Entitlement

We often hear about how our generation has a sense of entitlement.  Elder Christofferson described this as being when “individuals or groups try to shift responsibility for their welfare to other people or to governments” (Free Forever, To Act For Themselves, GC October 2014).  Elder Oaks put it this way: “The ancient evil of greed shows its face in the assertion of entitlement: I am entitled to this or that because of who I am—a son or a daughter, a citizen, a victim, or a member of some other group. Entitlement is generally selfish” (Unselfish Service, GC April 2009).  

I was impressed as I read the account of the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi how they showed such an opposite attitude to that of entitlement.  When the Amalekites were threatening to destroy the newly converted Lamanites, Ammon suggested to the king that they go down and dwell among the Nephites.  Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s response was, “Behold, the Nephites will destroy us, because of the many murders and sins we have committed against them” (Alma 27:6).  He could have focused on how they had repented or how righteously they were living their lives at that point and suggest that they deserved protection from being slaughtered.  Instead he focused on their past sins and meekly put forth that they were not deserving of the help of their former enemies.  He had no sense of entitlement.  I think their sons who went to battle also showed the same noble attitude, for that’s what their mothers and fathers taught them.  I think this is best seen in their decision to come to the aid of Antipus’s army.  They had marched with Helaman and when the Lamanites no longer pursued them, Helaman asked them, “What say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle?” (Alma 56:44)  They had lots of reasons to be afraid but they responded that they would go to battle and risk their own lives in order to save others.  So they fought a terrible battle with the Lamanites and all of them survived miraculously.  I have to think the Lord blessed them because they were not looking out to save their own life but serve others.  They had no feeling of entitlement to hinder them.  There are many other examples in the scriptures of those who did not get caught up in the feeling of entitlement.  For example, Nephi didn’t even complain that he had no tools when the Lord commanded him to build the boat; he simply made them himself.  Job is another excellent example of one who did not live with a sense of entitlement despite his many riches.  After he had had so much taken away, he said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither; the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed by the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).  He did not complain that he deserved to have better than what he was getting; instead he simply praised the Lord and sought to accept his will.  That’s the kind of “non-entitlement” attitude that we really need to have.