1 nephi 20:1 - 22
how can peace be like a river? how can righteousness be like the waves of the sea?
--> the way peace comes into my life feels like a river washing over me. usually when i'm begging for peace, it's at a time when i need it the absolute most. the contrast, therefore is noticeable and comes over me like a river trickling from my head to my toes.
the waves of the sea are powerful. righteousness is a powerful force for good in the world. in church the other week, a boy got up and said, "i appreciate the influence of righteous women on other women and on men." i've been thinking a lot about this statement since then, and feel that the power of righteousness is often something we don't fully understand.
i had an interesting experience over christmas break to go to a fraternity party on new year's eve at the university of utah. this isn't meant to be a judgmental post about people that choose to attend to the fraternity lifestyle, but it's just something that i'm not comfortable with, and have chosen to stay away from. i was interested to see that as we walked around the frat house, people were physically turning away from us or walking away or hiding their head, etc. after leaving, i asked the boy i was with about this, and he said something to the effect of "they can sense your goodness" and are visibly uncomfortable with your righteousness. that took my by surprise. but i've been thinking this week about that power of a righteous woman that sticks to her standards and lives worthy of the spirit everyday. i'm far from perfect and have many, many ways i can be more righteous, but i was grateful for this reminder about the goodness that the Lord has blessed my life with, and the power that that goodness can be in the lives of others.
to read a killer talk about the power of righteousness, click here.
january.30
1 nephi 19:7-24
what actions show that you and your family have turned your hearts to the Lord?
--> "repentance: a turning of he heart and will to God" (bible dictionary). repentance is a daily way we can show that our hearts are turning to God. when we choose to repent, we are choosing to abandon things that are keeping the spirit away from us and allowing peace and goodness to come back into our lives. as the bible dictionary also says, this process brings "a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world." what isn't appealing about that?
to read a beautiful sermon about the divine gift of repentance, click here.
what actions show that you and your family have turned your hearts to the Lord?
--> "repentance: a turning of he heart and will to God" (bible dictionary). repentance is a daily way we can show that our hearts are turning to God. when we choose to repent, we are choosing to abandon things that are keeping the spirit away from us and allowing peace and goodness to come back into our lives. as the bible dictionary also says, this process brings "a fresh view about God, about oneself, and about the world." what isn't appealing about that?
to read a beautiful sermon about the divine gift of repentance, click here.
january.29
1 nephi 18:21 - 19:6
at this time in your life, what do you consider to be your personal "promised land"?
--> the temple. simply put.
at this time in your life, what do you consider to be your personal "promised land"?
--> the temple. simply put.
january.28
1 nephi 18:5 - 20
what do you think are some reasons we experience hardships?
--> being in the middle of the hardship of my life right now, i have done a lot of pondering and asking and thinking and praying about this very question. the other night, when i was at my wit's end, i read some things and watched some things and had some insights come to mind that were exactly what i needed to read. and those are what i would like to share tonight:
- "come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and i will give you rest." - he is speaking to ME: one who is carrying a burden too heavy for my own shoulders.
- we are given burdens that are too heavy because He wants us to come unto Him
- "i didn't know what 'needing Him' meant until i had no other choice."
- He's the only one who can make it bearable when life is simply anything but.
- if the foundation of faith is not embedded in our hearts, the power to endure will crumble. acting on even a twig of faith allows God to grow it. I WILL NOT FORSAKE THEE. the hardest of times can be pleasany. there are angels around us to beat us up. the way to rise above trials is to believe this. He's promised that angels are around us to bear us up and He always keeps His word.
if you'd like to read a brilliantly honest and deeply thought-provoking blog post (not by me) called "god will give you more than you can handle: i guarantee it", click here.
and here's one of my favorite mormon messages: mountains to climb, by henry b. eyring:
what do you think are some reasons we experience hardships?
--> being in the middle of the hardship of my life right now, i have done a lot of pondering and asking and thinking and praying about this very question. the other night, when i was at my wit's end, i read some things and watched some things and had some insights come to mind that were exactly what i needed to read. and those are what i would like to share tonight:
- "come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and i will give you rest." - he is speaking to ME: one who is carrying a burden too heavy for my own shoulders.
- we are given burdens that are too heavy because He wants us to come unto Him
- "i didn't know what 'needing Him' meant until i had no other choice."
