For My Profit and Learning

After initially refusing to lead the Nephites any longer, Mormon " did  go  forth  among  the  Nephites,  and  did  repent  of  the  oath  which  I  had  made  that  I  would  no  more  assist  them;  and  they  gave  me  command  again  of  their  armies,  for  they  looked  upon  me  as  though  I  could  deliver  them  from  their  afflictions" (Mormon 5:1). Mormon doesn't record anything about Mormon's reason for resuming command of the Nephite armies. It's not clear to me if this was a personal decision or a directive from God. Regardless of the role of revelation in this decision, it is significant to me that Mormon chose to continue to help and serve the Nephites even when he knew they were a lost cause doomed for destruction.  In so many instances we withhold our love and service because of a judgement we make about how much the recipient does or does not deserve our help. At this point in their decline, the Nephites no longer merited any help from Mo

Because " the Nephites repented not of the evil they had done, but persisted in their wickedness continually" they were left to their own devices and faced destruction by the Lamanites (Mormon 4:10). While bad things happen to good people, in this case the carnage and misery experienced by the Nephites could have been avoided if they had repented. The Nephites fought fiercely, but lost city after city. In fact they " were driven and slaughtered with an exceedingly great slaughter" and "their women and their  children  were again sacrificed unto idols" because they vengefully fought the Lamanites instead of turning to the Lord (Mormon 4:21). The trouble started for the Nephites when they became the aggressors in the conflict with the Lamanites. Mormon records that the Nephites' destruction  “was because the armies of the Nephites went up unto the Lamanites that they began to be smitten; for were it not for that, the Lamanites could have had no pow

Under Mormon's leadership, the Nephites were able to regroup their forces, fortify a city, and deflect the Lamanites. They even won concessions from the Lamanites to give them the northern part of the land. But in what should have been a hopeful moment, Mormon had the sobering realization that the Nephites “did not realize that it was the Lord that had spared them, and granted unto them a chance for repentance“ (Mormon 3:3). In my life I have enjoyed undeserved mercy from God. Recently I was talking about this with some friends who were visiting from out of town and explained that even at my worst, God has always been by my side. Even when I have made mistakes and committed sins, He had reached out to me in love and patience. I have had profound experiences with the Spirit, even when I have made choices that distanced me from God and should have disqualified me from feeling the feelings of the Holy Ghost. I attribute all of this to the love of God. I can identify with the wick

But Notwithstanding All Our Fortifications At only 16 years old, Mormon was placed in charge of a Nephite army embroiled in battle with the Lamanites.  His soldiers were scared and fled after the city they had fortified was overtaken by Lamanites. Talking about the fortifications, Mormon said, " And it came to pass that we did  fortify  the city with our might; but notwithstanding all our fortifications the Lamanites did come upon us and did drive us out of the city" (Mormon 2:4). Contrast this experience to previous successes of Captain Moroni, who fortified cities and repelled the Lamanites with the help of the Lord.  The essential factor was not the fortifications, but the divine assistance. When Jesus spoke to His disciples He offered peace and reassurance with the phrase "which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature." But this phrase also reminds us that we are powerlessness without God, and that even our best efforts will ultimately

As a young boy, Mormon was called to be a prophet and keep the records of the Nephites. He lived in a time of unimaginable wickedness, and lived to bear record of the depravity and destruction of his people. While the scriptures do not record much about his background, they do offer a brief glimpse into his character. Being Somewhat of a Sobermind Mormon attributed his call to be a prophet to the fact that as a child he was "sober," and "quick to observe." The prophet at the time, Ammaron, came to Mormon when he was only ten years old,  "and Ammaron said unto me: I perceive that thou art a  sober  child, and art quick to observe" (Mormon 1:2). Mormon also  mentioned that he " began to be  learned  somewhat after the manner of the learning of my people" (Mormon 1:2). "Sober" is defined in the dictionary as "earnestly thoughtful character or demeanor," "unhurried, calm," "marked by temperance, moderation,

And How Blessed Were They! After Christ's visit to the America's, a period of peace settled on the people. I love reading the extensive list of blessings that the Nephites and Lamanites enjoyed after Christ's visit to the Americas. Its almost overwhelming to imagine an entire society defined by such happiness and goodness:  "the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites" (4 Nephi 1:2) "there were no contentions and disputations among them" (4 Nephi 1:2) "every man did deal justly one with another" (4 Nephi 1:2) " they had  all  things common among them " (4 Nephi 1:3) "there were not rich and poor, bond and free " (4 Nephi 1:3) " all manner of  miracles  did they work among the children of men" (4 Nephi 1:5) " the Lord did prosper them exceedingly in the land" (4 Nephi 1:7) " the people of Nephi did wax strong, and did multipl

The book of 3 Nephi closes with a two verse chapter: " Hearken, O ye Gentiles, and hear the words of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, which he hath   commanded   me that I should speak concerning you, for, behold he commandeth me that I should write, saying: " Turn, all ye   Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and   repent   of your evil doings, of your   lyings   and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your   murders, and your   priestcrafts, and your   envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be   numbered  with my people who are of the house of Israel." - 3 Nephi 30:1-2 Mormon, who abridged the record and added his own commentary, summarized the account of Christ's visit to the America's by outlining the most basic te