9 And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. I, Pahoran, do not seek for power, save only to retain my judgment-seat that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us free.
I love this scripture. It says so much. Doesn't it make you want to be like Pahoran? It is a wonderful lesson on forgiving others and not being offended easily, but it is also a lesson in charity or Christ-like love. He was more concerned with listening to what Moroni was trying to say, than how he was saying it. (Forgiving others and not being offended easily are qualities of a person with charity.)
It reminds me of this quote by Elder Marvin J. Ashton, which I have quoted before, but which I need to read over and over again:
"Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other."
It is good to put in the scripture in Moroni 7:45 that tells us what charity is:
45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
(It is also in 1 Corinthians 13, starting with verse 4)
I like the verses from Moroni that follow verse 45:
46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail— 47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.
When I read Alma 62:11, which reads:
11 And thus ended the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; Moroni and Pahoran having restored peace to the land of Zarahemla, among their own people, having inflicted death upon all those who were not true to the cause of freedom.
It made me wonder what would have happened if Pahoran had not reacted to Moroni's anger the way he did. He responded with love and charity, and they were able to work together to accomplish great things. If someone's ego had gotten in the way, or someone were to hold a grudge, etc. they would not have been able to solve the problem. They would have made their problems a lot worse. By responding with charity, Pahoran was able to retain the Spirit, which helped him to find a solution to their problem.
Pres. Monson asked us to: Sat. am session 1. May we continue faithful in attending the temples, which are being built closer and closer to our members. 2. I repeat what prophets have long taught—that every worthy, able young man should prepare to serve a mission.
3. To those of you who are not yet to the season of life when you might serve a couples mission, I urge you to prepare now for the day when you and your spouse might do so.
Priesthood Session
4. I plead with you to make a determination right here, right now, not to deviate from the path which will lead to our goal: eternal life with our Father in Heaven. Along that straight and true path there are other goals: missionary service, temple marriage, Church activity, scripture study, prayer, temple work. There are countless worthy goals to reach as we travel through life. Needed is our commitment to reach them.
May we keep our eyes, our hearts, and our determination focused on that goal which is eternal and worth any price we will have to pay, regardless of the sacrifice we must make to reach it.
5. I plead with you to correct your mistakes. Don’t put your eternal life at risk. If you have sinned, the sooner you begin to make your way back, the sooner you will find the sweet peace and joy that come with the miracle of forgiveness.
Sun am session
6. My brothers and sisters, do we remember to give thanks for the blessings we receive? Sincerely giving thanks not only helps us recognize our blessings, but it also unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God’s love.
Regardless of our circumstances, each of us has much for which to be grateful if we will but pause and contemplate our blessings.
7. it is my prayer that in addition to all else for which we are grateful, we may ever reflect our gratitude for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
8. Let us follow Him. Let us emulate His example. Let us obey His words. By so doing, we give to Him the divine gift of gratitude.
9. I hope that we will take the time to read the conference talks....for they are deserving of our careful study.
10. He will help us and bless us as we call upon Him in our prayers, as we study His words, and as we obey His commandments. Therein is found safety; therein is found peace.
These are all the scriptures that deal with Helaman and his stripling warriors. Two things that we tend to overlook when thinking about this story is that their fathers were involved with helping and encouraging them, too. Not just their mothers. (See Alma 56:27) and there were more than 2,000 stripling warriors. There were 2,060. (See Alma 57:6) I think it would be interesting to know the story behind the 60 who didn't come at the beginning, but came to join them later. Alma 58 39 And those sons of the people of Ammon, of whom I have so highly spoken, are with me in the city of Manti; and the Lord has supported them, yea, and kept them from falling by the sword, insomuch that even aone soul has not been slain.
40 But behold, they have received many wounds; nevertheless they astand fast in that bliberty wherewith God has made them free; and they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come.
Alma 57
6 And it came to pass that in the commencement of the twenty and ninth year, we received a supply of provisions, and also an addition to our army, from the land of Zarahemla, and from the land round about, to the number of six thousand men, besides sixty of the asons of the Ammonites who had come to join their brethren, my little band of two thousand. And now behold, we were strong, yea, and we had also plenty of provisions brought unto us.
