Book of Mosiah Summary

I wrote the following summary to help my sister-in-law who asked if anyone else got a little confused by the Book of Mormon sequence "starting" in the Book of Mosiah. Though I note that the Book of Mormon actually starts to get a little confusing near the end of the Book of Omni, she's entirely right...

Anyhow this was a fun exercise, and I've thought about doing this type of summary for the whole book of Alma and Helaman, which likewise are a bit confuddling in places where they branch off to attend different parties.

I did think it was interesting that Mormon threw a lot of records together to create his narrative. He would insert whole sermons from this or that prophet. I also think it is interesting that you don't see as much of that tendency in the books that were not transcribed by Mormon, namely the (small) Plates of Nephi, which contain the books of Nephi I and II, Jacob, Enos, Jarom and Omni. Of course, that's because they were taken verbatem from the collection of Records that Mormon used to compile his record. While Mormon's record was lost thanks to Martin Harris's wife...

S0 without further ado... (or should I say adieu and tick off the antis?)

Here's my summary and reply...

That's because it does jump around. Let's see if I can sum up...

1.(Omni 1:12-19) In the end of the book of OMNI, Amaleki (the son of Abinadom, son of Chemish, and a bunch of other slackers) records the details of the Nephites flight from their traditional lands. Apparently they are overwhelmed by the lamanites, and so King Mosiah (the first) takes the more righteous part of the Nephites and flees. They find people of Mulek in the city of Zarahemla.

2. (Omni 1:19-22) To make matters more confusing, Amaleki tells about how the people of Zarahemla had been visited by a man named Coriantumr, and about how the man wrote on a stone. King Mosiah the first (also a seer) interprets the engravings and it tells of the people described in the book of Ether who destroyed themselves with war... (Ray speculating: I think the reason why Amaleki mentions this confusing sideline is because it is by this gift that King Mosiah and his Nephites is appointed King over the people of Mulek as well... Seeing as how the Mulekites were more numerous than the Nephites.)

3. (Omni 1:27-30) Zeniff (though it doesn't state his name in the end of the words of Omni) leads a group of Nephites back to the "land of their first inheritance". (He actually goes twice, the first time ends in a civil war in which the nephite party mostly kills itself...) This land is commonly called "The land of Nephi", which ironically is owned by the Lamanites. This is the point in history where they disappear from our sights for a while.

4. The Words of Mormon: Mormon pops in and explains that he found the Plates of Nephi (which contains the account of Nephi) while he was compiling a history of his people the Nephites, many hundred years after the coming of Christ. This adds further confusion because he's another character that prior to this point is completely unknown... and one wonders WHERE THE HECK DID THIS GUY COME FROM...

5. His words form an abridgement between the words written in the books of 1 and 2 Nephi, Jacob, Enos, Jarom and Omni, to the Book of Mosiah, and his own summary of the history of the Nephites which he has been compiling. At this point it's okay to be confused, because one should naturally wonder, Where is the part of the Summary of Mormon describing the Nephite History prior to the Words of Mormon?

The answer is that those were the 115 + pages that were lost by Martin Harris. These pages are commonly called "The Book of Lehi" though it's a misnomer, as it could have contained pages describing the detailed history of the posterity of Nephi all the way down to the first King Mosiah. The words of Mormon more or less skip the life of King Mosiah the 1st and most of the life of King Benjamin, his son...

6. (Mosiah ch. 1-5) King Benjamin is the son of the first king Mosiah. We don't learn much about his life, but we do know that in the end of his life he was visited by an angel. He gives his sermon to the people he is ruling in Zarahemla who humble themselves and repent, and announces that his son also named Mosiah will be king.

7. (Mosiah ch. 6) King Benjamin dies. King Mosiah (the Second) son of Benjamin, is king, and his people in the land of Zarahemla start to wonder whatever happened to their brethren who left the land of Zarahemla (led by Zeniff (see #3.)) to settle in the land of their forefathers (also called the Land of Lehi-Nephi). King Mosiah sends a group of Nephites to find out what happens to them. This group is led by a man named "Ammon" (But it's not the Ammon you know, who had a propensity to cut off arms...)

