Hitting Rock Bottom

Today I visited a boys' juvenile detention center for Sabbath worship services.

Missionaries teach a Sunday School class in three rotations.

The boys who attend Sunday meetings do so voluntarily.

The Sunday School lesson focused on Jesus Christ being our Teacher, our Healer, our Forgiver, our Advocate, our Savior.

In all of the groups, the instructor missionary asked, "What does it mean that Jesus is our rock?"

Several answers from several boys in all groups . But one answer stood out to me.

"It's like when we hit rock bottom---Jesus will be there."

What a beautiful way to think about that!

He is the Way, the Truth, and the Light

Earlier this month I woke up with a terrible, awful 10+ headache. Nothing I did took away the pain--not sleep, not darkness, not medication, not even prayer. On top of it all, I still had all my "mom" responsibilities I had to do, which included judging a science fair at the junior high, chauffeuring the children from school to home to work, helping with homework, and attending a junior high basketball game. Even though I tried very hard to be positive and happy, the excruciating pain wouldn't leave me. My head throbbed all day long.

At about 4:30, as I was sitting on the bleachers waiting for the basketball game to begin, squinting my eyes in an attempt to protect myself from the noise and the lights and the commotion, I received a distinct impression. The impression told me that my headache was going to go away. In a matter of a few moments, I could literally feel the tremendous pain that had tortured my head all day gradually dissipate. In a matter of five or so minutes, my headache was gone. My headache was COMPLETELY gone!

So, in my head, I began a little conversation with this impression I had. This impression that told me that I was going to witness my headache leave.

Me: "Why?" Why did it take so long for the pain to go away? I was in so much pain. All day. Why now? Why not sooner when I could have been so much more productive?"

Impression: "Because I wanted you to know that when everything is said and done, it is Me who Heals. It is not the darkness or the sleep or the medication. It is not time or circumstance. It is Me because I am the Way, the Truth, and the Light. I am the Healer. And it is I in Whom you must have faith."

That afternoon, in the middle of a noisy, crowded gymnasium, I learned, through the Spirit that each of us, at different times in our lives, have things that hang over us, burden us, weary us, even torture us. Many times, we feel like that weight is carried for a long time. A longer time than what we desire. Or what we think we are capable of enduring. And in those times, God, in His infinite mercy, places many things and needed people in our way who will and can help us come unto Him.

But in the end, in the very end, it is only in and through Jesus Christ that we are healed. He IS the Way, the Truth, and the Light!

I know that He lives and that He loves us. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the World.

Book of Mormon Reading: Moroni 10

Today I finished reading the Book of Mormon!!

Did you know that the word "exhort," in some form or another, appears in the Book of Mormon 28 times?

6 of those times span within the book of 1 Nephi.

10 of those times appear in Moroni 10, alone!!

• I have spoken a few words by way of exhortation unto you:
• I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men,
• I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ,
• I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God . . .
•  I exhort you, . . . that ye deny not the gifts of God . . .
• I would exhort you,  . . . that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ.
• I would exhort you, . . . that ye remember that [God] is the same yesterday, today, and forever, 
•  I exhort you to remember these things . . .
•  I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ . . .

exhort: To incite by words or advice; to animate or urge by arguments to a good deed or to any laudable conduct or course of action.

Perhaps President Nelson does not use the word "exhort," but his does use words such as "urge," "invite," "encourage," and "plead." These words summon me to action.

I love the Book of Mormon!

I know the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.

And I know that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer, the Savior of the World.

P.S. Just did a quick search on General Conference talks, and President Nelson used the word "exhort" in THIS TALK and in THIS TALK.

Book of Mormon Reading: Moroni 9

After reading Moroni 9 chapter, I truly believe that the goodness and prosperity of a nation reflects on how women and children are treated and regarded.

Book of Mormon Reading: Moroni 8

Today's reading prompted me to make this important scripture note:

Performing saving ordinances correctly is of utmost importance to God. Doing otherwise mocks Him and His atoning sacrifice. Thus, when the Spirit ceases striving with an individual (or, as a whole people, as in the case of the Nephites), then there is a greater likelihood that ordinances will be changes according the to teachings of man, rather than the doctrine of Christ.

Book of Mormon Reading: Moroni 7

I marveled today at these phrases of Christ, which are all found entirely in Moroni 7. These phrases talk, speak, rejoice, and testify of Him.

What was even more amazing to me was when I placed them in a list, in order, I realized, these phrases follow the chiasmus rule (oh me, of little chiasmus knowledge).

Peaceable followers of Christ

     Spirit of Christ

          Believe in Christ

               Power and gift of Christ

                    Light of Christ

                         Child of Christ

                              Coming of Christ

                                   Good cometh of Christ

                         Faith in Christ

                    Word of Christ

               Atonement of Christ

          Jesus is the Christ

     Pure love of Christ

True followers of His Son, Jesus Christ

Book of Mormon Reading: Mormon 1-6

What I read:

"Ye shall call on the Father in my name, in mighty prayer; and after ye have done this ye shall have power that to him upon whom ye shall lay your hands . . ." (Moroni 2:2).

What I learned:
The Lord strongly encourages those who hold the priesthood to pray before giving a priesthood blessing.

Book of Mormon Reading: Ether 12-15

The entire story of the Jaredites is a lesson to me of what happens when a people forget their God.

Here are the final numbers in the final days of the Jaredites:

Team Coriatumr and Team Shiz spend four years (4 years!) gathering together their team, their army, their support. Then, the battle begins:

Day 1-2: Fighting and death all the day long; mourning and howling all the night long.

Day 3: Team Coriantumr writes a note to Team Shiz, "Please, let's not do this anymore. Take my kingdom. Spare our lives." Team Shiz, "Not on your life."

Day 4 - 6: Fight on. Die on. Sleep on swords.

Day 6: More fighting. More bloodshed. More deaths. End of day Team Coriantumr: 52. Team Shiz: 69. (And another night of sleeping on swords).

Day 7: More fighting. More bloodshed. Deaths. Eating and sleeping to prepare for death on the  morrow.  End of day: Team Coriantumr: 29. Team Shiz: 32
(P.S. That's a reduction of 58% of Coriantumr's army and a 46% reduction of Shiz's army in ONE day!)

Day 8: Both armies fight for three hours. Faint because of the loss of blood. Rest up and, with remaining strength, the army of Shiz pursue the remaining of the army of Coriantumr. Into the night.

Day 9: Shiz's men overcome Coriantumr's men, leaving only Coriantumr and Shiz. Coriantumr prevails.

End of the Jaredite civilization.

Contrast that to the building up of God's kingdom:

Suppose for a moment you are a member of a team. The coach beckons you from the bench and says: “You are to enter this contest. I not only want you to win; you shall win. But the going will be tough. The score at this moment is 1,143,000,000 to six, and you are to play on the team with the six points!”

That large number was the approximate population of the earth in the year 1830 when the restored church of Jesus Christ was officially organized with six members. The setting was remote and rural. By standards of the world, its leaders were deemed to be unlearned. Their followers seemed so ordinary. But with them, the work was begun. . . .

If any tasks ever deserved the label impossible, those would seem to qualify. But, in fact, our Lord had spoken: “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

I want to be numbered with those who do not forget who is Lord, their God.

Book of Mormon Reading: Ether 6-11

In my reading today, this particular title of the Savior stood out to me: "Son of Righteousness." (Which, by the way, is found only three times in the scriptures and only in the Book of Mormon).

