Helaman Chapter 16 --
After Samuel the Lamanite finished preaching there were some who repented & were baptized, but the more part of the people continued in iniquity.
What I find most interesting is how the wicked were able to reason away the signs of the coming of Christ. They mistook good for evil & evil for good. How did Satan get them so turned around?
Their reasoning was completely focused upon themselves & their circumstances. They couldn't believe because they were worried that the righteous "would 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 on 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."
What?!? Their reasoning is just the opposite of reality. If they had taken the time to repent & return unto the Lord they could have had greater understanding & greater knowledge. They thought they had to to depend upon their leaders to teach them the word, when in reality they could have prayed & figured it out themselves.
Showing posts with label Pride Cycle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pride Cycle. Show all posts
Monday, November 17, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Samual the Lamanite
Helaman Chapter 13 --
Samual the Lamanite preaches unto the Nephites. He is rejected & heading home when the voice of the Lord tells him to return & prophesy whatsoever things may come into his heart. The Nephites will not let him into the city so he climbs up upon the wall. He shows great dedication in following the command of the Lord. It would have been easy to try & return & not be allowed in & think maybe the Lord didn't want you to preach & so you give up. This is a wonderful example of following the spirit until you get the job done. Following the spirit might not always be easy, although we know that the Lord will always provide a way.
Samual the Lamanite notes that it has been only 400 years since Lehi left Jerusalem and already they are wicked. 400 years seems like a long time. Especially when I realize in comparison it has been 138 years since Joseph Smith's vision...and already our society is being compared to Sodom & Gomorrah. We are truly in the last days...which is kind of exciting!
Verse 17 says a curse shall come upon the land because of their wickedness. Is it a curse we are feeling right now in our economy because of our wickedness?
Verse 19 tells us to hide up our treasures unto the Lord. I am not certain what exactly this means. When I take it in a literal sense I would think about the riches of the world -- how would you hide those up to the Lord? Unless it means using all that you hath to build the kingdom. Although when I think of my own treasures, money & monetary things would not be high on the list -- I would want to hide up Zack most especially if that meant he would be protected from the things of the world (and baby 2 as well...). So how do I hide them up to the Lord???
Verse 22 -- Samual the Laminate is really laying it out for the Nephites! He says, "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; yeah, your hearts are not drawn out unto the Lord, but they do swell with great pride, unto boasting, and unto great swelling, envyings, strifes, malice, persecutions, and murders, and all manner of iniquities."
That verse just makes my skin crawl. How can the Nephites not just feel horrible? I would be soo embarrassed to have that point pointed out to me. Gratitude is key in all things...even the trials.
Verse 26 rings true for today. With all of the Prop 8 & Prop 102 stuff the LDS church has come under fire. Arizona, California & Florida all had initiatives on their ballots to amend their state constitutions stating that a marriage is between 1 man & 1 woman. The bill passed & the LDS people, not the church were very active & organized in trying to get it passed. There have been protests in front of the LA temple & other religious buildings, but the Mormons seem to be taking the overall hit. It is weird because in California the Mormon vote only made up 8% of the total voting people. Anyway, we have come under attack that we are hateful & discriminatory. When in reality, right is right & wrong is wrong & they just don't want anyone telling them that they are wrong.
The chapter ends, repent, repent, repent. However it is noted that if they procrastinate the day of their repentance their destruction is made sure. At which point doth the Lord make their destruction sure? It says the people become encircled with angels of the demon -- and that they sought happiness through inequity. While I sit & wonder, "how can they be so blind," I have to say I see this on a daily basis. The devil is cunning & has wrapped his sins in a very pleasing manner.
Another part I liked was when he said in verse 27 that if a man come to you and saith do this & there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer...the people will raise him up & clothe him in fine clothing and say that he is a prophet.
It is sad. Just plain sad. I feel like there were a lot of those feelings in this last election. People voting for the government to take care of them...trying to vote themselves rich. It doesn't work that way!
Samual the Lamanite preaches unto the Nephites. He is rejected & heading home when the voice of the Lord tells him to return & prophesy whatsoever things may come into his heart. The Nephites will not let him into the city so he climbs up upon the wall. He shows great dedication in following the command of the Lord. It would have been easy to try & return & not be allowed in & think maybe the Lord didn't want you to preach & so you give up. This is a wonderful example of following the spirit until you get the job done. Following the spirit might not always be easy, although we know that the Lord will always provide a way.
