Sometimes when I view our stupidity,
inefficiency, wastefulness, cruelty, complacency, ignorance,
rebellion, and stubbornness, I get a crazy feeling inside. It doesn't
have to be so difficult. There really is a better way.
I asked God, “How can you patiently
watch our foolishness?”
I heard him say, “What's the
alternative?”
“Hmm”
It wouldn't help in creating strong,
independent, loving, capable, gentle, creative, and godlike children
were God to force a better way upon us. People need space and time
to get things figured out for themselves. It's one of the purposes of
this telestial world. Making or forcing us to do some good thing
would only build resistance and resentment in us. This scripture came
to mind:
All truth is
independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for
itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence.
Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of
man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest
unto them, and they receive not the light. D&C 93:30-31
So there you have it, “Here is the
agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man.”
I've heard people give credit to God
for all sorts of atrocities. Why would God allow this? Why is this
happening? If there really is a God, why is there so much suffering,
evil, and heartache?
Well, God is love. We are allowed to make choices, and so we create problems and get to experience
the consequences of our decisions. How are we to learn if not allowed
to experience the results of our creations?
Lehi in teaching
his family said this, “And now, my sons, I speak unto you these
things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath
created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things
that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon.”
2 Nephi 2:14
God created all things to act or to be acted upon. What does it mean to act? What does it
mean to be acted upon? Who is free to act? Who is acted upon? We are
creatures of habit, societal norms, addictions, traditions,
and customs. Very few are free to act. Most of us are not much better off
than Pavlov's dogs.
We respond the way we've been trained to respond. Why do we do things the way we do? Well, its tradition.
The media, churches, schools, and our
families train us. We go along without much thought or
question. We are slaves to habit and social conditioning. Look how
easy it is to get someone to conform and go along with the group even
when it makes no sense.
How are we set free? How does Christ
help us step off the rat-wheel and start acting for ourselves?
And the Messiah
cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men
from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they
have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for
themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of
the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments
which God hath given.
Wherefore, men are
free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are
expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal
life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity
and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he
seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself. 2 Nephi
2:26-27
Is it possible to be free without being
redeemed? What is sin? What does it mean to be redeemed? When
captive, what are our choices? What is the relationship between
redemption, eternal life, and freedom? What is the relationship
between sin, captivity,and death? What brings misery? What brings
peace and happiness?
O remember,
remember, my sons, the words which king Benjamin spake unto his
people; yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby
man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who
shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.
And remember also
the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah;
for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his
people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but
to redeem them from their sins. And he hath power given unto him
from the Father to redeem them from their sins because of repentance;
therefore he hath sent his angels to declare the tidings of the
conditions of repentance, which bringeth unto the power of the
Redeemer, unto the salvation of their souls. Helaman 5:9-11
What is God's purpose in sending
angels? What is the difference between being redeemed in your sins
and being redeemed from your sins? How are we redeemed from our
sins? How does knowledge and intelligence save us?
For, said he, I
have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold
I am born of the Spirit. And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that
all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and
people, must be born again; yea, born of God,changed from their
carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed
of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new
creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the
kingdom of God. Mosiah 27:24-26
What happens when we are redeemed from
the fall? What does it mean to be born of God? When do we become sons
and daughters of God? How do we inherit the kingdom of God?
And when he was
demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he
answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with
observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for,
behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:20-21
Where is the kingdom of God? What does
that mean?
Where is the peace of God felt? What
is the relationship between peace and redemption? What is the
relationship between peace and the kingdom of God?
If we're looking for the peace the
world promotes, we won't find it. The story of Abinadi and the
priests of Noah shows the contrast between two very different
understandings of peace.
Noah and his priests saw Abinadi as a
troublemaker. In their view, he was stirring up contentions among
the people.
I command you to
bring Abinadi hither, that I may slay him, for he has said these
things that he might stir up my people to anger one with another, and
to raise contentions among my people; therefore I will slay him.
Mosiah 11:28
This was Abinadi's message.
Yea, wo be unto
this generation! And the Lord said unto me: Stretch forth thy hand
and prophesy, saying: Thus saith the Lord, it shall come to pass that
this generation, because of their iniquities, shall be brought into
bondage, and shall be smitten on the cheek; yea, and shall be driven
by men, and shall be slain; and the vultures of the air, and the
dogs, yea, and the wild beasts, shall devour their flesh.
And it shall come
to pass that the life of king Noah shall be valued even as a garment
in a hot furnace; for he shall know that I am the Lord.
And it shall come
to pass that I will smite this my people with sore afflictions, yea,
with famine and with pestilence; and I will cause that they shall
howl all the day long. Yea, and I will cause that they shall have
burdens lashed upon their backs; and they shall be driven before like
a dumb ass.
And it shall come
to pass that I will send forth hail among them, and it shall smite
them; and they shall also be smitten with the east wind; and insects
shall pester their land also, and devour their grain. And they shall
be smitten with a great pestilence—and all this will I do because
of their iniquities and abominations.
And it shall come
to pass that except they repent I will utterly destroy them from off
the face of the earth; yet they shall leave a record behind them, and
I will preserve them for other nations which shall possess the land;
yea, even this will I do that I may discover the abominations of this
people to other nations. And many things did Abinadi prophesy against
this people. Mosiah 12:2-8
Keep in mind the priest's question was designed to
find an accusation against Abinadi.