One way I pondered this titles is that Righteousness is the very personification of our Heavenly Father. One definition of righteousness is "it includes all we call justice, honesty, and virtue, with holy affections; in short, it is true religion."

Thus understanding the true nature of the Godhead is understanding true religion.

Another way I have pondered this title, "Son of Righteousness," is that through obedience to my covenants and by applying the atoning blood of Christ, I, too, can become a daughter of Righteousness. That is why I chose to come to earth--to prove that I want to live His life (which is eternal life) and be with Him forever.

Book of Mormon Reading: Ether 3-5

Exercising faith in Jesus Christ requires a degree (I would say a high degree) of sanctification. And in that sanctification in Him, the Lord promises (and I know His promises are sure), "then will [He] manifest unto [us] the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are" (Ether 4:7).

Wow.

Just wow!

Book of Mormon Reading: Ether 1-2

The story of Jared and his brother (the brother of Jared, ha ha), continues to fascinate me every time I read it

This time around wasn't any different.

What really stood out to me is how much the Lord does prepare things for us in our present and in our future, and how much He wants to help us prepare for good and bad things that will come.

I love that the brother of Jared is the spokeman to the Lord for his family.

I love the role Jared plays in that making sure Jared is the spokesman for their family.

I love this injunction from the Lord: "Go to work and build."

And I love that the Lord cares for the physical needs of the Jaredites (air to breathe) and sets the brother of Jared to ponder and act onhow to take care of their spiritual needs (light for the barges).

Book of Mormon Reading: Mormon 1-9

I don't think I have ever read the whole Book of Mormon in one day.

I'm not talking 531 pages of The Book of Mormon, but the Book of Mormon chapters in The Book of Mormon 1 through 9.

And I have to admit that in reading all nine chapters today, I was completely overcome with emotion. I was not expecting to feel such deep anguish and sorrow for the Nephites who were annihilated because of their wickedness. And I was definitely not expecting to have my love and admiration for Mormon grow.

Beginning at age 16, Mormon served as the head of the Nephite army. He held that title for 36 consecutive years, and then, because he couldn't lead such a wicked nation, he relinquished his title and his leadership, taking somewhat of a sabbatical and wiping his hands from the wickness of his generation. But twelve years later, he once again agreed to lead the Nephite nation. All in all, Mormon served as a leader of war for 45 years. 45 years!!

In addition, at the age of 10, Mormon was asked to be the future record keeper of the plates. If my calculations are close, he started compiling and keeping the records when he was about 24 years old.

So here's this boy-to-man Moroni, who, in the midst of being in charge of protecting/defending an entire people, keeping record and compiling a book for our day, he also has a family and, as we know, raises up a righteous son, Moroni.

And in spite of the wickedness and evil; carnage and terror; whoredoms and abominations, he and Moroni, are ever true and steadfast disciples of Jesus Christ.

They exercised faith and obedience when God withdrew from their people.

They endured with Him, even when they knew it was over for their people.

They witnessed miracles because of their immovable faith in their Redeemer.

Mormon and Moroni set a precedence. They teach me that I can live righteously and teach righteous living in a day like today.

"Be wise in the days of your probation," Moroni wrote, "strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that you may consume it on your lasts, but ask with the firmness and shaken, that you will yield to no temptation, but that you will serve the true and living God" (Mormon 9:28).

Book of Mormon Reading: 4 Nephi

After the visit of Christ in the Americas, there were years of plenty.

110 of them filled with peace.

"No contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people

No envyings.

No strifes.

No tumults.

No whoredoms.

No lyings.

No murders.

No lasciviousness.

"Surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God. . . they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God" (4 Nephi 1:15-16).

Imagine what we, as a people, would give up, if we were filled with peace; if we were filled with the pure love of Christ.

Certainly, the headlines for the nightly news would be different---or not exist at all.

It would be Christmas everyday.

Book of Mormon Reading: 3 Nephi 24-30

God tries my faith.

First, by seeing if I will accept the small and simple things He has already placed before me:

Scriptures.

Words of living prophets.

Commandments.

Ordinances and covenants.

If I believe on these things, He manifests greater things unto me.

If I don't, then those greater things are withheld and, I am held accountable.

I am grateful He sees fit to try me faith.

Book of Mormon Reading: 3 Nephi 21-23

Some thoughts from today's reading:

1. God's wisdom > the cunningness of the devil

2. Being clean to bearing the vessels of the Lord:
     For men: being worthy to hold the priesthood to administer the sacrament
     For women: being worthy to bear choice spirits that are given to us as children

3. God's timing + my obedience = gathering of Israel

4. There will come a day when "all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children" (3 Nephi 22:13).

Book of Mormon Reading: 3 Nephi 14-20

3 Nephi 17 is one of my most favorites from 3 Nephi.

This morning, I noticed Mormon's careful compilation of this chapter.

1. There is a third person narrative, describing the event.

2. There is a first person invitation, from the Savior Himself, to the Nephites, as He beckons them to come to Him for healing.

3. There is a powerful plural first person witness of 2500 souls, who jointly testify that seeing, hearing, and learning from the Savior is too marvelous and wonderful to capture in any earthly words.

I add my witness to theirs.

I know He heals.

I know He lives.

I know He loves us.


** You can use this chapter to teach the power of the word of God. In a group setting, have one person, who has been assigned before hand to read the chapter, take 1-2 minutes to summarize what happens in 3 Nephi 17. Then, have another person from the group read this chapter word for word. Discuss with group members the difference that was felt in reltaing the story and in reading from the scriptures.

Book of Mormon Reading: 3 Nephi 11-13

Two principles stood out to me in my reading today:

First, God speaks to holy prophets today to preach us what we need to know and do now. With many changes that have been made in the past year, we are to follow the directives that have been given us in 2018, not what we have been doing in the past.

Henry B. Eyring taught:

The choice not to take prophetic counsel changes the very ground upon which we stand. It becomes more dangerous. The failure to take prophetic counsel lessens our power to take inspired counsel in the future. The best time to have decided to help Noah build the ark was the first time he asked. Each time he asked after that, each failure to respond would have lessened sensitivity to the Spirit. And so each time his request would have seemed more foolish, until the rain came. And then it was too late.

Second, I'm very grateful God gives me more than just one chance to hear and understand His voice.

Book of Mormon Reading: 3 Nephi 8-10

"He is coming! He is coming!"

I am sure that is what was in the minds of the faithful and those less wicked who remained after three hours of quaking earth and lightenings and thunderings and winds and storms. And after three days and nights of complete darkness.

A complete opposition to what had happened when the sign was given of the Savior's birth.

Complete. Darkness.

This has made me think that without Christ, there could be no light.

Or rather, without Christ, there would be no light.

But Christ is.

And there is light.

Even in the beginning, "God said, let there be light, and there was light."

Because Christ was in the beginning, with the Father, from before the foundations of the world.

#LightTheWorld

Book of Mormon Reading: 3 Nephi 5-7

The first time the phrase "covenant path" was used in General Conference was in October  2007 by Elaine S. Dalton in her talk entitled, "Stay on the Path," when she quoted the following from Jeffrey R. Holland: 

Beginning with our baptism, we make covenants as we follow this path to eternal life, and we stay on the path by keeping them. …

… The promptings of the Holy Ghost will always be sufficient for our needs if we keep to the covenant path. Our path is uphill most days, but the help we receive for the climb is literally divine. We have three members of the Godhead—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost—helping us because of the covenants we have made.

