Reading: Alma 50-52
In the scriptures, all the scriptures, we are repeatedly told that if we keep the commandments we shall prosper in the land and if we don't, we have no promise. In fact, it is hammered upon to the tune of 34 times! Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto is another oft repeated verse but only 16 times - half the other. So my question is; what does it mean to prosper? First let's throw the scripture out there (one instance of the thirtyfour mentions)...
ALMA 50:20
20 Blessed art thou and thy children; and they shall be blessed, inasmuch as they shall keep my commandments they shall prosper in the land. But remember, inasmuch as they will not keep my commandments they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.
I understand the reason for repetition, mainly because we are so quick to forget, but still, what does prosper mean? Some common defenitions (found through various Internet dictionaries etc.) are:
To be successful
To be fortunate
To make gain
To increase
To thrive
All fair definitions I think, but also, all very subjective to the individual. Simply put, it's a mind set...if I allow myself to be angry because I'm behind on rent and can't make ends meet even with four jobs. Well, that is me, my perception based on the parameters of my peer group and how I value success. A poor man finds success, and deems himself prosperous, if he can put one meal on the table a day. A transient may feel the same if he can find sufficient shelter for the night. Perspective people!
I feel as though I am keeping the commandments and find myself angry that I am not prosperous, willing to scoff at the Lord's oft repeated promise, finding my faith wavering. I chose this verse because I keep seeing it but I'm not hearing it...yes, I'm bitter, I can't get my children the things they need or desire. My wife has to work multiple jobs as well and therefore we have less time for the kid and even lesser time with each other.
How do I change my thinking? It's the glass half full syndrome - more emphasis needs to be placed on the closeness of my family, our love for one another, the feeling in my home that draws people to it (friends of the kids, relatives, missionaries, etc) despite its cramped quarters. We, Angela and I, are successful, very much so. We are fortunate and do thrive in our struggles, our learning how to smile despite it all. We may not be increasing financially or in the scale of "things" but I know their is increase, unseen increase in spirit and armor. We are in a relative survival mode and yet still find cause for smiles and laughter. We are making it. If the purpose of life is to find happiness, how can I complain? My parents taught me the joys of happiness without "stuff." My brothers and sisters constantly give me cause to rejoice in laughter. My children are amazing troopers with little complaint that actually enjoy hanging out with Angela and I. And Angela, well, despite her illness, her multiple jobs, her stressful schedule and drawer full of required medications, she still does it all and somehow finds time to make my heart flutter. I am blessed and very prosperous indeed!
~Kipling
Oh, by the way, our good friend Amalickiah finally meets his inglorious end in chapter 51. After five years reigning as king he assembles another invincible army (so he thinks) and sets out to make good on his promise to drink the blood of Moroni. Sadly, after a long brutal battle, with much death on both sides, he, and his army sleep and Teancum, one of Moroni's generals, slips into the Lamanite camp undetected, slips also into Amalickiah's tent, and puts a javelin in his heart. End of an era!
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
From Sociopath to King
Reading: Alma 47-49
Today I am compelled to summarize the unbelievable story of Amalickiah. This guy achieved a phenomenal amount of dirty deeds in a surprisingly short amount of time (one year from a relative nobody to mighty King). Yes, he was a bloodthirsty megalomaniac who wanted no less than the throne of God, and yes, he achieved his goal through backstabbing and subterfuge; but still, it is quite impressive all the same.
Amalickiah first appears as a lower judge living amongst the Nephites and unhappy with the status quo, "...Amalickiah was desirous to be a king (Alma 46:4)." He riles up some of his peers and, through his cunning and flattering words, creates a following, an uprising against the Church of God. He gains a strong constituancy and appears to be well on his way to claiming the throne when Moroni (The captain who successfully destroyed the Lamanite assault) discovers his dissension and quickly squashes it by raising the title of liberty (a story for another day - sorry kids). So, Amalickiah escapes the coming Moroni-storm, with a few dedicated henchman, and runs to the Lamanites.
