Idols

1 Nephi 20:5

And I have even from the beginning declared to thee; before it came to pass I showed them thee; and I showed them for fear lest thou shouldst say—Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image hath commanded them.

People must sometimes work hard to create their idols. Images of stone require expert carving with hammers and chisels. They can take a long time to take a recognizable shape, and the carving process makes quite a mess. Statues of metal require intense heat and a great deal of hammering to form them. 

Idols do not just pop into existence and grab people by the collar and haul them in. They must be carefully and painstakingly fashioned. Idols do not come about by accident, but only through careful planning, persistence, and practiced workmanship. No wonder they are so hard to cast away when the true God invites people to worship Him.

My idols have been years in the making. Some I inherited, others have been transmitted to me through my culture, and some I have created all by myself. They aren't all obvious, but they are effective at turning my attention from the Lord. Ridding myself of idols has been a work of a lifetime. Only with Christ's grace will I finally sweep them all away before it is too late.

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