To remind us of those covenants, we partake of the sacrament each week. In the prayer offered on the bread, we ‘witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that [we] are willing to take upon [us] the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given [us]; that [we] may always have his Spirit to be with [us]’ [D&C 20:77]”.

Since then, that phrase "covenant path" has been repeated 61 times in General Conference; 36 of those times were during this year's April and October 2018 General Conferences.

My reading today made me recognize how easy it is to get off the covenant path, and the personal and social dangers that come when the covenant path is not followed. Particularly for those who know the will of God and willfully rebel.

Which has made me think of something President Nelson has warned in the past:

Difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord “shall suffer persecution.” That very persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives.

I will not be crushed into silent weakness, for I, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Book of Mormon Reading: 3 Nephi 1-4

One thing is for sure, the Nephites were very cognizant about time. They noted years that had passed from the time Lehi left Jerusalem. They noted the years, the "reign of judges" that had passed since King Mosiah formed a new government. Then, with the prophecies of Samuel, the Lamanite, they began making note of the five years that would pass before the signs from heaven would testify of the Savior's birth and His death.

This has made me ask myself, am I that cognizant of time?

Am I taking note of the things that prophets and apostles are sharing?

Am I counting the days when the Savior will come again, seeking the signs that have been promised from heaven?

* * *

The Book of Mormon has been written for our time, in order for us to recognize the signs of the Savior's Second Coming. So, it should not be a surprise that there is a decrease of faith and righteousness and an increase of wickedness in the rising generation and among the very elect. It says so in the scriptures.

No wonder President Nelson has said, "I love you and thank you and now bless you with the ability to leave the world behind as you assist in this crucial and urgent work. Together we can do all that our Heavenly Father needs us to do to prepare the world for the Second Coming of His Beloved Son."

Book of Mormon Reading: Helaman 11-16

Took several one-liner notes from today's reading:

* Understanding true doctrine invites revelation.
* Being cast out of God's presence is a personal choice.
* Righteous parents can serve as a protection to their unrighteous children.
* When there are signs and wonders, Satan will be there to make my disbelieve.
* Do NOT procrastinate!
* The power of God's voice can do ALL things.

Book of Mormon Reading: Helaman 9-10

Even in the midst of evil, of wickedness, of disbelief, God will uphold those who, with unwavering faith and obedience follow and testify of Him.

Book of Mormon Reading: Helaman 6-8

More so than any other time I have read the Book of Mormon, I have noticed the teaching and the doctrine of the gathering of Israel. It is as real. It is a global and spiritual as it is personal and temporal.

In his October 2006 General Conference talk, then Elder Russell M. Nelson said,

The Book of Mormon is central to this work. It declares the doctrine of the gathering. It causes people to learn about Jesus Christ, to believe His gospel, and to join His Church. In fact, if there were no Book of Mormon, the promised gathering of Israel would not occur.

Here's how the scattering and the gathering is real to me.

Scattering is when I send my children out to serve full time missions to Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Bolivia- - -

Gathering is when those dear children of mine preach and invite and baptize those who are eager to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sin is a form scattering. Sin scatters us abroad, like chaff in the wind.

Repentance is a form of gathering. Repentance gathers us together in Christ.

And as President Nelson says

 . . . Gathering is the most important thing taking place on earth today. Nothing else compares in magnitude, nothing else compares in importance, nothing else compares in majesty. And if you choose to, if you want to, you can be a big part of it. You can be a big part of something big, something grand, something majestic!

Book of Mormon Reading: Helaman 3-5

Something in my reading to day stuck out to me: the teaching of the the word of God during this wicked time in Nephite history, began in the city of Bountiful.

Bountiful was were the temple stood. It is where the Savior appeared and taught and blessed and instituted the sacrament among the Nephites following His resurrection.

This has made me think me deeply of the power of God's word and the power of our temple covenants.

And how I can invite others to come unto Him.

Book of Mormon Reading: Helaman 1-2

The story of Coriantumr is a metaphor of the evils that attack the family. Because he supposed that their greatest strength was in the center of their land, he marched right through and did a lot of damage.

When this was discovered, Moronihah strengthened his forces, leaving his strongholds on the outsides and bringing Lehi's army to the center.

Gosh, this sounds a whole lot like a home-centered, Church-supported approach to gospel living, learning, and teaching.

Bringing it to the center while supporting the surrounding strongholds.

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 57-63

I am learning to learn from the war chapters in the Book of Mormon. Two things today:

First, I was very aware that Helaman saw the good. And in that good he saw God. He trusted that God would deliver his armies, even though they paled in comparison to their enemies.

Second, I LOVE that Mormon captured all sides of Captain Moroni, and I am speaking about the anger side of him that really comes out when he thinks Pahoran has turned on him. It's not so much that I love the anger in Moroni, but that even with his anger, Mormon chooses to highlight all the other strengths he possesses.

And, it was pointed out to me as well, that when we are angry, we make terrible negotiators.

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 56

Because they have covenanted not to fight, not to pick up weapons of war, the covenant fathers of the people of Ammon took provisions to their warrior sons.

Fathers are providers.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World, teaches that "by divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families."

Heavenly Father is the Ultimate Provider.

He has provided the heavens and the earth.

He gave us the matchless gift of His divine Son.

He offers us all that He has as we keep our covenants and endure to the end.

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 54-55

This part of the Nephite-Lamanite war tells of how Captain Moroni presents a tribute of wine to the Lamanite guards. When the guards are all drunken, he, in "profound silence" arms the Nephite prisoners, even (or, should I say, especially) the women and the children, with weapons of war.

This has made me think about our new directive of a home-centered, Church-supported approach to gospel living, learning, and teaching. Arming, if you will, families--men, women, and children--in their own homes, with the spiritual weapons necessary to combat the fiery darts of the adversary and the evils of this generation.

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 52-53

Covenant keepers are true to God at all times, in all things, and in all places.

Covenant keepers keep God's commandments and walk uprightly before Him.

Covenant keepers are strengthened by those who keep their covenants.

Covenant keepers walk the covenant path and invite others to do the same.

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 48-51

This is the cause of Christians:

to support liberty

to support lands

to support wives and husbands

to support children

to support peace

to live unto our Lord and God

I am a Christian

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 47

Lehonti died twice.

The first time was by compromising what he knew what was right.

The second time was because he was poisoned.

I'd rather die by being poisoned than by compromising what I know to be right.

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 43-46

The difference between fighting the Lamanites, Zoramites/Amalekites, and Nephites was this:

The Lamanites had swords, cimeters, stones, and slings.

The Zoramites/Amalekites had swords, cimeters, stones, slings, and clothing.

The Nephites had swords, cimeters, stones, slings, breastplates, arm shields, head plates, and thick clothing.

But most significantly, the Nephites had taken upon the the most important piece of battle armor. They had taken upon them the name of Christ.

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 39-42

Alma's conversation with Corianton is instructive. It teaches me how to better have conversations with my children.

First, the essence of Alma's conversation with his son Corianton is to teach him about God's Plan. In his October 1993 General Conference talk, Elder Russell M. Nelson listed the different names for God's Plan:

The Plan of Salvation

The Plan of Redemption

The Plan of Restoration

The Plan of Mercy

The Plan of Deliverance

The Everlasting Gospel

Thus, teaching God's Plan to my children is a prerequisite to teaching them to obey His commandments.

