Contention

Today's scripture mastery comes from 3 Nephi 11:29.  This verse is among some of the first things that Christ taught the people in the Book of Mormon when he came to teach them personally after his Resurrection:

29 For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of ^acontention is not of me, but is of the ^bdevil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

This can be a difficult thing for many of us.  We live in a culture where people love to contend with each other.  Turn on the TV or the radio, and there will be people contending with each other.  Read the comments left by others on just about any website, and you will find people who love to call names and insult one another.  Road Rage is very common--if somebody cuts us off, or drives too slowly for our taste, we lash out at them.

That type of behavior is definitely not Christlike behavior.  If we truly want to follow Christ, we must master ourselves.  We must not say those things that are only to raise contention.  We must "bite our tounge," rather than lashing out at someone who has offended us.

The apostle James taught about the importance of mastering our tongues in James 3:2-6.  He said this:

 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

 Rather than letting our tongue set us on the "fire of hell," as James said--let us do as Christ taught instead (Matthew 5:44 or 3 Nephi 12:44):

 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Let us strive to be the peacemaker, rather than one who brings contention and strife.  As we do so, we will be more like Christ.