Hey,
I just realized this morning that these thoughts (in 3 Nephi 12) are all connected:
11 And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake;
12 For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.
13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
In other words, when men revile against you falsely, turn the other cheek. It is tempting (especially for me!) to get crabby and point out how the other party is being intellectually dishonest. That is the spirit of pride/enmity/contention, and giving in to it is akin to salt losing its savor. Rather, the Savior gives unto us to be the light of the world in maintaining charity and good humor even in the face of unjust persecution. Instead of fighting fire with fire, he urges us to live by the spirit, and "A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." Those with eyes to see will see.
Remind me of this please, next time I get crabby about straw men. :)
-Max
--
If I esteem mankind to be in error, shall I bear them down? No. I will lift them up, and in their own way too, if I cannot persuade them my way is better; and I will not seek to compel any man to believe as I do, only by the force of reasoning, for truth will cut its own way.
I could not love thee, dear, so much,
Loved I not Honor more.
I just realized this morning that these thoughts (in 3 Nephi 12) are all connected:
11 And blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake;
12 For ye shall have great joy and be exceedingly glad, for great shall be your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets who were before you.
13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
In other words, when men revile against you falsely, turn the other cheek. It is tempting (especially for me!) to get crabby and point out how the other party is being intellectually dishonest. That is the spirit of pride/enmity/contention, and giving in to it is akin to salt losing its savor. Rather, the Savior gives unto us to be the light of the world in maintaining charity and good humor even in the face of unjust persecution. Instead of fighting fire with fire, he urges us to live by the spirit, and "A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid." Those with eyes to see will see.
Remind me of this please, next time I get crabby about straw men. :)
-Max
--
If I esteem mankind to be in error, shall I bear them down? No. I will lift them up, and in their own way too, if I cannot persuade them my way is better; and I will not seek to compel any man to believe as I do, only by the force of reasoning, for truth will cut its own way.
I could not love thee, dear, so much,
Loved I not Honor more.
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