Apathy

[martybess]

FIRST NEPHI 17

41 “and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.”

42 “And they did harden their hearts from time to time, and they did revile against Moses, and also against God”

Question:

22 years ago during a stake presidency meeting we were discussing how to get folks “anxiously engaged” when the stake president made the comment that apathy will be the unseen killer in the last days because of the great blessings that are among the saints. As I think back on that statement and look where we are now I wonder if that’s gotten better or worse, or if there are greater issues now days like pornography that are keeping many from being anxiously engaged??

-Marty

[pam]

There is a quote I posted on another forum concerning verse 41 that I really like:

Brothers and sisters, we must not fail to do the simple and easy things that the gospel requires and thereby deny ourselves and our families the great blessings that the Lord has promised….Charles Francis Adams, the grandson of the second president of the Untied States, was a successful lawyer, a member of the U.S. ambassador to Britain. Amidst his responsibilities, he had little time to spare. He did, however, keep a diary. One day he wrote, “Went fishing with my son today—a day wasted!” On that same date, Charles’s son, Brooks Adams, had printed in his own diary, “Went fishing with my father today—the most wonderful day of my life” (Daily Guideposts, 1994). President Hunter has said, “Frequently it is the commonplace tasks that have the greatest positive effect on the lives of others” (BYU 1986-87 Devotional and Fireside Speeches, p. 115). I pray that we will heed the counsel of our prophet and have the faith to follow the Savior by doing the simple things His gospel requires.

Rex D. Pinegar, Ensign, Nov. 1994, p. 82

[martybess]

Pam,

Your Bob Hope quote say's it all. "When we recall the past, we usually find that it is the simplest things - not the great occasions - that in retrospect give off the greatest glow of happiness". Bob Hope

-Marty

[pam]

Yes and I truly believe that. Think about the things that have made you happy in your life. Is it the huge occasions or is it the simple things? To me it's the simple things.

[Moksha]

I recall that W.B. Yeats' prophecy that the best will lack all conviction and the worst will be filled with passionate intensity.

[martybess]

Wow that's profound

[Hemidakota]

FIRST NEPHI 17

41 “and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.”

42 “And they did harden their hearts from time to time, and they did revile against Moses, and also against God”

Question:

22 years ago during a stake presidency meeting we were discussing how to get folks “anxiously engaged” when the stake president made the comment that apathy will be the unseen killer in the last days because of the great blessings that are among the saints. As I think back on that statement and look where we are now I wonder if that’s gotten better or worse, or if there are greater issues now days like pornography that are keeping many from being anxiously engaged??-Marty

In the days of John the Revelator, the Lord gave a special message to the members of the church located in Laodicea about the religious apathy that then, as now, was devastating the church. He said, "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." (Rev. 3:15-17.) Frequently wrong action can be easily corrected, but what can anyone do about this deadly sin of inaction? All active people are sometimes right, but do-nothing people are always wrong.

My favorite quote that I was given years ago reminds me of this nation is now entering:

The history of nations shows that the cycle of the body politic slowly but surely undergoes change. It progresses from bondage to spiritual faith, from spiritual faith to courage, from courage to freedom, from freedom to abundance, from abundance to selfishness, from selfishness to complacency, from complacency to apathy, from apathy to fear, from fear to dependency, from dependency to bondage. Every nation yearns for liberty, but too frequently its own self-indulgence precludes the possibility of freedom. (This Nation Shall Endure, p. 68.)

[Hemidakota]

Talking about scriptures, when I read those versus from the OP, I get another interruption vice Apathy^_^...but when I read it, even Millet says the same.

VERSE 41: Israel, like a rebellious child, chose suffering as her school and bitter experience as her schoolmaster. Nephi recounted to his brothers the manner in which their forefathers had spoken against God and his prophet Moses during their wilderness wanderings. The Lord responded to their complaining spirit with fiery serpents which bit and killed many. Recognizing this as an evil that they had brought upon themselves, a repentant Israel came to Moses saying: "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us." In response to his prayer, Moses was instructed to fashion a pole with the figure of a serpent on it. This was to be set before the people with the promise that those who were bitten by the snakes could, by looking upon the pole, be healed. (Numbers 21:6-9.) In his commentary on the story, Nephi told us that many in Israel still died, refusing to look upon the pole because of the "simpleness of the way." (See also 2 Kings 5:8-14.)

VERSE 41: The story is a marvelous type of the manner in which Christ would be raised upon the cross, that through him all might be healed of sin. Yet many will refuse that blessing because of the "simpleness of the way." (See also John 3:14-15; Alma 33:19-20; Helaman 8:14-15.)

VERSE 41: The Lord straitened them] To "straiten" is to make narrow. The Lord, by the "rod of [his] mouth" (D&C 19:15), straitens Israel in order that they might walk in that path which is straight and narrow.

VERSE 42: Who today would suppose that if we had a Moses at the helm and were surrounded by miracles as they were in the days of Moses, we would have revilers and dissenters among our numbers? Yet our prophets are to us as Moses was to the children of load; is not the Book of Mormon a miracle to match the crossing of the Red Sea? Does not Joseph Smith's vision of the degrees of glory match the bringing of manna from heaven? And Joseph F. Smith's vision of the redemption of the dead-does it not match the bringing forth of water from a rock? Many of our miracles are in the realm of understanding, other than temporal survival. Yet where and when have a people enjoyed such a marvelous opening of the heavens?

[BenRaines]

I really don't care. :)

Ben Raines

[Moksha]

I really don't care. :)

Ben Raines

It's really hard to get worked up over apathy or like whatever man.

[martybess]

I really don't care. :)

Ben Raines

I really have more important things to do than worry about this. Sheesh crazy fanatics!!

Edited May 31, 2009 by martybess

[pam]

Let's just talk about me. I don't have time for anyone else.

[BenRaines]

Oh I have lots of things to say about Pam. Where is Palerider when I need him?

Ben Raines