Accountability
Still going strong with my latest little commitments. Today's exercise saw me doing 3x20 push-ups with 25-seconds rest. The final few in the last set were a challenge, but I made it through all 20 without breaking.
Ponderings
In Alma 51, Amalackiah is leading the Lamanites to battle against the Nephites. It is explained that as he marched with his armies toward Bountiful that the army of Teancum headed him. In this Amalackiah is said to have met with a disappointment because Teancum's men were said to all be stronger and more skillful warriors than the Lamanites. A few chapters earlier in a similar vein to the men of Teancum, we learn this about chief captain Moroni:
11 And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery;
12 Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people.
13 Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood.
17 Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.
I see a parallel of Amalackiah acting the part of the devil in seeking for power and stirring up contention for his own gain being met with disappointment at coming across Teancum and his men and the power of a Moroni to shake the powers of hell forever. Would it not be gratifying to one day read of yourself or a loved on that Satan met with a disappointment because he was headed by "insert name" and he/she was stronger and more skilled in spiritual warfare insomuch that "insert name" did gain an advantage and Satan and his temptations were repulsed.
My testimony is that we can achieve this through small and simple means, and by nourishing and strengthening our bodies and minds along the way we also increase our capacity to be strengthened in faith and service to the lord.
Be strong!
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Noble Aspirations, I have also thought about Teancum and Captain Moroni in the same way you have related. Of course, the commander Lehi who worked with them was right in the same category. Helaman and his co workers were no less serviceable. These are great people. There’s a scripture that always stops me for a moment. It’s about Antipas and the soldiers with him who fought during the day and repaired fortifications by night and “they were determined to conquer in this place or die” when Helaman and two thousand young soldiers joined them. I think of Captain Moroni’s letter to Pahoran where he was concerned that Pahoran had been comfortable and safe in a state of “thoughtless stupor.” Pahoran also had problems but was in the valiant category. I’m doing between six and eight hundred push-ups from the knees every day and reading scriptures everyday. The small and simple progression is working.