How Destructive is it to Hurt Others?

In Alma, one of the books in the Book of Mormon, a group of people spent decades dedicating their lives to hatred. Their hatred was a result of generations of lies against their brothers, the Nephites. Then one brave and humble Nephite named Ammon came amongst them and showed them a pattern of goodness and honor. It led to a miraculous conversion of their king and his entire people. When they looked back on their past transgressions, it saddened them deeply to know they had been so bloodthirsty. They made a monumental decision—to bury their weapons of war deep in the earth, never to kill another person in anger again.

How destructive is gossip? How damaging is bullying?  How painful is verbal abuse? They are all harmful enough to make a person feel unwelcome in their own church setting, to keep a person from feeling valued in their family, to cause a child to commit suicide. Verbal abuse swarms around us to the point where it is difficult to get away from. And like the Lamanites of old, it’s a fashionable form of warfare. Sarcasm—vicious comments masked in humor—is the talk of the day. When we take offense and become indignant, we justify our emotional pain by throwing verbal assaults at the offender. And they retaliate with the same abuse.

Hurtful language is our modern-day weapon of war, more so than even automatic rifles or atomic bombs. We can see the destruction left in the wake of warfare. It may take decades to rebuild. But the weapon of unkind words is far more destructive. This weapon is meant to destroy the family: our personal families as well as our church families, or wards. It separates us from each other and ultimately separates us from our Heavenly Family and our eternal home.

God Loves All His Children — Even the Ones You Are Angry With

If we remember how we are loved by our Father in Heaven, we can also remember His love for our brothers. This may not be enough to keep us from being angry with each other at times, but it can be enough to help us bury our weapons of war. Our Father in Heaven loves us and has given us the tools to be like Him. Once we understand the poisonous nature of gossip, we can be quick to bury this habit forever. But how do we keep it buried? The Lamanites have given us the answer.

The Lamanites buried their weapons deep in the ground. A shallow grave was not sufficient. It must have taken them hours to dig the hole. The dirt must have weighed quite a bit when packed on top of the weapons. They left no trace, no chance for retrieval. What comes between us and our weapons of war? We must place something even greater than mounds of dirt, even deeper than a pit. Our Savior, Jesus Christ is willing to stand between us and our weapons of war.

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Jesus Christ is the reason the Lamanites made their promise. He is also the way in which we can keep our same promises. We can say to ourselves, “I refuse to gossip.” But simply making the statement is like throwing the weapons to the ground and walking away. They are still there to pick up the second a mean thought pops into our heads. But if we first dig the ditch by making our commitment to the Lord through covenants and promises to Him, we are on our way. The next step is to fill the pit with Christlike behavior, actions that are contrary to gossipy words. We can also visualize the Savior at the pit, keeping us from reaching down for our former weapons. See His loving face that has forgiven you so many times. Let Him take you in His arms instead of taking up arms. Then turn to your offender and offer words of kindness. A miracle may even occur.

Later in the story of Ammon, converted Lamanites (called the people of Ammon) faced their own opponents. How difficult it must have been to know they would die at the hands of their enemies because they would not take up arms against them—their promise to the Lord was that important to them. But their inaction caused an even greater miracle—their enemies were so taken aback by the display of faith that many converted because of it.

And so the miracle can occur between us and our offenders. When we are faced with verbal attacks, we have the Savior standing at our side. When we take the high road, when we use restraint, when we meet anger with kindness, we are giving a part of the Savior to our attacker. One day, the very same enemy might surprise you. He may be impressed with your faith—impressed enough to change his ways toward compassion as well. He may decide to bury his weapons because he sees something greater.

This article was originally published in 2014. Minor changes have been made.

Nanette ONeal

Nanette O’Neal loves the gospel and is very happy to share her testimony on LDS Blogs. She is a convert to the church and still feels the spirit burn strong within her heart. She graduated from Mason Gross School of the Arts with a degree in music education and has taught children and adults in the private and public sphere for over twenty years. Nanette continues to study the gospel and the art of writing. She writes weekly inspirational articles on her blog and is currently working on an LDS fantasy novel series, A Doorway Back to Forever. You can find her at NanetteONeal.blogspot.com. Nanette has a wonderful husband, talented son, and three beautiful dogs.

Volumes have been written about the characteristics espoused in my dad. I could elaborate on these qualities in perpetuity. He was simple, humble, and a man of integrity—a man without guile.

He would come to our homes and immediately begin visiting with us and celebrating our families. Soon he would ask us how he could help and would start looking for ways to contribute. Changing a light fixture, pruning a tree, replacing the disposal or fixing some other bothersome plumbing problem, my dad could do it all. These are just small examples. My dad would help remodel a bathroom, construct an addition, build and roof a home, as well as other tasks—large and small—because he loved us and wanted to make life better for all of us in the family. But it didn’t stop there. My father was known in the community as somebody others could count on, able to assist when needed, and always willing.

His words were comforting, wise, and highly valued. I cherish his personal history today. Much has been written about his legacy and the most important work he ever achieved in this life, which was easily determined to be his family. He was definitely a talented and loving man. But he was only a man. In worldly terms, recognition never interested him. Yes, he was a simple man and my hero.

Yet if my father warranted the love, appreciation, and admiration that he received, and if his character was to reach out to others (particularly his children and posterity) with affection, kindness, guidance, and help—then how is it that our Heavenly Father would not regularly and efficiently guide, love, and improve the lives of His children as well? Of course He would. But there is one big difference: our Heavenly Father is the God of Heaven and Earth. He is the Creator of all things in the universe—galaxies without end. All things are in His hands, and He has the ability and wherewithal to turn all things to our good.

Indeed, our Father in Heaven is involved in our lives though prophets, commandments, scripture, and ongoing revelation in our behalf today, yesterday, and tomorrow throughout our journey here on earth.

