This last week and a half I’ve wanted several times to sit down and write about how things in this country need to change. I’ve wanted to point out what we’re doing wrong and point a blaming finger at those who seem to be responsible. I’ve decided, however, that this week none of that really is going to help. I want to present what I believe to be the answer to the problems that face us as a nation, us individually, and us as communities. What is this answer? It is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Book of Mormon, a scriptural record of the people of ancient America, describes a people that had similar problems to those that we face. Their government was corrupt, their financial system often came into collapse, there were class distinctions and warfare between ideologically different parties. In the midst of this trouble, however, there was a 400 year period in which these problems disappeared. They disappeared because the entire population believed in and followed the teachings of Jesus Christ the Son of God. The record describes the state of these people as follows:
“And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people. And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.”
4 Nephi 1:15-16
You may think, “It must have been a very complicated process to achieve that level of peace and happiness.” It is not, however, complicated at all. To follow Jesus Christ and thereby attain these blessings is simple. All He asks of us is that we follow His commandments and His gospel. This consists simply of having faith in Jesus Christ, repenting of our sins, being baptized by immersion for the remission of sins, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. I know and testify that any person who follows these simple steps, as outlined and taught in the Bible and in the Book of Mormon, will have peace in their lives and will have the blessings of God even in the midst of these troubling times. I know that we are the literal children of God and that he lives.
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