Remember who helps us

Limhi's people were delivered from the Lamanites with God's help. That was Alma's message to them - remember that always.
Mosiah 25:
 16 And he did exhort the people of Limhi and his brethren, all those that had been delivered out of bondage, that they should remember that it was the Lord that did deliver them.

Very important for us to remember when God's involved in our lives and to let our kids know as well. Great message from Elder Bednar on that in April 2010:

Parents should be vigilant and spiritually attentive to spontaneously occurring opportunities to bear testimony to their children. Such occasions need not be programmed, scheduled, or scripted. In fact, the less regimented such testimony sharing is, the greater the likelihood for edification and lasting impact. “Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man” (D&C 84:85).

For example, a naturally occurring family conversation at dinner may be the perfect setting for a parent to recount and testify of specific blessings he or she received during the course of relatively routine activities that day. And a testimony need not always begin with the phrase “I bear you my testimony.” Our witness can be declared as simply as “I know I was blessed with inspiration at work today” or “The truth in this scripture always has been a powerful source of direction for me.” Similar opportunities to bear testimony also can arise while traveling together in a car or bus or in a multitude of other settings.

Great advice to follow so we can help our kids remember/learn how God blesses us.

Slow to hear their cries - God's differing treatment of 2 sets of people

There's 2 groups of people discussed in Alma 21-22 and 23-24. One is the group of 450 people that followed Alma out of Shemlon and the other is King Limhi's people (that Alma's group left). We learn multiple things by comparing these groups:

God was slow to hear the cries of one.
 15 And now the Lord was ^aslow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their ^bcries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage.

The other group were placed in a similar situation (bondage) but received the assurance from God that they would receive help and that he would eventually deliver them:

 13 And it ^acame to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

 14 And I will also ease the ^aburdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as^bwitnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their ^cafflictions.

 15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did^astrengthen them that they could bear up their ^bburdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with ^cpatience to all the will of the Lord.

The difference appears to be that the second group was informed about what God was doing the entire time. Also, they knew they would be delivered.

Why was God slow to hear the cries of one group and why didn't he inform them about as many things? I think it's because he wants to maximize the learning and improve the habits of each group.  Interestingly, the outcome for both groups was roughly the same: both ended up in Zarahemla, they all joined the church. However, one knew God was involved in helping them from the beginning and the other didn't.

God wants us to develop strong habits so that we continually receive the blessings he wants to give us and so that we become better people. With all things, it takes time for us to learn and develop. Once we've progressed and are closer to him, he can be more direct with us. As a result, when in the past he may require us to just believe, after our diligence he may just tell us what to do and/or what he's doing. Early on, it may take more time for us to be told things and guided, but as we prove ourselves and get better at listening to him, we'll be guided more often and more quickly. It's because we've learned.

Great lessons for us.

Trust God and look for his guidance. It makes life easier. If he's slow to respond, it's for our good; he's trying to teach us.

A few thoughts from the scriptures - church foundations and becoming a Saint

Alma taught the people what he'd learned from Abinadi and from his experience with the people. Consider the following contextual points when reading Mosiah 18:
a) Abinadi taught the commandments, the need to repent, about the Savior and his role as the one who would feel the pains, sins, sorrows, and trials of his people, and about those who become the "seed" of the Savior, those who believe in Him and follow the prophets
b) the priests who are supposed to teach the people break the commandments, and in particular are known for sexual sins (harlots and concubines), laziness and drinking, and willingness to use the money of the people
c) the people believe that they are a great society, perfectly free of sins that God would condemn them for (see Mosiah 12:  12 And again, he saith thou shalt be as the blossoms of a thistle, which, when it is fully ripe, if the wind bloweth, it is driven forth upon the face of the land. And he pretendeth the Lord hath spoken it. And he saith all this shall come upon thee except thou repent, and this because of thine iniquities.

 13 And now, O king, what great evil hast thou done, or what great sins have thy people committed, that we should be ^acondemned of God or judged of this man?

 14 And now, O king, behold, we are ^aguiltless, and thou, O king, hast not sinned; therefore, this man has ^blied concerning you, and he has prophesied in vain.

d) priests believed salvation came from keeping the commandments (Mosiah 12  32 And they answered and said that salvation did come by the law of Moses.)
e) many men were likely not committed to their wives and children as they should have been (perhaps because of sexual sin)

Here's what Alma does in Mosiah 18:
a) repents of his sins (verse 1 - repented of his sins and iniquities) compare this to the priests
b) taught words of Abinadi - particularly about Jesus Christ (verse 2 - 2 Yea, concerning that which was to come, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and the redemption of the people, which was to be brought to pass through the power, and sufferings, and death of Christ, and his resurrection and ascension into heaven.) learned from Abinadi
c) his core teachings included 1st principles of the gospel (verse 7 - And he did teach them, and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, and faith on the Lord.) learned from Abinadi
d) several points about how to be a covenant keeping Christian (verses 8-9)

 8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;

 9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—

Quick point - the priests taught that salvation came from law of Moses. Also, the people thought they were living fine lives. We also know that some of the people left behind their wives which shows they were not thinking of others as much as they thought of themselves. Here's what they actually said when Abinadi told them they needed to repent: 

 13 And now, O king, what great evil hast thou done, or what great sins have thy people committed, that we should be ^acondemned of God or judged of this man?

