10 And thus ended also the eighty and seventh year of the reign of the judges, the more part of the people remaining in their pride and wickedness, and the lesser part walking more circumspectly before God.
The word “circumspect” comes from two Latin words: circum (“around, about”) and specere (“to look”). It means to be cautious, to consider all ramifications of a decision before taking action. At this period in the Book of Mormon, only a minority of people were living this way. The majority of the people remained “in their pride and wickedness.” They were so sure of themselves and so comfortable with the way they had made decisions in the past that they didn’t feel the need to pause and seek counsel from God. No wonder “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18)! If pride leads us to leap without looking first, then it is a recipe for disaster in our daily decision-making.
Today, I will walk circumspectly before God. When faced with a choice, instead of going forward in my pride, I will take the time to consider the likely outcomes of the choice, and I will seek the help of the Lord in making decisions which are wise.
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