15:3 - "...for behold, they have been a chosen people of the Lord; yea, the people of Nephi hath he loved, and also hath he chastened them; yea, in the days of their iniquities hath he chastened them because he loveth them..."
Often, if we are not chastened, we won't repent as quickly, which stops us in in our progression.
It is much more ideal to repent before reaching the point of needing to be chastened, but it is better to repent than to not repent at all.
15:9 - "...And ye know also that they have buried their weapons of war, and they fear to take them up lest by any means they should sin; yea, ye can see that they fear to sin—for behold they will suffer themselves that they be trodden down and slain by their enemies, and will not lift their swords against them, and this because of their faith in Christ..."
We must have the faith sufficient enough in Christ to bury our own weapons of war and rebellion to increase our humility and faith in Him.
15:10 - "...And now, because of their steadfastness when they do believe in that thing which they do believe, for because of their firmness when they are once enlightened, behold, the Lord shall bless them and prolong their days, notwithstanding their iniquity..."
Because of their steadfastness, their days were prolonged in the land. It is not good to have short, vigorous pronouncements of loyalty followed by apathy, etc.
What the Lord and His church needs is a steady dedication to the gospel.
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