Sometimes the Crowd Is Just Plain Wrong.

Helaman 16

Finally, the chapter where it describes the Nephites throwing rocks and shooting arrows at Samuel, but to no avail, as  shown in this picture that I have loved since childhood. 

The first hundred times I typed in Samuel the Lamanite, the auto correct on this computer changed it to Samuel the Laminate.  It was pretty annoying.  But sometimes it made me smile because, just like a good laminate flooring, this Lamanite was durable.  Not an arrow or a rock hit him (vs. 2) because the Spirit of the Lord was with him.  

And not everyone was trying to kill him.  It says as many as believed went to the prophet Nephi, confessing their sins and were baptized.  (vs. 1).  And Nephi was a busy prophet because it says:

"...Nephi was baptizing, and prophesying, and preaching, crying repentance unto the people, showing signs and wonders, working miracles among the people, that they might know that the Christ must shortly come— Telling them of things which must shortly come, that they might know and remember at the time of their coming that they had been made known unto them beforehand, to the intent that they might believe; therefore as many as believed on the words of Samuel went forth unto him to be baptized, for they came repenting and confessing their sins." (vs. 4-5)

So the question I ask myself is, "If I were standing on a wall preaching to the Nephites, would their arrows and stones have found me?"   No, wait.  The question I ask myself and the question that I could actually have any impact on and the question that actually matters is, "Would I have bothered to climb the wall in the first place?"   God has let plenty of people seal their testimony with their lives for his own righteous purposes and I don't know if Samuel understood whether or not he was ever coming down off that wall.  But he got up on it, he stretched forth his hand, and he cried with a loud voice, and he preached the word of God.  (Helaman 13:4) While we can't choose what happens to us when we follow the voice of the Lord, we do have to choose whether we follow it or not.  There is no fence sitting.  Either you do or you don't.  

When the unrepentant Nephites realized they couldn't shoot him down, "they cried unto their captains, saying: Take this fellow and bind him, for behold he hath a devil; and because of the power of the devil which is in him we cannot hit him with our stones and our arrows; therefore take him and bind him, and away with him.

 7 And as they went forth to lay their hands on him, behold, he did cast himself down from the wall, and did flee out of their lands, yea, even unto his own country, and began to preach and to prophesy among his own people. 8 And behold, he was never heard of more among the Nephites." (vs. 6-8)

I am glad he was able to return to his own people and teach them, because, according to vs. 15, they needed his bold teaching also.  

It seems very familiar when these wicked, confused people said this righteous prophet had a devil.  If someone doesn't agree with those who are wicked, then the wicked are the ones who call the righteous evil,  and the wicked call themselves the righteous.   

Even when the wicked see "there were great signs given unto the people, and wonders; and the words of the prophets began to be fulfilled" (vs. 13) they used their own reasoning and explained it away and taught that  "it is not reasonable that such a being as a Christ shall come."   (vs. 18) and that  the Prophet's reason for teaching about Christ was that they might "... by the cunning and the mysterious arts of the evil one, work some great mystery which we cannot understand, which will keep us down to be servants to their words, and also servants unto them, for we depend upon them to teach us the word; and thus will they keep us in ignorance if we will yield ourselves unto them, all the days of our lives" (vs. 21). 

So much of the latter part of Helaman deals with choice and freedom and peace and iniquity and destruction.  No one works harder to find truth and no one is more free than someone who seeks after Christ.  The fact that they have done the work to have the faith makes them strong.

Sadly, the chapter says that all this preaching and baptizing made "but little alteration in the affairs of the people  (vs. 12).

How could this be with Samuel and Nephi teaching the people?

Samuel was up on their wall,  Nephi was living next door, but Satan was in their hearts (vs. 22) which has always been far more valuable real estate when it comes to influencing pretty much anyone.   

Samuel to the Nephites: No, really. You need to repent.

Heleman 15

Again, with the repentance.  Or your houses will be desolate.  And your women shall mourn. And you'll flee but there will be no where to go.  (vs. 1-2)  That is what Samuel the Lamanite has to say to the Nephites in Zarahemla.

He points out the Lamanites, when they hear the word of God, repent and are "firm and steadfast in the faith"  (vs. 8) and "they have been made free."   

He references the People of Ammon, (vs. 9) and reminds the Nephites that they were so serious about no longer being a war-like people that they covenanted with God not to fight and buried all their weapons.

I have heard many talks about asking ourselves what "weapons" or sins we need to bury in our lives to be more righteous, the latest one being yesterday in our stake conference.

Samuel talks of how the Lamanites will be blessed at a later time because their hearts are not as hard as the Nephites, and they sin because of the traditions of their fathers, not as the Nephites who sin because they know what is right and choose to sin anyway.

And in the last poignant verse, Samuel bears witness that the Lord will utterly destroy the Nephites if they will not repent, not withstanding the many mighty works which they have seen the Lord do among them.

This verse makes me wonder if Samuel had  seen the vision that so many prophets had seen that showed that very thing happening.  Did his heart break for the Nephites like Eno's heart broke for the Lamanites?  Was it much worse because he knew the Lamanites would ultimately be saved but the Nephites would not?