Of course Amalickiah still wants to be king so he plots and plans and discovers a way to become king of the Lamanites. Remember, the Lamanites don't like the Nephites at all, especially this group that has been defeated time and time again, so it is insane that he wasn't killed on first site... but he wasn't? Amalickiah stirs up the Lamanite king and the king tries to compel his army to go to war against the Nephites again. A large portion of the army refuses and this angers the king...
ALMA 47:3-4
3 And now it came to pass that the king was wroth because of their disobedience; therefore he gave Amalickiah the command of that part of his army which was obedient unto his commands, and commanded him that he should go forth and compel them to arms.
4 Now behold, this was the desire of Amalickiah; for he being a very subtle man to do evil therefore he laid the plan in his heart to dethrone the king of the Lamanites.
So, Amalickiah, in his grand deviousness, leads his army toward the portion of the kings army that refused to go to war and does something unscrupulously sneaky; he meets secretly with the leader of that portion of the army, Lehonti, and divulges the time and place to surround those under Amalickiah's command and capture them...one condition though, when the army has surrendered, Lehonti must agree to make Amalickiah his second in command. Lehonti absurdly agrees and the plan goes over without a hitch. Funny thing is, the men, that Amalickiah threw under the bus, don't have a clue! They even praise Amalickiah for his willingness to preserve their lives and surrender to Lehonti without bloodshed - they follow him with even more esteem!
Great, the plan is working...
ALMA 47:17-19
17 Now it was the custom among the Lamanites, if their chief leader was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader.
18 And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died.
19 Now, when Lehonti was dead, the Lamanites appointed Amalickiah to be their leader and their chief commander.
Tricky eh? Well the tricks ain't over yet... So, Amalickiah, now leader of all the army, goes back to visit the king. The king, seeing his army coming forth, assumes that Amalickiah has been successful in compelling all the men to do his bidding, and happily goes out to meet and bless them. DON'T DO IT KING!! He does it...Amalickiah sends forth a couple of his servants as embassaries and they kneel down before the king...
ALMA 47:23-26
23 And it came to pass that the king put forth his hand to raise them, as was the custom with the Lamanites, as a token of peace, which custom they had taken from the Nephites.
24 And it came to pass that when he had raised the first from the ground, behold he stabbed the king to the heart; and he fell to the earth.
25 Now the servants of the king fled; and the servants of Amalickiah raised a cry, saying:
26 Behold, the servants of the king have stabbed him to the heart, and he has fallen and they have fled; behold, come and see.
Tried to warn him, right? So Amalickiah's servants explain to everyone that the king was murdered by his own servants who, in fear, fled the crime scene. A posse is sent forth to find the fugitive servants and is unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the queen hears of the dreadful event and is mortified and requests an audience with Amalickiah. Obediently, Amalickiah obliges the queen and with much remorse, dripping with covetousness (not for the queen but for the throne), tells her of the tragic death of her husband. She is sad but caught in the ever hypnotizing web that is Amalickiah...
ALMA 47:35
35 And it came to pass that Amalickiah sought the favor of the queen, and took her unto him to wife; and thus by his fraud, and by the assistance of his cunning servants, he obtained the kingdom; yea, he was acknowledged king throughout all the land, among all the people of the Lamanites, who were composed of the Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites, and all the dissenters of the Nephites, from the reign of Nephi down to the present time.
Hard to believe - I know... is he done? No, he wants to be king over all the land...so he sends forth his army to defeat the Nephites and believes, because of his vast number of soldiers, that they will easily divide and conquer. Ahhh, but Moroni has been preparing and, with the ever insightful promptings from the Lord, has created defenses never before scene by the Lamanites. Not sure how to attack the first city they approach, the Lamanites decide to try a different city, the weakest city of the Nephites. They charge and a thousand die, along with all the commanders, filling a ditch that surrounds the fortifications of the Nephites (not one Nephite dies). Dejected, the Lamanites return to Amalickiah...
ALMA 49:27
27 Yea, he was exceedingly wroth, and he did curse God, and also Moroni, swearing with an oath that he would drink his blood; and this because Moroni had kept the commandments of God in preparing for the safety of his people.
What a story... What an unbelievable rise to majesty... Amalickiah truly was the greatest con man of all time! Accomplished all that within a year!! Can't wait to find out how his life progresses...
