This afternoon I finished reading and revising 1 Nephi 7 (in my Sloppy Coppy [edit] Simple Copy) for my kids. Something interesting stuck out to me, probably with current events going on. This part here:
To bullet this out for clarity, these are identifiers of the enemy's kingdom:
"But it is the kingdom of the devil which will be built up among the children of men which kingdom is established among them which are in the flesh for the time speedily will come that all churches which are built up to get gain and all those who are built up to get power over the flesh and those who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world and those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of the world and to do all manner of iniquity yes in fine all those who belong to the kingdom of the devil are they who need fear and tremble and quake they are those who must be brought low in the dust they are those who must be consumed as stubble and this is according to the words of the prophet"(Forgive the lack of punctuation, but that is one purpose of my sloppy copy revision. It allows me to see the words freshly.)
To bullet this out for clarity, these are identifiers of the enemy's kingdom:
- established among those in the flesh
- any/all church built up to get gain
- all those (churches? individuals?) who are built up to get power over flesh
- all those (churches? individuals?) who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the world
- those who seek the lusts of the flesh
- those who seek the things of the world
- those who do all manner of iniquity
Bullets 2 and 3 are assumed to speak of churches, but it is possible they refer to individuals as well. So the question remains, for me, do I participate or encourage any of these things. Do I worry myself with being in a church built up to get gain, or make money in any way off of people? Do I seek to get power over flesh? Do I seek to become popular in the eyes of others, especially the "world"? Do I seek the lust of my flesh? Do I seek the things of the world, like fine cars, fine homes, superior schooling, lavish entertainment or self indulgences? Do I participate in any manner of iniquity?
It's difficult to say I don't participate in any of those things. Best not to point the finger, but rather use the words of Nephi, quoting the prophet Moses, for introspection.
I love reading it this way. Thank you for posting it. I think "gain" can apply equally to those who "preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world." I think it can easily have nothing to do with money, but setting ourselves up for a light. I think it's easy to do and a very subtle temptation. Those who participate in priestcrafts I think, like most sin, are seeking fulfillment of their desire to receive love, but praise becomes a substitute fulfillment or counterfeit for what our souls seek.
ReplyDeleteWhen very few "like" or comment on something I find valuable, it can and does hurt, but in a way I'm glad because it's a good reminder of what I should not be writing/thinking for. If I should ever have the temptation of "riches" or praise of mankind, I don't know if I could endure it, but it would come out more tainted and deformed because it comes less from the light of Christ, and more from another source.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing it and putting it in bullet points. Great for us bottom line people ;)
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