I am reminded of how far the wicked people of King Noah had forgotten and fallen when their focus shifted from family and God to worldly pursuits. The scriptures say, “Yea, and thus they were supported in their laziness, and in their idolatry, and in their whoredoms, by the taxes which king Noah had put upon his people; thus did the people labor exceedingly to support iniquity” (Mosiah 11:6). As they supported iniquity their focus on family waned to the point of absolute selfishness.

During this time of great wickedness and forgetting, the Lamanites came upon the people of Noah, “And the king commanded the people that they should flee before the Lamanites, and he himself did go before them, and they did flee into the wilderness, with their women and their children. And it came to pass that the Lamanites did pursue them, and did overtake them, and began to slay them.

Now it came to pass that the king commanded them that all the men should leave their wives and their children, and flee before the Lamanites. Now there were many that would not leave them, but had rather stay and perish with them. And the rest left their wives and their children and fled” (Mosiah 19:9-12).

This phrase, from a wicked king, has caused me deep turmoil and reflection: “the men should leave their wives and their children.” I have observed in our day a wicked leader, Lucifer, speak these same words to men who are my friends, who are my associates, and who are people whose kids I love.

I have watched as these men— like some of the men of Noah—have headed this voice and “left their wives and their children and fled.” Watching these actions and events has caused so much pain for these wives and these children. I have observed from a distance in horror as this has occurred time and time again. These are not voices from God saying “leave your wives and children.” They are voices from the adversary, the father of deceit and destruction.

I have been speaking of complete, physical separation. I must also address emotional and mental separation from those we love most. Sometimes we give them the least. We give them the least love, attention, time, interest and concern. In a world and life of busyness we are often preoccupied with work, deadlines, and bills to pay. We must not forget amidst all the stress of life to remember our most precious relationships.