Helaman 14
Helaman 14
Whenever it says "that can't be written,(1) I always feel a little twinge of excitement. We've been told that we will receive more scripture when we are ready. I'm hoping it will fill in some of the blanks, add the teachings of prophets like Zenock and Zenos and Samuel the Lamanite, etc. So exciting!
I like the term "condition of repentance." (18) The Savior atoned for everyone. He knew that not all would take advantage of it, but He still did it for all. It is for each of us, but it is not free. There are conditions to repentance: a humble heart, contrite spirit, etc. Some people think that all you have to do is say you believe and you are saved, but that isn't the case. It takes work. Salvation isn't cheap but it is ours if we choose. In verse 30 is says as much. It's our choice.
Verse 30 also clarifies that it is knowledge that sets us free. The more we know about ourselves, our nature, our potential, the more we we can do with our lives. The more we know about the Savior and His Atonement, the more we can take advantage of it in our lives. We can be free from sin, free from perishing.
It really is up to us.
Side note- found some really cool images of Samuel the Lamanite:
Samuel the Lamanite by Walter Rane.
Whenever it says "that can't be written,(1) I always feel a little twinge of excitement. We've been told that we will receive more scripture when we are ready. I'm hoping it will fill in some of the blanks, add the teachings of prophets like Zenock and Zenos and Samuel the Lamanite, etc. So exciting!
I like the term "condition of repentance." (18) The Savior atoned for everyone. He knew that not all would take advantage of it, but He still did it for all. It is for each of us, but it is not free. There are conditions to repentance: a humble heart, contrite spirit, etc. Some people think that all you have to do is say you believe and you are saved, but that isn't the case. It takes work. Salvation isn't cheap but it is ours if we choose. In verse 30 is says as much. It's our choice.
Verse 30 also clarifies that it is knowledge that sets us free. The more we know about ourselves, our nature, our potential, the more we we can do with our lives. The more we know about the Savior and His Atonement, the more we can take advantage of it in our lives. We can be free from sin, free from perishing.
It really is up to us.
Side note- found some really cool images of Samuel the Lamanite:
I wonder what the people were thinking as Samuel was up on the wall preaching repentance and talking of signs of the Saviors coming. I have to wonder what people think now, with all the signs of the second coming of Christ right in front of their faces? A Samuel would be written off as a lunatic these days for sure. But the interesting thing is, we have Samuel's all around us, and they aren't listened to anyway.
ReplyDeleteBut that is the way it is... we can perish for ourself because we have the agency to choose. We can have evil restored to us or good restored to us.
Side note... the scriptures to "be not weary in well doing" are running through my head this morning. I keep thinking of the BOM prophets who were preaching and preaching, but people didn't get it. Were they weary? I guess I am struggling because I am exhausted. =)
Very exciting chapter getting into all these signs given by Samuel the Lamanite. I love how we have the symbolic events of light when Christ is born, and the events of darkness when he dies. Can't wait to get into reading 3rd Nephi!
ReplyDelete