Helaman 5:12

Since I started this blog I have been taking a more intricate look at the Book of Mormon.  I haven't used scripture marking pencils in years, but decided to use them as I've been studying.  I was given a set of 12 colors and have developed a system for marking my scriptures.  Different things of import have different colors.  For instance, I use orange to mark verses regarding spiritual preparedness; green to reference verses of caution, and light blue to signify covenants and blessings.  As I was reading this one spectacular verse I got to use each of these colors.  See where you would distinguish the differences...

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; and when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are build, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

I love this verse, as so many people do.  I love that he tells us, point blank, that the devil is going to send forth his fiercest competition for us, but that if we are firm in our faith he will not have any power over us.

As recent, sad events are on my mind in regard to storms I find the storm reference quite amazing.  Now that I've seen hail the size of a baseball and heard on the news of a man that was knocked unconscious trying to get to safety; hearing about the destruction done to the good people of Joplin, Missouri in a few short minutes; having gained this bit of understanding, the analogy is much more moving and powerful.

Mormons are Christians

If there is ever any question as to whether or not we believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior, let us refer to the Book of Mormon, Helaman chapter 5, verse 9.  In it we read,

...remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.

It just doesn't get any more clear and to the point than that.  I am so thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who knew we would need the atonement and who was willing to let it happen.  I'm so thankful for my Savior who came to redeem, not just the world, but me, personally.

Sin leads to disbelief... go figure.

In Chapter 4 of Helaman, verse 23-24 we read

And because of their iniquity, the church had begun to dwindle and they began to disbelievein the spirit of prophecy and in the spirit of revelation; and the judgements of God did stare them in the face... the Spirit of the Lord did no more preserve them; yea, it had withdrawn from them because the Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples.

How many times have we had the lesson from primary up through Relief Society that we need to be obedient to maintain our testimonies?  How many people do we each know that have stopped following some of the "little commandments" only to slip and slide on the path of unhappiness?

Well, its laid out quite simply right here, "because of iniquity"~ in other words, because of sins (notice it doesn't say how big or little) ~ "they began to disbelieve."

So, choose the right.  Stay on the straight and narrow.  Keep the commandments.  Return with honor.  It is definitely worth it!

More of Satan's Wily Ways

Bear with me for a couple more parallels between the battles in the Book of Mormon and our own battle with temptation.  When I read

And now, behold, the Lamanites could not retreat either way, neither on the north, nor on the south, not on the east, nor on the west, for they were surrounded on every hand by the Nephites.  And thus had Coriantumr plunged the Lamanites into the midst of the Nephites, insomuch that they were in the power of the Nephites, and he himself was slain and the Lamanites did yield themselves into the hands of the Nephites. ~Helaman 1:31-32

I couldn't help but think of how Satan will lead us down a path full of treachery and leave us there, alone to fend for ourselves.

The only way to really come out of a situation like that is to yield to truth as the Lamanites had no way out except to yield to the Nephites.  To repent of our sins, the full process of repentance.  I love how the Nephites took possession of their city and "caused that the Lamanites who had been taken prisoners" were sent out of the city "in peace."  Nothing terrible was done to them, they just had to go in peace.  If we repent, the Lord will forgive us and we can be clean, we can have peace.
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Another tool that Satan uses to lure us down the path of treachery is contention and pride.  Chapter 4 of Helaman is a great example of the "Price Cycle" we hear so much about in the Book of Mormon.  Both are rooted in selfishness, which is the opposite of what we hope to be if we want to be like our Savior Jesus Christ.
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Our emotions don't "make" us do anything.  We each choose what we do in any given situation.  It is when we choose to follow the temporal man or to let our passions run free that we choose to sin.

Sin really is like a slippery slope.  For example, look the the Nephites in Helaman chapter 4:23-24

And because of their iniquity the church had begun to dwindle and they began to disbelieve in the spirit of prophecy and in the spirit of revelation... 

...the Spirit of the Lord did no more preserve them; yea it had been withdrawn from them because the Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples.

A direct result of sin is disbelief!  Yikes.  That's pretty scary.  Guess I better shape up!  Thankfully, repentance is real!

Is it Secret? Is it Safe?

I think a good rule of thumb in making choices between right and wrong is if you feel like you have to keep it a secret.  For example in Helaman 1 we read about Kishkumen's murder of Pahoran.  Now of course, murder is wrong, but check out verse 11

and they all entered into a covenant, yea swearing by their everlasting Maker, that they would tell no man that Kishkumen had murdered Pahoran.

How often does Satan whisper, "No one has to know" or some such lie to try to convince us to do something we know is wrong.  Recognizing that anytime we feel like we need to keep something a secret, we should probably just say no.

Almost all sins are rooted in secrecy.  But the secret is often just a wedge that our tree must grow around, making us weak (and more often than not, our relationships).

Compare & Contrast Helaman vs. Moroni

So in the previous post I discussed my feelings about the Stripling Warriors.  I neglected to mention the amazing leadership they were given by Helaman.  All the information we have is given in a letter to Captain Moroni.  Toward the end of this letter, Helaman explains that he doesn't understand why they haven't been given more strength from the government but he "does not desire to murmur."  He says that he, and those serving with him,

trust God will deliver {them}, notwhithstanding the weakness of {their} armies, yea, and deliver {them} out of the hands of {their} enemies.

He is humble and grateful.  Contrast that with Captain Moroni's response to Pahoran in the judgement seat.  I'm sure I might be taking liberties with this, but it seems to me that Satan's tools are in effect here.  In Alma chpater 59:11 & 13 he starts out with feelings of sorrow.  That sorrow leads him to doubt, to lose his focus, to question.  From that doubt builds anger.  It in in that anger that he writes his letter to Pahoran.

This letter is full of accusation, judgement, anger, and eventually threats.  Since we know the response from Pahoran, I think we're less inclined to see the flaws in Moroni's passion.  But really, aren't these some of Satan's most powerful tools?

Sorrow.  Yes, godly sorrow is a good thing.  However, sorrow taken to an extreme can lead to pity or despair.  Those are places God does not dwell.  So if one is full of pity or despair, the spirit is no longer with them.  Which is why it becomes easier to take the next step on this dangerous path, the step into...

Doubt.  Now Moroni's doubt seems to me to be a doubt that this was a war his people could not win.  Isn't that exactly what Satan wants us to believe?  That we're in a war with him that we cannot win?  Think about those chapters I discussed earlier about weaknesses in battle, it plays perfectly into Satan's hand if we don't think we can overcome him.  I think feeling that way makes one feel out of control and the next step from there is naturally...

Anger.  Frustration.  We want to be in control and when we're not, its scary and so we get mad.  Anger is like Satan's golden ticket.  As soon as our fuse is blown, our self-control (the control we actually do have) is tossed out the window, our judgement is skewed, we become reactors.  It is moments of anger that we do things we regret.  Anger is an emotion of passion and aren't we counseled to bridle our passions?

I wonder if Moroni regretted his letter to Pahoran after he received the response filled with love, understanding, and joy.  What a blessing that Pahoran wasn't filled with the same feelings to respond in a bitter way.

Now don't get me wrong, there is a place for reprimand in our lives.  I was just surprised at the vehemence of Moroni's accusations.  Of course he was a great leader, he was firm in his faithfulness, but I think we can see how even those seemingly strong and "perfect" people can fall victim to some of Satan's traps.

So many things to learn from these passages of scripture.  So many ways to apply them to my life.  I'm so thankful for a loving Father in Heaven who knew we would need all the help we could get.