Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Alma 61:14-21

Pahoran says “let us resist evil” and says that when we cannot resist evil with our words we must fight. I think that there are two points here. One that fighting is only for when words won’t work, but also, that there are some evils where words are not the appropriate response. I suppose like not negotiating with terrorists. It seems like words should always work, but sometimes hearts are too hard, I suppose. Pure real evil is something I haven’t had a lot of experience with, and sometimes I forget how real the power of evil is in the world.

It’s also interesting that he says that the Spirit of God is also the spirit of freedom. That longing that all people have to be free comes from God. I also love how the Nephite leaders, when they are righteous always recognize constantly that their strength and power to overcome comes from God. I need to be more constantly and consistently humble in my life, in my thoughts. And I will always love how humble Pahoran was in his response. It would have been so easy to let offense cloud his judgement and not be able to work with Moroni to accomplish the good they did.  It reminds me of David Bednar’s talk about how being offended is a choice. It really struck me at the time, and has stayed with me. We often use it a sword to beat each other with when someone else is offended and we don’t think they should be. But it is useful if I really use to think about myself and my own reactions to things.

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