8. (Mosiah ch. 7) Ammon finds the land of Lehi-Nephi. He is taken captive by a man named King Limhi, who is the CURRENT king over the people who were led by Zeniff to the land of their forefather's inheritance. These Nephites are in a world of hurt. They are slaves to the Lamanites. King Limhi supposed that Ammon and his bretheren were enemies (I'll explain later, it's confusing... to do so here. :) King Limhi tries to recount their history... and explains the Nephites living in the land of Lehi-Nephi led by Zeniff had been warned of a prophet and they had slain him (this is Abinadi, but we get to learn more about him too)

9. Mosiah ch. 8 - Ammon teaches the people (Nephites led by Zeniff into the land of Lehi-Nephi) about the words of King Benjamin. They desire to be baptized but this Ammon doesn't think he's worthy. King Limhi brings 24 gold plates, and desires them be interpretted. Ammon explains that King Mosiah II could intepret these plates for he is a seer. King Limhi's (Nephites led originally by Zeniff into the land of Lehi-Nephi) people had been trying to find the land of Zarahemla to see if they couldn't get some help, but found a land covered in bones and found the 24 gold plates (the book of Ether), and they thought perhaps this was the land of Zarahemla, and that the Lamanites had destroyed ALL the nephites... therefore they had long stopped hoping for deliverance from slavery to the Lamanites.

10. (Mosiah 9-10) Now we switch to the ACTUAL account of Zeniff (who led the people of Nephi out of Zarahemla to the land of Lehi-Nephi). Here we learn about a deal that Zeniff made with a King Laman in which they settled and created a city in the land of Lehi-Nephi and Zenif became a king over his people (after their first curfuffle). When King Laman dies, the Lamanites begin to attack the Nephites hoping to enslave them, so that they can have their riches. The Nephites under King Zeniff (living in the land of Lehi-Nephi) triumph against the Lamanites.

11. (Mosiah 11-12) - King Zeniff dies and King Noah takes his place. King Noah is a greedy jerk, who taxes the people and builds a great throne and lives a riotous life with harlots and lots of immorality. He kicks out all the old priests and gets new priests who will party with him. Among these priests is a man named Amulon, and another man named Alma. They like to party with harlots all night long. Then this guy named Abinadi shows up and condemns them and their lifestyle choices. This torks them off... Abinadi goes into hiding.

12. (Mosiah 12-16) Abinadi is caught. He delivers a great sermon to King Noah's evil priests. King Noah's priests try to confound Abinadi, but King Noah's priests are only made to look a fool.

13. (Mosiah 17) Alma believes the words of Abinadi. He flees King Noah and writes all the words of Abinadi, while Abinadi is put to death by fire. King Noah actually almost lets Abinadi go, but Amulon and his priest buddies use peer-pressure to keep the King from doing the right thing. Abinadi prophecies that because he is put to death that the people of Nephi will be scourged and that the descendants of King Noah's priests shall likewise do and be smitten in like manner by death by fire. Amulon and the other priests say, "Nyah-nyah-nyah!"

14. (Mosiah 18) Alma repents. He preaches the words of Abinadi to the people, who for some reason are willing to listen to him. They meet and baptize one another in the waters of Mormon (which is what Mormon, that guy that just popped into the story way back, is named after), But King Noah detecting a movement among his people, discovers Alma and sends troops to kill them, so Alma and his people flee into the wilderness.

15. At this point we now have three groups of Nephites living in the land.

• - Alma and his Nephites are living in a land they call Helam (though you don't know the name of the land til later)
• - King Noah's people living in the land of Lehi-Nephi
• - King Benjamin/Mosiah II's people living in the land of Zarahemla.

...hence your confusion is warranted... ...but let's get back to the book of Mosiah...

16. (Mosiah 19: 1-8) With less people in the land, and with the death of Abinadi, the people rise up against King Noah, led by a man named Gideon, who is something of a warrior. He chases King Noah onto a tower. From the tower they see an army of Lamanites is invading the land, so Gideon spares King Noah to defend the people.

17, (Mosiah 19: 9-12) King Noah commands his people to flee. Of course the women and children are slower, so King Noah (always the civil servant, dedicated to his people) commands his faster runners to run faster and help him go faster and to forget the kids and wives and fair daughters who can't run as well... they run off leaving the children.

