Read: Alma 47-49
Mark: Alma 48:11-13, 17
"Be true to your own convictions. You know what is right, and you know what is wrong. You know when you are doing the proper thing...We need not fear as long as we have in our lives the power that comes from righteously living by truth." --President Gordon B. Hinckley
To ponder:
The Lamanites did not want to go to battle against the Nephites, but they also did not want to displease the king (Alma 47:2). Have you ever been in a situation where you wanted to do the right thing, but were afraid you would displease someone? Why is it always better to do the right thing than to worry about what others might think of you?
I have always been a pleaser. I think that is part of growing up in an abusive home. You begin to protect yourself by ducking and trying to please to avoid eruptions. As an adult I have learned the hard way, you can't please everyone. I have been in a situation where I had to leave a job because the employer was making decisions that were morally wrong in my belief system. The right thing is always the hardest thing to do. Since being part of the church, I see how important it is to recognize that Heavenly Father has a plan for us and there will be times we are tested on whether we are going to have faith in that plan or not. Heavenly Father knows our hearts. That's the most important thing to remember. He will always have our backs! Right or Wrong. Listening to the Holy Spirits promptings should give us the nudge in the right direction, as well.
ReplyDeleteAngela, thank you for sharing these thoughts--which are so true and right! Your words remind me of something I recently read that President Hinckley said: "We are people of peace. We are followers of Christ who was and is the Prince of Peace. But there are times when we must stand up for right and decency..."
DeleteAs I was reading tonight, I couldn't help but smile! I can just see these stories playing out! I don't smile because they were good or right, but because I just feel that I understand them and see what is happening. One thought kept running through my mind: BAD, BAD Amalickiah!!! I just know that his deceptive ways and fraud will soon catch up with him!
ReplyDeleteOf course my opposite thought was: SMART, SMART Moroni! Wasn't he amazing? He teaches us the importance of preparation in all things! Alma 48:17 just may be one of my new favorite scriptures: "If all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever..." Next time I see the temple, I will look up at the statue of Moroni with a whole new love and respect.
I particularly love that when things finally quieted down and the Lamanites had once again retreated, that the people of Nephi remembered to thank our Heavenly Father for their safety and well-being. It would have been so easy for them to take credit for their hard work, in both preparation and fighting, but they did not. They remembered where their strength came from and thanked Heavenly Father!
Okay, so I just loved this reading so much! Moroni is such an incredible man--I told Joseph I want a Moroni, and he was just like, "Well, I've got a long way to go, then!" LOL. But I am just so impressed and intrigued with Moroni and his life. Patti, I agree with you--I'll look up at the Moroni statues with so much more respect and love!
ReplyDeleteSo, fun fact--the word PREPARE (or prepared, preparations, etc) was used 11 times in Alma 49. Think God's trying to tell us something? I loved reading about the things Moroni did to prepare to defend his people. I love Alma 49: 4, 19-20. They had defenses so perfect that the stones and arrows of their enemies could not reach them. There was only one way in, and it was so heavily guarded that the Lamanites had no possible way to defeat the Nephites. It made me think about how I could build a better defense around myself (and my home/family) against Satan. Imagine being so prepared and fortified that his attacks could have no strength?
Another verse that made me really think was Alma 49: 8. This is what I wrote in my scriptures: "God prepares us for our battles when we are righteous--but the battles still come." God didn't protect the Nephites from having to fight, but he DID prepare them for the fight! So many people think that living righteously will protect them from bad things, but Satan is still out there and he wants ALL of us! Trials will always come upon us, but Heavenly Father WILL and DOES prepare us for our battles when we listen to him.
I also loved Alma 49:14--Moroni took a weak place and made it strong. The Lamanites thought they'd have better luck in the city of Noah, but Moroni took that "weak" city and made it so strong that it was even stronger than the main city, Ammonihah! Moroni wanted to protect all his people. He didn't want any weak links in his line of defense. I can't imagine how intelligent this man was! Holy cow... it's just amazing, and I absolutely love the symbolism here. There's so much of it that I can't even fully delve into it, but our weaknesses really can be blessings. They make us so much more sympathetic and help us discover strengths we never imagined we had. JUST <3!!!
Lastly (I promise), I loved Alma 49:27-28. I loved comparing the night and day differences between Amalickiah and Moroni. Amalickiah cursed God, Moroni thanked and praised God. Amalickiah attributed the Nephites' success in battle to Moroni's preparations, Moroni attributed the Nephites' success in battle to God for his matchless power in delivering them. Amalickiah swore and made an oath to drink Moroni's blood, Moroni cared only for the safety/freedom of his people. It's interesting to note, with these verses so close together, just how contrastingly different the two men were. Both were very intelligent and cunning. And Amalickiah was a dissenter, so it's not like he grew up around unrighteousness. The two turned out completely differently. I just loved the contrast...
Chapter 47: When you trust only in your own wisdom and focus on temporal gain & possession it becomes easy for others to manipulate and deceive you. Stay close to the Spirit, trust in God's wisdom and focus on eternal life. Cherish that which is eternal and good. Be aware of people intending to misguide you.
ReplyDeleteChapter 48: Even in times of peace or calm we should be fortifying ourselves and our families against the adversary. He will not rest until we walk his path without his encouragement, so we must ever be running the other direction!
Sometimes steps we must take to protect ourselves, our family & our freedom will hurt others (mainly because they are not walking the straight & narrow as you are). Know you are on God's side and move forward.
Chapter 49: Learn from your mistakes - know your own weaknesses and fortify them - exercise those areas to make them strong. Know the mistakes the adversary has made and how he might try to work around it next time. Prepare yourself - do not let him surprise you.