This tradition of telling, and passing along to children of
a special gift continued for scores of years. Many believed in it, some did
not. And the effect of personal disbelief, or belief, and the children they
told, or did not tell, would change the course of history.
There were times that the belief in the gift was so lost that men and women, sensing something missing from their lives, cried out to God to find it. God was merciful and sent angels and prophets. And those who chose to believe would anticipate too and tell their children all about, the gift.
There were times that the belief in the gift was so lost that men and women, sensing something missing from their lives, cried out to God to find it. God was merciful and sent angels and prophets. And those who chose to believe would anticipate too and tell their children all about, the gift.
The family
of Lehi and Sariah is an example. They were commanded to leave this ongoing
story in the Bible to and create their own true story, The Book of Mormon.
600 years before Christ’s birth, Lehi
was sharing the “glad tidings” and “joy” with his family. The gift that Christ
gave in His birth was that His mortal mission would begin, and once fulfilled
through his death and resurrection, would release all who believed on his name.
Being released from sin because of the “joy” of repentance!
How lucky we are to have the
Bible, and now another witness of Christ in The Book of Mormon. Jacob, one of
Lehi’s sons in was also thankful for scripture. He says, ( Jacob 4:3-4).
3 Now
in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor diligently to engraven these words
upon plates, hoping that our beloved brethren and our children will receive
them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and
not with sorrow, neither with contempt, concerning their first aparents.
4 For, for this intent have we written
these things, that they may know that we aknew of
Christ, and we had a hope of his bglory many
hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his
glory, but also all the holy cprophets
which were before us.
Men “labored
diligently” to engrave their testimonies on plates, so we could be thankful,
and know what they knew, about Christ coming.
Jacob not only engraved his testimony but he often spoke of
the “joy” of the Saints to his son Enos. When Enos’ belief turned into action-that was
called faith. That day when Enos turned his heart to God, through mighty prayer,
is a celebration of his Christ’s birth. Why? In answer to Enos’ question of how
his guilt was swept away, God answered with this: Enos 1:8.
…aBecause of thy bfaith in Christ, whom
thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall
manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee cwhole.
Enos didn’t know everything; but had a belief on his
father’s words. He acted in faith through prayer. He felt the “joy” of
repentance, because he believed Christ would come!
Alma who taught his children to believe, gave up the
judgment seat to preach belief in the Babe of Bethlehem to the people in Gideon
and other places. He taught of Christ’s birth from the virgin Mary, Jesus
sufferings so he could succor us, the need for faith, repentance and baptism.
It is remarkable to read in The Book of Mormon, angels were busy sharing the news of Christ’s coming even before that Holy Night. Alma’s missionary companion Amulek was another witness to the people. In Alma 10:10, Amulek shares:
…for behold I say unto you, that as the Lord liveth, even so has he
sent his aangel to make these things
manifest unto me…
Alma preaches (Alma 13:24, 27)
24 For behold, aangels are
declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of
preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of
his coming in his glory.
27 And now, my brethren, I awish from
the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great banxiety
even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins,
and not cprocrastinate
the day of your repentance;
28 But that ye would humble yourselves
before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and awatch and
pray continually…
A personal account is shared with us when Alma
recounts his belief story. We all have one. Alma, being a son of one who
believed, chose not to and led many to destruction. Because of a believing
fathers prayers, an angel came to stop Alma and warn him of his destruction. He was struck down for
many days. (Alma 36:16-21) He says,
17 And it came to pass that as I was thus aracked with
torment, while I was bharrowed
up by the cmemory of
my many sins, behold, I dremembered
also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of
one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.
18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this
thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, ahave
mercy on me, who am bin the cgall of
bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting dchains of edeath.
19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I
could remember my apains bno
more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
20 And oh, what ajoy, and
what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as
exceeding as was my pain!
Do you have a story of joy in repentance that
you could share with your children, your spouse?
If Alma were to come and ask us the same
question I’m about to read, about what we’ve read in the scriptures, as he did
to his son Helaman. What would be our relpy? (Alma 45:2-5)
4 And Alma said
again: Believest thou in Jesus Christ, who shall come?
The Book of Mormon teaches that true believers
in Christ have a name. (Alma 46:15)
15 And those who did
belong to the church were afaithful;
yea, all those who were true believers in Christ btook upon
them, gladly, the name of Christ, or cChristians
as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come.
Oftentimes when I am asked about my religious
belief, I say, “I’m a Christian…or some people call it Mormon.” Or I just state
the full name of Jesus’ Church.
Who can dispute of the thrill of the story of Captain
Moroni? When the land he loved was threatened by deceit in intrigue, in the
honest love of his soul for God, his land, his family and his freedom, he
rallied the people in support. He called it, the “cause of the Christians.” Alma
46:12-14, 16
And no story would feel complete without the
contributions of women and mothers, who in their own special way nurture belief
in the birth of the Son of God to the ones they’ve give birth to or bear with.
Wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, often the quiet story, only because
its glad tidings are lovingly told, playing and working alongside children. Their
shared faith, equal to the men who believed and then engraved. A group of women
who were sharing their belief during the Book of Mormon story sent 2060 believing
sons during a crucial part in Moroni’s battle. Their commanders listened to
these sons, and commented that not only did they believe their mothers words,
but that “their faith is strong in the
prophecies concerning that which is to come.”
What was to come? What was that belief? That
Christ the new babe would be born of the virgin Mary! His gift to us, that
through his name the conditions of repentance would be available.
Can you imagine being excited that a present came 2013
years ago? So excited that you tell your children all about it as if it were
going to be opened that day? I mean really honest-to-goodness excited! Because
this gift is life changing. Effecting what you think about, what you do, even
your love and all your allegiance. Welcome to reality. A father, a mother,
brothers and sisters-just like me and you. It all started in the Bible, with
the first family, Adam and Eve. This tradition of telling, and passing along to
children of a special gift continues. Many believe, some do not. And the effect
of personal disbelief, or belief, and the children we tell, or did not tell,
will change the course of history.
There are times that the belief in the gift is so lost that men and women, sensing something missing from their lives, cry out to God to find it. God is merciful and sends angels and prophets, believing neighbors and missionaries. And those who chose to believe will look on Christ’s birth and tell their children all about Him.
There are times that the belief in the gift is so lost that men and women, sensing something missing from their lives, cry out to God to find it. God is merciful and sends angels and prophets, believing neighbors and missionaries. And those who chose to believe will look on Christ’s birth and tell their children all about Him.
Praise and Glory be to God! Let us today
rejoice in His gift! Thank God for a change of heart, thank Him for repentance,
I’m thankful that I can say sorry and that it means something to another and to
myself. Do you believe in the gift?
No comments:
Post a Comment