18. (Mosiah 19: 13-18) Those left behind send out their fair daughters and they charm the Lamanites. The Lamanites take these Nephites captive. We know that Gideon and Limhi (son of Noah) stayed behind with the women and children, for the first thing Gideon does is send out a party of men to find King Noah, Amulon and the fellow priests, and the men who ran off like cowards.

19. (Mosiah 19:18-21) The men who were cowards realize what they've done, and realize what they did to their wives and children. They wish to go back, but King Noah and his priests want to keep running. There's a power struggle. The cowardly-suddenly-regretful men are apparently more numerous for than King Noah for they take Noah and have a barbeque with him, and were about to do the same with Amulon and the priests of King Noah, but they run away. The men return to find the men of Gideon and Limhi.

20.(Mosiah 19:22-29) The fragment of the people originally founded by Zeniff, now led by King Limhi (son of Noah) now take an oath to the King of the Lamanites that they will pay tribute half of their flocks and abundance yearly. In return, the Lamanites vow not to kill them.

21. (Mosiah 20) - The wicked priests of King Noah (including one Amulon) discover a number of young nubile lamanite women who bathe (probably naked even...) and being men of high class and once teachers of the Law of Moses, they kidnap these young girls... This causes the Lamanites to go ballistic. These lamanites attack the Nephites ruled by King Limhi living in the land of Lehi-Nephi. They capture the king of the Lamanites, and Gideon reminds King Limhi that the Priests of King Noah are horndogs... and are most likely the ones who did this thing.

22. (Mosiah 21) After working out the conflict, these Nephites try to free themselves, but are continually beaten back by the lamanites, until they finally give up and submit themselves to bondage, accepting the curse that Abinadi prophesied would be their fate. King Limhi explains to Ammon just why he thought Ammon was a priest of king noah, and brings out the 24 gold plates asking for a translation, again.

23. At this point it's worth noting that there are actually FOUR groups of Nephites living in the land.

• - The wicked priests of King Noah with their nubile young brides of the Lamanites living in a land called "Amulon" (though you don't discover this til later).
• - Alma and his Nephites are living in a land they call Helam (though you still don't know the name of this land nor where they went...)
• - King Noah's people living in the land of Lehi-Nephi
• - King Benjamin/Mosiah II's people living in the land of Zarahemla.

24. (Mosiah 22) Gideon comes up with a plan for the Nephites to escape, and they do. Ammon leads the Nephites following King Limhi into the wilderness back to the Land of Zarahemla, where they all swear fealty to King Mosiah II. An army of lamanites chases them into the wilderness... but gets lost...

25. (Mosiah 23: 1-30) - We return to the account of Alma (the first Alma, expriest of King Noah, not the one for which the book of Alma is named, btw) living with his followers in the land of Helam. Things are pretty nice, and they have no king, until an army of Lamanites shows upon their borders. They're lost. They promise to let Alma and his people alone if they just show them how to get home. Of course they don't keep this promise, but what choice did Alma have?

26. (Mosiah 23: 31-39) - Turns out that while the army of the lamanites was lost they ran into a land called Amulon and took capture the priests of King Noah. Apparently, the lamanitish women had Stockholm syndrome and fell in love with their "husbands" the priests of King Noah, and so they plead that the priests aren't slain. The King of the Lamanites and Amulon hit it off, and so when they find Alma and the people living in the land of Helam, the King of the Lamanites puts Amulon in charge of them... This is bad.

27. (Mosiah 24) Alma and his people are subjected to Amulon and the Lamanite's cruelty... They plead unto the Lord, are commanded not to... pray in their hearts, and are delivered of the Lord by the Lamanites having a slumber party... The people of Alma escape to the Land of Zarahemla. The Lamanites and Amulonites all get lost in the wilderness trying to pursue the people of Alma... And return to their homes.

28. (Mosiah 25) At this point all the Nephites are back together, save those wicked priests of King Noah, who become known as Amulonites, and mix and mingle with the Lamanites, and mostly are lumped in with them, from hereon out. They do cause troubles later, and are hunted... but that doesn't happen til after the SECOND Ammon comes along in the book of Alma...

And so... I guess my whole point is that you shouldn't feel bad if you're a bit confused by the details. THERE IS a lot going on... and heck we don't find out what was on those 24 gold plates from the Jaredites (though you don't know they're named Jaredites til later) that form the book of Ether, until near the END of the book of Mormon, and this because Moroni appended it into the record...

