2.319 There was No Contention

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus calls us the salt of the earth, a bold reminder that our lives are meant to carry his flavor, his truth, and his love to the world. Join me each day to explore one verse of scripture and one thought, striving to stay full of savor and truly live as savory salt. Hello, my friends.

It's great to have you with me. Today, let's be anxiously engaged in a good cause and bring to pass much righteousness. I've got a challenge for you today.

It's a challenge for you and a challenge for me. Let's take a look at our readings and see what it is. We're reading this week Doctrine and Covenants sections 129 through 132 as well as 3 Nephi chapter 29.

So we're going to finish 3 Nephi, read 4 Nephi, and get into the Book of Mormon, the small version Book of Mormon, not the Book of Mormon, the whole Book. You know that. 4 Nephi is what our verse is going to come from today, and 4 Nephi is fascinating to me, because you get kind of the typical Book of Mormon Pride cycle, as we refer to it, right? The Bible is a concept of gain of testimony, gain abundance.

Abundance leads to overabundance, which leads to sinful behavior, which leads to a downfall, which leads to repentance, which then, you know, then it begins again. And we see this circle, this cycle, happen over and over and over again in the Book of Mormon. But 4 Nephi is fascinating because it happens in 4 Nephi in one chapter.

You basically get to see the whole circle in one chapter. And then we're going to see it again in the Book of Ether, which is like this condensed version of an entire civilization that goes through its pride cycle. That for me means that I can see like an abbreviated version of the Book of Mormon inside just the Book of 4 Nephi.

And so what are we looking for in there? Well, there's a lot we could pick from. But last time as I was going through this, I noticed that I didn't pick any of these verses in season one.

And I wanted to make sure that I just kind of bookmarked this for me. And so I want to share it with you and give both of us, me and you, I say both, all of us, a challenge to see if we can connect maybe 3 Nephi 11 to 4 Nephi chapter 1. Our verse for today is going to come from verse 2, but I want you to be mindful that this is referenced in verse 2 and then as far as I could see 13, 15, 18, all reference the same idea.

It says this, and it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the people were all converted unto the Lord upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites. And there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another. Now, the key phrase that inside of there, and repeated...

This is a critical piece because if we go back to 3 Nephi 11, some of the first teachings that the Lord Jesus Christ brings to the Nephites when he comes to see them is he tells them, stop having contention and disputations. So here's the challenge. And I want you to do this.

If you're driving, then come back and listen to this when you're not driving. I want you to close your eyes. I want you to picture in your mind's eye, the person in your life.

This could be a sibling. This could be moments in your marriage. This could be a child in your life.

This could be a grandchild. I don't know. Picture that person.

Now take the counsel of our Savior. Take the concept in verses 2, 13, 15, 18. What can you do today to eliminate contention between you two?

That is a hefty challenge, but one that I know the Spirit of the Lord can prompt you to act upon if you will choose to do so. My friends, I know that our lives are happier without contention. That sounds like such a simple testimony to share, but I know also that I deal with contention in my own life.

So this is a challenge I want to take personally. I want to share it with you. How can you eliminate contention?

By doing so, you will increase the promptings of the Holy Spirit in your life. That I can testify. That's all for today, my friends.

Lift up your hearts and rejoice. Cleave into the covenants you have made and together we will be saved. We'll see you next week.