I relaxed and resting upon my laurels so to speak, lost what I had been given.  This has probably happened to most of us.  That word remember is so critical to our happiness and progress.  It is mentioned in the Sacrament prayer and in myriad scriptures.  Remembering takes effort, always remembering takes diligent effort.  Whether it be sticky notes on a bathroom mirror, rocks under our pillows, bowls of water on our book shelves, whatever it takes we need to constantly remind ourselves to remember.  Of course daily scripture study is helpful, so in regular, even constant prayer.  Even those things can become so routine and mundane that they don't work for keeping my memory fresh on such important matters.  I still haven't mastered a keen, constant sense of remembrance.  I sure hope to.