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...
The last verse in chapter 16 summarizes the success of Alma and Amulek in preaching the gospel before detailing the experience of the Sons of Mosiah. We see both Alma and the Sons of Mosiah at the end of their missions, a time when Alma had seen "the church ... established throughout all the land—having got the victory over the devil, and the word of God being preached in its purity in all the land, and the Lord pouring out his blessings upon the people" and the Sons of Mosiah have enjoyed incredible success as missionaries (Alma 16:21). They had all suffered immensely, witnessed tragedy, made huge personal sacrifices, and were blessed to enjoy a moment of reunion and reflection on the fruits of their labors.
Alma explains that his joy in their reunion was increased because of their shared righteousness and commitment to God. "They had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth, ... they were men of a sound understanding, and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God" (Alma 17:2-3). Without the trying and refining experiences of their missionary work, they would never have experienced this joy or known this growth. Even though they had missed out on years of personal association and the enjoyment of one another's company, their relationship was deepened because of their common purpose.
I wonder how their experience would have differed if Alma and the Sons of Mosiah had access to social media. Based on my circle of friends and acquaintances I am convinced I must be hogging all the best people on earth. I see my peer group moving forward, raising families, advancing important causes, starting businesses, serving others, and doing good in the world as teachers, doctors, activists, artists, and entrepreneurs. For me there is a sense that the children of the 80's are hitting their stride. And with all that goodness comes an ache to rally them all to live in the same cul de sac, to vacation with their families, and arrange our kids' marriages. Instead, I watch most of them from afar with wistful pride.
I see parallels between my generational experience, and the missions of the Sons of Mosiah. Instead of traveling together, "they separated themselves one from another, and went forth among them, every man alone, according to the word and power of God which was given unto him (Alma 17:17). Each of us has our own purposes and missions to fulfill, whether that is living next door to our childhood best friend, or starting a non-profit for girls' education in India. We walk according to the portion of the word and power of God that is given to us, to become more of ourselves, and give full reign to the talents and privileges we have been blessed with. As much as I long for that perpetual block party with all the people I love, I would not choose it if I could. The Sons of Mosiah explained that their reason for separating "was the cause for which the sons of Mosiah had undertaken the work, that perhaps they might bring them unto repentance; that perhaps they might bring them to know of the plan of redemption" (Alma 17:16).
Our life's work is a personal--and therefore an inherently lonely--endeavor. No one else can walk our road, and those that journey with us are only with us for a time. But our individual resolve and purpose can deepen our relationships with those united in a common goal, even if our kids can't be in the same kindergarten class. As we do good separately we grow closer together.
Before the Sons of Mosiah parted ways, Ammon taught and blessed them. "Now Ammon being the chief among them, or rather he did administer unto them, and he departed from them, after having blessed them according to their several stations, having imparted the word of God unto them, or administered unto them before his departure; and thus they took their several journeys throughout the land" (Alma 17:18). I am so grateful for those who have administered unto me, who have touched and blessed my life, and helped me on my way.
Application Questions:
What do you see as your life work? What is your unique contribution to the world?
How can connecting with the people you love and respect, even if they are a world away, strengthen your resolve to do good in the world?
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Sterling, you certainly have administered to and inspired us with the multi-faceted work you have done in the around/ around the world! I love these insights - thank you!
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