Delivery from Everlasting Destruction

3 Nephi 4

The Nephites gather together as one and defeat the Gadianton robbers.  First they slay Giddianhi; then his successor, Zemnarihah.  They recognize their success and praise the Lord for their victories.

I especially like the very last verse of this chapter.  “And their hearts were swollen with joy, unto the gushing out of many tears, because of the great goodness of God in delivery them out of the hands of their enemies; and they knew it was because of their repentance and their humility that they had been delivered from an everlasting destruction.”

There are a lot of things I could focus on.  Like how in the world does a big body of people gather together in one land and subsist for over seven years?  I wish I could just see what it looks like.  Is it as big as it sounds, or as little as it could be possible to do?  But I won’t go there because I don’t think there is an answer available.  Oh, I’ll enjoy crossing to the other side where these kinds of things will be common knowledge.

However, I can see this last verse.  I’ve experienced it for myself.  A swollen heart with joy, tears of gratitude and recognizing the goodness God has shown for me, are all things I have experienced as I repented of a life that was pointed toward my own everlasting destruction.  I know that feeling and every time I read this verse, I remember it well and my heart is swollen with joy.  I will be forever grateful to a Heavenly Father who put on my path people who helped to rescue me.  I have been so blessed!

What are my marching orders today from reading?  Some days are harder than others.  But wouldn’t it be a joy beyond anything I can think of if somehow I could see a sweet daughter have this same experience?  I will keep on praying in faith that the Lord is in charge and really good with miracles, and love this sweet daughter unconditionally until she too can see that she has been delivered from an everlasting destruction.  That’s a pretty tall order.  What kind of destruction is everlasting?  Leaving this earthly existence never having the testimony sufficient to land us on the right hand of God. 

Am I converted?

Helaman 15

Samuel continues talking to the people and tells them the Lord chastens those whom he loves.  He talks about the converted Lamanites and their firmness and steadfastness in the faith.  The Lord will be merciful to them.

I read a talk this week by Elder Bednar that was given at a Regional meeting.  It has given me a lot of things to think about.  For one, the difference between testimony and conversion.  Many of the people who have been baptized have testimonies.  In fact, it’s probably safe to say all have testimonies.  They know the gospel to be true and that it is the Lord’s true church.  What is missing?  Conversion.  What exactly is conversion?  I think Samuel answers that in this chapter.

V5 – The more part of the Lamanites are on the path of their duty.  They have studied what the Lord expects of them and they do it.  They walk circumspectly before God.  What does circumspectly mean?  The dictionary says:  Careful to consider all circumstances and their consequences.  Prudent.   Prudent is marked by wisdom, being judicious, and practical in their affairs. 

Samuel continues in v7 to say they have a change of heart.  I would imagine if your heart is changed, you would be a changed person since the heart is what keeps us alive.  In v8 he says they were firm and steadfast in the faith. 

Am I among a converted people or content to just have a testimony of the truth?  Which will sustain me when things get tough as they undoubtedly will?  I believe the firm and steadfast characteristic is one I need to hone.  How is this done?  Keep on keeping on – i.e. study the scriptures, sincere prayer, listen intently to the words of the prophet and make course corrections where the spirit guides me.  Easy?  Of course not!  Doable?  Absolutely!