Evidence

But then the critic would say, “How can you be so sure? No man can know of things to come or be certain there is even a God in heaven at all. Life is tough. Why would a loving God allow that?”

That is a fair question, and it is not the first time it has been asked. Maybe you have heard others articulate similar sentiments. I think at one time or another, we have all heard these types of concerns. There are many ways and means that our Father guides us. One of the great things about the scriptures is that they include His direction and the answers to all of our questions—sometimes directly and other times indirectly.

It just so happens that this particular question was addressed directly on multiple occasions. We will look at just one in the Book of Mormon, found in Alma 30.

The whole chapter is marvelous. For the purpose of this article, I will summarize the occasion in my own words, then pull a reference from some specific verses.

Korihor was such a person that asked the very question I mentioned above. He said that “no man can know of anything which is to come,” and he demeaned those who believed in Christ’s promises. Korihor was articulate and convincing, and he ridiculed Christ, the Atonement, and the spirit of prophecy.

13 O ye that are bound down under a foolish and a vain hope, why do ye yoke yourselves with such foolish things? Why do ye look for a Christ? For no man can know of anything which is to come.

 

14 Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are foolish traditions of your fathers.

 

15 How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ.

This was only the beginning. He mocked people’s hope. He trampled under his feet the teachings of God and openly challenged the faithful followers of Christ. So what did they do? Probably the same thing that you or I would do in similar circumstances—these good people looked for help and brought Korihor before their leaders, which happened to be Alma at the time.

Did that change Korihor’s mind? Absolutely not. He rose up in “great swelling words before Alma, and did revile against the priests and teachers, accusing them of leading away the people after the silly traditions of their fathers, for the sake of glutting on the labors of the people.”

Alma allowed him to speak, then he questioned him briefly and retorted his false claims. But Korihor raged on. So Alma asked him, “Believest thou that there is a God?”

Korihor said that he did not, so Alma continued. Let’s return to the evidence found in the scriptures.

40 And now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only.

 

41 But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true; and will ye deny them? Believest thou that these things are true?

 

42 Behold, I know that thou believest, but thou art possessed with a lying spirit, and ye have put off the Spirit of God that it may have no place in you; but the devil has power over you, and he doth carry you about, working devices that he may destroy the children of God.

 

43 And now Korihor said unto Alma: If thou wilt show me 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.

 

44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.

 

45 And yet do ye go about, leading away the hearts of this people, testifying unto them there is no God? And yet will ye deny against all these witnesses? And he said: Yea, I will deny, except ye shall show me a sign.

Result

Directly applicable to the cynics of our day, this experience is repeated numerous instances in our time. Disbelievers continue to ask for signs, even when evidence is so prolific that it seems obvious to followers of Christ. The promises have all been fulfilled. While I don’t believe that Korihor was at all genuine in his questioning, I believe others today do have questions to which they sincerely want answers.

That is one reason the scriptures are so great. We can use them to receive the answers that we so badly need. It all comes down to doing the same thing that Alma did. He stayed true to what he knew was right and followed the Spirit when faced with what seemed like overwhelming questions.

So how can we apply Alma’s words when there are so many naysayers that seem to upset our peace in Christ and his promises? What can we do? We can follow Christ and listen to and heed His appointed leaders.

You may be saying now, “Whoa! Hold on. You didn’t finish the story! What happened to Korihor? Did he receive the sign he asked for?”

To read more articles by Walter Penning, click here.

I didn’t forget. The conclusion of that experience is in the book, but even more importantly, the book is tangible evidence for us today about why it is so important to learn of and follow Jesus Christ.

You want the answer to life’s challenges? They are in the book, too.

Future articles will talk about more heroes of mine from the Book of Mormon and how their decision to follow Christ and keep his commandments resulted in great outcomes.

We’ll discuss more heroes next week.

If you don’t want to wait, remember, it is all in the book.

Walter Penning

In 1989, Walter Penning formed a consultancy based in Salt Lake City and empowered his clients by streamlining processes and building a loyal, lifetime customer base with great customer service. His true passion is found in his family. He says the best decision he ever made was to marry his sweetheart and have children. The wonderful family she has given him and her constant love, support, and patience amid life’s challenges is his panacea.

Even though I read the Book of Mormon at least once a year, this journey through unmarked words has impacted me so much that I may never mark my scriptures again, because I realize that every time I come to the “same” verse, I’m a different person with different needs and expectations.

I don’t recall having so many thoughts and questions while reading 1 Nephi 5 before. Admittedly, I’ve looked at it as a “filler” chapter finalizing the brass plates acquisition story. But I learned a lot while reading it with unmarked scriptures. One of my favorite realizations was that 1 Nephi 5 recorded Sariah’s journey to full conversion.

Sariah’s Fear and Mourning

Sariah truly mourned the loss of her sons. Nephi recorded that the brothers’ return from the mission to get the brass plates in Jerusalem filled their parents with joy.

Lehi and Sariah welcome Nephi and his brothers after they retrieve the Brass Plates.

“And also my mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad, for she truly mourned because of us. For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; and she also had complained against my father, telling him that he was a visionary man; saying; behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness.”

Nephi recorded his father’s remarkable conversion. We don’t know what Lehi’s “church status” actually was prior to his visions and the commandment to prophesy. Maybe Lehi kept his covenants perfectly, so stepped into the prophet-leader role easily. Maybe in all of his travels, Lehi wasn’t able to attend church with his family as often as he’d liked. Did he struggle moving into a leadership role? We don’t know. All we know is that Lehi and Sariah were goodly parents and the Lord called Lehi to preach, and Lehi obeyed the commandment.

Only a couple of stories highlight women’s conversion in the Book of Mormon. I’m grateful for Sariah’s. Again, we don’t know Sariah’s church status. Did she serve piously in her callings while serving others? Was her faith shaken or strengthened by Lehi’s fervor? Was she embarrassed or proud of Lehi’s fervor?

