Alma 46
Alma 46
Again we read about the power of words. People were taught and organized, cared for a blessed, yet they chose to believe in the words of Amalickia, rather than Helman. Their choice to believe the words of Amalickia moved them to action: they left the church. When they separated themselves from the light of the words of truth, spoken and organized, they allowed darkness into their hearts. The darkness is the adversary's garden. There he can plant selfishness and pride, entitlement and anger, fear and revenge- even hate.
In verse 8 Mormon adds his commentary as he is abridging this story: "Thus we see how quickly the children of men do forget the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do iniquity, and to be led away by the evil one."
It's not just a story that took place 2100 years ago. We can see it still, today. My husband always says, "We are all two weeks away from inactivity." The moment we become lax in our worship, the moment we set begin to step away from the light of the gospel- including the church that Christ organized to house its principles and ordinances, that is when we give room for darkness and the adversary in our hearts. Even a shadow is darker than the sunlight.
It is so easy to slip away. The world has so many comforting words to offer us: You can do anything, if you just believe; You can do anything you want, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone; Life is meant to be lived without rules; Don't conform! Be yourself! (I hate that one); If it feels good, it is good; Don't let anyone hold you back from your dreams; and so on.
These words seem to be uplifting and encouraging- on the surface. But, what they are all crafted to plant the seed of disdain and rebellion for organized religion, commandments and a life of submitting our will to God's. In the false light (or shadows) of those words, religion appears stifling; its members cloned sheep; commandments are damning and our freedom is gone.
The frightening this is how many people buy it! He lulls them into a carnal security and leads them down to hell (2 Nephi 20-23) Oh, how crafty the adversary is! Nephi calls warns us in verse 24 of that passage: Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!
I wrote a post about this a few years ago on my other blog here.
It is so interesting to me that the goal behind all the deception, flattery and lies of the adversary is to destroy our agency? (vs 10) What we CHOOSE to believe, what we CHOOSE to do, who we CHOOSE to become. Agency is the key to our salvation, or our demise.
Captain Moroni knew that. His Title of Liberty embraced all his passion and belief in the power of words our choosing to believe them. How could they not have been moved by this?
He moved them to only to hear his words, but for them to use their words to covenant with God. Powerful.
What did you think/learn today?
Again we read about the power of words. People were taught and organized, cared for a blessed, yet they chose to believe in the words of Amalickia, rather than Helman. Their choice to believe the words of Amalickia moved them to action: they left the church. When they separated themselves from the light of the words of truth, spoken and organized, they allowed darkness into their hearts. The darkness is the adversary's garden. There he can plant selfishness and pride, entitlement and anger, fear and revenge- even hate.
In verse 8 Mormon adds his commentary as he is abridging this story: "Thus we see how quickly the children of men do forget the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do iniquity, and to be led away by the evil one."
It's not just a story that took place 2100 years ago. We can see it still, today. My husband always says, "We are all two weeks away from inactivity." The moment we become lax in our worship, the moment we set begin to step away from the light of the gospel- including the church that Christ organized to house its principles and ordinances, that is when we give room for darkness and the adversary in our hearts. Even a shadow is darker than the sunlight.
It is so easy to slip away. The world has so many comforting words to offer us: You can do anything, if you just believe; You can do anything you want, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone; Life is meant to be lived without rules; Don't conform! Be yourself! (I hate that one); If it feels good, it is good; Don't let anyone hold you back from your dreams; and so on.
These words seem to be uplifting and encouraging- on the surface. But, what they are all crafted to plant the seed of disdain and rebellion for organized religion, commandments and a life of submitting our will to God's. In the false light (or shadows) of those words, religion appears stifling; its members cloned sheep; commandments are damning and our freedom is gone.
The frightening this is how many people buy it! He lulls them into a carnal security and leads them down to hell (2 Nephi 20-23) Oh, how crafty the adversary is! Nephi calls warns us in verse 24 of that passage: Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!
I wrote a post about this a few years ago on my other blog here.
It is so interesting to me that the goal behind all the deception, flattery and lies of the adversary is to destroy our agency? (vs 10) What we CHOOSE to believe, what we CHOOSE to do, who we CHOOSE to become. Agency is the key to our salvation, or our demise.
Captain Moroni knew that. His Title of Liberty embraced all his passion and belief in the power of words our choosing to believe them. How could they not have been moved by this?
He moved them to only to hear his words, but for them to use their words to covenant with God. Powerful.
What did you think/learn today?
I love the comment... and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me think of the times and the pictures where men have planted the US Flag... during war, on the moon, at the top of a mountain, in the rubble of 911. It's so symbolic of what should be our country's title of liberty.
How much better things would become if people once again started looking at that symbol and seeing what it actually stands for. When people saw Moroni's flag, they understood, they internalized it, they got the bigger meaning.