Alma 55 - Not Slow to Remember

The Nephites had a major victory when they sent some of their men to entice the Lamanites who were guarding their people to become drunk.  This is a miraculous account of a people listening to the Spirit to guide them in their efforts to remain a free people.  Their strategy worked.  The Lamanites gladly partook of the wine, became drunk and unable to guard their Nephite prisoners.  Upon awakening in the morning, they saw the prisoners who had been given weapons of war, as well as the Nephite armies surrounding them.  The Lamanites were powerless to do anything but hand over their own weapons of war and surrender. 

The Lamanites tried to use this same ploy against the Nephites to entice them to become drunk so they could reclaim the city.  But the Nephites were cautious.  In verse 31 it says they “. . . were not slow to remember the Lord their God in this their time of affliction.  They could not be taken in their snares; yea they would not partake of their wine, . . .”

This post isn’t so much about wine, but falling prey to the ploys of Satan.

It was the phrase - they “were not slow to remember” that snagged me this morning.  I hope it’s not inappropriate to use personal experiences of my family because it is their experiences in life I think of when I read these days.  I have a daughter who is struggling in the world’s worst way with staying employed and finding any joy in her life.  She declared her independence a few years back and said she just doesn’t believe the things she was taught as a child.  She has gone through every imaginable vice to prove that she can be “free”.  Without going into detail, I will say she has one stinky life.  She cannot stay employed to save her, yet she is a hard worker and amazing at her trade.  I know, as she has helped me more than a few times in her field of expertise.  She doesn’t have much luck in the dating department either.  She was recently lamenting with a friend about all her troubles, and he said, "Man, you must have seriously done something like boil baby puppies in the last life for the karma you've had the last three years."  It takes every bit of will I can muster to keep from saying, “No, it’s worse than boiling baby puppies.  You broke your covenants with the Lord.”  This is huge!  She cut herself off from the guidance of the Holy Ghost and that is huge! 

Well, I hold out that the day will come when she will break the bands that bind her, and be in a state of joy having the gospel once more in her life and the Holy Ghost to guide her through the trials in this life.  When that day comes, she will remember the horrible life she once had and she too will not be slow to remember what a horrible existence it was.  She will be quick to keep the commandments and prove to the Lord her love and loyalty to His kingdom.  That’s just the way it is.  When we have been in bondage and fight the battle of a lifetime from that bondage, it is very hard to forget the grace of our loving Heavenly Father who joyfully brings us back into His fold when we repent and begin walking on the path back to Him.

So what are my marching orders for this day?  Remember!  I think on this daily.