For there was a law that men should be judged according to their crimes. Nevertheless, there was no law against a man’s belief; therefore, a man was punished only for the crimes which he had done; therefore all men were on equal grounds.
I'm only punished for doing things I know are wrong. He can help me correct my thinking before that happens.
And now may God grant unto these, my brethren, that they may sit down in the kingdom of God; yea, and also all those who are the fruit of their labors that they may go no more out, but that they may praise him forever. And may God grant that it may be done according to my words, even as I have spoken. Amen.
I should seek to feel peaceful and in a good place always. He will help me if I ask.
Yea, and I also remember the captivity of my fathers; for I surely do know that the Lord did deliver them out of bondage, and by this did establish his church; yea, the Lord God, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, did deliver them out of bondage.
Whatever is holding me back - from peace, from joy, from progress - He can help me reframe and go around.
Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called?
I should strive to recall in any moment of trial, the most empowering lens I can view it through.
But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.
I should focus on enjoying the things I already have.
Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.
He can comfort me at any time if I ask Him to.
O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!
If I want something, I should ask for His help. Or maybe ask for the ability to feel joy over what I already have.
And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life.
I should focus on whatever gives light in my life.
And this is the account of the wars and contentions among the Nephites, and also the wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites; and the fifteenth year of the reign of the judges is ended.
I should review my blog to see what He's trying to teach me.
Yea, the cry of widows mourning for their husbands, and also of fathers mourning for their sons, and the daughter for the brother, yea, the brother for the father; and thus the cry of mourning was heard among all of them, mourning for their kindred who had been slain.
I should try to talk to and connect with Him.
And thus they were a zealous and beloved people, a highly favored people of the Lord.
I get to choose thus how I am. He can provide me with the power to change to become more like Him.
And it came to pass that the chief judge sent a proclamation throughout all the land, desiring the voice of the people concerning the admitting their brethren, who were the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi.
I should let more people be my brethren.
Get this people out of this land, that they perish not; for Satan has great hold on the hearts of the Amalekites, who do stir up the Lamanites to anger against their brethren to slay them; therefore get thee out of this land; and blessed are this people in this generation, for I will preserve them.
If I am in a land that is not blessing me, He can help me get out to a better one.
And now it came to pass that Alma conducted his brethren back to the land of Zarahemla; even to his own house. And they went and told the chief judge all the things that had happened unto them in the land of Nephi, among their brethren, the Lamanites.
I should review the things that happen to me and learn from them.
And it came to pass that Ammon went and inquired of the Lord, and the Lord said unto him:
If I lack wisdom, I should ask in prayer.
And Ammon said: I will go and inquire of the Lord, and if he say unto us, go down unto our brethren, will ye go?
I should use prayer as my first resort.
Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen.
I should focus on things to be happy about.
Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.
I can remember that I have left a legacy of kindness.
"Your brain doesn't have the ability to stop thinking. That means you don't need to summon ideas; you only need to tell your brain what problem you are trying to solve, then watch the ideas flow past. Pick the best ones based on how they make your body feel"
"If you feel you are taking on a bit more than you can handle, that's probably the perfect place to be. You can generally do more than you believe you can, so staying in the 'impostor zone' while you build your skills is necessary for success."
And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.
He will give me power to strengthen my mind to walk through any hard things, if I ask.
Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance.
I should regularly submit my plans upstairs for improvement or approval.
And now behold, my brethren, what natural man is there that knoweth these things? I say unto you, there is none that knoweth these things, save it be the penitent.
I should never be afraid to course correct or reframe. He can help me if I ask.
But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.
Anything that is true can make me happy.
And now behold, Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner, and Himni, and their brethren did rejoice exceedingly, for the success which they had had among the Lamanites, seeing that the Lord had granted unto them according to their prayers, and that he had also verified his word unto them in every particular.
He gives me blessings every day. I should note them, count them, and feel grateful for them.
And now Abinadi was the first that suffered death by fire because of his belief in God; now this is what he meant, that many should suffer death by fire, according as he had suffered.
I should remember what I know to be true and reframe disempowering beliefs to make them empowering. He can help me.
For many of them, after having suffered much loss and so many afflictions, began to be stirred up in remembrance of the words which Aaron and his brethren had preached to them in their land; therefore they began to disbelieve the traditions of their fathers, and to believe in the Lord, and that he gave great power unto the Nephites; and thus there were many of them converted in the wilderness.
I can remember words that make me feel stronger.
And thus we can plainly discern, that after a people have been once enlightened by the Spirit of God, and have had great knowledge of things pertaining to righteousness, and then have fallen away into sin and transgression, they become more hardened, and thus their state becomes worse than though they had never known these things.
After I learn of Him, I should keep that knowledge constantly close.
Now when the people saw that they were coming against them they went out to meet them, and prostrated themselves before them to the earth, and began to call on the name of the Lord; and thus they were in this attitude when the Lamanites began to fall upon them, and began to slay them with the sword.
I should call on the name of the Lord when I want to accomplish something good.
And now behold, my brethren, since it has been all that we could do (as we were the most lost of all mankind) to repent of all our sins and the many murders which we have committed, and to get God to take them away from our hearts, for it was all we could do to repent sufficiently before God that he would take away our stain
Repenting means choosing to do something different, and asking for help to make the decision stick.
And they began to be a very industrious people; yea, and they were friendly with the Nephites; therefore, they did open a correspondence with them, and the curse of God did no more follow them.
I can be friendly
And it came to pass that they called their names Anti-Nephi-Lehies; and they were called by this name and were no more called Lamanites.
I get to choose the name I am called by.
And these are the names of the cities of the Lamanites which were converted unto the Lord; and these are they that laid down the weapons of their rebellion, yea, all their weapons of war; and they were all Lamanites.
I can stop seeking contention in my life by inviting His peace to replace it.
For they became a righteous people; they did lay down the weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more, neither against any of their brethren.
I can give my anger to Him and let Him replace it with peace if I ask for help.
And now I, after having said this, return again to the account of Ammon and Aaron, Omner and Himni, and their brethren.
My words should always be kind.
And they came from there up into the south wilderness. Thus the land on the northward was called Desolation, and the land on the southward was called Bountiful, it being the wilderness which is filled with all manner of wild animals of every kind, a part of which had come from the land northward for food.
I'm on a journey. There can be joy in every footstep. He can help me find it if I ask for His help.
And it came to pass that when the king saw that the people were pacified, he caused that Aaron and his brethren should stand forth in the midst of the multitude, and that they should preach the word unto them.
I can be a good example of kindness to those I meet.
Now when the queen saw the fear of the servants she also began to fear exceedingly, lest there should some evil come upon her. And she commanded her servants that they should go and call the people, that they might slay Aaron and his brethren.
When I see something that needs doing in my life, I should ask for His help to accomplish it
