In the Book of Mormon we read that the armies of the Nephites were small to retain such great possessions, but they put their trust in the Lord who had given them victory over those lands. They wondered why the government had not sent them more assistance, but still placed their trust in God for their deliverance. The stripling warriors had a firm faith and a willingness to keep the commandments of God. As a result, even though they had been injured, not a one of them had died. How willing are we to place our trust in God, even when external circumstances look bleak? Alma 58:32-41 "But behold, our armies are small to maintain so great a number of cities and so great possessions. But behold, we trust in our God who has given us victory over those lands, insomuch that we have obtained those cities and those lands, which were our own. Now we do not know the cause that the government does not grant us more strength; neither do those men who came up unto us know why we have not received greater strength. Behold, we do not know but what ye are unsuccessful, and ye have drawn away the forces into that quarter of the land; if so, we do not desire to murmur. And if it is not so, behold, we fear that there is some faction in the government, that they do not send more men to our assistance; for we know that they are more numerous than that which they have sent. But, behold, it mattereth not—we trust God will deliver us, notwithstanding the weakness of our armies, yea, and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies. Behold, this is the twenty and ninth year, in the latter end, and we are in the possession of our lands; and the Lamanites have fled to the land of Nephi. And those sons of the people of Ammon, of whom I have so highly spoken, are with me in the city of Manti; and the Lord has supported them, yea, and kept them from falling by the sword, insomuch that even one soul has not been slain. But behold, they have received many wounds; nevertheless they stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free; and they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come. And now, my beloved brother, Moroni, may the Lord our God, who has redeemed us and made us free, keep you continually in his presence; yea, and may he favor this people, even that ye may have success in obtaining the possession of all that which the Lamanites have taken from us, which was for our support. And now, behold, I close mine epistle. I am Helaman, the son of Alma."
In the New Testament we read that we were not liberated by perishable things like silver or gold from the empty lifestyle we inherited from our ancestors. Instead, we were freed by the precious blood of Christ, a spotless lamb. He was chosen before the creation of the world and God raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory. Our faith and hope should rest in Him. 1 Peter 1:18-21 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."
A verse with a thought booklet tells us that Jesus was born in a manger because there was o room for him in the inn. A lady was packing up her nativity set after Christmas to put it away for the year. She filled up the box and then found that there was no room left for the most important figure of the set--the baby Jesus. She suddenly realized the similarity in her situation what how there was no room in the inn for Jesus when He was born. Like the innkeeper from long ago, she hadn't intentionally overfilled the space. But both she and the innkeeper had simply overfilled the available space with other seemingly important stuff, while leaving out the One who really matters--Jesus. Do we do that in our lives? Do we fill our lives with other things that seem important and then don't have room enough for Christ? Luke 2:7 "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."
In the New Testament we read that we were not liberated by perishable things like silver or gold from the empty lifestyle we inherited from our ancestors. Instead, we were freed by the precious blood of Christ, a spotless lamb. He was chosen before the creation of the world and God raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory. Our faith and hope should rest in Him. 1 Peter 1:18-21 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God."
A verse with a thought booklet tells us that Jesus was born in a manger because there was o room for him in the inn. A lady was packing up her nativity set after Christmas to put it away for the year. She filled up the box and then found that there was no room left for the most important figure of the set--the baby Jesus. She suddenly realized the similarity in her situation what how there was no room in the inn for Jesus when He was born. Like the innkeeper from long ago, she hadn't intentionally overfilled the space. But both she and the innkeeper had simply overfilled the available space with other seemingly important stuff, while leaving out the One who really matters--Jesus. Do we do that in our lives? Do we fill our lives with other things that seem important and then don't have room enough for Christ? Luke 2:7 "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."
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