My Hero Today

As I was studying this morning, I came across the story in 1 Nephi where Nephi is asked to kill Laban.  As he is battling with the decision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief." 1 Nephi 4:13

So, how does this apply to me?

I am pretty sure that I will never be asked to kill a person.  This isn't a common requirement in my church.  Then, the particular wording hit me.  It doesn't say, "The Lord slayeth the wicked people..."  It just says, "The Lord slayeth the wicked." 

What do I have in my life, in my control, that I can slay or get rid of that is wicked? 

For a lot of my adult life, I have heard the terms, "Be true to YOURSELF...YOU have to do what is right for YOU...Make YOURSELF happy first..."

And for some reason, that has never settled well with me.

It feels like an excuse for selfishness, an excuse to let the natural man win.

And, I don't want that.

In Nephi's situation, it was "better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle in unbelief."  For me, and people of today, I think that it is better that one desire, one inner craving, one self-indulging thing can be let go so our Father's righteous purposes can be brought to pass.  . 

We can bring about His righteous purposes by slaying and eliminating the natural man within us all.  Nephi truly is a hero to me.