Alma must have been pretty hold here, and probably supposed
to be retired since Mormon mentions that he “could not rest” and went back out
to preach. It reminds me of grandpas. They never wanted to stop working and
doing things, Grandpa Don living way beyond when he was supposed to so he could
do extraction, and Grandpa Bill who kept working outside even if it meant
falling and waiting for someone to find him. That simple phrase makes my heart
feel so full, and miss them so much. Sadly, I don’t think that would describe
me, I am not always so “anxiously engaged,” but definitely like a good rest.
Verse 2 feels like a scripture I should share with Greta
when I write to her this morning.
I am always amazed by the Nephites willingness to protect
the people of Ammon. Why were they willing to fight and die for them? Why were
they willing to give them land? Why did they have so much respect for the
covenant the people had made not to fight, even when it didn’t make any worldly
sense anymore? The land and protection reminds me of the refugees from the Middle
East right now. It makes me sad that some people are so unwillingly to help. We
worry that it might put us in harm, the reason I often don’t help. But helping
the people of Ammon did the put the Nephites in harm’s way almost immediately.
In my heart, I wish I was much braver, or had more faith, about helping. But in
the case of the refugees, if my vote counts, it will be a vote to help and
protect and love.
It is interesting what a big difference the Nephite armor
made, that the Lamenites were scared even though they had the larger army. And
they were right to be scared. One of the boys put their “armor of God” poster
on the mirror in their bedroom this week. I felt like then, and I feel like as
I read this now, that I need to do better about arming my children for the
battles they must fight every day. Watching Elf for Family Night last night was
fun, but was it the best use of that time we have together? What can I do more
to help them be protected?
The Lamenites fled when they saw they armor, but they didn’t
give up the attack, they just tried a weaker part of the land. Because Moroni
asked the prophet, they were able to strengthen the weak part in time and be
protected. If this life is our war, there are so many parallels here. It
reminds me of the scriptures in Ether 12:27:
And
if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men
weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that
humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have
faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.
Moroni went to the Lord to know
what to do, was shown his people’s weakness and was able to make it strong
because the Lord had helped them. I can see the Satan is constantly attacking
me, and when I feel proud of the my strength in resisting him, he gets me where
I am weak. It is so important to keep asking Heavenly Father for help and
strength, and to know what my weaknesses are so I can strengthen them. This is
something I can teach my kids to help them be armored.
It also strikes me as important
here that Moroni did not just pray and ask God himself, but also trusted the
prophet who had been sent to give the mind of the Lord to His people. Another protection
for us is to trust the counsel of the prophet whose job it is to provide that
protection and guidance in this war. Right now, I feel like that is doing
better about keeping the Sabbath day holy. What do we need to do to follow
better?
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