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Show ' - ref (2EDITORIAL Km PAGE utting Savior taught that we cannot serve We cannot be divided in allegiance to Him. We are told that we must have an eye single to the glory of God as we do His work, and that we should seek first His kingdom, with the assurance that all other needful things will be ours. Theour masters. The Pioneers of our Church had this 'principle fixed firmly in their minds. They loved the Lord. They did put His work first, and they did not attempt to divide their interests. Their one great objective was to build the Kingdom of God. The severest kinds of tests came to try them in their faith. At times they had to choose between their religion and their lives. Often they had to face expulsion from their homes because of their beliefs. And when the time came to choose whether to stay in the Middle West and have peace with their neighbors without the Gospel or leave all they had and live in a wilderness with the Gospel they did not hesitate. The Gospel 'Tame first, whether it was in comfort or in enroute trial, in Nauvoo or in an across the plains. ox-ca- rt THE PIONEERS were almost superhuman. Think today of walking from the Missouri River to Salt Lake City, with no comforts along the way. Or think today of dragging a handcart over Little Mountain. It was a different kind of task from anything we may imagine in this day of motorized vehicles, paved roads, service stations and hamburger stands on every road. The sick, the aged, the very young, the alrail, all took part in their great trek. Some died along the way, as is well known. Husbands taken in death left widows and orphans to continue the journey. Wives passed away, sometimes in childbirth with no protection but a camp wagon. Little orphans learned to trudge by the side of a sorrowing father. There were no established roads as we know them. The trails were rough and dusty. Rivers had to be forded. Some drow'ned in those streams. Sharp stones and thorny brush tore their shoes and other clothing as they walked. Many times they were hungry. CAN YOU IMAGINE yourself walking a thousand miles over plains and across rivers in such conditions? Would you have had such faith and endurance? And when they came to the mountains, they met worse conditions. There they had to literally cut their way through heavy brush and trees, and still pull their possessions up the steep slopes that many of us today would not attempt even with all our comfort. When they reached the valley it was a WEEK ENDING JULY 26, 1969 Godl First desolate and forbidding place. But again they labored, and created an Eden in the desert. n Were they people? What gave them this strength? Why did they do all this? Are we to think of the Pioneers as colonizers, moving west to make their fortunes? Or to claim new lands? Or to dig mines of gold and silver? None of that was in their minds. They came for their religions sake. They were willing to shape their lives and destinies to the requirements of God. super-huma- HOW CHRIST-LIKthey were in their attitudes! They did not choose to come here. They would have- preferred remaining in their beloved Nauvoo. But with them it was: Not as I will but as thou wilt. They really did seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. And think of the heritage they left us! Will we do as well? If God asked us to move to a strange land, would we go as uncomplainingly? If He asked us to give up comfortable homes and prosperous farms and travel to unknown places in a camp wagon or by cart, would we go? pushing a We would if we believed the Gospel as they did. Is our faith today as strong as was theirs? What is it God asks of us now? We need not climb mountains or cross prairies to prove our faith. That is not required today. But there are still many things He asks of E - two-wheel- us. IS OUR FAITH strong enough to obey, as the Lord asks us to live completely modest and virtuous lives? Shall we put away our mini skirts and sheer blouses? Are we willing to ban all literature, films and pictures of a pornographic nature from our lives? Do we completely honor our wives, husbands and children? Are we kind and loving? Do we eschew divorce? Are we willing to banish all problems with respect to the Word of Wisdom? Are we as faithful as the Pioneers in the matter of tithing? They put their all on the altar. Have we the faith to put a tenth of ours? So we might go on. Why not measure our faith against theirs? We can do it by merely listing the commandments and asking ourselves if we obey. ? Were the Pioneers really side? on we weaker the are contrast Or by Shall we truly seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness as they did? super-human- BOOK OF MORMON PROFILtS Amulon: Crafty, Sadistic The craftiness of Amulon was exceeded only by his sadistic brutality. As one of the degenerate priests of the evil King Noah, Amulon probably took part in the slaying of the Prophet Abinadi. When Noah, too, was burned to death by his savage subjects, his evil priests fled into the wilderness lest they also die by fire. The priests, led by Amulon, were ashamed of their behavior, but they were even more frightened of the righteous Nephites, and hid in the wilds, declining even from returning to their wives and children. After a period of time, the priests discovered a group of daughters of the Lamanites who gathered to sing and dance and make themselves merry. Lonely, evil, and without wives, Amulon and his followers seized 24 of these young women and carried them into the wilderness. When the Lamanites discovered the women missing, they believed the people of Limhi had captured them and went to war against Limhi and his people despite an oath between the Nephite and Lamanite rulers to respect eacn other. When it was discovered that Limhi and his followers were innocent, the fight- ing ceased. Meanwhile, Amulon and his associates made wives of the Lamanite women and settled in the land called after thp sinful leader. Here they were discovered by Lamanite soldiers. Amulon and his followers and their wives pleaded with such urgency that their lives were spared. The cunning Amulon and his band joined the Lamanites, and the king, called Laman, appointed Amulon to rule the land of Amulon, and Helam, where Alma the Elder and his followers resided. He became overseer of Almas people, and recognized Alma as a dissenter from the original group of priests who had been in Noahs service. Amulons true character now became more evident. He began to exercise authority over Alma and his brethren, and began to persecute him, and caused that his children should persecute their children. So great were the persecutions and burdens that Almas people began to cry mightily to God for deliverance. Amulon ordered the Nephites to cease their praying upon pain of death, and set guards to watch them. But Alma and his people did pour out their hearts to him (God) ; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts and relieved their burdens. Eventually, Alma and his followers escaped from Amulons tormenting and made their way back to Zarahemla. After this, nothing more is recorded of Amulon. Illustration adapted from "The Book of Mormon Story," (C) Deseret Book Co.. Ronald Crosby, artist |