Moroni

Moroni chapters 4 and 5 contain the sacrament prayers as does Doctrine and Covenants 20 verses 77 and 79.  I guess I have never thought through that perhaps Joseph Smith got the exact wording from there.  It made me think of the many gems contained in Moroni's writing and how much we now benefit from his words.  When I read Moroni chapter 1, it seems to me that his writings were the purpose for which he was alive.  I wonder if he ever wished for the misery to end.  I mean, I know he writes that he is avoiding being killed by the Lamanites, but I can't help but think that would be a crushingly hard trial.  He is alone and in peril from the Lamanites.  He watched his countrymen and family wiped out, and yet he writes for the benefit of the people who committed those deeds--or their descendants at least.

"Wherefore, I write a few more things, contrary to that which I had supposed; for I had supposed not to have written any more; but I write a few more things, that perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day, according to the will of the Lord." Moroni 1:4

I don't think I can express in words the effect Moroni's example has on me, or I should say, that I hope I can always remember this feeling of awe and let Moroni's example strengthen my resolve to bear up under my trials a little better and to see the world and the future with a more hopeful heart.

They Slept on Their Swords

Ether 13-15 tells of the destruction of the Jaredite people.  Actually, when I write it that way, it doesn't seem correct.  It makes it sound as though the Jaredite people are destroyed by something other than themselves.  The fact is that they fought and fought through warnings and prophecies until there was only Coriantumr left alive.

These chapters tell of battles wherein victory is won by one side and then the other.  Back and forth.  The wars so destructive and constant that they stopped taking time to pause and bury the dead.  They simply gave chase and fought some more.

It occurs to me that this can be seen as a parallel of my life at times.  Of course I am not in a war or shedding blood, but Heavenly Father has given me instructions, commandments, and personal revelation about what I should be doing to stay close to Him.  Often my days are filled with busyness that does not include enough of those wonderful things which he expects me to do.  Those things would give me joy.  Those things would save me.  I hope that I am not as bad as the Jaradites I just read about in these chapters, but I think sometimes by pursuing the wrong things with too much haste and vigor I am hurrying towards unhappiness.  Those people became lost in all the destruction.  They didn't stop to think.  They fought, slept on their swords, and awoke to fight again.  Maybe one of the reasons I have been having trouble sleeping is because I am "sleeping on my sword" and not allowing my mind to calm and put my trust in my Father in Heaven.

What Charity Is

Ether 12 is a marvelous chapter about faith, hope, and charity.  I never really thought of it like that before, but I feel like Moroni gives us a glimpse into some of his personal struggles and worries and how these principles have helped him gain understanding.  My last posts talked about faith and hope being an anchor to our souls, so although there are many more gems in this chapter about faith and hope, today I am going to focus on charity.

In Ether 12:22, Moroni begins telling us about a worry that he has.  He says that he knows that these writings will, in the future, come to the Lamanites through the Gentiles, but he is afraid the Gentiles will mock because of the weakness in the writing.  He prays about this concern and is answered.  Moroni outlines for us the things he has learned by taking this worry to the Lord which are definitely worth reading, but the one I want to focus on is Ether 12:36 when he says:

"...I prayed unto the Lord that he would give unto the Gentiles grace, that they might have charity."

Moroni goes onto to say that he was told it was not his concern if the Gentiles have charity because he has been faithful to that which he was asked to do.

I read a quote by President Monson this week that helped me as Moroni was helped in this chapter.  It brings the principle of charity into my life as an answer to how I can more fully live how Heavenly Father would want me to live without worrying so much about the actions of others.  President Monson said:

"Charity is having patience with someone who has let us down.  It is resisting the impulse to become offended easily.  It is accepting weaknesses and shortcomings.  It is accepting people as they truly are.  It is looking beyond physical appearances to attributes that will not dim through time.  It is resisting the impulse to categorize others."

All of this has made charity a little more real to me, and as it becomes less abstract it is easier to put into my daily life.  The only trick left is to remember.  Remember this lesson and put it into action.  That is always the great challenge, isn't it?  Well, I may not do so perfectly, but I will strive to live this lesson.

Anchors

Chapters 9-11 in Ether are mostly about wickedness and war.  The Jaradites did have some kings that were righteous, but there are a lot of plots and overthrowing of kings in this period of Jaradite history.  Ether 12 is a nice change with its lessons of hope and faith.  Ether 12:4 is very interesting and perhaps answers the question I posed in my last blog post--How can Moroni sound so hopeful?

"Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."

I have often heard this scripture quoted, but what hit me most this time was the representation of hope and faith as an anchor for our souls.  An anchor's purpose is to keep a boat from drifting with the current as our faith and hope can keep us from drifting along with the popular ideas that ride society's tides.  These ideas ebb and flow, change quickly, and often crash against the standards God has set for us.

I know some in the world today relegate religion and Jesus Christ to a place alongside fantasy and fairy tales.  Yet, they still look for a way to anchor themselves because we all need to feel tethered as the world swirls around us.  They look to the world.  I see them finding things that can be considered good, but when taken as their anchors are just insufficient to provide real stability.  When the buffeting storms of adversity come those people feel terrified and lost.  It can be quite sad to see.

I have been thinking about this anchor analogy and realized that hope and faith truly do keep us anchored.  If we put in the work to keep them in good condition, these anchors will make us "sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works."

So that is how we "do good continually" and loose Satan's hold on us as Moroni purposed in Ether 8:26.  We beef up our anchors.  We slowly but surely strive each day for obedience to God's commandments and use the Atonement as we go, showing that we do hope for a better world and strengthening our faith bit by bit.  We add good solid metal to our anchors, glorifying God as we see His hand in our lives and in the lives of those around us.

Persuuaded To Do Good Continually

Ether 8:26 reads: "Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved."

This scripture has a very hopeful feel to it.  I think that's amazing considering the circumstance in which Moroni wrote it.  He had just watched his people destroyed by wickedness.  He was being hunted by the Lamanites.  And, yet, he writes with hope of a time when all people will use their free will to choose that which is good...always.

It also makes me wonder.  If I get to the point when I "do good continually" then has Satan lost his power as far as my life's choices are concerned?

Like Corihor and Shule

I am grateful for all the life contained within the pages of the Book of Mormon.  These are real people making real mistakes.  They repent.  They try again.  Things are good, but not for very long...

Ether 7 is an overview of the kingdoms and wars of the Jaradite people.  In Ether 6, Jared and his brother are growing old and ask of their people if there is anything more they can do for them before they die.  The people ask for a king.  The brother of Jared warns this will lead them to captivity, but they do end up with a king, Orihah, the son of Jared.  He is righteous and so leads the people well, but soon enough trouble is brewing.

Kib is the son of Orihah and becomes king after his father.  Kib's son, Corihor rebels against Kib and draws away many people with him.  He eventually raises and army and takes his father captive.  Kib has a son named Shule while in captivity, and Shule grows up to be a big, strong man who is angry at his brother for holding their father captive.  So Shule raises an army and attacks his brother.  He frees his father and restores him to the throne.  Kib is old and so bestows the kingdom on Shule.  Chapter 7 documents other conflicts after this one, but it is verse 13 that caught my attention.  It reads:

"And Corihor repented of the many evils which he had done; wherefore Shule gave him power in his kingdom."

 Corihor repented.  He must of sought forgiveness of his brother, although I imagine when he saw the error of his ways, he must have felt great shame and sorrow for his actions.  So many times people can't get over that realization that they have done wrong.  They continue to excuse themselves and rationalize, and so they can never repent and move on.  Way to go, Corihor!  Thank you for your example.  Shule is no less amazing.  The son born in captivity forgives his brother--forgives him so completely that he gives him power in his kingdom even though the evil he committed concerned usurping power in the kingdom.  Wow.  I hope I can repent of wrong doings as completely as Corihor, and I hope I can be forgiving like Shule.

Trip to the Promised Land

The trip to the promised land made by Jared, his brother, and their family and friends sounds like a difficult one.  In Ether 6:5-6 is says:

"...the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind.  And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind."

What really struck me in this chapter was the humility and gratitude of the people traveling in these difficult conditions.  In Ether 6:11 it tells us that "they were driven forth three hundred and forty and four days upon the water."  Wow.  That is a long time.  For nearly a year they were in that ship, but they made the trip with gratitude in their hearts.  In Ether 6:9 it says:

"And they did sing praises unto the Lord...all day long; and when the night came, they did not cease to praise the Lord." 

 Verse 12 reads:

"And they did land upon the shore of the promised land.  And when they had set their feet upon the shores of the promised land they bowed themselves down upon the face of the land, and did humble themselves before the Lord, and did shed tears of joy before the Lord, because of the multitude of his tender mercies over them."

It sounds like there was no grumbling about the rough trip, or the length of time they had to endure it.  I can learn a lot from their example.