19 But behold, my little band of two thousand and sixty fought most desperately; yea, they were firm before the Lamanites, and did aadminister death unto all those who opposed them.
20 And as the remainder of our army were about to give way before the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted.
21 Yea, and they did aobey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their bmothers had taught them.
22 And now behold, it was these my sons, and those men who had been selected to convey the prisoners, to whom we owe this great victory; for it was they who did beat the Lamanites; therefore they were driven back to the city of Manti.
Alma 56 3 Behold, atwo thousand of the sons of those men whom Ammon brought down out of the land of Nephi—now ye have known that these were descendants of Laman, who was the eldest son of our father Lehi;
4 Now I need not rehearse unto you concerning their traditions or their unbelief, for thou knowest concerning all these things—
5 Therefore it sufficeth me that I tell you that two thousand of these young men have taken their weapons of war, and would that I should be their leader; and we have come forth to defend our country.
6 And now ye also know concerning the acovenant which their fathers made, that they would not take up their weapons of war against their brethren to shed blood.
7 But in the twenty and sixth year, when they saw our afflictions and our tribulations for them, they were about to abreak the covenant which they had made and take up their weapons of war in our defence.
8 But I would not suffer them that they should break this acovenant which they had made, supposing that God would strengthen us, insomuch that we should not suffer more because of the fulfilling the boath which they had taken.
9 But behold, here is one thing in which we may have great joy. For behold, in the twenty and sixth year, I, Helaman, did march at the head of these atwo thousand young men to the city of bJudea, to assist Antipus, whom ye had appointed a leader over the people of that part of the land.
10 And I did join my two thousand asons, (for they are worthy to be called sons) to the army of Antipus, in which strength Antipus did rejoice exceedingly; for behold, his army had been reduced by the Lamanites because their forces had slain a vast number of our men, for which cause we have to mourn.
Alma 56 27 And now it came to pass in the second month of this year, there was brought unto us many provisions from the fathers of those my two thousand sons.
30 Now when we saw that the Lamanites began to grow uneasy on this wise, we were desirous to bring a stratagem into effect upon them; therefore Antipus ordered that I should march forth with my little sons to a neighboring city, aas if we were carrying provisions to a neighboring city.
43 And now, whether they were overtaken by Antipus we knew not, but I said unto my men: Behold, we know not but they have halted for the purpose that we should come against them, that they might catch us in their snare;
44 Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle?
45 And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen aso great bcourage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites.
46 For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will anot suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus.
47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the aliberty of their bfathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their cmothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their amothers, saying: We bdo not doubt our mothers knew it.
49 And it came to pass that I did return with my two thousand against these Lamanites who had pursued us. And now behold, the armies of Antipus had overtaken them, and a terrible battle had commenced.
50 The army of Antipus being weary, because of their long march in so short a space of time, were about to fall into the hands of the Lamanites; and had I not returned with my two thousand they would have obtained their purpose.
Alma 53 10 And now behold, I have somewhat to say concerning the apeople of Ammon, who, in the beginning, were Lamanites; but by Ammon and his brethren, or rather by the power and word of God, they had been bconverted unto the Lord; and they had been brought down into the land of Zarahemla, and had ever since been protected by the Nephites.
11 And because of their oath they had been kept from taking up arms against their brethren; for they had taken an oath that they anever would shed blood more; and according to their oath they would have perished; yea, they would have suffered themselves to have fallen into the hands of their brethren, had it not been for the pity and the exceeding love which Ammon and his brethren had had for them.
12 And for this cause they were brought down into the land of Zarahemla; and they ever had been aprotected by the Nephites.
13 But it came to pass that when they saw the danger, and the many aafflictions and tribulations which the Nephites bore for them, they were moved with compassion and were bdesirous to take up arms in the defence of their country.
14 But behold, as they were about to take their weapons of war, they were overpowered by the persuasions of Helaman and his brethren, for they were about to abreak the boath which they had made.
15 And Helaman feared lest by so doing they should lose their souls; therefore all those who had entered into this covenant were compelled to behold their brethren wade through their afflictions, in their dangerous circumstances at this time.
16 But behold, it came to pass they had many asons, who had not entered into a covenant that they would not take their weapons of war to defend themselves against their enemies; therefore they did assemble themselves together at this time, as many as were able to take up arms, and they called themselves Nephites.
