Thoughts on the Nature of Man

[Liberty Bell]

We're supposed to be like little children in order to inherit the kingdom of God. The problem with that is, little children are subject to the natural man. So what's the difference between adults and children? Children submit to their fathers. If led perfectly, a little child will act perfectly. If you parents doubt this, raise your standard of obedience to the Lord and you will see a natural increase in obedience by your children to you.

Nations and people who have been raised without God will also act according to the natural man. They fight and look to fill their own selfish desires just like little children do. They'll steal and lie and do all sorts of bad things to do it, too, so long as they think they can't get caught. They are like little children left on their own without parental guidance.

However, they are not entirely without restraint. They understand natural laws, such as the law of reputation. They realize that if they lose their reputation, no one will do business with them and they will be unable to obtain the things they need. So they still have restraint on their behavior to keep them somewhat in check.

On the other hand, a Christian people who has turned from their God will suffer from a lack of the restraint of natural law. So while the person raised in a nation without God will understand that they must retain some sort of good reputation to survive, the Christian will lack that restraint because he was taught by God to forget himself. He was taught to forget about his reputation and do what God wanted no matter what. This is a higher law and beneficial for the person who truly trusts in God, because God will reward him. But if that same person, or if the children of that person who was taught to act according to these laws, turns from God, they will find themselves both without the safety net of God's blessings and without the safety net of natural law. They will turn their backs on reputation and on God and thus have no restraint whatsoever to their behavior. This will lead to complete moral degradation.

This is the danger we are facing in the last days. The same fate the Nephites suffered from. Only those who truly learn to trust God will be saved.

[Nan]

Children are also very patient with how long it takes them to grow and progress. They also take joy in the small things and often show a lot of gratitude and love.