Worshipping dumb idols

The start of a new semester means a start of a new religion class. Which also means new knowledge and ways of looking at the scriptures. This semester I am taking Book of Mormon 2. 

This class entails a lot of response papers to teach us how to more fully study the scriptures. The first assignment was asking questions and using study aids to answer them. Each of these response papers need to be over the material that we will be discussing in the next class period. This happens to be Alma 31-35. 

Today I began to study those sections and began looking for questions to ask. It didn't take very long.

Verse 1 of chapter 31 had an interesting line in it:

"…Zoram, who was their leader, was leading the hearts of the people to bow down to dumb idols"

I stopped at that. What exactly are "dumb idols"? I had my ideas, but I wasn't sure so I tried to find the answer through the study aids that we were asked to use in class.

The footnotes told me more about idols, but not dumb ones. So did the Bible Dictionary,

But as I was searching the Topical Guide, I remembered a story that I had learned about a while ago. And I was able to find it in 1 Kings 18:17-39.

This story is of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Elijah called upon God and He started a fire on wood that was absolutely soaked. This was done after the prophets of Baal failed miserably to get Baal to start a fire on dry wood. 

Rereading this story got me to thinking. There are lots of meanings to dumb. When we think of dumb now, we think lack of intelligence. But at the time that the Book of Mormon was translated, dumb meant the inability to speak. (Found through the 1828 Webster Dictionary) 

So the idols that were being worshipped by the Zoramites in this story were idols that didn't speak. When the worshippers of Baal tried to start a fire, they didn't get anything because it was a "dumb" idol. 

We have the amazing ability to communicate with our Heavenly Father. When we call upon His name He sends us the help that we need. He sends us fire on something that seems to have no hope. Whether that be the ability to fulfill a seemingly impossible calling. Or a job when no one will hire you. Sometimes it is just the fire of feeling His spirit comfort you when you feel beyond comfort. Our Heavenly Father is not a dumb idol. It starts with a prayer in faith, and I know that you will receive an answer.

Now after I discovered what the meaning of dumb idols, this got me to thinking how this applies to me. What "dumb idols" do I worship that prevent me from communicating with my Heavenly Father?

In this case, dumb idols aren't going to be false gods like Baal. But they're going to be things that distract me and prevent me from progressing spiritually. 

My biggest one is media, mostly TV and movies. I watched a lot of TV shows and movies last semester. Mostly because I wasn't feeling well enough to do anything else. And watching wholesome shows and movies aren't a bad thing. But I would watch them rather than study my scriptures. I could have switched a show with a conference talk. Or I could have gone to the temple instead of watch a movie. 

So I have resolved to challenge myself to do that. Study my scriptures before I log into Amazon or Hulu. Go to the temple instead of turning on a movie. Put the Lord before media. I know that I will see significant changes in myself when I do that.