New Week & New Insights

Courtesy of Robert Couse-Baker

The last few weeks have been very trying.  I've been pondering my own spirituality and noticing the negativity that seems to surround me on every side.  I worry about the attitudes of Christians, Jews, Muslims and all other religions.  I see how many have the attitude that they are "better" than the other religions and I think of the attitudes of the Zoramites in Alma 31:11-18.

The Zoramites basically said "Thank you that we are so much better and smarter than everyone else".  If anyone opposed that train of though then their leaders threw those people out of town.  I see this mentality everywhere today and it made me think of how snobby people are getting.


Satan leads people away by fine threads and by subtle jabs that get people riled up against one another.  Because when we contend with each other we don't have the Spirit with us and we definitely are not thinking about our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

The Zoramites eventually became Lamanites and went on to contend with the remainder of the Nephites.  What's interesting is that the Nephites still considered the Lamanites to be their brethren.  How often do we get into contention with someone and forget that they are our brothers or sisters?

Recently the First Presidency reminded us of this with regards to refugees.  Thinking about the state of welfare in the United States and the refugee crisis.  Mosiah 4:11-28 came to my attention and I read verses 17 & 18:

17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just 

18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

Moroni tries to remind us that we must remember where we came from or we will lose the protection of God.  This includes when we get too haughty and full of ourselves.  Elder David A. Bednar recently gave a devotional address at Brigham Young University Idaho.  In this address he reiterated a warning that he has given previously.

“In the authority of the holy Apostleship, I now raise a voice of warning and make a solemn promise. If the day ever were to come that intellectual arrogance, a lack of appreciation, and a spirit of demanding entitlement take root on this campus —among the students, faculty, employees or the administration, or within the community — then in that day the Spirit of Ricks will be well on the way to being extinguished — and the heavenly influence and blessings that have prospered this institution and the people associated with it will be withdrawn. Conversely, as long as intellectual modesty, humility, gratitude, obedience, and frugality continue to characterize those who learn and serve at BYU–Idaho, then this university will shine forth ever brighter as a beacon of righteousness and of inspired educational innovation.”

I cannot help but be worried about that warning and how people all around the world are having attitudes of superiority.  The dangers of becoming "snobs" are immense and yet it's easy for Satan to lead us down that path.

Lures, baits, and traps oh my!

Image from Wikipedia article on "Trapping"

The Winter 2016 Pathway term has begun and I'm diving back into my scripture studies and blog posts.

I have to say "long time no see".  I took a few weeks off after the Fall 2015 term and that stretched into a few more weeks.  Quite often I find myself falling into the trap of the old routine and not keeping up on new routine.

I have had a few people tell me in person that they appreciated my Becoming Project post and that they've shared it with others.  That makes me feel good.

This past week we've been studying Alma Chapters 30-35.  What struck me immediate was the recounting of the events surrounding Korihor.  I noticed a few things both written and unwritten in these passages.

For those that don't know about Korihor; he was an antichrist in the definition that he "counterfeits the true gospel or plan of salvation and that openly or secretly is set up in opposition to Christ".  Korihor preached that there was, and could be, no Christ.  When asked directly he flatly stated that he did not believe there is a God.  The problem with Korihor is that he was deceived.  And this is the part that you have to start to read between the lines (at least I did).

Alma gave Korihor several chances to turn away from the lies he was spreading.  Alma gave several examples of why the scriptures were true, why prophecy is real, why the Atonement was coming.  Korihor kept arrogantly asking for a sign.

"And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt showme a sign, that I may be convinced that there is a God,yea, show unto me that he hath power, and then will I be convinced of the truth of thy words." - Alma 30:43

Alma continues to try to reason with Korihor.  At one point Alma warns him that he has two strikes and says to him "therefore if thou shalt deny again, behold God shall smite thee, that thou shalt become dumb, that thou shalt never open thy mouth any more, that thou shalt not deceive this people any more".  But Korihor cannot resist mocking one more time.  However this time we begin to see the beginnings of the doubt creep into Korihor's defiance.

"Now Korihor said unto him: I do not deny the existence of a God, but I do not believe that there is a God; and I say also, that ye do not know that there is a God; and except ye show me a sign, I will not believe." - Alma 30:48

Note the emphasis (mine).  Suddenly Korihor is contradicting himself.  How can he not deny the existence of God but believe there is no God?  Is he simply trying to avoid being accused of blasphemy?  Is he trying to find a way out of the mess he's gotten himself into?  Regardless of the thought process it's two late.  The third strike has been taken and Alma's promise becomes true.

Courtesy of flikr user Doc

And here is the part of the event that makes me want to do a face palm for Korihor's response (emphasis added):

And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: I know that I am dumb, for I cannot speak; and I know that nothing save it were the power of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always knew that there was a God.
But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me. - Alma 30:52-53

The fact that Korihor preached against the existence of a God makes no sense to me when he admits that he not only that he always knew there was a God but also that an angel (albeit a false one) appeared to him.  And yet this is the cruelty of the deceptions of Satan.

What I noticed was that Korihor apparently never took the time to question the truthfulness of the "angel's" teachings.  He never prayed about whether or not this was something he should follow along with doing.

It's a simple precept of free-agency.  Pray about whether or not something is true.  This applies to everything.  The scriptures, prophets, teachings, revelation, are all subject to the affirming testimony of the Holy Ghost.

I know several literal anti-Christs in my life.  I have co-workers, acquaintances and friends (both online and offline) that are all avowed atheists.  Some are of the "hey believe what you want but don't push it on me and I'll leave you alone" variety.  Others, like Korihor, would ridicule and mock believers.  A few of these people would have open glee at being labelled as an anti-Christ.  The irony is that the people they mock, if they truly believers, are the same people who would care most about them and their eternal salvation.