Let us be Wise and Look Forward

Mosiah 29:10 contains sound advice for all of us in every facet of our lives.  “. . . let us be wise and look forward. . .”  If we would only stop at the crossroad of decision and weigh out the pros and cons of each direction, wouldn’t our lives be so much better?  If we consulted the Lord on each choice we make, and then listened to the Spirit as it guided us, oh the pains and sorrows we could avoid as we travel this lone and dreary world!

Had I done that as a newly graduated high school student, would I have made different choices?  No doubt!  My life would have gone down an entirely different path.  What opportunities and challenges would the Lord have given me then to become the daughter He wanted me to be?  Only He knows, and I believe my station in life (my age) has taught me that it’s okay.  I’m content with where my life has taken me.  Yes, I missed out on some very critical years living away from gospel truths and the blessings that come from living a righteous life.  I’m eternally grateful that I didn’t do anything so damaging that I was held captive by the pernicious effects of drugs, alcohol or other addictive behaviors.  That alone is a miracle.  It so easily could have been. 

Apply this advice to our leaders and it’s even more valued.  Oh if the leaders of this nation would just look beyond their own lustful desires for control.  Leaders who have no clue how to look forward a few years to see where their decisions will lead us are taking our nation down a path of speedy destruction.  It is such a head scratcher to me.  They have children.  Don’t they care the quality of life they will live, or do they think they will be protected from the consequences of their fathers’ near sightedness.  It is maddening!

So how does this apply to me today?  I continue on seeking guidance from the Holy Ghost in my decisions.  I anchor my life to the principles of the gospel and hang on tight for what is ahead.  I know there are going to be tough times.  The scriptures are replete with warnings and our prophets today tell us of the same.  But it will last but a little while and the Savior will come and redeem the world.  Evil will be eradicated and our King will be our Savior, Jesus Christ.  I know this is true and it is where I gain my sanity.  I have no idea what the Lord has in store for me before He comes, but I will rejoice in the blessings I’ve been given and the tender mercies I know will come along the way.  I will pray for eyes to see those tender mercies.  I know from experience I will see them.

Mosiah 27 - The Prayers of a Righteous Parent

 Every time I read Mosiah 27 I yearn for a similar experience for my children who see dimly the truths of the gospel.  Even dimly is an exaggeration for one – more like she can’t see at all.  She has said she does not believe the things we believe.  How can that be when at one point her testimony was so powerful and she loved her Savior so much that she sang of Him from the moment she woke up in the morning to the moment she retired at night – or it was so late she knew we wanted to sleep?  It makes no sense to me at all.

Yet Alma’s father, Alma the prophet, served the Lord diligently as he prayed for his wayward son.  He had faith the Lord would provide a way.  As miraculous as that way was, and I would think seeing an angel of the Lord is as good as it gets, I too was rescued from a dark abyss through no goodness of my own but by the prayers of my parents who served diligently all their lives in building the kingdom of God.  I have that same faith that some day, some how my daughter will be humbled to fall on her knees and admit her complete dependence on the Lord to save her from the dark abyss that surrounds her.  I read yesterday in Mosiah 26:30 where it says:  “Yea, and as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses.”  That said, I guess she has as many tries as it takes to return.  The real urgency is that every day she waits is a day of peace she has sacrificed to her wayward ways.  It is also one less day she will have to make things right with the Lord.  You can’t argue that he is hastening his work on the earth, or that the world is becoming more and more evil daily.  The time to repent is NOW!

Mosiah 24 - Burdens are Lightened

Mosiah 24 – The Lord Gives us Strength

It is interesting to me to see the happenings of people in trouble in the Book of Mormon.  The people of Alma were in serious bondage to the Lamanites.  They couldn’t even pray without threat of being put to death.  I always wonder when I read that part how the Lamanites knew if they were praying in their own homes.  Oh well.  Another topic.  Anyway, they knew there was no way out of bondage so what did they do?  They prayed silently for deliverance.  The Lord came to them in their afflictions and eased the burdens.  Were the burdens any less?  Of course not!  He gave them the strength they needed to carry their burdens.  I can really relate to this.  Just yesterday I had a task that was the biggest I’ve had in a very long time.  I was burdened beyond belief and I was the only one who could deal with the burden.  It started out pretty light, and I prayed for courage to tackle it.  As the day wore on, it became much bigger than I had even imagined.  I was praying as I was doing this task for the strength to see it through.  I was amazed that I made it.  There wasn’t a drop of energy left at the end of the day, but I dealt with the task at hand and I know the Lord was with me.  Did I still have to do it?  Yes!  But I was given the energy to do so. 

I have used this tool many times and have never failed to see the Lord’s hand in my burdens. 

Be a Little Kinder - Mosiah 20

Mosiah 20 – Look before you Leap

This chapter is a great example of examining a situation with thoroughness before you take action.  Even better – why not consult the Lord before taking action?

King Noah’s Priests who had abandoned their wives and families, abducted the Lamanite daughters. They were in the wilderness without wives and we already know they don’t have a lot of morals or else they would not have left their families to spare their own lives.  Why NOT steal someone else’s daughters to satisfy their own lustful needs? 

Rather than stop to assess the situation, the Lamantes declared war on the people of Limhi who, to this point had kept the oath of peace they had made with the Lamanites.  A terrible battle ensued.  It wasn’t until they captured the wounded King of the Lamanites that they examined the cause of the battle and other possible options.  How much better it would have been if the King had calmly gone over to Limhi and had conversation with him.  Sure, he could be angry still.  You would be if your daughter had been kidnapped.  But look at the lives that would have been spared from needless slaughter if they’d taken this one step. 

Do we do this in our own lives?  Do we take offense at something and get angry and shut a loved one, friend or work associate out of our lives or cause them grief because of our misunderstandings?  It happens way too much in this world.  We can learn from the example of this unfortunate experience.  I personally don’t believe most people wake up in the morning and think to themselves: “How can I ruin someone’s day?”  We are human and sometimes insensitive, but I don’t believe most of us are inherently evil.  We make mistakes.  Let’s be a little kinder.  I love Pres. Hinckley’s closing remarks at April 1999 General Conference:  “We can all be a little kinder, a little more generous, a little more thoughtful of one another. We can be a little more tolerant and friendly to those not of our faith, going out of our way to show our respect for them. We cannot afford to be arrogant or self-righteous. It is our obligation to reach out in helpfulness, not only to our own but to all others as well.”