3
Nephi 2:18
Kindness
What
18 And
thus ended the fourteenth year. And in the fifteenth year they did
come forth against the people of Nephi; and because of the wickedness
of the people of Nephi, and their many contentions and dissensions,
the Gadianton robbers did gain many advantages over them
Why
when
people can't get along with each other then they are not going to be
able to work together to protect their country/tribes/ people.
Opposite of unity.
Pattern
Contentions
3 Nephi 11:29
29
For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit
of contention is
not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention,
and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with
another.
Doctrine and Covenants 10:63
63
And this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be
so much contention;
yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people
to contention concerning
the points of my doctrine; and in these things they do err, for they
do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them.
Mosiah 29:7
7
And now if there should be another appointed in his stead, behold I
fear there would rise contentions among
you. And who knoweth but what my son, to whom the kingdom doth
belong, should turn to be angry and draw away a part of this people
after him, which would cause wars and contentions among
you, which would be the cause of shedding much blood and perverting
the way of the Lord, yea, and destroy the souls of many people.
Proverbs 18:19
19
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and
their contentions are
like the bars of a castle.
Mosiah 23:15
15
Thus did Alma teach his people, that every man should love his
neighbor as himself, that there should be no contention among
them.
Mosiah 29:21
21
And behold, now I say unto you, ye cannot dethrone an iniquitous king
save it be through much contention,
and the shedding of much
Proverbs 13:10
10
Only by pride cometh contention:
but with the well advised is wisdom.
Helaman 10:18
18
And it came to pass that they would not hearken unto his words; and
there began to be contentions,
insomuch that they were divided against themselves and began to slay
one another with the sword.
9
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions,
and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
39
And the contention was
so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the
other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
- beware lest there shall arise contentions: Mosiah 2:32 .
14
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore
leave off contention,
before it be meddled with.
- Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention: D&C 10:63 .
Christ
Conference
The Virtue of Kindness Joseph B. Wirthlin
I
often wonder why some feel they must be critical of others. It gets
in their blood, I suppose, and it becomes so natural they often don’t
even think about it. They seem to criticize everyone—the way Sister
Jones leads the music, the way Brother Smith teaches a lesson or
plants his garden.
Even
when we think we are doing no harm by our critical remarks,
consequences often follow. I am reminded of a boy who handed a
donation envelope to his bishop and told him it was for him. The
bishop, using this as a teaching moment, explained to the boy that he
should mark on the donation slip whether it was for tithing, fast
offerings, or for something else. The boy insisted the money was for
the bishop himself. When the bishop asked why, the boy replied,
“Because my father says you’re one of the poorest bishops we’ve
ever had.”
The
Church is not a place where perfect people gather to say perfect
things, or have perfect thoughts, or have perfect feelings. The
Church is a place where imperfect people gather to provide
encouragement, support, and service to each other as we press on in
our journey to return to our Heavenly Father.
Each
one of us will travel a different road during this life. Each
progresses at a different rate. Temptations that trouble your brother
may not challenge you at all. Strengths that you possess may seem
impossible to another.
Never
look down on those who are less perfect than you. Don’t be upset
because someone can’t sew as well as you, can’t throw as well as
you, can’t row or hoe as well as you.
When
we are filled with kindness, we are not judgmental. The Savior
taught, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye
shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.”4 He
also taught that “with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:
and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”5
My
brothers and sisters, the gospel of Jesus Christ transcends
mortality. Our work here is but a shadow of greater and unimaginable
things to When we are filled with kindness, we are not
judgmental. The Savior taught, “Judge not, and ye shall not be
judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye
shall be forgiven.”4 He
also taught that “with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:
and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”5
My
brothers and sisters, the gospel of Jesus Christ transcends
mortality. Our work here is but a shadow of greater and unimaginable
things to come.
Some
months ago my esteemed colleague Elder Carlos E. Asay and I stood
atop Mount Nebo, where Moses once stood. (See Deut.
34:1–4.)
We saw what he saw. In the distance to our right was the Sea of
Galilee. The river Jordan flowed from there to the Dead Sea on our
left. Ahead was the promised land into which Joshua led the Israelite
faithful so long ago.
Later
we were permitted to do what Moses could not. We were escorted from
the Hashemite kingdom of Jordan to its western border with Israel.
From there, we and our associates walked over the Allenby Bridge. We
felt the tension as armed soldiers nearby guarded both sides of the
international boundary.
After
safely enduring this experience, I thought of the irony of it all.
Here in the land made holy by the Prince of Peace, contention has
existed almost continuously from that day to this.
Prior
to His ascension from the Holy Land, the Savior pronounced a unique
blessing: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as
the world giveth, give I unto you.” (John
14:27.)
His
peace is not necessarily political; His peace is personal. But that
spirit of inner peace is driven away by contention. Contention does
not usually begin as strife between countries. More often, it starts
with an individual, for we can contend within ourselves over simple
matters of right and wrong. From there, contention can infect
neighbors and nations like a spreading sore.
