Day 67 Helaman 10-13 Part 2

 

I Walk by Faith, Not by Sight!

In Helaman Chapter 12, we are reminded that God blesses those who put their trust in him.  With all that God does for those he loves and who are obedient, once they receive blessings, they are quick to forget their God and they harden their hearts and decide that God isn't blessing them, but that they themselves are the ones blessing themselves. God our Father is all powerful, he is perfection, strong, and Omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, (All Knowing, All Loving, And All Powerful).

Over and over again we read in The Book of Mormon how merciful God is and how loving, forgiving, and just he is.  We read about how important Repentance is and how it is a true gift to the sinner.  We learn about the importance of serving and loving others, being worthy, being trustworthy, being dependable, and living the Commandments.  Showing by our outward actions what our hearts and minds believe and feel about God.  No, works alone do not save us and Jesus Christ atoned for us and died for us so that we can have the opportunity to repent and be received into the presence of our Father one day.  Having said this, "How we act does tell our Father in Heaven where our hearts are."  

Likening This Unto Me

I want to show my Father in Heaven that not only do I believe in him, but I believe Him.  I believe his promises, and I believe he loves me.  So, because of that, the only thing I can give him is my obedience and my choices to do good continually.  He has given me everything.  It's all I have to give him, my agency.

In Chapter 13 of Helaman, we get to learn about Samuel the Lamanite!  We will be discussing him for a few more chapters but he is introduced here.  The Nephites were wicked, and the Lamanites were keeping the law of Moses (The Commandments).  Samuel the Lamanite came to Zarahemla and was teaching the people about repentance.  They didn't like him and his message and tried to send him away.  God told him to go back and continue to preach repentance or whatever was on his heart, so he did.

The people of Zarahemla would not let him in so he climbed up on the wall, stretched out his hands, and began preaching the things on his heart.  Samuel the Lamanite started to prophesy that if the people of Zarahemla did not become converted and keep the commandments, that before 400 years' time, they would see much destruction come upon them.  That nothing would save them except they repent and have faith in the Lord.  He said Jesus Christ would come, suffer, and die for his people.  He said an angel came to him and told him of this and to declare good tidings of great joy (just like the Angel who appeared to the Shepherds in the field at the time of Jesus birth!)  Samuel said that the people aren't listening to him and he wants to declare these glad tidings of great joy to them!

God warned Samuel that if the people didn't listen, God would take away his Spirit from them and turn away from them.  Samuel told the people that if they did repent and turn their hearts towards God, he would forgive them and not be angry with them and they would not see famine, pestilence, or harsh justice for not listening and turning their hearts to him.  Samuel told them that the only reason Zarahemla was still around was because of the hearts of the righteous.  Samuel said that if it were not for the goodness of the Church of God, fire from heaven would rain down and destroy Zarahemla (Like what happened in Jerusalem!)

Samuel called them out on their hypocrisy for saying that if they had lived in the times of old, they would not have killed the prophets, but Samuel said they were worse than those of old because they don't remember the goodness of God toward them, but always remember their riches, and they cast out Samuel and wouldn't let him preach to them but wanted him not to prophesy to them in Zarahemla!  Also, Samuel told them that if he came speaking and preaching to them of things that lifted them up and things they would enjoy hearing, they would welcome him!

Samuel spoke some hard words to them.  He said that there would come a time when the Nephites would acknowledge that they are surrounded with Demons and Satan!  That they would beg for help from God but that their salvation would be too late because they procrastinated their repentance.

Likening these Chapters Unto Myself

"You are My Desire, Lord"

It is sobering to read Samuel the Lamanites words.  How often in my life have I taken my relationship with God for granted?  How often have I decided for myself to go against the commandments or if not directly disobey the commandments, not keep them in my heart.  What can I do to be a better wife, mom, sister, daughter, neighbor, church member, friend, and community member?  How often do I think about my own needs before others?  In what ways can I be mindful of my very existence on this earth and how it affects others?  Do I repent daily (I try), do I commit to do better tomorrow, and does the Lord see my efforts as genuine?

#1 I want to follow the teachings of the Prophets and educate myself more fully on what God would have me become, then I want to become whatever he wants me to be.

#2 I hope to always improve myself every day and in every way, so that I can counter Satan's attacks on my life.  I pray that God protect me from the people who will harm me spiritually, emotionally, mentally, morally, and in ways that distance me from the Savior.

#3 I want my hands to always be involved in things that uplift, create joy, and protect peace.  I want to find ways to do many good things and fill my life with activities that enhance my life and experiences as a daughter of God. I want to have such a deep and abiding love for the Scriptures that I can rely on them for most answers to my prayers.  

#4 My prayer is that as I develop myself over the next 20 years or so, that my old self disappears and is replaced with a new heart and a new spirit and soul.  To be able to acknowledge that I allowed God to work in ways in my life that allowed me to become the very best version of who God created me to be and to be like the Saints in The Church of God who were counted among the elect for their faith in God and their penitent hearts.