Genesis 6:5–13

 

How did the Flood show the Lord’s tender mercy and love for the people?

"5 ¶ And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

9 ¶ These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.

12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth." (Genesis 6:5–13)

And here's the commentary entitled: "The Flood was an act of God’s mercy." :

"Some people wonder about the justice of God in sending the Flood to “destroy man” (Genesis 6:7). Elder Neal A. Maxwell explained that at the time of the Flood, “corruption had reached an agency-destroying point that spirits could not, in justice, be sent here” (We Will Prove Them Herewith [1982], 58). You might also consider how the Flood was an act of mercy. What do you find in Genesis 6:5–13 that shows the Lord’s tender mercy and love for the people?"

What do I find in Genesis 6:5–13 that shows the Lord’s tender mercy and love for the people: 

• The Lord ended the time period for people's wickedness and corruption because He knew that they would be punished for their own sins, and if they didn't stop sinning, their punishment would be more difficult for them. They should be destroyed rather than reach the point of no return.
• The Lord saved the only remaining righteous family, Noah and his children, even though there's still a tendency for their next generations to become wicked and corrupt as well. The Lord did not totally wipe out all humanity and living things or destroy the earth once and for all, despite the wickedness and corruption of the majority of its inhabitants. He did consider and save the one and only family that remained at His side. 

Alma 26: 28-34

If you are a fruit-bearing tree, what kind of fruits are you producing? And how much fruit are you producing? The fruits of Ammon and his brethren are their converts, the Lamanites. And they are not few but many! And the labor they did which produced those fruits was not easy. They couldn't do it alone for sure...

" 28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.

29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their ^asynagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been ^bstoned, and taken and bound with ^cstrong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.

30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our ^ajoy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.

31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the ^afruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are ^bmany; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.

32 For behold, they had rather ^asacrifice their lives than even to take the life of their enemy; and they have ^bburied their weapons of war deep in the earth, because of their love towards their brethren.

33 And now behold I say unto you, has there been so great love in all the land? Behold, I say unto you, Nay, there has not, even among the Nephites.

34 For behold, they would take up arms against their brethren; they would not suffer themselves to be slain. But behold how ^amany of these have laid down their lives; and we know that they have gone to their God, because of their love and of their hatred to sin."

The Lamanites who were coverted made their choice to never use their weapons of war ever again "because of their love towards their brethren" and because of "their hatred to sin." How amazing is that? Have you ever hate anyone or anything? Sounds like the Lamanites know exactly what is the best thing to hate, sin! If you've never experienced hate at all, now you got something to hate. We can choose to hate! It's totally ok to hate sin! Just as the Lamanites chose to bury their weapons of war, we can also choose to borrow our own weapons of war. We can choose to hate them and then bury them deep in the earth. And we can choose to never use our weapons of war ever again or do our sins no more. And we can choose to do this because of love just as the Lamanites did. 

What are the weapons of war which you would like to bury deep in the earth? For me, the bad habits which are not helpful for me. I choose to bury them and do them no more. And I choose to strengthen my good habits and develop more good habits. How about you?

Alma 41: 1-15

In Alma 41:10 we read:"10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness."

The Institute manual explained this passage: "The following counsel reinforces the importance of seeking happiness by living gospel standards:“Many people try to find happiness and fulfillment in activities that are contrary to the Lord’s commandments. Ignoring God’s plan for them, they reject the only source of real happiness. They give in to the devil, who ‘seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself’ (2 Nephi 2:27). Eventually they learn the truth of Alma’s warning to his son Corianton: ‘Wickedness never was happiness’ (Alma 41:10). . . . “As you seek to be happy, remember that the only way to real happiness is to live the gospel. You will find peaceful, eternal happiness as you strive to keep the commandments, pray for strength, repent of your sins, participate in wholesome activities, and give meaningful service. You will learn to have fun within the limits set by a loving Father in Heaven” (True to the Faith, 79–80)."

There's nothing wrong with having fun. But if it's done within the limits set by God, our loving Heavenly Father, we find true happiness which last for all eternity rather than temporary or fleeting pleasure. The laughter and smiles are not just on the outward but also in the inside. It lives in the heart and don't go away after a certain fun activity is over. I got this experience many times as I join the activities with my friends from and other members of the church, the church where I belong--The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.