Final Approach

Today I finish the 90 day Book of Mormon challenge. This time I decided to read it in Spanish. It was an good experience and it certainly dusted off the lengua for me.

As I read verse 3 of chapter 10 in the book of Moroni something struck me that I had never seen before. He says, and I am translating on the fly here, If God finds it prudent that you read these things, remember how merciful He has been with the children of men, since the time of Adam and meditate upon them in your hearts. Remember and meditate, that really struck me this morning. Verse 4 is what we usually focus on, praying to know if the Book of Mormon is the word of God, whether it is true. I believe it contains the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But to know that is it true we must first remember his mercy toward his children and meditate, and then asking in the name of Christ if it is true. What a wonderful pattern to be given. It makes me think that I should apply this pattern in more areas of my life.

I spent some time thinking about what I read yesterday, and the several days of reading previous to yesterday were thrown into sharp relief. Men and women are looking to acquire wealth, power, influence and doing it at the expense of others. Their motives are shrouded in the veil of false religion and patriotism. The ever familiar chorus of neglecting the poor, needy, widowed, fatherless, while seeking fine clothing (which of course is a proxy for anything we buy with the intent to set us apart from others). It all sounds so familiar, the refrain but we have heard it before. After working in several industries, including Finance, the idea of acquiring wealth has changed for me, I used to think I just needed more money. I learned that when you are looking for money you will never find enough. Isaiah's description of kicking against the pricks comes to mind, what it feels like to make money a priority. I have become more content with what I have, and have learned to slow down because of it. Again, in sharp relief we have a different perspective, reading Alma, the Standard of Liberty. There is no reference to self, or advantage but liberty, peace, freedom. Of course you would have to read more to understand the true nature of those leaders, but they are not looking to aggrandize themselves or garner influence, no, establish laws that allow us to prosper in ways that bring true peace. Can we stand tall and stand for things that really matter? I hope so, and I hope that we have those that will do what is right for right's sake and not for that which will leave hungry and thirsty when we wake up.

The Great Counterfeit

My limited education in French makes me believe that the counterfeit has a root in the part -feit, and maybe latin, -feit to do or make, perhaps I am wrong, but that is where my thoughts are taken. Counterfeiting is to do or make fraudulently. Many years ago I read a book called Temples of the Ancient World, it was a collection of papers written by archaeologist, historians and anthropologist documenting ancient temple worship. I only remember a few things from it, but there is one thing that I never will forgot, the adversary to all good will always raise a counterfeit, a fake work, to draw away good people to do bad things. I say bad things, but things that do not make them any better, things that do not progress them towards their ultimate potential. It distracts them, entraps them,  disables them and all too often will destroy them. The goal of the evil one comes in grades, for some distraction is enough, we can stay distracted our whole lives until we have wasted away the possibilities of greater things. In Alma 47 and Alma 48 we see this juxtaposition, a great counterfeit of freedom and purpose and its authentic identity. Of course one might say that my western culture upbringing leads me to identify authenticity with Alma 48 but isn't that the deeper irony, using culture to define right and wrong in a discussion of counterfeits. The Gospel of Jesus Christ transcends these things and manifests its veracity through the actions of men like Moroni. Beware of counterfeits, they lead to sorrow. Another great treatise, What Manner of Men Ought Ye to Be?, of the true archetype.