Book of Mormon: Helaman 12:14-26
24 And may God grant, in his great fulness, that men might be brought unto repentance and good works, that they might be restored unto grace for grace, according to their works.
In the last several chapters, the Nephites have been through war and famine. Nephi has been pleading continually for his people before the Lord. And although the famine did bring some people back to the Lord, in less than a decade they are in trouble again. The Gadianton robbers have dug their plans out of the ground, enlarged their influence and are wreaking havoc in the land. Instead of turning to God, the Nephites are relying on themselves, fighting each other and living in fear. These Nephites know better. They were raised in the gospel. They have stories passed down about great miracles that happen with faith. However, at this point, they are not doing anything about their knowledge and it’s definitely not helping them turn to God.
Dallin H Oaks has said:
It is not enough for us to be convinced of the gospel; we must act and think so that we are converted by it. In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something.
Becoming takes effort. In fact, it takes all of our effort. Heavenly Father is well aware of this process and lovingly has given us grace – an enabling power – to help get us through tough times.
Gene R Cook mentions:
Thus, unless one has done all in his own power, he cannot expect the grace of God to be manifest. What a glorious principle to understand: the Lord’s assistance to us—whether we have strong faith or weak faith; whether a man, a woman, or a child—is not based just on what we know, how strong we are, or who we are, but more upon our giving all that we can give and doing all that we can do in our present circumstance. Once one has given all he can, then the Lord, through His grace, may assist.
I have a son who is 6 months old. He is just learning to tuck his legs underneath him and rock back and forth. He is excited about his new skill. Sometimes though, he gets stuck in a corner because he has rocked back and forth so much. Often I watch and see if he can get himself out of the corner. Sometimes he’s frustrated, but I don’t want to intervene just yet. He is learning and I am watchful. I know his cry when he can’t get himself unstuck. When I hear that cry, I rush to pick him up. I love him and I ease his frustrations. I let him know the world is a safe place and that he’s got this. And then I put him down and let him try again.
Just as with my son, God watches our efforts to become. Our struggles, our experiments, our cries, He hears them all. And when He hears that plea that we are stuck,that we need help, then He comes. He enlarges our capacity and understanding. He gives us peace and safety for a moment and then we are off again. Never does He say, “Why didn’t you do that like your neighbor?” or “You dummy, why did you get yourself stuck?” He does not berate us but simply teaches us, enlarges our capacity and then let’s us at it again.
The book of Helaman is one of the saddest parts of the Book of Mormon to me. It hurts my heart to watch these people who once knew so much, who had so much promise, turn around and make so little out of their lives. Their decline in these chapters is my remembrance that knowing is important but using grace to become is everything.
A lover of words, walking barefoot in the grass and kitchen dance parties, Patti is always ready for the next adventure. She lives in UT with her ninja husband and three small children who remind her that Jesus wants us to be kind and that storytime is the most important time of the day.