As I have read the Book of Mormon this semester, I have come to realize that there is a common theme in almost all of the stories: the wicked will be destroyed. A slightly less noticeable theme, which goes hand in hand with the first is that the wicked generally don't believe themselves to be wicked. At least not at first. By the wicked realize they are wicked, it is generally too late. The Jaredites killed each other off so quickly, there was barely time to think. By the time Coriantumr was ready to repent, his people were already destroyed, and it was too late to save anyone. Perhaps this is another reason that men should not procrastinate the day of their repentance. The Nephites would not admit they were wicked until nearly the end. When they admitted they were wicked, they were so hardened that they were proud of their wickedness. The wicked rarely see the warning signs as warning signs. They see them as coincidence.
What about now? I don't believe that every natural disaster and every recession and every war and every bad thing that happens is a sign to us from God that we are wicked and that we need to repent. But, I also don't believe that none of them are. Mormon tells us that the wicked bring their curse upon themselves. I can't help but think that, at least in part, our world's current economic situation is a sign for us, especially considering the way it was brought on. I don't pretend to understand all of the factors that contributed, but I do understand enough to know that much of the crisis was brought on by greed and a desire to live beyond our means. I believe that the problems are much deeper than our banks' balance sheets. We may come out of this recession soon, but we will fall right back if we don't change; our economy simply cannot depend on artificial wealth created by inflated credit. The nations cannot prosper if the citizens of nations do not change. Our times may not be a sign from God that we are growing wicked as a people, but just in case it is, I'm going to take a look at how I live.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
An Ether Allegory
As I read the Book of Ether a few years ago, I happened upon a few interesting parallels. As with any metaphor, if taken too far, this allegory is of no use.
In the second chapter of Ether, the brother of Jared ascends a mountain to speak with the Lord. He is commanded to cross the ocean, and is instructed to build barges in order to do so. The brother of Jared returns to the Lord after building the barges with two major problems: no air and no light. The Lord immediately solves the firs problem (air), then lets the brother of Jared think of his own solution for the second(light). The brother of Jared works out a solution, prepares stones, and brings them before the Lord. He believes that if the Lord touches the stones, they will give light.
The journey across the ocean can be compared to our journey through life to the Celestial Kingdom. We are faced in our mortal lives with two great problems, or two great deaths: physical death and spiritual death. If these problems are not solved, we will not reach our desired destination, however, we are powerless to solve either of the problems on our own. The problem of physical death is similar to the Jaredites' lack of air. The Lord solves this problem for all of us through His resurrection; it is a free gift to all, and we need not do anything to receive it. Spiritual death is similar to the Jaredites' lack of light, as is its solution. We do not have to invent a solution, but we do have to seek it out. None of us is born knowing the way to Salvation, We must find it on our own. And when we've found the solution, we have to work at it, as the brother of Jared had to work and prepare the stones that would give the light. But, even after all the work we have done in finding and preparing, the problem of spiritual death is no more solved than it was before we started; we need the Lord's touch. Through His power, our work is sanctified -- we are sanctified and can reach our desired destination. Without His touch, our work gives no more light than sixteen ordinary stones.
In the second chapter of Ether, the brother of Jared ascends a mountain to speak with the Lord. He is commanded to cross the ocean, and is instructed to build barges in order to do so. The brother of Jared returns to the Lord after building the barges with two major problems: no air and no light. The Lord immediately solves the firs problem (air), then lets the brother of Jared think of his own solution for the second(light). The brother of Jared works out a solution, prepares stones, and brings them before the Lord. He believes that if the Lord touches the stones, they will give light.
