Alma - Chapter 12

 

I so admire Zeezrom's humility.  He had painted himself in a horribly embarrassing corner.  Even so, he realized his real predicament and chose to deal with the eternal problem rather than the social one.  In so many ways, social pressure helps us to corner ourselves into nearly impossible situations.  Thankfully, Heavenly Father will let us off the hook if we'll just reach out for help.

 9 And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.

This verse, seems so wonderfully important and so frequently neglected.  We in the Church are blessed with so much wonderful information.  So often we don't follow the Spirit with regard to how that knowledge is shared.  We get a nice piece of revelatory steak and in misguided zeal we choke the life out of new comers who haven't yet cut their spiritual teeth.  I hear people complain that the General Authorities give what they call milk toast, same old same old, sermons in General Conference.  I am sure that these brethren understand things to a depth way beyond my realization.  Still, in compliance with this important verse, they teach precisely what the Lord requires of them.  If we are in tune, the depth and breadth of those precious sermons can fill the capacity of our preparation.

Alma - Chapter 11

 

They say the grass never grew where Brigham Young spit when he was thinking about lawyers.  If that is true Brother Brigham probably loved this chapter.  I don't mean my comments to be an indictment of  the legal profession per se.  There are good lawyers, many General Authorities among them.  But there are also lawyers who are much like Zeezrom and his ilk, who abuse the law, rather than uphold it.

I think this chapter highlights the trouble with law, Mosaic law included.  Pretty soon we begin to make rules and then attempt to interpret them to our advantage.  Our interpretations of the law begin to list toward what we can get away with rather than the benefits of obedience to them.  So it was with the Jews, and the Ammonihahites, and so it is with our society today.  Lawyers who facilitate this, even promote this are those who like Zeezrom are leading us further into corruption and further toward our destruction.

I have a friend who ran a motel near a mountain ski resort.  Every winter a few Jewish families reserved his motel for a week of skiing.  Each year on Friday night they went to the parking lot and started their cars, just before sunset.  They let their cars run all night.  On Saturday morning they all jumped in their cars and drove to the slopes for a "Sabbath" day of skiing.  My friend asked them once why they started their cars and left them running all night.  Their reply?  It's a violation of Jewish law to kindle a flame on the Sabbath, so we kindle it before the Sabbath and keep it going.  "Aren't you restricted in how far you can travel on the Sabbath?"  "Just how far we can walk," was their reply, "there is no restriction on how far we can ride, or slide."  Zeezrom would have been proud.  

I need to look at my own rationalizations and see if I'm examining ways to get away with things rather than sincerely trying to be obedient.

Alma - Chapter 10

 

6 Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not  hear; therefore I knew concerning these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling  against God, in the wickedness of my heart, even until the fourth day of this seventh month, which is in the tenth year of the reign of the judges.

I so identify with Amulek.  It is so easy to be unwilling to hear, unwilling to know the will of the Lord because we want so much to have things our way instead of His.  I think this is the ultimate test for each of us and winds up being the essence of pride if we choose to go on rebelling.

It looks like the people of Ammonihah hid behind the curtain of political correctness, much as America does today.  Their legal and political system had learned to silence the masses by making it dangerous to speak one's mind.  Yesterday the papers were full of recriminations for expressions of disagreement between President Obama and Justice Alito during the State of the Union Address.  "Protocol" doesn't permit such departures!  Gasp!  While the Parliamentary culture of the England is a bit more roudy, at least people seem free to speak their minds.  Here, the "thought police" are working diligently to stifle free expression.  I wonder if our results will mirror those of Ammonihah - in the end.

Alma - Chapter 9

 

 28 Therefore, prepare ye the way of the Lord, for the time is at hand that all men shall reap a reward of their works, according to that which they have been—if they have been righteous they shall reap the salvation of their souls, according to the power and deliverance of Jesus Christ; and if they have been evil they shall reap the damnation of their souls, according to the power and captivation of the devil. 

I love the relationship of works and being.  Normally, we want to associate works with doing.  Certainly doing is important.  President Kimball used to say do it.  Then President Hinckley took the notion further challenging us to be it.  It seems to me that we will be judged for what we've become, rather than for what we've done.  The Doctrine and Covenants tells us that at the judgment God will look upon what Jesus has done, rather than what we've done.  That is because our only hope lies in being united with Him in a covenant that relies upon His merits and mercy, rather than our own.  From that point I see our doing as an expression of gratitude for allowing us to be perfected in Him.

Alma - Chapter 8

 

I'm struggling to understand the notion of wrestling with the Lord in mighty prayer.  Wrestling seems to imply an adversarial relationship and I don't quite see Alma as having a such a relationship with Heavenly Father.

