Category: Scripture Notes
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They have received many wounds
We remember that the sons of Helaman were presented but we should not forget that they still received many wounds while keeping the covenant that had made.
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Chapter break
Paul invited the saints to “covet earnestly the best gifts” and we can really assume he is talking about the various gifts of the spirit that he listed earlier in the chapter. I realized tonight that the best gift he us referring to is charity that he describes in the next chapter.
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Balancing act
Paul described a balancing act in our actions: finding the middle ground between being overly pious such as the Pharisees were and being overly relaxed such that we take actions which are not inherently sinful but which cause those who do not know what we know to stumble on their path to righteousness. The balcony…
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One last push
When they were close to achieving their goals Helaman and his men found that they could gain no advantage over the final obstacle until the Spirit spoke peace to their hearts and they took a step forward in faith to finish the job.
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Crucial characteristics
Two descriptions of the sons of Helaman explain their miraculous preservation: 1) they did obey with exactness; 2) they did put their trust in God continually. If we can do those two things we can see miracles in our lives too.
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Sacrifices
Antipus sacrificed his men, pushing them hard in pursuit of the Lamanites to prevent them from overpowering Helaman and his stripling warriors. The sons of Helaman also choose to sacrifice in turning back on the Lamanites after they stopped without knowing whether they were walking into a trap.
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A stalemate
When Helaman arrived to assist Antipus it initiated a stalemate between the Nephites and the Lamanites in that front of the war.
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Thinking outside the box
When Moroni decided that he would not accept the terms of exchange that Ammoron was open to he then began thinking of unconventional ways to change the situation in his favor. Instead of trading prisoners he liberated Nephite prisoners while gaining more Lamanite prisoners—all without losing any of his men.
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Paul and marriage
I have serious questions about how accurate Paul’s stated positions on marriage are. Doubtless some bits are accurate but his preference for celibacy over marriage seems misguided. Both celibacy and marriage can be done righteously but Paul seems to express the opinion that all things being equal celibacy is preferred and that doesn’t ring true…