~Kipling
Today I am compelled to summarize the unbelievable story of Amalickiah. This guy achieved a phenomenal amount of dirty deeds in a surprisingly short amount of time (one year from a relative nobody to mighty King). Yes, he was a bloodthirsty megalomaniac who wanted no less than the throne of God, and yes, he achieved his goal through backstabbing and subterfuge; but still, it is quite impressive all the same.
Amalickiah first appears as a lower judge living amongst the Nephites and unhappy with the status quo, "...Amalickiah was desirous to be a king (Alma 46:4)." He riles up some of his peers and, through his cunning and flattering words, creates a following, an uprising against the Church of God. He gains a strong constituancy and appears to be well on his way to claiming the throne when Moroni (The captain who successfully destroyed the Lamanite assault) discovers his dissension and quickly squashes it by raising the title of liberty (a story for another day - sorry kids). So, Amalickiah escapes the coming Moroni-storm, with a few dedicated henchman, and runs to the Lamanites.
Of course Amalickiah still wants to be king so he plots and plans and discovers a way to become king of the Lamanites. Remember, the Lamanites don't like the Nephites at all, especially this group that has been defeated time and time again, so it is insane that he wasn't killed on first site... but he wasn't? Amalickiah stirs up the Lamanite king and the king tries to compel his army to go to war against the Nephites again. A large portion of the army refuses and this angers the king...
ALMA 47:3-4
3 And now it came to pass that the king was wroth because of their disobedience; therefore he gave Amalickiah the command of that part of his army which was obedient unto his commands, and commanded him that he should go forth and compel them to arms.
4 Now behold, this was the desire of Amalickiah; for he being a very subtle man to do evil therefore he laid the plan in his heart to dethrone the king of the Lamanites.
So, Amalickiah, in his grand deviousness, leads his army toward the portion of the kings army that refused to go to war and does something unscrupulously sneaky; he meets secretly with the leader of that portion of the army, Lehonti, and divulges the time and place to surround those under Amalickiah's command and capture them...one condition though, when the army has surrendered, Lehonti must agree to make Amalickiah his second in command. Lehonti absurdly agrees and the plan goes over without a hitch. Funny thing is, the men, that Amalickiah threw under the bus, don't have a clue! They even praise Amalickiah for his willingness to preserve their lives and surrender to Lehonti without bloodshed - they follow him with even more esteem!
Great, the plan is working...
ALMA 47:17-19
17 Now it was the custom among the Lamanites, if their chief leader was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader.
18 And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died.
19 Now, when Lehonti was dead, the Lamanites appointed Amalickiah to be their leader and their chief commander.
Tricky eh? Well the tricks ain't over yet... So, Amalickiah, now leader of all the army, goes back to visit the king. The king, seeing his army coming forth, assumes that Amalickiah has been successful in compelling all the men to do his bidding, and happily goes out to meet and bless them. DON'T DO IT KING!! He does it...Amalickiah sends forth a couple of his servants as embassaries and they kneel down before the king...
ALMA 47:23-26
23 And it came to pass that the king put forth his hand to raise them, as was the custom with the Lamanites, as a token of peace, which custom they had taken from the Nephites.
24 And it came to pass that when he had raised the first from the ground, behold he stabbed the king to the heart; and he fell to the earth.
25 Now the servants of the king fled; and the servants of Amalickiah raised a cry, saying:
26 Behold, the servants of the king have stabbed him to the heart, and he has fallen and they have fled; behold, come and see.
Tried to warn him, right? So Amalickiah's servants explain to everyone that the king was murdered by his own servants who, in fear, fled the crime scene. A posse is sent forth to find the fugitive servants and is unsuccessful. Meanwhile, the queen hears of the dreadful event and is mortified and requests an audience with Amalickiah. Obediently, Amalickiah obliges the queen and with much remorse, dripping with covetousness (not for the queen but for the throne), tells her of the tragic death of her husband. She is sad but caught in the ever hypnotizing web that is Amalickiah...
ALMA 47:35
35 And it came to pass that Amalickiah sought the favor of the queen, and took her unto him to wife; and thus by his fraud, and by the assistance of his cunning servants, he obtained the kingdom; yea, he was acknowledged king throughout all the land, among all the people of the Lamanites, who were composed of the Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites, and all the dissenters of the Nephites, from the reign of Nephi down to the present time.