I remember a time when I prayed for nearly an hour, telling God I didn't want to do what He wished.  I could call that a wrestle and fortunately I stuck around long enough for the Father to persuade me to do His will and not my own.  I was too frightened to do His will and told Him so.  Fortunately He was patient and persistent and helped me past my stubbornness.

I don't see Alma as reluctant in anyway.  I don't think he was in a situation like mine, where he was unwilling to do as God desired.  I don't see God as reluctant to bless the willing.  I have a hard time imagining that God would make Alma beg for that which he was commanded to do.  I don't see Him as being capricious like that.

I hope some of you in your wisdom and obvious spirituality can shed some light on this for me.

Alma - Chapter 7

Is this the first time, chronologically, that Mary is named.  I think it is.  It fascinates me that revelation is given gradually in this manner.  In verse 8 Alma makes it plain that while much has been revealed to him, he does not know all things.  Clearly God measures out to us that which we need and are prepared for.  When Moroni promises us that we "may know the truth of all things," he obviously isn't promising all knowledge, just an affirmation of the truth of such knowledge as we are given.

25 And may the Lord bless you, and keep your garments spotless, that ye may at last be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the holy prophets who have been ever since the world began, having your garments spotless even as their garments are spotless, in the kingdom of heaven to go no more out.

What a wonderful blessing, that the Lord will keep my garments spotless.  That is His job and something I cannot possibly accomplish.

I can:

...be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things I stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things I do receive.

I can do that by humbling myself, but even there I'm going to need a lot of Divine assistance.  Grace.

Alma - Chapter 6

 6 Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God.

 This is something I have not done much of.  In fact I haven't heard much call for the members of the church to fast and pray for the missionaries and for those to whom they might go.  I believe it would be efficacious and I'm embarrassed that I haven't paid more attention to this vital concern. 

I have long held that the the preaching of the gospel is the most productive thing we could do to improve the world in which we live.  It is important to be personally involved in the process and fasting and prayer are a critical component of success in that regard.  I'm making such a commitment right now.  I'm going to focus on fasting and mighty prayer for the souls of those who know not God.

Alma - Chapter 5

26 And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?

What a wonderful question.  What a magnificent description of a change of heart - having felt to sing the song of redeeming love.  Do we get jaded or get so immersed in the circumstance of God's love that we forget where we are?  Where we've been?  I do.

27 Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?

Is it easy to forget that redemption comes by humbly accepting the Atonement of Christ and not because of our own merits?  It is for me.  I get too proud of my own accomplishments, which never redeemed anyone, most especially myself.

28 Behold, are ye stripped of pride? I say unto you, if ye are not ye are not prepared to meet God. Behold ye must prepare quickly; for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand, and such an one hath not eternal life.

I got into recovery by having my pride stripped from me by my powerlessness.  How easy it is to put on that concealing, repulsive cloak and begin to hide from truth and God once more.

29 Behold, I say, is there one among you who is not stripped of envy? I say unto you that such an one is not prepared; and I would that he should prepare quickly, for the hour is close at hand, and he knoweth not when the time shall come; for such an one is not found guiltless.

 Ouch!  I have so much work to do.  I hope I can do it quickly.  I must.

Alma - Chapter 4

 3 And so great were their afflictions that every soul had cause to mourn; and they believed that it was the judgments of God sent upon them because of their wickedness and their abominations; therefore they were awakened to a remembrance of their duty. 

This little scripture came as a pretty big personal indictment to me.  Many of us, like myself, are experiencing hard times with the economic slow down.  It is easy to blame Wall Street, Congress, this President, that President for the struggles we are having.  Perhaps placing blame is not very productive.  Perhaps accepting blame might assist me more.  Perhaps my personal circumstances are as they are because of my own wickedness and focusing on that fact and making the appropriate course corrections through sincere repentance will do me much more good in terms of returning to personal prosperity, than placing the blame elsewhere does.

18 Now Alma did not grant unto him the office of being high priest over the church, but he retained the office of high priest unto himself; but he delivered the judgment-seat unto Nephihah.

19 And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them.

Always, the trouble in society reflects the trouble in our own personal lives.  If we collectively repent and improve our own lives, society will improve as a result.  Alma knew this.  The gospel, working in individual hearts will pull down pride, craftiness and contention, now as in the past.

Alma - Chapter 3

I think it is interesting how people always tend to distinguish themselves from others by costume.  Especially, when we divide into groups.  There are all manner of "ites" in our schools, neighborhoods, and ethnic groups.  All of us who wish to be separated from the others adopts a costume with which to make the distinction.  In the Detention Center all are dressed alike and ordinarily that lack of group oriented attire allows bridges to build between children of different, even opposing groups.  Skin color (though less of a  boundary than it used to be) still makes a difference.  You could call Temple Clothing a costume and it does distinguish Temple goers from those who are not.  But Temple Clothes are not worn in public among the other groups.  I like that in the Temple all are dressed alike and no distinction is made between rich and poor, powerful or ordinary, important or obscure.  In so many ways, as we make our choices, we mark or label ourselves.

