Zeniff: walking in the shoes of his enemies

Zeniff seems to be an interesting, tender-hearted, understanding person. At first he sets out with an army to destroy the lamanites, his fierce enemies. But after spying on them he discovers they have some good qualities so he fights his own people to defend these people he doesn't know.

He eventually makes a deal with the king of these people to bring a few of his people and settle in the land with the lamanites. A few years go by and the lamanites, these people he protected, attack in an attempt to enslave zeniffs people.

After defeating the lamanites, he sends spies out to watch their enemies. They discover that the next king is also sending an army. In the middle Of describing the preparation for this next battle, zeniff begins to make excuses for the lamanites. They are only doing this because this is how they were taught. They were taught that their parents had been robbed and were driven out of the land. Essentially, it seems as of zeniff is asking "what would I do if I had been taught those things. I think I can understand where they are coming from."

of course it doesn't excuse their actions for in the very next verse he says, "I did stimulate them (his army) to go to battle." I'm not sure how well that worked for him telling his people "now these people we're fighting aren't so bad. They just have a misunderstandinding. Let's go get them!" but I guess it worked out cause they won again.

I think zeniff has a lot to teach us concerning how we should respond when someone offends us. I would assume being attacked and having over 200 of your friends and family killed would be somewhat offensiv. Zeniff doesn't respond as his former commander did and say, "we must kill every last one of these infidels. They're all evil and I will personally see they go to hell." instead he says, "why? What makes them so angry." and he truly tries to understand them. Sometimes we get offended over the smallest sliver and will not let it go. We have to continually push that sliver deeper and deeper as we complain about what a horrible person that was giving us a sliver.

Of course sometimes the problem must be resolved. Zeniff couldn't let the lamanites Destroy his people. But he also didn't spend the remainder of his days festering over their injustice. In fact he just seem to go back to life and forgets the whole event "we returned to our land, and my people went back to tending flocks."



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The poorest spot of land and What could I have done more?

I just finished reading Jacob chapter 5 again. I've always read this chapter by applying the world history context; today, I realized some things I'd never thought about before. I'm not sure the thoughts have completely formed, but I will do my best.

For anyone unfamiliar with Jacob chapter 5 from the book of Mormon is an allegory about the Lord's dealings with Israel and the world explained as a vineyardman (don't know the correct term) who with his servant is doing everything he can to save the fruit (us) before the final harvest.

After working hard to place his trees in the right soil and letting mother nature run her course, he returns with his servant to inspect the trees. His servant is baffled by how the lord planted his fruit because he planted the tree in the worst spot of ground. The lord explains that he worked hard to make sure the tree would be good and it did bring forth good fruit. Then they look at a tree that was planted in good soil and only part of it yielded good fruit.

I thought about how this relates to my work life and realized that it doesn't matter how prestigeous the position or where the location is if you are willing to hard at bringing forth good fruit, you can still be successful. When I worked at mcdonalds people would ask where I worked. I would tell them and get the most pitied looks. However, despite my dread of the place after my mission, it gave me a lot of experience and provided me with a pretty good resume. But some people, even those who were managers walked away with nothing because they weren't willing to put in the effort. To them, it was a job that would get them through college or pay their next rent check.

Now, returning to the allegory-after a "long time" goes by the lord returns to his vineyard to find that some of his trees have gone bad yielding rotten fruit. He cries to his servant "what could I have done more?" remember although the story is about the lord of the vineyard it represents the lord of the world. He's then explains that he's done everything he could. But the servant petitions him to give it one more go. He does and ends up finding more he could do to help his poor trees.

Besides the somewhat obvious spiritual application (the lord is going to give us as many chances as he can), this part is signifant to me as a writer. I'll do all I can to get the first draft correct, then after it comes back I'll see several errors I didn't notice whether someone else caught it or not. Even after it has been reviewed by over ten people, proofreader by me several times, and released, I'll still find errors in my work the next time I open the document. (note: this text doesn't count because I'm writing it on my iPhone and these tiny buttons can really be a pain to manipulate just to correct a punctuation or grammar error).