Second, Alma uses scriptures stories and family history stories to adequately answer Corianton's questions. Research has found that sharing family narratives strengthens bonds and increases resilience in family members.

Finally, and most importantly, Alma directs Corianton to face the Lord, to seek His guidance, and to follow His law. President Nelson said it like this:

Facing upward is crucial for successful parenting. Families deserve guidance from heaven. Parents cannot counsel children adequately from personal experience, fear, or sympathy. But when parents face children as would the Creator who gave them life, parents will be endowed with wisdom beyond that of their own. Wise mothers and fathers will teach members of their family how to make personal decisions based upon divine law. They will teach them that “this life is the time … to prepare to meet God.” They will teach them that decisions of a moral and spiritual character cannot be based on freedom to choose without accountability to God for those choices. With that understanding, parents and children will be rewarded with strength of character, peace of mind, joy, and rejoicing in their posterity.

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 38

Here are my thoughts for today's reading:

Keep holding on.

Keep keeping on.

Even when obedient and diligent and faithful, trials will and do come. And they may not even be fair trials. But God is my Deliverer and what I am going through now will not last forever. Placing my trust in Him is the only way to make it through.

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 36-37

In my reading, Alma begins his one-on-one conversations with his sons, starting with Helaman.

I was struck by this thought: "There is a special, divine connection that is made when a discussion or conversation is based on the Savior and in the true word of God."

It has made me understand that the most significant conversations I have are ones that are based in gospel truths. Whether that is with family, friends, or complete strangers.

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 33-35

I have been pondering the story of Moses and the brazen serpent.

In Alma 33, Alma recounts the story and notes that "many did look and live," but few understood WHY. Why did looking allow them to live?

David A. Bednar teaches that the WHY of the gospel is answered in understanding the doctrine.

Boyd K. Packer taught that, "True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior."

Thus, as a friend pointed out to me, I can be very good at doing what I am supposed to, without knowing why I am supposed to be doing it.

It means that going through the motions is good . . .

But knowing why I am doing what I am doing takes me to a whole different level.

Which means, I need to study the doctrine because I want to be on that "whole different level."


Check out THIS awesome talk about doctrines and principles from Elder Bednar.

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 32

Faith ≠ a perfect knowledge

Faith = hope for things that are true, but are not seen

Faith = work.

Faith takes work for faith and knowledge to grow.

Faith should grow before ever attaining a perfect knowledge.

Having a knowledge ≠ having a perfect knowledge.

Perfect knowledge = Eternal Life.

Eternal life = life that our Father in Heaven lives.

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 30-31

Two principles stood out to me in these two chapters I read today: The influence of women and the power of the Word of God.

Korihor had a significant influence on women, "yea, leading many women . . . to commit whoredoms . . ." This was certainly a detriment to the people or Mormon would not have included it his writings.

President Gordon B. Hinckley has said, "When we save a girl, we save generations. No one can foretell the consequences of faithfulness in the life of a young woman."

And Satan knows that! He knows that very well.

He knows that disrupting the righteousness of one woman will effect righteous teaching in the home. And that, in turn, will disrupt generations.

Because anything that is anti-family is anti-Christ.

On the other hand, "the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God."

Thus, instilling the virtue of the word of God in the hearts of our children and youth brings about the Hope of Israel. Zion's Army. Children of the Promised Day.

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 28-29

O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!

Alma the Younger wanted to be just like the missionary angel that changed his life and brought him back to God.

This makes me think of specific individuals in my life who have made a significant difference in my life.

One was my Young Women's President, Sis. Rochelle Williams. She was the very first returned sister missionary I had ever known. And because of her testimony of her full-time mission, I decided at 13 that that was exactly what I wanted to do.

Thank you, Sister Williams, for being my angel who changed my life and brought me closer to God.

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 26-27

Today I got caught up in the word zeal.

The Lamanites turned Anti-Nephi-Lehies, now called the people of Ammon:

were among the people of Nephi, and also numbered among the people who were of the church of God. And they were also distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end.

I have understood the word zeal to be more negative than positive, which, it can be if one has a zeal towards negative things. But today, I have pondered ways in which I can live my life so that I can be distinguished for my zeal towards God and also towards those around me.

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 21-25

"He loveth our souls as well as He loveth our children" (Alma 24:14).

I love this statement made by Anti-Nephi-Lehi . . . not just because God's love is all encompassing, but because God loves us as a Perfect Parent.

He loves our souls AND He loves our children.

And that's saying a LOT!

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 19-20

It is amazing to me at what happens to the Lamanites once they exercised their faith in Jesus Christ, repented, and fully embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ. Very quickly, they changed their names to Anti-Nephi-Lehies, they began to be a very industrious people, they were friendly with the Nephites, and the curse of God did no more follow them

How could so much good happen in such a short amount of time because of one decision?

It made me think of what happens when a smoker quits smoking cold turkey:

Within 20 minutes
Blood pressure, pulse rate and the temperature of hands and feet return to normal.

Within 8 hours
Nicotine in bloodstream has fallen to 6.25% of normal peak daily levels, a 93.75% reduction.

Within 12 hours
Blood oxygen level increases to normal. Carbon monoxide levels drop to normal.

Within 24 hours
Anxieties peak in intensity and within two weeks will return to near pre-cessation levels.

Within 48 hours
Damaged nerve endings start to regrow; Sense of smell and taste begin to return to normal. Cessation anger and irritability will have peaked.

Within 72 hours
Entire body will test 100% nicotine-free.
Lung bronchial tubes leading to air sacs (alveoli) begin to relax in recovering smokers.
Breathing becomes easier and lungs' functional abilities are improving.

Within 2 weeks to 3 months
Heart attack risk begins to drop. Lung function noticeably improves.

Within 1 to 9 months
Smoking related sinus congestion, fatigue or shortness of breath decreases Cilia has regrown in trachea (windpipe), increasing the ability to sweep dirt and mucus out of lungs. Body's overall energy has increased.

Within 1 year
Excess risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke drop to less than half that of a smoker.

Within 5 to 15 years
Risk of stroke declines to that of a non-smoker.

What happens to us physically, also happens to us spiritually.

"Even as we feel godly sorrow for our actions, when we choose to repent, we immediately invite the Savior into our lives" -Dale G. Renlund (italics added).

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 16-18

Question: How can I be a better instrument in the Lord's hands?

Answer: Be patient in long-suffering and afflictions that you may show forth good examples unto them in Him, unto the salvation of many souls.

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 12-15

Alma 13 is one of my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon (Okay, I have a LOT of favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon)!

Today, as I read about the Melchizedek Priesthood, I realized that I need to make God's authority and power a priority in my life!

At first, I thought of the different priesthood ordinances that I bless my life on a regular basis, but then I began to ponder different ways I could give opportunities to the priesthood holders in my life to use their power and authority to bless me and those around them.

This pondering reminded me of an experience I had many years ago.

I visit taught a sister who lived a few houses from me. She was inactive and so was her husband. This woman was very spiritual and dearly loved her children.

One day she called me and shared with me something that was deeply troubling to her. She was very distraught and could not find peace. Of course, the first thing that came to my mind was that she needed to receive a priesthood blessing. Who could give her a blessing? I thought. The bishop? Her home teachers? My husband? I tried to think of some key brethren who could "make a difference" at such a crucial time in her life! I told her I would call her back.

