LDS Freedom Forum

In Alma 23:7 it talks of laying down our weapons of our rebellion. I talked to my Sunday School class of 17 year olds about this. I gave them an assignment to search out their weapons of rebellion.

What kinds of things do you feel members of the church commonly use as weapons of rebellion.

I will list a few I think are troublesome: Wealth, laziness, sports, internet, novels, pornography, etc

What are your thoughts?

Rand wrote:In Alma 23:7 it talks of laying down our weapons of our rebellion. I talked to my Sunday School class of 17 year olds about this. I gave them an assignment to search out their weapons of rebellion.

What kinds of things do you feel members of the church commonly use as weapons of rebellion.

I will list a few I think are troublesome: Wealth, laziness, sports, internet, novels, pornography, etc

What are your thoughts?

I think you've started a good list. Here's some that happen in my house:

1) PRIDE (Note that all the rest likely stem from this one)
2) iPod touch
3) Anger
4) Controlling others (i.e. trying to take away their AGENCY)
5) Addictions (whether it's computers, games, etc.)
6) Stubbornness (refusal to study and pray)

Honestly, I think pride is our biggest weapon of rebellion in my household. How often do we pit our will against God's thinking WE know better? Well, WAY too often in my house (yes, starting with me probably)

-- Geoff

Geoff, I like that list, and it strikes so close to so many of us. It comes to me that each of us have our pet "weapons of rebellion", and we use them to keep our agency in our own hands as opposed to letting God have that gift of agency back as our gift to Him.

I like the inclusion of controlling others. An oft repented of sin of mine.

I wonder about poor self image.
Depression
Anxiety
Illnesses
politics...
any others?