Helaman 5

Helaman 5:3

Yeah, and this was not all; they were a stiffnecked people, insomuch that they could not be governed by the law nor justice, save it were to their destruction.

I think this verse describes a situation that can apply to both societies and individuals. Societies can gradually become more and more permissive until they run into the problem of how do you punish someone when there aren't any rules. In the individuals case, which I'm sure contributes to the societies, the heart of the matter is as the scripture says stiffneckedness. Some, a lot, maybe most, people just want to do what they want to do regardless of what is best for everyone or what is right. And because of pride they are unwilling to submit themselves to God or to the law. I think most people beleive that they are above the law. How many children do you think willingly submit themselves to the punishments imposed by their parents without complaint? I think this is something most people never grow out of. It takes a lot of humility for us to willingly submit ourselves to the law and justice.

Helaman 5:8

And now my sons, behold I have somewhat more to desire of you, which desire is, that you may not do these things that ye may boast, but that ye may do these things to lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven, yea, which is eternal, and which fadeth not away; yea, that ye may have that precious gift of eternal life, which we have reason to suppose hath been given to our fathers.

I was surprised as I read this. I guess I wasn't expecting him to tell them that he wanted them to be motivated by laying up treasures in heaven for themselves. But after I thought about it a while I realized that there is no commandment against wanting good things for yourself. I think that as a culture we have been conditioned to think that it is wrong to think about yourself. But the fact is that this is how we will make most of our choices in life, by thinking about ourselves. And there is nothing wrong with that.

In my opinion, the key to a zion people is not to have a community of people who do not think about themselves, but it is to have a community of people who think of their neighbors as part of themselves. When you are married your spouse becomes a part of you and suddenly when you make choices you make choices that benefit you both together. Then when your children come their welfare is included in your own idea of self preservation. It is just something that happens naturally. The key to being of one heart and one mind in a community is for each member of the community to see the other members not only as their literal brothers and sisters but as part of themselves. By doing this we might begin to understand what Christ prayed for in his intercessory prayer: That we might all be one as he is one with the Father. I don't the unity he spoke of was physical but maybe it is more literal than we think.

At any rate we must first save ourselves before we can lead those around us. Our sphere of responsibility will expand through life as our families grow and as we love and serve those around us, but at it's heart of our responsibilities will always be ourselves.