How did she feel about leaving Jerusalem? This question, we know the answer to. Even if she knew it was the right decision at the outset, her tenuous fears bubbled to the surface when her boys returned to get the brass plates. She complained. Lehi was a visionary man. They left the land of their inheritance. Moses said they should never forsake their inheritance. Now, they were stuck in the desert. Her sons were dead. What would happen to them now? She knew. Death by wilderness.

This sounds a lot like her ancestors.

“And they were sore afraid…And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? … is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.”

Moses told them to fear not. “The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”

Now I Know

Lehi and Sariah take their family to the promised land.

Lehi told Sariah that because of his experiences in Jerusalem, he knew the goodness of God and he knew that if he had not left Jerusalem, he would have perished. He expected to find the promised land. He knew their sons were safe.

Her sons’ safe return cemented her faith in the Lord and in Lehi as the Lord’s prophet. “Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them. And after this manner of language did she speak.”

The Lord’s commandment to acquire the brass plates seemed to solidify each family member’s ultimate direction–towards or away from the Lord. Lehi continued to unapologetically declare that he was a prophet. Laman drew the lot to talk to Laban first—he could have stepped up to his role as a righteous leader, but he lacked faith and didn’t seek the faith he needed to step up successfully. Lemuel followed Laman’s lead. Nephi’s faith became unshaken. He’d confirmed the Lord required the task and expended the faith to carry it out. Sam followed Nephi. Zoram joined the family and followed Nephi.

And in her wilderness,  Sariah faced her fears—identifying the weak spots in her faith. I imagine her seeking sanctuary to pray, crying her heart out to the Lord. Her conversion didn’t come easily. When her sons returned, then she knew of a surety.

The next, and last time, the scriptures mention Sariah’s name is while Lehi recounts his vision of the Tree of Life. Sariah stood with Nephi and Sam, not knowing where to go until Lehi guided them. “And it came to pass that I beckoned unto them; and I also did say unto them with a loud voice that they should come unto me, and partake of the fruit, which was desirable above all other fruit. And it came to pass that they did come unto me and partake of the fruit also.”

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Thank you, Sariah, for keeping it real, for showing real concern and struggle. Thank you, Sariah, for demonstrating the power of a mother’s love for her children. Thank you, Sariah, for teaching us how to wholeheartedly believe, to worship, to praise the Lord. Thank you, Sariah, for being an example of how to joyfully partake of fruit even while in your wilderness.

“And it came to pass that they did rejoice exceedingly, and did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; and they gave thanks unto the God of Israel.”

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

Regardless of its actual authenticity, I loved being at that spot, in a cave under a cathedral whose bells witnessed of Christ’s birth and resurrection. It felt glorious.

I’m drawn to caves—horizontal or vertical. I love the mystery, adventure, and discovery a cave promises. I remember listening to a dramatization of the Old Testament on tape and imagining David hiding from King Saul in a cave. David approached Saul while the king slept and snipped a bit of Saul’s clothing. I don’t think I’d ever even been in a cave at that point and my imagination was wild with possibilities.

The day before our adventure to Bethlehem, on Easter Sabbath in Jerusalem, we passed through Damascus Gate, walking a few blocks to the Garden Tomb. The scene was drastically different than in Bethlehem. Only a few other pilgrims quietly made their way through the garden to the tomb.

We turned right to the overlook of Golgotha first. The hillside’s distinct facial structure (Golgotha is shaped like a skull) is evident even after so many years have passed. We wound through the top of the garden, enjoying the beautiful flowers and trees. And suddenly, I spotted it through the foliage. The Garden tomb.  I felt the same anticipation I’d experienced 25 years earlier when I first visited the spot. The little hillside stone wall stood there with two openings—a door and a window.

We ducked through the doorway into the small cave. We looked at the stone burial bed carved out of the cave wall. We could see out the window, made available for the soul to escape its tomb.

Regardless of its actual authenticity, I loved being at that spot, in a cave in a hillside whose emptiness testified of Christ’s birth and resurrection. It felt profound.

Cave Births and Tombs

I love looking for scriptural patterns. Everything testifying of Jesus has multiple examples and witnesses. Even caves testify of His personal birth, death, and resurrection, and the refuge and deliverance available to all mankind.

After Sodom’s destruction, Lot and his daughters lived in a cave. “And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.”  The daughters gave birth to their sons Moab and Ben-Ammi there.

Lazarus’ tomb was a cave. “Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.” Foreshadowing His own awakening, Jesus asked people to move the stone covering the doorway. After they moved it, Jesus “cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.” And Lazarus did.

Caves of Refuge and Deliverance or Terror

I already mentioned David seeking refuge in caves. Obadiah hid 100 prophets in two caves and fed them bread and water during Jezebel’s prophet purge.

Ether “hid himself in the cavity of a rock by day, and by night he went forth viewing the things which should come upon the people. And as he dwelt in the cavity of a rock he made the remainder of this record, viewing the destruction which came upon the people….”

After tossing Daniel into the lion’s den, the frantic king ran to the den the next morning and cried, “Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?” The Lord delivered Daniel from the lions in the cave.

The Three Nephites “twice were…cast into a den of wild beasts; and behold they did play with the beasts as a child with a suckling lamb, and received no harm.”

But for all the refuge and deliverance the righteous find in caves, the wicked use caves attempting to hide themselves and their wickedness. From the five Amorite kings Joshua found hiding in a cave to the kings of the last day, caves cannot hide them from God’s all knowing eye.

“And the kings of the earth and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”

In the cave, every man faces death and judgment and is delivered or damned.

