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9 - 15 Mar - Learn With Joy and Not With Sorrow - Jacob 1 - 4

Jacob 1 - That We Might Persuade Them to Come Unto Christ I'm taking an online economics class right now, which prompted me to think of the definition of economics in the context of the scriptures. Economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources. In the case of Nephi and his successor Jacob, the plates upon which they engraved their record was a scarce resource. They were costly to make and difficult to engrave, and instilling a tradition of passing them through generations was surely cumbersome.  Recognizing the great importance of spiritual things and the challenge of maintaining records, Nephi instructed Jacob to prioritize religious instruction saying, " if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people" (Jacob 1:4).   This priority was not only reflecte...
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Mosiah 21 - They Would Have Gladly Joined with Them


After a short-lived peace, the people of Limhi try to liberate themselves only to be defeated multiple times by the Lamanites. While if future chapters we read about how they were able to escape from the control of the Lamanites, here we see the struggle and transformation that they had to undergo first as a people.  Early in the chapter we learn about the dire straits of their captivity: "And now the afflictions of the Nephites were great, and there was no way that they could deliver themselves out of their hands, for the Lamanites had surrounded them on every side" (Mosiah 21:4-5). There are many circumstances from which we are unable to deliver ourselves. The most obvious being our inability to overcome death and our own sins without the atonement of Jesus Christ. But even in smaller matters we are limited in our intellect and abilities and there are certain things that we cannot overcome or achieve without divine assistance. 

 In the case of the people of Limhi, they tried to free themselves form bondage to the Lamanites. They went to battle against the Lamanites three times, but each time they suffered heavy losses and were defeated. While devastating, this loss was instrumental in the transformation of the people of Limhi from the hardened subjects of wicked king Noah to penitent disciples of Christ. "And they did humble themselves even in the depths of humility; and they did cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions" (Mosiah 21:14).

 God is filled with perfect mercy and is eager to forgive and bless His children. In the same way that being forgiven and finding relief from guilt are distinct experiences, there is also a difference between being forgiven and finding reprieve from the consequences of sin. While we can receive forgiveness instantaneously, we may have to live with the natural results of our mistakes for our natural lives. In the case of Limhi and his people, "the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries, and began to soften the hearts of the Lamanites that they began to ease their burdens; yet the Lord did not see fit to deliver them out of bondage. And it came to pass that they began to prosper by degrees in the land" (Mosiah 21:15-16). Recovering from serious sin can be a long process of improvement "by degrees," and it would be a mistake to imagine that any meaningful change or growth could be instantaneous. The story of Alma the younger shows that the timeline for growth and change may be condensed, but the steps and the work cannot be diminished. Alma the younger was a wicked detractor of the church who saw an angel, repented, and became a powerful missionary. It would be easy to think that because it took place in a matter of days that Alma's repentance process was somehow easy. But Alma described this transformation as "wading through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death" and that his "soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more" (Mosiah 27:28-29). 

 The people of Limhi remembered and wished to join the righteous people of Alma. Alma was the priest of king Noah who fled to the waters of Mormon and converted hundreds of people to the truth of the gospel before the Lamanites captured the people of Limhi. "Yea, [the people of Limhi] did mourn for their departure, for they knew not whither they had fled. Now they would have gladly joined with them, for they themselves had entered into a covenant with God to serve him and keep his commandments. And now since the coming of Ammon, king Limhi had also entered into a covenant with God, and also many of his people, to serve him and keep his commandments" (Mosiah 21:31-32). The people of Limhi still suffered even though they had entered into a covenant with God. They made a personal commitment to God, but lacked proper priesthood authority to receive baptism. "King Limhi and many of his people were desirous to be baptized; but there was none in the land that had authority from God. And Ammon declined doing this thing, considering himself an unworthy servant" (Mosiah 21:33). Chapter 21 explains that "they were desirous to be baptized as a witness and a testimony that they were willing to serve God with all their hearts; nevertheless they did prolong the time" (Mosiah 21:35). From this I take away the importance of preparation, priesthood authority, and worthiness. It was not necessary for them to rush to be baptized before they were ready and had access to a worthy priesthood holder who could perform the ordinances. Certainly, the Lord did not see fit to curtail their bondage and suffering before miraculously delivering them from slavery. The valleys of life can be instructive chapters that undergird subsequent growth. Trying to override or fastback necessary periods of struggle could deny us of preparation and strength that we need. 
Application Questions

 What mistakes are you working through, or what growth are you pursuing that seems to be taking longer than you hoped. How is this protracted process serving you? What can you gain and learn from the experience. 

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