Priorities

Priorities many times define our character, and determine the outcome of our actions. When our priorities are in line with those of God, everything falls into place. However, when we allow fundamental principles to fall off our list of priorities, we struggle to protect the few priorities that remain.  Moroni essentially lists the priorities of his people in chapter 46 verse 12 of Alma when he raises the title of liberty. “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children…” Notice that they are listed by importance, from first to last, meaning that each priority depends on the prior priority to be truly enjoyed. Raising children is aided by our wives, we will have a good relationship with our wives if we have peace. We may only have peace with freedom, true freedom is the result of religion, and religion is based on God. We know what happened with these people that fought to protect these rights, the were ultimately victorious.

Now let us see what happens after hundreds of years of falling into disbelief and losing the true order of priorities. In Mormon 2:23, Mormon urges his people to “fight for their wives, and their children, and their houses, and their homes.” Notice that they no longer fight for God or religion or freedom or peace. They have lost the most essential of priorities, and it is no wonder why they failed this time in defending themselves from the vengeful Lamanites.

We must today realize the importance of setting our priorities straight. We do not put God first because he is more important than our family, God Himself has commanded that we love, cherish and protect them. We put Him first for the sake of those that we love, for they will be protected from the evils of the world only when God is put first in our lives.