Thursday, March 4, 2010

It's All in the Attitude

Throughout the story of Nephi and his brothers, Laman and Lemuel, is the constant reminder that Laman and Lemuel murmured against their father. They complained and grumbled about everything, and as we read we tend to think of them as the bad guys. Eventually they do fit the bad guy definition as they seek to kill Nephi, but in the beginning of the story they are simply grumblers.

In the beginning they didn’t like what their father told them to do and they complained, but they did it. They went back for the plates. They went back for Ishmael. They traveled eight years in the desert. They helped build a ship, and they sailed the ocean to the New World. In the beginning the difference wasn’t in behavior it was in attitude. Their story helps me to remember how important attitude is.

Attitude determines thoughts. Thoughts determine actions. Actions determine life. It all starts with attitude and when we Live in Truth and take charge of our attitude, we Live in Happiness and Joy. It starts in the mind-so choose a happy attitude and have a happy day!

5 comments:

Heather said...

Wow - this is so true! This is a super principle to teach our children while they are young.

I also wanted to thank you for the book I won through your Give-a-way. I wanted to mail a thank you card but realized I had thrown away the envelope with your address away. oops!

I have really enjoyed reading a chapter before bed. They are a perfect length and provide for great thought! Please know I am grateful for you sharing it with me!!!

Wendi said...

Hope you have a happy day too. :)

DizzyLizzy said...

I have never thought about Laman and Lemuel in this way before! They DID do what was asked of them, however grudgingly. It gives me hope to know that by small and simple things, great things are brought to pass!
Thanks for the insight!

SuSu said...

I love the word attitude. I especially love that when you give the letters in the word attitude a numeric value, ie, a-1, t-20 and so on you get 100%! That says a lot to me about what your attitude can give to you if you give 100%!

Anonymous said...

It's interesting that you bring up those two--I am starting the BofM all over and read about them again just this morning. I still can't figure out exactly WHY they went along when they were obviously grown men who had no desire to do so. Hedge their bets? Any ideas?