How to Prevent and Overcome Sin

In my Book of Mormon class, my professor presented an analogy between sin and the war chapters of Alma (specifically chapters 43-50) that has really stuck with me. I used to have a hard time with the war chapters because I only read a chapter a day or less and so the plot didn't make much sense to me. I used to shout out joyous strains when I had finally read through the war chapters. But this past week as I have been reading I have found it exciting to try and think of a way I could compare the war chapters to my life. I was also reading more at a time and so the story line became more easy to understand. I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat when the Lamanites and Nephites were in battle. I even found myself imagining what it was really like for the men. Camping in the woods, walking all day, eating meager food simply to survive, and then battling blood-thirsty Lamanites to protect your liberty, your freedom, your religion, your peace, and your family. There are a couple of strategies that the Nephites used to win the battle against the Lamanites which we can also use in our battle against sin.

In chapter 43, the Nephites have the upper hand because of their armor. The Lamanites show up naked except for a loin cloth. They were not very excited to see the Nephites because they were prepared."And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nephi, or that Moroni, had prepared his people with breastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing" (verse 19). Heavenly Father has provided us with figurative armor to protect us from sin. Some examples of these include: the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine and Covenants, prophets and apostles that speak to us twice a year at General Conference, temple, prayer, Priesthood, Seminary, and Institute. Heavenly Father will not force us to wear this armor, we must make the choice to put it on ourselves.

In chapter 49, the Lamanites are unable to overcome the Nephites in battle because their cities are fortified. This time, the Lamanites came with armor, but they were not prepared for the fortifications that the Nephites had built up to protect their city. Again, the Lamanites were discouraged."But behold, how great was their disappointment; for behold, the Nephites had dug up a ridge of earth round about them, which was so high that the Lamanites could not cast their stones and their arrows at them that they might take effect, neither could they come upon them save it was by their place of entrance" (verse 4). I would like to point out here that God is not playing keep up with Satan. It is quite the opposite. God is constantly providing more protection and Satan is trying to find a way in. We can build up fortifications by protecting and strengthening our family and our friends. Sharing your testimony, Family Home Evening, studying the scriptures, praying together, and fasting for each other are some ways to build fortifications around you and your family.

In chapter 50, the Nephites fortify the line between their cities and the city of the Lamanites. By doing this the Nephites were able to push the Lamanites back even further. They didn't allow them to even get close. We can do this as we push sin back through making a conscious effort every day to do better, by not allowing even the smallest degree of sin in our lives. We cannot be perfect in this life, but the daily efforts we make to become more humble, more meek, more patient, more long-suffering, more loving, more kind, and more obedient will make Satan's job a lot harder.

Although we are not literally participating in a physical war, we are in a war against Satan and against sin. It is important that we are prepared, that our testimonies are strong when trials come our way.

Alma's Conversion

Alma 36: 17-20
"And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

Now as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!"

I love the story of Alma the younger's conversion. It shows that no matter how far off the path we have gone, we can always return. Alma's father was the prophet and yet he went about seeking to destroy the church. Most of us have never been that far off the path. He remembered words spoken by his father and chose to experiment on them. He chose to believe in Jesus Christ. It was through his faith and his repentant heart that he was able to be forgiven. I love this passage because you can take so much out of it. He says that his mind caught hold of the thought and cried in his heart. I believe that one of the ways we can know if something is true and if it comes from God is if it makes sense in both our mind and our heart. Heavenly Father is not a god of conflict but of peace and happiness. Alma compares his pain to his joy after he has repented. This is a testimony to how happy our lives can be if we choose to follow Jesus Christ and put our faith in Him and how miserable we will be if we choose to follow Satan. Sorry, this week's entry is a little rushed. I hope you enjoy.

Without stubbornness of HEARt

I'd like to take this blog in a different direction now that Fall Semester 2012 is over and Winter Semester 2013 has begun. In my Book of Mormon class, we are required to fulfill a reflection assignment each week. This could be done in the form of a letter, email, or blog post. Each week I will reflect upon a topic or scripture studied each week in hopes that I might encourage my friends to come unto Christ and "be called His people".

This week I want to discuss Alma 32:13-16

13 And now, because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye; for a man sometimes, if he is compelled to be humble, seeketh repentance; and now surely, whosoever repenteth shall find mercy; and he that findeth mercy and endureth to the end the same shall be saved.

14 And now, as I said unto you, that because ye were compelled to be humble ye were blessed, do ye not suppose that they are more blessed who truly humble themselves because of the word?

15 Yea, he that truly humbleth himself, and repenteth of his sins, and endureth to the end, the same shall be blessed- yea, much more blessed than they who are compelled to be humble because of their exceeding poverty.

16 Therefore, blessed are thy who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe.

When we are young, it is most likely not our desire to go to church that gets us there every Sunday. Rather we depend on our parents to wake us up, help us get ready, and drive us to the church building. As we grow into our teen years and begin to have a stronger will power to do what we desire, we may need a little shove from our parents to get out of bed even though we feel that deep down in our heart we really do want to go to church. It wasn't until I got to college that I gained absolute freedom and I realized that it was up to me to get to church at 9 AM every Sunday. It wasn't until I got to college that I realized what agency is really all about. It is true that having a calling (service oriented position) as ward choir director and having roommates and friends that will know if I don't go gives me a sense of responsibility that I personally don't want to disappoint. However, agency is largely involved as granted by our Heavenly Father. Each of has the opportunity every week and every day to choose to believe and to choose to humble ourselves before our Father in Heaven.

I have heard others say that because of some trial or disappointment they decided to read their scriptures or pray having not previously upheld the habit of reading the scriptures and praying daily. I have also seen a pattern in my life of inconsistency and the need to be compelled to be humble. It usually starts out with a talk or a lesson on Sunday after which I renew my dedication to following the commandment to read my scriptures, pray, write in my journal, etc. The first couple of days or even weeks go smoothly as I remain strong. After an exhausting day here or a late night there, I consciously decide to let my head hit the pillow before my scriptures are read. It is essential to realize that I made the choice of my own free will. I decided that sleep was more important to me than what my Heavenly Father had to teach me. I chose to distance myself from God rather than rely on His strength to keep me going and believe that He will lift me up. That one night often becomes a few more nights and maybe a few weeks and eventually if I let myself a few months until I go through a trial or need God's help so desperately in my life that I cannot put it off any longer and I must rededicate myself to the faith. In this way, I am allowing my trials to determine whether or not I remain faithful, whether or not I will humble myself before God. My trials are compelling me to be righteous while my stubbornness of heart is preventing me from obtaining the blessings that God has to offer.

In a far more wordy way, I am trying to say that humility comes by battling pride every day. Humility comes when we choose every day to open our hearts and our hEARtS to the things that God wants to teach us. Humility is believing that His plan is better than ours, that we are stronger when we allow Him to lift us up, and that we cannot be truly happy without Him.