THE WORD OF THE LORD

After skimming through the remaining chapters of the Book of Alma and the beginning chapters of the book of Helaman, which outline the wars and conflicts between those who are identified in these chapters as Lamanites, but seem to be mostly descendants of those who originally followed Nephi or those who were willing to be led by those who were previously Nephites; and those who were now and then faithful to the teachings of the Lord who identified themselves as Nephites although, those who were the most faithful among this group were originally descendants of those who followed Laman.

While I was skimming through these chapters the following thoughts passed through my mind.

The names we call ourselves will seldom give others a true picture of who we are.

The mortal names we use to identify who we are and where we came from are much less important than identifying ourselves as brothers and sister, children of Heavenly Parents.

War and conflict seldom help people become righteousness.

Staying faithful to the teachings of the Lord becomes slippery when we begin to take what we deem to be our own successes too seriously.

In chapter 3 of the Book of Helaman we find some tremendous arguments for being faithful to the teachings of the Lord.

20 Nevertheless Helaman did fill the judgment-seat with justice and equity; yea, he did observe to keep the statutes, and the judgments, and the commandments of God; and he did do that which was right in the sight of God continually; and he did walk after the ways of his father, insomuch that he did prosper in the land.

21 And it came to pass that he had two sons. He gave unto the eldest the name of Nephi, and unto the youngest, the name of Lehi. And they began to grow up unto the Lord.

22 And it came to pass that the wars and contentions began to cease, in a small degree, among the people of the Nephites, in the latter end of the forty and eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

23 And it came to pass in the forty and ninth year of the reign of the judges, there was continual peace established in the land, all save it were the secret combinations which Gadianton the robber had established in the more settled parts of the land, which at that time were not known unto those who were at the head of government; therefore they were not destroyed out of the land.

24 And it came to pass that in this same year there was exceedingly great prosperity in the church, insomuch that there were thousands who did join themselves unto the church and were baptized unto repentance.

25 And so great was the prosperity of the church, and so many the blessings which were poured out upon the people, that even the high priests and the teachers were themselves astonished beyond measure.

26 And it came to pass that the work of the Lord did prosper unto the baptizing and uniting to the church of God, many souls, yea, even tens of thousands.

27 Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name.

28 Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God.

29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—

30 And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out.

31 And in this year there was continual rejoicing in the land of Zarahemla, and in all the regions round about, even in all the land which was possessed by the Nephites.

32 And it came to pass that there was peace and exceedingly great joy in the remainder of the forty and ninth year; yea, and also there was continual peace and great joy in the fiftieth year of the reign of the judges.

33 And in the fifty and first year of the reign of the judges there was peace also, save it were the pride which began to enter into the church—not into the church of God, but into the hearts of the people who professed to belong to the church of God—

34 And they were lifted up in pride, even to the persecution of many of their brethren. Now this was a great evil, which did cause the more humble part of the people to suffer great persecutions, and to wade through much affliction.

35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God. (Helaman 3:20-35)

Just a few principles from these verses I wanted to call to everyone’s attention.

Being faithful to the word of the Lord can never happen through casual observance.

The blessings promised to the faithful far exceed the requirements.

We must not take lightly the warning that the blessings consequential to obedience to the word of
the Lord can lead to apostacy from the truth if we are divided asunder by the cunning snares of the devil.

Retention of our relative minor position as it relates to the grandeur of the Lord, which is the true principle of humility, is essential to our continued faithfulness.

For those of us who live in a world which continuously is driven by war, bigotry, pride and covetousness a fairly frequent rereading of these verses should be a great reminder of that which we should continually choose to think and be.


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY

❣️THINK + PLAN + PREPARE + DO ➡️ GENTLENESS + KINDNESS + CARING + GENEROSITY ➡️ HUGS + PEACE + JOY + LOVE ➡️ INTEGRITY + FAITH + HOPE + CHARITY❣️ = 💞THE GOOD LIFE💞