Mosiah 2:4 The Purpose of the Task

When we were raising children we learned  the power of understanding that “the purpose of the task is to strengthen the relationship”.  For example, washing dishes with our son or daughter might have a visible immediate, short-term consequence: cleaner dishes.  But having clean dishes was not our purpose behind our washing of the dishes with that child.  Our purpose, which we needed to keep forefront in our minds while washing, was the strengthening of love in our relationship with that child.

I found, to my surprise, a parallel insight in King Benjamin’s speech in the Book of Mosiah.

In Mosiah 2:4 the people of Zarahemla are gathered to offer sacrifices and to give thanks that, among other things, King Benjamin “had taught them to keep the commandments of God, that they might rejoice and be filled with love towards God and all men”.

Sounds to me that, even though scriptures often cite particular blessings that come as a consequence of keeping one commandment or another, we fool ourselves if we treat commandments as though they had being given to us so that we may receive particular blessings.  Blessings may be an immediate or delayed consequence of obedience to a commandment (just like cleaner dishes are a consequence of joint dishwashing) but it’s clear from this passage that the giving of specific blessings is not God’s purpose behind, nor His motivation for, His giving us commandments.  His real purpose is to enable us to rejoice and be filled with love towards Him and towards all.

Therefore, it also seems to me that if we think we are keeping Gods commandments, but we are not experiencing changes that make us more filled with love, we definitely need to rethink our understanding and assumptions and attitudes, and even our very character, in regards to the way we approach and comprehend the very concept of obedience to His commandments.  

This, of course, leads very well into Benjamin’s  Mosiah 3:19 discussion about yielding to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putting off the natural (self-focused-what do I get from it?) man and becoming a saint through the atonement of Christ, and, in that process of connecting with Christ and embracing that amazing gift of his, becoming, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord sees fit to inflict upon us.   There is a clear difference between approaching commandments while you are doing that kind of change in your life, as opposed to approaching God’s commandments and attempting obedience all the while watching for or expecting specific blessings or positive consequences for our personal benefit or even for the specific benefit of someone else.

Furthermore, this change in perspective and approach described in Mosiah 3 leads well into Benjamin’s longer discussion, in chapter 4, of how such humility and a change in comprehension as we approach and seek to keep God’s commandments and follow His direction will cause us (and here it is again) to “always rejoice and be filled with the love of God” (Mosiah 4:12) which in turn will influence and make more joyful and loving our response to others, including what we teach our children and how we respond to people in need (vs. 13-18).

There are often very nice, very helpful, short-term personal consequences in our lives as we tackle the task of keeping commandments. but they are simply that: consequences.  God’s purpose, however, in inviting us to the task of keeping His commandments is not that we be able to receive positive, short-term, this life or the next, consequences that we hope for.  His purpose in that invitation is for us to become engaged in working with Him to strengthen the bonds of love in our relationships...with Him...and with each other.

Understanding that changes things considerably.

“There your heart will be also”. Hearts in a pandemic.

These verses came to mind today as I considered my plans for this week: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth...but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’

Thinking about what what each of us treasures...

The health and well-being of others?
Increased profits?
Financial status?
Compassion?
Generosity?
Self-interest?
Empowering those who struggle?
Keeping what we get for ourselves?
Each person receiving only what we think they “deserve”?
Getting what we want for the cheapest price, content to pay little to the workers who provide it?
Personal comfort or diversion?
Care for the poor and disabled?
Our business?
Our ability to care for those we love?
Escape from all difficulty?
Pleasure?

Thinking, listening and watching.

Thinking about what our politicians show that they value as they respond to the the competing voices in our society, all of those voices loud in their  responses to the current pandemic...I think their responses shine some illuminations upon what they each value...what they “treasure” both personally and professionally.

Listening to one of the painters I hired last week telling his buddy that he plans to spend his economic stimulus check on pot and beer...

Watching the protesters demanding a reopening of the economy...

Some because they want a haircut.
Some because they are unable to earn enough money to pay rent and buy food.

I did not see anyone protesting on behalf of someone else in trouble.  There may have been some, but all the ones I saw were self-interest...some responding to serious personal needs, others to frivolous ones.

I suspect that most of those who might have protested on behalf of others were too busy working to help those others.

What do these protests and demands and responses say about us as a society?   About how we care or do not care for each other’s health and well being?  How we pay our workers? How we do or do not teach provident living?  How we teach caring for the poor? How we did or did not value compassion and act upon it prior to this. How we do or do not value life other than our own? What we teach about the purpose of and wise use of what we have earned or received, or how well we understand that?  How well anyone does or does not care about any of the above.

We are where we are, in the midst of this conflict about policies and laws in response to this pandemic, not just because of a virus or “the economy”, but also because of our moral choices as a people and a society.

Our hearts have been, and are, tellingly, set upon our treasures.

“Oh be wise. What can I say more?”

Here are the 10 principles/moral foundations for a wise life that I found while reviewing Jacob’s “Oh Be Wise” sermon found in Jacob chapters 2-6.

1.  You will earn money.  Never let those riches cause you to see yourself as more important, or worthy, or entitled, or interesting, than someone else.

2. Recognize that what you earn materially in this life is a gift, and that you should treat all men and women as your brothers and sisters and be generous.  If, before you gained weath you were committed to being a faithful member of the kingdom of God, and you continue to be so, your foundation will be built upon love of God and love for others, and generosity will come more easily to you..

3. Treat others with kindness and respect—especially the person to whom you are married.  And do not enter into a marriage where that kindness and respect are not mutual.

4. Never treat anyone as an object.

5. Look to God, and do so with a clear, determined dedication to Him.  As you do so, He will be your counselor, your solace, your advocate, and the source of resolution for every wrong and every tragedy you encounter.

6. Love your spouse.  Be absolutely faithful to each other.

7. Never allow racism, sexism, nationalism, or other prejudices, including political prejudices, to become a part of who you are or to determine the choices you make.

8. You way to be at peace with God, the Father, is through your paying attention to his counsel and your embracing of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

9. God will show your your weaknesses.  When he does so, do not despair.  Remember that He does that so that you can work with Him to do good, and that as you work with Him, because of his grace and power, you and He will get good things done in spite of your weakness.

         (Grace, as defined in the era in which the Book of Mormon was translated:  “a ready, willingness to help”)

10. Counsel with the Lord.  He is full of love, wisdom, justice, and mercy and is interested in assisting you and counseling with you in every aspect of your life. Never let guilt, or fear, or despair prevent you from fully and honestly counseling with Him.