CHAINS OF HELL
In the summer of 1974, I was a new graduate from Utah State
University at Logan, Utah with a bachelors degree in Civil and Environmental
Engineering. I accepted a position and
began working for a consulting engineering firm, Horrocks and Associates, in
American Fork, Utah. I had been married
2 years.
Horrocks really
suited me. I learned a great deal from 2
senior engineers; technical engineering from Mr. Wimmer and human relations
from Mr. Horrocks. Mr. Horrocks became
and still is a personal hero of mine.
You know, a personal hero is one of those people whose influence
significantly changes your life for the better, you idolize certain features
about them and you will never forget them.
Mr. Horrocks was personable.
Every time I met with him his friendly visit and smile were as if we
were life-long friends. The next time we
visited, he would again turn on his charm and then ask me specifically about my
issues, personal and work related, that we discussed during the last
conversation we had had. It was
uncanny. I do not know how he could remember
things so well but it was endearing and it worked for him. I have tried to add that attribute to myself
ever since.
My assignment for the summer was to work as a field engineer
during construction of a down town redevelopment project in American Fork. We tore out and replaced all sidewalks and
street surfacing along with replacing all underground utilities. The new main street had irrigated trees, tree
grates, benches, fountains, antique light poles, etc. making it to this day one
of the most pleasant main streets in Utah to walk along.
One day during lunch, I was sitting on the ground leaning on
a tree trunk in the Park eating a small lunch that I had brought from
home. I was approached by a middle aged
American Indian. He was polite and clean
cut. He asked me if I would give him a
few dollars. He said he had traveled on
the bus for a few days from Arizona but somehow his bag which also contained
his money did not get off the bus with him.
He was hungry and wanted to buy food to tide him over until Greyhound
Bus Lines returned his bag. The story
and situation did not sound convincing to me.
We were struggling to make ends meet as well, but I thought ‘what the
heck,’ I’ll give him $5.00. I opened my
wallet and found only a ten dollar bill plus a few ones. It hurt but I gave him the ten thinking it
would surely buy plenty of alcohol for him. Before I went back on the job site,
I had to get something in the grocery store.
I was surprised to turn a corner in the store and come face to face with
the Indian. He had a small shopping
basket full of bread, cheese, lunch meat and other sandwich fixings. I was then and still am glad I gave him the
money. It brought me happiness. I acted with faith and diligence to be
generous with my substance instead of simply hearing about being generous. Paul said:
22 But be ye doers of
the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if
any be a hearer of
the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in
a glass:
24 For he
beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of
man he was.
25 But
whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty,
and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer
of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:22-25)
Besides doing acts of kindness during your mission, you are
lead or guided on your mission and in life by your Heavenly Father toward happiness
(the symbolic Promised Land) when you act with faith, diligence and obedience.
28 … I, Nephi, beheld the
pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and
diligence and heed which we did give unto them. (1 Nephi 16:28)
On the other hand you can be lead by the devil to
unhappiness, misery, guilt and shame through temptations that affect the heart
and the eyes.
17 And the mists of
darkness are the temptations of the devil, which blindeth the
eyes, and hardeneth the hearts of the children of men, and leadeth them away
into broad roads,
that they perish and are lost. (1 Nephi 12:17)
So we see the old phrase, “The devil made me do it,” is not
true. The devil only has power to tempt
you, and hopes that you will choose to blind your eyes and harden your heart. This is the antithesis of faith, diligence
and obedience. It would have been easy
to harden my heart toward the Indian; I have done it before with pan-handlers.
In addition to being lead and guided, you receive an
increased portion of the word of God and increased knowledge and understanding
by exercising diligence and obedience.
Knowledge or knowing the mysteries of God will break spiritual bondage
referred to in the scriptures as the chains of hell.
9 … It is given unto many
to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless
they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according
to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according
to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.
10 And therefore, he that
will harden his
heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion
of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the
word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know
them in full.
11 And they that will harden
their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of
the word until they know nothing concerning
his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his
will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell.
(Alma 12:9-11)
Regarding the chains of hell brought by lack of knowledge, one
of the most eerie of all scripture is a vision when Enoch viewed the devil who offers
temptations that harden hearts, blind eyes and reduces knowledge. This is in opposition to faith, diligence and
obedience:
26 And he beheld Satan; and he
had a great chain in
his hand, and it veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness;
and he looked up and laughed,
and his angels rejoiced.
(Moses 7:26)
President Robinson
No comments:
Post a Comment