Samual the Lamanite notes that it has been only 400 years since Lehi left Jerusalem and already they are wicked. 400 years seems like a long time. Especially when I realize in comparison it has been 138 years since Joseph Smith's vision...and already our society is being compared to Sodom & Gomorrah. We are truly in the last days...which is kind of exciting!
Verse 17 says a curse shall come upon the land because of their wickedness. Is it a curse we are feeling right now in our economy because of our wickedness?
Verse 19 tells us to hide up our treasures unto the Lord. I am not certain what exactly this means. When I take it in a literal sense I would think about the riches of the world -- how would you hide those up to the Lord? Unless it means using all that you hath to build the kingdom. Although when I think of my own treasures, money & monetary things would not be high on the list -- I would want to hide up Zack most especially if that meant he would be protected from the things of the world (and baby 2 as well...). So how do I hide them up to the Lord???
Verse 22 -- Samual the Laminate is really laying it out for the Nephites! He says, "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; yeah, your hearts are not drawn out unto the Lord, but they do swell with great pride, unto boasting, and unto great swelling, envyings, strifes, malice, persecutions, and murders, and all manner of iniquities."
That verse just makes my skin crawl. How can the Nephites not just feel horrible? I would be soo embarrassed to have that point pointed out to me. Gratitude is key in all things...even the trials.
Verse 26 rings true for today. With all of the Prop 8 & Prop 102 stuff the LDS church has come under fire. Arizona, California & Florida all had initiatives on their ballots to amend their state constitutions stating that a marriage is between 1 man & 1 woman. The bill passed & the LDS people, not the church were very active & organized in trying to get it passed. There have been protests in front of the LA temple & other religious buildings, but the Mormons seem to be taking the overall hit. It is weird because in California the Mormon vote only made up 8% of the total voting people. Anyway, we have come under attack that we are hateful & discriminatory. When in reality, right is right & wrong is wrong & they just don't want anyone telling them that they are wrong.
The chapter ends, repent, repent, repent. However it is noted that if they procrastinate the day of their repentance their destruction is made sure. At which point doth the Lord make their destruction sure? It says the people become encircled with angels of the demon -- and that they sought happiness through inequity. While I sit & wonder, "how can they be so blind," I have to say I see this on a daily basis. The devil is cunning & has wrapped his sins in a very pleasing manner.
Another part I liked was when he said in verse 27 that if a man come to you and saith do this & there is no iniquity; do that and ye shall not suffer...the people will raise him up & clothe him in fine clothing and say that he is a prophet.
It is sad. Just plain sad. I feel like there were a lot of those feelings in this last election. People voting for the government to take care of them...trying to vote themselves rich. It doesn't work that way!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Pride Cycle
Helaman Chapter 12 --
The Pride Cycle...explained.
In the Lord's goodness he blesses the righteous, but oh how quickly they forget!!!
Verse 2 -- "at the very time when he doth proser his people...the do harden their hearts."
Verse 3 -- "and thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people...they will not remember him."
Verse after verse lists the great power of God moving mountains, drying up oceans, lengthening days/nights -- when He commands it is done. Yet his own children do not heed his counsel. Thus we are less than the dust of the earth, because the dust doth obey. Yet we are encouraged to repent & be saved.
I especially liked verse 6:
"Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule & reign over them; nothwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide."
How insulting on our part? The Lord has sacrificed His son in order to save US & yet we still do not obey!!! Pride is a very powerful thing.
It is interesting to see the hearts of the children of men returning to the Father today. As we come down from experiencing HUGE prosperity into very difficult economic times, the humility has been apparent. Why can we not remember the Lord in our times of prosperity to the same degree we remember him in times of distress?
On another note, why can we not live with exact obedience? Do we think we know better? We must submit our will to the Father -- that is all we have to give.
The Pride Cycle...explained.
In the Lord's goodness he blesses the righteous, but oh how quickly they forget!!!
Verse 2 -- "at the very time when he doth proser his people...the do harden their hearts."
Verse 3 -- "and thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people...they will not remember him."
Verse after verse lists the great power of God moving mountains, drying up oceans, lengthening days/nights -- when He commands it is done. Yet his own children do not heed his counsel. Thus we are less than the dust of the earth, because the dust doth obey. Yet we are encouraged to repent & be saved.
I especially liked verse 6:
"Behold, they do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule & reign over them; nothwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide."
How insulting on our part? The Lord has sacrificed His son in order to save US & yet we still do not obey!!! Pride is a very powerful thing.