As I searched my mind, the Spirit gently whispered that yes, she did need a blessing, but the person she needed to ask was her husband.

What? He's inactive.

Yet, the Spirit pressed. And the Spirit taught me.

Because I followed the teaching of the Holy Ghost, this dear woman did petition her husband for a blessing and received one.

* * *

God is the Ultimate Planner.

Long before we even came to earth, He took into consideration every. single. detail. of our probationary state.

Individually and collectively.

Even down to our Final Celebration.

God's plan offered us a probationary state. A time to choose. A time to make mistakes. A time to learn from those choices. And, a plan of redemption.

A plan that would bring to pass the resurrection of the dead.

And a plan of repentance.

To make right our wrong choices. To act in faith. And to accept His Son as the Redeemer of the World.

Lucifer, on the other hand, had no plan.

None.

Instead, he wanted to hijack and distort Father's plan, claiming that the details of our earthly lives could be resolved quite easily by merely taking away our agency.

Thus:

God = Preparation = Happiness

Lucifer = No preparation = misery

Giving more meaning to this statement: "if ye are prepared ye shall not fear."

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 7-11

The story of pre-repentant Zeezrom is a definite reminder of how subtle Satan is in trying to get us to deny Christ. With a insert of one little word, Zeezrom attempts to discount the Savior of the World and trick his people into thinking Amulek is a liar.

It has made me think of ways Satan subtly tries to lure me away from denying the Christ and trick others into doing the same.

It has made me appreciate, even more, President Nelson's invitation to the women and youth of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to fast from social media. In so doing, President Nelson asks:

What do you notice after taking a break from perspectives of the world that have been wounding your spirit? Is there a change in where you now want to spend your time and energy? Have any of your priorities shifted—even just a little? I urge you to record and follow through with each impression.

* * *
On a completely different note, I found this dialogue between Amulek and Zeezrom a bit comical:

Zeezrom:  Will you answer the questions which I shall put unto you?

Amulek: Yea, if it be according to the Spirit of the Lord which is in me; for I will say nothing contrary to the Spirit of the Lord . . . thou child of hell. . .

Book of Mormon Reading: Alma 5-6

This past Sunday, our family discussion was based on parables of the Savior. Each family member was to read, then share and teach one parable found in the New Testament. My seven year old wanted to share and teach the allegory of the good shepherd.

So before we shared together as a family, she and I read it together and I had her teach to me what she knew and I shared a few things with her.

When we all gathered back together, here's essentially what she shared:

The good shepherd is Jesus. We are sheep. He lets us in the door. The door is the way back to him. And He holds open the door because He died for us.

Today, I read about the good shepherd in Alma 5. What impressed me the most is that even after He has already paid the price for me, for my sins, for my transgressions, for my afflictions, for my infirmities, He. Still. Calls. After. Me.

Still.

He calls, in His own name, which is the name of Christ. (Alma 5:38).

Do I know my name in Christ?

Book of Mormon Reading: Mosiah 29-Alma 4

Things that have always been:

1. God will work His power among the children of men.

2. Those who belong to the Church of God and take upon them the name of Christ are persecuted by those who don't.

3. Those who belong to the Church of God and have taken upon them the name of Christ, then have hardened their hearts against the Church withdraw themselves from the membership of the Church.

4. Those who withdraw themselves from the Church become a great trial to those who remain steadfast and immovable in God's Church.

5. The word of God will always be fulfilled.

Book of Mormon Reading: Mosiah 24-28

Do I give enough credit to God?

I mean, not just in the good times. Not just in times of prosperity. Not just in times of victory or celebration or deliverance.

But in those times when life seems bleak, dark, heavy, unfamiliar, or just plain hard.

Father Alma seemed to know how to give credit to God when his Alma-son (think Karate Kid) is being brought to him on a stretcher, helpless, paralyzed and in a coma, after having seen an angel during an earthquake.

What does Alma-son's father do? "His father rejoiced, for he knew that it was the power of God."

Do I see God's power in all things?

Do I see His power in the things that, for right now, to me, seem so paralyzing, so hopeless, surrounded by allegorical earthquakes?

Father Alma seemed to think so.

President Nelson seems to think so.

That's good enough for me.

Book of Mormon Reading: Mosiah 23

Now Alma, having been warned of the Lord that the armies of king Noah would come upon them, and having made it known to his people, therefore they gathered together their flocks, and took of their grain, and departed into the wilderness before the armies of king Noah (Mosiah 23:1).

This verse of scripture stood out to me today because it is very instructive of how the Lord works. First, instead of thwarting the armies that are coming to destroy, God warns Alma they are coming. Then, it is up to Alma to act. To lead. To teach. To protect.

Then, in leading his people to prepare for the armies of King Noah, Alma gathers together all things in one before departing.

There is power in acting when the Lord speaks.

There is power in gathering.

There is power in doing brand new things.

Thank you, President Nelson, for being like the prophet Alma.

Book of Mormon Reading: Mosiah 18-22

Sometimes I feel like Limhi, stuck in a bad, even hopeless situation because of my own doing.

And, like Limhi, I try so desperately to get out of the situation by doing the same things, using the same techniques over and over again. But, to no avail.

Not only do I not get ahead, I get pushed back. And that is so disheartening.

Frustrating.

Discouraging.

I am sure the Lord often shakes His head at my lame attempts.

"Try again," He surely must whisper. "Try again and ask for My help."

And I am learning that it sometimes takes a lot of digging for me to get down to the depths of humility necessary to call on Him for help.

And sometimes, He is slow (slower than I think He ought to be, at least) to hear my petition. But I know, I have always known, that He has heard and does hear my cries.

Always.

He hears my pleas.

He understands my heartfelt petitions.

Because when I take the time to be still--you know, the "be still" part so I can know that He is God?-- That's when I begin to recognize who He is and the power He has.

I am able to see the softening. The easing. The delivering.

I am able to feel of His love. His light. His way.

And whether it is after one week of pleading or 30 years of waiting and waiting and being still, I can add my witness to those who also know: God hears and answers prayers.

Book of Mormon Reading: Mosiah 13-17

"But I say unto you, that the time shall come when it shall no more be expedient to - - -" (Mosiah 13:27)

- - - withhold the priesthood from all worthy males (Declaration 2)

- - -  have seventies quorums in the stakes (GC October 1986).

- - - have local ward and stake members pay for the cost of building and maintenance  (GC April 1990).

- - - wait until 19 for young men;21 for young women to serve missions (GC April 2013).

- - - "home [teach] and visiting [teach] as we have known them. Instead, we will implement a newer, holier approach to caring for and ministering to others. We will refer to these efforts simply as 'ministering'" (GC April 2018).

- - - attend Church for three hours because "this adjustment [of ] . . . shortening the Sunday meetinghouse schedule . . . is being accomplished as a result of your faithfulness to previous invitations. [President Nelson] and the entire leadership of the Church desire to bring greater gospel joy—to parents, children, youth, singles, the elderly, new converts, and those people the missionaries are teaching—through a home-centered, Church-supported, balanced effort" (GC October 2018).

My dear friends, we are witnesses to the process of restoration. If you think the Church is fully restored, you’re just seeing the beginning. There’s much more to come. Wait until next year, and then the next year. Eat your vitamins, get your rest. It’s going to be exciting! -President Russell M. Nelson

I agree, we are living in EXCITING times!

