What brings about change?
A year ago I was not pregnant. I had a 5 year old and a 9 month old. I was just beginning to make better choices for my daily habits. Life for me was truly different. I imagine that a year from now will be very different than life is today as well. With three children instead of two, life is bound to change some.
The Nephites went back to their own lands with all of their belongings and what was left of their provisions (v. 1-2). The robbers who were set free under covenant, were given land to live on as well (v. 3) “. . . and thus they did establish peace in all the land (v. 3). And they began again to prosper and to wax great; and the twenty and sixth and seventh years passed away, and there was great order in the land; and they had formed their laws according to equity and justice (v. 4). And now there was nothing in all the land to hinder the people from prospering continually, except they should fall into transgression (v. 5). . . And thus passed away the twenty and eighth year, and the people had continual peace (v. 9).” During this time, the Nephites lived in peace and prosperity.
“And thus Satan did lead away the hearts of the people to do all manner of iniquity; therefore they had enjoyed peace but a few years (v. 16). And thus, in the commencement of the thirtieth year—the people having been delivered up for the space of a long time to be carried about by the temptations of the devil whithersoever he desired to carry them, and to do whatsoever iniquity he desired they should—and thus in the commencement of this, the thirtieth year, they were in a state of awful wickedness (v. 17).” Between the twenty-eighth year and the beginning of the thirtieth year, the Nephites became a wicked people again. In one year, they had started to fight among each other, become prideful because of their prosperity, and started persecuting others (v. 10). The rich were set above the poor (v. 12). There was a clear distinction between those who were prideful and those who were humble (v. 13). The church was “broken up” in most of the land, which led to Satan having a greater power over the people (v. 14-15).
We live in a world much like this today. We have clear distinctions between the poor and the wealthy. We have a lot of wickedness among those who have riches and wealth. We have persecutions to those who are living humbly and trying to seek God. The state of the Nephites before the Savior came to them and the state of our lives now, before the second coming are not that different. The way to avoid this state in our families, is to remain humble. To serve others often and to remain faithful in gospel through the “little” things like prayer, scripture study, family home evening, and so on.
Does knowledge make sin more serious?
We are held more accountable as members of the gospel, because we know more of the commandments of God and are expected to live them. Someone who is outside of the gospel and is not aware of the word of wisdom, cannot be held to the same level of accountability for following or breaking it.
“Now they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God concerning them, for it had been taught unto them; therefore they did wilfully rebel against God (v. 18 ).” The Nephites knew the gospel principles and chose to disobey them. In Mosiah 3:11-12 we read, “For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned (v. 11). But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 12).” Also in D&C 82:3 we read, “For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.” When we know more we are surely held more accountable for the bad choices that we make.
How do you react when you are told you are doing wrong?
“And there began to be men inspired from heaven and sent forth, standing among the people in all the land, preaching and testifying boldly of the sins and iniquities of the people, and testifying unto them concerning the redemption which the Lord would make for his people, or in other words, the resurrection of Christ; and they did testify boldly of his death and sufferings (v. 20). Now there were many of the people who were exceedingly angry because of those who testified of these things; and those who were angry were chiefly the chief judges, and they who had been high priests and lawyers; yea, all those who were lawyers were angry with those who testified of these things (v. 21). Now there was no lawyer nor judge nor high priest that could have power to condemn any one to death save their condemnation was signed by the governor of the land (v. 22). Now there were many of those who testified of the things pertaining to Christ who testified boldly, who were taken and put to death secretly by the judges, that the knowledge of their death came not unto the governor of the land until after their death (v. 23). Now behold, this was contrary to the laws of the land, that any man should be put to death except they had power from the governor of the land (v. 24)—”
Many of the Nephites did not like that some were preaching of their wickedness. People do not like to be told when they are doing something wrong, especially when they know inside that it is the truth. Many who testified of the redemption of Christ were put to death secretly. The better thing to have done, would have been to listen to the preaching and taken some time to look within to see if something in their lives needed to change for them to be better people. This is what is expected of us, when we are told something we may be doing wrong. When the church leaders chastise us for a common sin, we need to look at our lives and see if there is room for improvement.
“Therefore a complaint came up unto the land of Zarahemla, to the governor of the land, against these judges who had condemned the prophets of the Lord unto death, not according to the law (v. 25). Now it came to pass that they were taken and brought up before the judge, to be judged of the crime which they had done, according to the law which had been given by the people (v. 26). Now it came to pass that those judges had many friends and kindreds; and the remainder, yea, even almost all the lawyers and the high priests, did gather themselves together, and unite with the kindreds of those judges who were to be tried according to the law (v. 27). And they did enter into a covenant one with another, yea, even into that covenant which was given by them of old, which covenant was given and administered by the devil, to combine against all righteousness (v. 28 ). Therefore they did combine against the people of the Lord, and enter into a covenant to destroy them, and to deliver those who were guilty of murder from the grasp of justice, which was about to be administered according to the law (v. 29). And they did set at defiance the law and the rights of their country; and they did covenant one with another to destroy the governor, and to establish a king over the land, that the land should no more be at liberty but should be subject unto kings (v. 30).”
The anger of the Nephites led the people to change the way their laws worked. These were the laws established by God for them to live in peace and happiness. Instead, the allowed the wicked to rule and those wicked judges decided they wanted to make the people subject to a king, no longer having their precious liberties that they had fought so hard to keep. Sin and anger always lead to giving up liberty, which is a gift from God to all His children. I can honestly say that I feel this happening in this country today. We have a great amount of wickedness that is leading to all of our liberties being taken away from us. We would be living a very different life, if more people repented and turned to God instead of sinning and turning to wicked leaders.
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