--Ray

Sacred Steady Support

With the birth of my new baby boy, my mind is drawn out to the duty which I have toward all my children in the Lord. The Family Proclamation (http://lds.org/library/display/0,4945,161-1-11-1,00.html) states that, "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families."

I know this may sound strange, as I work, and my wife stays at home caring for our children, but I have always struggled with my role as a provider. And I've found that whenever I have struggled with any gospel concept, I seek to understand it better. I don't know if this is so that I can "find an out" or some way around my duties, or if I just need a stronger witness or faith in the matter, but whatever the case when I ran across the following scripture from brave Captain Moroni... it struck me as profound, for I'd never noticed the wording...

Alma 44 verse 5...

5 And now, Zerahemnah, I command you, in the name of that all-powerful God, who has strengthened our arms that we have gained power over you, by our faith, by our religion, and by our rites of worship, and by our church, and by the sacred support which we owe to our wives and our children, by that liberty which binds us to our lands and our country; yea, and also by the maintenance of the sacred word of God, to which we owe all our happiness; and by all that is most dear unto us—

I thought it was fascinating that even in Moroni's time, they regarded the protection of their children as their responsibility. I have to wonder what it was like to be under the constant threat of bloodshed and harsh brutality, for our own country is so safe and peaceful by comparison. Our great challenge is different, and yet the same.

I thought the word "sacred" was particularly poignant. It stuck out to me that it was a sacred thing that a man lay down his life in the defense of his wife and children. It is a sacred thing that a man work and toil and even be bored in a life-sucking, unfulfilling, dead-end job, if it will provide for the "support" of his wife and children.

That's what it means to be a true hero in our day, and what a deceptive day it is. In a day when we are fed story after story of adventure, bold knights, magic, lords and enchantments, of men sacrificing their lives in noble acts of pure violence, we live in the most sedate (at least in terms of violence) culture ever to have been fixed upon the earth. We feed upon stories involving martial arts, epic battles, blurring lasers and faster than light speed chases, and yet the common man then gets into his car, sits in traffic for an hour both ways to and from a job in which he sits in his seat and stares at a computer screen every day...

...and we wonder why so many men, who thrive upon action, adrenaline, adventure, and a desire to be a hero, fall short of their families. Is it any wonder that things like pornography, or chemical dependence are so prevalent in our society, when they provide a little hormonal variety for what may otherwise be a rather sedentary existence?

Yet has the duty men owe to their children changed?

In recent ponderings, I've come to realize that what God wants of me, is not to be some amazing hero saving the day, pulling people from burning buildings, or swinging across the city skyline by my mutant web slinging skills... (which I try to keep a secret). He wants me to be steadfast.

Sure Christ is known as a Savior, but he is also known as a "Rock".

Helaman 5:12 beautifully states that it is upon the Rock of Christ we should build our lives, and in the same way our children may build a strong foundation if they are free first to build their little dwellings on our backs, by our support, if I am steady like a rock. What would the world be like if more men were strong and steady like a rock, rather than "on the prowl" for a perceived adventure that leads to misery and misfortune in the end?

So while I continue to dream of great adventures, that someday I may do the work of my Savior, it occurs to me that I must be planted firmly on a foundation that doesn't waver in all aspects of my life. And that steadiness may very well be sufficient for all the rest of the miracles that are to follow.

And did you ever think that such things? Such a thing as being a provider, being there day in and day out--though it's not a thrilling sword fight, was "sacred"?

I see it now more than I used to... just how rare and sacred it is, the man who stays the course, and is unshaken in his devotion to his wife and children, and everyday is a sacred steady support.

Anyhow... those are my thoughts... new babies make you think of these things.

--Ray

Corianton's Gift to us all...

Some of the most beautifully clear discussion of the atonement, our relationship with God, and Christ's atonement are found in Alma chapters 39-41, Alma's advice to his son Corianton. Sure. His son had problems, but I have to admit I'm grateful for his indiscretion. You can tell Alma loved his son enough to record his thoughts in great detail. Probably his best written speeches, because he wanted to make sure his son could have them, and in the end we got them too.