 14 And now, O king, behold, we are ^aguiltless, and thou, O king, hast not sinned; therefore, this man has ^blied concerning you, and he has prophesied in vain.

 15 And behold, we are strong, we shall not come into bondage, or be taken captive by our enemies; yea, and thou hast prospered in the land, and thou shalt also prosper.

It's not a coincidence that Alma emphasized the need to help others and continually be witnesses with a group of people that thought they were doing fine and that were actually trusting in God only one generation earlier (e.g., they prayed for help in fighting battles when Zeniff was king). 

e) They had to teach what the prophets taught (as opposed to the priests of Noah who did not know the scriptures)

 18 And it came to pass that Alma, having authority from God, ordained priests; even one priest to every fifty of their number did he ordain to preach unto them, and to teach them concerning the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

 19 And he commanded them that they should teach nothing save it were the things which he had taught, and which had been spoken by the mouth of the holy prophets.

f) Needed to keep the 10 commandments, specifically mentioning the Sabbath day 

23 And he commanded them that they should observe the sabbath day, and keep it holy, and also every day they should give thanks to the Lord their God

g) Priests had to work for themselves, not get rich off of the people 

 24 And he also commanded them that the priests whom he had ordained should labor with their own hands for their support.

 26 And the priests were not to depend upon the people for their support; but for their labor they were to receive the grace of God, that they might wax strong in the Spirit, having the knowledge of God, that they might teach with power and authority from God.

h) They needed to worship together often so they wouldn't fall away. 

 25 And there was one day in every week that was set apart that they should gather themselves together to teach the people, and to worship the Lord their God, and also, as often as it was in their power, to assemble themselves together.

I am struck by how much the church was influenced by the struggles of the people in the area and also by Abinadi's teachings. Abinadi was teaching the wicked priests how to be righteous priests and in the process a righteous group of people were ready to be taught by a smart, humble servant Alma. Also, Alma appears to be heavily influenced by his experience as a priest since he emphasized priests must not be paid. 

Context matters so much. 

Recognizing God's hand in things

In Mosiah 20, it's mentioned that the king of the Lamanites was found among the fallen of his people, but he wasn't dead. This allowed the people of Limhi to talk to him and have the king convince his armies not to kill the Nephites. What a miracle. However, it's one that is only seen as a miracle is one is looking for it. Just as Elder Eyring has instructed, it's critical to look for the Lord's hand in our lives.

Here's the verses recorded in Mosiah 20:

  12 And it came to pass that they found the king of the Lamanites among the number of their dead; yet he was not dead, having been wounded and left upon the ground, so speedy was the flight of his people.

  13 And they took him and bound up his wounds, and brought him before Limhi, and said: Behold, here is the king of the Lamanites; he having received a wound has fallen among their dead, and they have left him; and behold, we have brought him before you; and now let us slay him.

Lessons from Kings Zeniff and Noah - how to spend your time; learning as you grow

Reading Mosiah 7-11 this week. Here's some thoughts:

Mosiah 11:14   14 And it came to pass that he placed his heart upon his riches, and he spent his time in ^ariotous living with his wives and his concubines; and so did also his priests spend their time with harlots.

It's important to pay attention to where we spend our time. It says a lot about us.

Mosiah 9: 3 -   3 And yet, I being ^aover-zealous to inherit the land of our fathers, collected as many as were desirous to go up to possess the land, and started again on our ^bjourney into the wilderness to go up to the land; but we were smitten with famine and sore afflictions; for we were slow to remember the Lord our God.

It's easy to forget the Lord and it will make life more difficult. However, the most critical step is to change. Look at how Zeniff changed. 12 years after they moved next to the Lamanites, they went to battle with them. Here's how they approached the war:

  17 Yea, in the ^astrength of the Lord did we go forth to battle against the Lamanites; for I and my people did cry mightily to the Lord that he would ^bdeliver us out of the hands of our enemies, for we were awakened to a remembrance of the deliverance of our fathers.

The one point I think is worth mentioning is that our actions early on can affect our children. We don't know why Noah was bad, and there's plenty of possible reasons, but it appears that Zeniff wasn't always righteous. It's possible that Zeniff didn't have the same influence over Noah when he was older and Zeniff was more righteous.

I'm very impressed that Zeniff paid attention to the stories/lessons taught by his ancestors. He was likely a scripture/history reader as it says they were "awakened to a remembrance of the deliverance of their fathers." Critical for us to do the same, to learn from those who have come before us.

