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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 35 - They Did Administer Unto Them According to Their Wants



The majority of the Zoramites rejected the teaching of Alma and Amulek and forced those who believed to leave. These religious refugees fled to the land of Jershon to seek asylum among the people of Ammon. The Zoramites told the people of Ammon not to harbor the believers, and "breathed out many threatenings against them" (Alma 35:9). I am very impressed by the response of the people of Ammon who not only admitted those who were cast out from among the Zoramites, but served them and cared for them. "And now the people of Ammon did not fear [the Zoramites'] words; therefore they did not cast them out, but they did receive all the poor of the Zoramites that came over unto them; and they did nourish them, and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their inheritance; and they did administer unto them according to their wants" (Alma 35:9). The spiritual lesson about the treatment of refugees is clear. The people of Ammon were refugees themselves and were apparently moved by their own experience of religious persecution to help the beleaguered Zoramite minority. The Nephites, who had granted to land of Jershon to the people of Ammon, and now the fleeing Zoramites, actually went to war with the Lamanites in order to protect the refugees within their borders from Lamanite and Zoramite aggressors. 

 As I contrast the generosity and courage of the Nephites with the limits of my own charity I am moved to do more to help and serve refugees, and all those in need that I have the ability to touch. My efforts seem meager in the face of an ocean of suffering humanity, but I believe in the principle taught by Elder Dallin H. Oaks in the April 2018 General Conference regarding the power of small and simple things. He said, "President Steven C. Wheelwright gave an audience at Brigham Young University–Hawaii this inspired description of Alma’s teaching: 'Alma confirms for his son that indeed the pattern the Lord follows when we exercise faith in Him and follow His counsel in small and simple things is that He blesses us with small daily miracles, and over time, with marvelous works.' President Howard W. Hunter taught that 'frequently it is the commonplace tasks … that have the greatest positive effect on the lives of others, as compared with the things that the world so often relates to greatness.' A persuasive secular teaching of this same principle comes from former Senator Dan Coats of Indiana, who wrote: 'The only preparation for that one profound decision which can change a life, or even a nation, is those hundreds and thousands of half-conscious, self-defining, seemingly insignificant decisions made in private.'"

 In the face of increasing wickedness, political strife, and impending war, Alma was "grieved for the iniquity of his people" (Alma 35:15). He sorrowed for the wars, bloodshed, and contention, but mostly because "the hearts of the people began to wax hard, and that they began to be offended because of the strictness of the word, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful" (Alma 35:15). When faced with feelings of despair and helplessness at the specter  of a wicked society, Alma's response was to "caused that his sons should be gathered together, that he might give unto them every one his charge, separately, concerning the things pertaining unto righteousness" (Alma 35:16). He gave his sons priesthood counsel. Alma understood his stewardship as a father and the power that the priesthood and the word of God possessed. 

 From the teachings of President Russel M. Nelson in the April 2018 General Conference, it seems we all have something we could learn from Alma. President Nelson queried, "Now, may I voice a concern? It is this: Too many of our brothers and sisters do not fully understand the concept of priesthood power and authority. They act as though they would rather satisfy their own selfish desires and appetites than use the power of God to bless His children. I fear that too many of our brothers and sisters do not grasp the privileges that could be theirs. Some of our brethren, for example, act like they do not understand what the priesthood is and what it enables them to do." The greatest limitations on my service are my desire for comfort and disbelief that my efforts will make a difference. The transformative power of the gospel motivates us to abandon our "selfish desires and appetites" and can fill us with charity. As the desire to serve others grows, we can also place our trust and faith in God to direct our efforts and infuse them with power. Of course our efforts will make a difference, especially when guided and empowered by the priesthood power of God. 
Application Questions

 How can you use the power of the priesthood (which is available to all and founded on principles of righteousness) to minister to family, friends, and others in your sphere of influence?

 How can you serve refugees and others in need?

 What keeps you from ministering to others? How can you seek God's help to overcome these obstacles?
Image Credit: ABC News, Felicity Ogilvie

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