27 For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey...

The use of the word listeth interests me.  I can't find a dictionary that includes this word.  I suppose it is an archaic form of listen.  Thus we get wages of he to whom we listen.  Or, is it perhaps a derivative of the the word list, as in leaning toward.  Perhaps we get wages from he, to whom we are inclined.  It implies more a bit more action than just lending an ear.  Maybe when we really listen, we lean in, in an effort to pay closer attention.  I want to do that pay close attention, so I can better obey they master I've chosen.  Wages notwithstanding.

Alma - Chapter 2

What is the appeal of someone like Amlici?  How could one person influence so many to do evil, risk their lives, turn against their country?  It happens over and over again in history and quite frankly baffles me.  I don't think myself all that wise or discerning, but so many of these instances seem so completely transparent that I have a hard time imagining people who get sucked into such a vortex of sin and destruction.

Surely Amlici told them what they wanted to hear and made them promises that appealed to their baser instincts, but is that sufficient to blind a person?  I guess it is.

I count it a great blessing that, though I was drafted during the Vietnam era, I never had to see combat.  It can never be a desirable experience.  I love though, that Alma led his people in battle.  How would it be if these days our leaders had to go into battle.  Perhaps there'd be less war.  Perhaps, inspired by such courageous leadership outcomes would be different.  Then again, that was the way, in Book of Mormon times and it doesn't seem to have detered the frequency of war at all.  I can imagine taking up arms to defend my family, but I can't imagine being persuaded to follow and unrighteous agressor.  Pardon my musings today, the more I think about it the more baffled I become.

Alma - Chapter 1

Thirty years ago I became friends with a fellow who'd been our local Southern Baptist Preacher.  He had left the ministry before he and I became acquainted.  The church council had approached him and instructed him to teach a more liberal gospel in his sermons.  He was unwilling to compromise his beliefs and so was dismissed.  They sought and got the preacher and gospel they wanted.  I so admired his integrity.  It isn't always so, when there is money involved and the congregation has itching ears.

I am so very thankful we don't practice priestcraft in the true church.  The standards and doctrines are revealed and carefully guarded against corruption.  No one benefits financially because of their service in the Kingdom.  The members sometimes celebritize our leaders, but the brethren would not have it be so.  There is no politicking, posturing, or lobbying for positions or policies in the Kingdom.  Priestcraft is indeed corupt and corupting.

As the Lord, through Alma, insisted that it was not becoming of a member of the Church to persecute one outside the Church I felt to rejoice.  How wonderful it is that we are bridge builders amongst our neighbors.  I thrilled when the Church loaned the Provo Tabernacle to Utah Valley Catholics for their Christmas Eve Midnight Mass.  How cool that the LDS Foundation assisted with the construction of the Krishna Temple in Payson.  I love that Church Humanitarian efforts are often done in cooperation with Catholic Relief Services.  I rejoiced last week when I read that the Muslim Relief Fund and contributed one million dollars to assist the devastated people of Haiti, by coordinating their contribution through the LDS Humanitarian Services.  Yesterday's paper had an article that excited me.  Rabbi David Rosen has suggested that the United States government should invite the Quorum of the Twelve to help initiate a religious dimension to negotiations in the Middle East.  Clearly the Rabbi can see that we do not practice priestcraft, nor do we discriminate or persecute those not of our faith.  Rather, we reach out in love and cooperation to all of Father's children.

30 And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need.

The Book of Mormon, the Church and many many Latter-day Saints are fine examples of this.  I am so grateful that is how we are.

Mosiah - Chapter 29

To my knowledge, this is the first introduction of democratic freedom in the Western Hemisphere.  I don't recall a time when the Jaredites didn't have a king, nor the Nephites up until this point.  We here in modern America are pretty enamored with the blessing of liberty.  We've been blessed with a wonderful system that has sustained our liberty of over 200 years now.  It looks like the system Mosiah introduced was also quite inspired and useful.  I'm interested today in that notion called the voice of the people.  What a blessing it is to be heard and counted.  What transpired this very day in the Massachusetts Senatorial race is most intreresting in that regard.  Without choosing sides, it appears the people have spoken in quite an unexpected way.  Even in a free society, leaders can become corrupt in that they wish to take public affairs in directions their constituents do not.  Today, proved that the voice of the people can still prevail.

26 Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people.

27 And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land.

There seem to be two possibilites that this warning might come to pass in our day.  One, that we would make public choices that are actually evil, or perhaps just as bad, we might just choose to remain silent and thus cede the majority by not making our voices heard.  I still have faith in the American people.  I think we usually choose well.  Last year during the Proposition 8 debate in California, I was so impressed with the number of good people who willingly withstood persecution while bravely making their voices heard.  I thank God for such people.  The day may come when the voice of the people may choose iniquity in our America. Though it will be sad to see the resulting destruction, I'm not so sure I want to live in an America that has chosen iniquity.  I'd rather be standing over by the Iron Rod than anywhere near the Large and Spacious Building when it falls.

