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"Put Your Trust in God," Mosiah 7:14-33

Mosiah 7:14-33

There have been just a few thoughts regarding bondage and spiritual slavery as I've reviewed these verses in English. It seems that in many cases spiritual bondage as a result of sin precedes physical bondage or limitation in one form or another. Other times, physical limitations or disabilities are not the direct result of sin, but to teach us the difference between the physical and the spiritual. Indeed, the physical can be severely handicapped, while the spiritual side of our beings is allowed to grow and flourish.

The essence of a vibrant spirit is one that has complete trust in God and is completely, unconditionally filled with the love of God and love of our fellow man. This can be misunderstood as naivety or plain foolishness by our mortal capacities. But make no mistake, one who can freely forgive and love without condition is free from a host of spiritual limitations.

In theses verses, king Limhi counsels his people to prepare to leave the land of Nephi. The difference in his counsel, and I believe this is why this account is found in the Book of Mormon, is that he advises them to put their trust in God. (vs. 17,33)

It gives me pause to reflect upon the ways in which I can put my trust in God. A few mornings back, I offered up two prayers. The first was a prayer of panic because of the serious situation in which I found myself at the moment. The second prayer was a display of trust in the peace and will of the Lord. The second was an expression of profound faith like that of Nephi, that the Lord will never give us a commandment that is more than we can handle.

It is curious the way in which the Lord  works to gather his children. Those whom king Limhi was addressing in these verses were those who chose not to follow Alma. They are the remnants who stayed in the land of Nephi. They were not those who demonstrated the great faith that would have been required to follow Alma into the wilderness. These are they that stayed behind. Thus we see that at different times and in distinct ways, the Lord has prepared a way for all to believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

First, the Lord sent one of his prophet among the people. They killed him. Then, the Lord prepared another prophet who left from among them with all those that would believe. The finally, for the rest the Lord sent his servants to gather the rest.

Indeed, the Lord does love all his children.

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