Stand Before the Lord

My favorite cave refuge story is Elijah’s because it really demonstrates the metaphor’s significance. Fearless in defending the Lord, Elijah fled when Jezebel signed his death sentence. At Beer-sheba, a despondent Elijah asked the Lord to let him die since the people refused to repent. An angel woke Elijah with some food and instruction. Elijah walked 40 days and 40 nights to Mount Horeb.

“And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

 

And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

 

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

 

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”

With renewed purpose and vision, Elijah left the cave and renewed his ministry full of the power of God.

The Three Nephites, also valiant servants of the Most High God, “were cast down into the earth; but they did smite the earth with the word of God, insomuch that by his power they were delivered out of the depths of the earth.” It’s fascinating that as translated beings they delivered themselves out of cave depths by the power of God.

For me, the cave is a transitory place where one goes or comes to get or to lose one’s bearings. The righteous find deliverance and refuge. They exit the cave through the power of God. The wicked perish within.

Providence or Peril?

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

Bethlehem’s church bells invite me still to look in faith to current and future caves. Do I see power in providence or peril? That is up to me.

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

Moroni was a brilliant general, a highly spiritual man of God, and a great patriot. He was extremely passionate about the things that mattered to him. Usually, that passion allowed him to work miracles, such as training a group of inexperienced young men to be mighty soldiers. Sometimes, though, his passion got him into a bit of trouble, as is often the case for those of us who are passionate about things.

While leading his soldiers to reclaim lands taken from them by their enemy, he learned the city of Nephihah was in danger from their enemies, the Lamanites. He wrote to Pahoran, the governor, requesting additional soldiers and new provisions. Trusting they would arrive, he continued his work in maintaining the reclaimed cities.

However, the supplies and soldiers did not arrive and the people of Nephihah were attacked. Many died, and the survivors fled. Moroni, who loved those he served, and who loved his country, was furious. He sat down and dashed out an angry epistle to Pahoran.

He felt his government was not committed to the cause of freedom. He reminded Pahoran that he had been chosen to protect the land and to support the soldiers, but that due to his lack of concern, the soldiers were hungry and thirsty, suffering from a lack of provisions. Thousands of civilians had been killed, something that would not have happened without the neglect they’d been shown.

Can you think to sit upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor, while your enemies are spreading the work of death around you? (Alma 60:7).

Behold, could ye suppose that ye could sit upon your thrones, and because of the exceeding goodness of God ye could do nothing and he would deliver you? Behold, if ye have supposed this ye have supposed in vain (verse 11).

But why should I say much concerning this matter? For we know not but what ye yourselves are seeking for authority. We know not but what ye are also traitors to your country. Or is it that ye have neglected us because ye are in the heart of our country and ye are surrounded by security, that ye do not cause food to be sent unto us, and also men to strengthen our armies? (verses 18-19).

Moroni called Pahoran to repentance and demanded he send the supplies and soldiers requested. He threatened insurrection if his demands were not met, saying he would come there, round up anyone who supported the cause of freedom, and would kill Pahoran in order to protect the nation.

Moroni was Passing Judgment without Enough Information

Unfortunately, Moroni did not have all the facts of the situation before passing judgment on Pahoran, a man he knew and respected. His love for his soldiers and for the people he was defending, and his anguish at their suffering, coupled with his love for his country, which was under attack, led him to leap to faulty conclusions.

Pahoran was already the victim of insurrection from people in his own city who had aligned with their enemies and had forcibly removed Pahoran from his position. They had taken the city by force. Pahoran and a few of his supporters had fled and were gradually getting word to other supporters about where they were. These supporters were gathering and working towards retaking the capital. However, the provisions Moroni had requested were being held by their enemies, and the soldiers were needed to retake the capital city and thus the country. This was the reason Pahoran had not sent the requested men and provisions.

Pahoran’s Response: Christlike Love

Personally, if I’d gotten that letter from Moroni, I would have been furious. I’d have sat right down at my computer…well, scrolls, or whatever they wrote letters on…and dashed out an equally angry response, especially coming from someone who ought to have known me better than that. Then, of course, I’d have felt guilty the moment it was too late to recall the letter.

Pahoran was much more Christlike than that. He controlled himself right from the start and wrote a gentle letter. He explained the insurrection and reassured Moroni that his heart ached for the suffering of the soldiers and the citizens who had been attacked. He said, knowing that when Moroni read the explanation he would be devastated by the angry words he’d sent, that there were no hard feelings. “I am not angry, but I rejoice in the greatness of your heart.” He even insisted he was grateful for the letter because he had been uneasy about waging war to get his kingdom back. After all, some of the people he would be fighting were his own people, who had initiated the insurrection. However, Moroni’s thoughts on the role of government had reassured him that he had a duty to his people to take back the land.

He then asked Moroni to return with soldiers and anyone else he could recruit during the journey. Together, he assured Moroni, they would take back the land and remove the traitors. Finally, he sent the letter with some provisions, despite the fact that provisions were clearly in short supply among the leaders of the ousted government.

What Motivated Pahoran’s Christlike Response?

Pahoran refused to judge Moroni. He understood that Moroni was under great stress and that his sadness and fears were behind the letter. He knew this was not the person Moroni normally was and so he responded to the real Moroni, not the one who had written the letter.

Mormonism
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When we believe or say we have been offended, we usually mean we feel insulted, mistreated, snubbed, or disrespected. And certainly clumsy, embarrassing, unprincipled, and mean-spirited things do occur in our interactions with other people that would allow us to take offense. However, it ultimately is impossible for another person to offend you or to offend me. Indeed, believing that another person offended us is fundamentally false. To be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else.

In the grand division of all of God’s creations, there are things to act and things to be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:13–14). As sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father, we have been blessed with the gift of moral agency, the capacity for independent action and choice. Endowed with agency, you and I are agents, and we primarily are to act and not just be acted upon. To believe that someone or something can make us feel offended, angry, hurt, or bitter diminishes our moral agency and transforms us into objects to be acted upon. As agents, however, you and I have the power to act and to choose how we will respond to an offensive or hurtful situation—David A. Bednar, And Nothing Shall Offend Them, General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints General Conference, October 2006.