Hard to believe - I know... is he done? No, he wants to be king over all the land...so he sends forth his army to defeat the Nephites and believes, because of his vast number of soldiers, that they will easily divide and conquer. Ahhh, but Moroni has been preparing and, with the ever insightful promptings from the Lord, has created defenses never before scene by the Lamanites. Not sure how to attack the first city they approach, the Lamanites decide to try a different city, the weakest city of the Nephites. They charge and a thousand die, along with all the commanders, filling a ditch that surrounds the fortifications of the Nephites (not one Nephite dies). Dejected, the Lamanites return to Amalickiah...
ALMA 49:27
27 Yea, he was exceedingly wroth, and he did curse God, and also Moroni, swearing with an oath that he would drink his blood; and this because Moroni had kept the commandments of God in preparing for the safety of his people.
What a story... What an unbelievable rise to majesty... Amalickiah truly was the greatest con man of all time! Accomplished all that within a year!! Can't wait to find out how his life progresses...
~Kipling
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
How Quick to Forget
Reading: Alma 45-46
I'm extremely sidetracked by the election results and can't seem to focus on what I read in the scriptures. Ultimately I have decided to go with a few scriptures that seem to really speak to the ignorance of man and how easily man seems to be hypnotized by the clever speaking and charisma of leaders, even mis-leaders.
ALMA 46:8-9
8 Thus we see how quick the children of men do forget the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do iniquity, and to be led away by the evil one.
9 Yea, and we also see the great wickedness one very wicked man can cause to take place among the children of men.
How quick to forget...how quick to forget...
~Kipling
I'm extremely sidetracked by the election results and can't seem to focus on what I read in the scriptures. Ultimately I have decided to go with a few scriptures that seem to really speak to the ignorance of man and how easily man seems to be hypnotized by the clever speaking and charisma of leaders, even mis-leaders.
ALMA 46:8-9
8 Thus we see how quick the children of men do forget the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do iniquity, and to be led away by the evil one.
9 Yea, and we also see the great wickedness one very wicked man can cause to take place among the children of men.
How quick to forget...how quick to forget...
~Kipling
Monday, November 5, 2012
The Invention of scalping - OUCH!
Reading: Alma 41-44
There was some interesting reading today and I struggled with two great possible topic choices; writing about Captain Moroni and his insane defeat of the Lamanite invaders or whether I should talk of Alma's final words to Coriantor about the fall of man, garden of Eden, etc. Hmmmm, yeah, I chose war...
So, Captain Moroni (a mere boy of only 25) leads the army of the Nephites and hides them in three places along the route of Zerahemnah and the angry blood-thirsty Lamanites. Moroni decides that because of the evil intention of the Lamanites, and the vast number of men in the invading army, it would be no sin if he used "stratagem (Alma 43:30)" to defeat them. After defeating Zerahemnah on three fronts and surrounding him, Moroni, seeing the terror in the eyes of his enemy, decides to offer Zerahemnah a deal. Leave your weapons and make an oath never to take up arms again and the remaining members of the army would be released without harm. Zerahemnah hands over his weapons but refuses to take the oath of peace...Moroni hands back his weapons and (I love this part) says, "...Behold, we will end the conflict." Meaning, "It's on brother, prepare yourself and your men to meet whichever God you choose to believe in."
ALMA 44:12-14
12 And now when Moroni had said these words, Zerahemnah retained his sword, and he was angry with Moroni, and he rushed forward that he might slay Moroni; but as he raised his sword, behold, one of Moroni's soldiers smote it even to the earth, and it broke by the hilt; and he also smote Zerahemnah that he took off his scalp and it fell to the earth. And Zerahemnah withdrew from before them into the midst of his soldiers.
13 And it came to pass that the soldier who stood by, who smote off the scalp of Zerahemnah, took up the scalp from off the ground by the hair, and laid it upon the point of his sword, and stretched it forth unto them, saying unto them with a loud voice:
14 Even as this scalp has fallen to the earth, which is the scalp of your chief, so shall ye fall to the earth except ye will deliver up your weapons of war and depart with a covenant of peace.
