8 Yea, and ye need not any longer hiss, nor spurn, nor make game of the Jews, nor any of the remnant of the house of Israel; for behold, the Lord remembereth his covenant unto them, and he will do unto them according to that which he hath sworn.
9 Therefore ye need not suppose that ye can turn the right hand of the Lord unto the left, that he may not execute judgment unto the fulfilling of the covenant which he hath made unto the house of Israel.
To spurn something is to reject it with disdain or contempt. It comes from the Old English word spurnan, which means to kick away.
Four times in this chapter, Mormon warns us not to spurn the things of God. Notice the contrast between us (hissing, spurning, making game of the Jews) and the Lord (remembering and fulfilling His covenant, doing what He has sworn to do, not reacting when He is rejected). I want to be like the Lord: steady, dependable, unshakeable.
As Dieter F. Uchtdorf recently taught:
Four times in this chapter, Mormon warns us not to spurn the things of God. Notice the contrast between us (hissing, spurning, making game of the Jews) and the Lord (remembering and fulfilling His covenant, doing what He has sworn to do, not reacting when He is rejected). I want to be like the Lord: steady, dependable, unshakeable.
As Dieter F. Uchtdorf recently taught:
There is nothing noble or impressive about being cynical. Skepticism is easy—anyone can do it. It is the faithful life that requires moral strength, dedication, and courage. (“Be Not Afraid, Only Believe,” General Conference, October 2015).
Today, I will avoid spending time and energy on criticism and complaining. I will follow the example of the Lord, and focus on steady, positive action and on keeping the covenants I have made.
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