Mormon continues telling us if an evil man gives a gift, he
does it grudgingly. The Lord made it clear how he expects us to act. “Behold,
the Lord requireth the heart and a willing mind; and the willing and obedient
shall eat the good of the land of Zion in these last days” (D&C 64:34).
The gift he gives will be considered evil and not accepted
of the Lord. “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord”
(Proverbs 15:8).
If a man will pray without real intent, God will not receive
such a prayer.
“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering [GR doubting,
hesitating]. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the
wind and tossed.
“For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing
of the Lord” (James 1:6-7).
If a man is evil, he will not be able to give a good gift to
the Lord. “Mormon, who had seen nothing all his life but ‘a continual scene of
wickedness and abominations’ (Mormon 2:18), has a great yearning for peace and
rest (Moroni 7:3-4), but he is convinced that unregenerate men are not capable
either of receiving or giving good of themselves (Moroni 7:10), and must remain
as nothing until they have charity, ‘the pure love of Christ (Moroni 7:44-47).”[1]
A bitter found cannot bring forth good water. “The law of
the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death” (Proverbs
13:14). A good fountain cannot bring forth bitter water. James asked, “Doth a
fountain [GR spring, well] send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter”
(James 3:11).
He who serves the devil cannot follow Christ. “No man can
serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else
he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon”
(Matthew 6:24).
He who serves Christ cannot serve the devil. “And he said
unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can
we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father”
(2 Nephi 31:10). “And he that will not take up his cross and follow me, and
keep my commandments, the same shall not be saved” (D&C 56:2).
“The polarized condition of the world today, however silly,
is not to be denied. But is it consistent with the real polarity of good and
evil? If God and Satan stand each surrounded by his host, they are not human
hosts. The human race is placed not at either pole but squarely between the
two. In that position each individual is free to gravitate in either direction;
that is the testing to which all are subjected during this time of probation,
every day of their lives. As long as they are living here they are subject to
being tried and tested.”[2]
All things good come from God. “Every good gift and every
perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with
whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).
“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that
confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:
because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
“We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is
not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit
of error [GR deception, wandering sin]” (1 John 4:2, 4, 6).
“Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is
good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God” (3
John 1:11).
That which is evil comes from the devil. The devil is an
enemy of God, constantly fighting against Him, tempting us to sin and
continually do evil.
“For I say unto you
that whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the
devil.
“Therefore, if a man bringeth forth good works he hearkeneth
unto the voice of the good shepherd, and he doth follow him; but whosoever
bringeth forth evil works, the same becometh a child of the devil, for he
hearkeneth unto his voice, and doth follow him” (Alma 5:40-41).
“What [the devil] tempts [Adam and Eve] with is lunch. We
can put the situation in terms of two employers who are competing for the
services of the man Adam and his posterity, who are intentionally placed in the
middle between them: on the one hand, ‘the devil ... inviteth and enticeth ...
continually’ to work for him, while on the other, ‘God inviteth and enticeth
... continually’ to work for him (Moroni 7:12–13).”[3]
That which is of God invites us to do good continually. “And
there are none that doeth good except those who are ready to receive the
fulness of my gospel, which I have sent forth unto this generation” (D&C
35:12).
“And every one that hearkeneth to the voice of the Spirit cometh
unto God, even the Father” (D&C 84:47).
It entices us to good and love God. “And I know that the
Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words
which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it
persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it
speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the
end, which is life eternal” (2 Nephi 33:4).
Anything that makes us to desire to serve God is inspired of
Him.
[1] Since
Cumorah, Hugh Nibley, Chapter 12: Good People and Bad People, Maxwell
Institute website.
[2] The
Prophetic Book of Mormon, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute website.
[3] Work
We Must, But the Lunch Is Free, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute website.
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