This chapter I think contains a clear message about what to do.  The answer may be opposing those who'd direct us into iniquity and bondage.  But more important is teaching the truth to our fellow citizens and influencing their voices by changing their hearts.  Alma and the Sons of Mosiah eventually all abandoned politics for missionary work.  America is not going to be saved by fighting against evil, nearly as effectively is it will if folks are brought to the truth and persuaded to choose righteousness.

Mosiah - Chapter 28

It seems pretty clear that a primary sign of solid conversion is a manifest determination to share the blessing of the gospel.  These five brethren came out of their conversion with a real change of heart.  Let's contrast the Sons of Mosiah with Zeniff and his people.  They both wanted to return to the Land of Nephi.  Zeniff's group, though good righteous people, were doing so to satisfy their own personal desires and motivations.  Ammon, Aaron, Omner and Himni, however, sought to go there for the sake and benefit of the Lamanites and not themselves.  This depth of conversion obviously involves a remarkable change of heart.  They are not just believers, they are fundamentally different in their attitudes, motivations and willingness.

Such a change of heart is what we call "being born again."  We Latter-day Saints tend to get a little queasy at the mention of being born again.  Maybe it's because we tend to feel oppositionally positioned compared with the born again Christian tradition.  It's time we got over that and earnestly moved in that direction.  From yesterday's reading:

Mosiah 27:25 - And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;

  26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

Addiction recovery required this.  Addicts don't just quit; they must become transformed.  A dear friend of mine, a Landmark Baptist minister, lives here in Utah among us.  He's been here for about 15 years.  He's made a practice of asking every Mormon he meets if they have been born again.  Last year, when he asked me, I humbly replied that I had.  He looked shocked and said, "You are the first, out of hundreds of Mormons I've asked, who answered in the affirmative!"  That to me is very sad.  I have no reason to boast, most of my life of active membership in the church, I too would have answered no.  Being born again is nothing to brag about, it is a gift.  It is a great gift, reflecting the merits of Christ, no my own.

Mosiah - Chapter 27

This remarkable about-face has long been a wonder to me.  For a long time, I was even jealous that Alma and the Sons of Mosiah were converted in such a remarkable fashion.  More recently, having had my own born again experience, I've had a change of heart (no pun intended).  I'm sure that God is just as interested in my recovery as He was in theirs.  Who am I to judge the attractiveness of the methods God chooses. 

My Mission President often watched for and drew attention to those moments when we were "driven to our extremity."  By that he meant something akin to the alcoholic's "rock bottom".  Some point or circumstance arrives in everyone's life at which we have to decide to commit to the truth, or not, to trust God or not, to accept our own need for grace, or not.  If we choose not, then other times may also be appointed.  Sometimes it takes something harsh like a death in the family or some other great loss.  Sometimes, it may just be the emptiness of hope that accompanies the loss of the Spirit.  Each person is different and God's recovery methods are tailor made for each circumstance.  An angel visited Laman and Lemuel too, with entirely different results.  Retrieving the Brass Plates was an extremity moment for Nephi and Sam too, but their reaction differed slightly don't you think?.

Usually in life, I think we drift along, presented with choices that don't really grab us, but now and then a choice comes that is monumental in it's scope and meaning.  We all get them.  They are so precious.  I don't think we could ever say that one person's aha moment was better, or finer, or more miraculous than another.  All are designed to bring us home, born again in a newness of life.  As I pray for such moments in the lives of my children, I'm not going to quibble about the method because I know Heavenly Father knows far better than I, what it will take to reach them.

Mosiah - Chapter 26

I think I'll call this the willingness chapter.

18 Yea, blessed is this people who are willing to bear my name; for in my name shall they be called; and they are mine.

 21 And he that will hear my voice shall be my sheep; and him shall ye receive into the church, and him will I also receive.

26 And then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, that I am their Redeemer; but they would not be redeemed.

28 Therefore I say unto you, that he that will not hear my voice, the same shall ye not receive into my church, for him I will not receive at the last day.

32 Now I say unto you, Go; and whosoever will not repent of his sins the same shall not be numbered among my people; and this shall be observed from this time forward.

It seems pretty clear that our relationship with God is not a matter of ability, nearly so much as it is a matter of willingness. 

One of the greatest blessings of all this that Heavenly Father is also willing.

30 Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.

Hallelujah!

