2 Nephi 13 – The Show of Their Countenance

This entire chapter has so much meat it is hard to choose just one thing to "chew" on.  However, because I relate to verse 9, and time is a little limited this morning, I want to talk about “. . . the show of their countenance. . .”. 

I was only 27, so I was still young and in pretty good shape.  I’ve never been ugly and one would think I’d be noticeable.  However, I worked in a worldly environment.  There were good people surrounding me, but the majority of men there were of the world.  My ex-husband had a friend whose husband worked where I was employed.  She wanted to know what he thought of her friend’s wife, so sent him to seek me out.  I heard about this later through my ex-husband who was told by his friend what her husband had to say about me.  I was “non-descript”.  Hmmm.  What exactly did that mean?  Well, I took it to mean I wasn’t particularly noticeable.  Well, at least he didn’t say I was ugly.

Compare this to a short time later.  I was studying the gospel and was quite excited about the Atonement.  My testimony was growing and I was beginning to realize who I really am.  I was happy and I remember walking from one building to another and thinking how beautiful the world is.  My eyes were changing and I could see things in a way I’d never seen before.  During this process I frequently had people come up to me and ask if I had changed the color of my hair.  No.  Had I cut it and had a new haircut?  No.  Changed my makeup?  No.  They said I just looked different.  I too could see it in the mirror.  Something had changed, yet I had changed nothing on the outside.  This change was coming from the inside!

That is why when I read verse 9 of this chapter, I know from experience how this can be.  I know we’re not supposed to pass judgment on others, but you can see when people have strayed from the teachings of the gospel.  It does show in their countenance: “The show of their countenance doth witness against them, and doth declare their sin to be even as Sodom and they cannot hide it.  Wo unto their souls, for they have rewarded evil unto themselves!” 

That says it all.