Monday, July 6, 2015

Helaman 2 - 3

In Helaman chapters two and three, a lot of territory is covered but not to a great depth. Here is where Mormon makes another reference to being able to tell just a small fraction of the whole story. He mentions in passing the reign of Helaman 2 as Chief Judge and the entrenchment of the Gadiantons in society in the more settled parts of the land. I read that and I think of cities which fits my expectation that in cities, for whatever reason, it’s easier to get disconnected from God which gives rise to these secret combinations.

Mormon writes how there are great migrations of people away from the lands, including the Ammonites yet almost as just a footnote mentions it was wars and dissensions which are behind these. He goes into no detail about them: all they get is a single sentence.

In chapter three, he spends time on the growth of the church and how tens of thousands of people join the church. He elaborates on the astonishment of the people at the growth and how Heaven is freely open to all who want it. He then observes that because of this and the general prosperity of the people, pride enters into the church, then he clarifies… probably because you can’t undo engraving in metal plates, that what he meant was the church wasn’t proud, but people who professed membership in the church were. He goes on to explain how they begin persecuting the humble followers and as in Alma’s day, they resort to fasting and prayer that they might be blessed by God with more faith and the ability to endure the times.

This is a lesson for us today… we live in times where persecution will increase against those who sincerely strive to live Christlike lives. As it was for them, so it will be for us: to endure the time we must fast, pray and lean on God.

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