Keep the peace!

Alma 1

There is peace in the land but there is always one who wants to mess it up. Such is the case with Nehor. He thinks preachers should be paid and a host of other ideas not consistent with the teachings of the church. He proceeds to enforce his beliefs with the sword and kills Gideon, a man who had held strong to the gospel and did much good in the land. Nehor kills Gideon because he is too old to defend himself by the sword.

Nehor is brought before Alma to be judged, and died a shameful death.

I see such parallel between this chapter and the affairs of the world today. There are so many who have skewed beliefs of how the country should be run. They are takers and feel entitlement in their lives. They feel they have been cheated by the “system”, that corporate America is evil. The Lord has laid out the laws of the land and anyone can achieve if they will work to do so. We are in a country where creativity equals profit. There are so many people who have put their passions to work for them. The problem with those who are not is their passion is me, me, me. What is in it for me? They do not look out for others; only themselves. They are suspicious of every action of others and believe there is a motive behind kindness. They hate the rich because somehow in their skewed and very small minds they believe the rich have stolen from them. What have they stolen? It just boggles my mind. They band together in useless efforts in community gatherings and say they are united. United in what? They don't even know. Their effort to pull down the rest of us to their level? It seems absurd to me.

This chapter and an email I received from my daughter this morning really combined to agitate me just a little. We are all free to make the choices that will bring happiness into our lives. Maybe not prosperity, but happiness. The happiness comes from doing the Lord's will. He will take care of us. But it is critical that we show our love for Him through serving and sacrificing for the good of others.

So how does this apply to me? I mustn't get caught up in the warfare. But peacefully proclaim the truth whenever the opportunity presents itself. I suspect it just might do that today at dinner. Oh joy!