Is that awesome or what? Scalped the dude! Now, keep in mind that the Lamanites are the ancestors of the Native Americans who regularly used scalping as a tactical means of disheartening their enemies. To put it into a plausible perspective - the great (x10) grandfather of the modern day native Americans, Zerahemnah (General of the Lamanite army), was scalped by a white guy (an unnamed soldier of Moroni's Nephite guard). Extremely interesting don't you think? And yes, maybe it wasn't the first intentional scalping but, it's the first listed in any historical document (c. 73 BC), so in my mind, it wins as the standout moment of invention. It makes sense too because those Lamanites that did surrender, take the oath, and leave prior to the final battle and destruction of their brethren, saw the gruesome act and most certainly never forgot it. The survivors told their families and children and the story was passed on from generation to generation. The scalping of Zerahemnah became so legendary that it eventually became a warlike act preferred by Lamanite descendants...
~Kipling
There was some interesting reading today and I struggled with two great possible topic choices; writing about Captain Moroni and his insane defeat of the Lamanite invaders or whether I should talk of Alma's final words to Coriantor about the fall of man, garden of Eden, etc. Hmmmm, yeah, I chose war...
So, Captain Moroni (a mere boy of only 25) leads the army of the Nephites and hides them in three places along the route of Zerahemnah and the angry blood-thirsty Lamanites. Moroni decides that because of the evil intention of the Lamanites, and the vast number of men in the invading army, it would be no sin if he used "stratagem (Alma 43:30)" to defeat them. After defeating Zerahemnah on three fronts and surrounding him, Moroni, seeing the terror in the eyes of his enemy, decides to offer Zerahemnah a deal. Leave your weapons and make an oath never to take up arms again and the remaining members of the army would be released without harm. Zerahemnah hands over his weapons but refuses to take the oath of peace...Moroni hands back his weapons and (I love this part) says, "...Behold, we will end the conflict." Meaning, "It's on brother, prepare yourself and your men to meet whichever God you choose to believe in."
ALMA 44:12-14
12 And now when Moroni had said these words, Zerahemnah retained his sword, and he was angry with Moroni, and he rushed forward that he might slay Moroni; but as he raised his sword, behold, one of Moroni's soldiers smote it even to the earth, and it broke by the hilt; and he also smote Zerahemnah that he took off his scalp and it fell to the earth. And Zerahemnah withdrew from before them into the midst of his soldiers.
13 And it came to pass that the soldier who stood by, who smote off the scalp of Zerahemnah, took up the scalp from off the ground by the hair, and laid it upon the point of his sword, and stretched it forth unto them, saying unto them with a loud voice:
14 Even as this scalp has fallen to the earth, which is the scalp of your chief, so shall ye fall to the earth except ye will deliver up your weapons of war and depart with a covenant of peace.
Is that awesome or what? Scalped the dude! Now, keep in mind that the Lamanites are the ancestors of the Native Americans who regularly used scalping as a tactical means of disheartening their enemies. To put it into a plausible perspective - the great (x10) grandfather of the modern day native Americans, Zerahemnah (General of the Lamanite army), was scalped by a white guy (an unnamed soldier of Moroni's Nephite guard). Extremely interesting don't you think? And yes, maybe it wasn't the first intentional scalping but, it's the first listed in any historical document (c. 73 BC), so in my mind, it wins as the standout moment of invention. It makes sense too because those Lamanites that did surrender, take the oath, and leave prior to the final battle and destruction of their brethren, saw the gruesome act and most certainly never forgot it. The survivors told their families and children and the story was passed on from generation to generation. The scalping of Zerahemnah became so legendary that it eventually became a warlike act preferred by Lamanite descendants...
~Kipling
Sunday, November 4, 2012
State of the Soul after Death
Reading: Alma 39-40
What happens when we die? Where do our spirits go while we wait for the resurrection? Alma, talking to his third son (Corianton), gives a great explanation...
ALMA 40:11-14
11 Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection-Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.
12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.
13 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil-for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house-and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil.
14 Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.
