Exodus 32

Two thoughts I had in my reading yesterday and today (somehow I got busy and forgot to blog yesterday).

First, many today seem to be surprised how fast Aaron seem to fold to the pressure of the people while Moses is gone for forty days on the mount for -

"...when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
2 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.
3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron.
4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
5 And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD.
6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play."  (Old Testament | Exodus 32:1 - 6)

Yet in our day we see society, politicians, and businesses doing much the same thing all in the name of fairness, equality, and correctness on issues that are clearly scripturally against the will of God.  More important, modern day prophet, seers, and revelators have made it clear -

"The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity."  (The Family:  A Proclamation to the World)

Is this any different than the days of Aaron folding to the attitude and pressure of the people.

The second thought was on individual responsibility for our actions.  The plan concerning our second estate was -

"...we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them..."  (Pearl of Great Price | Abraham 3:25)

After the Lord suggested that he would destroy this covenant people based on their wickedness, we find the love Moses had for the children of Israel as he returns to the mount pleading on their behalf -

"Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written."  (Old Testament | Exodus 32:32)

In my mind, Moses is pleading to give these people another chance, even to the point that he was willing to sacrifice all for their behalf.  But the Lord then responds and teaches Moses a very important eternal doctrine -

"...Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book."  (Old Testament | Exodus 32:33)

That is, everyone is responsible to repent and work out their own salvation.  What others do is not relevant.