Whether it's writing or some other task, i'm often tempted to say "well, I've done everything I can do. I'm done." of course when that deadline comes around you have to say that, but I think this illustrates that there is always more that can be done. Sometimes we have to turn to others and say, "any ideas what I could do?" but with a little enginuity and a lot more work, you can take something you think is perfect and improve it.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Adventures in New York City

Went to New York City today.

Arrival

• Didn't have cash for toll.
• Saw the statue of liberty from the ferry.

Times Square

• Ate at McDonald's at times square (because it was cold)-girl in front stole our food.
• Took a picture of Elmo and Mickey
• Saw some giant, weird lookin white guys (when I say white I don't mean Caucasian, I mean WHITE).
• Sat on a giant M&M and saw a giant bottle of hersey syrup next to a candy bar the size of my son.

Grand Central Station

• Took subway to Grand Central Station and almost got mugged.
• Helped a couple our age find their way to Times Square with a map we stole (I think it was free)
• They tried to direct us towards Rockefellar Center (2 blocks from Times Square)

Rockefellar Center/Empire State Building

• While attempting to walk to Rockefeller center, we ended up at the empire state building (about 2 miles the other way).
• Remembered that I have an iphone with a map that provides direction and there was no excuse for getting lost.
• On the return trip to Rockefellar Center, we stopped to rest at the library (you have to have special doors unlocked if you want to actually see a book)
• Watched a wedding at the Patrick's Cathedral
• finally, made it to Rockefeller's to watch people ice skate.

Central Park and Temple

• Got lost on the subway trying to visit Central Park and the temple.
• After finding the right subway, we were unable to push our way through the people at the stop for the temple.
• Next stop-saw central park (it was even more freezing than when we started and my wife was even more pregnant, so we saw it and walked on).
• Started walking towards the temple, saw someone being arrested.
• One block short of viewing the temple, we gave up and got back on the freeway headed home.

Travel Back to Relatives

• If you think our adventure ends there-OH NO.
• Our GPS took us over the Brooklyn Bridge and through New York (exactly what we were trying to avoid by parking at Staten Island) through a tunnel that goes under the water.

Let me just say that although I enjoyed spending the time with my beautiful wife and had fun seeing the sites, I do not HEART NY.

According to the faith and diligence we gave to it

Before lehis family began their long journey across the desert, god gave them the liahona, a mysterious compass that always pointed in the direction they should go.

When nephi breaks his bow, the entire family is upset because that was their livelihood. Even lehi, the patriarch and prophet of the family. Nephi, however, takes ownership and replaces his bow. Then,he ask his father where he should go find food. His father looks at the liahona and finds that there is writing that has changed.

Nephi makes these two conclusions about the liahona: "the pointers did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them" and "it had writing which did give us understanding concerning the wats of the lord and it was changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto them." later it also says that they were led into the more fertile parts of the land.

I imagine the compass only gave them direction for a few feet or maybe a few miles. Then it would probably change their course. I wonder if ther was ever a time that they were heading into a part that looked prosperous then suddenly have the liahona direct them into an area they looked barren. I'm sure laman and lemuel wouldve said it wants us to go there, but this way looks so much better. Who knows what lays down that better trail though, could be thieves, could be a longer stretch of desert, or could just be better blessings on the otther trail.

My wife has been having a hard time because the liahona (scriptures, prayer, etc) told her to persue school. She made a deal that she would continue school until we had another child. When we didn't get pregnant for several years after ben was born and discovered some medical problems we assumed we were done. She had her journey all laid out. She would graduate in may and continue on to get a phd in psych. It looked like such a great path.

One semester before she



We can do as lehi and most of his children did and complain, murmur, and hate the lord for leading us into a harder trail or we can follow nephi's example and go make our bow and find where the lord would have us go next.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

If Thou Believest, thou canst be healed

I've always been intrigued by the story of Zeezrom in the Book of Mormon; however, I've never seen the parallel that exists between the wicked, unrepentant citizens that he inspired and the penitent, humble Zeezrom in Alma chapter 15.

