Can you imagine?

I am reading the Book of Mormon today and the account of Helaman. This morning I am impressed how chapters 11 and 12 speak about a situation that is very much like ours today. Because of the wicked ness of the people, the prophet Nephi asked the Lord to send a famine, which rages throughout the land until the people begin to perish. Finally because the people humble themselves and begin to repent, Nephi asks the Lord to stay his hand and turn away his anger. The Lord does so and the people begin again to flourish. 

But it doesn't last long. When the burdens are lifted and the people again begin prospering, they attribute their abundance to their own wisdom and efforts rather than a gift from God. And their sore afflictions begin again. It is easy to condense time when reading the scriptures as generations seem to be covered in a couple verses. But the tragedy is this cycle continues during the lifetime of Nephi, so it could be that long. The Lord clearly explains why this happens:

And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him. Helaman 12:3

Nephi is bold and faithful. The scripture makes the point that Nephi's brother Lehi not one whit behind him. But as the people again soon forget the Lord their God and trample under their feet the Holy One of Israel, the Gadianton robbers take hold of their hearts and again entrench themselves in the land.

https://youtu.be/l_J3Wdy5sqg  Nephi–Enos

https://youtu.be/DWk7UxCjO7I​  Mosiah–Alma

https://youtu.be/hBkz-PMFnXE  3 Nephi

Jesus Christ Appears in the Ancient Americas

​

This is perhaps one of my very favorite videos. When the God of heaven and earth himself kneels, I am moved by his demonstration of humility to the Father. Angels administer to the children—one of my favorite parts of the Book of Mormon. 

16 And after this manner do they bear record: The eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father;

17 And no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                                                                3 Nephi 17:16-17

This choice experience is recorded in the book of Helaman. The experience is not unlike that which is only a few years hence when we will be reunited with out loved ones. The video above for me demonstrates the joy that will fill our hearts and the happiness that awaits us as we prepare and anticipate for this great day.

I love having a vacation or family event planned for the future. Everyday as I anticipate the joy and happiness that will result when that occasion happens makes every day happier and better. The difficult days seem to pass more easily because of the anticipation and  realization of what is soon to come.

The Lord's Second Coming does this for me when I anticipate the joy we will feel to kneel in his presence, and together with loved ones worship and adore him for our blessings today and tomorrow and forever with Dad and Mom and Guy and Elaine and Gay and all our family and posterity are returned to us in abundance. I can't wait for that day. I know it will be soon and for a thousand years we will be able to receive the wishes of our hearts because God is smiling down on his children.

That fortune is something I can hardly wait for, and that is only the beginning. I can only imagine