Discern Between the Righteous and the Wicked

To my son,

                This week in our Come, Follow Me reading we find these words of the Lord through the prophet Malachi: “Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee? Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered” (Malachi 3:13-15). In other words, the people felt like serving God and keeping His commandments were of no benefit to them and that the proud and wicked were prospering. They looked at other nations around them who did not follow Jehovah and felt like they were living the good life while the covenant people had to mournfully keep the commandments, not having any enjoyment. But they were mistaken and their view of others was distorted, for it is precisely in following the Lord and keeping His commandments that we find the greatest happiness. Never forget this powerful truth taught by Alma to his son who had made some bad choices: “Wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10). In other words, we can’t find lasting happiness in breaking the commandments of God. The prophet Samuel the Lamanite said something similar when he said this to the wicked Nephites of his day: “Ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head” (Helaman 13:38). Our greatest happiness is in God, and so we cannot find true joy in doing iniquity contrary to His commandments. The world always tries to make sin look fun, but the consequences are never worth it.  

                The prophet Malachi answered this concern of the people who thought it was a punishment to serve God. He wrote, “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not” (Malachi 3:16-18). So if we fear God—meaning we strive to keep His commandments and our covenants with Him—then He will remember us and hear us, make us into His jewels, and spare us from punishment. In the end we will all be able to tell the difference between the wicked and the righteous; it is the righteous who will be happy and blessed and protected, while the wicked will ultimately mourn their choices and the consequences of their actions. When the world tempts you to make bad choices never forget this promise from King Benjamin: “And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.” I testify that it is true; keeping the commandments of God will be a protection to you throughout your life and be your best path to happiness.

Love,

Dad