Alma 60:12-15

Moroni is preaching doctrine in verse 12 that is very hard for people to understand. When bad things happen to people, in this case, death, it is not because they were wicked. Sometimes it is because of other people’s wickedness, sometimes it is just the nature of a fallen world. I remember when Rich Sebo got cancer and his church, I think it was Glad Tidings, believed it was because he was wicked, and he was trying so hard to purify himself. It made me really sad, because he was so kind and big-hearted with all those troubled kids. It was terrible to me that he felt like he deserved it. I am not sure how they explain all the truly wicked people who never got cancer? In any event, I am grateful to know that it isn’t true. Moroni was using that knowledge as a weapon here, but it is usually a great comfort, because crummy and awful stuff happens to all of us.

Moroni says that the Lord suffers the righteous to be slain that his judgement may come upon the wicked. I think what he is really saying is that the Lord gives us our agency and doesn’t interfere, even when our choices our horrible. But the righteous who are killed enter into Paradise, and are happy and at peace, and the peace can even come in this life when things are going bad because of other people, through the atonement of Christ. So while it seems, to our small understanding, unfair that the righteous should suffer at the hands of the wicked, all suffering is swallowed up in the glory of Christ, with blessings far beyond what we could have ever earned through that suffering. While the wicked are allowed their agency and even opportunity to repent.

Moroni is afraid that the wickedness and slothfulness of the government will cause God to withdraw his support for all of the people and their cause. It is a sobering reminder that our sins can bring destruction to other people. I always wonder what more good I could have done if I had been in tune with the Spirit, or been a good example instead of bad. And as the leaders of the government in my home, how much pain our bad examples could cause our children, even destruction. It also highlights the importance of trying to choose righteous leaders. If they lead us into unrighteous causes, we have no Heavenly support. But mainly, for my life, it is so important to try to ALWAYS be a good example, and behave as an example of the believer.

Alma 60:12-15

Alma 60:1-11

Was it a sin for Moroni to condemn Pahoran and the other war leaders. Obviously he was wrong, but was it a sin? Sometimes it is hard for me to take any action because I am afraid it will be the wrong action. But because Moroni took action, even though he was wrong, God was able to do good things with what he had done. It is hard for me to understand the balance between thinking and choosing wisely, and just getting something done. I feel like one wrong move and everything is over and ruined, but that isn’t the way anything works with God. How can I remember that when I am completely stunted by anxiety?

It is interesting that Moroni said if they had only suffered hunger and thirst and fatigue and crummy conditions they wouldn’t complain, but it is their loss of men that it is so hard and wrong. I feel like that is echoed in the book we just read for book club, Tough as They Come by Travis Mills about his experiences in Afghanistan and as a quadruple amputee. When they are out on missions the conditions are horrible, but that didn’t seem to be a complaint for them, either. It really made me respect the sacrifice of the soldiers who fight for our freedom. It also makes me feel like a wimp who is quick to complain, and want to do better.

Moroni really rips into Pahoran hard, “sitting on your throne in a state of thoughtless stupor.” It makes me laugh, but it also makes me think. He is really upset because the people trusted their leaders to take care of them, and they were not. Am I taking seriously the responsibilities I have been entrusted with? I am grateful I finally told Omar about the inspiration to read scriptures, and we did that last night, but there are so many other areas where I need to do better. Omar goes to work every day trusting that I will take care of things at home, but I so often fail to do that. I have been entrusted with loving and teaching my children, and protecting them, yet so often my anger is the thing they need protection from. I need to take my callings more seriously, I need to reach out more to the people around me. I have been given many talents and responsibilities and blessings. Am I taking those responsibilities seriously, or am I sitting in a thoughtless stupor?

And verse 11 really hits home as well. It is good to trust God, but we must do our part, and not sit and wait for him to solve our problems. If I am feeling myself getting depressed and overwhelmed, prayer is good, but I also need to do the things I know will help. Like exercise and reading scriptures and eating well and working hard. I have to do all I can before I can rely on His help. Which is what I want to teach my kids not just about God, but about asking for anyone’s help. I need to do much better to teach them to be responsible for themselves.

Alma 60:1-11

Alma 59

When Moroni read Helaman’s epistle and was full of joy, he didn’t just feel it, he shared it. He spread it all around so that all the people could have joy as well. Part of love is not just comforting and lifting, it is also spreading joy. I feel like it’s partly about sharing good worldly things, and partly missionary work. It is also about parenting, and not just correcting and fixing, but sharing joy. It is okay to revel in the goodness in the world, and not just okay but important and good.

Because of Helaman’s faith, and that of his soldiers, and their success because of it, Moroni and his men were inspired to take back the land from the Lamenites where they were. Sharing goodness also helps people to have hope and to be able to do more themselves.

I am also amazed at the faith of the Nephite leaders. When they were not succeeding against the Lamenites they worried about the wickedness of the people, never questioning the love of help of God. How quickly they went from rejoicing to sorrow, but saw the goodness of God in all of it.

Alma 59

Alma 58:30-41

The Nephite armies were too small to maintain the lands which they had retaken from the Lamenites, but they weren’t afraid because they trusted God. Not being afraid is a good constant reminder for my anxiety.

Why didn’t the men who had come to strengthen the army know what was going on with the rebellion in Zarahemla? I have always wondered about that.

This is such a letter written by a prophet. He had so many things to worry about, and to complain about and accuse about, but it wasn’t that way at all. It reminds me of this talk by President Hinkley, Slow to Anger, that I read this morning. When I couldn’t sleep last night, not being angry and frustrated what something that I felt impressed about a lot as I read Camilla Kimball’s biography in the middle of the night. It has been on my mind for a long time, but especially lately. I am anxious and impatient, and want to find some parenting solution that fixes problems immediately. I need to just keep doing the right thing and trust the Lord and His eventuality. I need to not be afraid, and not be impatient and angry.

I love that the Ammonite boys were “strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day.” I don’t think I am strict enough with myself, and let days go by without scripture reading and teaching my children. I need to be more consistent. The other day I was thinking about how they have their agency, and no matter what I teach them they may choose wickedness in the end. It broke my heart and I had the thought that I would be willing to do anything and everything to protect them from that unhappiness. And then the prompting came that I wasn’t do everything, and we needed to more faithfully read scriptures and take their spiritual preparation more seriously.  And yet, last night came late again, and I didn’t make us read scriptures. What am I so afraid of?

Alma 58:30-41

Alma 58:12-29

Having courage is really hard for me. When I am fired up I run straight ahead, until I calm down and then my anxiety sets in. They took courage and were determined because they knew their cause was right. I need to be more careful that the fights I undertake and according to the Lord’s will. I tend to get caught up in what I think is right, and forget to ask Him if I am right. Knowing things were truly good, and His way, would help me have more courage and determination. And if a battle is worth fighting, it should be “with all my might.”

But then, the lesson from the Lamenites here is not to get so distracted by the battle that I fail to guard my base, or my home. Keeping my home safe and protected has to always be the most important thing, or when my focus is elsewhere it would be easy for my enemies to come in. And also, the lesson again that sleep is not always the most important thing. I tend to feel like it is, even though I know it isn’t. This conference talk by Richard G. Scott from October 2014 comes to my mind all the time, about how reading scriptures is more important than sleep. I felt this powerfully when he said it, yet I still choose bedtime when it gets late for my kids every night. I need to do better!

Alma 58:12-29