- He's the only one who can make it bearable when life is simply anything but.
- if the foundation of faith is not embedded in our hearts, the power to endure will crumble. acting on even a twig of faith allows God to grow it. I WILL NOT FORSAKE THEE. the hardest of times can be pleasany. there are angels around us to beat us up. the way to rise above trials is to believe this. He's promised that angels are around us to bear us up and He always keeps His word.
if you'd like to read a brilliantly honest and deeply thought-provoking blog post (not by me) called "god will give you more than you can handle: i guarantee it", click here.
and here's one of my favorite mormon messages: mountains to climb, by henry b. eyring:
january.27
1 nephi 17:48 - 18:4
what ways has God provided a way for you to keep His commandments?
--> i am struck with verse 41 as i read tonight. it's speaking about the story of the people of moses, that were bitten with fiery serpents. verse 41 says that to be healed, "the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished." i feel like this applies to many of the commandments. sometimes they are so easy but we fail to see the way the Lord has provided for us to keep them because of that easiness. other times they seem really hard but again we fail to see the way the Lord has provided, which in turn makes it seem harder to keep them. does that make sense? it does in my head. all in all, i'm grateful for the Spirit that i have with me all the time (when i'm worthy of it and try not to drive it away) because it shows me the small and simple ways that Heavenly Father has prepared for me to keep all His commandments. i have a testimony that there is indeed a way to keep them all. He wouldn't command them if there wasn't.
to read a sweet article about looking and living, click here!
what ways has God provided a way for you to keep His commandments?
--> i am struck with verse 41 as i read tonight. it's speaking about the story of the people of moses, that were bitten with fiery serpents. verse 41 says that to be healed, "the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished." i feel like this applies to many of the commandments. sometimes they are so easy but we fail to see the way the Lord has provided for us to keep them because of that easiness. other times they seem really hard but again we fail to see the way the Lord has provided, which in turn makes it seem harder to keep them. does that make sense? it does in my head. all in all, i'm grateful for the Spirit that i have with me all the time (when i'm worthy of it and try not to drive it away) because it shows me the small and simple ways that Heavenly Father has prepared for me to keep all His commandments. i have a testimony that there is indeed a way to keep them all. He wouldn't command them if there wasn't.
to read a sweet article about looking and living, click here!
january.26
1 nephi 17:31 - 47
in what ways can you relate these verses to your life?
--> verse 36 says, "behold, the Lord God hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it."
i don't mean to get all go-green and earthy here, but really, we should all be a little more that way. Jesus Christ created this BEAUTIFUL earth for us to live on, and we could be better at taking care of it! (myself included) one of my absolute favorite things about utah is the nature here. i love living so close to the mountains. i love the sunrises and sunsets. right now with all this nasty air, i'm reminded just how much i love clear blue sky days and sun rays peeking through clouds. it's no mistake the earth is this way. Heavenly Father hand crafted the earth, just like He hand crafts our lives. he is so good to us.
in what ways can you relate these verses to your life?
--> verse 36 says, "behold, the Lord God hath created the earth that it should be inhabited; and he hath created his children that they should possess it."
i don't mean to get all go-green and earthy here, but really, we should all be a little more that way. Jesus Christ created this BEAUTIFUL earth for us to live on, and we could be better at taking care of it! (myself included) one of my absolute favorite things about utah is the nature here. i love living so close to the mountains. i love the sunrises and sunsets. right now with all this nasty air, i'm reminded just how much i love clear blue sky days and sun rays peeking through clouds. it's no mistake the earth is this way. Heavenly Father hand crafted the earth, just like He hand crafts our lives. he is so good to us.
january.25
1 nephi 17:17 - 30
nephi and his family were in the same circumstance, why do you think nephi consistently remained faithful when his family wavered?
--> simply put, nephi had taken the time in his life to understand the mind of God. he had so much faith in the promises of the Lord that nothing, not even persecution from those he loved most, could allow him to waver or turn from that which he knew to be right and good. THAT, my friends is my ultimate goal. if i can master that, i will be one happy lady.
nephi and his family were in the same circumstance, why do you think nephi consistently remained faithful when his family wavered?