17 And they entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites, yea, to protect the land unto the alaying down of their lives; yea, even they covenanted that they never would give up their bliberty, but they would fight in all cases to protect the Nephites and themselves from bondage.
18 Now behold, there were two thousand of those young men, who entered into this covenant and took their weapons of war to defend their country.
19 And now behold, as they never had hitherto been a disadvantage to the Nephites, they became now at this period of time also a great support; for they took their weapons of war, and they would that Helaman should be their leader.
20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for acourage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.
21 Yea, they were men of truth and asoberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to bwalk uprightly before him.
22 And now it came to pass that Helaman did march at the head of his atwo thousand stripling soldiers, to the support of the people in the borders of the land on the south by the west sea.
I have been so impressed with the last few missionaries I have visited with that have recently returned from their missions. They are friendly, outgoing, happy, confident, and filled with the Spirit. It is a walking advertisement for what immersing yourself in the Gospel can do for you. How can you look at these fine young men and not know that there is definitely something to this church?!
It reminds me of this famous quote by Pres. Ezra Taft Benson:
Yes, men and women who turn their lives over to God will find out that he can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace.
Pres. Benson, BYU Devotional 10 December 1974
I would also like to add this quote:
True success in this life comes in consecrating our lives—that is, our time and choices—to God’s purposes (see John 17:1, 4; D&C 19:19). In so doing, we permit Him to raise us to our highest destiny.
D. Todd Christofferson, Reflections on a Consecrated Life, November 2010 Ensign
This is definitely in my top 10 list of favorite scriptures. I found it a while back when I was looking for a scripture that would help our family try harder to be kind. I printed it out and have hung it in various places around our house. I don't know if anyone else in the house even notices it, but I do. Every time I see it and read it, I love it more.
Ephesians 4 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
When I read this scripture, I always think of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland's wonderful General Conference address entitled "The Tongue of Angels".
Alma 50:23 But behold there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni, yea, even at this time, in the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges.
I thought this was an interesting statement considering that they had been in wars with the Lamanites. It is interesting when it says there was never a happier time among the people of Nephi since the days of Nephi. Neither of those times were easy. There were very stressful things happening. *Nephi doesn't talk of being happy, does he? Anyway, it is interesting to think about what happiness means. I think these scriptures are telling us that in the midst of great trials, we can feel happiness. That comes from feeling supported by God in our trials and feeling His love despite what is happening in our lives. It comes from having the Holy spirit with us.
When I read this scripture in Alma, it immediately made me think of this one:
Mosiah 2: 41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
*I just found a scripture where Nephi does indeed talk about happiness. I stand corrected.
2 Ne. 5: 27 27 And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.
One of my favorite movies is "It's a Wonderful Life". In my scripture study and conference talk reading, a scene in the movie keeps coming to my mind. It is talking about George Bailey's life. His brother, Harry, becomes a decorated war hero. George was not able to go fight because he had lost the hearing in one ear. (He did it by jumping into a frozen pond to save his brother's life, but that's another story!)
Anyway, instead of being a war hero like his brother, the narration says George stayed at home to fight the Battle of Bedford Falls. He collected rubber for the war effort and ran the black-out drills or something like that. Yes, a lot less glamorous, but just as necessary to the success of the war.
It makes me think about the conference talk by Pres. Henry B. Eyring called "Trust in God, Then Go and Do". He quotes the prophet, Alma, who says he wishes he could be an angel to declare repentance with a voice of thunder to the world. But he sins in his wish because he "ought to be content with the things the Lord has allotted him".
I also have been reading in Alma 48. This goes on and on about what a great leader Moroni (of Title of Liberty fame) was. He fulfilled an important assignment. Then it also adds the names of others that were "no less serviceable." They don't get the same write-up that Moroni did, but whether or not their names were listed in the Book of Mormon, what they did was just as important to the work of the Lord, though not as noticeable.
So, we need to find out what the Lord wants us to do and then go and do it. That is the most important thing any of us can do. We all have come to earth with different assignments and missions. We all ought to be content with the things the Lord has allotted to us. Sometimes we all need to just fight the Battle of Bedford falls!