Again, the captivation of the devil leads to, "...weeping...wailing...gnashing of teeth..." Whereas righteousness leads to, "...happiness...paradise...rest, a state of peace..." These are the two possibilities for all spirits as they wait for the resurrection; spirit paradise or spirit prison (outer darkness). Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve...
~Kipling
What happens when we die? Where do our spirits go while we wait for the resurrection? Alma, talking to his third son (Corianton), gives a great explanation...
ALMA 40:11-14
11 Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection-Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.
12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.
13 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil-for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house-and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil.
14 Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.
Again, the captivation of the devil leads to, "...weeping...wailing...gnashing of teeth..." Whereas righteousness leads to, "...happiness...paradise...rest, a state of peace..." These are the two possibilities for all spirits as they wait for the resurrection; spirit paradise or spirit prison (outer darkness). Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve...
~Kipling
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Heart of Darkness
Reading: Alma 35-38
The Horror! The Horror!
One of my favorite works of literature is The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. I am fascinated by the brooding momentum of the story and the density by which the characters are woven into the memory of Marlow and in his retelling of his journey. The immortal, dying words of Kurtz, "The horror! The horror!" have been the cause of much intellectual debate and discourse as to their meaning. I have had my own perspective of what Kurtz meant by his dying words but today I have found cause to tweak that perspective a bit.
First, for those of you unfamiliar with the story, Kurtz is a not a good person - a demigod of sorts in his charismatic control of natives in the Congo. He makes them worship him and controls them with tyrannical rituals and bizarre, twisted ideals. When the narrator of the tale, Marlowe, comes across Kurtz he is ill with jungle fever and Marlowe steals him away from the village in an attempt to get him home. As Kurtz lies dying on a cot, alone, and in a hallucinatory state the end comes, "He cried in a whisper at some image, some vision - he cried out twice, a cry that was no more than a breath -The horror! The horror!"
So what do I think is meant? I will explain after the reading for the day...Alma is waxing old, nearing death, and is passing the torch (sort-of-speak) to his sons. In his speech to Helamen he recounts his wickedness and the angel visiting him and the sons of Mosiah and how he was struck to the earth in a fearful state...
ALMA 36:12-14
12 But I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.
13 Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments.
14 Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.
A couple of interesting things to note here; first the obvious connection between Alma and Kurtz in their relative states of wickedness. Alma even says, "...I had murderd many of [God's] children, or rather led them away unto destruction (spiritual death)." The other, most noteable, and the cause by which I made the comparison, is the last line of verse 14, "...the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror." Are you kidding me? How much more connected could they be? Both men, harrowed up by their iniquities and tormented with the pains of hell, are racked with inexpressible HORROR!
So what did Kurtz mean by his barely audible whisper, what vision did he see, why did his dying breath come with the utterance, "The horror! The horror!" He, like Alma, feared his meeting with God. Alma was given a second chance and definitely made the most of it...Kurtz died and reaped his brimstone benefit...
~Kipling
The Horror! The Horror!
One of my favorite works of literature is The Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. I am fascinated by the brooding momentum of the story and the density by which the characters are woven into the memory of Marlow and in his retelling of his journey. The immortal, dying words of Kurtz, "The horror! The horror!" have been the cause of much intellectual debate and discourse as to their meaning. I have had my own perspective of what Kurtz meant by his dying words but today I have found cause to tweak that perspective a bit.
First, for those of you unfamiliar with the story, Kurtz is a not a good person - a demigod of sorts in his charismatic control of natives in the Congo. He makes them worship him and controls them with tyrannical rituals and bizarre, twisted ideals. When the narrator of the tale, Marlowe, comes across Kurtz he is ill with jungle fever and Marlowe steals him away from the village in an attempt to get him home. As Kurtz lies dying on a cot, alone, and in a hallucinatory state the end comes, "He cried in a whisper at some image, some vision - he cried out twice, a cry that was no more than a breath -The horror! The horror!"
So what do I think is meant? I will explain after the reading for the day...Alma is waxing old, nearing death, and is passing the torch (sort-of-speak) to his sons. In his speech to Helamen he recounts his wickedness and the angel visiting him and the sons of Mosiah and how he was struck to the earth in a fearful state...
