Random Thoughts

Alma 50

Reading in Alma chapter 50 today. I love reading about Captain Moroni. What an amazing man. What an astounding example of Christian discipleship. Here was a man who was truly dedicated to serving his people because he was fully, "all-in" committed to the Christ's cause.

I love reading about how he prepared the land and prepared the people to defend their families, their rights, their religion, their land and their liberty. I can't help but ask myself, "Do I have that same fearless and determined dedication? Am I doing everything I possibly can to protect and preserve my family? How am I doing at developing the Christlike characteristics Moroni had as described in Alma 48? Am I a man of sound understanding? Do I joy in the liberty and freedom of my country and my fellow Americans? Am I firm in the faith of Christ?" These and a dozen other questions flow through my mind. I want to be a Modern Moroni. Use that profile on my regular Facebook page. I'm not there yet, but I'm striving. Would to God that I can be as Christlike as he was, just like President Monson and the apostles, and so many other Modern Moroni's!

"Earning the Trust of the Lord and Your Family"

Elder Richard J. Maynes gave an inspiring and insightful talk by that title during the Priesthood session of this past October 2017 General Conference. In reading it I couldn't help but think of Captain Moroni again and I couldn't help asking myself a dozen other questions. I want to be a man of integrity. I want to earn the Lord's trust. I want to have the trust of my family. Yet I am a weak, and far to often, foolish man. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. I fall short in so many ways. How grateful I am, however, for a loving Savior and His marvelous enabling grace which comes because of His atoning sacrifice. Because of what He did, I can repent and diligently seek for and receive His enabling grace which allows me to do many things that I could not do on my own. I admire Elder Maynes for His integrity. I loved the story he shared about the business trip with his father. I won't get into the details here but you can read it for yourself here. To summarize, his Father was put in a position where he could have compromised his integrity, but instead he taught Elder Maynes an eternal lesson. “Listen, Rick, once you take a bribe or compromise your integrity, it is very difficult to ever get it back. Don’t ever do it, not even once.” A valuable lesson that we all need to learn and apply.

Gotta run. Until next time - may God be with you.