Scripture Thought 9/20/09
1 Nephi 3:28-29
I don't know that I get this. Laman is mad. He gets Lemuel all built up and he joins him in his anger. I wonder if they would have left Sam alone if he had joined them.
Anyway, I don't understand that anger. Why do we let anger take so much control of our lives? What had Nephi and Sam done wrong? They were only doing their best to follow the commands of their father. Was he angry because he had just run for his life? Why wasn't he angry the first time. He had previously had to run as well. Or was it that he had just seen all of the possible riches he dreamt about disappear? This reaction makes one wonder if he really did visit Laban the first time and how he negotiated if he did.
After this display of anger, there is suddenly and angel in the cave with them. Laman and Lemual have these big sticks. They had just beaten Nephi and Sam, why didn't they, together, attack this angel? Logic of today's world would tell one that they were in power, but here was the messenger, sent from God. He appeared in power and glory. Even in this state of anger, Laman and Lemuel knew and recognized him for who he was.
You would think that just these things would be enough. Didn't Laman and Lemuel think about it? They were in hiding. They had escaped the armies and servants of Laban. How would anyone know where they were at and what they were doing? Why couldn't they see this power, this miracle, this wisdom?
Why, because they were blinded by the anger. They were blinded by the riches of the world. Take that as a word of caution. The emotions of the natural man and worldly riches can destroy you.
It still amazes me that even after they were stopped, witnessed the power of this messenger, and then told again of the importance and value of the brass plates, now their third witness, that they could only focus on one thing - What is in it for me? We need to get over this.
I don't know that I get this. Laman is mad. He gets Lemuel all built up and he joins him in his anger. I wonder if they would have left Sam alone if he had joined them.
Anyway, I don't understand that anger. Why do we let anger take so much control of our lives? What had Nephi and Sam done wrong? They were only doing their best to follow the commands of their father. Was he angry because he had just run for his life? Why wasn't he angry the first time. He had previously had to run as well. Or was it that he had just seen all of the possible riches he dreamt about disappear? This reaction makes one wonder if he really did visit Laban the first time and how he negotiated if he did.
After this display of anger, there is suddenly and angel in the cave with them. Laman and Lemual have these big sticks. They had just beaten Nephi and Sam, why didn't they, together, attack this angel? Logic of today's world would tell one that they were in power, but here was the messenger, sent from God. He appeared in power and glory. Even in this state of anger, Laman and Lemuel knew and recognized him for who he was.
You would think that just these things would be enough. Didn't Laman and Lemuel think about it? They were in hiding. They had escaped the armies and servants of Laban. How would anyone know where they were at and what they were doing? Why couldn't they see this power, this miracle, this wisdom?
Why, because they were blinded by the anger. They were blinded by the riches of the world. Take that as a word of caution. The emotions of the natural man and worldly riches can destroy you.
It still amazes me that even after they were stopped, witnessed the power of this messenger, and then told again of the importance and value of the brass plates, now their third witness, that they could only focus on one thing - What is in it for me? We need to get over this.
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