And yet, I being over-zealous to inherit the land of our fathers, collected as many as were desirous to go up to possess the land, and started again on our journey into the wilderness to go up to the land; but we were smitten with famine and sore afflictions; for we were slow to remember the Lord our God. (Mosiah 9:3)
How can we tell if we have crossed the line from dedicated pursuit of a worthy cause to overzealousness?
1. Listen to the voice of warning from those around you, and treat their concerns with respect (Proverbs 19:20). Solicit advice from people you admire.
2. Count the cost up front, and think about the risks you are taking (Luke 14:28). Think about the worst case scenario and decide if you are willing to live with it. Don’t shrug off potential negative outcomes. Also, if your decision can’t be easily undone, take your time in making it. Don’t make permanent decisions rashly.
3. Don’t trust others too much (2 Nephi 4:34). Treat others with kindness, but don’t assume that they will always reciprocate (Matthew 10:16). This is a hard one, because we can’t interact with each other effectively without some level of trust, but Zoram’s story is an important cautionary tale. He wanted to believe that King Laman was trustworthy (v. 5-6) and so he placed his people in extreme danger, only to discover that the king was deceiving him (v. 10).
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