Because of the rising generation

24. Yep, that's my age. I'm what we of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints like to call a "young single adult". We believe that we have a great responsibility to help build our church and bring about goodness on this earth no matter what our age.
The Book of Mormon is powerful in it's teachings concerning how life is prior to the coming of Jesus Christ to this earth. Why? Because the people described in this book went through a time of waiting for Christ to come to the earth just like we are today.
Today I read about the effect a rising generation such as mine can have on a whole civilization. In 3 Nephi 1:29-30 it states: "And there was also a cause of much sorrow among the Lamanites; for behold, they had many children who did grow up and began to wax strong in years, that they became for themselves, and were led away by some who were Zoramites, by their lyings and their flattering words, to join those Gadianton robbers.
And thus were the Lamanites afflicted also, and began to decrease as to their faith and righteousness, because of the wickedness of the rising generation."

I like the wording that is chosen "they became for themselves". I think that is exactly what we do at this stage in life of mid 20's. One of the main challenges we face is the decision as to what we will become. How we will lead, and rise to the challenge of being a disciple of Christ. As the Book of Mormon teaches, this generation of young adults were not strong. They chose to not believe and prepare themselves faithfully when the Savior would appear. I pray that I won't be like them. I pray that all of us who are of my age will rise to the challenge, and be better disciples of Christ.
I think a plague that many of us suffer with is the plague of fear. I'd like to end with one of my favorite quotes by James Allen.
"Having conceived of his purpose, a man should mentally mark out a straight pathway to its achievement, looking neither to the right nor the left. Doubts and fears should be rigorously excluded; they are disintegrating elements which break up the straight line of effort, rendering it crooked, ineffectual, useless. Thoughts of doubt and fear never accomplish anything, and never can. They always lead to failure. Purpose, energy, power to do, and all strong thoughts cease when doubt and fear creep in."