Enos, having freed himself of the burden of constantly worrying about his own progress and moved to having a righteous love and appreciation for who he was, turned his thoughts to the collective significant others who comprised his stewardship. As if by compulsion he implored the Lord to consider showering those to whom he had been anointed to serve with His blessings.
We see this same dramatic shift from self-absorbent concern over one’s personal progress to an overwhelming obsession for the advancement and welfare of others who fall in the realm of an anointed stewardship demonstrated in the life of Alma the son of Alma, later in the pages of the Book of Mormon.
Alma the son of Alma, having put away the rebellious ways of his youth and being no longer burdened with those self-love diminishing burdens which come as a natural result of one being weighed down with guilt and remorse because they have yielded to the vulnerabilities of the body and are living in conflict with their eternal spirit which was given life by a loving Heavenly Father; having done all in his power to bring himself to his eternal potential; having partaken of the life-changing Love of Christ which descends on one who is no longer blinded by the lust of the world; having received the enlightening love which allows one to think of his neighbor’s needs before his own; found himself driven by a desire to center his life in the work of God. Having found that the fullness of the Plan of Happiness is found in one’s life as they strive to help their neighbors find and walk upon the path established by a loving Heavenly Father, he went forth with a desire to help his neighbors make those shifts which would move them closer to fulfilling the purposes of their existence.
Like many who had gone through this transformation before, Alma the son of Alma went forth to hold up the everlasting light of Christ which had filled his soul. Willingly leaving behind his position as Chief Judge over all the land, suffering rejection and imprisonment, he went among the Nephites thinking mainly upon aiding his fellow countrymen to find the path which leads away from sin induced self-loathing and partake of the gift of righteous self-love and appreciation, which allows all who taste thereof to receive sufficiently of the Love of Christ, thereby, moving them to be concerned about the eternal welfare of their neighbors.
Almost as a reminder that we must always count the cost before embarking on any journey, we read of Alma the son of Alma going among his Nephite neighbors and finding joy as he witnessed many experiencing this marvelous change which had come upon him. Sadly, he also saw many reject the invitation to enter into the Lord’s way of happiness, whereby coming unto Him they would be recipients of His love, His peace and His rest.
The variableness of the results of Alma the son of Alma’s efforts has always been a powerful example to me and given me understanding and comfort that although he had been filled with the joy which comes when we see another move along love’s progressive path, his dedicated life also shows that in spite of his constancy he still had moments which filled his soul with despair. It seems that if he hadn’t gone through the change which came as a result of his leaving his old life and putting on the new he surely would have been one of those who ‘also went away.’
Two thoughts fill my mind as I ponder upon the history of Alma the son of Alma. First, the Lord will be with us as we labor diligently in his work. Second, the Lord will be with us when we stumble and falter and will lift us as He adds our yoke to His almighty shoulders. I securely feel that as we enter into His work his light will be there to help us see the next step which is to be taken, and His strength will be given so that we can be lifted sufficiently to see beyond the wall which we presently find blocking our way.
Although most of us will never be called to the stewardship of working with a whole nation or be asked to leave all and go forth to consecrate all our time to bring to pass the immortality and eternal lives of our neighbors, we have all been called to labor in some small part of the Lord’s vineyard and are asked to go forth with our might in our little corner of the field. My testimony continues to grow that as we unburden ourselves from the deceptions of the world and open ourselves to seeing more clearly who we really are and thereby gain the ability to receive the gift of a righteous self-love we will be astonished at how many neighbors the Lord brings to our corner to whom we will be able to offer our mite.
Scriptures: Mosiah 27, Alma 4-15
Al igual que Nefi se sintió abatido a causa de la dureza de corazón de sus hermanos, porque no comprendían las grandes cosas que su padre les había hablado, a menos que un recurrie- al Señor y Éllos no lo hacían porque dejaron de sentir y no entendían de los tratos de Díos con el hombre. Muchas veces nos sentimos así con nuestros llamamientos y parece que nuestras palabras no encontraran eco en sus mentes y corazones.
ReplyDeletePero el afan que atañe a nosotros por el bienestar de esas almas tan preciosas como dice el profeta Alma y ruega por tener la fortaleza para volverlos al redil nos debe dar las fuerzas a cada uno para ir al rescate y no desmayar. Las palabras dichas a Moroni por su padre Mormón nos recuerdan que pese a la dureza de sus corazones, debemos trabajar diligente- mente, porque si dejamos de obrar incurriremos en la condenación. Esto me da la energía suficiente para avanzar y no abandonar la tarea. 1 Nefi 15:3-4 , Alma 31: 34-35 ,Moroni 9:6.
Luis Enrique Pérez
Bill,
ReplyDeleteThis has been inspiring and uplifting. Allow me with my usual impertinence to add a few of my own thoughts to those of yours.
"First, the Lord will be with us as we labor diligently in his work. His work? I am guilty of thinking too narrowly of what that "work" is (more later); and project that narrowness of perception onto others. Second, the Lord will be with us when we stumble and falter, err ... actually with us always, even unto the ends of the earth. We need only acknowledge his omnipresent being. We embrace our limits and too habitually conceive of them as though they were His attributes. A sort of anthropomorphism to use a term that rankles you. :)
"Although most of us will never be called to the stewardship of working with a whole nation or be asked to leave all and go forth to consecrate all our time to bring to pass the immortality and eternal lives of our neighbors, we have all been called to labor in some small part of the Lord’s vineyard and are asked to go forth with our might in our little corner of the field." I agree. I believe though, as you must, that we are all actually asked to "go forth to consecrate all our time." The objective of our life, in whatever part of the vineyard and in whatever role we serve is to be a wholly dedicated worshiper and worker in that vineyard for God. We may have secular jobs and have families, but those responsibilities must not be separate, but as I said in my first remark, must become a part of our diligent labor for Him. Those commitments are best fulfilled in devotion to Him and in commitment to His service (His work in our current context). It seems to me to be a matter of goals, commitments, surrender and especially continual awareness and acceptance of His grace (Love if you will). Given that, we are never out of His presence and always in His service.
But then, what do I know? After all, you don't see this exemplified in me! You are possibly much closer than I to that goal.
Paul Maddox
Pte riley le agradesco por la dedicacion al compartir sus palabras inspiradas me encanta leerlas cada domingo.
ReplyDeleteedwin saul tellez tellez
What a beautiful and comforting insight. May it ever be so and thank you for these "thoughts".
ReplyDeleteSueanne Bullock