The chapter starts out with a sick Zeezrom. He's not sick because he caught the swine flu or any other physical ailment; he's sick because of his mental and emotional anguish. Here you have one of the most wicked men of the day. He's convincing everyone in the village that there is no Christ; therefore, you don't have to repent. The reason for this claim wasn't because he believed it, but he was a lawyer and was seeking for money and power. He contends with Alma and Amulek and as a lawyer convinces many, but he ultimately is convinced by Alma and Amulek that he is wrong. Despite all of his efforts to reverse what he had said, the people ultimately throw Alma and Amulek in prison, beat them, burn all of the scriptures, and throw their followers in the fire while forcing Alma and Amulek to watch.

Zeezrom leaves the city with the full knowledge of what he has done. He also believes that Alma and Amulek have been killed. This is the cause of his sickness. He sees no way for to repay for what he has done. Then, he hears that it's only 99% as bad as he thought because Alma and Amulek are still alive and in the very city where he is staying. Then, he sends for them. Now imagine this. You've just had a heated argument with these two missionaries. You left them in the hands of a murderous people who treated them harsh. And you've been the cause of great agony to these two men of God. Yet, he sends for them because he knows they are men of God. That takes some guts.

The scriptures say that Alma and Amulek went to him immediately, obeying him. I think that takes some guts as well. If this had been me, I'd be more likely to say, "I hope he never recovers from his illness. Let him rot. Do you know what I just went through because of him-not to mention those poor people who were burned alive. (Amulek may be able to add, "I lost my wife and children because of him" just speculation though)." Instead of saying this, they simply obey his message and go to him immediately.

Then, comes these important words, "Believest thou the power of Christ unto salvation." Finally, Zeezrom answers in the affirmative. Alma tells him, "If thou believest in the redemption of Christ, thou canst be healed." And so it is that Zeezrom was healed both physically and spiritually.

Mormon proceeds to contrast Zeezrom to his followers. "But...the people of Amoniah did not believe in the repentance of their sins."

For a wise purpose in him, which I know not

For the lord has commanded me to ... For a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not. But the lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. -1 nephi 9:6

The lord often answers our prayers by telling us to do something. Sometimes we are then told to do something else that either seems contradictory, redundant, or impossible to accomplish both commands. But as nephi says he will make it possible if we have faith and go and do what he says.

We may never find out why he told us to do something. Nephi never knew that a guy named Martin Harris would lose the manuscript. He only knew that he was told to make two plates even though his dad already had this record. It probably wasn't easy to find and refine gold as he was travelling (assuming that's when he wrote it) but aren't we glad he did write; otherwise we would only have the book of Mormon starting in mosiah 400 years after nephi wrote.

Obey god, even when you don't know why or if it's possible, he will prepare a way for you. As nephi says "and thus it is. Amen." that's how it is folks whether you like it or not.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

I am often told that my church, which I believe receives direction from God, asks a lot from its members. For example, we are asked to pay ten percent of our income as tithing. We are asked to attend three hours of church each Sunday. We are asked to not go shopping on Sundays. We are asked to not consume alcohol, coffee, tea, or tobacco. Some things may even seem very trivial. For example, we have been instructed to refrain from getting tatoos and excessive earings (women may have one pair; men none).

While these may seem trivial with apparently no logic or reason to the commandments, an example from exodus illustrates why the lord may ask such trivial things. The isrealites had just left Egypt only to discover that they have no food. They complain to moses who in turn complains to the lord. The lord responds with the following:

Exodus 16 Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
When some of the people fail to follow the the commandment and gather more food than their family can eat, they discover that the food spoils and gets worms. This wasn't stated in the commandment. He does not tell them that if they gather more than they are told to that it will spoil. They are only told what to do not why.

So it is with us. Most of these commandments come with blessings, but most do not explain the consequence or the reason associated with not keeping the commandment. Some members have tried applying their own reason. That's why you have some members who say caffeine is against the word of wisdom-coffee and tea both have caffeine so caffeine must be harmful. But that is not the lord has said. What the lord says is do this so that I can see if you will walk in my laws or not. He didn't tell Abraham that he wouldn't make him sacrifice his son until after he knew that Abraham would keep his commandments to the end no matter how hard or how trivial.




- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone