Elder Bednar’s talk focuses on the warnings and lessons from the Book of Mormon, particularly the book of Helaman, which are profoundly relevant to our day. He begins by reflecting on President Ezra Taft Benson’s teachings about the Book of Mormon’s purpose, emphasizing that it was written for our time. President Benson taught that each major writer in the Book of Mormon wrote with future generations in mind, urging readers to ask why specific accounts were included and what lessons they convey for today.
The book of Helaman details a significant period of spiritual contrast between the Nephites and the Lamanites. While the Nephites, who were once a righteous people, descended into pride, wickedness, and apostasy, the Lamanites became firm and steadfast in the faith, surpassing the Nephites in righteousness. This stark transformation happened “in the space of not many years.” Elder Bednar warns that similar spiritual decline can occur in our own lives if we are not vigilant.
One of the primary causes of the Nephites’ downfall was their pride, which stemmed from their prosperity. As they accumulated wealth, they set their hearts upon material possessions, mocking sacred things, denying prophecy, rejecting commandments, and ultimately forgetting the Lord. Elder Bednar stresses that prosperity and ease, while blessings from God, can become spiritual poisons if they lead to self-importance, self-sufficiency, and neglect of divine principles.
In contrast, the Lamanites, who had once been considered spiritually lost, turned to God. They exercised faith, repented, and experienced a mighty change of heart. Their obedience and diligence led them to exceed the Nephites in righteousness. Elder Bednar highlights their example to show that individuals and groups can change for the better when they turn to God with sincerity and humility.
The warnings from Helaman extend beyond institutional apostasy to personal apostasy. While The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will never fall into apostasy as an institution, individuals can stray from the covenant path if they allow pride to blind them. Elder Bednar quotes the Prophet Joseph Smith, affirming that the Lord’s work will not be stopped, but each individual must take personal responsibility to remain faithful.
Elder Bednar finishes by encouraging us to remain humble, do the small and simple things that protect us from pride, and consistently seek the Lord. As we study the Book of Mormon with the right questions in mind, we will gain the insight necessary to navigate today’s spiritual challenges and avoid the pitfalls of pride and spiritual blindness.
10 Quotes
- “If we are not faithful and obedient, we can transform the God-given blessing of prosperity into a prideful curse that diverts and distracts us.”
- “The Book of Mormon … was written for our day. The Nephites never had the book; neither did the Lamanites of ancient times. It was meant for us.”
- “Perhaps the most stunning and sobering aspect of this decline into apostasy by the Nephites is the fact that ‘all these iniquities did come unto them in the space of not many years.’”
- “Pride … began to enter … into the hearts of the people who professed to belong to the church of God … because of their exceedingly great riches and their prosperity in the land.”
- “Ancient voices from the dust plead with us today to learn this everlasting lesson: prosperity, possessions, and ease constitute a potent mixture that can lead even the righteous to drink the spiritual poison of pride.”
- “We cannot look to and focus upon Jesus Christ as the ‘mark’ if we only see ourselves.”
- “Ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head.”
- “At the institutional level, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will not be lost through apostasy or taken from the earth.”
- “May I suggest that if you or I believe we are sufficiently strong and stalwart to avoid the arrogance of pride, then perhaps we already are suffering from this deadly spiritual disease.”
- “Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble.”
10 Questions
- Do I recognize the ways in which pride can subtly enter my heart and lead me away from God?
- How does my attitude toward material wealth and prosperity influence my spiritual life?
- Am I actively studying the Book of Mormon to find its relevance to my life today?
- Do I take warnings from scripture seriously, or do I assume they do not apply to me?
- What small and simple things can I do daily to keep my heart humble and focused on Christ?
- Am I willing to acknowledge my dependence on the Lord rather than relying solely on my own wisdom?
- Do I recognize the signs of personal spiritual decline in myself and take steps to correct them?
- How do I react when I receive correction from leaders, scriptures, or the Spirit?
- What steps can I take to avoid the distractions of the world and prioritize eternal truths?
- How can I help others recognize the dangers of pride and the importance of humility in their lives?
dyejo
Guest Author
