Contrast Test

This morning I read Mosiah 11-12 and noticed the stark contrast between Zeniff and King Noah.  Chapters 9-10 describe Zeniff and his efforts leading his people.  Chapter 11 describes Noah's self-serving ways, flattering and burdening his people.

• Zeniff taught his people to work; Noah encouraged his people to be lazy and enjoy riotous living.  Zeniff's people "began to build buildings...to till the ground...and to multiply and prosper in the land." (Mosiah 9:8-9)  Zeniff further says, "I did cause that the men should till the ground, and raise all manner of grain...and I did cause that the women should spin, and toil, and work, and work all manner of fine linen..." (Mosiah 10:4-5)  Noah's people "became idolatrous, because they were deceived by the vain and flattering words of the king and priests...Now the eyes of the people were blinded...." (Mosiah 11:7, 29)
• Zeniff worked along side the people; Noah taxed his people to support his lifestyle.  In Chapter 10, Zeniff says, "...and I, even I, in my old age, did go up to battle against the Lamanites." (Mosiah 10:10)  In Chapter 11, Noah taxed his people 20% of all their goods, "[a]nd all this he did to support himself, and his wives and his concubines, and also his priests, and their wives and their concubines...." (Mosiah 11:4)
• Both men led by example:  Zeniff set a good one; Noah set a bad one.  Mosiah 11:1-2: "Noah began to reign in his stead; and he did not walk in the ways of his father.  For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart."
• Zeniff taught his people to call upon God for help.  Noah flattered his people into a sense of false security.  Zennif in Chapter 10: "...after having told all these things to my people...I did stimulate them to go to battle with their might, putting their trust in the Lord...." (Mosiah 10:19)  Noah Built fancy buildings, appointed everything with gold and built vineyards to live it up. (Mosiah 11:8-15)
• Zeniff protected his people; Noah was careless regarding his people's safety.  Under threat of attack from the Lamanites, Zeniff armed his people "with bows, and with arrows, with swords...and with all manner of weapons which we could invent, and I and my people did go forth...to battle." (Mosiah 9:16)  After the battel was over, Zeniff immediately began preparing for the next threat.  Ultimately, he caused everyone that could bear arms to fight, and he himself fought in his old age. (Mosiah 10:9-10)  When Noah's people were attacked, he sent guards "but he did not send a sufficient number, and the Lamanites came upon them and killed them." (Mosiah 11:17)

What does this have to do with us?  We are not kings, but we do have a responsibility to teach, protect and lead our families.  Pondering this contrast helped reinforce my responsibility to lead by example, to teach my children to pray and put their trust in God, to serve them and alongside them, to teach them to work and to keep them safe.

Tomorrow's reading:  Mosiah 13-14

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Mosiah 17-18

Reggae's most transcendent and iconic figure, Bob Marley was the first Jamaican artist to achieve international superstardom, in the process introducing the music of his native island nation to the far-flung corners of

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Test Post 2

This is some awesome stuff.

Need a few bullets:

• Test
• Test
• Test

And numbers too:

1. number one
2. number two
3. number three
4. number four

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