Had Pahoran reacted with anger, an entire nation might have been lost. In the end, Pahoran’s Christlike response to being verbally attacked allowed the two men to work together to save their country. Moroni was relieved to realize he had been wrong and there is no doubt he was sorry he had allowed the stress of his situation to cause him to unfairly judge his leader. He learned lessons from Pahoran’s great heart that served him the rest of his life.

http://youtu.be/GwBb33wIhAE

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

In the Book of Mormon, an ancient prophet named Nephi defined priestcraft:

“He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion” (2 Nephi 26:29).

We know, of course, that Jesus Christ is the light of the world, but some ministers and teachers of religion seem to put the focus on themselves when they teach, acting out of pride, rather than humility. They become very famous, and a lot of glitz and glamour accompanies their preaching. They become celebrities, living a rock star sort of life. While sometimes fame is inevitable, whether or not it is priestcraft depends on the way the ministry is carried out—the motive behind the actions. When the speaker spends more time talking about himself and how wonderful he is than about God and God’s plan, that can be priestcraft. If he prepares his sermons with the primary goal of entertaining, demonstrating his own talents as a speaker, or giving people what they want instead of what God wants them to have, that can be priestcraft as well.

Priesthood Without a Paycheck

Let’s look at an example in the Book of Mormon. Church leaders in the Book of Mormon took pride in the fact that they did not accept paychecks for their church work. They had regular employment and did their church work as volunteers. (Mormons today also have a lay leadership.) They did not consider themselves more important than those who were not church leaders.

And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.

And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely (Alma 1:26-27).

Unfortunately, a man named Nehor had other ideas about how the priesthood should operate, and he went to work trying to convince people he was right. In the same chapter quoted above, we learn that he set himself up as a priest and began preaching his version of the gospel to the people. He taught that priests and teachers should be paid by their audiences and shouldn’t have to have other jobs or sources of income. He taught that in order to be able to support themselves through their teachings, they needed to become popular.

When Popularity is More Important Than God–Priestcraft

Nehor demonstrated what he meant by setting out to become popular himself. How did he do that? Well, if you want lots of followers who will make you rich, you have to tell them what they want to hear—which isn’t always what God wants you to tell them. What God asks is often hard, and people frequently don’t want to hear it. So, Nehor taught that it was not important to live morally, keep commandments, or make any kinds of worldly sacrifices at all because God was going to save everyone in the end. This was the sort of thing people like to hear. (Today, this is sometimes referred to as cheap salvation or easy salvation.) This meant they could call themselves Christians, but sin was all they really wanted. There was no need to care for the poor, treat others kindly, have self-discipline, or put God first. He developed lots of followers by telling them what they wanted to hear, and they were happy to give him money, so he would keep right on lying to them. He started a church and began to dress in expensive clothing. He was very prideful—his success was all about him, not God.

The problem, of course, was that his preaching was also all about him, not God. He was lying to his followers. Anyone who has spent any time with the scriptures knows God is very clear that our actions matter. They don’t save us, but they demonstrate our commitment to God and Jesus Christ and our love for them. Making these people think they could be saved no matter how wicked they chose to be was cruel, because it was a lie. He was lying in order to win followers, gain celebrity status, and earn money. When Gideon, a teacher in the true church, confronted him about his deception, he tried to kill Gideon with his sword.

Why was Nehor’s behavior, which was priestcraft at its worst, so dangerous? Because he wanted fame and fortune, he found it more useful to preach popular ideas, rather than truth. Truth wasn’t fun or popular. He taught only what people wanted to hear and to pay for. It led to temptations that caused him to represent Satan, not God.

Most of us aren’t going on to fame and fortune, but we can find ourselves in situations that can lead us to practice priestcraft—even when no money is involved at all. It all comes down to our intent.

We Can All Be Tempted to Put Ourselves Before God

Here is a very simple example from my own life. I love to tell stories and I’m generally considered a pretty good teacher of children. When I used to tell stories in my classes in my earlier days as a children’s religion teacher, I would jazz them up a little. The lessons in the manual were sometimes boring. A little added sparkle was okay, but sometimes I was more interested in telling a great story and entertaining the children than I was in teaching the moral message.

One day I told a dull story about a girl who sneaked out of bed and played all night. The next day she was tired and cranky at home and at church. She learned to obey her parents in order to have a good day. I modeled my own telling after a popular children’s book and made it entertaining and funny. I built up in detail the misdeed and the results and then skipped hurriedly through the lesson learned, since that wasn’t much fun. The following week, a child told me she had done just what I taught in the story. I was pleased and said, “You obeyed your parents so you’d have a good day?”

“No, I sneaked out of bed and played late at night.”

I caught my breath and felt ashamed. My desire to show off my storytelling skills had led a child to think I wanted her to misbehave. This was the essence of priestcraft—I had taught for my own ego, and not for God. I apologized to the children (and later to the girl’s parents) and explained what I had done wrong and what the story was supposed to teach.

The children asked me to tell that story again. I did, but this time I told it simply and quietly, minimizing the misbehavior and amplifying the change of heart that led the child to learn to obey. Surprisingly, they liked this version just as much and often asked for it again.

While most of us won’t start churches for popular gain, we can easily find ourselves distracted from the ultimate goal of our religious work—to lead souls to Christ. If we lose sight of that goal, we are in danger of becoming a lot like Nehor and of letting God and those we teach down. True Christianity comes when God is the sole motivator for our actions.

Are you an active, practicing Latter-day Saints who loves writing about the scriptures? LDSBlogs.com is looking for a volunteer to write a weekly article like this one on the Mormon scriptures for non-members. See our Volunteer page for more information and other topics that are looking for writers.

