In the Book of Mormon we read that battles between the Nephites and Lamanites continued, and Mormon tried to encourage them to fight with boldness, but the strength of the Lord was not with them so they were left to their own devices. They made a treaty with the Lamanites, receiving the land northward and giving the Lamanites the land southward. Mormon 2:20-29 "And it came to pass that in this year the people of Nephi again were hunted and driven. And it came to pass that we were driven forth until we had come northward to the land which was called Shem. And it came to pass that we did fortify the city of Shem, and we did gather in our people as much as it were possible, that perhaps we might save them from destruction. And it came to pass in the three hundred and forty and sixth year they began to come upon us again. And it came to pass that I did speak unto my people, and did urge them with great energy, that they would stand boldly before the Lamanites and fight for their wives, and their children, and their houses, and their homes. And my words did arouse them somewhat to vigor, insomuch that they did not flee from before the Lamanites, but did stand with boldness against them. And it came to pass that we did contend with an army of thirty thousand against an army of fifty thousand. And it came to pass that we did stand before them with such firmness that they did flee from before us. And it came to pass that when they had fled we did pursue them with our armies, and did meet them again, and did beat them; nevertheless the strength of the Lord was not with us; yea, we were left to ourselves, that the Spirit of the Lord did not abide in us; therefore we had become weak like unto our brethren. And my heart did sorrow because of this the great calamity of my people, because of their wickedness and their abominations. But behold, we did go forth against the Lamanites and the robbers of Gadianton, until we had again taken possession of the lands of our inheritance. And the three hundred and forty and ninth year had passed away. And in the three hundred and fiftieth year we made a treaty with the Lamanites and the robbers of Gadianton, in which we did get the lands of our inheritance divided. And the Lamanites did give unto us the land northward, yea, even to the narrow passage which led into the land southward. And we did give unto the Lamanites all the land southward."
In the Old Testament we read about how Gideon did as the Lord commanded and tore down the altar to Baal and the grove beside it, and built there instead an altar to the Lord. However, he was afraid of the reaction of other people so instead of doing it during the day, he did it in the middle of the night. When the people awoke, they were upset and when they discovered it was Gideon who did it, they demanded that he be executed. But Joash came to his defence, stating that if Baal was the one offended, Baal should be the one to plead his own cause. Judges 6:25-32 "And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down. Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night. And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built. And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing. Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it. And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar. Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar."
Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell the ending of the story of the prodigal son--one we're all familiar with. The wayward son demands his inheritance before his father is even dead and runs off to waste it in riotous living. He ends us homeless and hungry. So then he comes home with his tail between his legs, and his father greets him with love and celebration. But now let's read the reaction of his older brother--the one who has faithfully stayed home and worked with his father, the dutiful, obedient son. He was bitter and angry because now his rebellious younger brother was getting all the attention. This is probably a natural way for him to feel. But when you think that the gospel is all about love, we realize that the older son was likewise a sinner in his own way. By harboring bitter, angry feelings toward his brother, he too was in need of repentance. If we sit in judgment of others and harbor ill will toward them, we too are guilty. Being self righteous and not showing forth love for others is also a sin. Luke 15:25-32 "Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."
In the Old Testament we read about how Gideon did as the Lord commanded and tore down the altar to Baal and the grove beside it, and built there instead an altar to the Lord. However, he was afraid of the reaction of other people so instead of doing it during the day, he did it in the middle of the night. When the people awoke, they were upset and when they discovered it was Gideon who did it, they demanded that he be executed. But Joash came to his defence, stating that if Baal was the one offended, Baal should be the one to plead his own cause. Judges 6:25-32 "And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even the second bullock of seven years old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it: And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock, in the ordered place, and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down. Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him: and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night. And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built. And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing. Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die: because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it. And Joash said unto all that stood against him, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning: if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar. Therefore on that day he called him Jerubbaal, saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar."
Some scriptures with a thought booklet tell the ending of the story of the prodigal son--one we're all familiar with. The wayward son demands his inheritance before his father is even dead and runs off to waste it in riotous living. He ends us homeless and hungry. So then he comes home with his tail between his legs, and his father greets him with love and celebration. But now let's read the reaction of his older brother--the one who has faithfully stayed home and worked with his father, the dutiful, obedient son. He was bitter and angry because now his rebellious younger brother was getting all the attention. This is probably a natural way for him to feel. But when you think that the gospel is all about love, we realize that the older son was likewise a sinner in his own way. By harboring bitter, angry feelings toward his brother, he too was in need of repentance. If we sit in judgment of others and harbor ill will toward them, we too are guilty. Being self righteous and not showing forth love for others is also a sin. Luke 15:25-32 "Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."
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