--> simply put, nephi had taken the time in his life to understand the mind of God. he had so much faith in the promises of the Lord that nothing, not even persecution from those he loved most, could allow him to waver or turn from that which he knew to be right and good. THAT, my friends is my ultimate goal. if i can master that, i will be one happy lady.
january.24
1 nephi 17:1 - 16
what impressed you about nephi's response to the commandment given to him by the Lord?
--> it has always impressed me that after the Lord gave the commandment to build the ship, nephi didn't question at all. the first thing he asked was where to go to get the proper materials to make the rools. he didn't even expect the Lord to provide the tools themselves, he understood that the commandments of the Lord take work and effort on our part. nephi is so faithful. he has trained himself to follow the commandments of the Lord 100%.
i love 17:3 because it is proof of the promised blessing given in 3:7. observe:
1 nephi 3:7:
"...i will go and do the things that the Lord hath commanded, for i know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."
1 nephi 17:3:
"...if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness."
what impressed you about nephi's response to the commandment given to him by the Lord?
--> it has always impressed me that after the Lord gave the commandment to build the ship, nephi didn't question at all. the first thing he asked was where to go to get the proper materials to make the rools. he didn't even expect the Lord to provide the tools themselves, he understood that the commandments of the Lord take work and effort on our part. nephi is so faithful. he has trained himself to follow the commandments of the Lord 100%.
i love 17:3 because it is proof of the promised blessing given in 3:7. observe:
1 nephi 3:7:
"...i will go and do the things that the Lord hath commanded, for i know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."
1 nephi 17:3:
"...if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness."
january.23
1 nephi 16:17 - 39
what can you do to apply the principles you learned from these passages?
--> a theme in my scripture study this morning has been chastening. in our family scripture study this morning we were reading about the Lord chastening His people when they had gotten lazy in their resolve to follow Him. and now, in these verses, it talks all about nephi's brothers and lehi being chastened for murmuring and not trusting in the Lord that He would provide, as He had promised.
"the Lord loves whom He chastens". chasten means "to reprove, having a moderating effect on". though in the moment it is often not pleasant to be chastened, the Lord really does do it because He loves us. it's like a little wake up call to get back on track. He wants us to be perfect. and He has a perfectly crafted plan to help us get there. part of that plan calls for some reprimand here and there.
last week, the ence family children were given a little chastening by our ever-loving parents. for things that i knew i was slacking off in, and needed to be better at. at first i was defensive and proud. but in the coming days since, i've become grateful for the chastening because it's opened my eyes to some of the blessings i've been missing out on by neglecting to do some things around the house and for my mom and in my spiritual life. not in the moment, but a few days later, after that resentment subsided (and i repented, ha ha) i could really feel the love of my dad in the rebuke. it's an interesting concept.
verse 29 says, "by small means the Lord can bring about great things." this has application to so so so many things in my life, but since we are talking about chastening today, i'll say it applies there too. even a small chastening and reminder to get back on track can have great and lasting consequences in our lives.
i am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows exactly what i need and when i need it. my love for the Lord keeps me on the path. He IS the path. He is the way. He is the light. i love Him.
to read a dynamite address about chastening, click here. elder d. todd christofferson's "as many as i love, i rebuke and chasten."
what can you do to apply the principles you learned from these passages?
--> a theme in my scripture study this morning has been chastening. in our family scripture study this morning we were reading about the Lord chastening His people when they had gotten lazy in their resolve to follow Him. and now, in these verses, it talks all about nephi's brothers and lehi being chastened for murmuring and not trusting in the Lord that He would provide, as He had promised.
"the Lord loves whom He chastens". chasten means "to reprove, having a moderating effect on". though in the moment it is often not pleasant to be chastened, the Lord really does do it because He loves us. it's like a little wake up call to get back on track. He wants us to be perfect. and He has a perfectly crafted plan to help us get there. part of that plan calls for some reprimand here and there.
last week, the ence family children were given a little chastening by our ever-loving parents. for things that i knew i was slacking off in, and needed to be better at. at first i was defensive and proud. but in the coming days since, i've become grateful for the chastening because it's opened my eyes to some of the blessings i've been missing out on by neglecting to do some things around the house and for my mom and in my spiritual life. not in the moment, but a few days later, after that resentment subsided (and i repented, ha ha) i could really feel the love of my dad in the rebuke. it's an interesting concept.
verse 29 says, "by small means the Lord can bring about great things." this has application to so so so many things in my life, but since we are talking about chastening today, i'll say it applies there too. even a small chastening and reminder to get back on track can have great and lasting consequences in our lives.
i am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who knows exactly what i need and when i need it. my love for the Lord keeps me on the path. He IS the path. He is the way. He is the light. i love Him.
to read a dynamite address about chastening, click here. elder d. todd christofferson's "as many as i love, i rebuke and chasten."
january.22
1 nephi 16:1 - 16
what do you think it means that "the guilty taketh the truth to be hard"?
