A big personal message I got out of conference was how we can’t
compartmentalize our lives. If we are believers, we have to always do and say and
act like believers, including sharing our beliefs. That is a hard thing for me.
When I read about King Lamoni making a proclamation about the unfettered preaching
of the gospel, it makes me feel uncomfortable because I am so used to the worldly
idea that you have to separate yourself and not use your power to help spread the
gospel. But he was really and truly all in, with all parts of himself. I want to
say it’s also different because he was a dictator, so he got to dictate things anyway,
might as well be good things. But is it different? I guess he was just making things
more free, it wasn’t like he ordered people to convert, his order was really about
stopping people from inhibiting freedom.
In the world now, scientists tend to act like change is bad.
Like if the Lamenites gave up their cultures and traditions to embrace those of
the Nephites, that would be a bad thing. I am grateful to believe there is absolute
truth-- and to know that more truth is always better.
I have just recently begun to appreciate that recognizing truth
and having the power to change our hearts is God working miracles in us. I am humbled
and grateful to recognize that it has always been Him, and none of is it me, except
for choosing to allow Him to work in me.
What made the Lamenites able to never fall away was laying down
their weapons of rebellion. What are my weapons of rebellion that I continue to
hold on to? Laziness? Pride? It’s always pride, isn’t it?