And they began to
question him, that they might cross him, that thereby they might have
wherewith to accuse him; but he answered them boldly, and withstood
all their questions, yea, to their astonishment; for he did withstand
them in all their questions, and did confound them in all their
words. Mosiah 12:19
This is the priest's question.
And it came to pass
that one of them said unto him: What meaneth the words which are
written, and which have been taught by our fathers, saying: How
beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good
tidings; that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good;
that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth;
Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall
they sing; for they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring
again Zion; Break forth into joy; sing together ye waste places of
Jerusalem; for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed
Jerusalem; The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all
the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of
our God? Mosiah 12:20-24
Here's Abinadi's response.
And now Abinadi
said unto them: Are you priests, and pretend to teach this people,
and to understand the spirit of prophesying, and yet desire to know
of me what these things mean? Mosiah 12:25
After reading Abinadi's message of warning, can
you see why the priests of Noah would use this question about peace in their attempt to confound Abinadi in his words? What was the priest's
understanding of publishing peace and bringing good tidings? Here's Abinadi's explanation of the verses.
And after all this,
after working many mighty miracles among the children of men, he
shall be led, yea, even as Isaiah said, as a sheep before the shearer
is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. Yea, even so he shall be led,
crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the
will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.
And thus God
breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death;
giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men—
Having ascended into heaven, having the bowels of mercy; being filled
with compassion towards the children of men; standing betwixt them
and justice; having broken the bands of death, taken upon himself
their iniquity and their transgressions, having redeemed them, and
satisfied the demands of justice.
And now I say unto
you, who shall declare his generation? Behold, I say unto you, that
when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his
seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed? Behold I say
unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea,
all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of
the Lord—I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto
their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and
have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say
unto you, that these are his seed, or they are the heirs of the
kingdom of God. For these are they whose sins he has borne; these are
they for whom he has died, to redeem them from their transgressions.
And now, are they not his seed? Yea, and are not the prophets, every
one that has opened his mouth to prophesy, that has not fallen into
transgression, I mean all the holy prophets ever since the world
began? I say unto you that they are his seed.
And these are they
who have published peace, who have brought good tidings of good, who
have published salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth! And O
how beautiful upon the mountains were their feet! And again, how
beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of those that are still
publishing peace! And again, how beautiful upon the mountains are the
feet of those who shall hereafter publish peace, yea, from this time
henceforth and forever! And behold, I say unto you, this is not all.
For O how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that
bringeth good tidings, that is the founder of peace, yea, even the
Lord, who has redeemed his people; yea, him who has granted salvation
unto his people;
For were it not for
the redemption which he hath made for his people, which was prepared
from the foundation of the world, I say unto you, were it not for
this, all mankind must have perished. Mosiah 15:6-19
Who are the Lord's seed? Peace comes to
His seed through the redemption. Those who have been redeemed are
heirs of the kingdom of God. Prophets have come into the Lord's
presence and been redeemed from the fall. They know the truth and the
truth has set them free. They invite others to come unto Christ and
be redeemed. Peace is established as each soul comes unto Christ.
We live in troubled times. Two paths
are before us. A scourge is going forth until those who have
inherited peace are the only ones left standing.
For I, the
Almighty, have laid my hands upon the nations, to scourge them for
their wickedness. And plagues shall go forth, and they shall not be
taken from the earth until I have completed my work, which shall be
cut short in righteousness—Until all shall know me, who remain,
even from the least unto the greatest, and shall be filled with the
knowledge of the Lord, and shall see eye to eye, and shall lift up
their voice, and with the voice together sing this new song, saying:
The
Lord hath brought again Zion;
The
Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel,
According
to the election of grace,
Which
was brought to pass by the faith
And
covenant of their fathers.
The
Lord hath redeemed his people;
And
Satan is bound and time is no longer.
The
Lord hath gathered all things in one.
The
Lord hath brought down Zion from above.
The
Lord hath brought up Zion from beneath.
The
earth hath travailed and brought forth her strength;
And
truth is established in her bowels;
And
the heavens have smiled upon her;
And
she is clothed with the glory of her God;
For he
stands in the midst of his people.
Glory,
and honor, and power, and might,
Be
ascribed to our God; for he is full of mercy,
Justice,
grace and truth, and peace,
Forever
and ever, Amen. D&C 84:96-102
We can be like Noah and his priests and
reject the warning of coming danger, reject the invitation to receive
peace, and perish; Or we can be like Alma and take the message to
heart, repent, and receive the Lord.
For this is the
covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,
saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in
their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a
people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every
man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from
the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their
unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember
no more. Hebrews 8:10-12
May our hearts accept the laws of God.
May our minds learn his ways. May we receive the light. May we see
things the way God sees them and accept the peace he offers. In
spite of all the stupidity, inefficiency, wastefulness, cruelty,
complacency, ignorance, rebellion, and stubbornness around us, we
obtain peace and our souls are at rest in the kingdom of God when we
are redeemed from our sins. Christ frees us from our traditions,
customs, social norms, addictions, and habits. With the knowledge Christ gives, we are free to
act and no longer be acted upon.
This is an earthly endeavor.
