And if Kib was in captivity, then technically Shule was too. Right? Yet Shule was free enough to enter the city where his brother Corihor reigned in Nehor. It’s one of those moments in the story that makes me stop and scratch my head a little. After Shule helps recapture the kingdom, Kib turns around and bestows it on him. And what happens? Shule rules in righteousness. Under his leadership, the people prosper and multiply — including Shule himself, with many sons and daughters.
So what set Shule apart from the others who fought for power? I think it was his ability to remember.
Remembering is a big deal. When we forget the goodness of the Lord, we lose our direction. We become like a ship without a rudder, making choices based not on righteousness but on whatever feels easiest or most self-serving in the moment. We see this in our world today — good people who start out well but slowly become influenced by money, power, or those with harmful intentions. The pattern is as old as the Book of Mormon.
So how do we keep that from happening to us?
One way is to remember our own days of “captivity” — the trials we’ve been delivered from — and to acknowledge that God’s hand was in those rescues. We keep a record of them. We talk about them. We stay grateful for the ways the Lord has restored us and continues to.
And then we keep doing the steady, simple things: following the prophets (past and present), reading the scriptures with real intent, attending our meetings, and fulfilling our callings. And perhaps the strongest safeguard of all is service. Looking outward. Keeping our eyes open for anyone who needs help. Being quick to volunteer when a need arises.
Service to the Lord is the surest way to keep ourselves free from the quiet, creeping captivity of the adversary.
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