--> verse 3 explains this comment a little better: "and now my brethren, if ye were righteous and were willing to hearken to the truth and give heed unto it, that ye might walk uprightly before God, then ye would not murmur because of the truth and say: thou speakest hard things against us."
i'll give an example from my own life of how i've seen this principle to be true. i know that i should be reading my scriptures every single day. i've known it since i was 2. but do i do it everyday? no. studying the scriptures is something that's so hard for me for some reason. there have been periods in my life where i didn't struggle at all with this, and other times when i go weeks without opening the book. i hate that. during the times that i'm not reading, i find the commandment to read everyday SO hard. i find excuses and justifications and rationalize why i'm not doing it. and when anyone else talks about reading the scriptures or a cool insight they found or anything, i immediately put my defenses up and find reasons to justify myself because i feel guilty for not doing what i know is right and good. the guilt setting in is what makes the commandment seems difficult. when i'm not obeying the commandments, they seem hard and irrational.
on the flip side, when i AM following the commandments and doing what i know i should be doing, i am happy, at peace, and the commandments aren't so hard. do they take work? yes. but it goes back to that willingness that nephi talks about in verse 3 - when we are willing to give heed to the truth and listen to it with the intent to walk in God's right way and be pleasing to Him, then the commandments have purpose and meaning and don't seem so hard anymore. i think part of this is because we receive extra strength to complete and keep them, and part of this is because our understanding has grown, and we are able to overcome the natural man in us and see the greater purpose behind a commandment than just a restriction of an easier alternative.
does that make sense? it did in my brain... ;)
what do you think it means that "the guilty taketh the truth to be hard"?
--> verse 3 explains this comment a little better: "and now my brethren, if ye were righteous and were willing to hearken to the truth and give heed unto it, that ye might walk uprightly before God, then ye would not murmur because of the truth and say: thou speakest hard things against us."
i'll give an example from my own life of how i've seen this principle to be true. i know that i should be reading my scriptures every single day. i've known it since i was 2. but do i do it everyday? no. studying the scriptures is something that's so hard for me for some reason. there have been periods in my life where i didn't struggle at all with this, and other times when i go weeks without opening the book. i hate that. during the times that i'm not reading, i find the commandment to read everyday SO hard. i find excuses and justifications and rationalize why i'm not doing it. and when anyone else talks about reading the scriptures or a cool insight they found or anything, i immediately put my defenses up and find reasons to justify myself because i feel guilty for not doing what i know is right and good. the guilt setting in is what makes the commandment seems difficult. when i'm not obeying the commandments, they seem hard and irrational.
on the flip side, when i AM following the commandments and doing what i know i should be doing, i am happy, at peace, and the commandments aren't so hard. do they take work? yes. but it goes back to that willingness that nephi talks about in verse 3 - when we are willing to give heed to the truth and listen to it with the intent to walk in God's right way and be pleasing to Him, then the commandments have purpose and meaning and don't seem so hard anymore. i think part of this is because we receive extra strength to complete and keep them, and part of this is because our understanding has grown, and we are able to overcome the natural man in us and see the greater purpose behind a commandment than just a restriction of an easier alternative.
does that make sense? it did in my brain... ;)
january.21
1 nephi 15:19 - 36
in what ways do lehi's and nephi's visions show God's interest in you?
--> because we are God's children, He is absolutely interested in us. what i think is amazing about the account of lehi then nephi's visions is the great details the Lord will reveal, if we just ask. lehi had an amazing vision, but when nephi asked, he gained even more insight and explanation about it. the Lord wants us to know His mind, and will reveal things to us little by little, as we seek and ask. the age-old promise in the scriptures "ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you, seek and ye shall find" is so true, and this account is perfect evidence of that.
to read about how seeking and asking can help us to know our Heavenly Father better, click here.
in what ways do lehi's and nephi's visions show God's interest in you?
