Mosiah 23 & 24 is bit of time hop back to follow Alma and his people now from the time they fled from before King Noah. Alma and his people traveled for 8 days and then came to a "beautiful and pleasant land, a land of pure water" (Mosiah 23:4). Once there they began to work hard and build a city that by all accounts appeared to be flourishing.
Eventually the Lamanite group that tried pursuing the people of King Limhi but got lost ran into some of King Noah's wicked priests living in a land of Amulon with the Lamanite daughters they kidnapped that are now their wives. Weird stuff here, I know.....any way the wicked priests join this group of Lamanites looking for the land of Nephi to return to but they just so happen to stumble onto Alma and his people in the land of Helam. Since Helam was thriving they desired to take it over. A compromise was made with Alma and the Lamanites so that instead of killing Alma and his people they were brought into bondage, taxed on their resources and persecuted. Now one of the wicked priests, Amulon, gained favor with the Lamanite King and was eventually the one left in charge of making Alma and his people miserable. At one point they weren't even allowed to pray out loud (Mosiah 24:12).
Alma an his people eventually start gathering supplies at night to attempt an escape. In the early morning hours "the Lord cause a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their task-masters were in a profound sleep" (Mosiah 24:19). All the people make their escape. Once they traveled all day the stopped to make camp and give thanks to God. After all present who were able, men, women, and children, had expressed their gratitude the Lord warned them that they need to keep moving because the Lamanites were awake and in pursuit. The people of Alma traveled for 12 more days before arriving in the land of Zarahemla.
Another great account of the Lord bringing a group of people out of bondage. Now that we have both stories under our belts from studying the last week it is important to compare these two experiences. One group, King Limhi and his people, were compelled to repent, forced into because they were brought under bondage and fighting their way out didn't work so the only option left was to turn to the Lord, One the other hand you have Alma and his people, again brought into bondage but strengthened by the Lord to be able to handle it because of their continually faith, repentance, and covenants with Him.
This chart and following quote are from Clyde J. Williams, a professor of religion at BYU. He stated: "As this chart shows, because Alma and his people had been humbled by the word of God rather than being compelled to be humble by their bondage as Limhi's group had been, the Lord made the bondage of Alma and his people much easier to endure. The message for us is that it is better to repent sooner than later. The slower we are to hearken to the Lord, the slower he must be in responding to our needs. How reassuring it must have been to Alma's people to experience the miracle of not feeling the burdens which were placed upon their backs. They could have not question in their minds about whose power it was that delivered them and led them back to the land of Zarahemla" (Clyde J. Williams, “Deliverance from Bondage” in The Book of Mormon: Mosiah, Salvation Only Through Christ, page 271).
I think given our current COVID-19 climate and the bondage we are feeling under it is a perfect time to step back and take an honest look at ourselves. How are we choosing to respond? Are we responding in continued faith like Alma and his people or are we being forced to turn more to the Lord because there is nothing left? Are we clearly seeing ways the Lord is lifting our burden or has he invited us to ponder solutions in our own life? It is possible to fall in both camps, somewhere in the middle?
I want to wrap up my thoughts today by sharing my favorite Book of Mormon scripture which is found in these chapters, Mosiah 24:14 which reads:
"And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions."
This scripture has brought me so much comfort over the years. Whether you are in bondage as consequences of your own actions or because of someone else's actions, the Lord will and can ease burdens. Sometimes quickly like Alma's people that couldn't even feel them, or slowly like Limhi's people because they needed that experience to more full become converted. Either way once we have had these experiences in our lives we have a responsibility to then stand and share our witness that the Lord does visit people in their afflictions.
I know the Lord is here with us even now. I know that as we strive to better Hear Him like President Nelson has asked we will find Him. We will see His hand extended in our lives offering comfort, peace, and hope in all this uncertainty. I have found Him in my efforts to study my scripture daily and provide insight for you guys. I have found Him even more as I share my spiritual thoughts with friends through text message and phone class. They have lifted me and I them by having the courage to stand and share. What experiences have you had? Who could you share that with?
Eventually the Lamanite group that tried pursuing the people of King Limhi but got lost ran into some of King Noah's wicked priests living in a land of Amulon with the Lamanite daughters they kidnapped that are now their wives. Weird stuff here, I know.....any way the wicked priests join this group of Lamanites looking for the land of Nephi to return to but they just so happen to stumble onto Alma and his people in the land of Helam. Since Helam was thriving they desired to take it over. A compromise was made with Alma and the Lamanites so that instead of killing Alma and his people they were brought into bondage, taxed on their resources and persecuted. Now one of the wicked priests, Amulon, gained favor with the Lamanite King and was eventually the one left in charge of making Alma and his people miserable. At one point they weren't even allowed to pray out loud (Mosiah 24:12).
