Lessons from the Writings of Mormon – Part 2

Here are more of the lessons I’ve learned so far this year by studying the writings of Mormon:

Pride

• Pride and contention go hand in hand, and they grow without any effort on our part. Pride can be difficult to detect. Contention with others or feelings of enmity toward others are an indication that we are becoming more proud. Pride not only causes contention with others but also disturbs our own internal peace.
• Humility, on the other hand, requires intentional effort on our part.
• We can become more humble by emulating children.
• A common cause of pride is wealth and prosperity. We can easily become complacent and set our hearts upon our riches when we enjoy prosperity over a period of time. The antidote is to deemphasize class differences and be generous with those in need. Even though wealth has a corrupting influence, and even though we have a natural tendency to become proud, it is possible to break the Book of Mormon cycle of righteousness and wickedness and to remain humble in prosperity.

Faith, Hope, and Charity

• Miracles are an indication not only of God’s love, but also that we have faith in Him.
• When we have faith in Jesus Christ, we also have hope that He will save us from our particular challenges.
• Charity is acting as the Savior would act. It is the current manifestation of our ultimate hope, because we have faith in Him. Charity enables us to see people as they really are and as they can become.
• Faith and patience go together. When we have faith in God, we submit cheerfully and with patience to His will.
• Part of loving others in feeling sorrow when they make decisions harm themselves and others.
• When we exercise faith, we will receive the Holy Ghost, which will cleanse us, fill us with joy, and give us peace.

• We can always rely on our Heavenly Father to keep His promises. This includes both the promises He has made to us personally and the covenants that He has made with the house of Israel.
• We can trust that His prophecies will be fulfilled, because He has the power to fulfill them. He can even use the decisions of imperfect people to accomplish His perfect purposes.
• He is both merciful and just. The gate of heaven is open to all of His children, and He stands with open arms waiting to receive us. We will all be judged by Him after this life, and if we have not repented, we will feel terrible remorse for our actions. But that sorrow is entirely self-imposed. We bring curses upon ourselves, and we receive wages from whomever we have chosen to obey.
• Therefore, we should repent of all our sins and iniquities and allow Him to lift us. His grace will help us overcome every sin, will strengthen and protect us, will help us overcome discouragement and anxiety, and will fill us with unspeakable joy and peace.