No
contention in all the land except pride in the church. Why does it work that
way? Where we should remember to be most humble and loving sometimes it is the
hardest, like at church, or at home. I want to remember not to be prideful. With
my new calling it seems like something I will have to be very careful of in
working with so many people an managing so many things. NOT PRIDE!
It
is interesting that the people who lived there before had completely wiped all
the timber in certain areas, and that those areas were still desolate. It
wasn’t like the people before had left recently. It speaks to being responsible
stewards of the earth. Once you have destroyed it, it is very hard, if at all
possible, to restore it.
Where
there was no timber the people lived in cement (adobe?) houses and tents
(teepees?) and the people shipped wood up to them. It feels like the lesson for
me in this is to find a way to make it work. Don’t whine about things not being
perfect or the way you would wish, but find a way to make the reality you live
in work.
I
love the description of Helaman is verse 20. When all the world was going crazy
around him, he was true to God, always. This is what I would pray for for my
Helaman.
Helaman did fill the judgment-seat with justice and
equity; yea, he did observe to keep the statutes, and the judgments, and the
commandments of God; and he did do that which was right in the sight of God
continually;
For many years the Nephites have been fighting and warring
amongst themselves, and then they repent and are filled with the Spirit and 10
of 1000s join the church. I love the thus we see the Lord is merciful. No
matter how foolish we have been, he is waiting to accept us into the fold and
bless us. Always.
And then the pride comes back into the church. And the more
humble part of the members suffer a great deal because of it, but they fast and
pray, and become more humble and increased their faith in Christ. And because
of that they were filled with joy and consolation and were purified. That is
the humble response to someone else’s pride, and how affliction can truly be a
help for us. I don’t have to pride back at people. I need to learn what being
humble looks like.
I see that the judgmental comments people make at church and
the way we hurt each other being unkind and unwelcoming is this kind of pride.
I can see it hurt people I love. I want
to be able to pray and fast and have that humble them, and I suppose to some
extent that is a thing, but it is hard to also let people have their agency. Though Alma’s praying and fasting for his son
helped. Maybe that is what I need to pray for.
No comments:
Post a Comment