What We Always Remember

Helaman 13

We often think of the great courage and sacrifice made by the Son's of Mosiah when they chose to leave their lives among their own people and go and serve their mortal enemies, the Lamanites, by bringing them the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Fast forward almost a hundred years and it is the Lamanites being more righteous than the Nephites, and a righteous Lamanite named Samuel who is trying to bring the Nephites back to God.  An angel of the Lord had brought glad tidings to his soul by sharing the life and ministry of Jesus Christ with him, and when he was told to go and share what he knew with the Nephites,  he did.

But they threw him out.

Samuel goes to the land of Zarahemla and preaches unto the people many days (vs. 2) and it  gets him thrown out.  It seems the Nephites took offense at the idea that they needed to repent.

When the voice of the Lord tells Samuel to go back and prophesy whatsoever things should come unto his heart (from the Lord) he just goes right back.

Zarahemla had some serious walls (thank you Captain Moroni?) and it's inhabitants had no intention of letting Samuel back in, but that didn't stop him!  He just climbs up the wall and starts preaching about Christ and repentance and asks them to please change so they won't be destroyed.

I have a feeling he does this hard thing not just because he was assigned to do it, but because  he loves the people of Zarahemla.  That is serious charity.

Not only does this man climb on the wall to stand in front of people who would rather kill him than listen to him, but he makes himself the largest target possible when he stretches out his arms and yells out what is in his heart in case anyone below might miss him.

He preaches faith in the Lord and repentance and warns them of impending destruction (vs. 6).

He explains that the righteous in the city are the only reason they aren't already destroyed (vs. 12).

He warns they will lose their treasures that they hide (vs. 19).

He says they are cursed because they set their hearts upon their riches (vs. 21).

He points out they Don't remember their God, but they Do remember their riches.

 "Ye do not remember the Lord your God in the things with which he hath blessed you, but ye do always remember your riches, not to thank the Lord your God for them, Yea, your hearts are not drawn out unto the Lord, but they do swell with great pride, unto boasting, and unto  great swelling, envying, strifes, malice, persecutions, and murders, and all manner of iniquities."  (vs. 22).

After he lays out the list of their wickedness, he points out that if a prophet comes and declares the word of God among them, they will be angry with him, try to destroy him, cast him out, say he is a false prophet, a sinner and is of the devil, but if a man comes among them and tells them, do this, and there is no iniquity, do that, and ye shall not suffer (vs. 27),  they will call him a prophet, give him lots of gold, silver, costly apparel, and invite him to all their parties.

And then he delivers verse 29 where his heart seems to be breaking as he pleads with and questions them.  "O ye wicked and ye perverse generation; ye hardened and ye stiff-necked people, how long will ye suppose the the Lord will suffer you?  Yea how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by foolish and blind guides?   Yea, how long will ye choose darkness rather than light?" (vs. 29).

Then comes another sobering part where he says they have wasted their lives.  "...for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great Eternal Head." (vs. 38)

This meaningful chapter urges me to ask questions of myself.  Questions like these…

1.  What are the ways in my life I need to be more courageous in fulfilling my assignments--not necessarily formal callings, but the most important ones like family, being my best self, things in my patriarchal blessing, and others I have received through personal revelation?

2.  What is my heart set upon?

3.  What do I need to repent of?

4.   Am I led by foolish and blind guides?

5.  In the world of Good, Better, and Best, am I seeking all the days of my life for that which  will bring the most happiness?

6.  If the wicked Nephites always remembered their riches and not their God, what am I always remembering that might be getting in the way of always remembering God?

I love the Book of Mormon.  I love the spirit that fills the message contained in it.  And I love this Samuel the Lamanite.