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

Then a voice was heard in the darkness, calling on the people to repent. Imagine how they felt to have a voice coming out of such intense darkness. The people had already realized that if they had repented earlier, the lives of all those that had been lost in the storms might have been saved, and now a heavenly voice confirmed that this was the case. The voice said:

Jesus Christ Speaks to the People of the Book of Mormon

O all ye that are spared because ye were more righteous than they [those who were killed in the destruction], will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you? Yea, verily I say unto you, if ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.

Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name (3 Nephi 9:13-15).

Jesus explained to the people that since He had completed the Atonement, they would no longer be required to perform animal sacrifices. Animal sacrifices had been symbolic and looking towards Christ’s infinite sacrifice. Once His Atonement was complete, He required sacrifices of broken hearts and contrite spirits. They were to repent of their sins and allow Jesus Christ to heal them. This would lead them towards eternal life.

The people were so astonished—despite the prophecies which had foretold of this very event—that they stopped moaning and groaning about their problems. There was complete silence as they pondered what had just happened. Several hours later, Jesus Christ spoke to them again. After He had spoken, the people began crying again for those who had died. Finally, the three days of darkness ended and morning arrived—a morning of beautiful, welcome, and appreciated light. The last remnants of the storm ended and parts of the earth that had been torn apart came back together.

The people stopped wailing and started praising God, thanking Him for returning the world back to normal. They began gathering at the temple to talk about what had happened. As they were at the temple site, they heard a voice in the heavens again. Somehow, though, they were not able to understand what the voice was saying to them. It was not loud or harsh, but it pierced their souls. They began looking around, trying to see where it was coming from. The voice repeated the words, and again they didn’t understand. The third time, however, they realized what was happening and looked heavenward. The voice said, “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him” (3 Nephi 11:7).

Jesus Christ Appears to the People in the Book of Mormon

A man descended from heaven after the voice spoke. He was dressed in a white robe and the people thought He was an angel. They were silent, too nervous to speak.

And it came to pass that he stretched forth his hand and spake unto the people, saying: Behold, I am Jesus Christ, whom the prophets testified shall come into the world. And behold, I am the light and the life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning” (3 Nephi 11:9-11).

In the next article, we will learn what Jesus did during this time with them and then we’ll talk about why it is so important!

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

Enos went into the forest to hunt beasts, although this may be an allegorical statement. As he was in the forest he began to think about the things his father had taught him concerning Jesus Christ, eternal life, and the joy of having a testimony. Those things sank deep into his heart and he felt a hungering in his soul.
He knelt down there in the forest and began to pray, not an ordinary repetitious, dutiful sort of prayer, but one that came from the deepest places in his heart. He refers to what ensued as a wrestle before the Lord. He cried a full day and a full night to God for his soul.

Finally a voice spoke to him, saying, “Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.” Enos knew God spoke the truth and so he felt his guilt swept away.

Answers to prayers can come slowly

Why did God let Enos pray so long before answering him? We know that what comes too easily to us is never really appreciated. We most value what we really struggled to gain and we learn the most from the struggle. Praying so long allowed Enos to find out just how badly he really wanted forgiveness and what he was willing to do to get it. By the time it came, he was fully appreciative of the difference of how he felt when he was overwhelmed by his sins and how he felt when they were taken away.

Many people, receiving that forgiveness, might have felt relieved—and tired—and gotten up to go home. Not Enos, though. Enos let the full power of that gift that comes from the atonement of Jesus Christ into his heart and let it change him. The first thing that happened was that he longed for blessings for those he loved. He stayed on his knees-and remember he’d already been on them a day and a night—and prayed for his own people, who were called the Nephites. He was worried because the enemy nation, the Lamanites, wanted not just to kill the Nephites, but to destroy their records so they would be forgotten by history.

God promised Enos that as long as the Nephites were being faithful Christians God would protect them from their enemies. However, if they turned their backs on Him, they were on their own. (Sadly, they would sometimes do that and finally be destroyed by the Lamanites.)

The atonement makes us loving
Reassured, Enos now found his heart so expanded that he wanted to pray even for his enemy. This is the power of completely accepting the atonement—you are filled with so much love you even want those you don’t like to have that same gift of joy you have. He prayed that even if the Nephites were completely destroyed, their records would be preserved so that someday they could be used to help convert the Lamanites, something the Nephites had tried unsuccessfully to do. (They would have some success with this over time.)

God also promised this to Enos, and of course, the records to which he referred are what we now call the Book of Mormon. It is important to understand that while some Mormons, including leaders, believed all Native Americans were Lamanites, this was not accurate and was not canonized. It was nothing more than personal belief. When there is no canonized doctrine, we’re free to enjoy coming up with our own ideas—God’s way of encouraging us to use the intelligence he gave us.

The mistaken belief comes about because the Book of Mormon, as we have it today, does not mention any native populations when the first settlers arrived. Of course, the book was abridged by the last two prophets of the book, and it is very likely mentions of them were simply removed in the interest of space. It would be as if I wrote my life story and didn’t mention my neighbors (something that is likely since I don’t interact with them much), and people decided I lived in an isolated area.

However, Mormon researchers have done population studies that show the people must have no only interacted, but converted and probably intermarried with the native population in order to grow so quickly. In addition, the end of the Book of Mormon includes a great battle. All but one Nephite was killed. When the war ended, the last remaining Nephite reported that the Lamanites just kept right on fighting—each other, this time. They loved to fight. This means it is likely there weren’t many of those people left, either. However, some of the Native Americans will have Lamanite ancestry, in amounts too small to show in DNA testing, which has been shown to be lost after a few generations when the sample was small to begin with.

