He Did Deliver Me from Bondage
by Colleen C. Harrison

Wo Unto the Uncircumcised of Heart (2Nephi 4:19) —Part 2

Step Four: Made a searching and fearless written inventory of our past in order to thoroughly examine ourselves as to our pride and other weaknesses with the intent of re­cognizing our own carnal state and our need for Christ’s Atonement. (Alma 15:17; Mosiah 4:2; Jacob 4:6–7; Ether 12:27)

Principle Four: My trials and mistakes are potentially great learning opportunities, not terrible things I should try to ignore or forget.

LET’S GET ON WITH IT NOW

Wo unto the uncircumcised of heart [those who won’t submit their heart to be revealed and be made clean and sensitive], for a knowledge of their iniquities shall smite them at the last day. (2 Nephi 9:33)

I don’t know about you, but I would rather have my iniquities be known now than go on for another forty years trying to pretend to myself and others that I don’t really have any. If they’re going to be known in the last day and spoken upon the housetops (D&C 1:3), then let’s get on with it now, while I still have time to repent!

Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to hell. (2 Nephi 9:34)

I must comment on this verse. As He does so often, the Lord has veiled one of the most powerful statements in the scriptures in simplicity and brevity.

As we begin this process of getting really honest with ourselves about our past, we will run up against the phenomenon of denial, both in ourselves and in other people, particularly family members. Denial is a coping mechanism that we use when we are physically, emotionally and spiritually too immature, too small and too childish to see an honest way out of our situation. We resorted to it when we thought we were disconnected from the loving protection and guidance of God’s power, and we didn’t know any other way to get through than to pretend, to deny, to lie to ourselves and others.

The sad part about any kind of dishonesty is that it thrusts the pretender down to hell—a state of separation from God—in the very hour the pretense begins, and from that hour it just gets worse and worse. Pretending everything’s okay when it isn’t is a great drain on our energy, emotionally, spiritually and physically.

And, in fine, wo unto all those who die in their sins; for they shall return to God, and behold his face, and remain in their sins. (2 Nephi 9:38)

If I’ve ever heard a case for “rigorous honesty” and for a “fearless and searching moral inventory,” that’s got to be it. Put in that perspective, my heart begins to actually ache to get the job done now, to get all the “dirty laundry” out now, no matter how large, or how small, and get it cleaned up.

In Isaiah the process of searching and inventorying our lives before the Lord is beautifully described:

Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. (Isaiah 1:16,18)

That’s because weaknesses are weaknesses only until they are turned to strengths, and sins are only sins until they become the stepping stones upon which we learn, repent and mount to godhood. The opportunity to experience separation from God (to sin) isn’t outside the Father’s plan. It is part of the Father’s plan. Our mistakes can be our greatest benefactors, as soon as we allow them to be our greatest teachers.

TRADITIONS OF OUR FATHERS MUST BE EXAMINED ALSO

In the course of this process of doing an inventory of one’s past, it will often be revealed to us that the roots of many of our currently destructive behaviors lie in the “traditions of our fathers”—in other words, in the modeling of our parents.

We don’t need to be alarmed by this. In fact, it is just as potentially healthy to come unto God and with his guidance look honestly at the weaknesses of a family, as it is to look at our individual weaknesses. There’s a saying that we are only as sick as we are secret. This is just as true of families as of individuals. Families are entities too, each one a “body” with members. It is important that we look squarely and honestly at our family’s ways as well as our own. It is not bad or wrong to admit the whole truth. When we begin to relax our resentment or disappointment toward our family, and realize that they, like us, are only mortals, healing begins. We are truly all in this together.

I have found from my study of the Book of Mormon that God understands the phenomenon of children growing up and being influenced by incorrect traditions of past generations, and that He takes a pretty merciful view of those so influenced:

Nevertheless, I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for them in the day of judgment than for you…

For it is because of the traditions of their fathers that caused them to remain in their state of ignorance… (Alma 9:15,16)

CONCLUSION: Our Honest Need for the Savior

And what are the results and rewards of doing such a painful thing as being rigorously honest about our deepest heartfelt feelings, both past and present?

I will cite only one scripture here in answer, but next week we will look at three examples from the Book of Mormon of people who demonstrated this willingness to be thoroughly cleansed.

And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.

And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience. (Mosiah 4:2–3; emphasis added)

I can’t think of words of promise more enticing than these. If we have these things, how could we want more?

Next week we will continue discussing this process, especially highlighting and discussing the example set by several Book of Mormon prophets.

ASSIGNMENT FOR THIS WEEK:

1.   Read the essay “The Power of His Everlasting Word” in the appendix at the end of this workbook. It describes one method of actually doing a personal inventory. I think you’ll find it a very practical guide for actually putting this principle into action.

Preparation for discussion of principle five: “I OF MYSELF AM [NOT] MORE THAN A MORTAL” Mosiah 2:10

Step 5:   Honestly shared this inventory with God and with another person, thus demonstrating the sincerity of our repentance, and our willingness to give away all our sins that we might know Him. (Mosiah 26:29; Alma 22:18)

Day 1:_ 2 Nephi 30:17—“There is nothing which is secret save it shall be revealed.” Does this statement give us any idea of how futile it is to try to keep anything a secret forever? Write about something you have kept secret, thinking you would do so forever (to your grave). (You don’t have to reveal the actual secret—just write about how it has made you feel to keep it secret.)

Day 2:_ Mosiah 26:29—In this verse the Lord connects confession not only to Him, but also to another person, with sincerity of heart. Write about how our willingness to confess our mistakes to another person demonstrates the sincerity of our repentance.

Day 3:_ Mosiah 27:29—Here is an example of a prophet of God who is willing to confess publicly that he has weaknesses and even sins. How does it affect you to know that individuals as advanced in their walks with the Lord as Nephi (see 2 Nephi 4:18 again) and Alma struggled with temptations and sins? How do you think it might help others—your children, for instance—to know that you too have had temptations and even sins similar to the ones they struggle with?

Day 4:_ Alma 22:18—“And I will give away all my sins to know thee.” Write about how being willing to publicly confess our sins is a genuine demonstration of “giving them away.” Write about your desire to know the Lord. Is your desire to know the Lord be­coming stronger than your fear of being honest?

Day 5:_ Alma 24:9—“By opening this correspondence, we have been convinced of our sins.” To correspond with someone is to communicate with this person. To communicate honestly with another person about our sins is one of the most powerful tools in helping us to own the responsibility for our own choices. Are you ready to take responsibility for all your past choices? Why or why not?

Day 6:_ 3 Nephi 1:25—“Therefore in this same year were they brought to a knowledge of their error and did confess their faults.” One reason we confess our sins is that we want to show the Lord that we recognize the error of our ways. Public confession is the sincerest form of admitting our need for His atonement. Write about your personal need for the atonement of Christ. Is it great enough to motivate you to an appropriate confession? Why or why not?

Day 7:_ D&C 59:12—This verse teaches us that the purpose of the Sabbath is to (1) serve God and our fellow man, (2) partake of the sacrament, and (3) confess our sins before our brethren and the Lord. How do you think it would help our congregations if we shared more openly from our personal experiences and challenges? Do you think it would strengthen or weaken us as a people to be more vulnerable and self-disclosing with each other? Why?

He Did Deliver Me from Bondage can be found at most LDS bookstores or purchased online at www.rosehavenpublishing.com

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