Repentance & Mosiah Chapter 21
Time to Weed the Garden
| How many times do we try and do something without
the Lord's help, fail, and then turn to him for help? The people of Limhi went to war
against the Lamanites three times before they finally called upon the Lord in mighty
prayer. (vs. 7, 11-12) Yes, they had cried mightily from day to day; for a great fear of
the Lamanites had come upon them (vs. 10) but they were not crying mightily unto God. If
they had, would they have needed to cry in fear? Not if they had faith. Faith would
have replaced the fear. The Lord did not hear their cries until they had "humbled themselves even in the depths of humility; yea even all the day long. And the Lord did hear their cries, He was just slow to answer them; just as they were slow to call upon Him. Abinidi had warned the people that this would come....that if they didn't humble themselves and repent the Lord would be slow to hear their cries. (Mosiah ll:24) After repentance, why would the Lord be slow to hear our cries? Joseph Fielding McConkie said, "The Lord who is patient and long-suffering even with evil may be equally slow to redeem the transgressor. The seeds of iniquity are not easily uprooted; time and suffering are a part of the healing process." He also points out something I missed. "Alma and his people escaped the bondage and suffering imposed upon those of the city of Nephi". Alma's people had repented and were baptized...gospel covenants faithfully kept bring both spiritual and temporal freedom, while doing iniquity brings both spiritual and temporal bondage." Only after the people of Nephi become sufficiently humble, repent, and are baptized do things turn around for them. Courage, physical strength, and weapons of war could not bring what faith and repentance could. I can spend hours in the garden pulling weeds. I think that I've found them all or that I've successfully pulled up the entire root only to discover a new crop or the re-sprouting of more weeds. The roots were deeper and portions may have broken off as I tried to uproot them. They refuse to come up easily. If I weed daily, the weeds are not as strong, or as many. A beautiful garden requires constant care. If I'd pull the weeds when they first pop out, they come up easily. They haven't had the chance to go deeper and to gather strength. They can't cling onto and tangle themselves among other weeds I may have missed; or whose roots have broken off as I try to uproot them. Weeds are also very greedy. They hog all the water and nourishment leaving little for the growing plants. A beautiful garden is a daily process; once the weeds are gone, the garden blooms! Have a great day and check your garden for weeds °Ü° Alice Gifford (c) - All Rights Reserved
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