And He Healed Them All Every One by Gary Kapp

I'm currently reading in 3rd Nephi in the Book of Mormon.  It's hard to choose favorite books and chapters from the Book of Mormon as there are so many, but if pressed I would be tempted to choose 3rd Nephi.

This morning as I was reading chapter 18 I was again reminded of a pattern that I have noticed before.  The Savior in administering the sacrament first broke bread and gave it to His chosen disciples.  When they had eaten and were filled He then commanded that they give the bread to the multitude.  This sequence was repeated with the wine.

I believe the Savior was instituting His pattern for dispersing salvation to mankind.  The Savior calls those to whom He gives the authority to act for Him.  He then ministers to them and they minister to the rest of us.  How grateful I am to live in a time where there are apostles and prophets who have authority from the Savior to act in His name.  

Verse 13 has always caught my attention also.  The Savior says after giving the charge to teach the keeping of the commandments through the administering of the sacrament, "But whoso among you shall do more or less than these are not built upon my rock, but are built upon a sandy foundation...."  We often focus on what it means to do less - the not keeping of the commandments or the breaking of them.    But what does it mean for us to do more than this?  I wonder if when we add unto what the Savior has given if we become like the pharisees, following many procedures that are hollow of true spirituality.  Much to-do gives us the illusion of spiritual business leaving us little time for the core of the gospel which is faith, repentance, the keeping of baptismal covenants and receiving and following the gift of the Holy Ghost. Indeed the Savior has shown us the path and we need not add to it.  It is sufficient and abundant.

Is our beloved nation in bondage?

The Departure of the Children of Israel from Egypt - The Provincial Museum of Alberta

Throughout the scriptures the Lord's people have dwelt in bondage both physically and spiritually.  One of the great archetypal stories of the Old Testament is the Lord's deliverance of Israel from under the hand of Pharaoh. Throughout the ages this story has represented the deliverance the Lord has for each and all of us from the bondage of sin and iniquity.  Often the Book of Mormon prophets called upon their people to remember this deliverance.  They also taught of the bondage that comes as a result of sin.  In addition, the Book of Mormon repeatedly contains warnings to the Nephite nation (and to our nation) that they will loose their God protected freedom if they choose to turn from the God of this land who is Jesus Christ. 

These warnings continue to apply to those who live upon this land of promise.   As I have contemplated the state of our nation of late it occurs to me that we are already in many states of bondage because of our  choices.  We don't necessarily have to be overrun by another entity (though that may happen at some point) to begin to loose our individual freedoms.  And I am not talking about the freedoms of speech, right to privacy, etc.  As I look across our land I see many types of bondage.  We have the bondage of many, many addictions, the bondage of debt, the bondage of corruption in high places, the bondage of poverty in low places, the bondage that comes from broken homes and from unhealthy physical practices.  We are in bondage to crime and violence.  We suffer from the bondage of greed.  All of this is a burden to bear and we feel it upon our backs in high taxes, the need for more and more social programs, hidden detriments to society through high medical  and legal costs.  Rationality tells us that it is only a matter of time before the scales tip and we no longer are able to function under these heavy burdens.

Jesus tells us that the truth will make us free.  Truth will deliver us from bondage. The prophet Lehi calls upon us to shake off the awful chains by which we are bound.   Do we value position, power, political correctness, $$, our own man made philosophies over truth?  I'm afraid that we do and we don't seem to be willing to change much at all if any.  I don't have a lot of hope that any elected official will be able to solve our many burdensome problems until we as a people are ready and willing to change our own carnal ways.

Our deliverance from these woes is simple. A return to the basic tenants of faith, religious practice and the golden rule (treat others as you would have them treat you), repentance and a study and application of the commandments of God would go a long ways towards releasing us from these afflictions. Sadly it's just so politically incorrect.

There are many sincere and good people in our country.  May we see the light as a whole and act upon it before we are in too deep to get out.