As a Little Child

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While Christ was in Jerusalem, he once told the people “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (John 10:16). Some of these other sheep were the Nephites and Lamanites in the Americas, as recorded in the book of Third Nephi of The Book of Mormon. While there he, among other things, taught and counseled. Even before he visited the people in person, his voice was heard testifying of the fulfillment of his earthly mission and issuing a call to repentance. During this time Christ stated:

“Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved” (3 Nephi 9:22).

Being some of his first counsel, it stands to reason Christ considers becoming like little children to be very important. In fact, the plea to become as little children is often repeated by Christ during his ministry in Jerusalem and the Americas. But what is it about being like little children that is so important?

First off, Christ asks us to be child-like, not childish. So if we were to strip children of the childish qualities that are simply the result of still developing minds, what are we left with? Curious, happy, loving, forgiving, and humble individuals. For example, how long does a child hold a grudge? How often does a child ask innumerable questions? How many children pick flowers for their parents, just hoping they’ll love them? Little children are humble and teachable. They want to please. They are innocent. Perhaps most important, they look to their parents, always.

We are children of a Heavenly Father who wants nothing more than to love and teach us. He wants us to turn to him in all things. To be compared to a little child is not an insult; it is a saving quality. 

We Need Not Fear

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In the latter half of The Book of Mormon there is a group of people known as the Gadianton robbers, who plague the Nephites and Lamanites almost incessantly. By the beginning of the book known as Third Nephi, the Gadianton robbers had increased greatly in size due to desertions from the Nephite nation. Holed up in the mountainous wilderness, they would repeatedly pester the Nephites down below. Eventually their leader, Giddianhi, decided it was time he took everything the Nephites had, so he sent a letter to the leader of the Nephites, Lachoneus, ordering Lachoneus to surrender or “I swear unto you with an oath, that on the morrow month I will command that my armies shall come down against you, and they shall not stay their hand and shall spare not, but shall slay you, and shall let fall the sword upon you even until ye shall become extinct” (3 Nephi 3: 8). For many people, fear would be the normal reaction. Not Lachoneus though; no, “this Lachoneus, the governor, was a just man, and could not be frightened by the demands and the threatenings of a robber; therefore he did not hearken to the epistle of Giddianhi, the governor of the robbers, but he did cause that his people should cry unto the Lord for strength against the time that the robbers should come down against them” (3 Nephi 3: 12).

Lachoneus understood that God was entirely more powerful than any force Giddianhi could have mustered. In a way he was like Elisha, when Elisha reminded his servant to “Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them” (2 Kings 6: 16). Lachoneus was not irrational, and understood he needed to make preparations for Giddianhi’s assault. For this reason, all the Nephites were gathered together into one defendable body, and when Giddianhi did attack, they were ready. The battle was not easy, but with God’s help, the Nephites prevailed.

So that is all fine and dandy, but what does this mean for us? While not entirely impossible, odds are we will not have a band of robbers threatening us with extinction. The world is a pretty crazy place though. Every day there seems to be a new kidnapping or shooting, North Korea recently tested a nuclear bomb, there is still a lot of instability in the Middle East, yesterday an asteroid capable of obliterating an entire city missed Earth by 15 minutes, and today a meteorite passed into the atmosphere creating a sonic boom that shattered glass and injured a thousand people or so. Additionally societal values appear to be constantly shifting, long held truths are being questioned, religion is becoming old-fashioned, people are confused, and life is generally unfair. By many standards we have every right to be afraid.

Don’t be.

Our Heavenly Father is in control, believe it or not (believe it). He is in control, and he has assured us that when we remain on his side, we will be okay. Even as the world around us implodes, we can trust in the stability and hope that our Heavenly Father and his plan brings. This is not to say we can take no thought for ourselves, but when we do our part like Lachoneus did, and then “cry unto the Lord for strength” (3 Nephi 3: 12), he will protect us. We may still experience trials like the Nephites did (they were not completely spared in the battle), but the end result – the part after we leave this Earth – that is the part where all will be okay. In that, God has guaranteed. 

