Anger, the tipping point of Pride to Destruction
Yesterday (10/15/2017) I gave a talk in sacrament meeting. The following is the text from the talk. The actual talk was mostly what follows, although I did make a few minor changes or additions on-the-fly so I wasn't reading the talk the whole time.
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As I’m sure many of you who have, or have had, young
children in your home while trying to watch and listen to conference, you know
that it can be a challenge.
It’s a challenge for kids to get through four general
sessions of conference.
It’s a challenge to keep the children entertained in a quiet
activity so you can get something out of most, or at least some, of the talks.
Too often the reality is when the session is done, you may be trying to
remember who actually spoke, not to mention what they might have said.
After two days, four sessions of two hours each, it can feel
like herding cats.
Interestingly, the word “session” has its origin in Old
French which refers to the “act or state of sitting,” and the word has roots in
the Latin word “sessionem” which means “act of sitting: a seat; loitering.” For
some of us, there must be at least some irony when watching conference with
young children that there seems to be very little sitting.
So, when asked to speak on a conference talk that impressed
me the most I found the challenge to be trying to remember who said what. There
were, however, several topics which stood out, most being common themes
throughout conference addresses.
As I have listened to and read many of the conference talks
a second, and in some cases a third, time, and as I have worked to prepared
what I might share, something I learned from my Book of Mormon studies this
past January kept coming to mind. I was originally planning to focus on a few
of the topics that stood out to me from conference.
However, as I have worked on this talk, that lesson, which
is a tactic of the adversary and how to combat against it, took greater
precedence.
While I will usually proceed linearly through the Book of
Mormon, there are times when I feel like I should spend a little more time
examining and exploring certain verses or chapters. Moroni chapter 9 was one
such chapter.
It is not the most uplifting set of verses, and no doubt
many would wonder why I would spend four mornings of study devoted to this
chapter.
But let’s look at this from a bigger perspective. The Book
of Mormon spans a time period of about 1,000 years. The great Nephite
commander, historian, and prophet Mormon was directed by the Lord to go through
the scores—probably hundreds—of records and compile them into a single set.
While Mormon did the vast majority of work, the final additions were made by
his son, Moroni.
Undoubtedly, every verse of every chapter was prayerfully
considered before it was included in the record. And, while there are timeless
lessons, and the fulness of the gospel is found within its pages, the Book of
Mormon was written for us in these last days. There must be something to be
learned from everything in the book, even these verses from Moroni chapter 9.
A bit of background for this chapter. It is an epistle, or
letter, written by Mormon to Moroni. The approximate time indicates “between
400 and 421 A.D.,” but since it was written by Mormon, who died sometime after
the great battle that occurred in A.D. 385, it was most likely written sometime
between the time that Mormon returned to his command of the Nephite armies in
about A.D. 375 and the final battle.
Most of us are also familiar with the pride cycle, where the
people get prideful, become wicked, go through destruction and suffering,
become humbled and repent, return to righteousness and prosperity, and then
become prideful again. Sometimes the cycle lasts a few short years, and at
other times the full cycle takes much longer.
There are only two ways out of the pride cycle. The best
option is what the people experienced after the Savior visited them, when the
people remain humble and righteous. The other option completely ends the cycle,
because the people become completely destroyed. This occurs when pride evolves
to a more serious state, which is the state of the Nephites.
While the Nephites had all manner of wickedness among them,
Moroni 9 seems to indicate that anger was the tipping point.
Permit me to read a few verses from Moroni chapter 9: (
" 3 And now behold, my son, I
fear lest the Lamanites shall destroy this people; for they do not repent, and
Satan stirreth them up continually to anger one with another.
"4 Behold, I am laboring with
them continually; and when I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble
and anger against me; and when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts
against it; wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving
with them.
"5 For so exceedingly do they anger that
it seemeth me that they have no fear of death; and they have lost their love,
one towards another; and they thirst after blood and revenge continually."
"12 (And only a few years have
passed away, and they were a civil and a delightsome people)"
As a side note, while there was wickedness all around since
Mormon was young, the people must have had a least some civility among them
otherwise Mormon probably would not have made this statement. Relating this to
our day, I find it interesting the calls for us to return to civility. Even our
Senator Hatch has sent out a letter with this focus (see the post http://fulnessoftimes.blogspot.com/2017/10/our-nation-cannot-continue-on-its.html)
Returning to Moroni 9, verse 23 states:
23 And if they perish it will be
like unto the Jaredites, because of the wilfulness of their hearts, seeking for
blood and revenge."
I think seeking after "blood and revenge" is the
result of hate and anger.
It's interesting that, according to the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary,
the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew roots of "anger" all have to do with
strangling. (http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/anger). At first we might interpret this to mean the person
who is angry is the one strangling another. But it most likely means that the
person who is angry is the one being strangled. Those who are strangled begin to feel the
effects of restricted blood flow and hypoxia, where they begin to lose a sense
of reason and rational thought. As blood flow and oxygen are restricted there
are other feelings, some might refer to them as a "high." An
interesting thing about hypoxia is the person suffering from it seldom realizes
they have a very serious, and life-threatening condition. Could this be why
many who are stirred up to anger do not believe their anger is wrong, or
believe they are justified in their anger?
