そして、確信を得た者たちは皆、武器を捨て、また憎悪と先祖の言い伝えも捨てた。そして彼らはニーファイ人の所有地をニーファイに譲り渡した。ヒラマン書５：５１－５２
And as many as were convinced did lay down their weapons of war, and also their hatred and the traditions of their fathers. And it came to pass that they did yield up unto the Nephites the lands of their possessions. Helaman 5:51-52
This seems like an odd scripture to use for a Sunday Scripture Thought. There doesn’t seem to be any important doctrine taught or any commandment given in this scripture.
これはSunday Scripture Thought としては妙な聖句に思えます。この中には何も重要な教えや戒めがないように思えます。
But there may actually be an important message in this scripture for us.
しかし実はこの聖句には私たちにとって大切なメッセージが含まれています。
This scripture is from the time period just before the birth of the Savior. The Nephites had become very wicked people. The Lamanites had attacked them and had captured many of the Nephite cities. The Nephites had many battles with the Lamanites, but because of their wickedness, they were not able to win.
この聖句は救い主の生誕の少し前が背景になっています。ニーファイ人はとても邪悪な民になっており、レーマン人は彼らを攻め多くのニーファイ人の町をとりこにしていました。ニーファイ人は幾度となくレーマン人と戦いましたが彼らの邪悪さのため勝つことはできませんでした。
Nephi and his brother Lehi began preaching to the people, first to the Nephites and then to the Lamanites. The Lamanites took them and put them in prison. While they were in prison, a great miracle took place. When the Lamanites came to kill them, Nephi and Lehi were surrounded by fire.
ニーファイと彼の兄弟、リーハイは最初はニーファイ人に、続いてレーマン人に教えることに着手しました。レーマン人は彼らを捕らえて牢に入れました。牢の中にいるとき大きな奇跡が起こりました。レーマン人が彼らを殺しに来たときニーファイとリーハイは炎に包まれていました。
Nephi and Lehi began to teach the people who were in prison and all the prisoners believed in their words. Their faith was so great that they were all converted to the Lord. The prisoners left the prison and went out to teach the people. Their preaching was so powerful that all the people were convinced of the truthfulness of the gospel and repented of their sins.
ニーファイとリーハイは牢の中にいる人々に教え始め、彼らは皆その教えを信じました。彼らの信仰は素晴らしく皆、主に改宗したのです。囚人たちは牢を出て人々に教えをときました。彼らの説教はとても力強ったのですべての人が福音の真理を受け入れ、罪を悔い改めたのです。
This scripture tells us one result of their conversion. Without any battles, the Lamanites gave back to the Nephites those cities that the Lamanites had captured. The Lamanites also stopped believing in the false traditions of their fathers.
この聖句は私たちに彼らの改宗のひとつの成果について教えています。戦うことなしにレーマン人は奪い取った町をニーファイ人に返還したのです。更にレーマン人は彼らの父の間違った風習を信じることをやめたのです。
What is the message in this scripture for us?
この聖句は私たちに何を伝えているのしょうか？
In the October 1986 General Conference, Elder Boyd K. Packer said, “True doctrines, understood, change attitudes and behaviors”.
1986年秋の総大会でボイドK パッカー長老は「真実の教義を理解するならば，態度と行動が変わる」と教えられました。
This is the message that we need to take from this scripture.
これが私たちの学ぶべきメッセージなのです。
When you first learned about the gospel of Jesus Christ, did you make changes in your life? You probably made many changes. As we continue to learn about the gospel and about the commandments, we should continue to improve and to make changes in our lives.
初めてイエスキリストの福音を学んだ時、あなたの生活は変わりましたか？おそらく多くの変化があったことでしょう。続けて福音や戒めを学ぶ時、私たちは常に進歩し生活が変化し続けねばなりません。
The influence of the gospel should make us want to be better people. The gospel should make us different than we were before. The gospel should make us become more like our Savior.
福音が私たちに与える影響力とは、更に良い人間になりたいと思うようになることです。福音は以前とは違う自分にしてくれます。福音はより救い主のようにしてくれます。
Let’s try harder this week to follow the example of the Lamanites, who repented and changed their lives after they learned about the gospel. Let’s try harder to give up those things in our lives that are not in keeping with the gospel. Let’s try harder to understand true doctrine and to change our attitudes and behaviors.
今週、福音を学んだ後、悔い改めて生活を変えたこのレーマン人を見習うよう努力しましょう。福音にそった生活を阻害するものをすすんで避けましょう。もっと真の教義を理解し、私たちの態度や行いを変えましょう。
I know that we can do this. I know that, by studying the gospel and by learning true doctrine, we can become more like our Savior. I know that we can change our attitudes and our behaviors. I know that we will be blessed as we do these things.
私たちはその様に出来ると知っています。福音を勉強し真実の教義を学ぶことで、私たちがより救い主のようになれると私は知っています。私たちが態度や振る舞いを変えることができると知っています。それらを行うとき祝福されることを知っています。
Let’s all have a great week!
頑張って！
Bill Hiatt