Not only did the Nephites have their own history filled with the "might works" of God, but they had the records brought from Jerusalem as a witness for and against them.  It reminds me of covenant people who live in this day and the many modern witnesses of God's mighty works in our own lives and in the records of the Bible and the Book of Mormon.

Moroni 10:27  reminds me I am also responsible for the light and knowledge I've been given and I will have to account for how I have used it.  Or if I lose it.

And that is why it is again with the repentance.

I can personally make it through my own little pride cycle three times before lunch.

And that is why I love repentance and the Savior who gave it to me.

Just like President Urchdorf said in a recent talk about the Savior, He will place you on his shoulders and carry you home.  

But first, you have to want to go home.

Many More Things Which Cannot Be Written...but don't worry, because the important stuff is all there.

  Helaman 14

In the very first verse we learn that  Samuel prophesies to the people many things which can't be written (I really really really wish I knew what these things were), but more importantly, he prophesies in a very specific way when he tells them the Lord will come in 5 years to redeem the people who believe in him and tells them the signs that will appear so that they will know when these great events are happening half a world away.  I love how God doesn't just leave them in the dark...okay, they will be in the dark, but just because it is one of the signs.

And then Samuel teaches again about faith and repentance and remission of sins and resurrection, but my favorite part of the chapter is at the end where he reminds them of their free agency to choose to believe this or not to believe.  He also reminds them of the consequences.

And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.

He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you.  (vs. 30,31)

"...for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free."

And that is a great and a fearsome thing. 

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.

Less than the Dust of the Earth and Blessed with Everlasting Life.

Helaman 12

People think being called less than the dust of the earth is a put-down.  And it is.  But it is also instructive.  Check out these verses in Helaman 12  where it is lamented:

Vs. 7:  How great the nothingness of the children of men, less than the dust of the earth.

Why?  How could we be less than dust?  

Vs 8:  Because the dust of the Earth moves hither and thither, to the dividing asunder, at the command of our great and everlasting God.  

So dust is obedient and us, not so much.  

Vs.  18-22:  And apparently, even though we have the freedom to choose to listen or not at this time, when the end comes we will be less than the dust, for God will cut the unrepentant off from his presence.  

This sounds pretty harsh.  Less than the dust of the earth and cut off from his presence.  

But how is it harsh when we were the ones who cut ourselves off from his presence by choice? (Vs. 2-6)  

 Free agency cuts both ways.  

Luckily, Vs. 23 talks about repenting and being saved.  It seems like if we are pathetic at actually being the kind of person we want to be, but we repent and truly strive to be the  people we were meant to be, we're both blest and saved.  

So it is our choice.

Choice, choice, choice.  

Vs. 26:  They that have done good shall have everlasting life; and they that have done evil shall have everlasting damnation.  And thus it is, Amen.  

Pretty straight forward.  Good or Evil.  You get to choose.  

What if I were a refugee?

About a year ago I had a dream that has not faded.  I was in the woods camping with my family.   Nature was beautiful and my family was together  and happy.  But my happy dream turned from sunny to dark.  One by one my older children disappeared and then I couldn't find my husband.   My surroundings changed from nature to a scene of chaos and destruction, and I was very afraid for my younger children and for myself as I realized I was open to any danger an ill-willed stranger wished to bring upon what was left of my family or myself.

 I woke up thinking of refugees.  The fear and helplessness that filled my dream was the waking nightmare for millions of women just like me.  How could I help?  They were so far away!

At the Women's Session of the general conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints, the women of our church introduced a new program called, "I was a stranger."  Here is the webpage that explains it and gives suggestions of how to help.

 https://www.lds.org/refugees?cid=HP_SA_26-3-2016_dPFD_fCNWS_xLIDyL2-1_&lang=eng

And here is a video that explains why we are interested in helping:

The next week, at our general conference, Elder Patrick Kearon gave this address explaining the problem, why we should help, and what we are doing.

I hope that I will figure out the right way to help.  I hope that, one day, no one will be a refuge.  

Love, Freedom, and 5:00 a.m.

Working out at 5:00 in the morning at the BYU-I gym has some great advantages.  One of them is you can listen to BYU devotionals while you are on the elliptical.  Another is that you can pretty much pick any freshly cleaned elliptical you want because there aren't very many other crazy people in Rexburg who are at the gym that early.

I usually have an inner struggle if the the TV's are on between the part of me that just wants to listen to music and the part of me that knows that,  if I listen to the devotional, I will get an amazing gift of hearing something that will actually help me or my family.   I am glad to say I usually listen.

Yesterday, there was one point in this wonderful talk, right between minutes 24:04-25:05, where Osguthorpe said something that made me think hard about freedom and love and their opposite.

"it is impossible to love unless we choose to love. Love must come from within. It cannot be forced upon us. So for purposes of his own selfish aims, the adversary would have made it impossible for us to keep the first two commandments. He would have made us into nothing."

He would have made us into nothing.  

Let's hear it for a God who would make us into everything that is good. 

But only if we freely choose it.