Helaman 6

I find the end of Helaman 6 to be of great worth in our instruction through this life. A comparison of the Nephites and the Lamanites is described. The Nephites are described as "exceedingly wicked" (vs. 31),  and "the more part of them had turned out of the way of righteousness, and did trample under their feet the commandments of God, and did turn unto their own ways" (vs. 31). The Lamanites were described as growing in their knowledge of God (vs. 34), and as keeping his commandments insomuch that the Lord began to "pour out his Spirit" upon them (vs. 36).

Throughout these descriptions a few things were pointed out. First, the Nephites wickedness came about quickly (vs. 32). The fact that a people could be righteous, and then wicked in a relatively short period of time causes me to reflect on the importance of diligence in our lives. Diligence in seeking God--in reading my scriptures, in praying, and doing all the little things that are actually big things in the whole scheme of life. As I look around, I have seen this trend in our day. It didn't just happen to the Nephites. We are not immune to these kinds of trials. In fact, these scriptures were written to help us to not repeat the mistakes of the past. As I ponder on this principle, I realize how very real Satan is, and how I must be constantly fighting against him in order to succeed--in order to endure. The second thing I noticed, which goes along with the first idea yet still a bit different, is the way in which the Nephites became wicked and the Lamanites became righteous. It describes the Nephites as allowing the Gadianton Robbers to be apart of themselves. It states, "they did build them up and support them" (vs. 38). In comparison, the Lamanites "did hunt the band of robbers of Gadianton; and they did preach the word of God among the more wicked part of them, insomuch that this band of robbers was utterly destroyed" (vs. 37). This example illustrates the importance of pushing out wickedness in our lives, and surrounding ourselves with good things. The Lamanites were not complacent. They didn't just allow the robbers to coexist. They knew the importance of surrounding themselves with good things. They knew how they could be changed from good to bad by allowing wickedness to remain among them. Because of this, they actively fought against it--Not by pushing these people out of their lives, but rather by teaching them the Gospel. They showed forth love to fight the bad. This inspires me to show love more readily, to not be afraid of expressing my testimony to everyone.

To remain on the Lord's side, I believe we have to be actively seeking the Lord. If we allow ourselves to simply roll with life--we will find evil influence affecting our decisions. I believe that we have to choose daily to do the things that will keep us safe. Choosing is an action--if we don't actively seek God, Satan will be ready, and I believe that even the best of us can fall.