Give Oh Give

"Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you." -- Jacob 2:17


That doesn't only pertain to my money, right? What if I'm not financially rich? Cuz I'm not. I still consider myself rich in other areas. I have a lot of books, baby clothes, canned food, baby toys.... And I'm also rich with love, some talents, etc. I can still be free with my riches even if I'm not "rich." :)

Necessary Evil?

First I'll quote the two scriptures that grew my questions.

2 Nephi 2:16

"Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other."

and

Doctrine & Covenants 29:39-40

"And it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet—

Wherefore, it came to pass that the devil tempted Adam, and he partook of the forbidden fruit and transgressed the commandment, wherein he became subject to the will of the devil, because he yielded unto temptation."

Obviously, the devil was necessary for the Fall which was necessary for the Atonement.

S0 - did we have to have a devil too? Would the natural man be temptation and enticement enough? Would Eve have partaken of the fruit without the serpent? Was Satan punished for playing a necessary role? I'm not saying he didn't deserve it.....

And sorrry about not being totally consistant with this. Should have called it weekly contemplations!

Sweet Land of Liberty

Last week I was reading in 2 Nephi Chapter 1, verses 5-7. It is where Lehi is talking to his family before he died. It reads:

5 But, said he, notwithstanding our afflictions, we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord.

6 Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord.

7 Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.

My question is this: Is the land of liberty spoken of here the United States of America? Or is it the entire American Continent? It states that everyone who comes to this land is meant to be here...... Thoughts anyone?