First off, I would like to publicly
admit something that I am proud of, but is also embarrassing at the same
time. It’s time to air out the
shame. This is officially the furthest I
have read in the book of Mormon in the shortest amount of time since I
graduated high school in 2001. There it
is.
This week we were finishing up in the
book of Mosiah, and launching into the marathon. The book of ALMA. I don’t know why, but I have this mental
block with Alma. It is super
intimidating, so I am publicly stating this: This year in Pathway, I will completely
read the book of Alma. I read somewhere
that if you write it down, it will happen.
So it’s happening.
I really enjoyed the first seven
chapters of Alma this week. I have a lot
of respect for Alma the Younger. To give you some background as to what is
happening in chapter one, Mosiah doesn’t have anyone to pass his kingdom on to,
and so he sets up what we know as ‘the reign of the judges’. Basically to prevent there being an evil king
who leads the people away from the church, he sets up a panel of men, chosen by
the people, to carry out and enforce the rules. Alma is the chief judge.
In the second year, we hit a bump.
The people who are not part of the church are beginning to persecute
those who are in the church. ‘Even to
blows’ as the scriptures say in Alma 1:22.
Fighting in the streets, persecuting those who believed in Christ. I like to think of it as if people really
said face to face what they say or post on Facebook. This brings me to my main
discussion point.
In Alma 1:25
Now this was a great trial
to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast
and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience
the persecution which was heaped upon them.
Alma 1:25
Alma 1:25
I feel like there have been
several times in my life where I have felt persecuted because of my
beliefs. Especially lately. It was made even more difficult that those
who chose to tell me what I believed, and how I was living my life was not
Christ like were actually my friends who used to be members of the church. It was very confusing and hurtful. However, this was a turning point for
me. I knew what I believed was
true. No amount of hurtful words or misconstrued
ideas was going to change that. I prayed
and fasted, and feel like I was given an understanding into those who choose to
persecute. People often persecute what
they don’t understand. Let’s take it a
step further. A person who understands,
or at one point understood true doctrine, could be desperately trying to make
themselves feel right about doing wrong.
Thus trying to make you as miserable as they are. Back to Alma 1:25-“ they bore with patience
the persecution that was heaped upon them.”
I like to think that the Nephite people who were diligent in keeping
God’s commandments were patient because they understood why those persecutors
were so upset. It changes your
perspective. I bet there was even some
pity for those people who were trying to make the righteous’ lives harder. I know I do.