Mosiah - Chapter 25

I kind of feel like I'm currently also in a situation where I don't know what to think.  Watching the news reports coming in from Haiti, my heart breaks for the enormous loss of life.  Yet I also rejoice at the recovery of many.  Still, I can't help wondering if death might not have been preferable to the suffering so many are experiencing.  So many conflicting thoughts.  Thankfully, there is one constant in all of this.  Jesus Christ is fully capable of healing all wounds that come from this.  Additionally, I am certain He has abundant blessings in store for all who will come to him.

I pray that Haiti might one day be lead by a leader like Mosiah, who would lead them to righteousness, prosperity and truth.  One man can make such a difference.  A Noah can bring about great sorrow and destruction.  A Mosiah can bring to pass much peace, prosperity and joy.

I think it is remarkable that Mosiah saw (most certainly by revelation) that Alma would better lead the Church than he, himself.  Such humility, to share such authority with another.  How I pray that our leaders, across the globe, might choose to serve in such a manner.  A nephew of mine recently had a conversation with Senator Bob Bennett.  In that conversation the Senator reminded him that God has, on repeated occasions raised up leaders of such caliber among us.  Men such as John Adams, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln.  The good Senator, full of faith, then expressed his belief that God would yet raise up such men to lead us and help correct our course.  I hope, with all my heart, that he is right.

Mosiah - Chapter 24

I'd rather focus today upon cheerfully bearing our burdens and not so much upon being delivered from them.

I expect that we don't really get fully released from burden while in this life.  I loved it when President Hinckley observed that "the so called golden years are sometimes laced with lead."  There was a man who bore his burdens cheerfully.  I am so grateful for his vivid and consistent example in that regard.  I currently have a Stake President who is very much the same way.  Everyone loves serving with him.  He is always of good cheer not matter how dismal the burden may seem to others.  Such cheer is contagious.  I wonder if any of the cheerfulness of the people of Alma rubbed off on the Lamanites and Amulonites.  Probably not.  In fact it probably irked them to no end that these people seemed happy, when they themselves were not.

I think real cheerfulness is of necessity only available to one who is living righteously.

Mosiah - Chapter 23

During this week's lesson at the Detention Center a friend posed and interesting question.  "What is your first impulse when you see someone broken down at the side of the road?"  "What is your second thought?"  We all agreed that initially we thought to stop and help, which was immediately followed by a string of thought giving us rationale as to why we shouldn't.  He, rightly, suggested that the first impulse is direction from the Spirit.  We all agreed with that observation as well.

When Alma was initially confronted by the lost Lamanites and Amulonites, I suppose his first impulse was to help as well.  I can imagine he had lots of second thoughts about the dangers of helping his enemies.  Still, and of course, there was also the threat, he chose to assist them, or do the right thing, regardless of the consequences.  I'm going to be thinking about this story next time I try to talk myself out of being helpful by imagining some danger or casting some judgment.  When we say we want to do the right thing, it ought to be regardless of the consequences.  The right thing is simply the right thing.

21 Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. 

I'm not going to pose any conjecture as to why the Lord saw fit to chasten Alma and his people; that is God's business.  Still, I think this is an important thing to consider.  Essentially, they seem to have been making right choices and striving to be obedient.  Certainly, they we following their prophet and were making appropriate sacrifices in their lives.  Chastening and punishment are not necessarily the same thing.  I love that the account makes the distinction between faith and patience.  I've currently been inadequately employed, if at all, for over six months.  The patience part is a big deal after all this time.  I've applied faith in this process, but I haven't been all that patient.  I'm glad to have had that pointed out to me.

I hope and even trust that, for me the outcome can be quite similar to that described in the balance of this chapter.  I may not be delivered at once, but I might expect my burdens to be lightened.  I might even be able to think on what I have to learn to more fully serve the Lord, rather than dwelling on suppositions as to why the Lord would deal with me thus.

  18 Therefore they did watch over their people, and did nourish them with things pertaining to righteousness.

I would be remiss if I didn't not thank you, D1Warbler, you di, and you, Love Life and Learning, for nourishing me with your wonderful, powerful observations and insights, especially those of late, which have deeply touched my heart.  Your thoughts are most certainly things pertaining to righteosness.  Thank you each so very much.

Mosiah - Chapter 22

This culminates a wonderful story that I've been paralleling with recovery from addiction.  In the end every addict must be willing to do anything that is required in order to become free from the bondage he is in.  That may mean enormous sacrifice, mortifying humiliation, a complete change of life style or location, even consequences such as imprisonment or divorce.  It is miraculous how many people I've seen do this.  When we are driven to our extremity, when we have no place else to turn, finally we are willing to say to God, "No matter what Thou should ask, no matter how long the journey, no matter how great the cost, I will do as Thou dost command."  This level of humility goes beyond how we typically define humility - teachable.  It is a level that could be acquired without affliction, but seldom seems to be.

Most of us, to some degree, have a sense of entitlement to our possessions, personal preferences, lifestyles and locations.  So it was with the people of Zeniff, from the beginning of their history.  It is the reason they moved back to their homeland in the first place.  In the end, that, or the pride it represented, was the very thing the Lord required of them.

