Come, Follow Me: Book of Mormon 2024 (November 4-10)

A client of mine recently died from metastatic breast cancer. She had a long time to plan her death and every week she reported how she was preparing to help her children go on without her. While she was in great pain, there was never a complaint of why this would happen to her, only a steady reliance on her faith and a commitment to complete her worldly responsibilities. From the time of the diagnosis until the week of her death, she chose daily her response to a situation out of her control.  

Viktor Frankl gave this profound truth, “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.”

The plight of Moroni was dismal as recorded in Mormon 8:5: 

Behold, my father had made this record, and he hath written the intent thereof. And behold, I would write it also if I had room upon the plates, but I have not; and ore I have none, for I am alone. My father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have not friends nor whither to go, and how long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not.”

We would not have faulted Moroni for lamenting about his condition for many verses, even chapters. But in Mormon 8:12-14, Moroni turns from focusing on his circumstances, to choosing his response.

“Behold, I am Moroni; and were it possible, I would make all things known unto you. Behold I make an end of speaking concerning this people. I am the son of Mormon, and my father was a descendant of Nephi. And I am the same who hideth up this record unto the Lord…”

Notice how the word, behold, precedes Moroni’s choice to act rather than be acted upon. The word seems to represent a sacred space where agency can work.

Behold. I know who I am, and I know my earthly and Heavenly parents. 

Behold. I know my purpose on earth and will continue fulfilling that purpose. 

Behold. I choose how I will respond to events outside my control. 

Behold. I will not be a victim of my life circumstances. 

Do Hard Divinely Better Lesson #43: Find your word or your way to pry open this sacred space for a more intentional response to hard things.