The adversary uses our passions as much as he can to tempt
us, to addict us, to enslave us, and to cause harm to others. So, we need to be
able to control our passions so they do not control us.
There are reasons the prophets counsel us to avoid pride. Pride
lifts us up beyond that which is good, to where we think we are better than
someone else, or even a group of people. Pride leads to inequality and
selfishness. Pride leads to anger against others as the proud seek to set
themselves above others, and pull down and trample on those they perceive to be
in their way. I think pride can also be manifested as hate, which can flare
into anger. Pride and its accompanying wickedness can cause people to
"delight in everything save that which is good."
Too many people are too easily offended, or take offense, at
the smallest thing. They proclaim tolerance, but they are intolerant of
anything or anyone that might offend them in the least. The world of political
correctness easily allows anyone to become offended about anything,
It is easy to see words laced with anger and hate online,
particularly in forums and comments, but increasingly in supposed articles and
in social media. Anonymous posts are particularly vulnerable to these
uncontrolled, intolerant, hateful, and anger filled comments.
Violent video games, movies, TV programs, other
"entertainment" do much to de-sensitize people to violence, and acts
of violence, which are often instigated through anger.
So-called "reality" programs, sitcoms, other shows,
and even some professional athletes and celebrities frequently fan the flames
of anger, often starting with belittling others, sarcasm, negative comments,
arguments, lack of respect, etc.
[I didn't include this in the talk, but I could have also added road rage]
[I didn't include this in the talk, but I could have also added road rage]
Pride does come before the fall, but it seems that
anger--persistent and continual--infects and festers in the people before their
destruction. Anger causes people to become without, or past, feeling. Anger
drives out the Spirit. Anger causes people to seek out vengeance,
"justice" as they may call it, without consideration for the rule of
law and without mercy.
Please understand that I did not share this because I think
we need a lesson in anger management. I believe there is a good amount of
unity, friendship, support, and love in this ward. I share this so we can
become more aware of the danger, and so we can better help our families through
our examples as we pursue the solution.
Now, my brothers and sisters, it can be easy to become swept
up and lost in hopelessness, or to try to hide ourselves from the realities of
the world, and bury our heads in the sands of normalcy. But that is not our
purpose. It is not what the Lord would have us do. We rejoiced in the
opportunity to come to this earth in this time, and we knew what kinds of
challenges and trials we would be facing.
What is the opposite of "anger"? I think the best
antonym is charity, the pure love of Christ.
A couple chapters earlier Moroni gives a description of what
charity is, and it is opposite of the effects of anger. Incidentally, these are
also the words of Moroni’s father, Mormon:
"And charity suffereth long,
and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not
easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth
in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth
all things." (Moroni 7:45) (
Sometimes I think charity can be hard for some of us to
internalize. I do not intend in any way to lessen what charity is, but I had an
understanding given to my mind several months ago when charity was redefined to
me as the pure love of a parent. Those of us with children can probably
understand the indescribable, and sometimes incomprehensible love we feel
towards our children. Parents frequently have experiences of suffering long
with their children. If we change the verse a bit we might relate to it better:
"And the pure love of a parent
suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not
her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in
iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things,
hopeth all things, endureth all things."
If we use a love which many of us are more familiar with,
and while it is a lesser example of what charity is, we might be able to gain a
better understanding of what the pure love of Christ is, and how we can learn
to become more charitable to all of God’s children.
This is the solution to anger. But it requires people to
become less self-absorbed, less prideful. We need to be more respectful and
kind towards others, even those who may be different in their appearance,
action, background, economic condition, thoughts, opinions, or any other way.
It is not that we should condone wickedness, or support those who promote that
which is contrary to God's commandments, but that we should be kind towards all,
including those who are astray and encourage and pray for them to return to
God.
Have you noticed how often prophets have counseled us to be
more kind?
A question to consider, if we did not have pride, if we are "sufficiently humble" (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/5.27?lang=eng&clang=eng#p26), could we be
“stirred up to anger?”
What is the answer to pride? It is to be humble.
To avoid going down the path of pride, humility is the key.
And, I think humility is also the key to learning how we can have the pure love
of Christ.
Elder Quentin L. Cook said in this past conference: (open
quote)
In today’s world, there is an
increased emphasis on pride, self-aggrandizement, and so-called “authenticity,”
which sometimes leads to a lack of true humility. Some suggest the moral values
for happiness today include “be real, be strong, be productive—and most
important, don’t rely on other people … because your fate is … in your own
hands.”