I can't help but wonder where Satan was during this escape.  Surely, he was in a dither at losing these people from his grasp.  Must he not have been shouting in the Lamanite's  ears, "Don't drink that wine!"  "Not now!"  Yet he had corrupted his minions sufficiently that they couldn't even respond to their master.  Metaphorically speaking, I think this little incident is precient of the demise of Satan's kingdom.  It is why he can never be victorious.  He isn't building anything.  All he knows how to do is tear things and people down.  Selfishness, pride and entitlement are the cornerstones of his kingdom, hence loyalty, obedience and humility are not to be found amongst his forces.  I suspect that in the end, his minions, at least those in their Second estate will abandon him, either to the other side, or to their own selfish motivations.

Mosiah - Chapter 21

There are strong parallels between this chapter and my own bondage to addiction.  I was an addict for 45 years.  All of that time I was active in the church and therefore, very conflicted.  Why could I not escape my bondage.  I had tried and failed so many times I had become despondent about any possibility of escape.

Occasionally, I would get so frustrated with my captivity that I would muster all my courage and strength and go out and do battle with my enemy.  Always, I came back whipped, weaker, with even fewer resources with which to resist.  Every battle, left me in worse shape than when I began.  Like the people of Limhi, I saw no other way but to do battle to obtain my freedom.  Finally, because I read Mosiah 7:33 (which I mentioned the discussion of that chapter) I began to realize that this was not my battle to fight, it was God's.  Oh, I had things to do, but they were not the ones I supposed them to be.

14 And they did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions.

  15 And now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage.

This verse, very much, describes how it went for me.  My job was to humble myself and be obedient.  My job was to turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart.  My job was to be willing to submit to His will and to do that which He asked that I do.  My job was not to do battle with my enemy.  Gradually, He softened the impact my addiction had on my life.  He made it easier and easier to resist temptation.  He was slow to deliver me completely for the same reason, I suspect, that he didn't remove Paul's thorn in the flesh.  I need my affliction to require of me the humility the Lord desires.  He needed to teach me that I always need Him affliction or not.  He needed me to learn that submitting my will to His was not just a trick to get out of the trouble and torment I was in, but rather, was an eternal principle of promise.  I needed to learn that I must keep myself in a constant state of humility and then when I could learn to do that freely, voluntarily, I might not need to be compelled to it anymore.

Mosiah - Chapter 20

The account indicates that the Priests of Noah were ashamed to come back with the other men who had fled.  I can't quite figure that one out.  Clearly these were not men of conscience.  Certainly their shame was not guilt inspired.  Being prideful and vain, they were probably ashamed of the status they had forfeited by their cowardice.  They had fled at the time of Noah's slaying and even if they were eventually forgiven they would have had to return as regular citizens.

Characteristic of the wicked, they kidnapped the Lamanite daughters, with no thought for anyone but themselves.  Surely they had to know that they would bring down Lamanite wrath upon the Nephites, which they did.  What about the girl's parents.  What about the girls themselves, taken captive against their will.  Who could do such a thing?

The thing that disgusts me the most is the wanton disregard they had for their own wives and children.  First they abandon them in order to save their own skins, then they proceed to find replacements for them like they were mere trinkets on their mantel pieces.  It seems they knew nothing of love, only lust.  It is hard to imagine people who've become that far gone.  Of course they mistreated their families before all this by their riotous living and consorting with concubines.  I guess there's the rub.  The more we can rationalize our selfish behavior the easier it becomes to do so.  Gradually, Satan takes us from flaxen chords to thoroughly forged chains.

Mosiah - Chapter 19

I've pondered this chapter for a whole day now.  The thought that keeps coming to my head concerns the nature of courage.  I think I've concluded that courage in truth, requires a testimony.  Let me explain.  The knowledge of the gospel and a conviction of the truth of the Plan of Salvation, it seems to me, can be the only source of true courage.  Real courage requires conviction.  Gideon had it.  Noah did not.  We can rationalize all we want, we can even gather other rationalizers around us to help convince us that our present course of action is correct, but in the end, deep down, we can only sense that we are not supported in wickedness - we don't have a leg to stand on.

This is not to say that the wicked have not been seen to do brave acts in their wickedness.  I think that  bravery is more like lunacy, or devil-may-care recklessness.  It is not courage and comes closer to desperation.  The fruits of this kind of brashness is evident in this chapter.  Ganged up on Abinadi they were bold, but in the face of destruction, they abandoned their wives and children and fled in sheer panic, concerned only for their own sorry skins.

Meanwhile, the more righteous, stood for the right regardless of the consequences.  The righteous do that, not entirely because they expect God to intervene in their behalf, but because they understand what life and living are really about.  And they realize that even death has meaning and rewarding results.  Courage and cowardice seem to have a direct correlation with faith and fear, testimony and doubt, pride and humility, selfishness and selflessness.

