Helaman 7 & 8

These two chapters give us counsel for our day. In chapter 7:21-22 it states, "O, how could you have forgotten your God in the very day that he has delivered you? But behold, it is to get gain to be praised of men, yea, and that ye might get gold and silver. And ye have set your hearts upon the riches and the vain things of this world, for the which ye do murder, and plunder, and steal, and bear false witness against your neighbor, and do all manner of iniquity."

These verses are for our day. It is so easy to get caught up in the things of this world. It is so easy to forget God, and all that He has done for us if we are not keeping our focus set on Him. These scriptures explain that as we set our hearts on riches, and the vain pursuits of this world, we will forget our God, and find ourselves in iniquity.

This isn't something that happens over night. I think it happens in slow degrees. Satan cannot pull us down with one massive pull; however, he can lead us away little by little if we allow him to do so. If we stop saying our prayers, if we stop reading our scriptures, if we stop doing the "little things", I think it is then that we will find our hearts set on the things of the world rather than God.

In chapter 8 we are given more direction on this matter when Nephi compares their day to the days of Moses, which then can be compared to our day. Nephi explains that the people in Moses' day only had to look to a serpent and live; however, many did not, and they perished. He then says, "even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal" (verse 15).

And so it is with us. Are we looking to our Savior? It seems easy to focus on the Savior, and yet we don't.  The Lord declared, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3: 14-15). In Mosiah 3: 17 it states, "There shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men."

Therefore, we must look to the Savior. We must make Him our focus. I think we do that by continuing with daily scripture study, and daily prayer. It seems so simple to keep our focus on Him through these two means. And yet, it can be so difficult. I pray that I will continue in the faith. I pray that I will not be deceived by Satan. I pray that I will be what the Lord needs me to be, and then when the day comes that I stand before Him, I pray that I will be ready.