Learning from the Past

   Despite being written hundreds and hundreds of years ago, the scriptures still apply to us today. This is evident in Mosiah 19: 11. Although the application was not obvious to me the first time I read it the application became clear this week. The chapter occurs during the reign of the wicked king Noah over his people whom he has led to sin. At this point in time the Nephites are under attack by the Lamanites. The attack came as a surprise and the Nephites were unprepared to fight so the Nephite people are fleeing from them. As they are fleeing King Noah tells the men to leave their wives and children behind. The chaos and the survival instincts of many of the men causes them to follow his words. They ultimately leave behind their families to be murdered so that they do not get killed. Satan continues to employ such selfish enticing’s today in our world. He invites both men and women to leave behind their families, or even never have a family, and to instead seek out the pleasure and riches of this life. Although it may seem harmless at first, we can learn from the Nephite men who left their families. When the Nephite men escape being murdered, they realize that they left behind what was most precious to them and that they no longer have anything to live for. So, they seek to fight to the death against the Lamanites. Fortunately, their families have not been killed but they still must repent of their wrongdoings. A life of sin often leads many to put themselves as a priority. But, when everything is said and done they realize that what they thought was valuable turns out to be worthless. Fortunately, as we repent of our sins we can become more selfless and more Christ like.