HEAVENLY DELIVERANCE

 

There existed in ancient America a secret society which proved to be the cause of affliction to the Nephites and the Lamanites alike. The founder of this society was a man called Gadianton but the principles that upheld his society were of a far more ancient date (3 Nephi 3:9, Moses 5:29-31). Indeed the mastermind behind the whole operation was far more clever, apt and evil than Gadianton could ever hope to be. We know this personage as Lucifer, Satan and the Devil. We see him in the obviously destructive paths but also in more subtle ways as he moves in respectable circles and hides behind deceptive and seemingly good elements that form the fabric of a society.

Just eight years prior to Christ's visit to the ancient America, this band of Gadianton robbers, under the leadership of Giddianhi, sought to annihilate the Nephite nation. Under the guise of politeness and goodwill, and using flattery, feigning concern and making false promises, he wrote to Lachoneus, the governor of the land and demanded the surrender of the Nephites and their lands. Lachoneus refused and proceeded to prepare his people for impending battle. Lachoneus was a man of God so even though he prepared his people physically, his wisest move was to prepare them spiritually (3 Nephi 3:15,16). The people obeyed and when Giddianhi descended upon them with his armies, their immediate reaction was to 'lift their cries to the Lord their God, that he would spare them and deliver them out of the hands of their enemies' (3 Nephi 4:8). 

When the battles were won and deliverance assured, Nephites' cries once again ascended to the heavens but this time in praise and gratitude knowing 'it was because of their repentance and their humility that they had been delivered from an everlasting destruction' (3 Nephi 4:33).

This particular portion of Nephite history is important because it provides us with the perfect formula for deliverance from the enemy who seeks to destroy our peace. This formula runs in this sequence: humility - repentance - supplication - deliverance - gratitude.

We live in a world ruled by the Prince of Darkness.  Like Nephites of old, we should know that there is only one sure place where we can find salvation from his destructive forces robbing us of peace and his intended eventual destruction. The recognition of the Lord's power to deliver and our dependence on Him, should be the precursor of putting our lives into order sufficiently enough to qualify for the powers of heaven to be released on our behalf.

Sometimes we may wonder how we can repent of the very thing that is beyond our capability to forsake and that we are supplicating the Lord for. Repentance might not always mean discontinuance of the wrong things we are doing but the right things we are omitting to do, such as more regular and fervent prayer, seeking the spirit, having faith, regular scripture study, or more committed Church attendance. In other words, we must be found doing what we can to qualify for heavenly help. There has to be effort and exertion towards righteousness and yielding our hearts to God…..the omittance of which, by the way, can also be classed as sin. How? Because it is in violation of the first and greatest commandment to love God with all our heart, mind and strength (D&C 59:5).

The times are dark but we are brighter still……

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Jesus In The Midst of Serenity by Ivan Guaderrama)