It is interesting to see the hearts of the children of men returning to the Father today. As we come down from experiencing HUGE prosperity into very difficult economic times, the humility has been apparent. Why can we not remember the Lord in our times of prosperity to the same degree we remember him in times of distress?
On another note, why can we not live with exact obedience? Do we think we know better? We must submit our will to the Father -- that is all we have to give.
Monday, November 10, 2008
No Time to be Casual
Helaman Chapter 11 --
The chapter heading states that, "Nephi persuades the Lord to replace their war with a famine."
--How would one go about persuading the Lord? That seems quite bold & you'd have to be confident (100%) in what you were asking of Him.
The was was caused by the Gadianton robbers. Was the famine a means of effecting them & stopping the war?
Verse 4 - Nephi prays that the people not be destroyed by the sword, rather a famine that they might be humbled & return & repent.
The famine killed thousands in the more wicked parts...it is interesting that they note the more wicked parts.
During/After this famine the people are humbled & Nephi prays to the Lord that the famine might cease. In his prayer he actually asked for the Lord to "hearken" unto him. Again, he is bold in his prayers. This demonstrates 2 things...
1. A close relationship
2. Extreme faith
The famine ceases. They praise the Lord & are righteous. They prosper. Strife arises over doctrinal questions -- Nephi preaches continually, putting an end to the discussions.
--It is okay to have questions regarding doctrine. That is a method of growth, but at some point you must put your trust & faith in the Lord. Seek for answers, but always trust the Lord.
I can't believe this...in verse 26 AGAIN there are dissenters. They form a secret band & search out the obliterated Gadianton robbers secrets. Why did the Lord allow this band to form?? The people just recovered from a famine & are living righteously!
Verse 34 states that this great evil which was brought upon "because of their iniquity did stir them up to remembrance."
They must not have been living as righteously as I thought. How else could they have forgotten soo quickly. The famine had JUST ended a couple of years prior.
--How can I better remember the Lord always.
--Are all trials to bring us closer to the Lord.
I am frustrated with the people of Nephi. In a matter of 12 years they have gone from wickedness to righteousness & BACK to wickedness...so much so that they are ripening for destruction. How could they have forgotten the Lord so quickly & completely? They must have been casual in their testimonies...believing outwardly, but not inwardly. The first sign of dissension was questioning doctrine. We must always trust in the Lord. He will never lead his people astray! And look at everything that could have been avoided!!!
The chapter heading states that, "Nephi persuades the Lord to replace their war with a famine."
--How would one go about persuading the Lord? That seems quite bold & you'd have to be confident (100%) in what you were asking of Him.
The was was caused by the Gadianton robbers. Was the famine a means of effecting them & stopping the war?
Verse 4 - Nephi prays that the people not be destroyed by the sword, rather a famine that they might be humbled & return & repent.
The famine killed thousands in the more wicked parts...it is interesting that they note the more wicked parts.
During/After this famine the people are humbled & Nephi prays to the Lord that the famine might cease. In his prayer he actually asked for the Lord to "hearken" unto him. Again, he is bold in his prayers. This demonstrates 2 things...
1. A close relationship
2. Extreme faith
The famine ceases. They praise the Lord & are righteous. They prosper. Strife arises over doctrinal questions -- Nephi preaches continually, putting an end to the discussions.
--It is okay to have questions regarding doctrine. That is a method of growth, but at some point you must put your trust & faith in the Lord. Seek for answers, but always trust the Lord.
I can't believe this...in verse 26 AGAIN there are dissenters. They form a secret band & search out the obliterated Gadianton robbers secrets. Why did the Lord allow this band to form?? The people just recovered from a famine & are living righteously!
Verse 34 states that this great evil which was brought upon "because of their iniquity did stir them up to remembrance."
They must not have been living as righteously as I thought. How else could they have forgotten soo quickly. The famine had JUST ended a couple of years prior.
--How can I better remember the Lord always.
--Are all trials to bring us closer to the Lord.
I am frustrated with the people of Nephi. In a matter of 12 years they have gone from wickedness to righteousness & BACK to wickedness...so much so that they are ripening for destruction. How could they have forgotten the Lord so quickly & completely? They must have been casual in their testimonies...believing outwardly, but not inwardly. The first sign of dissension was questioning doctrine. We must always trust in the Lord. He will never lead his people astray! And look at everything that could have been avoided!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
