In the Book of Mormon we read that Moroni recounted the wickedness among the Nephites which had allowed the Lamanites to gain power over them in the first place. He acused Pahoran of being a traitor to his country in his neglect of not sending help when it was so badly needed. He said they should not sit upon their thrones and do nothing while expecting the Lord to deliver them with no effort on their part. Alma 60:15-23 "For were it not for the wickedness which first commenced at our head, we could have withstood our enemies that they could have gained no power over us. Yea, had it not been for the war which broke out among ourselves; yea, were it not for these king-men, who caused so much bloodshed among ourselves; yea, at the time we were contending among ourselves, if we had united our strength as we hitherto have done; yea, had it not been for the desire of power and authority which those king-men had over us; had they been true to the cause of our freedom, and united with us, and gone forth against our enemies, instead of taking up their swords against us, which was the cause of so much bloodshed among ourselves; yea, if we had gone forth against them in the strength of the Lord, we should have dispersed our enemies, for it would have been done, according to the fulfilling of his word. But behold, now the Lamanites are coming upon us, taking possession of our lands, and they are murdering our people with the sword, yea, our women and our children, and also carrying them away captive, causing them that they should suffer all manner of afflictions, and this because of the great wickedness of those who are seeking for power and authority, yea, even those king-men. 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? Have ye forgotten the commandments of the Lord your God? Yea, have ye forgotten the captivity of our fathers? Have ye forgotten the many times we have been delivered out of the hands of our enemies? Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us? Yea, will ye sit in idleness while ye are surrounded with thousands of those, yea, and tens of thousands, who do also sit in idleness, while there are thousands round about in the borders of the land who are falling by the sword, yea, wounded and bleeding? Do ye suppose that God will look upon you as guiltless while ye sit still and behold these things? Behold I say unto you, Nay. Now I would that ye should remember that God has said that the inward vessel shall be cleansed first, and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed also."
In the New Testament were told to be on our guard that that we aren't lead off course into the error of sinful people and lose our own safe position. Instead, we need to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:17-18 "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."
A verse with a thought booklet tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What a great comfort this is in our changing world where nothing seems to stay the same. I hate change. Just when I get the hang of how to use my cell phone, something new comes out with more stuff I need to learn. I remember when VCR's were brand new. Then they got replaced by DVD's. It doesn't take many years at all for the newest craze to become obsolete. When I see how much the world has changed just during my lifetime, in ways I never could have imagined when I was a teenager, it boggles my mind. But there is one constant we can count on. The Lord does not change and never will. Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
In the New Testament were told to be on our guard that that we aren't lead off course into the error of sinful people and lose our own safe position. Instead, we need to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:17-18 "Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen."
A verse with a thought booklet tells us that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What a great comfort this is in our changing world where nothing seems to stay the same. I hate change. Just when I get the hang of how to use my cell phone, something new comes out with more stuff I need to learn. I remember when VCR's were brand new. Then they got replaced by DVD's. It doesn't take many years at all for the newest craze to become obsolete. When I see how much the world has changed just during my lifetime, in ways I never could have imagined when I was a teenager, it boggles my mind. But there is one constant we can count on. The Lord does not change and never will. Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
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