ON GOING BACKWARDS

 

I could not help but see something significant as I started to read about the people of Limhi this morning. Limhi was the son of Noah who was the son of Zeniff who foolishly decided to abandon the land of Zarahemla and return to the land of Lehi-Nephi, the land of ‘their fathers’ (Mosiah 9:3). This was the land from which Nephi fled and separated himself and his followers from his murderous brothers (2 Nephi 5:57). At the time of Zeniff, the land was populated by the Lamanites.

When Zeniff was first sent as a spy to the land of Lehi-Nephi, it was to check out the Lamanites’ forces so that the Nephite army could come and destroy them (Mosiah 9:1). Something interesting happened to Zeniff on this expedition. He saw the good that was among the Lamanites and he was seduced (v 1). Perhaps Lamanites were not so bad after all….Herein lies the lesson. You should never go backwards. The Lamanites were welcoming at first and vacated lands for Zeniff and his people to occupy. The king even covenanted with Zeniff granting him the land but Zeniff did not foresee  ‘the cunning and the craftiness of king Laman’ who yielded up the land to bring his people into bondage (v 9). Zeniff saw the good of the Lamanites on the surface but in reality they were ‘a lazy and idolatrous people’ who put others in bondage to provide for them (v 12). After twelve years of being settled in the land, the glitter wore off and the bondage set in (v 11).

I could not help but see how this story relates to us who have abandoned a company they should not keep seeing the dangers of sin they were falling into, or have even fallen into such a life. Once removed, don’t look back because Satan works overtime to make appealing that sinful life or that company you have abandoned. Once the re-acquaintances have been made or sin revisited even once, the bondage begins.

When we are baptized we are baptized for ‘remission’ of our sins. This means our sins are simply put in remission until the day of forgiveness. If we commit that sin that is lying in remission, it will return. It is like a cancer, which is put into remission through treatment, but it can always come back. Our sins are the same, they lie in wait to return should we fail to be diligent in cultivating our spiritual strength. If we fail to do so and the mistake is repeated, always remember there is a way out. King Limhi understood the lesson and himself recognized the way to deliverance out of bondage is by ‘turning to the Lord with full purpose of heart, putting your trust in Him, and serving Him with all diligence of mind’. Then he says something interesting. If you do all this, the Lord will  ‘according to his own will and pleasure deliver you out of bondage’ (Mosiah 7:33). Be warned, the deliverance might mean a rough road of repentance and forgiveness….as in many cases,  groups of people in the Book of Mormon proved this to be true.

The real danger of going backwards is this…..you might never return. And what a loss that would be to your soul, your family, your loved ones, to the Saviour who suffered for you and to the Father who eagerly awaits you. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Though Your Sins Be As Scarlet by Greg Olsen)

KING OF MERCY

 

“The Saviour suffered for our sins, and sickness, in part to perfect his mercy. We are indebted to the prophet Alma for our knowledge of the full measure of His suffering: “He shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people, and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities (Alma 7:11-12)….. He suffered these afflictions as we suffer them, according to the flesh. He suffered them all. He did this to perfect his mercy and his ability to lift us above every earthly trial.” (Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, p 7).

I was somewhat perplexed when I read this quote not quite understanding what President Hunter meant by the Saviour suffering in order to ‘perfect His mercy’. Scripturally, to be perfect means to be brought to its’ end, to be finished, to be fully developed, having accomplished one’s purpose (M. Nelson, Perfection Pending, Ensign Nov 1995, p 86,88).  In that respect, this statement makes sense. Christ’s mercy began in pre-existence when He volunteered to save us, but the perfection of it was achieved in His mortal life.

When we think of mercy, forgiveness of our sins comes to mind, first and foremost. However, mercy is a multi-faceted attribute. Aside from forgiveness, Christ’s mercy extends to help or succor, as President Hunter pointed out. His mercy also comes in not so obvious ways but ways which lead to ultimate end for human kind, as in mercy in establishing His Church and saving ordinances which lead us to eternal life. That’s also mercy.

Consider the ordinance of baptism. Without it there is no entrance to Celestial Kingdom. The Book of Mormon highlights its importance so well. When Alma, who had fled from King Noah with a small band of followers, preached to them the covenant of obedience by the waters of Mormon, the people were so overcome with joy that they committed to baptism there and then (Mosiah 18:10,11). Alma's first baptism was a man called Helam. His words to him took the baptismal covenant to a new level. He said: Helam, I baptise thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead...." (Mosiah 18:13). This is serious stuff. Especially considering that anciently covenants were not broken even at the point of death. This is not just about obedience but also endurance.

The best way to endure something to the end is by constant remembrance….hence the sacrament. Each Sunday we have the privilege of taking the sacrament to keep in remembrance our baptismal covenant of obedience, but not only that. It also promises Christ’s spirit will be with us if we keep the covenant. How is His spirit administered to us? Through the medium of the Holy Ghost. And what is the Holy Ghost’s primary function? Sanctification. Every time we take the sacrament  AND repent of our wrong doings, the Holy Ghost sanctifies us and preserves the remission of our sins which we were mercifully granted at the time of our baptism. Remission leads to eventual forgiveness.

I have often thought Christ’s tolerance and mercy towards us is excessive but as I reflected on it a thought came to me that He could have never subjected himself to such an unjust life, and indeed most unjust  death, if He was any other way. When He said in pre-existence, “I will save them”, He meant it and He implemented every possible way to safeguard that salvation. This is ultimate mercy. This is who Jesus Christ is.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Portrait of Christ by Chris Brazelton)