Also interesting to see that he told his people what the Lamanites thought of the Nephites and where their anger came from. He also emphasizes the Nephites' advantage over them is their trust in the Lord and that they follow God's commandments. Here's that section from Mosiah 10:

  10 And it came to pass that we did go up to battle against the Lamanites; and I, even I, in my old age, did go up to battle against the Lamanites. And it came to pass that we did go up in the ^astrength of the Lord to battle.

  11 Now, the Lamanites knew nothing concerning the Lord, nor the strength of the Lord, therefore they depended upon their own strength. Yet they were a strong people, as to the ^astrength of men.

  12 They were a ^awild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people, believing in the ^btradition of their fathers, which is this—Believing that they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem because of the iniquities of their fathers, and that they were ^cwronged in the wilderness by their brethren, and they were also wronged while crossing the sea;

  13 And again, that they were wronged while in the land of their ^afirst inheritance, after they had crossed the sea, and all this because that Nephi was more faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord—therefore ^bhe was favored of the Lord, for the Lord heard his prayers and answered them, and he took the lead of their journey in the wilderness.

  14 And his brethren were ^awroth with him because they ^bunderstood not the dealings of the Lord; they were also wroth with him upon the waters because they hardened their hearts against the Lord.

  15 And again, they were ^awroth with him when they had arrived in the promised land, because they said that he had taken the ^bruling of the people out of their hands; and they sought to kill him.

  16 And again, they were wroth with him because he departed into the wilderness as the Lord had commanded him, and took the ^arecords which were engraven on the plates of brass, for they said that he ^brobbedthem.

  17 And thus they have taught their children that they should hate them, and that they should murder them, and that they should rob and plunder them, and do all they could to destroy them; therefore they have an eternal hatred towards the children of Nephi.

  18 For this very cause has king Laman, by his ^acunning, and lying craftiness, and his fair promises, deceived me, that I have brought this my people up into this land, that they may destroy them; yea, and we have suffered these many years in the land.

  19 And now I, Zeniff, after having told all these things unto my people concerning the Lamanites, I did stimulate them to go to battle with their might, putting their trust in the Lord; therefore, we did contend with them, face to face.

Teaching history while also teaching what the Lord is involved in is important. How helpful it is to our children if we tell the story of our lives and include throughout the narrative examples of when the Lord helped us and was involved in the story.

God lets us know he's involved

I listened to an interview with Gerald Lund, and he told a couple of stories that were pretty great and taught a terrific point. First of all, here's the interview, well worth listening to.

http://mormonchannel.org/conversations/38

He mentioned losing a $27 check when he was a paper boy, and after walking his route 2.5 times to find it, he decided to pray. Upon opening his eyes after the prayer, he saw the check in a bush in front of him.

Also, he mentioned one night as a teenager he felt like he should drive home instead of driving around town at night after work (around midnight). He decided to do that instead of following his usual route. The next day his mom handed him the paper and he saw that 4 teenagers were killed 7 minutes after he decided to turn around on the same road he was driving. He timed where he would likely be if he continued, and it was right at the place the teenagers crashed and were killed (driving 90-100 mph). His mom did not know that he drove that route at night, but she pointed that article out to him for some reason.

In both instances Elder Lund was immediately shown that the Lord was paying attention to Him and was involved. The Lord could have simply helped him in both instances, but instead he helped Him and showed him immediately that He was involved in blessing Elder Lund's life.

My experience is that God wants us to know He cares and is helping us. He gives us messages so that we can learn that. Elder Bednar mentioned this in his talk, "Tender Mercies of the Lord". Then we can increase our trust and faith in Him, that he cares about the important things and is always watching out for us. I have seen this is true.

Evidences someone is following Christ

Mosiah 4 talks about how to keep a retain a remission of sins after it's once been granted. It's an important topic for our day considering much emphasis in the Christian world seems to be placed on having a conversion experience but not necessarily as much on enduring to the end. This topic is also a main focus in Alma 5.

A few verses stood out to me in Mosiah 4. Verses 13, 14-15, and 16 talk about 3 different things that will happen (naturally happen I believe) after someone has come to Christ in humility. The 3 main things are:
1) live peaceably with everyone
2) teach children to love one another and not fight
3) take care of the poor/beggar

Doing these 3 things can be a litmus test of sorts to see if we're in the right place, doing the right things. They appear to happen after we've humbly come to Christ. In other words, they're things that matter to Him and therefore, he'll help us and push us to do once we've come to Him. Here's the verses:

 13 And ye will not have a ^amind to injure one another, but to live^bpeaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due.

 14 And ye will not suffer your ^achildren that they go hungry, or naked; neither will ye ^bsuffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and ^cquarrel one with another, and serve the devil, who is the master of sin, or who is the ^devil spirit which hath been spoken of by our fathers, he being an enemy to all righteousness.

 15 But ye will ^ateach them to ^bwalk in the ways of truth and^csoberness; ye will teach them to ^dlove one another, and to serve one another.

 16 And also, ye yourselves will ^asuccor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the ^bbeggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.