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Friday, May 20, 2022

Moses a Type of Jesus and Prayer of the Righteous

Moses was the savior of the Israelites who took them out of bondage into a wilderness where they could learn to be obedient to the commands the Lord gave them. 

So how is Jesus like Moses? Let's make it personal. I was definitely in bondage—bondage to sin, unbelief, a slave and provider to an evil master (husband), and not free to make my own decisions. I make it sound pretty bad, and it really was. It wasn't until I realized I had a Savior, even Jesus Christ, whom I could turn to for help that those things changed. I was taught about Jesus all my life; but I didn't know Him or have a basis for belief of what His purpose was in relation to me. Somehow, that escaped me. 

 

Bit by bit, as I exercised the faith to read from the Book of Mormon, then incorporated sincere prayer into my life, I began to believe I could do better and be better. I changed, and it was noticeable to me as well as others. My life was renewed. I made changes that allowed me to serve Him and love Him and want to be like Him. I have never looked back with longing—not for a second. Jesus has saved me from a dark world that I would wish on nobody.

 

And this have I always known: Deuteronomy 7:6-9 — It was never about me. The Lord didn’t save me because of me (although I do know I am one of his favored daughters and sometimes I feel like His favorite child), or any more special than someone else. He saved me because of the covenants of my fathers and mothers—my parents and ancestors who went before them. My Patriarchal Blessing even says as much. It was the covenants that were made in the temple by my parents and progenitors that made me worth saving, for which I will ever be grateful. 

 

In reading Alma 10, Amulek is telling the people about himself. In v6 he says: I knew of these things, yet I would not know; therefore I went on rebelling against God. I guess you could say my heart was hardened like Amulek’s. 

 

In Alma 10, Amulek also stresses the fact that the prayers of the righteous will be the only thing that spares the people. This is an off-the-wall thought, but I often wonder if it is our prayers that are slowing the return of our Savior. Just a thought. I certainly wouldn’t stop praying that my loved ones would return to their covenants and live worthy of the blessings the Lord has promised. But the thought occurs to me from time to time that it is those my prayers that get in the way of His return. Many times, when I’m praying for peace in war-torn countries, or to get the moisture we need to fill our reservoirs and aquafers, or for our politicians to miraculously embrace righteousness, I feel like I’m praying against the Plan Heavenly Father has in place. I guess that’s where the phrase to Let God Prevail comes into play. I will be patient and wait upon the Lord. I know His goodness will outweigh any plan I might contrive to get there sooner rather than later. 

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