Mosiah 24:15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.
What a perfect conclusion to some great chapters of trials and faith. At the end of the day we need to find a way to be cheerful and then be patient as we wait upon the Lord with full trust that His will is best for us, since we know that he perfectly and infinitely loves us with the grandest parent love. “So great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.” (Mosiah 24:16) These characteristics take effort, it is difficult to be filled with joy when tribulations lay heavy on your mind, finances, relationships, emotions, physical well being, and many other ways. During these times, before these times, and after these time the best thing to do is to find reasons to be grateful and then express that appreciation to Heavenly Father. “They gave thanks to God, yea, all their men and all their women and all their children that could speak lifted their voices in the praises of their God.” (Mosiah 24:22) This approach magically changes attitudes, it’s absolutely amazing, and gives the strength necessary to carry on.
Gratitude changes Attitude!!
Alma and those that also believed found refuge in a forgotten, and forsaken place that was known for being a place “infested…by wild beast.” (Mosiah 18:4) I love this because these followers had experienced a change of heart in their own lives, where once they were “wild”, and now they were filled with the spirit of the Lord. They were “Baptized in the name of the Lord”…. that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?” (Mosiah 18:10) The Place of Mormon, had a “fountain of pure water”. (Mosiah 18:5) That is what flows in our hearts when “We come into the fold of God… willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light.” (Mosiah 18:8) For Christ is the greatest fountain of pure water and refuge from the attacks of evil. What a glorious place to be, wrapped in the safe arms of Christ, “they clapped their hands for joy.”(Mosiah 18:11)
Mosiah 18:9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
Understanding the Kingdom of God is one of the greatest ways to find the patience and cheerfulness we need during tough times. The Lord has designed a perfect plan, where success is guaranteed as long as we choose to follow the plan, which gives us the power of repentance when we trip and fall. Even the greatest injuries can be healed completely through the love of the Savior. “Preach nothing save it were repentance and faith on the Lord, who had redeemed his people.” (Mosiah 18:21) Along this perfect path full of imperfect people we need to strive to keep contempt out of our hearts. Contention is one of the first ways that Satan uses to push people down and cause injuries. The truth about contention is you can’t push someone down without becoming severely injured yourself. There is never room for contention, it’s a wedge that harms…every time. “He commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and in love one towards another.” ( Mosiah 18:21) “Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think himself above another.” (Mosiah 23:7)We are stronger together, we all need each other. “Kept together in one body as much as it was possible.” (Mosiah 21:18) Love is the key to overcoming the world. “Every man should love his neighbor that there should be no contention among them.” (Mosiah 23:15)
“Mother, weep not for us; we have overcome the world by love.” – Lucy Mack Smith recalling an experience after Hyrum and Joseph were martyred (M. Russell Ballard April 2020)
There’s more to the list of becoming the children of God—“pertaining to the kingdom of God.” ( Mosiah 18:18) “Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy…give thanks to the Lord their God….labor with their hands for their support… imparting to one another both temporally and spiritually according to their needs and their wants.” (Mosiah 18;23,24,29) “Stand fast in this liberty wherewith ye have been made free…nourish [each other] with things pertaining to righteousness.” (Mosiah 23:13, 18)) As we strive to do the will of the Lord, through the “desire[s] of your hearts,” (Mosiah 18:10), we too will be able to dwell in the lands of Mormon, our minds and hearts will become pure, and our homes will flow with the fountain of “pure water.” (Mosiah 23:4) “The waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon; yea, the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed.” (Mosiah 18:30)
With all this knowledges life is still full of opposition. Some opposition is easy to endure and other trials seem too heavy to bear alone. Alone is the key–we must hand the weight to the Lord and focus on our patience and attitudes, so that we can be filled with peace and joy during the toughest moments of life. “Whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day.” “They should not be frightened, but that they should remember the Lord their God and he would deliver them.” “None could deliver them but the Lord their God.”“He did deliver them, and he did show forth his mighty power unto them, and great were their rejoicings.” “They hushed their fears, and began to cry unto the Lord.” (Mosiah 23: 22, 27, 23, 24, 28)
Mosiah 24:13-14… Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
-Written by Sherri Jorgensen
Recent Comments