Perhaps one of the reasons the story of the Zoramites was included in the record is that Mormon wanted to give us an example of what not to do. Not long after Alma, Shiblon and the other missionaries assigned to the Zoramites arrived in the land of Antionum, they witnessed a rather unusual ritual. The people had built synagogues where they gathered once a week to take turns standing upon a high platform -- which was called a Rameumptom -- to recite a certain prayer:
"Holy, holy God . . . we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren and we do not believe in the traditions of our brethren . . . but we believe that thou hast elected us to be thy holy children . . . and again we thank thee, O God, that we are a chosen and a holy people. Amen" (Alma 31:15-18).
We have been blessed to receive the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and we are a "peculiar people," so there can be a temptation to think that we are elected or chosen, and therefore better than those who have not received the things that we have. Let us be clear, this kind of thinking leads us into dangerous ground. The moment we start thinking that we are better than others is the moment we lay ourselves open to the dangers of pride.
I do not recall who said it, but someone once suggested that the children of Israel misunderstood why they were a chosen people. They were not chosen because they were better than other people -- and a reading of the Old Testament makes it clear that they were not always better -- but rather they were chosen so that by them others might be blessed. So it is with us, we have been called so that others might be blessed through our efforts to share the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Let us also remember that while many are called, few are chosen (D&C 121:34).
"And why are they not chosen? Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson -- That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
"That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man" (D&C 121:34-37).
The author of this section, the prophet Joseph Smith, went on to say, "We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion. Hence many are called, but few are chosen.
"No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile" (D&C 121:39-42).
While Joseph was writing about the priesthood, we can see a larger application. As John Knox put it, "You cannot antagonize and influence at the same time." We can only influence, at least in a positive way, by persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, kindness and by love unfeigned. Love can move mountains.
One of the greatest men I have known was my mission president, in many ways he was like a second father to me. The missionaries in my mission had interviews with the president every other month; as I recall the missionary was asked to open the interview with a prayer and the president closed it with a prayer. In any case, I noted that my mission president always acknowledge our sins and weaknesses in his prayers. I have tried to follow this example.
We are all human and therefore we all have weaknesses, and as Paul said, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). We need not think that we are better than others for there is plenty of evidence to the contrary.
Finally, remember the words of King Benjamin: "I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another -- I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants" (Mosiah 2:21).
This is why we need the Atonement, "for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23).
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