Sunday is a "redeeming" kind of day

Why redeeming you ask? Well, you know how it wasn't really the coolest weekend? I got to go to church today! I got to teach in Sunday School! (yeah, I'm a Sunday School teacher) And I got to go to a fireside in the evening! I love Sundays. Church was way good. I totally enjoyed the Priesthood lesson, as well as sacrament meeting. I feel like I learned a lot from teaching in Sunday School too. The lesson was on Helaman 13-16. It mostly taught repentance. I love how Samuel had such a conviction in his mission. It was brought up in class that he wasn't given any promise from the Lord that he would be protected if the people tried to destroy him. In fact all he was asked to do was prophesy that which the Lord caused to come into his heart. I'm sure he was able to do that, or in other words he was protected, only because he was so obedient in his purpose. Had he given up, the people, no matter how few, would not have repented, and we would probably have not received the account...Anyway, that also reminds me of something else I learned today in my personal scripture study. In the Book of Mormon II class I am taking at the LDSBC institute we are studying the second half of The Book of Mormon. In the mid chapters of Alma, 37: 5 Alma is handing over the scriptures to Helaman, his son. He also commands his son that he must "keep the plates", thus if they are to be kept he must "keep their brightness." In essence he is telling his son he needs to keep them clean. He needs to ensure their readability. It is interesting to me that he would tell his son to do such a thing. I can imagine it something like my mother telling me not only to keep a journal, but to make sure it's legible as well. He also states that this has been their duty from the time of their forefathers. He goes on to say that this may be regarded as "foolishness", but it is for a "wise purpose". Verse seven reads: "The Lord God doth work by [small] means to bring about his great and eternal purposes..." I think it is important for everyone working in the kingdom of God to remember how small, and yet great is their own purpose in the sight of God. He needs us all, however menial seem our task. At the same time we should remember as Samuel preached to the people of Zarahemla that we are redeemed by the merits of Christ not our own.