Hello..! Glad to be back...whew. Feeling better and back on track.
We are half way through the year with our study of the Book of Mormon. It is an amazing book...really I don't understand why I have been blessed all my life to have access to it when so many don't have that option.
It is not my intent to offend, but when trying to describe the wonder of this book it reminds me of trying to describe good quality chocolate to someone who has craved something rich and warm and satisfying yet has never had the opportunity to enjoy.
The lesson this Sunday was about the reading of 5 chapters. The last book of Mosiah which was chapter 29 and the first four chapters of the book of Alma. Here is the link to those chapters: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/29?lang=eng
After clicking on the link, at the top of the page on the right is gives the option of previous and next...and we are able to then go to the next chapters in Alma.
Jennie W. taught this week and she was wearing a beautiful bright dress which was helpful and awesome because I was kind of tired because of a very full and late night Saturday...:D So with my full attention, she taught about some things I had not before considered.
Such as, up to this point, time had been measured by the calendar of "how many years since Father Lehi had left Jerusalem"....(which was 509 years, by the way).
Now that King Mosiah had died and none of his sons would take the throne, the method of governing the people was now with judges. The chief judge being Alma.
We read in verse 43 that Alma did awalk in the ways of the Lord, and he did keep his commandments, and he did judge righteous judgments; and there was continual peace through the land.
And so time was now according to "the reign of the judges" with this being the first year of the reign of the judges.
(which just so happens to be 91 years before Christ will be born).
Well, things were going well until a man named Nehor began to establish a concept called 'priest-craft'. It is a term given to those who make it their occupation to preach and receive wages for doing so.
One of the problems with this form of preaching was shared with our class by Dave C. as he explained that the potential for flattery and vanity could keep a preacher from truly teaching the word of God as he may not want to offend and thus not get paid by his congregation. Yep, I can see how that could happen.
Nehor was preaching this and other silly concepts and he became very popular. While he was promoting his way of thinking he came upon Gideon, an older man who had been a great warrior for the people.
Nehor and Gideon got to debating the issues as Gideon was a humble man of God and did not agree with Nehor's manipulation of the people and the teachings of God.
Words turned to physical violence and tragically Nehor ended up killing Gideon.
Nehor was then taken to Alma the chief judge and was found guilty of murder and was condemned to die according to the laws of the land.
He was taken to the hill Manti and he then confessed that he had not been promoting the will of God and then he too suffered death.
Priest-craft however did not die with him and spread like wildfire among those who loved riches, honor and the vain things of the world.
The next couple of chapters are full of warfare as a man by the name of Amlici decides he wants the government to go back to the way of monarch and wants to be the king.
He gathers a supporting body and tries to overthrow the reign of judges but is not successful. Thousands and tens of thousands die in this struggle on both sides, including women and children.
His people are bitter and rename themselves as the Amlicites and mark themselves with a red mark upon their foreheads so that they are Not counted among the people of God.
Jennie ended the lesson with the thought of how we choose to mark ourselves now in the year 2012 according to what we believe and know to be pleasing to the Lord.
Are we keeping the commandments ? Do we speak with appropriate language ? What music do we choose to listen to and do we change the channel or toss the book that is offensive to God, His Son and the Holy Spirit ?
These actions are the markings of what we believe just as much as the Amlicites and their red foreheads.
As for myself, I hope to do better and appreciate the reminder...but kinda Do Not appreciate how my beloved Laughed Out Loud when I tried to justify that when I am grumpy with him that cursing is totally okay if done with Bible words such as damn, hell and ass.
Hmmm. Maybe not so much...?
Feeling humble once again,
Cynthia
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