Laman and Lemuelism

Today I read 1 Nephi 17 and his chapter is a great example of what I like to call Laman and Lemuelism.  Elder Maxwell of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles once said in one of his talks said that Laman and Lemuel had faith and believed that the Lord could perform all the miracles of ancient Egypt for Moses but could not take care of a modern day Laban.  That is a perfect way to sum up Laman and Lemuelism.  And we see it all the time in today's society.

We see it in the way we think that the Lord will help others in their problems, but not with our challenges.  We think that the Lord is a God of miracles, but not for us.  We see it in that we think God will bless the lives of those around us, but we are too far gone for Him to care about us.  The Atonement applies all people, but our sins are too grievous for Him to forgive.  Not only is this a horrible misconception of the Atonement, it is limiting God.

Laman and Lemuel also suffered from the condition due to being too close to Nephi.  When Apostles are called in this day and age, it is quite common in this day and age for those who know them best to balk at the calling.  There is often shock that such a man would be called to such a sacred calling.  This is due to the fact that the Apostles are men, fallible, prone to make mistakes and those who are closest to us see that in us.  Laman and Lemuel knew Nephi better than anyone, it is quite easy to see how Laman and Lemuel would have no problem believing that Moses would be given such power and authority from God, but Nephi?  Their little brother?  The brother they had wiped tears off his face when he had skinned his knees?  The one they had played pranks on?  Surely not.  Not Nephi.  That is the core of Laman and Lemuelism.  And we are all prone to it at some point or another.  We just have to hope that when it happens to us, we can overcome it and realize that everyone is fallible.  We need to realize that God can choose anyone He desire to and it is not up to us who He chooses.  It is only up to us to support His choice.  Until tomorrow.