The Voice of the People

Helaman 11 is a fascinating chapter in the Book of Mormon.  In a very short period – 7 years, the people experienced serious famine, humility and repentance, and then turned right around and started rebelling against the Lord thus making their land vulnerable to the Gadianton robbers once more.  One really wonders:  Did they not remember how painful it was to experience the famine?  Why is remembering such a difficult thing?

I’ve been told (and I do believe it to be true), that when things hurt enough, it will effectuate a change.  This was true in my own life.  It was true with the Nephites.  So what is it that will insure that the change is solid?  They’re called Primary answers, or Sunday School answers; but they are what works.  It is Prayer (remember the Lord in all things), scriptures (remembering why we remember), serving others (helping them come to the knowledge of the truth).  This is something that feels so good, you want more and more to have it each day.  Temple attendance helps me remember what it is I’ve been promised, and keeps me strong.

I have a reference to Mosiah 29:27 at the end of the chapter: “And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land.”  This verse alone makes me fear for the future of this land.  Have the voice of the people forgotten?  I guess we’ll find out this November.  Then again, maybe it doesn’t hurt bad enough for us to remember.  Will it be too late when enough do remember?  That is the real question.

Duty to Country

Helaman 1

Since our prophets have told us the Book of Helaman parallels our day, it’s not hard to see in this first chapter some similarities in what we are experiencing in our nation today.  There is still plenty of war in the land and the Lamanites seem to be gaining an advantage over the Nephites.  The Nephites are struggling with leadership.  Their system for electing leaders seems to be a bit flawed and if someone isn’t happy with it, they murder.  At least we aren’t that bad yet. 

I find it interesting in v18 that the Nephites think Zarahemla is so great that the Lamanites wouldn’t dare to attack it.  This is definitely a parallel to our nation today; which is why we were so vulnerable on 9/11/01.  I wrote in the margin: Political arrogance.  Indeed it is and continues to be. 

To me this chapter is politically charged and a warning to us to use wisdom in our election process.  We must have men and women who understand the importance of our freedom and be willing to do the unpopular thing to see that it is not jeopardized.  We have allowed our country to become weak.  How?  Through fiscal irresponsibility.  We are paying our leaders exorbitant amounts of money in income and retirement plans that far exceed even the wealthier Americans while these same leaders cut back our military funding.  This puts us in a vulnerable position in many ways and will be the cause of future problems we can be sure. 

Since this really isn’t intended to be a political diatribe, I need to mention one thing about the Nephites at the end of this chapter that is consistent with a more peaceable – people who desire to live more of a Christ-centered life.  Once the Nephites regained possession of the city of Zarahemla, they allowed the Lamanites who they had taken prisoners to depart in peace.  I see that as commendable and wonder exactly what we would do with those who would cause our country harm today. 

So my marching orders for this day?  Be politically aware of who is running for office and be actively involved as best I can.  Also, since the voice of the people will usually choose what is right, it is important that I know the issues and seek guidance from the spirit in my choices.  This all seems rather obvious to me.