Sunday School answers

The Book of Mormon

Wickedness becomes so widespread that the Lord takes the disciples (3 Nephites) away. No miracles; no gifts. The people willfully rebelled against God. The land was cursed because of their wickedness. Their possessions became slippery because the land was cursed. There were sorceries, witchcrafts and magics, and the power of Satan was over all the land.

What a depressing synopsis! How I pray things don't get so wicked that our Apostles are removed from the land. I need to restudy the last days and see if this is possible.

Were there really no miracles and no gifts, or were they so hardened that they could not see them? Obviously, Mormon was ministered to by angels and knew of God's goodness.

The phrase that sticks out to me today is “they willfully rebelled against their God”. I've seen this and it is not a pretty thing. I've also seen the resulting consequences. When a person who has had the light willfully rebells, they can't see the forest for the trees. They don't see a blessing or a gift. What are some of the gifts? Certainly the Holy Ghost. You can't feel his presence because your heart is hardened and unable to receive. You don't see the blessings of family, friends, gospel truths. You are basically blind to the things of the Lord.

So how does this change? I've been there. What did I do to turn it around? I was miserable and although substance abuse was not an issue, I was addicted to what was normal for me. They say a known bad is better than an unknown possible good. Certainly this was the case with me. However, one day something was so bad that I remembered. What did I remember? That just maybe I had a Heavenly Father who would answer a simple prayer. I wasn't even smart enough to pray as I had been taught as a child. I simply said: “Heavenly Father. I give up. I'll do whatever it takes to be happy again.” It was at this point that miracles began to happen in my life. No matter what it was, I did it. It wasn't all easy. Tiny baby steps, I changed my life. And today, that period of my life seems as but a dream. If I didn't have a daughter and her family as a result of it, I could easily forget it ever happened.

So how does this apply to me and you today? This is the Sunday School answer, but a solid truth – daily scripture, prayer, FHE, temple attendance and service. Serve, serve, serve. There are people in worse shape than you. They are easy to find. Lift them. It doesn't take a lot. A smile; ask them about their day or their family. Go out of your way to make the life of someone else just a little better. Think on it. When was the last time you served and it wasn't part of your paycheck? How did it make you feel?