Mosiah - Chapter 18

When I was on my mission in the Philippines, Elder Bruce R. McConkie toured the mission.  In a conference with the Elders and Sisters he quoted this verse:

20 Yea, even he commanded them that they should preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.

Elder McConkie made it plain that the brethren still endorse that commandment.  We were called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to teach nothing but faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and repentance, baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  It was a tough concept for our young minds to comprehend.  I remember thinking, "But what about Temple Work, or genealogy, or ancient landing strips in Nazca, Peru?"

I never did really get the message until I began to recover from addiction.  I had tried and tried and tried to repent of my misbehavior and I had failed and failed and failed and failed.  I had not learned that I was seeking a miracle and that Faith precedes the miracle.  I was attempting to stop sinning, without applying faith in Christ.  I guess people stop sinning all the time.  People stop smoking, stop beating their wives, all kinds of things.  That is not repentance.  Repentance requires faith in Christ.  It requires a remission of sins that only He can offer.  It requires application of His redeeming blood.  I don't know if it was me or my teachers who were to blame, perhaps both, but I did not get that concept.  In church we were taught the five steps of repentance.  Those five step perhaps assumed, but did not include faith in my Savior.  I was going about the process completely backwards and that is the reason I failed.  The 12 Steps include Faith as the absolute prerequisite to successful repentance.  What a blessing to have finally made the discovery that Alma, and Bruce R. McConkie, insisted was the foundation of a successful probation on earth.

Mosiah - Chapter 17

I think it is interesting that Abinadi prophesies that the Priests' descendants with be believers.  I wonder if that reached their hearts at all.  Perhaps that was of great comfort to their wives who would soon be abandoned by them.

I would love to know more about Abinadi and his life.  He was probably somebody's husband, father, grandfather.  I expect he was a good sweet man in his private life.  I hope to meet him some day and find out more about him.  His tragic death is a reminder that life is not all peaches and cream.  I know he went on happily to a great reward.  I know that his conversion of Alma made his calling and death among the most significant events of The Book of Mormon.  I accept him as a great prophet.  Yet we know so little about his history.  I'd like to know what refined him, prepared him, comforted him.  I'll bet it is a wonderful story.

We are probably not told his story, because these few chapters are not about Abinadi they are about wickedness and it's consequences.  They are about the Savior and his divine mission.  They are about obedience.  Abinadi's life was not a tragedy but rather a triumph.  The tragedy lies in the lost and corrupted lives of Noah and his Priests.

Mosiah - Chapter 16

4 Thus all mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state.

As I read this I thought of a comment Stephen E. Robinson makes in his book, Believing Christ.  Essentially, he points out that rather than requiring us to toss a virgin into a volcano to appease God, or reconcile ourselves to Him, He sacrificed His Son to make that reconciliation.  Essentially, Satan would have it be the other way around.  How then could we ever, in this life or the previous one, choose Satan over Christ? 

The choice is so obvious!  How very grateful I am that I've been given the opportunity to understand this.

Mosiah - Chapter 15

  2 And because he dwelleth in flesh he shall be called the Son of God, and having subjected the flesh to the will of the Father, being the Father and the Son—

I think this is one of the most fascinating and inspirational things about Christ and His nature and perfection.  He never does anything other than the will of the Father.  The Temple endowment makes this so starkly plain.  In all the wonderful, powerful, majestic and inspirational things He has done, He always gives the Father the credit, having done it all at the Father's behest.

It might, from our mortal and western perspective be assumed then, that He was completely bereft of freedom.  Instead, it turns out, He is the freest of us all.  Elder Boyd K. Packer observed:

Perhaps the greatest discovery of my life, without question the greatest commitment, came when finally I had the confidence in God that I would loan or yield my agency to him - without compulsion or pressure, without any duress, as a single individual alone, by myself, no counterfeiting, nothing expected other than the privilege.  In a sense, speaking figuratively, to take one's agency, that precious gift which the scriptures make plain is essential to life itself, and say, 'I will do as you direct,' is afterward to learn that in so doing you possess it all the more" (Obedience, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year [Dec. 7, 1971], 4)

It seems to me that ultimately, it comes down to this or rebellion.

 26 But behold, and fear, and tremble before God, for ye ought to tremble; for the Lord redeemeth none such that rebel against him and die in their sins; yea, even all those that have perished in their sins ever since the world began, that have wilfully rebelled against God, that have known the commandments of God, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part in the first resurrection.

As Amulek will tell us Christ does not redeem us in our sins but from them.  We will sin.  We must be willing to let Him redeem us.  We must be willing to let Him change us.  We must be willing to surrender our will to Him.  I tremble that too often, I reject Him anew.

