Three Book of Mormon Challenges: Challenge 1

The other day I listened to a talk by Elder H. Bryan Richards about the Book of Mormon. In the talk, Elder Richards gives three Book of Mormon challenges--questions to ponder. Here is the first one.

1. The scriptures make a point that Helaman's 2,000 stripling warriors were taught by their mothers. What did their mothers teach them?

The quick answer to this is faith. In Alma 56, when Helaman's army was debating whether to turn back to fight the Lamanite army which had been pursuing them but which had halted, it says that the young men "had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them" (vs. 47).

But that answer seems too easy. Are there other things they were taught by their mothers? Well, of course... but what other things are evident from the Book of Mormon?

After another Nephite victory, Helaman recounts that these young men "did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them" (Alma 57:21). From this passage, it appears that in addition to faith, the mothers likely taught their young men obedience--exact obedience.

This exact obedience was likely taught in word, but it was also certainly taught by example. The mothers of those young men were part of the generation of Lamanites who were converted to the gospel and gave up their warring ways. They buried their weapons and made a covenant with God to never fight again. They then held true to that covenant even though it meant allowing themselves to be killed by their enemies without putting up a fight of defense. That example of strict obedience to a covenant surely helped their sons learn to obey orders on the battlefield.

Of course the mothers of these sons were also part of the former Lamanites who moved into Nephite lands, where they were "distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end. And they did look upon shedding the blood of their brethren with the greatest abhorrence; and they never could be prevailed upon to take up arms against their brethren; and they never did look upon death with any degree of terror, for their hope and views of Christ and the resurrection; therefore, death was swallowed up to them by the victory of Christ over it" (Alma 27:27-28).

The mothers of these sons taught their sons many things by example, it appears. Integrity, faith, testimony of Christ, religious zeal, obedience, commitment to covenants--these and many other virtues were exemplified by them. The young men themselves were examples of many of these same virtues, as well as others. Certainly they learned these things from their parents.

Here is a list I created a month or so ago while studying the qualities of these young men (as recorded in Alma chapters 53 and 56–58).

• They were all young men. (Alma 53:20)
  
• They were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity. (Alma 53:20)
  
• They were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. (Alma 53:20)
  
• They were men of truth and soberness. (Alma 53:21)
  
• They had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him. (Alma 53:21)
  
• They did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives. (Alma 56:47)
  
• They had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. (Alma 56:47)
  
• They had fought as if with the strength of God. (Alma 56:56)
  
• Those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted. (Alma 57:20)
  
• They did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness. (Alma 57:21)
  
• Even according to their faith it was done unto them. (Alma 57:21)
  
• Their minds are firm. (Alma 57:27)
  
• They do put their trust in God continually. (Alma 57:57)
  
• They have received many wounds. (Alma 58:40)
  
• They stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free. (Alma 58:40)
  
• They are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day. (Alma 58:40)
  
• They do observe to keep his statues, and his judgments, and his commandments continually. (Alma 58:40)
  
• Their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come. (Alma 58:40)

Flying Fingers

While I was washing dishes tonight, Christine asked if she could use my computer to record Lizzy's song. She said Lizzy had made up a song and had been working on it all day.

I wasn't terribly surprised to hear Lizzy had been composing. She's made up a song or two before. But when I heard her start playing it in the other room, I was first taken back by the chord progression--it's not terribly complicated or deep, but it's more mature than I expected. Then I was impressed by her playing--again, not flawless, but more confident and controlled (in keeping the rhythm even) than I would have thought.

Anyway, enough commentary from the proud dad. Here's Lizzy's composing debut. She calls it "Flying Fingers."

Family Home Evening Log

Conducting: Mommy

Trick by Lizzy

Opening Song: Let the Holy Spirit Guide

Opening Prayer: Mommy

Lesson: Daddy told the story of Perseus, who had a difficult quest. To help him on his quest, the gods gave him three magical gifts: a helmet, a shield, and a sword. Our lives are like quests also: we have a glorious goal (eternal life) and we will have to overcome many challenges and difficulties to get there. To help us on our quest, Heavenly Father has given us a gift better than Perseus' magical weapons. When we are baptized, we receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost (2 Ne. 31:12), to guide us, protect us, teach us, comfort us, and help us complete our quest and return home to Heavenly Father. Lizzy pointed out that our opening song lists a lot of things the Holy Ghost will do to help us in our lives:

1. Let the Holy Spirit guide;
Let him teach us what is true.
He will testify of Christ,
Light our minds with heaven’s view.

