Sermoncitos, a family tradition
Victory
Janeen has become quite sophisticated in watching ladies figure skating. She can tell the difference between a triple lux and a triple toe loop, and can easily tell which skater will receive high scores for artistry. The gold medal winner was a surprise. Arakawa is tall for the sport at 5’5”, and was not favored to win, but skated perfectly, scoring far above the other medalists. The Russian favored to win was discouraged by mistakes and lost focus. We can take inspiration from the Silver medal winner, Sasha Cohen. Her pains were under control by treatments and medicines, but she was nervous and fell on the first two jumps of the final competition. What she did next made all the difference: she got up and kept going. Not only did she keep going, but she skated with more strength, grace, dignity, poise, confidence, and skill than anyone. We can learn from those who do perfectly, but we can learn more of importance from mistakes and how people react to mistakes.
The compilers of the Book of Mormon understood this principle as they wrote for us. Mormon summarizes 200 years of Nephite history in 22 verses, “and how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their doings...and there was no contention in the land”...
Most of the Book of Mormon is dedicated to relating the mistakes and the messages of hope and encouragement that help people deal with their mistakes. Mormon cautioned those who would read his words in the last days: “Turn from your wicked ways”...(3 Nephi 30:2).
Jesus recognizes our weakness and gives counsel in how we should deal with it: “I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time. Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again...
Another inspiring story of courage in overcoming adversity in our day is my brother, Nathan and my sister, Anita. In spite of the pain, and in defiance of the odds for heart transplants, they just keep going and going; and going somewhere important. Rather than being distracted by troubles, they have lost themselves in the service of others. ..when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God....
Yet our day is like all times in history, some people listen and learn and others reject all inspiration. The destruction of the Nephites is described in the same terms as the destruction of the Jaredites, a cycle of revenge killings that only ended when no one was left. “But behold, the judgements of God will overtake the wicked; and it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished; for it is the wicked that stir up the hearts of the children of men unto bloodshed...
As I write, the radio reports hundreds of revenge killings in Iraq and many other places in the world, as people of one religion or sect exact violence against those of another because of some offence. In the Book of Mormon we see this strategy used again and again with always the same results: violence against the wicked always results in increased violence. The most effective strategy in history for defeating terrorism is summarized in one verse: “and it came to pass that the Lamanites did hunt the band of robbers of Gadianton; and they did preach the word of God among the more wicked part of them, insomuch that this band of robbers was utterly destroyed from among the Lamanites” Helaman 6:37.
Victory over death and sin was won for us by Christ. We can accept this victory as we pursue victories each day over discouragement and learn from mistakes.