Book of Mormon Reading: Mosiah 10-12

Two thoughts from today's readings.

The first is, how do I want to know God?

Abinadi prophecies:

The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Do I want to know God through famine, pestilence, burdens, hails, winds, insects, destructions, great abominations, and iniquities?

Or, do I want to know Him by the intimations of the Holy Ghost, by recognizing His hand in my life in small and simple ways,  and by exercising faith on His name?

* * *

My second thought is about repentance.

In reading these words Abinadi teaches to the wicked Nephites, he says:

I say unto you, wo be unto you for perverting the ways of the Lord! For if ye understand these things ye have not taught them; therefore, ye have perverted the ways of the Lord.

I noticed the word pervert.

Pervert means to "turn from truth" whereas repentance means to "turn back toward God." 

Thus, in a real sense, pervert and repentance are opposites because perverting the ways of the Lord takes me away from God and repenting turns me back towards Him.

This week, my missionary son serving in Bolivia sent this thought to me:

This week I read in Helaman about Samuel the Lamanite (Sam the Lam haha) and in his three or four chapters he mentions repentance 26 times. I'm learning that I need to do a better job at crying repentance. And that doesn't mean they have to be doing something bad or wrong, but to change.

Along these same lines Neil L. Andersen taught:

The invitation to repent is rarely a voice of chastisement but rather a loving appeal to turn around and to “re-turn” toward God. It is the beckoning of a loving Father and His Only Begotten Son to be more than we are, to reach up to a higher way of life, to change, and to feel the happiness of keeping the commandments. Being disciples of Christ, we rejoice in the blessing of repenting and the joy of being forgiven. They become part of us, shaping the way we think and feel.

I have had numerous occasions (more than I care to share) where the voice of His chastisement has been a loving appeal for me to turn around and return to Him. I'm grateful for the joyfilled news of repentance.

Book of Mormon Reading: Mosiah 9

Today, this one chapter has made me ponder how God determines to fight our battles. I know that He loves all His children. All of them. But there are times that He steps in to deliver one person or one people from their tribulations or, "out of the hands of our enemies."

What determines deliverance?

What determines enemies?

An earlier scripture teaches me that the natural man is an enemy to God.

Another teaches me that those who are righteous are favored of God (does this mean favorable for deliverance?)

These verses teach me that remembering God and the power of His deliverance is really about faith in His name. Knowing from where the deliverance comes and being humble enough to allow Him to fight my battles. Because I have my battles.

Book of Mormon Reading: Mosiah 8-9

And Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of God, which no man can; yet a man may have great power given him from God (Mosiah 8:16).

Today's reading has made me ask myself, "In what ways do I proclaim with joy and certainty that I know (because I know) there are prophets, seers, and revelators on the earth today, and what can I do better in sharing this knowledge I have with others?"

Book of Mormon Reading: Mosiah 4-7

Because I chose to be baptized as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I willingly enter into a covenant which makes me a daughter of Christ.

Thus, I am a daughter of God.

And I am a daughter of Christ.

In this context, I am born again.

Born again because I have willingly accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior by taking upon me His name and having covenanted to keep His commandments.

At all times.

In all things.

And in all places.

I'm not always perfect at it. But I am trying to do better one day at a time.

Book of Mormon Reading: Mosiah 3

My reading in Mosiah 3 today reminded me of the Christmas story: angel, glad tidings, great joy, rejoice, Mary, Jesus Christ.

It also reminded me of God's great plan of happiness: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; the Fall of Adam; the Atonement of Jesus Christ; resurrection; judgment.

And Mosiah 3 has helped me to better understand that God's word has always meant to be shared.

Because, "there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent" (Mosiah 3:17).

Book of Mormon Reading: Mosiah 1-2

There's a good reason that we believe that the Bible is the word of God as far as it is translated correctly (Article of Faith 1:8).

Some years ago, a family member of mine bought a Book of Mormon study guide book to help her along the way in understanding the Book of Mormon better. Along the way, she found herself upset at reading these words from King Benjamin:

And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you (Mosiah 2:22).

The word require bothered her a lot. I mean a lot! Because somehow, in the translation of her studies, require meant to "to demand," and how dare, she thought, that the Lord demand her to keep His commandments?

Interestingly, the meaning of the word require has changed over the years. In its beginnings, require came from the Old French word requerre which means to "seek, procure; beg, ask, petition;" the "re" part meaning repeatedly.

And while I do see God making strict His commands, I also see Him with His arms stretched out still.

Beckoning.

Calling.

Asking.

All He seeks of me is to keep His commandments, because His commandments keep me on the covenant path.

And the covenant path is what leads to His life. Even eternal life.

Book of Mormon Reading: Jacob 6-Words of Mormon

The story of Jacob and Sherem is instructive.

It teaches me that it is inevitable (because of an opposition in all things), that my faith in Jesus Christ, wherever it is currently on the spectrum of low to high, will be tried just as equally by the adversary, in hopes to shake me from my faith.

Like that one leaf, stuck up on on the branch, holding on for dear life while 26 kindergartners shake the trunk of the tree. . . .

Or riding that bucking bronco at the state fair . . .

Or praying for an answer to a question that hasn't come in weeks or months or years.

Jacob has taught me to see that there are people in my life who have had and are having their faith tried. I may not see it. I may not know it because they choose to remain strong and unshakable in the face of opposition.

Like He did for Jacob, God is pouring out His Spirit into their souls so that the power of the Holy Ghost is made manifest in their lives.

Book of Mormon Reading: Jacob 5

President Nelson has invited us to participate in the gathering of Israel!

Reading Jacob 5 today has given me greater insight and created a desire in me to be a part of what President Nelson has deemed “the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth today!"

Zenos's allegory teaches me that God loves us! He wants us to return to Him and He has done and continues to anything and everything He can to invite us to come unto Him.

And He extends His love, through us, to gather Israel and joy in the blessings that He is so willing and ready to give.

SOURCE

Book of Mormon Reading: Jacob 1-4

The writings of Jacob teach me that the word of God is not always about feeling peace and joy and love.

Although His word can and does heal the wounded soul, the harried mind, the heavy heart, His word can also be filled with rebuke, with chastisement, and with wrath for those who have made covenants with Him and have not kept His word.

Sometimes, as a parent, as a teacher, as a friend, as a saint of God, I have to share the word of God with those around me and it isn't always comfortable. Especially, when I am required to invite others to come to Him in a way that may seem too strict or too churchy.

Sometimes, as a parent, as a teacher, as a friend, and as a saint of God, others have to share His word with me and it's not comfortable because they need to chastise me for not doing as He has asked.

But I am learning that "the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls" (Jacob 4:13).

And when I learn to listen to and follow that Spirit in the way that God has intended for me, truly His words that are spoke and received are for the salvation of my soul.

Book of Mormon Reading: 2 Nephi 30-33

Satan works in darkness. He blurs our understanding of right and wrong, makes us numb to Godly promptings and intimations, lulls us into false assumptions, and leads us to filthy waters.

Revelation, then, is the key in thwarting Satan's ability to have power over us. Because revelation is about light and truth.

And because light and truth forsake the evil one (Doctrine and Covenants 93:37).

No wonder President Nelson taught us about the need for us to learn how to receive personal revelation in April General Conference:

Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.

My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. Let this Easter Sunday be a defining moment in your life. Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.

