Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 11:4-5

Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 11:4-5

"O Lord, do not suffer that this people shall be destroyed by the sword; but O Lord, rather let there be a famine in the land, to stir them up in remembrance of the Lord their God, and perhaps they will repent and turn unto thee.

And so it was done, according to the words of Nephi. And there was a great famine upon the land, among all the people of Nephi. And thus in the seventy and fourth year the famine did continue, and the work of destruction did cease by the sword but became sore by famine."

Nephi, who has been given the sealing power, cries unto Lord to stop the wars, and cause a famine to come upon the land instead. I had to wonder why a famine would be more effective? When there are battles mostly men fight them and die. With a war you could blame the reason for it happening on your enemies. It could make someone totally miss the fact the protecting arm of the Lord is no longer supporting them. When there is a famine everyone is effected. Even little children die during famine. Would the act of watching a loved one die of famine be more apt to soften a person's heart? 

With a famine you would know the heavens are shut. There is nothing a man can do to change what is happening. They are powerless. I think a person would have to stop and wonder about God, when something so out of their control is taking place. I do know that when the droughts in the west started massive fires last summer, I sure heard a lot of requests for prayers. I think even people that never prayed asked for them. This famine did bring the people to a remembrance of the Lord. They recalled what Nephi had prophesied, about destruction coming if they did not repent. This famine was a stark reminder of the power of God, and their standing before him.

The people died by the thousands in the more wicked part of the  land. I could not help but wonder, did Nephi warn the saints to gather food storage before this famine happened? Listening to a prophet's warning could have preserved the righteous among them. Yes, that could have happened. But, really what is needful is a righteous repented heart to be turned to God. Then the spirit of revelation can inspire each individual and family in ways to be self-reliant and prepare every needful thing. That would save a person in more ways than one.

Day 348 Tami Fitzgerald Harris