2. Let the Holy Spirit guard;
Let his whisper govern choice.
He will lead us safely home
If we listen to his voice.

3. Let the Spirit heal our hearts
Thru his quiet, gentle pow’r.
May we purify our lives
To receive him hour by hour.

Family Prayer: Lizzy

Refreshments: Ice cream (strawberry, vanilla, cookie dough, or cherry bo berry)

Game: Wacky Words (a mad-lib sort of game). Here's the story we created. The words/phrases in a different color are the words we came up with to fill in the blanks. The initial of the person who thought of with each word or phrase is in brackets after the word or phrase. Lizzy and Mommy tied with 6 points each (two points per blank); Daddy had 4 points.

My Book Report

I read Musical Magical Mushrooms [L] by Penelope P. Peters.
It's a funny story about munchkins making music [M].
My favorite character was the furry Barney the Dinosaur [L].
I laughed out loud when he ate the Empire State Building [D]!
I was surprised when the dog-like [L] man
lost his snakeskin slippers [D]!
I thought the book was lovely as linguini [M].
Any kid who likes shiitakes, slippers, or silly songs [M] should read it.

ADD and Multiplication

This is what it's like living with a brilliant, slightly ADD child:

Lizzy is supposed to be putting jammies on. Instead she is half undressed, head on the ground, bum in the air, thinking about multiplication.

Lizzy: "Mom, did you know that nine times nine is 81?"

Christine: "Yes. How did you know that?"

Lizzy: "Because nine times 10 is 90 and it's nine less than that."

Christine: "Ok, now get your jammies on."

A minute or so later, I hear Lizzy mumbling to herself: "Now, eight times eight..."

The Last Full Measure of Devotion

In early July of 1863, the peace of southern Pennsylvania’s green rolling hills was obliterated by the thundering sound of war. The Civil War had come north, and in a fierce battle, the South attacked the North just outside a small village called Gettysburg. In three days of fighting, the Confederates charged the Union lines repeatedly but were unable to break through. On July 4, after suffering severe losses, the Confederate Army retreated.

But the Union casualties were nearly as great as the Confederate. More than 3,000 boys in blue died in that battle, and some 20,000 more were wounded, captured, or recorded missing. By the end of the war, more than 600,000 Americans would lose their lives.

From the hills of Pennsylvania in 1863 to the farmlands of Massachusetts in 1775 to the forests of eastern France in 1944 to the deserts of Afghanistan and Iraq in 2003, millions upon millions have given their last breaths for our liberty, for us.

Sacrifices in our behalf are not confined to men and women in uniform. In addition to Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, each summer in Utah we celebrate Pioneer Day, remembering those who left homes and comforts and lost lives and family members for the faith we share with them. And on June 27 we honor another martyr for our faith, Joseph Smith.

Many are the courageous, faithful, selfless individuals who have given “the last full measure of devotion,” as Abraham Lincoln called it, to causes of faith and liberty. Our debt of gratitude is, indeed, great. How can we, today, even begin repay that debt?

In November 1863, four months after the battle at Gettysburg, President Abraham Lincoln visited the site of the conflict, where he praised those fallen soldiers and expressed the duty that is incumbent on all who benefit from such sacrifices--whether made by soldiers in the 1860s, by pioneers in the 1850s, or by Joseph Smith in 1844.

“It is for us the living, rather,” said Lincoln, “to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.”

Increased devotion to the cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that’s how we can pay our debt of gratitude. We can carry on the work they began. We can advance the cause to which they consecrated such unswerving faith. By so doing, we can ensure that their gift to us, the ultimate gift, was not given in vain.

A short distance from the beaches in Normandy, France, ranks upon ranks of small white crosses cover a green field. Spaced carefully in perfect rows and columns, nearly 10,000 crosses honor American soldiers who gave their lives to secure the freedom of the French people. It is fitting that these brave dead are memorialized by crosses, which represent another cross, a cross upon which One died to secure the liberty of many.

In the Book of Mormon, yet another martyr, Abinadi, spoke of the Savior’s sacrifice and of our duty to honor that gift. “When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,” Abinadi said, quoting Isaiah, “. . . he shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied” (Mosiah 14:10–11).

When we make the Savior’s soul an offering for sin, when we apply His sacrifice to our lives, when we continue the work He started--the work of our own salvation--then do we ensure that His sacrifice was not in vain. And as we live lives of faith, courage, and repentance, we honor His gift to us as well as the millions of similar gifts passed down through the centuries to us today.