TWO-EDGED SWORD

 

 

Some of you will be very familiar with the expression of ‘the two-edged sword’. It is used as a metaphor for God’s word. To be precise, the Lord admonishes His people to give heed to His words, ‘which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword’ as an opening to several chapters of the Doctrine & Covenants (6:2; 33:1; 14:2; 11:2).

For most of us in this day and age a sword is not within our frame of reference. Basically, we can only relate to it by way of the movies we have seen. So, what is a two-edged sword? Anciently, swords that were commonly used had only one edge. Obviously, someone with an acumen in warfare invented a two-edge sword which increased the effectiveness of the weapon.

A two-edged sword could cut in any direction, no matter how the blow was struck. When you imagine the physical destruction such a sword can cause you can immediately understand what the Lord means when He says His word can ‘divide asunder both joints and marrow’ (D&C 6:2). Bone marrow is crucial to physical life and I dare say, joints equally so. Thus, we can assume that God’s word being like a two-edged sword, can bring about destruction of the soul. 

Paul told the Hebrews that God’s word is ‘sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit’ because it is a ‘discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart’ (Hebrews 4:12). This means that God’s word has the power to bring about spiritual death. This will be most evident when He returns as John the Revelator saw that out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword (Revelation 1:16) symbolising the destruction of the wicked. 

Besides being a symbol of death, the scriptures say the Lord’s word is also quick and powerful. Scripturally, the word ‘quick’ does not mean swift but rather ‘living’ or ‘alive’, as in ‘quickened by the Spirit’, which means to be given spiritual life (KJV Bible Dictionary, “Quick”, p 756).

Thus, the word of God is quick and powerful because it is a source of life, energy, and power. It is also a part of the armour of God which dispels darkness (Ephesians 6:17; D&C 27:18). Therefore, the word of God not only brings about spiritual death but also gives spiritual life. It all depends on the heed we give to it. 

Nephi and Alma spoke extensively about the word of God and what it can do for us (2 Nephi 32; Alma 32:28-43). References to the eternal rewards are endless but I will tell you what it has done for me personally here and now.

From the time I was a teenager I used to suffer from depression. At age 36 I became a serious student of the scriptures. Even as a single mother who was working full time, I would spend at least one hour a day studying the word of God. The time never seemed enough.

Some months after I started, I noticed I was no longer getting depressed. I was gaining spiritual life.  Every time I studied the scriptures and ‘gave heed to His words’ (D&C 6:2), I gained a portion of His Spirit, which healed my soul. I have not experienced depression for 32 years now. Low moments here and there, yes, but not ongoing depression.

This is the power of words. Even the ones we speak build or destroy. An example: I awoke at midnight last night for a bathroom break and made a crucial mistake of visiting Facebook to find something. I came across a critical comment about one of my recent posts on Joseph Smith.

This Church member told me I write ‘at nauseam’ about Joseph Smith, that this is not the Church of Joseph Smith and that I should put the focus on ‘whose name and personage we follow’ and that because of my writing ‘many members and non-members alike are concerned’. Those of you who are familiar with my posts will understand when I tell you that sleep evaded me for the rest of the night……

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: AI Generated)

P.S.  This post does not discredit medical attention deemed necessary by any individual for any physical or mental health issues.

 

This post does not discredit medical attention deemed necessary by any individual for any physical or mental health issues)

 

WHAT YOU DO MATTERS

Have you ever heard someone say, "It's my life, I'll do with it what I want"? I am pretty certain we are all familiar with this statement. A lot of us have heard it from our defiant children. People who have this mentality have the illusion that what they do has no or very little effect on others. There is a very powerful story in the BOM that proves this theory wrong.

The BOM always lists the seven Lehite tribes in this order: Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites (Jacob 1:13; 4 Nephi 1:37-38; Mormon 1:8-9). The Nephites, Jacobites and Josephites were the believers in Christ and were collectively called Nephites while Lamanites, Lemuelites and Ishmaelites were non-believers, referred to as Lamanites.  Zoramites are always listed in the middle of the tribes, because Zoramites were the swinging tribe. Sometimes they sided with the the Nephites and sometimes with the Lamanites.

About 74 BC was a particularly tense period of time during which the Nephites feared that the Zoramites would 'enter into a correspondence with the Lamanites' (Alma 31:4). To prevent this, Alma the Younger organised a mission to the Zoramites to strenghten their alliance with the Nephites and be counted amongst the believers. Thus the Zoromite mission became a political move as well as a spiritual endeavour. The mission did yield some converts, who had to flee to Jershon to join the people of Ammon (Alma 35:6) but the mission was overall a failure. The majority of the Zoramites did not choose to repent and they joined the Lamanites and ignited the wars contained in the Book of Alma. Their aim was to reclaim and persecute the believers who had defected to Jershon. And here is the startling part of the story: Zoramites' tipping point was Alma's son, Corianton. Alma attributed the failure of the mission to Corianton because his misconduct caused the Zoramites to not believe in Alma's words (Alma 39:1-4). Not only did Corianton abandon his mission but his behaviour was so sinful that he led many people into disbelief (Alma 39:3,4,11,12). In his attempt to bring Corianton to repentance, Alma expounded on the seriousness of sexual sin but he specified that leading people to spiritual destruction was worse and that this conduct stood next to two unpardonable sins, that of murder and the denying of the Holy Ghost   (Alma 39:5,6).

I am certain that Corinaton never knew that his choices would lead to wars as he made his way to the land of Siron in search of Isabel. And I am equally certain that Alma the Younger had no idea that his persecution of the Church and leading people into sin (Mosiah 27:8) was a sin next to murder. This is something he learnt through many years of reflection, following his repentance. And this might be another thing he learnt: what pain you inflict on others, one day becomes your own. It is no coincidence that he had an erring son because once upon a time, he was one too. He too led away many believers and caused his father, who was the high priest of the whole land of Zarahemla, great embarrassment and sorrow (Mosiah 26:38,39; 27:14)

We are spiritual beings. We are energy that spreads far and wide and affects all those around us. What we do matters. We lead each other into light or darkness. We are beacons of faith or destroyers of truth. Imagine if the light of this world was taken away and Satan reigned supreme. Imagine if there was no Christ to light the way, and because of it, we knew no love, compassion, faith, hope, joy. We do not want to cower in the shadows of darkness. As we journey on life's many roads, may we leave a trail behind us for others to follow into the light of His love where awaits eternal life.

- Cathryne Allen, Did Not Our Hearts Burn When He Opened To Us The Scriptures?

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