A Lesson in History

   I felt inclined to write on the topic of history today. The Book of Mormon is, on one level, an historical record. It tells us about a people that lived anciently and how they lived. The record tells us what situations they encountered and how the people dealt with them. So what do we get from it?

   I would bet that even an historic document gives different information to different people. One person may focus on what was learned during war, another may emphasize the times of peace. In the Book of Mormon, most often the stories that teach of some way we can improve ourselves or progress are emphasized. A reader may therefore be biased even if the writer feels the record is without prejudice.

   The characters of the Book of Mormon were in interesting positions. Some gave a position from the side of the righteous, dominate power, and others gave points of view from a minority (whethere righteous or not). But the compiler of the plates, Mormon, an historian himself seems to have a purpose of purely informing the future. He doesn't want the generations of Nephites and Lamanites to be forgotten. He doesn't want certain doctrine and records to be lost. Mormon is doing this for his people and his God ( 3 Nephi 5: 14-18).

   It makes me wonder if we are conscious of what we are doing. Do we realize that we make history today, in our time? Do we realize that individuals make up the nations, and the records of the nations will be recorded in some manner, for better or for worse. I hope that we can be valiant and make wise decisions to not repeat the failures of the past. I also hope we take the best parts of history (the best hours, the best men) and make them alive again through our thoughts and actions.

   Thomas Paine once wrote, speaking of tyranny, that Hell is not easily conquered. Indeed I should say we still fight tyranny and Hell. We would do good to remember what the past is, and what the future can be.

Tags: Book Of Mormon History Hell Conquered Records

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