4th Nephi

Wow, so I've been reading 4th Nephi and the thing that really caught my attention this time was the turning point in the story. Here's this society that has been visited by Jesus Christ himself. He came and taught them the gospel and established His church, complete with 12 apostles and ongoing revelation. They were living in this nearly perfect society where there was no contention (What? They had marriages and families and organized religion with no contention???), the blind and lame were healed, and the 3 Diciples who were actually ordained by Jesus Christ himself ministered among them. For the first time in the Book of Mormon, the gospel is actually lived by everyone and the people are happy. Sounds like a fairy tale right? It would be, if it weren't for one big problem...

Mormon first describes their downfall saying they became excedingly rich. But they had been rich for years due to their integrity and industry. So how did their riches become toxic? It seems to me that the changing ingredient is selfishness. Mormon writes that their riches lead them to wearing expensive clothes to elevate themselves above others and "building up churches unto themselves".

You know what that sounds like to me? It sounds like they said, "I don't like this particular aspect of the church, I think I'll make my own church where that is not included." Hmmmm. Does that sound familiar to anyone? I'll be a Mormon, except for this one principle. I'm a Mormon, but some old guy in Salt Lake is not going to tell me how to dress or when to date... I'm a Mormon, but I'm not going to be a home teacher, Im far too busy... I'm a Mormon, but who needs to listen to conference anyway? They always talk about the same things...

I always thought riches were the downfall of the Book of Mormon's golden years. But I believe that it was because Satan succeeded in getting the people to focus inward instead of outward. Their priority became themselves instead of God and their neighbors. Don't get me wrong, we are supposed to love ourselves. But the great commandment says, Love GOD, then love your NEIGHBOR, then YOURSELF. That order of priority is the only way to truly live the gospel.