The scriptures advocate a different
approach. They suggest that we should be true disciples of Jesus Christ. This
entails establishing a powerful feeling of accountability to God and a humble
approach to life. King Benjamin taught that the natural man is an enemy to God
and advocated that we need to yield ourselves “to the enticings of the Holy
Spirit.” He explained, among other things, that this requires becoming
“submissive, meek, humble, patient, [and] full of love.”
Some misuse authenticity as a
celebration of the natural man and qualities that are the opposite of humility,
kindness, mercy, forgiveness, and civility. We can celebrate our individual
uniqueness as children of God without using authenticity as an excuse for
un-Christlike behavior. (close quote)
How can we increase our humility? By gaining, strengthening,
and increasing our testimony of the living Christ and his atonement. Along with
heart felt prayer, the Book of Mormon is the best way to do this.
President Eyring said: (open quote)
Last April, President Thomas S.
Monson gave a message that stirred hearts across the world, including mine. He
spoke of the power of the Book of Mormon. He urged us to study, ponder, and
apply its teachings. He promised that if we dedicated time each day to studying
and pondering and kept the commandments the Book of Mormon contains, we would
have a vital testimony of its truth, and the resultant testimony of the living
Christ would see us through to safety in times of trouble. (See “The Power of
the Book of Mormon,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2017, 86–87.) (close quote)
In the address President Eyring was referring to, President
Monson said that it is a “critical need” that we, as members of the Church,
should study, ponder, and apply the teachings of the Book of Mormon in our
lives.
President Eyring continues:
In a season of increasing tumult in
the world, those increases in testimony have driven out doubt and fear and have
brought us feelings of peace. Heeding President Monson’s counsel has had two
other wonderful effects on me: First, the Spirit he promised has produced a
sense of optimism about what lies ahead, even as the commotion in the world
seems to increase. And, second, the Lord has given me—and you—an even greater
feeling of His love for those in distress. We have felt an increase in the
desire to go to the rescue of others. That desire has been at the heart of
President Monson’s ministry and teaching. (close quote)
The Book of Mormon can increase our faith and hope. Through
it we can look forward with optimism and have peace amid the stormy seas of
life. Through its study and the increase in testimony we can receive, we can
decrease and even lose our fear of the tumults and commotion happening in the
world.
The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel. The
word gospel comes from the word “evangelio” which means “good message” or “good
news.” This needs to be our focus. This is why our prophets focus so much on the
basic message of the gospel. The good message of the gospel is the key to
giving us joy, peace, and trust in the Lord no matter what happens. It gives us
strength and courage to go forward with faith.
President Nelson said in conference: (open quote)
My dear brothers and sisters, I
testify that the Book of Mormon is truly the word of God. It contains the
answers to life’s most compelling questions. It teaches the doctrine of Christ.
It expands and clarifies many of the “plain and precious” truths that were lost
through centuries of time and numerous translations of the Bible.
The Book of Mormon provides the
fullest and most authoritative understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ
to be found anywhere. It teaches what it really means to be born again. From
the Book of Mormon we learn about the gathering of scattered Israel. We know
why we are here on earth. These and other truths are more powerfully and persuasively
taught in the Book of Mormon than in any other book. The full power of the
gospel of Jesus Christ is contained in the Book of Mormon. Period.
The Book of Mormon both illuminates
the teachings of the Master and exposes the tactics of the adversary. The Book
of Mormon teaches true doctrine to dispel false religious traditions…. The Book
of Mormon gives purpose to life by urging us to ponder the potential of eternal
life and “never-ending happiness.” The Book of Mormon shatters the false
beliefs that happiness can be found in wickedness and that individual goodness
is all that is required to return to the presence of God. It abolishes forever
the false concepts that revelation ended with the Bible and that the heavens
are sealed today.
When I think of the Book of Mormon,
I think of the word power. The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to
heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls.
My dear brothers and sisters, I
promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will
make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study,
the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own
questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse
yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the
day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions.
(close quote)
As we prayerfully study the Book of Mormon, live the gospel
it teaches, and seek the word of the Lord to direct our lives, our testimony of
the Savior and his atonement will increase. We will learn greater humility. We
will desire to keep the Sabbath day holy. We will want to attend the temple
more frequently. We will also follow the prophet. “Follow” is a verb, which
means action is involved. If we say we follow the prophet, but do not do the
counsels which are given, then we really aren’t following the prophet. And as
we increase our testimony of the Savior and feel his love in our lives, we will
want to be more kind to others.
I know our Savior lives and he leads his church through his
prophets. Joseph Smith was the first prophet of these latter days, and he
translated the Book of Mormon through the gift and power of God. The Book of Mormon
contains the fullness of the truths of the Gospel, and by applying the
teachings of that book in our lives, we can receive greater peace and joy in
our lives. Last April, President Monson counseled us to “examine our lives and determine
to follow the Savior’s example by being kind, loving, and charitable.” May we follow
the advice in the primary song, “kindness begins with me” (https://www.lds.org/music/library/childrens-songbook/kindness-begins-with-me?lang=eng) by being more kind in
words and actions, with strangers, friends, and especially within our families.
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