Mormon 3

The Nephites have totally forsaken the Gospel and all reason and are now determined to kill the Lamanites. War kills the Spirit. Perhaps they had had so many wars and battles at this point that they had numbed their spiritual senses. We know enough about soldiers who return home never to be normal again to know this is possible.

Mormon says of them, ". . . They began to boast in their own strength, and began to swear before the heavens that they would avenge themselves of the blood of their brethren who has been slain by their enemies."

Vengeance- it destroys the soul. It is a canker that eats away at all that is good until the avenger succumbs and loses the ability to reason.

In the affairs of men it becomes the deadly games of war. When the enemy strikes, we must strike back to prove our strength - to give our show of power.

But the Savior taught us otherwise. He taught us to turn the other cheek, to go the second mile, to love our enemy, to do good to them that hurt you.

Will love ever prove itself in the affairs of government? I would say it was impossible if we did not have have the book of 4th Nephi.

It has to always be the goal  -to love, to be peacemakers. It works in the lives of individuals and families. It works in congregations and communities.

I saw it at Highmeadow. What a wonderful place for children!

Mormon Women for Ethical Government has 6 principles of peacemaking. I love how these are such an obvious outgrowth of the Gospel.

1. Peacemaking is proactive and courageous.
2. Peacemaking seeks to unify instead of divide.
3. Peacemaking demands great tolerance for people and none for injustice.
4. Peacemaking views human suffering as sacred.
5. Peacemaking chooses love instead of hate.
6. Peacemaking believes that ultimate peace is not only possible, but sure.

I listened to a zoom conversation about having civil conversations about tough ìssues last week. It was hosted by a news agency- Spaceship Media. I felt like I was in a Sunday School class being reminded to be kind.

1. Listen
2. Slow Down
3. Be Curious
4. Be Kind
5. Be Humble
6. Build Relationships
7. Take the High Road
8. Have Fun

Long ago Lehi wrote, Wherefore men are free according to the flesh, and all things are given unto them which are expedient to man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great mediator of all men, our to course captivity and death, according to the captivity of the devil, for her seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.  2 Nephi 2:27

Here in chapter 3 of Mormon we have two groups who have sworn to hate and kill each other.

I fear here in 2020 we have two groups in the United States that have become too much like them. Our political parties are so at odds with each other that they cannot compromise and work together for the good of our country. It is a sorry state.

Instead of aligning ourselves to one political party or the other, we who are followers of Jesus Christ must be the peacemakers.

Dear Father, please bring peace to our country.

Let us be like the Anti-Nephi-Lehites and bury our weapons of war 

Let us be l like the people of Zion where "they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them."  Moses 7:18

Let us be like the Nephites after the Savior's visit. "And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people." 4 Nephi 1:15

Elder Quentin L Cook gave a timely address in General Conference last month.  It was called Hearts Knit in Righteousness and Unity  

"In this dispensation, although we live in a special time, the world has not been blessed with the righteousness and unity described in 4 Nephi. Indeed, we live in a moment of particularly strong divisions. However, the millions who have accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ have committed themselves to achieving both righteousness and unity. We are all aware that we can do better, and that is our challenge in this day. We can be a force to lift and bless society as a whole."

That is our challenge.  Can we who are the followers of Jesus Christ do it?  The future of our world is depending on us.