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