The journey across the ocean can be compared to our journey through life to the Celestial Kingdom. We are faced in our mortal lives with two great problems, or two great deaths: physical death and spiritual death. If these problems are not solved, we will not reach our desired destination, however, we are powerless to solve either of the problems on our own. The problem of physical death is similar to the Jaredites' lack of air. The Lord solves this problem for all of us through His resurrection; it is a free gift to all, and we need not do anything to receive it. Spiritual death is similar to the Jaredites' lack of light, as is its solution. We do not have to invent a solution, but we do have to seek it out. None of us is born knowing the way to Salvation, We must find it on our own. And when we've found the solution, we have to work at it, as the brother of Jared had to work and prepare the stones that would give the light. But, even after all the work we have done in finding and preparing, the problem of spiritual death is no more solved than it was before we started; we need the Lord's touch. Through His power, our work is sanctified -- we are sanctified and can reach our desired destination. Without His touch, our work gives no more light than sixteen ordinary stones.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Book of Mormon
As a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I was assigned to work in Brazil. After teaching a certain woman about the Book of Mormon and the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ through the prophet Joseph Smith, I left a Book of Mormon for her to read, with a chapter in 3 Nephi marked. When I returned, I found that she had read the chapter in 3 Nephi, and then continued to read. She decided to read the Book of Mormon, which is the 13th of 15 books which make up the Book of Mormon. She said she read it because she figured that was where she would find out what the Book of Mormon was really about. At the time, I was slightly surprised, and somewhat disappointed that she had read that particular selection. It focuses on war and the eventual destruction of the Nephite nation.
I just finished reading that same selection, and I have seen it from a different perspective. That particular woman decided she was not interested in learning more about the Church after a few more visits, and I thought it might have been because she had chosen to read the Book of Mormon first. I do not feel that way now; I'm glad she read that, of all the things she could have read. As Mormon watches the Nephite people grow in wickedness, his message is turned to future generations. He urges us to believe in the Gospel, to repent, to follow Christ. That is the way we can avoid the destruction that he was experiencing.
Although it is no the most pleasant book in the Book of Mormon, nor the most easy to read, I believe that the Book of Mormon (i.e. the smaller Book of Mormon inside the larger compilation of the same name) is one of the most relevant books for our time. The people of the world truly grow in wickedness in our days; our days are not so different from the days of Mormon. Why, then, should the consequences of our actions be different?
I just finished reading that same selection, and I have seen it from a different perspective. That particular woman decided she was not interested in learning more about the Church after a few more visits, and I thought it might have been because she had chosen to read the Book of Mormon first. I do not feel that way now; I'm glad she read that, of all the things she could have read. As Mormon watches the Nephite people grow in wickedness, his message is turned to future generations. He urges us to believe in the Gospel, to repent, to follow Christ. That is the way we can avoid the destruction that he was experiencing.
Although it is no the most pleasant book in the Book of Mormon, nor the most easy to read, I believe that the Book of Mormon (i.e. the smaller Book of Mormon inside the larger compilation of the same name) is one of the most relevant books for our time. The people of the world truly grow in wickedness in our days; our days are not so different from the days of Mormon. Why, then, should the consequences of our actions be different?
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Their riches become slippery unto them...
In the book of Helaman (in the Book of Mormon) a prophet named Samuel preaches from the top of a wall. His words are especially relevant today. One of the themes of the thirteenth chapter of Helaman is that, unless the people repent, their riches would become slippery unto them. I recently read this chapter, and was impressed with the connection I saw to today's world. The chapter says that when men hid up their treasures but not unto God, the treasures would become slippery unto them. It explains that phrase, saying that after they had hid the treasure, they would not be able to find it or obtain it again.
This is a sensitive subject, and I approach it cautiously, with no intent to accuse. Our investments, 401(k)s, savings, have become slippery unto us. As I understand, the Dow closed below 7000 for the first time in 11 years. I saw a popular talk show host suggest that the solution to our economic crisis would not come from bailouts or anything else; it would come from the people of America becoming a virtuous and God-fearing people again. There are multiple quotations from our nation's founding fathers, stating that the government that they set up would only work to govern a religious, virtuous people. I do not believe it wise to ignore the role that God plays in the destiny of this nation, especially in a time of such turmoil.
I believe that regardless of our several political and economic philosophies, we can overcome if we will have faith in God and do His will.
This is a sensitive subject, and I approach it cautiously, with no intent to accuse. Our investments, 401(k)s, savings, have become slippery unto us. As I understand, the Dow closed below 7000 for the first time in 11 years. I saw a popular talk show host suggest that the solution to our economic crisis would not come from bailouts or anything else; it would come from the people of America becoming a virtuous and God-fearing people again. There are multiple quotations from our nation's founding fathers, stating that the government that they set up would only work to govern a religious, virtuous people. I do not believe it wise to ignore the role that God plays in the destiny of this nation, especially in a time of such turmoil.
I believe that regardless of our several political and economic philosophies, we can overcome if we will have faith in God and do His will.
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