The Book of Mormon is not just a book for them, anyway. It was written for our time to bring all people to a testimony of Jesus Christ. The story of Enos reveals just why that testimony matters so much. When the atonement really takes hold in our hearts, it changes hatred to love. It changes everything.

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

If you’ve been following this series, you’ll remember that we’ve been studying the teachings of a man named Nephi. We are skipping a lot of great stuff now in order to get closer to the most important part of the Book of Mormon and today we’re reading the works of Nephi’s brother Jacob. When he began to keep the records, he said that God told him to keep those records that testified of Jesus Christ, because they were the most precious of all teachings.

Follow along as we read about Sherem in the Book of Mormon free online.

Anti-Christ in the Book of Mormon

Jacob noted that under the next kings, the Nephites started turning away from Jesus Christ. A man named Sherem showed up and began teaching the people that Jesus Christ would not come to earth as the prophets had testified. He told people whatever they wanted to hear (which is usually whatever makes salvation seem easy and without sacrifice of worldly pleasure) in order to lead them away from the church. He succeeded, but he really wanted to teach Jacob, knowing Jacob had a personal testimony of Jesus Christ. His plan was to use his power of speech to mesmerize Jacob into losing his testimony. He was also very learned and thought he could reason him out of a testimony.

What he didn’t understand was that a true testimony is pretty unshakable if you are living according to your faith. Jacob knew Christ was real. He’d received personal revelation, he’d seen angels, and he’d personally heard the voice of the Lord speaking to him. He lived his faith and knew its value. His faith was unshakable because he had chosen to make it that way.

Sherem’s methods were similar to those used today by people who prefer to convert by attack, taking away but giving nothing in return. Let’s look at what he did to try to shake Jacob’s faith and how Jacob was able to resist Sherem’s lies.

How People Try to Rob Us of Our Faith

First, Sherem used false labels. He said that Jacob was committing blasphemy by saying there would be a Christ and by teaching people that the Law of Moses was not the way to salvation. It should be noted that the people kept the Law of Moses, but they taught that the law did not save them—that was done only by Jesus Christ. Using the term blasphemy—incorrectly—was designed to frighten Jacob into changing his ways. Jacob wasn’t impressed. He knew he was not the one committing blasphemy because he knew the scriptures and the gospel.

Then he uses an argument that is pretty silly for anyone who is thinking. He says, “And now behold, I, Sherem, declare unto you that this is blasphemy; for no man knoweth of such things; for he cannot tell of things to come.”

What is wrong with this argument? If no one can know the future, then how does Sherem know there will not be a Christ? This is a common tactic that involves holding the other religions to a different standard than you hold your own. Turning a question around often reveals the error in this method.

Jacob didn’t argue. He simply asked Sherem if he was, then, denying the Christ. Sherem said if Christ were true, he wouldn’t deny him, but the idea of Christ was false. Jacob then turned to one of the ways we can prove what is true. He asked if Sherem knew the scriptures. Sherem said he did. Jacob gently informed him that if he knew the scriptures, then he didn’t understand them because they taught of Christ.

It’s interesting to note that the scriptures these people had were what had been written just prior to the fall of Jerusalem, not the entire Old Testament. They had what was in
existence when they left Jerusalem. “And I said unto him: Then ye do not understand them; for they truly testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you that none of the prophets have written, nor prophesied, save they have spoken concerning this Christ.” He taught Sherem that without an atonement, all mankind would be lost.

Proof or Faith?

Sherem then followed a typical pattern, asking Jacob to prove what he was saying. So many want to take the easy path to faith. Instead of studying, making a decision, praying for confirmation of our choice, and waiting for an answer, they want God to do all the work and send a visible sign that takes no familiarity with God or experience in asking for His help.

Jacob, as a prophet, warned Sherem that he was asking for proof of something he already knew. Sherem know there was a Christ—he was preaching for his own selfish purposes. He warned him that asking for a sign was inappropriate, but said that if God chose—and it was God’s choice—to send a sign, it would be that Sherem would be smitten.

This, of course, wasn’t what Sherem wanted. He wanted easy and painless confirmation, not something that would harm him. But he had been warned not to demand a sign. Religion is based on faith and testimony of the Holy Ghost. Only God could choose to give a sign, and He would choose one that met His needs, not Sherem’s needs. This was because Sherem was intentionally and knowingly playing a dangerous spiritual game and was not a sincere seeker of truth.

Sherem was stricken for several days. Then, knowing he was about to die, he asked for the people to gather so that he could confess he had been lying. He did so and then died. This was in response to Jacob’s prayer that the people would have their testimonies restored and understand that there are evil people willing to deceive them.

How to Know What is True

What is the message in this story for us? There are three steps we must take in order to find out what is true. Ezra Taft Benson, a former Mormon prophet, said this story teaches us these three steps to avoid being deceived by modern-day Sherems:

1. Find out what the scriptures say. It’s not enough to take an isolated verse you learned in a witnessing to Mormons class. You need to read all the scriptures and understand them in context and in their entirety.
2. Find out what the prophets have taught—especially the most recent prophets in modern times.
3. Gain a witness through the Holy Ghost. This comes through prayer that is sincere and seeks truth, not just what you want to hear. Let the Holy Ghost testify to you of truth after you have studied it out in your own mind and made a choice. There are some who will falsely tell you that you can’t know who is answering. Since James 1:5 says that if we lack wisdom, we can ask of God, we know this is a false Sherem-type of answer. If God tells us to pray, He will answer our prayers and He will find ways to make sure we know who is answering. It takes time and practice and patience—but the truth is worth it. Don’t you agree?

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

The people had built a synagogue, used only one day a week for their official service. In this synagogue, they had built a tall platform. They took turns climbing up onto it, putting them above the others, and there they recited a prayer. Each person gave the exact same prayer. This was the prayer they offered:

15 Holy, holy God; we believe that thou art God, and we believe that thou art holy, and that thou wast a spirit, and that thou art a spirit, and that thou wilt be a spirit forever.

