Mosiah 9:14-10:12
17 Yea, in the strength of the Lord did we go forth to battle against the Lamanites; for I and my people did cry mightily to the Lord that he would deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, for we were awakened to a remembrance of the deliverance of our fathers.
18 And God did hear our cries and did answer our prayers; and we did go forth in his might; yea, we did go forth against the Lamanites, and in one day and a night we did slay three thousand and forty-three; we did slay them even until we had driven them out of our land.
I love the process described in verses 17 and 18 of today’s reading. The way I see it there are five steps described in verses 17-18 the bringing about of the miracle of Zeniff’s people triumphing over the Lamanites at ridiculous odds. Those five steps apply universally in life:
- They did cry unto the Lord in honesty and humility
- They were awakened
- They were strengthened
- They went forth
- Miracles (God made up the difference)
At some point, or points in our lives we will be given things to do that are beyond our capacity. Last year I was blessed with an impossible task: to care for my aging Grandmother in the early stages of dementia and help to change her living situation. For a long time it seemed utterly impossible for me on every front – first of all I never expected I’d stay at my Grandmother’s house for more than a week or two. But as the days passed and the Lord’s plan for me staying began to unveil itself to me – I honestly fought it. I mean, the kind, sweet woman I loved dearly had become controlling, manipulative, sometimes nasty and argumentative. I was accused of dishonesty and theft in the most absurd ways – I have never stolen a bible or my grandmother’s pants, no matter what she might still try to tell everyone else – I often felt like I was the one losing my mind. Yet as often as I prayed (step 1 – kind of…) to be released from the burden placed on me relief did not come.
As time passed and my heart softened I realized that I had promised the Lord I would go and do what He wanted me to do for as long as he wanted me to do it – and He showed me that what I had secretly meant in my heart was: I’ll go and do what I want to do but I want you to make me feel good about it and bless me along the way. The Zeniff-ites weren’t in denial about their situation in verse 17 – and I shouldn’t have been either. It wasn’t until I cried unto the Lord without telling Him how to bless me- (step 1 – truly) but allowing Him to awaken me (step 2) to those things I needed to do-that the change in me happened (step 3). I was told to focus on service. I cleaned. I scrubbed. I drove. I talked, I explained over and over and over again and again and again. I tried to respond with a positive attitude no matter what (step 4). And the change in my grandmother’s attitude toward me was often profound. Sometimes nothing really helped – because of the nature of her illness- but I saw enough of “my grandmother” to both see God’s love for her and to be able to love her through the worst times. (Step 5.) I lived with her for a total of eight months – until her condition became apparent enough to those not living with her that other arrangements were made for her care – a major miracle and proverbial Mount Everest moved (step 5). I saw the hand of the Lord working in both of our lives and his magnificent and boundless love for each us – providing care and growth opportunities for both of us time and time again during those eight months.
It is human nature to choose stress, to complain, to shrink in the face of these adversities. Responding with Love, gratitude and a good attitude is reflective of our divine nature and – is the way we pass the Lord’s great test for us armed with His strength. It’s the way we can do the impossible every day.
The power of God to do His work in our own lives and the lives of others is real and it is mighty. Are we going forth each day in the Strength of the Lord? Are we going forth endowed with power born of faith, of covenant keeping, of the priesthood?
I’m part gypsy, part homebody, all seeker of truth. I love my Heavenly Father, family and traveling. Auntie to Payton, Leah, Morgan, Macy, Gracie, Ainsley, Audrey, Norah, Quinn, Avery & Rhys.
I’ve traveled around the world. The place I want most to go now is back to my Father in Heaven.