Rats in the Cellar

Alma 59-61

These chapters are by far the best.

I loved what I learned in 59: 11-12...

"And now, when Moroni saw that the city of Nephihah was lost, he was exceedingly sorrowful, and began to doubt, because of the wickedness of the people, whether they should not fall into the hands of their brethren. Now this was the case with all his chief captains. They doubted..."

I loved that it shows here how human these people in the scriptures were. THEY DOUBTED.

Just like I do sometimes.

But,...they never gave up. That's the lesson. That's what I loved. That's what I learned.

I also loved what I learned about not 'lashing' back. Moroni sends this sort of 'lashing' letter to Pahoran because Moroni's men are not receiving any provisions from the Pahoran, the governor. He censures Pahoran and in a way, 'blames' him. I don't think badly of Moroni for doing that...I'm sure I would feel the same way...he had to get it off his chest...but, my most favorite thing is Pahoran's response...

"And now, in your epistle, you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart". (61:9).

He could have responded in so many other different ways.

He could have yelled back, fought back, lashed back, condemned Moroni.
He could have thrown in the towel.

I love that he responds with love. And it reminds me to respond with love. To be a Christian. To not let my emotions run out of control and fight back when I am accused of something, or feel wronged in some way. My most favorite thought that goes along with this lesson is this...

I love this quote from C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity about the process of becoming true Christians:
“We begin to notice, besides our particular sinful acts, our sinfulness; begin to be alarmed not only about what we do, but about what we are. This may sound rather difficult, so I will try to make it clear from my own case. When I come to my evening prayers and try to reckon up the sins of the day, nine times out of ten the most obvious one is some sin against charity; I have sulked or snapped or sneered or snubbed or stormed. And the excuse that immediately springs to my mind is that the provocation was so sudden and unexpected: I was caught off my guard, I had not time to collect myself. Now that may be an extenuating circumstance as regards those particular acts: they would obviously be worse if they had been deliberate and premeditated.

On the other hand, surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of a man he is? Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth? If there are rats in a cellar you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the suddenness does not create the rats: it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way the suddenness of the provocation does not make me an ill-tempered man: it only shows me what an ill-tempered man I am. The rats are always there in the cellar, but if you go in shouting and noisily they will have taken cover before you switch on the light.”

Mmmmmm.....loved that.