Seven Year Slide

There is a well-recognized research study circling the internet which tests the patience of small children. Each small child takes a turn sitting alone at a table, and a plate with a large marshmallow is placed in front of him or her. They are then instructed that they may eat the marshmallow now, but if they wait a defined number of minutes, they will be rewarded with five more. The proctor walks away, and the children are then watched by a camera. The activity, in addition to being fun to watch, creates mixed results that apply to so many aspects of life. How long can we delay gratification? How long can we remain good and faithful? Is being faithful for 30, 40, or 50 years worth it in order to claim blessings of a life that has no end? Or can we not wait and need to eat that marshmallow right now? In The Book of Mormon, the Nephites remained wholly faithful up until just seven years before the Lord would appear to them. They were all faithful. They also knew He was coming, for the signs had been given. Unfortunately, most fell away from that point until He did appear.

 3 Nephi 5:1 And now behold, there was not a living soul among all the people of the Nephites who did doubt in the least the words of all the holy prophets who had spoken; for they knew that it must needs be that they must be fulfilled.
 2 And they knew that it must be expedient that Christ had come, because of the many signs which had been given, according to the words of the prophets; and because of the things which had come to pass already they knew that it must needs be that all things should come to pass according to that which had been spoken.
 3 Therefore they did forsake all their sins, and their abominations, and their whoredoms, and did serve God with all diligence day and night.

LESSON LEARNED: Delaying gratification has a relationship with keeping the commandments. Man has been placed on earth to be tempted and tested during this short temporal period. The rewards for doing so will be all that the Father has and will be endless.

FEEDBACK: WHAT ARE YOUR FEELINGS ABOUT THIS INCIDENT WITH THE NEPHITES, AND HOW DOES IT APPLY TO YOUR OWN CIRCUMSTANCES?