The Good

Ether 4:12 says:

"And whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do good is of me; for good cometh of none save it be of me."

I have often pondered on what this scripture means.  Is it that any good thought we have is not really our own, but from the Lord?  That seemed not quite right.  I think I get it now.  As I said in a recent post, looking about me at the world news baffles me.  How can people sell baby parts for research? And how can no one care enough to prosecute the illegal activity?  How can people point at those keeping the Lord's standards by shunning that which is wicked and call them bigots?

This scripture hopefully helps those who may be confused as to what constitutes "good." If something is contrary to the Lord's commandments, it is not good.  It does not matter what you think.  There is eternal truth.  Right and wrong do exist. And men are not the ones who decide where that line is drawn.  We need to remember that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have a much wider, more eternal perspective of things.  They know what brings happiness and progression to people.  They know what degrades and stops our progress.

Surprise!

I love the story in Ether chapter 3 about the brother of Jared seeing the finger of the Lord.  I love it because the brother of Jared is not given all the answers as to what he should do but he is asked to use his own ingenuity.  To me, this illustrates flexibility as we fulfill our own callings.  We pray, we listen to the Spirit and we add our own flare to the assignments given us.  And if I choose to do it in a slightly different way than the last person did it, that's OK.

I love it because the Lord is surprised in this story.  After the brother of Jared sees the finger of the Lord, Ether 3:9 says this:

"And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so you could not have seen my finger.  Sawest thou more than this?"

 It seems to me, the Lord didn't mean for the brother of Jared to see his finger.  It seems to me that although the Lord knew that the brother of Jared had great faith, He was surprised at just how great his faith was.  It is a good example of how the Lord knows all things.  It is not because we are predestined to do certain things, as in we have no choice in the matter, but He knows pretty much what we will do because He knows us so well.  I equate it to how I know what each of my four children would do if placed in a room with a present and told to not peek while the psychology students leaves the room to "go get something."  I know which ones would peek and which ones would wait.  He knows us so much better than that, and yet, He was still surprised.  I wish I could surprise the Lord with my goodness one day.  Just one time.  Yep, that would be sweet.

Ether 2--One Nation Under God?

Ether 2:10-12 is just one of many places in the Book of Mormon that talks about why the Americas are referred to as "the promised land."  It is a land obtained with a promise.  It is a choice land given with the understanding that "he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off." (v.10)  In verse 12 it says "whatsoever nation shall possess it (the land) shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ."  As I look around me, I just don't see enough evidence that we as a nation are doing this.  I try to look at the positive and see the good, but recent events have greatly saddened me, and I must say I am not sure what to do to improve the state of the nation.

So, I pray.  I pray for our leaders.  I pray to know what I can do.  I ponder on the words from The Family: A Proclamation to the World:

"...we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets."

I pray for the upcoming generation as I watch Satan attempt to muddle the truth about what is good and what is evil.

No grand plan presents itself to me.  Only the simple words from Proverbs come to my mind:

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct they paths."  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I know that if each day I am a) aware, b) prayerful, and c) humble enough to do that which the spirit guides me to do it will make a difference.  I know that each act of righteousness has an impact.  And most of all, I know who will ultimately win this struggle between good and evil.  Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world.  I have faith that all will happen as the scriptures say.  Someday righteousness will prevail and Christ will reign.  My challenge is to live so there is no doubt as to whose side I am on.

Ether 1

This chapter got me thinking about the relationship between Jared and his brother.  The brother of Jared is "highly favored of the Lord" so Jared goes to him a number of times and tells him to ask the Lord for blessings which are then granted.  Without either brother, the events that follow would not have unfolded.

It seems to me that often times in relationships of all different sorts, we get caught up in who should get credit for what and who is doing the most work.  I'm going to try not to worry about all of that so much and put more trust in my Father in Heaven to help me be doing what I should be doing.  If I am able to do that, I know I will be a much happier person.

The Plates of Ether

When thinking about the Jaradites and why the Book of Ether appears where it does in the Book of Mormon, it helps me to know the history of how the Plates of Ether were found and this history is really a way of summing up the movement of the people in the Book of Mormon.

It is easy to remember when Lehi and his family leave Jerusalem, head into the wilderness, and then embark upon their ocean journey to the promised land, but fairly quickly things get a little muddled if you aren't paying close attention.  The whole family settles together in the promised land, at first, but in 2 Nephi chapter 4 Lehi dies.  Soon after (2 Nephi 5:1-9) we learn that Nephi is told to skedaddle and take all who will follow him because Laman and Lemuel are planning to kill him.  The place where they settle after their flight is called the land of Nephi.

