Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 3:18-19

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 3:18-19

"Now the Amlicites knew not that they were fulfilling the words of God when they began to mark themselves in their foreheads; nevertheless they had come out in open rebellion against God; therefore it was expedient that the curse should fall upon them.

Now I would that ye should see that they brought upon themselves the curse and even so doth every man that is cursed bring upon himself his own condemnation."

When the Amlicites joined with the Lamanites to come against the Nephites, they marked themselves with a red mark on their forehead. That was to show what side they suppored. The Lamanites skin had been darkened hundred of years earlier as a cursing when Laman and Lemuel sought to kill Nephi. The brothers were divided and the cursing of darkened skin fell upon them so they could tell each other apart. The Amlicites having been Nephites did not have this darkened skin. That is why they needed to mark themselves, to show they were not part of the Nephites any more.

The Lord didn't tell the Amlicites to mark themselves, they weren't listening to the Lord at that point. The desire to mark themselves was something they did on their own. They marked themselves to their own condemnation. In these verses the Lord reminds us that we bring cursing totally upon ourselves. We stand out from others with our clothing, language, behaviors and activities in showing who's side we are on. The Lord doesn't do it to us, its something we are drawn to do all by ourselves.

This marking of ourselves I take very seriously. I may be considered extreme but when I saw people running to mark their Facebook profiles with rainbow colored flags, all I could think about was what the Amlicites had done in showing open rebellion against God.

Day 277 Tami Fitzgerald Harris