In the Book of Mormon we read yesterday about the epistle that Giddianhi had written to Lachoneus. Today we read that Lachoneus was very astonished at his boldness in demanding possession of the land of the Nephites and threatening them, accusing them of wrongs they were not guilty of. Lachoneus was a just man and could not be frightened by the threatenings of a robber. He encouraged his people to pray unto the Lord for strength. He sent out a proclamation to his people telling them to gather themselves together and fortify themselves, setting out guards to watch for the robbers day and night. He called the people to repentance and said that if they did not repent and turn to the Lord for help, they would not be delivered from the Gadianton robbers. Lachoneus spoke such great and marvelous words that the people listened to him. 3 Nephi 3:11-16 "And now it came to pass when Lachoneus received this epistle he was exceedingly astonished, because of the boldness of Giddianhi demanding the possession of the land of the Nephites, and also of threatening the people and avenging the wrongs of those that had received no wrong, save it were they had wronged themselves by dissenting away unto those wicked and abominable robbers. Now behold, this Lachoneus, the governor, was a just man, and could not be frightened by the demands and the threatenings of a robber; therefore he did not hearken to the epistle of Giddianhi, the governor of the robbers, but he did cause that his people should cry unto the Lord for strength against the time that the robbers should come down against them. Yea, he sent a proclamation among all the people, that they should gather together their women, and their children, their flocks and their herds, and all their substance, save it were their land, unto one place. And he caused that fortifications should be built round about them, and the strength thereof should be exceedingly great. And he caused that armies, both of the Nephites and of the Lamanites, or of all them who were numbered among the Nephites, should be placed as guards round about to watch them, and to guard them from the robbers day and night. Yea, he said unto them: As the Lord liveth, except ye repent of all your iniquities, and cry unto the Lord, ye will in nowise be delivered out of the hands of those Gadianton robbers. And so great and marvelous were the words and prophecies of Lachoneus that they did cause fear to come upon all the people; and they did exert themselves in their might to do according to the words of Lachoneus."
In the Old Testament we read about how if a person sinned, they needed to make reconciliation as best they could, such as returning property that they had stolen or obtained fraudulently. Then they were make an offering of a flawless ram from the flock. Of course animal sacrifices were in similitude of the sacrifice of our Savior who died for our sins, and after the Atonement was made, animal sacrifices were no longer necessary. But trying to make restitution for our sins is still a vital part of repentance. Leviticus 6:1-7 "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the Lord, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein."
Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell the story of how Nebuchandnezzar created a golden image and commanded all men to worship it. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused, Nebuchandnezzar told them they would be cast into a fiery furnace. But instead of giving in, they stood firm in their convictions. They said if God would deliver them from the furnace, that was fine, but even if He did not deliver them, they still would not worship the golden image. What examples of steadfastly keeping the commandments of the Lord! Do we have enough faith to do what we should do regardless of the consequences? Are we willing to stand up for our beliefs no matter what? Daniel 3:13-18 "Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."
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In the Old Testament we read about how if a person sinned, they needed to make reconciliation as best they could, such as returning property that they had stolen or obtained fraudulently. Then they were make an offering of a flawless ram from the flock. Of course animal sacrifices were in similitude of the sacrifice of our Savior who died for our sins, and after the Atonement was made, animal sacrifices were no longer necessary. But trying to make restitution for our sins is still a vital part of repentance. Leviticus 6:1-7 "And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the Lord, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour; Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein: Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering. And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein."
Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell the story of how Nebuchandnezzar created a golden image and commanded all men to worship it. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused, Nebuchandnezzar told them they would be cast into a fiery furnace. But instead of giving in, they stood firm in their convictions. They said if God would deliver them from the furnace, that was fine, but even if He did not deliver them, they still would not worship the golden image. What examples of steadfastly keeping the commandments of the Lord! Do we have enough faith to do what we should do regardless of the consequences? Are we willing to stand up for our beliefs no matter what? Daniel 3:13-18 "Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up."
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