ALMA 36:12-14
12 But I was racked with eternal torment, for my soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all my sins.
13 Yea, I did remember all my sins and iniquities, for which I was tormented with the pains of hell; yea, I saw that I had rebelled against my God, and that I had not kept his holy commandments.
14 Yea, and I had murdered many of his children, or rather led them away unto destruction; yea, and in fine so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.
A couple of interesting things to note here; first the obvious connection between Alma and Kurtz in their relative states of wickedness. Alma even says, "...I had murderd many of [God's] children, or rather led them away unto destruction (spiritual death)." The other, most noteable, and the cause by which I made the comparison, is the last line of verse 14, "...the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror." Are you kidding me? How much more connected could they be? Both men, harrowed up by their iniquities and tormented with the pains of hell, are racked with inexpressible HORROR!
So what did Kurtz mean by his barely audible whisper, what vision did he see, why did his dying breath come with the utterance, "The horror! The horror!" He, like Alma, feared his meeting with God. Alma was given a second chance and definitely made the most of it...Kurtz died and reaped his brimstone benefit...
~Kipling
Friday, November 2, 2012
No Mere Mortal
Reading: Alma 33-34
The atonement is discussed throughout the scriptures. An ultimate sacrifice for all mankind. A sacrifice to encompass all sins and allow all who believe the opportunity for repentance. I know it is difficult to understand the vastness of the atonement and therefore it's best understood on a personal level - how it pertains to you and I personally. My sins are forgiven me if I simply (I know it's not always simple) believe in the savior and have faith that the atonement did occur and that it was for me, He did this for me. But why did it have to be accomplished by the Son of God...
ALMA 34:10-12
10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.
11 Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay.
12 But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world.
A mere mortal could not accomplish the grandeur of the atonement. If a man murder, "...there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood [to] atone for the sin of [that man]." In other words, the atonement has to encompass all sin, including murder, and if a murderer repents of his sin, truly, believing in the atonement and having faith that even his grievous sin can be forgiven, well, it has to be covered, and it is. A life for a life cannot be covered by the blood of another man it has to be covered my the man who shed the blood. But the blood of one who is infinite and eternal can suffice. The atonement of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, encompasses all even one that commits murder and therefore why not us?
I think the selected scriptures are pretty clear in that regard and maybe I just muddled up the clarity and if so , I apologize. Sometimes my talking out loud (writing in this case) can make too many circles around the same point and thereby cause a fog which makes the point more difficult to access but I enjoy the process...
~Kipling
The atonement is discussed throughout the scriptures. An ultimate sacrifice for all mankind. A sacrifice to encompass all sins and allow all who believe the opportunity for repentance. I know it is difficult to understand the vastness of the atonement and therefore it's best understood on a personal level - how it pertains to you and I personally. My sins are forgiven me if I simply (I know it's not always simple) believe in the savior and have faith that the atonement did occur and that it was for me, He did this for me. But why did it have to be accomplished by the Son of God...
ALMA 34:10-12
10 For it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice; yea, not a sacrifice of man, neither of beast, neither of any manner of fowl; for it shall not be a human sacrifice; but it must be an infinite and eternal sacrifice.
11 Now there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood which will atone for the sins of another. Now, if a man murdereth, behold will our law, which is just, take the life of his brother? I say unto you, Nay.
12 But the law requireth the life of him who hath murdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world.
A mere mortal could not accomplish the grandeur of the atonement. If a man murder, "...there is not any man that can sacrifice his own blood [to] atone for the sin of [that man]." In other words, the atonement has to encompass all sin, including murder, and if a murderer repents of his sin, truly, believing in the atonement and having faith that even his grievous sin can be forgiven, well, it has to be covered, and it is. A life for a life cannot be covered by the blood of another man it has to be covered my the man who shed the blood. But the blood of one who is infinite and eternal can suffice. The atonement of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, encompasses all even one that commits murder and therefore why not us?
I think the selected scriptures are pretty clear in that regard and maybe I just muddled up the clarity and if so , I apologize. Sometimes my talking out loud (writing in this case) can make too many circles around the same point and thereby cause a fog which makes the point more difficult to access but I enjoy the process...
~Kipling
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