As
we dread any disease that undermines the health of the body, so
should we deplore contention, which is a corroding canker of the
spirit. I appreciate the counsel of Abraham Lincoln, who said:
“Quarrel
not at all. No man resolved to make the most of himself can spare
time for personal contention. … Better give your path to a dog than
be bitten by him.” (Letter to J. M. Cutts, 26 Oct. 1863, in Concise
Lincoln Dictionary of Thoughts and Statements, comp.
and arr. Ralph B. Winn, New York: New York Philosophical Library,
1959, p. 107.)
President
Ezra Taft Benson in his keynote address yesterday described
contention as “another face of pride.”
My
concern is that contention is becoming accepted as a way of life.
From what we see and hear in the media, the classroom, and the
workplace, all are now infected to some degree with contention. How
easy it is, yet how wrong it is, to allow habits of contention to
pervade matters of spiritual significance, because contention is
forbidden by divine decree:
“The
Lord God hath commanded that men should not murder; that they should
not lie; that they should not steal; that they should not take the
name of the Lord their God in vain; that they should not envy; that
they should not have malice; that they should not contend one with
another.” (2
Ne. 26:32.)
...“Satan
did stir them up to do iniquity continually; yea, he did go about
spreading rumors and contentions upon all the face of the land, that
he might harden the hearts of the people against that which was good
and against that which should come.” (Hel.
16:22.)
“He
that hath the spirit of contention is not of me [saith the Lord], but
is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up
the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.
“Behold,
this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one
against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be
done away.” (3
Ne. 11:29–30.)
...The
home is the great laboratory of learning and love. Here parents help
children overcome these natural tendencies to be selfish. In rearing
our own family, Sister Nelson and I have been very grateful for this
counsel from the Book of Mormon:
“Ye
will not suffer your children that they go hungry, or naked; neither
will ye suffer that they transgress the laws of God, and fight and
quarrel one with another, …
“But
ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye
will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.”
(Mosiah
4:14–15.)
Parents
should be partners to cherish and protect one another, knowing that
the aim of the adversary is to destroy the integrity of the family.
Leaders
of the Church are targets for attack by those who stir contention.
This is true even though not a single leader has called himself or
herself to a position of responsibility. Each General Authority, for
instance, chose another path to pursue as his life’s occupation.
But the reality is, as with Peter or Paul, each was surely “called
of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are
in authority.” (A
of F 1:5.)
With that call comes the commitment to emulate the patterns of the
Prince of Peace. Steps to Supplant Contention
What
can we do to combat this canker of contention? What steps may each of
us take to supplant the spirit of contention with a spirit of
personal peace?
To
begin, show compassionate concern for others. Control the tongue, the
pen, and the word processor. Whenever tempted to dispute, remember
this proverb: “He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour:
but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.” (Prov.
11:12;
see also Prov.
17:28.)
Bridle
the passion to speak or write contentiously for personal gain or
glory. The Apostle Paul thus counseled the Philippians, “Let
nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind
let each esteem other better than themselves.” (Philip.
2:3.)
But
the ultimate step lies beyond beginning control of expression.
Personal peace is reached when one, in humble submissiveness, truly
loves God. Heed carefully this scripture:
“There
was no contention in the land, because
of the
love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.” (4
Ne. 1:15;
see also 4
Ne. 1:2;
italics added.)
Thus,
love of God should be our aim. It is the first
commandment—the foundation of faith. As we develop love of God
and Christ, love of family and neighbor will naturally follow. Then
will we eagerly emulate Jesus. He healed. He comforted. He taught,
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children
of God.” (Matt.
5:9;
see also 3
Ne. 12:9.)
Through
love of God, the pain caused by the fiery canker of contention will
be extinguished from the soul. This healing begins with a personal
vow: “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.”
(“Let There Be Peace on Earth,” Sy Miller and Jill Jackson, ©
Jan-Lee Music, Beverly Hills, Calif., 1972.) This commitment will
then spread to family and friends and will bring peace to
neighborhoods and nations.
Shun
contention. Seek godliness. Be enlightened by eternal truth. Be
like-minded with the Lord in love and united with Him in faith. Then
shall “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding”
(Philip.
4:7),
be yours, to bless you and your posterity through generations yet to
come. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Apply
As
we strive to be more Christlike, we will have more patience and love
for others and we will find ways to spread peace instead of
contention.
“Thus,
love of God should be our aim. It is the first
commandment—the foundation of faith. As we develop love of God
and Christ, love of family and neighbor will naturally follow. Then
will we eagerly emulate Jesus. He healed. He comforted. He taught,
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children
of God.” (Matt.
5:9;
see also 3
Ne. 12:9.)”
Elder Nelson
Hymns
318
Love At Home
129
Where Can I Turn for Peace.
Children
78
-I am Trying To Be Like Jesus
45-
Kindness Begins With Me.