16 Holy God, we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren; and we do not believe in the tradition of our brethren, which was handed down to them by the childishness of their fathers; but we believe that thou hast elected us to be thy holy children; and also thou hast made it known unto us that there shall be no Christ.

17 But thou art the same yesterday, today, and forever; and thou hast elected us that we shall be saved, whilst all around us are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to hell; for the which holiness, O God, we thank thee; and we also thank thee that thou hast elected us, that we may not be led away after the foolish traditions of our brethren, which doth bind them down to a belief of Christ, which doth lead their hearts to wander far from thee, our God.

18 And again we thank thee, O God, that we are a chosen and a holy people. Amen. (See Alma 31.)

The prayer, in short, was nothing short of a bragging session. These people believed in predestination, that they had been chosen for exaltation from the beginning and that only they could be exalted. No one else had any hope of achieving God’s grace. They felt they were better than everyone else and “holy children.” In addition, they did not believe in Jesus Christ, who had not yet been born.

Once they’d finished this arrogant task, they went home and did not pray or worship again, or even mention God, until the next Sabbath day. They felt no special obligation to God in any way and did not feel anything else was required of them other than to show up once a week to brag about how special they were. Alma noted that they came dressed up in expensive, elegant clothing and fancy jewelry, probably befitting, in their minds, their special status in the world.

Certainly their wealth was a factor in deciding who was predestined to be saved. Those who were not wealthy and didn’t have expensive clothing or lifestyles were not allowed to enter the Zoramite temples.

1 And it came to pass that they did go forth, and began to preach the word of God unto the people, entering into their synagogues, and into their houses; yea, and even they did preach the word in their streets.

2 And it came to pass that after much labor among them, they began to have success among the poor class of people; for behold, they were cast out of the synagogues because of the coarseness of their apparel—

3 Therefore they were not permitted to enter into their synagogues to worship God, being esteemed as filthiness; therefore they were poor; yea, they were esteemed by their brethren as dross; therefore they were poor as to things of the world; and also they were poor in heart.

4 Now, as Alma was teaching and speaking unto the people upon the hill Onidah, there came a great multitude unto him, who were those of whom we have been speaking, of whom were poor in heart, because of their poverty as to the things of the world.

5 And they came unto Alma; and the one who was the foremost among them said unto him: Behold, what shall these my brethren do, for they are despised of all men because of their poverty, yea, and more especially by our priests; for they have cast us out of our synagogues which we have labored abundantly to build with our own hands; and they have cast us out because of our exceeding poverty; and we have no place to worship our God; and behold, what shall we do? (See Alma 32)

Alma was thrilled when he heard these words. He saw that they, though their lives had been terrible, had been humbled by their trials. They longed to worship God in the synagogues, which they had helped to build but were not allowed to enter. They were excluded because the Zoramites falsely believed that poverty was a sign of unworthiness.

Alma then turned his attention to the poor in this community, deciding not to waste his time on those who lacked the humility and love to accept the message of Jesus Christ, especially since they didn’t believe in him. In the next article, we’ll learn what Alma taught them.

The Zoramites made several mistakes in their choices of worship. They presumed, first of all, that their mere presence and a single ritual was all that was required of them. The rest of the week, God was out of their minds and hearts.

Their service offered nothing personal. Each one recited a single prayer and the prayer was not about God. It was really only about their own glory and superiority.

In other words, there was nothing worshipful about the method of worship they had chosen. Contrast their meetings with this description of a Mormon Sacrament Meeting, which is the basic worship service held each Sunday: “Each member of the Church bears responsibility for the spiritual enrichment that can come from a sacrament meeting. Each should sing with a grateful heart and respond with an audible “amen” at the conclusion of a prayer or a testimony. We personally ponder the Atonement of Jesus Christ. We reflect upon the significance of His suffering at Gethsemane and His Crucifixion on Calvary. At this time, each of us is to “examine himself” (1 Cor. 11:28) and reflect upon personal covenants made with the Lord. At this time, we meditate upon the sacred things of God (Russell M. Nelson, “Worshiping at Sacrament Meeting,” Ensign, Aug 2004, 24–28).

Worship is internal, but it is influenced during services by the things going on around us. Merely reciting pre-rewritten words as the entire service can lead to meaningless repetition. A worship service is meant to help us learn more about God and Jesus Christ and to increase our commitment to living a life of loving service. It is a time to worship God, not ourselves. It can be a humbling experience, not one in which we announce we are better than everyone else, particularly when the measuring stick is a worldly and meaningless one.

The Zoramites felt they had met their duty to God simply by showing up and saying their script. During the week, they neglected God. As we study the Bible and the words of Christ, we come to understand that religion should be something that fills every part of our day. Even when we’re at work or doing mundane chores, we should have the Savior in our minds and hearts and be focused on worshipping Him and measuring our thoughts and actions against the way He taught us to live.

The A to Z index on LDS.org says: To worship God is to give Him our love, reverence, service, and devotion. The Lord commanded Moses, “Worship God, for him only shalt thou serve” (Moses 1:15). He has also commanded, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him” (D&C 59:5). Worship not only shows our love for God and commitment to Him, it gives us strength to keep His commandments. Through worship we grow in knowledge and faithfulness. If we place any person or thing above the love of God, we worship that thing or person. This is called idolatry (see Exodus 20:3–6). (See Worship.)

We can see there was nothing of worship in the doings of the Zoramites. Today, although we might not be so blatant about it, many people show up for church eager for others to see their elegant clothing (while God only asks that we wear the best we have, which has nothing to do with the cost of it) or to socialize with others. We get out of our worship service exactly what we put into it.

When you attend church this week, will you just be fulfilling an obligation or will you be worshipping God? And the rest of the week?

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.