The recurring stories of the ‘Pride Cycle’ in the Book of Mormon provide a reminder of the world around us. The cycle affects nations, but can begin for me when I lose appreciation for how God has blessed me… I may then feel no need for God in my life and begin to follow the pattern of secular humanism. Defined: “each person fares according to the management of the creature, therefore every man prospered according to his genius” (see Alma 30:17). Gradually this course would cause me to deny God and the needs of others to pursue selfish interests.
God will sustain and support a people as long as they live by laws he has set forth, but will not support them in wickedness. Instead he leaves them to the fate they chose through their agency, allowing their rebellion to lead to self destruction. He warns (potentially softens hearts) through His Prophets and chosen leaders and through natural, manmade and other disasters… He will build up again a broken people, when they finally are broken enough in heart, to choose him again and follow sincerely in His ways. (He may be about as slow to hear their pleas as they were to hear His ‘messages’ to repent!) Over time, should they not have learned but forget God again, that choice causes the cycle to repeat.
In the Book of Mormon ancient times, the most common distraction that generated the negative side of the pride cycle was the pursuit of riches. At that time there were likely few who had scriptures (God’s ‘iron rod’ against evil) in favor of inner peace, God’s peace. There are so many more ‘sophisticated’ distractions today. Our rapid pace of life, electronics, a multitude of subtle voices at our fingertips (leading away from God and His ways). It is as easy today to leave God and decency behind as the click of a mouse, or just going along with the group, ‘just this once’, to see their idea of fun. The going along with group ‘forum’ can lead to distractions that, when consistently followed (yet easily followed – Satan makes sure of that!), deny access to the Spirit. Anything from substance abuse to gaming, preoccupation with computer and media, endless hours playing or watching sports (and many more!)
A primary problem in ancient times may have been that no one had God’s word personally in hand (in contrast, think of our electronic devices today!) I wonder who will be judged more harshly; those in ancient times (who we might sometimes consider ‘flighty’) for so easily going adrift from God and his word, or we today who have all scripture resources at our fingertips but don’t know / don’t apply what’s in it for our own lives and make ongoing changes that draw us closer to God?!
What I can do personally / consistently… Pray, read, consistently attend my meetings and live according to scripture, the Bible or consider…
In his first general conference address as President of the Church, President Ezra Taft Benson shared one reason for the urgency of this message (A New Witness for Christ 1984). “Unless we read the Book of Mormon and give heed to its teachings,” he warned, “the Lord has stated in section 84 of the Doctrine and Covenants that the whole Church is under condemnation: ‘And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all’ [D&C 84:56]. The Lord continues: ‘And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written’ [D&C 84:57].”5
Security, peace, blessings from God, the sort that become a forever part of me and assist others in knowing Him, will be found in deepening my commitment to Jesus Christ. He who bought me with his blood asks only that I follow him in proactive ways. Any other way treats lightly the terrible price He paid for me. Yes I can play here (distractions to excess) and thus reap that reward in the hereafter that falls far short of what He has in mind. Consistently choosing his way for me broadens my perspective… with stronger input from and (sweet) deeper commitment to Him. kdm
