Monday, October 13, 2008

2 Nephi 1:23

"Awake, my sons; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust."
2 Nephi 1:23


This verse is in the middle of Lehi's speech to his sons, encouraging them to do good, to listen to Nephi, to be righteous. I think there was a lot of jealousy there, and they laid a lot of the blame for their situation on their father, as well as on Nephi. ... And so it is with us sometimes. It is easy to blame our situation on other people, on events beyond our control. But God asks us to perfect ourselves where we are. He asks us to learn to be happy NOW... not after we get out of this or that situation, or away from this or that person. And that is what Lehi is saying to his sons here. ... wake up. Do what you need to do to ensure your personal righteousness, which shouldn't be affected by anyone else's righteousness. Get rid of the sin in your life, the addictions, the jealousies... all the things that keep you from loving people and from having your mind single to God. Stand up; be a light to other people through example and service. Don't wallow in self-pity. Lehi's message applies to us today, whether we are as rebellious as his sons or much less rebellious. :) We all have a little in us, and it is very easy to be jealous or resentful, or to try to slide responsibility for our happiness onto someone else. So, today, let's come forth out of obscurity, and be the people we were meant to be... the people that can succeed, that can change the world, and that can overcome anything life hands us.

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