Alma an his people eventually start gathering supplies at night to attempt an escape. In the early morning hours "the Lord cause a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their task-masters were in a profound sleep" (Mosiah 24:19). All the people make their escape. Once they traveled all day the stopped to make camp and give thanks to God. After all present who were able, men, women, and children, had expressed their gratitude the Lord warned them that they need to keep moving because the Lamanites were awake and in pursuit. The people of Alma traveled for 12 more days before arriving in the land of Zarahemla.
Another great account of the Lord bringing a group of people out of bondage. Now that we have both stories under our belts from studying the last week it is important to compare these two experiences. One group, King Limhi and his people, were compelled to repent, forced into because they were brought under bondage and fighting their way out didn't work so the only option left was to turn to the Lord, One the other hand you have Alma and his people, again brought into bondage but strengthened by the Lord to be able to handle it because of their continually faith, repentance, and covenants with Him.
Limhi’s Bondage and Deliverance
|
Alma’s Bondage and Deliverance
|
Limhi’s group was placed under
bondage with much bloodshed (Mosiah 21:5-12)
|
Alma’s group was placed under
bondage with no bloodshed (Mosiah 23:35-38, 24:9)
|
The Lord was
slow to hear their cries because they had been slow to hear Him (Mosiah
21:15)
|
The Lord was not slow to hear
their cries (Mosiah 24:10-13)
|
The Lord softened the Lamanites’
hearts so they eased the burdens of Limhi’s group (Mosiah 21:15)
|
The Lord physically eased the
burdens of Lama’s group (Mosiah 24:14-15)
|
They prospered
by degrees as their faith increased (Mosiah 21:16)
|
The Lord visited them in their
afflictions (Mosiah 24:14)
|
Gideon devised a plan of escape
(Mosiah 22:9)
|
The Lord said, “I will deliver you” (Mosiah
24:16)
|
They got the
guards drunk (Mosiah 22:7, 10)
|
The Lord put the guards to
sleep (Mosiah 24:19)
|
They needed to have Ammon lead
them to Zarahemla (Mosiah 22:11)
|
The Lord led them to Zarahemla
(Mosiah 24:23-25)
|
This chart and following quote are from Clyde J. Williams, a professor of religion at BYU. He stated: "As this chart shows, because Alma and his people had been humbled by the word of God rather than being compelled to be humble by their bondage as Limhi's group had been, the Lord made the bondage of Alma and his people much easier to endure. The message for us is that it is better to repent sooner than later. The slower we are to hearken to the Lord, the slower he must be in responding to our needs. How reassuring it must have been to Alma's people to experience the miracle of not feeling the burdens which were placed upon their backs. They could have not question in their minds about whose power it was that delivered them and led them back to the land of Zarahemla" (Clyde J. Williams, “Deliverance from Bondage” in The Book of Mormon: Mosiah, Salvation Only Through Christ, page 271).
I think given our current COVID-19 climate and the bondage we are feeling under it is a perfect time to step back and take an honest look at ourselves. How are we choosing to respond? Are we responding in continued faith like Alma and his people or are we being forced to turn more to the Lord because there is nothing left? Are we clearly seeing ways the Lord is lifting our burden or has he invited us to ponder solutions in our own life? It is possible to fall in both camps, somewhere in the middle?
I want to wrap up my thoughts today by sharing my favorite Book of Mormon scripture which is found in these chapters, Mosiah 24:14 which reads:
"And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions."
This scripture has brought me so much comfort over the years. Whether you are in bondage as consequences of your own actions or because of someone else's actions, the Lord will and can ease burdens. Sometimes quickly like Alma's people that couldn't even feel them, or slowly like Limhi's people because they needed that experience to more full become converted. Either way once we have had these experiences in our lives we have a responsibility to then stand and share our witness that the Lord does visit people in their afflictions.
I know the Lord is here with us even now. I know that as we strive to better Hear Him like President Nelson has asked we will find Him. We will see His hand extended in our lives offering comfort, peace, and hope in all this uncertainty. I have found Him in my efforts to study my scripture daily and provide insight for you guys. I have found Him even more as I share my spiritual thoughts with friends through text message and phone class. They have lifted me and I them by having the courage to stand and share. What experiences have you had? Who could you share that with?
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