7 And now, when Mosiah had made an end of reading the records, his people who tarried in the land were struck with wonder and amazement.
8 For they knew not what to think; for when they beheld those that had been delivered out of bondage they were filled with exceedingly great joy.
9 And again, when they thought of their brethren who had been slain by the Lamanites they were filled with sorrow, and even shed many tears of sorrow.
10 And again, when they thought of the immediate goodness of God, and his power in delivering Alma and his brethren out of the hands of the Lamanites and of bondage, they did raise their voices and give thanks to God.
11 And again, when they thought upon the Lamanites, who were their brethren, of their sinful and polluted state, they were filled with pain and anguish for the welfare of their souls.
The people of Mosiah experienced contradictory emotions as they heard the history of the people of Zeniff. They were overjoyed to hear how Limhi’s people and Alma’s people had been delivered from bondage. At the same time, they were saddened to hear of the people who had died, and they mourned the wickedness of the Lamanites.
We sometimes talk about an experience being “bittersweet,” meaning that it brings us both joy and sorrow simultaneously. We know that living righteously brings joy into our lives. But it also brings sorrow: as our love for other people grows, we suffer when they suffer and we mourn when they mourn. There is no way to experience the joy of loving others without experiencing the sorrow as well.
As I think about this group of Nephites and Mulekites, I see a group of people who had the courage to open their hearts to a range of emotional experience. Instead of isolating themselves physically or hardening their hearts, they were willing to experience the joys and the sorrows of life, even “shedding many tears of sorrow” for those who had died.
Today, I will embrace the experiences God has in store for me, and I will allow myself to feel the emotions associated with those experiences: both the joys and the sorrows.
Today, I will embrace the experiences God has in store for me, and I will allow myself to feel the emotions associated with those experiences: both the joys and the sorrows.
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