Murmuring…

I have always looked down on Laman and Lemuel for all their murmuring. They complain because they must leave Jerusalem. They murmur and beat up Nephi because they lose their inheritance to Laban trying to buy the brass plates. They are excited to go back for the girls, but then after that it is one thing after the other. Whining, complaining and causing contention wherever they go.

I have never felt a kinship to Nephi though. He does everything correctly. It can’t be easy to have your younger brother call you to repent. He is a wonderful example of faith and determination, but not someone I can completely relate to, though I wish I could.

I feel more buddy, buddy with Laman and Lemuel, especially after the last couple of years. However, I have no desire to end up in the same boat as Laman and Lemuel. I know that we all need a chance to vent and process our various trials. My question is when does the venting turn into murmuring? How can we avoid being on the same path as Laman and Lemuel? How do we curb our attitudes to accept the trials we have and rely on the Lord in gratefulness?

What is the difference between venting, complaining, and murmuring? I feel like venting is being able to express your emotions so that they don’t boil over. This can help you to release the pent-up emotions, process them and move on. Murmuring is just complaining with no desire to change your situation and attitude. Murmuring isn’t productive but escalates the emotions. In 1 Nephi 17: 17-18:

17 And when my brethren saw that I was about to build a ship, they began to murmur against me, saying: Our brother is a fool, for he thinketh that he can build a ship; yea, and he also thinketh that he can cross these great waters.

18 And thus my brethren did complain against me, and were desirous that they might not labor, for they did not believe that I could build a ship; neither would they believe that I was instructed of the Lord.

We see that they complained, they murmured, made fun of Nephi and basically called him a liar for thinking that the Lord had called him to build a ship. There was no desire on their part for understanding, they were trying to make Nephi feel as crappy as they felt. I feel like when we complain to bring someone else down it is murmuring. I have murmured a lot the last few years, vented as well, but definitely murmured.

I feel like it ends up being a part of grieving, murmuring, part of the anger phase. Laman and Lemuel, Nephi, they all had lost a lot. One looked forward towards the Lord, the others looked backward and couldn’t move forward. Being trapped in your anger phase of grief, which is more than just one phase, but cycles through, can lead you down a dangerous path. Turning to the Lord for help, forgiveness and having your heart softened will help us avoid the same path as Laman and Lemuel. If you find yourself mad with God, it doesn’t mean that you don’t believe in Him, but are working on your relationship with Him. You can’t be mad at a being Who doesn’t exist. Work on your relationship with Him, it is what is helping me.

I feel like working on having the spirit is what has helped us with our trials. It doesn’t take the trials away but lightens the load. I am grateful that we have been able to rely on Him to find some healing and peace. It is a process though, and we continue to experience things that are difficult and bring up more feelings and emotions. Because of that repentance is a necessity, finding peaceful places is a must and learning to vent and not murmur is a thing I am working on.