Limhi and his people

So I know I have posted like once every 2 months...so consistent am I! Anyways, I have been reading the story of Limhi, so that is where I am. Every once in awhile I may try to go back if i am reminded of something I read earlier, but I just need to do this really try to be consistent every week in writing. Writing in here forces me to be thoughtful about what I am reading and makes me reflect on the words, when I don't I just read quickly and close the book and go off in my daily routine without much reflection or thought. It's terrible. So Mosiah 21 is where I read today. Limhis people were previously attacked by the Lamanites because the Lamanites thought that they were the ones who stole their daughters. At the end of the chapter the Lamanites had been pacified and returned to their land in peace. In chapter 21 it starts off by saying that after some time the Lamanited were getting angry again towards the Nephites. They couldn't kill them or go to war because their is an oath curretnly in place, so instead they pretty much abuse them and put heavy burdens upon their backs and work them hard. I was thinking about this because sometimes we are given rules or we are working to obey the commandments, but it is hard sometimes. So we technically don't "break" the commandments but we do little things that we think keep us within the boundaries, but we still know are wrong. Is that a bit of a stretch. I am thinking of all different things, there are rules of sexual morality, there are the clear rules of what not to do, but there are many who I think might do the things that they can feel are wrong, but technically are not the same so it seems ok or justified. There is President Clinton who didn't inhale, we need to show love and charity to others so we might technically serve them with food or serice, but we may not give true friendship or have some unkind things to say behind their backs. There are so many things in our lives we can compare this to and I think it is important to do some self reflection on this.

In verse 4 it says, "Yea, all this was done that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled." This is referring to when Abinadi had prophesied to the people what would happen...Moshiah 12:2:"...and the Lord said unto me: Strethc forth thy hand and prophesy, saying : Thus saith the Lord, it shall come to pass that this generation, because of their iniquities, shall be brought into bondage, and shall be smitten on the cheek; yea, and shall be driven by mne, and shall be slain; and the vultures of the air, and the dogs, yea, and the wild beasts, shall devour their flesh." So the Lord continues to show us in the scriptures how the prophesies will come true. He shows us these things to increase our faith, although he doesn't show us the things in our own lives so quickly. So smart, it leaves us the opportunity to build our faith in our personal lives, but gives us scripture to give us the faith and hope and to show us that it does happen. So what has our prophet been prophesying? What things are we warned of that we need to take seriously. Getting out of debt, living within our means, stay away from pornography, get your food storage and emergency preparedness together, read the scriptures daily, have Family Home evening and family prayer...these are the things I think of when I think of what I learn from General Conference. There is clearly more, but sometimes I dismiss this as just things we should do to enrich our daily lives, but I do think there is more to it. These are things we are being told to do just like the Nephites were told to repent and live righteously. That's all the time I have for today, but there is more i thought about for the latter part of the chapter that had to do with the Nephites finally becoming humble and crying to the Lord and the Lord hearing them, but being slow in their deliverance because of their sins and pride. Tough lesson to learn...but I will try and touch on that later.