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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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Alma 21 - Whithersoever They Were Led by the Spirit of the Lord


When the sons of Mosiah separated to serve their missions, Aaron preached to a hardened and wicked people. Despite building places of worship and meeting together, the Amalekites were militant unbelievers and rejected Aaron's testimony of angelic visits, the need for repentance, and prophesies of Christ. Trying to teach them, "Aaron began to open the scriptures unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and that there could be no redemption for mankind save it were through the death and sufferings of Christ, and the atonement of his blood" (Alma 21:9). Aaron's approach was similar to Ammon's. Both testified and recounted scripture in their efforts to teach the gospel, but it was received very differently. When Ammon preached to King Lamoni, he readily received the gospel, but when Aaron "began to expound these things unto [the Amalekites] they were angry with him, and began to mock him; and they would not hear the words which he spake" (Alma 21:9-10). This must have felt like a disheartening and difficult failure for Aaron, who had felt inspired in his decision to preach the gospel, and led by the Spirit to separate from his brothers to teach in the land of the Amalekites. When it became apparent that the Amalekites would not receive the word, he left and rejoined his brothers in another city, where they were no more successful, and eventually imprisoned before being freed by Ammon and King Lamoni. 
I wonder what that must have been like for Aaron. We have no insights into his emotional state, but I wonder if he experience self-doubt or resentment in the face of constant rejection. Did he regret foregoing the throne, or question his spiritual mandate to preach the gospel? I wonder if he shared the feelings in Zenos' parable of the olive trees, which captures the deep sorrow of the Lord of the vineyard when the trees did not respond to his careful cultivation.  "And it came to pass that the Lord of the vineyard wept, and said unto the servant: What could I have done more for my vineyard" (Jacob 5:41)? But through the tireless effort of the Lord of the vineyard and his servants, the trees eventually produced good fruit. "And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things. And there began to be the natural fruit again in the vineyard; and the natural branches began to grow and thrive exceedingly" (Jacob 5:72-73). Like the patient and determined gardeners in this parable, Aaron and his companions "went forth whithersoever they were led by the Spirit of the Lord, preaching the word of God ... And it came to pass that the Lord began to bless them, insomuch that they brought many to the knowledge of the truth" (Alma 21: 16-17). 

 My concerns pale in importance to the mission of Aaron and his brothers, but I know God is invested in the details of my life and wants me to succeed in my righteous desires. Good fruit may not always grow readily. Seeing the outcomes I hope for in my life may take decades of careful cultivation interspersed with chapters of exasperation and despair.  During those low points I hope I'm as undaunted as the Sons of Mosiah and trust in the guidance of the Holy Ghost. 
Application Questions

 Who are the seemingly lost causes in your life? How can you be diligent in serving them, even when they are hard to love?

 Where is the Spirit leading you?
Image Credit: www.lifeway.com

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