Day 222 Inspired by a Better Cause

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus tells his followers that they are the salt of the earth, and in the same sentence offers a warning that savorless salt is good for nothing. Join me in an attempt to be savory salt as I share each day one verse of scripture and one small thought. Perhaps this small daily emphasis can lead to greater savor in your life and ultimately you and I can be savory salt.

Hello, my friends and family, wherever you're listening from. Thank you for joining me. And know that I'm cheering for your every success.

Do you ever find yourself struggling with the motivation to get started or to keep going? Or perhaps you lose a little of the oomph inside your project? Maybe you simply need a better cause.

Welcome to day 222 on our 365-day journey through the Book of Mormon together. Today you're going to be reading Alma chapter 43, verses 41 to 54. You will finish that chapter and then you'll just sneak into the beginning of Alma 44, verses 1 through 4.

And that was really tough because those first four verses are very powerful from Moroni in the middle of this battle between Moroni and Zarahemla. But our verse for today comes inside of Alma chapter 43, and it's verse 45. You see, it explains before this verse the reasons why the Lamanites are fighting, and many of those reasons are because of their own fear and anger and frustration with the Nephites.

Remember, they had put leaders in place to make sure that that anger and fear was always there. And then we see the motivations behind the Nephites. Let's take a look at it together here.

Verse 45 says, Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power, but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all. Yea, for their rights of worship and their church. My friends, history is rife with examples of times when the hired army has been defeated by the locals that rise up to defend their families, their freedoms, and their rights of religion, among other things.

I remember back in the '90s, one of the versions of the Robin Hoods, right, "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves". There's an interaction where Robin Hood is talking about what he witnessed in this type of setting. I had to go look it up and kind of see if he was aligned with what this was saying here.

And it says, "I've seen knights in armor panic at the first hint of battle, and I've seen the lowliest unarmed squire pull a spear from his own body to defend a dying horse." My friends, find your motivations and your purpose inside of your family, your right to worship, your freedoms around you. Find, as it says here, your families, your homes, your wives, your children, yea, their all. If you're struggling to get up and get going, look for a bigger purpose.

And what better purpose can there be than you and I taking upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ as we enter the waters of baptism. And then as we renew those covenants every week upon taking the sacrament, what a wonderful cause to stand up and go forward, bearing the name of Christ upon us and our shoulders. I hope you find a better cause as you go forward and serve, and I hope that you see the blessings for it as you see those actions in your life take effect.

That's all for today, my friends. Remember that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. Keep it small, keep it simple, and always seek to be savory salt. I'll be here tomorrow and I hope you are too.