"compelled to be humble blessed are ye" (Alma 32:13) Remember how great things The Lord has done..‏

It was great to be able talk to our children today on Google Hangout. Clearly, technology,  is one of those 'great things the Lord has done'.

I was thinking about the good Mozambiquens that live in very humble circumstances. A certain group of Zoramites that "were poor as to things of the world; and also they were poor in heart. ...were poor in heart, because of their poverty as to the things of the world....[however] their afflictions had truly humbled them" (Alma 32: 3, 4, 6) 

It appears that the affliction of being despised because of their poverty and being cast out of the synagogues that they built is what humbled them, not simply their poverty. The chapter heading states: "Alma teaches the poor whose afflictions had humbled them". They were "necessarily brought to be humble." (Alma 32: 12) Even so, Alma says: "because ye are compelled to be humble blessed are ye;" (Alma 32:13). Even during those times of life in which we are compelled to be humble "blessed are ye". 

Alma the younger was himself compelled to be humble. "Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart" (Alma 32: 16). 

I have always liked this definition of humility:

"Humility is not a mental groveling about our worthlessness.  We are the children of God and the crown of his creations.  True humility is a recognition of our actual position in relationship to God.  If we truly sensed our total dependence upon God, as Benjamin did, it would profoundly affect our daily living.  It is when we forget our position in relationship to God that we begin to trust in our own wisdom, pursue our own course, abuse our rights, and ignore our blessings." (Book of Mormon Student Manual, 1981, p. 155)

Brother Hugh Nibley said: “An unprofitable servant is somebody who consumes more than he produces. You can't possibly produce what you consume. You can't produce even a blade of grass. No one can pay his own way in this world. If you say you've paid your own way, you can't. He is ‘even supporting you from one moment to another-I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants.’ So much for being independent. You are dependent on him every minute. You should know that and realize that other people are too.What he wants you to do is to help them. He doesn't need your help.”
(Teachings of the Book of Mormon, lecture 28, p. 454)

Here is a formula for how to avoid pride-

"And the people of Nephi began to prosper again in the land, and began to multiply and to wax exceedingly strong again in the land. And they began to grow exceedingly rich.

But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes; neither were they slow to remember the Lord their God; but they did humble themselves exceedingly before him. Yea, they did remember how great things the Lord had done for them, that he had delivered them from death, and from bonds, and from prisons, and from all manner of afflictions, and he had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies. And they did pray unto the Lord their God continually, insomuch that the Lord did bless them, according to his word, so that they did wax strong and prosper in the land" 
(Alma 62:48-51). 

To prosper in the land means to have the Spirit. 

"Blessed art thou and thy children; and they shall be blessed, inasmuch as they shall keep my commandments they shall prosper in the land. But remember, inasmuch as they will not keep my commandments they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord" (Alma 50:20). 

When we keep the commandments we prosper in the land by having the Spirit with us. When we don't keep the commandments, we are cut off from the Spirit.

Here are a few photographs taken from our apartment window this week:

Here is Mom talking with Paulo the cleaner and Rodrigues the guard:

This was taken at 6 AM. Some local women walking and walking...

This women is sweeping the street to collect sand that will be sold. She is using a small hand broom made from wood.

The cart full of sand is worth $8.30 once it is delivered. 

If you don't have a cart then you need to carry the sand by hand or in this case by head. The yellow bags weigh about 40 pounds!!

 Notice that each of these women have young children on their backs while they carry these heavy bags of sand.

This is my second home...the bank. The ATMs only permit withdraws and there are no drive thru lanes. Most of these people are in line to either cash or deposit very small amounts of money, perhaps $20.

I Love You!