Be an Example

Mormon 5 – Mormon tells us of the destruct that is taking place among his people. You get the idea that it is pretty ugly and he says he is sparing us the really bad stuff. He “repents” and leads the Nephites again in battle with no hope for a positive outcome. He pleads with us to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ.

V8 – I'm fascinated at the phrase “revealed upon the house-tops”. There was a day when the gospel was brought into our homes via the antennas that were affixed to the tops of our homes. Just a side note.

Mormon talks about the Lamanites who were once a delightsome people because they accepted Christ as their shepherd and were led by God the Father. V18 “But now, behold they are led about by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer her; and even as she is, so are they.” This verse has special meaning to me. As I was in the process of turning my life around and trying ever so hard to live the gospel, it became obvious to me that those with whom I use to associate fit this description. In fact, it was not that long ago that I fit that description. When you don't choose Christ as your master, Satan is there to lead you down his path. There are only two choices. You are as chaff driven before the wind. You are as a vessel without sail or anchor being tossed upon the winds of the sea. There is no direction. Whatever is the whim of the day is your direction. It's a miserable existence, but when you're in it you don't realize what you don't have. It is only until you accept Christ as your master and see the difference in living in the light versus living in darkness that you really come to know. Is it any wonder that our Stake Presidency has chosen the theme “Come Unto Christ” for our stake this year? Everything we do must be with the intent to “Come Unto Christ”, for it is in doing so that we are directed into the light where we can see clearly the traps and cunning devices of Satan.

As a parent of an errant child, I find great comfort in V21 “And also the Lord will remember the prayers of the righteous, which have been put up unto him for them.” I put a lot of weight on this verse. I pray daily – all day for this child who has walked into the darkness and is without direction. How I pray she will soon see how truly dark her world is.

So how does this apply to me today? I accept Christ as my Savior and Redeemer. But there is a world out there that does not. It is that world that is threatening the security of our nation and our world as we know it. They are without direction and embrace whatever the cause of the day may be. All too frequently, that cause is to line their own pockets. Rather than seeking for a better world as the Lord sees it, they are seeking for selfish notoriety. How can I change it? I don't know that I have any real power, but I do know that it is through my example that others just might have the courage to make righteous choices and make a difference. All I can do is set a righteous example and bear my testimony whenever I'm given opportunity.