Mosiah 4

Mosiah 4:27

“… for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength…”

Humanity is stupid. As creatures we are nowhere close to understanding or being part or in harmony with the divine. Thank God that reaching our goal does not depend on how fit we are, but only on whether we are striving appropriately. Our best thoughts are completely evil, but what counts is when we try our best to be good. Does this seem like pretending?

“… And again, it is expedient that he might win the prize…”

            This is not pretending, although are acts of goodness may as well be pretension. But when we have a genuine desire to be good we only do “good” the best we know how, even if it is only as good as pretending to do “good”. If a baby is crying on the hot asphalt in the middle of the street, and the best we can do is drop a cracker beside him and pretend to ourselves that we help him out, though our acts are still evil and pathetic, they are enough for God.

Written 9-23-14

Mosiah 4:2

“And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth…”

They were able to see themselves in a new light. They saw themselves in the light of such a great manifestation that they saw their worthlessness. This is an essential revelation that all must have. People tend to have a degree of pride that is part of their everyday lives. This degree of pride makes one think that their life matters, that they have a duty and a responsibility to make something out of their existence. This degree of pride makes one think that they must succeed and excel beyond what they are, that they must make themselves suffer through great efforts to make certain things happen; and yet, the collective struggles of all of humanity do not even measure up to a whimper in the universe. In the light of God we may as well not exist.

Mosiah 4:5

“For behold, if the knowledge of the goodness of God at this time has awakened you to a sense of your nothingness, and your worthless and fallen state –”

Mosiah 4:11

“I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility,”

This realization frees you from all responsibility, from all desire and pressure to change something in the world. It makes one’s pain, conflicts, struggles, meaningless. One can finally rest from the cares of the world and admit that they could never make anything “meaningful” no matter how much they try. It is all in God’s hands, there is nothing on your shoulders. God carries all burdens, you are free to roam or to stay, you are free to run or to struggle, but you are never obligated to do either.

Mosiah 4:11

“And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of an angel.”

Written 9-24-14