Alma 48 - Protection in Last Days

A couple of things stood out this morning as I was reading my scriptures.

One, Alma 47:36 – yesterday’s last verse that I read.  I reread it this morning with the same awe that I had yesterday, though I pondered a little more.  Talking of the apostates from the Nephites, Mormon tells us how “strange” it is that people who had the same upbringing and information as the Nephites could – after a short period of time after their dissension become more hardened and impenitent, wild, wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites – “drinking in with the traditions of the Lamanites; giving way to indolence, and all manner of lascivousness; yea, entirely forgetting the Lord their God.”  How easy to see that same thing in today’s world.  Many beautiful and righteous young people (and sometimes not-so-young people), are falling away from the Church and the teachings of their youth to embrace worldly traditions.  They become hardened to anything of a religious matter and embrace the most bizarre lifestyles and traditions.  They know they are evil and will create bondage, yet they still continue down that path.  WHY?

Well, if you think I’m really going to answer that question, you’re wrong.  I know what my own failings were.  I was a crowd pleaser and I got in the wrong crowd.  The rest is history.  This is not so much the case with those whom I am acquainted with.  They are strong-minded individuals.  What is another word for strong-minded?  PRIDE!  Oh dear, there’s that word again.  Perhaps this is why President Benson, a few years back, gave a most poignant talk on the dangers of pride and it’s many faces.  You can read it at: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1986/04/cleansing-the-inner-vessel?lang=eng&query=pride

The next chapter was my reading for this morning.  There are very sound words of advice on how to avoid falling away from the Church and shoring up our own defenses.  Moroni prepared his people for the time when they would be fighting for their very lives against those who would destroy them and bring them into bondage.

• V7 – Preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God. 
• V8 – Strengthening and erecting “small forts or places of resort”.  Could this mean our homes in today’s circumstances?  I believe so. 
• He taught them that if they did these things, their lives would be preserved, God would prosper them in the land, warn them of danger and guide them in their journey. (V15-16)

This fits in so completely with the thoughts I have been pondering this week.  We had a nice discussion as we home taught this week about the Last Days and what we could expect.  I was reminded that our homes are a place of protection and even though fires and calamities will be surrounding us, our homes will be left standing.  How can this be?  It will be similar to the Israelites.  Our covenants and our determination to keep them will be the “blood” that is painted on the posts of the doors of our homes – the Miracle of the Passover (Exodus 12:21-4). 

This phenomenon in Moses’ time makes the miracle we anticipate in the Second Coming something to look forward to.  It is mentioned in Teachings of the Presidents by Pres. Joseph F. Smith:

… Those who have received the Gospel in the world … will be factors in carrying out God’s purposes. They will be conjoint laborers with Him in bringing to pass not only their own salvation in time and in eternity, but the salvation of all Israel and of the Gentiles who will receive the Gospel. They will be fulfillers of ancient prophecies. Isaiah, in the glow of the inspiration of God, saw them and their labors when he cried aloud: “It shall come to pass in the last days that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it” (Isaiah ii:2–3). Of them Jeremiah was speaking when he repeated God’s promise to Israel to be fulfilled in the last days: “I will take you, one of a city and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion, and I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding” (Jeremiah iii:14–15).

That explains how one home will be left standing in the rubble of homes burned to the ground.  Our covenants and our commitment to keep them will protect us. 

That said, it is a mother’s plea that those of my wandering children will be strong enough to turn their lives around and be spared the calamities of the Last Days.  It is also my own desire to stay strong in keeping my covenants.