Currently in my reading of The Book of Mormon, I'm again reading in the book of Helaman. As per usual, I find myself frustrated at how ofen, in the space of not many years Helaman and his sons and others of those working with him in the leadership of the Church find themselves once again preaching the word of God, not only to the Lamanites, but also to the Nephites who have again gone astray and become prideful and wicked. The contention of those times reminds me, and most likely others who read The Book of Mormon, of the world that we live in today. Yes, I know that there has been evil and war and contention almost always somewhere in the world all during my lifetime, but it all seems to be commanding our attention almost constantly in recent years. So I've been trying to focus on the verses where the efforts of the prophets have met with success, and the people in the land have repented, and they are living in peace:
And it came to pass that the seventy and sixth year did end in peace. And the seventy and seventh year began in peace; and the church did spread throughout the face of all the land; and the more part of the people, both the Nephits and the Lamanites, did belong to the church; and they did have exceedingly great peace in the land; and thus ended the seventy and seventh year.
This time around it accured to me that all of these stories of the "cycle" of wickedness, repentance, righteousness, pride, and wickedness are evidences of God's great love for us in providing, through the atonement of Jesus Christ, the opportunity for everyone everywhere who has ever lived on this earth to repent. Over and over again, each and every day, we each make mistakes and are again in the need of repentance. Hopefully we aren't making terrible and wicked mistakes that need repenting of, but I know that each day I make mistakes such as unkind thoughts or words, selfishness, laziness, or not listening to promptings or taking advantage of opportunities to help others around me. But I do have the blessing of being able to reach out to my Father in Heaven in prayer each morning and each evening, or anytime during the day, do ask for forgiveness and seek for guidance. I have the blessing of being able to repent. I am grateful for repentence.
Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.
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