Book of Mormon Reading: 2 Nephi 27-29

Satan teaches in rage, with carnal security, in building flattery, through anger, and by cheating so he can grasp me with his awful chains.

Chains of spiritual death and hell.

Yet, in the midst of affliction, adversity, and chaos, God teaches me in peace.

He gives to me a little here; a little there.

He asks me to hear His counsel; to learn His wisdom.

So He can offer me more.

More of His word and more of His peace.

Book of Mormon Reading: 2 Nephi 26

Be convinced . . .that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God; And that He manifesteth himself unto all those who believe in him, by the power of the Holy Ghost; yea, unto every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, working mighty miracles, signs, and wonders, among the children of men according to their faith.

manifest: plain, open, clearly visible to the eye or obvious to the understanding; apparent; not obscure or difficult to be seen or understood.

Because I choose to believe Him, He does manifest Himself to me.

Plainly.

Through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Book of Mormon Reading: 2 Nephi 24-25

Redemption is about Grace.

God's grace.

Because without His grace, no matter what I do, no matter what I don't do, no matter how well (or badly) I live my life, I cannot be saved.

I cannot save myself.

It is by His grace that I am saved.

Book of Mormon Reading: 2 Nephi 15-23

Behold, 

God is my salvation; 

I will trust, 

and not be afraid; 

for the Lord Jehovah is my strength 

and my song; 

he also has become my salvation.

Book of Mormon Reading: 2 Nephi 9-14

If I did my counting correct, during Nephi's vision (1 Nephi 11-14), he refers to Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God 35 times.

In 2 Nephi 9, Jacob refers to the Savior The Holy One of Israel 10 times.

Holy.

The Webster's 1828 dictionary defines holy as applied to the Supreme Being as: "perfectly pure, immaculate and complete in moral character."

What strikes me is that Jacob writes that God is holy even knowing all things and seeing all things. 

This has made me wonder why I even think to myself, "Would I do this if Jesus was watching?" Of course He is watching! Of course He knows what I'm doing! He knows all the rotten things I do, say, and think, and yet, He still stays holy. 

He even watches all the evil and awful things I cannot even fathom, things that have happened, things that are happening, and things that will happen. 

And He is holy. 

Holy, still.

"O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it" (Jacob 9:20).

Book of Mormon Reading: 2 Nephi 7-8

The Lord God will help me.

Because He has helped me when I felt lonely.

He has helped when I was lost.

He has helped me when I was burdened.

He has helped me when I needed rebuke.

He has helped me when I stressed.

He has helped me when I needed comfort.

He has helped me in the face of danger, worry, loss, heartache, and impatience.

Yes, the Lord God will help me.

Book of Mormon Reading: 2 Nephi 2-3

God is a God of covenants.

Making a covenant with God means I want to be on His side of the line. It means I want to keep His rules of the game. It means I love His will more than I love mine.

And God allows us to enter into His covenants because He is good.

He is merciful.

He is faithful.

Book of Mormon Reading: 2 Nephi 1-2

I absolutely LOVE reading the doctrinal chapters in the Book of Mormon. But it wasn't always so.

When I was young, my mother would tell us stories from the Book of Mormon.

Nephi.

King Benjamin.

Ammon.

Captain Moroni.

Samuel the Lamanite.

And when I was baptized, my parents gave me one of those XXL blue cover editions of the Book of Mormon. On the front cover my mother wrote the following:

To our daughter, Darla. on her baptismal day,
We greatly appreciate you and love you very much. Always love Heavenly Father and keep His commandments. Remember to read your Book of Mormon, a scripture everyday, and Heavenly Father will bless you.
     Love you, Daddy and Mommy

I remember being SO excited to read the Book of Mormon at eight years old. But I soon realized that after the stories of leaving Jerusalem, the Brass Plates, the Broken Bow, and Building a Ship, there were a lot of other words that I didn't quite understand. . .  until I came to the story of Enos . . . then more stuff I didn't understand. . . . and then King Benjamin, and so forth and so on. It took so long for me to get to the stories I knew!

But over time, because I followed my mother's counsel to read the Book of Mormon every day (and I am sure I missed a lot of everydays), I began to see that those "words" in between the stories, contained plain and precious truths--the doctrines of the gospel.

2 Nephi 2 is on example where nearly every verse can be a study of doctrine in and of itself!

As I read 2 Nephi 2 today, I realized that one reason I LOVE this chapter is because it includes the three pillars of eternity: the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement.

Something I have been pondering today is this part of Lehi's counsel to his children:

1. Look to God
2. Hearken to His commandments
3. Be faithful to His words
4. Choose eternal life

Choose eternal life.

Interesting, don't you think? That even after looking, hearkening, and being faithful, I still must choose eternal life.

I must choose every. little. thing. along the way. Because making one right choice today doesn't mean I'll automatically make the right choice tomorrow.

Elder Dale G. Renlund said:

So, choose faith in Christ; choose repentance; choose to be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost; choose to conscientiously prepare for and worthily partake of the sacrament; choose to make covenants in the temple; and choose to serve the living God and His children. Our choices determine who we are and who we will become.

Book of Mormon Reading: 1 Nephi 18-22

Today in my reading, two words stood out in the middle of this verse:

And behold HE COMETH, according to the words of the angel, in six hundred years from the time my father left Jerusalem.

I share my witness that I know this to be true: Jesus Christ will come again.

I know it because of my faith in Who is He and the promises He has kept to me.

Book of Mormon Reading: 1 Nephi 15-17

A few things I have been pondering in my read today:

The first is how the Lord prepares me for future experiences, opportunities, and stewardship. But my preparation is contingent on my willingness to respond to His call. I learned something today that I have decided to call, in tribute to Nephi, "The Law of Go and Do."

In the story of the Brass Plates, Nephi was told where to GO to get the plates (back to Jerusalem), but he was not told how to DO it. It took a couple of tries until the Spirit intervened and gave Nephi explicit instructions for the plates to finally be acquired.

In the story of the Broken Bow, Nephi, finding himself and his family without food, decides that sitting around starving to death isn't they way he wants to die, so he forms a bow in with to find food (the DO part). Then, Nephi asks his father where he needs to go to find the food (the GO part).

Finally, we come to the story of the Ship Builder. To me, it is the culmination of the "go and do." Nephi, in this part of his leave-home-live in the wilderness-find-the-promised-land experience, is not only told how to build is ship, but is shown how to forge the tools wherewith to make the ship, how to get his brothers to help (quite shocking, if you ask me), and how to navigate through the waters to the promised land. All of this ultimately prepares Nephi to be a spiritual leader and founding colonizer for the entire Nephite civilization.

These instructive stories teach me that sometimes the Spirit will merely direct where I need to go; other times, the Spirit will direct me as what to do; and sometimes, I will be told what I should say and shown what to do.

The trick is to keep on going and doing, just as He asks.

* * *

The second point of pondering for me today has been that word murmur, found 30 times in the Book of Mormon, 20 of those in 1 and 2 Nephi! Murmur means "an expression of discontent by grumbling."

And I know where grumbling leads. Murmuring makes my heart see everything as an annoyance. Especially God's commandments. Too hard to do.

So here's the thing. Laman and Lemuel had some very legit questions regarding the things Lehi saw in his dream. I believe they very much wanted to know what their father's dream meant and how it affected them, just like Nephi did. But the difference was, Laman and Lemuel did not want to pay the price of knowing for themselves.

