PONDERINGS – STIMULATED BY THE HISTORY OF LEHI’S DESCENDANTS

One of the philosophical catch phases of the early 21st century, among the younger generation who became known as millennials, was that they did not believe in religious organizations, but they did in being spiritual.

One of the supporting arguments for this belief was to point to all the evil which had been done in the name of religion throughout history. They adeptly site the religions which came forth from the Norsemen, along with those which originated in India, Japan, the Mid Eastern countries, Africa, the Americas and every nation of the world and are able to point out the atrocities which have been done in the name of those religions.

As I was pondering the chapters which followed the great discourse of King Benjamin in the beginning of the book of Mosiah in The Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ and realized I was entering into that lengthy part of the history of Lehi’s descendants when they were being tossed to and fro from receiving blessings because of their righteousness and being cursed because of choosing to live unrighteously.

The beginnings of my pondering:

Is it the existence of governments which causes destruction to be poured out upon nations?

Is it the existence of religious organizations which cause molestations and abominations?

Is it the existence of families which cause disfunction to go unabated upon the lands?

Is it the educational systems which cause prejudice and bigotry to reign among men?

Or:

Do governments simply reflect the choices of the masses!

Do religious organizations simply reflect the choices of the masses!

Do families simply reflect the choices of the masses!

Do educational systems simply reflect the choices of the masses!

Maybe:

If the masses were making righteous choices, governments would not be as prone to be pouring out destruction upon one another!

If the masses were making righteous choices, religious organizations would not be seen as allowing molestations and abominations!

If the masses were making righteous choices, families would no longer be dysfunctional!

If the masses were making righteous choices, educational systems would no longer be seen as incubators for prejudices and bigotry!

Which came first:

Masses being filled with anger and hatred being the cause of evil greedy governments willing to destroy their neighbors to gain lands
and riches – or – evil greedy governments causing people to be filled with anger and hatred?

Masses being filled with malicious and abominable thoughts and actions being the cause of evil religious organizations allowing molestations and abominations – or – evil religious organizations causing people to be malicious and abominable?

Families being the cause of dysfunctional relationships – or – dysfunctional relationships causing families to be destroyed?

People plagued with prejudices and bigotry causing Educational systems to be filled with prejudice and bigotry – or Educational systems causing people to relate to others prejudice and bigotry?

Some personal conclusions – right or wrong:

The gift of Agency allows me to live a life free of hate and anger regardless of the actions of evil governments!

The gift of Agency allows me to live a life free of malicious and abominable thoughts regardless of unrighteous religious organizations!

The gift of Agency allows me to live a life of loving relationships regardless of dysfunctional families!

The gift of Agency allows me live a life free of prejudice and bigotry regardless of the norms of the classrooms and playgrounds!

I have never nor do I believe I will ever be tempted to calculate the number of years the descendants of Lehi live after the manner of the Plan of Happiness versus the number of years they lived self destructively, but as I have read and pondered the words in The Book of Mormon Another Testament of Jesus Christ I am left with the overwhelming feeling that what I receive from co-existing with governments, religious organizations, families and educational systems will be a product of my personal attitudes and choices. I have the choice to be supported and sustained to whatever degree of positiveness and goodness these organizations might provide, and I have the choice to allow all the evils which might be perpetrated by those who espouse them to rob me of the joy of living after the manner of the Plan of Happiness.

One of the wonderful understandings which has come to me from pondering the history of Lehi’s descendants is that mortality is most progressive, fruitful and joyful when communities are able to enjoy the synergistic blessings which attend those who are unitedly being governed, ministered, nurtured and taught by leaders, ministers, parents and teachers who are all striving to live after the manner of the Plan of Happiness.


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY