"And it came to pass that in this year there was one Samuel, a Lamanite, came into the land of Zarahemla, and began to preach unto the people. And it came to pass that he did preach, many days, repentance unto the people, and they did cast him out, and he was about to return to his own land.
But behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, that he should return again, and prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his heart.
And it came to pass that they would not suffer that he should enter into the city; therefore he went and got upon the wall thereof, and stretched forth his hand and cried with a loud voice, and prophesied unto the people whatsoever things the Lord put into his heart."
Helaman 13:2-4
I think Samuel illustrates here his dedication to God. God told him to preach to Zarahemla, and he did... he went and taught them repentance, tried to get them to change, and then they kicked him out. Okay, he did what he could... time to go home. But no. God told him, go back, tell them what I give you to say. And he did. They wouldn't let him back in, but he didn't give up. God asked him to do something, and he was going to find a way to do it. So, he got up on the top of the wall and preached to them from there.
How many of us are so persistent in doing as God asks? I know I am not. Usually I try sort of halfway, and if it works out, great, and if it fails, then oh well, I tried. But not Samuel... not Nephi. Not any of the prophets. Not Christ. And with all of these examples, maybe I should ... maybe we all should... take another look. Find a way to do as God asks. Even if someone tries to kill us, like Laban did to Nephi. Even if they kick us out, like they did here to Samuel. Even if we really, really don't want to... like Jonah, or Moses, or even Christ. :) God understands that what he asks is sometimes hard. It's hard to let go of one possibility in order to embrace another. It is hard to grow up. Hard to learn new things. Hard to choose to be good people rather than just ending up the bad default people we would be without making an effort. Today, though, let's make the effort. Let's find a way to do as God asks. Let's be the people that we want to be someday... we're going to have to practice a lot to get there, and if we keep putting it off we might end up not going anywhere. Might as well start now. :)
But behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, that he should return again, and prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his heart.
And it came to pass that they would not suffer that he should enter into the city; therefore he went and got upon the wall thereof, and stretched forth his hand and cried with a loud voice, and prophesied unto the people whatsoever things the Lord put into his heart."
Helaman 13:2-4
I think Samuel illustrates here his dedication to God. God told him to preach to Zarahemla, and he did... he went and taught them repentance, tried to get them to change, and then they kicked him out. Okay, he did what he could... time to go home. But no. God told him, go back, tell them what I give you to say. And he did. They wouldn't let him back in, but he didn't give up. God asked him to do something, and he was going to find a way to do it. So, he got up on the top of the wall and preached to them from there.
How many of us are so persistent in doing as God asks? I know I am not. Usually I try sort of halfway, and if it works out, great, and if it fails, then oh well, I tried. But not Samuel... not Nephi. Not any of the prophets. Not Christ. And with all of these examples, maybe I should ... maybe we all should... take another look. Find a way to do as God asks. Even if someone tries to kill us, like Laban did to Nephi. Even if they kick us out, like they did here to Samuel. Even if we really, really don't want to... like Jonah, or Moses, or even Christ. :) God understands that what he asks is sometimes hard. It's hard to let go of one possibility in order to embrace another. It is hard to grow up. Hard to learn new things. Hard to choose to be good people rather than just ending up the bad default people we would be without making an effort. Today, though, let's make the effort. Let's find a way to do as God asks. Let's be the people that we want to be someday... we're going to have to practice a lot to get there, and if we keep putting it off we might end up not going anywhere. Might as well start now. :)
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