Had Corianton been as good as Shiblon, we might have gotten just half a chapter (judging from the relatively short chapter we got for his son Shiblon). So thank goodness for youthful indiscretion, if only that it can lead to good for all... well... if your Dad's a prophet... :)

--Ray

Faith unto Salvation...

The idea that (I accredit to) Joseph Smith put forth about a man needing sufficient faith "unto salvation" has always intrigued me. A comment he made about "A religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation" (Lectures on Faith 6:7)

That our faith, must keep us on the path til the end and beyond, striving, trying and returning to God, is clear from this implication. It is not a weak faith that is required, but one that propels souls to life and salvation--and renders the believer capable of weathering any sacrifice.

While reading in Alma Chapter 34 today, I read a verse that struck me as somewhat peculiar, and yet in remarkable harmony with the above sentiment--as to the codependent nature of faith and salvation.

Normally when I read these passages I get bogged down in the meaning of the Law, it's requirements on us and God's demands of Justice, and how unfair it is that Mercy cannot rob Justice.

SO I usually miss the section that I have highlighted.

13 Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a stop to the shedding of blood; then shall the law of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away.
14 And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law, every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, finfinite and eternal.
15 And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.
16 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.
17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;

(Note my emphasis highlights the SECOND reason for the infinite and eternal sacrifice of Christ, Amulek mentions two reasons, though he focuses primarily (through context of the verses around v. 15) on the first reason...)

It occurs to me that while the atonement satisfies God's laws, which are just, and clearly that is the main purpose of the scripture, Amulek notes also that it is not sufficient for us to have the faith unto salvation unless Christ himself should, in a very public, humiliating, and terrible way, give his life for us all.

Christ's sacrifice is one such that it inspires men to have faith "sufficient to save". Without that sacrifice, while we might have great laws and ideas, even inspiration from God, it would not be sufficient for us in the end... it is only in the face of the stark realization that God suffered infinitely for our sins, that we have what it takes to believe in ourselves.

Christ's sacrifice does not only put us right with God. It puts us right with us. It is so essential that we all come to lean upon the infinite atonement of Christ. That we believe in this great and last sacrifice, through which we can be made clean and perfected--perfected in Christ.

Marital Pride Cycle

(Quick Thought)

We often study the Pride Cycle in the Book of Mormon, and think of it in terms of our civilizations, but have you ever applied it to a failed marriage?

It occurs to me that I have a friend getting married soon. He's nonLDS but I am really thinking it would be a good idea to give him a Book of Mormon and explain the pride cycle in detail to him... and how it parallels our relationship, and when we begin to take each other for granted because things are going well, and what happens when we do that... and how we should try to always keep reverence for each other in a relationship.

I wonder how many other lessons are contained in the Book of Mormon that apply equally if we think in terms of the spiritual precepts taught therein.

--Ray

Edit: It occurs to me that whereever there's a covenant relationship (in the case of the Nephites it was a covenant tween God and the Nephites that he would preserve and prosper them if they trusted in Him and always remembered him), that the Book of Mormon and the Pride Cycle applies. (Then again perhaps that's my analytical side applying too restrictive a parallel... )

Here's a link to an article about Pride in Marriage from the LDS church magazine, "The Ensign" that I thought correllated with my thought.

The Last Few

The Last Few...

I just finished another go-round with the Book of Mormon, and as usual, my heart is drawn out in sympathy and sorrow for a people once enlightened by Christ that, after having been so richly blessed, turned so fully from it.

There are so many unanswered questions--so many curiosities and details left untold by the ending of the Book of Mormon. Quite obviously, because of the way that the Nephite people were destroyed, it would be impossible for someone to give a full account of the end of this great people, and Moroni makes that case in his very sad explanation at the end of Mormon ( Mormon 8:5).

One of the curiosities I often wonder about is just how many righteous Nephites remained at the time the whole Nephite nation was destroyed. Now one might wonder, "What Righteous!? They were all wicked and depraved!" and I would agree that a surface examination of the evidence does seem to indicate this. After all, the chapter Moroni Chapter 9 is a strong condemnation of the depravity and abominations of the Nephites. Certainly there were plenty who deserved the fate they got, but I do wonder if there were other Nephites who were faithful to Christ, besides the prophet.

Consider:

- Mormon 9:24 states that many of the Nephites deserted unto the Lamanites. It is possible that many of these folks were not wicked (especially considering what many of the brethren were doing) but could see that their people were doomed.