Mosiah - Chapter 14

It is not remarkable to me that Abinadai selected these verses for Isaiah to declare the coming Christ.  What is remarkable is that George Friderick Handel did.  I cannot read these verses without hearing the majesty of Handel's music accompanying it.  I wonder if, prophetically, Isaiah was able to hear the masterpiece of music that would one day accompany his poetic and prophetic words?  How about Abinadai?  I am so very thankful that such has been my blessing.  We often talk of Luther, Tyndale, Calvin and others who were instrumental in preparing the earth for the restoration.  I think Handel's name should be included.  He was clearly inspired.

Perhaps Isaiah's prophecy is easier to understand after the fact than before.  Still Abiniadai had no doubt as to the meaning of these marvelous words.  Too bad they were wasted on all but one of his audience.  Then, one was enough, wasn't it. 

I know my personal problems arise when I, like a sheep, turn to my own way, rather than that of the Lord.  How grateful I am that He is willing to seek me out and bring me back to His fold.

Mosiah - Chapter 13

It is alarming that despite their evident fear at having witnessed the glory of God radiating from Abinadai their hearts were not changed.  I can't imagine rejecting such marvelous manifestations.  They certainly must have been pretty far gone.  I have served in the local jail and also in the local juvenile detention center and I don't think I have ever met anyone that utterly lost.  In each, no matter how horrible their lives have been, I have seen a glimer of light and a measure of humility.  Enough that the possibility of rekindling the flame seemed a certain possibility.

13 And again: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generations of them that hate me;

14 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.

The language of these two verses really interested me this visit.  I sort of expected that God's wrath would be visited upon the heads of the children, instead he says the iniquity of the fathers would be visited upon their heads.  That may include wrath, but I suspect it is a declaration that the choices of these men will taint the choices and affect the lives of their children, bringing greater punishment and sorrow to the fathers than they can now imagine.  Never mind the punishments and sorrows of the children, the punishment and sorrow of the fathers, these wicked men seated before Abinadai is the real matter at hand.

It is also interesting that the anticedent to the pronoun they in verse 14 seems to be the children in verse 13.  This seems to indicate that the children are not necessarily condemned to follow in the error of their fathers.  The opportunity to have faith, repent and enjoy the blessings of the gospel remains real in their lives.  Negating in no way the depth of the consequences that will come of these men's choices. Clearly, though, children raised in homes of hate, rejection, wickeness and denial are at a father-caused disadvantage and will not come away unscathed by their environment.  Thank goodness the Lord can make such injurious circumstances right by the healing power of His Atonement.

At the detention center I see it every day.  Sweet children, whose parents and grandparents have made horribly consequential choices that have caused untold suffering in the their lives. It is occasionally, so good to see some grasp the light of the gospel and rise above the pain and deprivation they've suffered in their young lives.  Still, others seem likely to actually bring the iniquities of their fathers literally into the third and fourth generations. Oh, how careful we must be with the trust of fatherhood.

Mosiah - Chapter 12

Abinadai must have been very uncomfortable with deception for as soon as his disguise got him inside the city, he declared who he really was.  Not quite the Scarlet Pimpernell here.

I looks to me like the Priests considered themselves to be "beautiful upon the mountains."  They wanted to feel justified as they "break forth into joy."  They obviously, thought such things were to be had without appropriate living.  They were living the high life and had used their success, rather than their deeds, as the measuring stick of their lives.


I guess Heavenly Father allows us to so deceive ourselves for a while, but in the end we have to learn of our foolishness.  Satan is quite capable of so lying to us, but he doesn't support his followers.  In fact, no doubt, he laughed when Noah's life was indeed valued as a garment in a flame of fire.

Amos tells us that surely the Lord God will do nothing save he reveals it to his servants the prophets.  God is about to do something both horrible and beneficial to the people of Noah.  Consequently, He sends a prophet.  There is no doubt that Abinadai went willing about his task.  Shall I not follow his example and go willingly about that which God has called me to do.  Regardless of the consequences.

Mosiah - Chapter 11

I think we are in a similar situation.  When the US Congress lives by different laws, enjoys a lavish retirement from which the rest of the population is excluded, enjoys health care benefits we are excluded from, can and do raise their own wages, it all sounds very much like what is described in this chapter.  They have collectively set themselves apart from their constituents and made themselves elite.

There remains much to be praised about this country and I continue to be optimistic about our future, but this corruption is tainting or legislative process and is a principle part of the decline in our collective prosperity and righteousness.  We need to be aware of the corrupting influence such leaders can have and the story of King Noah is very instructive in that regard. 

To a degree, Americans have already been led into bondage and I believe that as Chapter 7 pointed out, there is only one way out of it.  And that is not by the shedding of blood.  Unless you count the blood of Christ, which was shed that we might turn to Him and be forgiven of our sins, so He can deliver us.