Nephi wrote that Lehi "truly spake many great things unto them, which were hard to be understood, save a man should inquire of the Lord; and they being hard in their hearts, therefore they [meaning Laman and Lemuel] did not look unto the Lord as they ought."

So 1 Nephi 15 is the watered-down version of the explanations to their questions from Nephi, the one who paid the price to know the grandeur of Lehi's vision. In essence, it is the second explanation (e.g. second witness) given to us about what Lehi's dream means.

And so, relevant to me, in this day of prophetic revelation, I incorporated that idea into the 9th Article of Faith, as a reminder for me to look with an eye of faith, to inquire of God, and look to Him in every thought (doubt not, fear not).

I believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and I believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God that will be hard to be understood unless I inquire of the Lord.

Book of Mormon Reading: 1 Nephi 13-14

In my Book of Mormon readying today, particularly in 1 Nephi 13, I have been pondering the great and marvelous revelations we have been given in the past 10 months through our prophet, President Russell M. Nelson.

I recognized today that it is in this manner that the Savior IS manifesting Himself in word, in power, and in deed.

His purpose? To take away our stumbling blocks.

Or, better said, to take away MY stumbling blocks.

In his "Beware of Pride" talk, President Ezra Taft Benson emphasized, "Pride is the great stumbling block to Zion. I repeat, pride is the great stumbling block to Zion."

How much I want to be a part of Zion! How much I want to be counted among those in His fold! So, I diligently try to strip myself of all pride that interferes from receiving His Holy Spirit and understanding His holy word.

But it's not as easy as I want it to be because of that dang, carnal woman part of me! That part always sets me back when I give into the enticings of the flesh, or heed the the enticings of the devil.

Yet, overcoming pride (that great stumbling block to Zion) IS attainable as I become a saint through the atonement of Christ. Because, as Elder Renlund taught, quoting Nelson Mandela, "A saint is a sinner who keeps on trying."

And as a child of God, I will try, try, try.

Book of Mormon Reading: 1 Nephi 11-12

Today I noticed that Lehi's descriptions of the Tree of Life are words that also describe the Savior in some way: beauty, exceedingly white, whiteness of the driven snow, precious above all.

I also pondered the role of righteous women. Righteous women testify of God in their actions, attitudes, and behaviors.

Book of Mormon Reading: 1 Nephi 6-10

I love that as individuals read the same words in the Book of Mormon, each person will glean different doctrines and principles according to current situations, circumstances, and challenges.

And I LOVE that the Book of Mormon, right off, introduces us to a family. A family who is trying to do the right having some challenges along the way. A family who has members struggling to do what the Lord has asked and other family members who don't.

Today as I read in 1 Nephi 8, I recognized that the covenant path must also be equipped with the word of God. In other words, no word of God, no covenant path.

Book of Mormon Reading: 1 Nephi 1-5

I am so very excited to follow President Russell M. Nelson's invitation to the women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

"Read the Book of Mormon between now and the end of the year and mark each verse which refers to the Savior . . . Doing so," he promised, "will invite blessings of increased inspiration, revelation and miracles by bringing you closer to the Savior."

I believe the promises made by prophets of God. And even though I was almost finished with the book of Mormon in the Book of Mormon, I started rereading the Book of Mormon all over again.  so I can read it all by December 31.

What I discovered in my first day of readying is that God, very much, wants to be a part of my life. And even though I think He is a part of my life, and I do my best to make Him a part of my life,  there is SO much more I can do to let Him in to play a bigger role in my mortal existence.

When I shared this idea with my sister, she made the observation that Nephi never left the Savior. And because Nephi never left the Savior, the Savior never left Nephi.

I am learning that the more I open my eyes to Christ's goodness, and as I willingly, choose to keep His commandments with full purpose of heart, I invite Him to be with me always.

The Plan of Salvation = The Great Plan of Happiness

My favorite depiction of the Plan of Salvation

"The three pillars of eternity, the three events, preeminent and transcendent above all others, are the creation, the fall, and the atonement. These three are the foundations upon which all things rest. Without any one of them all things would lose their purpose and meaning, and the plans and designs of Deity would come to naught.

"If there had been no creation, we would not be, neither the earth, nor any form of life upon its face. All things, all the primal elements, would be without form and void. God would have no spirit children; there would be no mortal probation; and none of us would be on the way to immortality and eternal life.

"If there had been no fall of man, there would not be a mortal probation. Mortal man would not be, nor would there be animals or fowls or fishes or life of any sort upon the earth. And, we repeat, none of us would be on the way to immortality and eternal life.

"If there had been no atonement of Christ, all things would be lost. The purposes of creation would vanish away. Lucifer would triumph over men and become the captain of their souls. And, we say it again, none of us would be on the way to immortality and eternal life.

"And so I now say: Come and let us reason together; let us reason as did righteous men of old that we may come to understanding.

"Come and hear us declare sound doctrine; let us declare it plainly and in power as do the angels of God in heaven.

"Come and let us testify of those things which God has made known to us; let us testify as do those whose souls are afire with the Spirit and who know by revelation of the truth and verity of their spoken word."

(See Bruce R. McConkie: The Three Pillars of  Eternity)

Two Ears to the Lord

In one of my most favorite chapters in 2 Nephi, Jacob writes this wise, cautionary statement:

To be learned is good IF they hearken to the counsels of God.

Three principles from this short statement stand out to me.

First, to be learned is good. Learning is part of our spiritual DNA. Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother are very pleased when we learn new things. They find joy when we increase and add upon the knowledge of things we already have learned.

Second, when we hearken to the Lord’s counsel, we won’t go astray. Knowledge and wisdom will be coupled with light and truth. “Light and truth forsake the evil one” (D&C 93:37).

Third, the word “ear” is smack dab in the middle of both the words “learned” and “hearken.” Maybe a coincidence that we were created with two ears, not one?

Learning and hearkening simultaneously takes practice. It takes faith. It takes action because listening with two ears doesn’t always come easily. Ask any of my children. One ear--out the other. One ear is not attuned to the counsels of God, is not hearkening. It's more like listening to and singing with your favorite song while trying to concentrate on a difficult math problem. Or teaching a child how to read while she is trying to figure out how to tie her shoes.

Learning and hearkening to the counsels of God requires the Spirit because "the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really care, and of things as they really will be" (Jacob 4:13).

For because when those two ears (learning and hearkening) are attuned to God, then "things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls" (Jacob 4:13).

Learning and hearkening to God = manifestations for the salvation of our souls.

But remember, Satan is a liar. Has been from the very beginning and He will try to take what is true and pit it again those things that are truth. He is especially effective when we are learning, but not hearkening.

Because what is true and what is truth are two different things.

A sister in Sunday School shared the difference of what is true and and is truth in this way:

These things are true: Having children ruin your body (and your hormones); Raising children is expensive; Children take up a lot of time and energy and money; You have to make some major sacrifices to have children; Cute, innocent babies grow up to be--teenagers!

These things are truths: Children are a sacred gift from a loving Father in Heaven; Children are part of God's eternal plan; Little children are alive in Christ; The only way a child can come to earth is by way of a man and a woman.

The things that are true can be taken by Satan, the father of all lies, and twisted. Twisted in a way that makes us think . . . well, you know what it makes us think. Because "whatsoever is more or less than this is the spirit of that wicked one who was a liar from the beginning" (D&C 93:25).

Things that are truth keep us in the right way.  For "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Light." And we can only know this as we hearken to His counsels.