- Moroni 1:2 states that the Lamanites put to death any who will not deny the Christ, which perhaps was done because of those who deserted, or like Moroni, never surrendered, but fled elsewhere. Clearly the Lamanites weren't content just to destroy the Nephites, but they then turned on themselves and began a wholesale holocaust to eliminate all Nephite sympathizers. Whatever the case, the fact that those who would not deny the Christ were slain, and Moroni knew this, is evidence that there were actual people who were faithful to Christ and willing to lay down their lives for him--by not denying him, else Moroni would just be exaggerating his plight (which is just silly, and completely out of character for Moroni, seeing as how he tends to understate the gravity of his situtation).

Finally, I give as evidence, the whole book of Moroni, and in particular, Moroni Chapter 7, which is perhaps one of the most beautiful chapters of encouragement in Christlike Virtues in all scripture. Clearly Mormon was not speaking to a degenerate and depraved congregation, for if he were, he would not describe them as he did in verse 3, as "that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven," instead he would (as Jacob was constrained to do in 2 Nephi 9:48) be giving a very different type of sermon.

Chapter 7 really is what sparks my curiosity and conjures in me a deep sadness, perhaps more than the very depressing Chapter 9. It is evident that the prophet Mormon didn't spend all his days condemning and lamenting the Nephite wholesale endorsement of all things abominable, though clearly that's how his days ended.

What happened to these people who were encouraged to seek charity?

There are few possibilities that I can imagine:

1. They were destroyed with the wicked Nephites.
2. They fled and abandoned the Nephites, going to lands previously unknown.
3. They all turned wicked with the Nephites and were destroyed.
4. They fled to the Lamanites and eventually denied Christ or were discovered and destroyed.
5. Moroni was only addressing women and children, who were innocent victims of both the Nephites and the Lamanites.

Chances are it was a combination of all these factors. No doubt this is one of those unsolveable curiosities that will remain, but the implications are a bit troubling. We have faith that because we adhere to the principles of the Gospel and try our best in the church, that we will be protected, but if the people in which this church exists turn against the Spirit upon which that people is founded, and reject the covenants upon which they were founded, those few who remain--those last few--are quite often the innocent victim of the majority.

Captain Moroni observed, when his people were underseige.

13 For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked; therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God. (Alma 60:13)

And isn't it curious the language is shared between Captain Moroni's words so mirror the last hopeful sermon that Moroni records from his father Mormon in Chapter 7 of the book of Moroni. It is almost as though Mormon could see his people were doomed, and gave the sermon in Moroni chapter 7 to the last few faithful he could find, as encouragement to not be afraid, even though they were about to "enter into the rest of the Lord" through a brutal and horrifying death.

And that's where my heart lingers in sorrow. As a father of faithful daughters, in a generation that is turning from the God that gave them breath and freedom and such fair abundance, will they be among the fallen in this world, whose blood cries for retribution? I sorrow for these last few faithful Nephites who had no name, and were swept away, and I hope and pray that my fears are just fears and not some premonition of grevious things to come.

--Ray

Captivity of Fathers

It is evident to me that Alma thought it was very important that we not forget the "captivity of our fathers". In particular, Alma Chapter 36, which easily qualifies as one of the best chapters in all the Book of Mormon (according to me). I don't have time to go into great depth of thought in this regard, but think about your own history. Are there stories or incidents that help and guide your life and create lasting lessons that you wish to pass on to your own children?

What is your legacy?

Further, before discovering Christ, what type of captivity did you personally experience?

This morning, watching teenagers drag themselves to Seminary, it got me to thinking about how these young men and women have yet to experience true captivity--whether it be a physical loss of freedom, or a spiritual one. Then where will they turn?

It is interesting to see Alma's course of action, when he realized his own captivity, when he was about to be "cast off". Desperate for self-destruction he remembered Christ and experiencing the deepest and most miraculous healing, it changed him forever. He had no other arm to lean upon, so he trusted in God's...

It is a reminder I need, when I am discouraged due to personal weakness.

--Ray

PS> The idea that we can learn from our ancestors, and pass on a legacy is one of the great functions of personal revelation mixed with scripture. Were scripture solely confined to one book, this very process would be thwarted, yet, thanks to the Book of Mormon we know that the legacy of prophets continues even to the present day. It is a great thing!

