Awakened

Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, “Societies, as well as individuals, can ‘sleep,’ cushioned and unawares, especially if sedated by materialism and ease” (“These Are Your Days,” Ensign, October 2004).

Sometimes, though, we collectively experience a “wake-up call.” Such an event happened about five years into the reign of the judges among the Nephites, when their commitment to their new system of government was tested by a man who wanted to be a dictator. Amlici and his followers were overthrown, but at the cost of thousands of lives, as well as destroyed flocks and fields of grain. (See Alma 3:1-2, Alma 4:1.) Mormon tells us that everyone had been personally affected by this war. “Every soul had cause to mourn.” What was the outcome? “They were awakened to a remembrance of their duty” (Alma 4:3).

But this awakening was short-lived. Within two years, “the people of the church began to wax proud, because of their exceeding riches” (Alma 4:6). Alma found it necessary to travel around preaching, in order to “stir them up in remembrance of their duty” (Alma 4:19). The wake-up call had been effective, but it’s influence was short-lived!

Alma reminded the people of Zarahemla that his father, together with those he baptized at the waters of Mormon, had experienced a similar awakening. “Behold,” he said, “[God] changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God” (Alma 5:7).

Are we awake? Or maybe the better question is, how awake are we really? Maybe none of us is completely awake, but Elder Kevin W. Pearson recommended some activities we can perform regularly in order to keep ourselves spiritually attentive and energized:

True disciples continue to awaken unto God each day in meaningful personal prayer, earnest scripture study, personal obedience, and selfless service. … Stay awake.

“Stay by the Tree,” General Conference, April 2015

Today, I will “awake unto God” and unto “a remembrance of [my] duty.” I will remember that convenience can lead to complacency, and I will avoid falling into a spiritual slumber by participating regularly and intentionally in activities which bring me closer to God.