Now the "Nephites" and "Lamanites" are separate for the first time--one group is righteous the other wicked.  However, the Nephites slowly move toward wickedness until, in Omni 1:12, Amaleki tells us that Mosiah was told to leave the land of Nephi and take those who will "hearken to the voice of the Lord" with him. They are led by the Lord to the land of Zarahemla.

The people who built Zarahemla were brought to the promised land by Heavenly Father when Jerusalem was destroyed (just as Lehi was told it would be) and King Zedekiah was taken into Babylon.  You can read about Zedekiah in Jeremiah chapter 52, it's short and pretty interesting.  It was thought that all of the king's sons were killed, but Mulek was brought to the promised land.  This group had no records with them when they came, so their language and religion was corrupt by the time Mosiah and his people joined them.  The people of Zarahemla, or Mulekites, were very glad to see Mosiah because he had the Brass Plates. They wanted to be taught by Mosiah and his people. Mosiah was made king and the people of Zarahelma become known as Nephites.

It is in Omni 1:20-21 that we first learn of the Jaradite nation.  Mosiah is brought a large stone with engravings on it which he interprets by the gift and power of God.  It is an account of Coriantumr and his people, the Jaradites, who came to the promised land at the time of the Tower of Babel.  Coriantumr had lived with the Mulekites for a time which is how they came to have the engraved stone.  The Mulekites did not, however, get the Plates of Ether from Coriantumr.  The Plates of Ether don't find their way to the Nephites until quite a bit later.

 In Omni 1:27-30, we learn from Amaleki that a group of people "who were desirous to possess the land of their inheritance" left Zarahemla and went to live in the land of Nephi which was now part of the Lamanite nation.  We are not told exactly when this happens, but we know they were not heard of again in Amaleki's lifetime.  This is the first in a series of events that eventually leads the Nephites to possess the Plates of Ether.

In Mosiah 7:1-2 King Mosiah, who is the grandson of the first King Mosiah, sends a group of men to go and inquire about what happened to these people basically because he is weary of his people bothering him about it.  A man named Ammon is the leader of this group.  (This is not the same Ammon that fought the Lamanites and cut off their arms--when I was younger I was confused by that.)  Ammon and his men do find the descendents of those who left the land of Zarahemla and King Limhi is their ruler (Mosiah 7:9).  He and his people are in bondage to the Lamanites.  It is Limhi's people who have the Plates of Ether.  A group of their men had discovered the plates when Limhi sent them to look for the land of Zarahemla.  Limhi had hoped that the people of Zarahemla could lend him and his people some aid.  Now, these men must have taken a wrong turn because they ended up in a land full of bones and ruin.  It was all that was left of the once great Jaradite nation, but they didn't know that because they could not read the engravings on the plates they found there.  Limhi and his people feared that the people of Zarahemla had been destroyed.  So when Ammon and his men showed up they were was very glad to see them.

Ammon and the people of King Limhi return to Zarahemla.  With them, they bring the Plates of Ether which they give to Mosiah because he is a prophet and can interpret them.  In Mosiah 28:11-12 is says that he does translate the plates, but the translation is not placed here, among the pages of the Book of Mosiah.  It simply tells us that "the people of Mosiah did mourn exceedingly" when they learned what was in the account (Mosiah 28:18), and that these records were passed down along with all the other records kept by the Nephites.  Mosiah 28:19 speaks of the Plates of Ether, and I believe it is Mormon writing when it says:

"And this account shall be written hereafter; for behold, it is expedient that all people should know the things which are written in this account."

This is why Mormon commanded Moroni to include the Jaradite account in the Book of Mormon when he realized he would not be able to do so himself.  I imagine including this account was one of those things on his mental "to-do" list.  I like to imagine stuff like that because it reminds me that all of these people and prophets once lived and breathed just as I do. Mormon 8:1 says:

"Behold I, Moroni, do finish the record of my father, Mormon.  Behold, I have but few things to write, which things I have been commanded by my father."

Then in Moroni 1:1, Moroni tells us:

"I...having made an end of abridging the account of the people of Jared I had supposed not to have written more, but I have not as yet perished; and I make not myself known to the Lamanites lest they should destroy me."

I feel so much for Moroni.  I can't imagine what that must have been like.  Moroni finishes off the record with some chapters of his own which have some pretty great stuff in them.

