Helaman 15

So it’s a screwy game, but the choice doesn’t seem dependent on God’s existence, even.

Women—and I don’t usually talk to you or about you, but I’m making this exception—if you keep sinning, don’t even think of getting pregnant, especially if sinning is how you plan on getting that way. Because I will doom your children. That is, if they manage to get born. Because, given all the crap that will rain on your country, you might have to run away. And you’ll be fat and slow and get trampled.

God’s only doing this because he loves you. That’s right, the oldest parental cop out in the book. But he is your parent. And he wrote the book. Nephites, he has to punish you in hopes you’ll go into sin-shock and wise up.

You used to be his favorite in the dualistic war of reputations on this continent. Not so now. The other guys did what he wants you to do: wash the slime off your character. Most of them understand duty to God. They preach to each other—even to you, as I’m doing now—trying to keep your ship from keeling over in the ocean of history.

You have noticed for decades, I’m sure, how they’ve researched their own history only to repudiate much of it. They’ve also researched scripture and found wisdom. They’ve found true freedom, the kind that doesn’t depend on politics or mouthing platitudes about liberty and justice for all, but on individual self-examination and sacrifice.

You also know that they’ve dug deep holes and buried their war stuff, knowing that if they had weapons they’d use them and that would be sin. They’re more afraid of sinning by killing than of enemies. Even you. Sword fighting might make for good stories and subjects for wall paintings. But faith puts the sword to all such inclinations.

They’d rather let you kill them than let you warp their resolve.

They see themselves in the prophecies that should be about you. And they’re right. I’m right. Despite the sudden disasters and gradual erosion we’ve suffered, mostly justly, God will extend the lifespan of our bloodline, the once cursed and so-called racially inferior bloodline. We envision and accept that men of other nations will hunt us like wild animals, exterminate us tribe by tribe, even make treaties they never intended to keep. But God will never kick us off this continent.

It’s all in prophecy (Zenos especially). Jesus will think of us as his sheep, black wool or white wool, it doesn’t matter to him. And—I know you will contest this—Jesus will prefer them to you, unless you change in the ways I’ve recommended.

You have the clear advantage of history. If they’d have had yours—the ancient history, not the modern—they never would have gotten so ugly-spirited as you once saw them. They’d have ruled the divine roost centuries ago. Because they’re openminded about what’s best for them. God gets it. And he won’t ever let them us go extinct.

God has a message for the Nephites: don’t think your long history will prevent a short future.