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Monday, May 30, 2011

Mormon Theology no. 41 - "Anger Resteth In the Bosom of Fools" (Eccl. 7:9)

The preacher (Solomon, son of David the King) warns, "Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. (Eccl. 7:9)"  How apt this illustration is.  Why is this so?  Our Lord answers this question by saying, "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca [a word suggesting contempt, and derision in both Aramaic and Greek], shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. (Matt. 5:21-22)"  Anger, in my opinion, is the catalyst for all other sins.

How can we better ourselves so that anger is not a part of us?  We must first watch ourselves, as King Benjamin admonished.  Said he, "But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God . . . even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish.  And now, O man, remember, and perish not. (Mosiah 4:30)"  Earlier in his great oration, the great Nephite King warns, "And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken . . . the same cometh out in open rebellion against God; therefore he listeth to obey the evil spirit, and becometh an enemy to all righteousness; therefore, the Lord has no place in him, for He dwelleth not in unholy temples. (Mosiah 2:36-37)"

May we all control ourselves, and eventually master our own creature, that the Spirit of the Lord might dwell more fully with us, I pray.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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