I know this was long, but sometimes I just need a mental run-down of how all these things fit together.  So, that is how the Plates of Ether came to be included as the second to the last book of the Book of Mormon even though the events depicted in the book take place first.  

Mormon 8

When I read Mormon 8, I can almost hear the sadness in Moroni's words. And yet, I can hear determination in those words as well. As Moroni observes the destruction of his people, he says over and over that this work will come forth. It is as if he is answering all those who say it won't. Almost as if their words are replaying themselves in his mind and so he tells us in many different verses that these records will not be destroyed and anyone who doesn't recognize their worth when it is brought forth--well, it will be to their detriment. An example of this is Mormon 8:26, which reads in part:

"And no one need say they shall not come, for they surely shall, for the Lord hath spoken it; for out of the earth shall they come, by the hand of the Lord, and none can stay it..."

I can see the faith it would take after witnessing the Lamanite's victory in every other aspect of his life. His father, Mormon, and all his family and friends have been killed. Moroni expects to die any day at the hands of those same men that have sworn to destroy the records and therefore the religion of the Nephites. Yet he speaks of how these records that contain the gospel will one day "shine forth out of darkness." (Mormon 8:16) I guess I shouldn't say it took great faith because in Mormon 8:34 he tells us that he was shown the time when the Book of Mormon would come forth, so he knows it will be given to future generations. Still, when I read Mormon 8, I feel like he may be trying to remind himself that this is not the end of these things he has held so dear even though at times he might feel that all is lost. His father's work with the records will not be wasted even though no one in his own time listened, neither the Nephites nor the Lamanites. He is telling us that this record was written for us, and so we shall receive them.  How we receive them...if we believe on their words and take them into our hearts...that is up to us.

Changed

Somehow my busy life crowded out thoughts of this blog for quite sometime. I have been forced to slow down a bit this week and so I have returned. Writing about my gospel study helps to sharpen and clarify what I have learned. As I try to put things into precise words my understanding grows and so does my desire to share what I have learned. Today I just want to share a quote that touched me deeply when I read it. Ezra Taft Benson said, "Christ changes men, and changed men change the world."

Mormon 6-9

 I love the wrap up in Mormon 6-9.  It comes before the actual end of the whole Book of Mormon because Moroni says he is hiding up the records and moving on.  Then later finds he has more time to write.  It makes him seem more real to me.  He knew so much.  He was shown a great deal, yet he didn't know everything.

I love the wrap up in chapters 6-9 even more because it breathes of life and truth. Sincere testimonies are borne and they strengthen my own testimony.

Mormon 9:21 says:

"Behold, I say unto you that whoso believeth in Christ, doubting nothing, whatsoever he shall ask the Father in the name of Christ it shall be granted him; and this promise is unto all, even unto the ends of the earth."

Mormon 5--Communion

Mormon 5:2 reads:  "...they repented not of their iniquities but did struggle for their lives without calling upon that Being who created them."

I think this too often describes me.  The scriptures say to pray always.  They tell us to pray anywhere about anything.  Some days I pray often throughout the day in my heart but fail to devote time to a true morning and evening prayer.  You know the prayers where your attention in truly focused on communicating with your Father in Heaven and actually listening for answers.  Those are the prayers that peel away the layers of distraction and worry and allow for repentance and peace.  Those are the prayers that untie the knots in my stomach and that bring me closer to my Savior.  They must not be forgotten or pushed aside until fatigue makes it difficult to think and seek real communion with that Being who created me and everything around me.  I'm so grateful for the opportunity to pray.  For the freedom I have to worship and pray how I see fit and to teach my children to do so.  I'm so grateful...I need to show my gratitude by remembering always to take time out of my day and take advantage of the great gift that is sincere prayer.

Mormon 2

In Mormon 2, Mormon is appointed to lead the Nephite army at age 16.  They fought long and hard.  They won and lost battles.  Mormon say in verse 8 that "there was blood and carnage spread throughout all the face of the land."  Finally, the people begin to lament and mourn  what is happening.  Mormon says that he began to rejoice when he saw this because he knows the wonderful mercy of the Lord, but then in verses 13 and 14 he says:

"But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin.  And they did not come unto Jesus with broken hearts and contrite spirits, but they did curse God..."

