Sermoncitos, a family tradition
Trust
The principal asked the janitor, “shouldn’t you lock the supply closets in the storage room? How can we trust the teachers to have access to all these materials?” His answer was, “we trust them with the children, don’t we?” Every day we exercise an amazing amount of trust. If we didn’t trust the other drivers, we would be afraid to start the car. If we didn’t trust the boss, we wouldn’t go to work. If we didn’t trust the bank, we would carry cash for everything and have to trust strangers to respect our wallet. When we trust, we have peace and prosperity like after the visit of Christ to the Americas. “And now, behold, two hundred years had passed away, and the people of Nephi had waxed strong in the land. They observed to keep the law of Moses and the sabbath day holy unto the Lord. And they profaned not; neither did they blaspheme” (Jarom 1: 5).
Speaking to all the people gathered for the “Sermon on the Mount”, Jesus admonished them to not lay of treasures upon the earth (Matthew 6:19-21); and to forgive others (6:14, 15); and to serve God (6:24-25). He told them all to think first of serving others and serving God; to not worry about their daily needs; “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6: 33). Imagine the level of trust needed to follow God for a later reward; but we do that every day. As I watch the corn fields, I imagine the hard work in preparing the ground and planting, all for a future reward, if it rains. Sure enough, this year it did rain. Those who failed to trust the future rains must be really disappointed in their judgement this year.
Ancient Israel had the same challenges: it is hard to trust the Lord instead of your own judgement. But there was one, “...Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah... did that which was right in the sight of the Lord... He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses. And the Lord was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth...” (2 Kings 18: 1-7). When their trust faltered, the prophet reminded them once again of the principles of prosperity: “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (3 Ne. 24: 10).
The latter-day prophets were also inspired to give this same advice to those early members of the church. They had to trust the Lord in order to “devote his whole time to this high and holy calling, which I now give unto him, seeking diligently the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness, and all things necessary shall be added thereunto; for the laborer is worthy of his hire” (D&C 106: 3).(D&C 78: 19) And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more.
In our day it is not easy to keep the Sabbath Day holy when all those around us use it as a day off; but we will prosper if we trust the Lord and follow Alma’s advice to his son: “...I beseech of thee that thou wilt hear my words and learn of me; for I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day” (Alma 36: 3, 27).