PPS> If you search (scriptures.lds.org) in the Book of Mormon, you'll find that Alma is the prophet who uses the expression "Captivity of (my/our/their) Fathers" more than any other prophet in scripture. This was very important to him, perhaps because of how he had rejected his own father's story for a while and fought against the church... who knows... here are some references... Alma 5:6, Alma 29:11-12, and Alma 36 (both beginning and end of the chiasmus) .

New Testament Parallels

This morning, while reading John chapter 7, it occurred to me that there are so many interesting parallels between the way men received the Christ and the way they receive his servant Joseph Smith Jr. the prophet who revealed the Book of Mormon, and restored Christ's church.

I find it interesting that many folks refuse to even ask God (Moroni 10:3-5) or inquire from whence cometh these apparently "new" things, often using the Bible to claim that there is no record or prophecy or indication that such a prophet should come. This is precisely what the Jews said, as they plotted to murder him, in justification--that because he came "of Galilee" (see John 7:50-53) and the scriptures said nothing of Galilee that he could not possibly be the Messiah.

Yet, I ask, had there been a verse detailing the color of Jesus's home in Galilee, would it have mattered?

--Ray

Cookie of Doom

(here's a little something I wrote from an experience... Happy New Year, all!)

It may have been chocolate chip, it may have been oatmeal raisin, but when I saw the great cookie, little did I understand the power that it would wield over the peace of my family. This cookie was the cookie of chaos, bringing with it the power of war, envy, coercion, strife and devilry.

The story started when, after a long day of driving in the car to random shopping locales, that let’s just say, was not my choice. Mom was getting the groceries, after the shopping market had been emptied by a wayward fire alarm. As consolation, the supermarket unleashed fist-sized cookies upon the patrons who waited for the fire department to turn off the annoying buzzer. So it was that our family did wait eagerly for mother to return.

The children were at peace. They had gotten to see a large fire truck come blazing with lights and sirens into the parking lot. They had been “evacuated” from a mock disaster, and had done so safely. We were all feeling grateful that nothing menacing had clouded the event, and this had been more excitement than the girl’s had had all day. So it was with relative peace and joy that they sat content to watch the flashing lights.

Then came mother. She gave the Cookie of Doom to one of the girls in the backseat. It was implied that the cookie would be shared, but alas, immediately howls sounded, for there was cookie, but the children strapped in the front two seats had no cookie. And why should this one who was sharing the cookie the one to share the cookie? So too did the sister sitting beside the cookie bearer protest and possibly resort to physical means to obtain the cookie for herself.

The wounded psyche’s cried out. What’s wrong with me that I have no cookie?

Sondra made the observation, “Before the cookie came, you were perfectly happy.”

So you, like me, are probably pondering the deeper lessons in all things…

If you consider the absurdity of this experience, you must be thinking, as I am, that my children are insane. And yet, it appears to me this cookie had the power to exert influence bent upon creating strife and conflict. For is not the very existence of a cookie to make people happy?

I ask. Is it normal that a thing that is supposed to make people happy to have the power to bring such conflict? The children were happy, until the cookie appeared. So if you introduce an item that is designed to increase happiness, the natural thought would be that the overall happiness ratio would increase, at least a little.

How often does this sort of thing happen in our own life? How often do we receive answers to our prayers, and find ourselves less happy with the solution? Or rather than being happy with a net increase, something a bit better, we are angry and embittered because it is not as good as our neighbor or our friend, or as we “might have done” had more miracles just kept pouring in.

I suppose nowhere is this perspective more plainly illustrated in a spiritual context, than in the Book of Mormon, where comparative envy caused the entire destruction of a nation. Who knows, it might’ve even all started with a simple cookie. How is it that we with our treasures and rare items cannot rejoice one with another for the gifts we each are given and try to make the most of the happiness we are blessed to receive? Why must we continually live by comparison, by so and so and her kids, or their husband, or that wife, getting such and such and not me?

I should lead a political campaign to ban all cookies—all sources of joy—so that we’re all equally content, or miserable. Or I suppose we could swallow our pride, so that cookie was sweeter, no matter the size, when we swallowed it. :)

--Ray