Those verses are very interesting to me.  Sorrow for sin needs to be sorrow because we realize we have done what is contrary to that which is right.  We should sorrow because we have chosen to act in defiance to God's will.  Therefore, we have separated ourselves from his fold.  It is a slightly different way of thinking about it than being sorry because wickedness often does bring with it consequences that cause us no end of sorrow and trouble.

Mormon

From 4 Nephi we move onto Mormon.  Mormon tells us how he became the one chosen to abridge the plates of Nephi.  He was chosen when he was ten years old.  No pressure, Mormon, just observe this people until your around 24 years old and then go find the plates of Nephi, which are stored with all the records in a hill, and write what you have observed.  I truly admire Mormon.  The pressure would have gotten to me.

I also admire him for living the gospel when all others around him were not.  He said the people had rebelled against their God and therefore he was not even allowed to preach to them the things that he knew.  For some reason that struck me today.  We live in a pretty wicked time.  With people labeling wickedness and good and good as wickedness, but we are urged emphatically by the prophet and the apostles to preach the gospel to all people, to find those that are ready.  That means there are those out there that don't know about the gospel, that haven't had a chance to accept or reject it.  That means there is hope.  Hope is a very good thing.

Unity and the Good Shepard

Mormon 5:17 reads:  "They were once a delightsome people, and they had Christ for their shepherd; yea, they were led even by God the Father."

I love this scripture because it contains so much, and yet is put so simply.  I have to admit that for years I missed most of the meaning it contains, but I always knew it's message was bittersweet.  It is part of what Mormon wrote to "the remnant of the house of Jacob" (v. 12) about his people before the Lamanites wiped out the Nephites.

I have always heard Christ likened to a shepherd, and I recognized that in that analogy I was a sheep that would do well to follow him.  I knew also that my fellow human beings were cast in the role of the other sheep that chose to follow him or not.  However, I didn't recognize that this analogy spoke of Unity.  The need for unity is much talked of in the church, but how to be a part of  a unified people I could not decipher even though I sought answers in the scriptures.  Most scriptures which contain the word "unity" are speaking of the need to be unified, not how to do it or so I thought as I studied.  So I said a prayer that Heavenly Father would help me to understand how to be unified with so many that were so very different from me.  We all have different upbringings, different talents, different interests, different struggles.  We come from many different lands and nations.  There are so many lovely, and not so lovely, ways of looking at things and getting things done, how can we be united?

As the answer to my prayer came to me, I drew this in my scripture journal:

I suddenly understood that when we try to all be like each other, it is a frustrating and ultimately impossible project.  We have wonderful differences in us that can and should be celebrated.  We unite, not by trying to conform to each other, but by all at once striving to become as Jesus would have us be.  As we look to Jesus, we become one.

I taught a lesson once that required me to illustrate this concept to younger people, so I likened my drawing to a part in Toy Story 3.  When all the toys get dumped into the trash truck, all is dark except for parts of Buzz Lightyear that glow.  Woody's voice can be heard trying to locate everyone and then he says: "Everyone go to Buzz."  The friends all obey and are quickly re-united.  In my analogy Woody was the prophet and Buzz represented Jesus.  I was excited to teach what I had been taught, and yet as I wove scriptures into my lesson along with this drawing and the Toy Story analogy, I did not catch on that when the scriptures spoke of Jesus as the Good Shepherd this is what it had been teaching for thousands of years.  How did I miss that by following the Good Shepherd we become united?  One fold.  One Shepherd.

4 Nephi--To the Ideal and Back Again

After Jesus Christ's visit to the Nephites there comes a time when everyone in the land is converted.

"...the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them and every man did deal justly one with another.  And they had all things in common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift." (4 Nephi 1:2-3)

This is the ideal.  I think it is what people imagine when they think of world peace.  The hard thing about it is, it cannot come without first all people having that change of heart--that conversion wherein their faith and hope in Christ is their guiding light.  It is a conversion in which they nurture charity instead of judgement and selfishness.  The people remained in such a state for over 150 years because as 4 Nephi 1:15 says "...there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people."  4 Nephi 1:17 says, "There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God."

It does sound so very peaceful.  And then in verse 20 it mentions that there is still peace in the land except a small part of the people who had revolted from the church and taken upon themselves the name of Lamanites.  In the two hundred and first year from the coming of Christ things start to go south.  The main culprit mentioned is pride.  By 4 Nephi1:41 it says, "And they did still continue to build up churches unto themselves..."  So very sad.  By the end of 4th Nephi the people are wicked again.

Wouldn't it be lovely if only we could all realize the true way to the ideal and not fail to keep these things in our hearts?