How to Beat the Pride Cycle

There exists a concept, known as the Pride Cycle, that outlines a common behavior among people. At the top of this cycle, we start with “prosperity.” As prosperity continues, it turns into “pride,” which will lead to “sin.” Sin leads to “destruction,” destruction to “sorrow,” and sorrow to “humility.” Humility leads one to “repentance,” repentance brings “blessings,” and blessings turn into “prosperity” once again, at which point we continue the cycle. To gain a better understanding of this cycle, one need only look in the book of Helaman found in The Book of Mormon, where the pride cycle spins so quickly among the people of Nephi that it would be comical if it were not so sad and disheartening.

But for the pride cycle to be of any worth, we must look at it within our own lives. How easy is it for us to forget our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ when things are going well? Unfortunately, it can be too easy to focus entirely on our contribution to such success; this can lead to pride, and you know the rest from there. When I was younger, I used to look at the cycle and mourn the fact that I was doomed to destruction before I could return to the prosperity part. Well guess what? It doesn't have to be that way. The pride cycle, as it turns out, has a short cut that leads straight from “prosperity” to “humility.” When we remember to acknowledge our Heavenly Father’s large contribution to our prosperity, and are humbled by it, we can skip the entire ugly half of the cycle. This type of life is not easy, but it is the one we must work at if we desire to stand worthily in the presence of God someday.

Unfortunately there must be opposition in all things, and as it turns out there exists a short cut from “sorrow” to “pride” as well. I cannot imagine how painful it must be to become stuck on this sort of cycle. I would never want to end on a bad note however, so I will let you in on a little piece of information: you can stop circling the bad end of the cycle any time you like; just stop where you are, and cut straight to humility. When pride starts to creep into your life, don’t let it continue – cut straight to humility and avoid the sin, destruction, and sorrow.

If this option seems too good, too merciful, it’s probably because it is. But that is the way our Heavenly Father works. He loves every one of his children with more love than any of us can comprehend, so much so that he sent his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to complete what we call the Atonement, that we might stand a chance of being like our Heavenly Father one day. Now that is a reason for humility. 

Not Taking Offense

In around the year 62 B.C. there was a great war raging between two nations of peoples, the Nephites and the Lamanites. The military commander of the Nephites was a man named Moroni, and the civil leader a man named Pahoran. This Moroni had suffered a great deal of hardship during the war, and needed more provisions and men; however, every time he asked his civil leader Pahoran for them, none came. Eventually, Moroni became fed up, and sent a very strongly worded letter to Pahoran which contained, among other things, these words:

“Can you think to sit upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor, while your enemies are spreading the work of death around you?” (Alma 60:7)

“Behold, could you suppose that ye could sit upon your thrones, and because of the exceeding goodness of God ye could do nothing and he would deliver you? Behold, if ye have supposed this ye have supposed in vain…and behold, it is to your condemnation” (Alma 60:11-12).

These would be rough words for anyone to hear, but as it turns out, Pahoran had not been sitting on his throne in a “thoughtless stupor.” In fact, an insurrection had occurred in which Lamanite sympathizers had taken over the government, and Pahoran was currently trying to gather people to retake the government. Consequently, Pahoran had every right to become offended by Moroni’s harsh language, and send a response to the effect of, “I’m trying my best Moroni, and I’m actually in a tough situation, and I would appreciate it if you tried to understand the situation before you judged me so harshly.” At least, that would probably have been my reaction. Pahoran’s actual response, however, is the second best example of not being offended.

“And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart” (Alma 61:9).

This response has always impressed me, because of the understanding Pahoran shows. Not only is he not mad that Moroni insulted him, but he is happy that Moroni cares so much for the people that he is willing to go against a corrupt government. I think this is a great example for all of us. When we try to understand the intentions of others, I think we may find it easier to not take offense at those things that were said or done against us.

Even if these offensive things were done with the meanest of intentions, I think we can look to the number one example of not being offended – Jesus Christ – when, during the crucifixion process he pleaded “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Because honestly, I think none of us understands exactly what it is that we are doing when we hurt one another. Not taking offense though, is the best path to building that understanding. 

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