This week in church I presented the story of Nephi (Son of Helaman, from the Book of Helaman Chapters 6-9) in a primary class. It's a rather long and complicated story, which I've often enjoyed, but never had to explain in much detail before this class. My oldest daughter, Katie was in the class, which made it all the more fun to do.

While explaining the story, it became clear to me a few principles that I'd never thought of until I was attempting to explain the reactions of these people to the mourning prophet to seven and eight year old kids. As Nephi laments the fate of a people hardened in iniquity, he wishes that he might have been born in a time when people listened to God. Despite the fact that Nephi had had great success among the Lamanites, he is so attached to his people that he almost ignores this great miracle, for his heart is so weighed down by the sins of his own nation.

I sometimes wonder if there is not a parallel here. I remember a time when being religious and respectful of one another, and (Dare I say?) "christian" was not uncommon or at least not a matter of public disdain. Such now seems to be under constant attack.

The people, upon discovering Nephi's revelation about the murder of the Chief Judge, assume that Nephi has made a pact with someone to murder him. They do this, because this is how they think. It is inconceivable to them that Nephi could be a prophet privy to know the fate via spiritual discernment, because their hearts are beholden to the enemy of all righteousness. It wasn't until such discernment was deployed to catch the murderer, and Nephi was released that people began to suspect there was more to Nephi than that he was just another murderer.

I thought the popular reaction was very insightful. People tend to see people as they see themselves. I suppose this would allow us to judge a man by what they assume about others. Not that their interpretation of others is correct, but that it says something about their minds, and where their hearts are. This is troublesome for our struggling nation, for, if I am not mistaken, the public mind seems permanently fixed upon scandal, deceit, hype, vanity, selfishness, and cynicism (this coming from someone who is frequenly accused of being an optimist).

Yet I don't want to be a part of that. I want to believe there is great good, potential for greatness even in a nation filled with such notions. Dunno if that's naieve in a fallen world, but while I lament the drift of current, I can't help but continue to hold out great hope for us all.

--Ray