This
is a power-packed chapter with much to think about. It is the end of the account of Ammon and his
brethren and their missionary labors.
For fifteen years they labored as missionaries. It is the last two verses that I want to
focus on though. They are filled with
“and thus we see” bullets:
- How great the inequality of man is. Why? Because of sin and transgression and the power of the devil and his cunning plans which are devised to ensnare the hearts of men.
- The great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord
- The reason – even the great reason – of sorrow, and of rejoicing. Sorrow because of death and destructions among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life.
The
choice belongs to us. We can choose
sorrow or joy. We create the
inequality! When we are in the process
of making poor choices, we don’t realize we are actually choosing Satan’s plan
over the Plan of Salvation until we have dug our pit so deep we feel it is
impossible to dig our way out. The story
of the Lamanites in these chapters lets us see there is a way prepared to
return and it is through our Savior Jesus Christ, and accepting him as our
Savior and Redeemer that this is possible – a big step when you feel you are on
the bottom of the heap!
It
seems there are as many ways to dig ourselves into this pit as there are people
who do so. But there is only one way
out. As I’ve been counseling with my
children and their families, I realize so totally there is only one way out of
trouble and that’s through the door that will lead us back to the path the Lord
has given us for happiness. It doesn’t
really matter the trouble, and some day I’m going to coin a way to tell them
not to tell me the sordid details, because it really doesn’t matter. All that matters is that they start making
wise choices again – that they choose to run to their Savior and recommit to
keep the commandments and their covenants at baptism as well as temple covenants. Until that happens folks, we can be assured
the troubles will continue and heartache will abound. Yes, from the outside looking in the
inequality of man is great, but the control is in the hands of the sinner. The power to save is in the hands of our
Savior!
As
covenant children of our Heavenly Father, we must be diligent in our labors in
the vineyards of the Lord. What does
that mean? It means those things that we
have been called to do, we do with a commitment to build the kingdom. It also means those things we have covenanted
to do at baptism (Mosiah 18) i.e. mourn for those that mourn, bear one
another’s burdens, comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and stand as a
witness of God at all times and in all things, and in all places even until
death. These are our marching orders daily! We need to be doing these things in our own
family as well as outside our home. It
requires us to get out of our comfort zone sometimes. No, we must get out of our comfort zone a
lot!
I
marvel at a sister in our ward that walks up to total strangers and strikes up
a conversation and then hands them a Book of Mormon. I want to follow that example. I try to be on the watch for people who might
need a friend and a visit. I pray for
those who are suffering for whatever reason.
I know there is much more I should be doing. I also find opportunities to help my
family. It can be a busy calling, but it
is the only way back to our Heavenly Father.
If that were the only reason to obey, that would be good enough. The real miracle of living like this is the
joy it brings in our lives which creates the “inequality of man” spoken of in
Alma 28:13. It is serving our Lord that
sets us apart and brings joy into our lives.
Yes, it requires time and effort, but a small price to pay for that joy –
that inequality.
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