Mosiah 16 - And They Would Not

Abinadi is teaching Noah and his priests and is very much protected by the Lord to do so.  I stopped on a couple of verses.

Verse 1 – I wrote in my margin Isaiah 40:5.  This is the verse quoted in Jesus The Christ, where it declares that everyone will see the Lord and know.  Of course, I always wonder what that’s going to look like. 

Verse 3 – Where it talks of our first parents being beguiled by Satan.  It took me to Galatians 5:19 (16-26) where it talks about the fruits of the Spirit.  If we have the Spirit with us, Satan will not be able to beguile us.  Does that mean that even though Adam and Eve were very aware and occasionally talked with the Lord, that they were without the Spirit?  Well, we know the Holy Ghost is the Spirit and he hadn’t made his appearance on earth yet.  So, of course, Eve was without the Spirit at the time that Satan beguiled her.   And, we know she was in a state of innocence because she hadn’t yet partaken of the fruit.

Verse 4 – All mankind were in a lost and fallen state, and God (Jesus Christ) redeemed his people.  Why does this snag me this morning?  Because at one time or another, we will all be in a lost and fallen state just by the very nature of our birth.  We have to accept Christ as our Redeemer to progress. 

Verse 5 – cautions against those who persist in his own carnal nature.  Of course, this verse always makes me sad.  At that point we are an enemy to God.  It’s so hard to realize so many people I love are enemies to God. 

But then the chapter goes on to talk about Christ being the light and life of the world.  How blessed I am for this knowledge.  How blessed I am to realize life really is a process and we are each one here to learn and grow.  How blessed I am to know the “arms of mercy are extended towards” all of us if we will repent.  How I yearn for the day when all my children and their children will repent and allow the fruits of the Spirit to mold their lives.  This really is what happens.  Once we have the Spirit in our lives, the attributes of the Spirit that were lying dormant in us begin to come to life.  What a beautiful day that is!