--> because we are God's children, He is absolutely interested in us. what i think is amazing about the account of lehi then nephi's visions is the great details the Lord will reveal, if we just ask. lehi had an amazing vision, but when nephi asked, he gained even more insight and explanation about it. the Lord wants us to know His mind, and will reveal things to us little by little, as we seek and ask. the age-old promise in the scriptures "ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you, seek and ye shall find" is so true, and this account is perfect evidence of that.
to read about how seeking and asking can help us to know our Heavenly Father better, click here.
january.20
1 nephi 15: 1 - 18
in 1 nephi 15:8 - 11, how can we apply nephi and his brother's experience to our lives?
--> in a world with instant answers to just about every question (google it!), it can be challenging at times to remember the process through which the Lord reveals His truths. often it is not an instantaneous reply to a fervent question. often we have to work for the answer. these verses particularly point out the importance of asking the question to begin with. sometimes we think about things and wonder and talk to people around us, but don't ever ask the Lord. how can we expect to get an answer to a question that's never been asked? as a side note, i would say the greatest revelations in my own life, and in the lives of prophets in the scriptures that i have studied, have come after a question is asked. let that be a lesson...
i love the promise nephi gives in verse 11: "if ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you." there are a lot of stipulations or requirements set forth in that verse, but the promise and the reward far outweigh the work it takes to get there. i can testify of this principle because it's happened in my own life time and time again. when i really want to know something and i dedicate the time and energy to research it and pray about it, asking the Lord my specific questions, when i choose to qualify myself for the answer by doing all the things listed in this verse, i am happy to receive what i have been looking for, and often much, much more.
if you'd like to read more about how to receive answers to your most difficult questions, click here.
in 1 nephi 15:8 - 11, how can we apply nephi and his brother's experience to our lives?
--> in a world with instant answers to just about every question (google it!), it can be challenging at times to remember the process through which the Lord reveals His truths. often it is not an instantaneous reply to a fervent question. often we have to work for the answer. these verses particularly point out the importance of asking the question to begin with. sometimes we think about things and wonder and talk to people around us, but don't ever ask the Lord. how can we expect to get an answer to a question that's never been asked? as a side note, i would say the greatest revelations in my own life, and in the lives of prophets in the scriptures that i have studied, have come after a question is asked. let that be a lesson...
i love the promise nephi gives in verse 11: "if ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you." there are a lot of stipulations or requirements set forth in that verse, but the promise and the reward far outweigh the work it takes to get there. i can testify of this principle because it's happened in my own life time and time again. when i really want to know something and i dedicate the time and energy to research it and pray about it, asking the Lord my specific questions, when i choose to qualify myself for the answer by doing all the things listed in this verse, i am happy to receive what i have been looking for, and often much, much more.
if you'd like to read more about how to receive answers to your most difficult questions, click here.
january.19
1 nephi 14:9 - 30
what does "armed with righteousness and with the power of God" mean to you?
--> when i hear the phrase "armed with righteousness", i can't help but think about being dressed in the armor of God. having the breastplate of righteousness, the sword of the spirit, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, and feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. when i picture myself clothed in all that, i picture myself ready to fight the battles of the day. the image of being armed with righteousness is pretty cool to picture. God is all powerful and all-knowing... so if i can qualify myself to have even a small measure of that power and righteousness with me everyday, well hey, that's pretty cool.
what does "armed with righteousness and with the power of God" mean to you?
--> when i hear the phrase "armed with righteousness", i can't help but think about being dressed in the armor of God. having the breastplate of righteousness, the sword of the spirit, the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, and feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. when i picture myself clothed in all that, i picture myself ready to fight the battles of the day. the image of being armed with righteousness is pretty cool to picture. God is all powerful and all-knowing... so if i can qualify myself to have even a small measure of that power and righteousness with me everyday, well hey, that's pretty cool.
january.18
1 nephi 13:40 - 14:8
fill in the blanks: if i follow the Lord, then...
if i refuse to follow the Lord, then...
--> if i follow the Lord, then my life will be full of peace, happiness, joy, and goodness. if i refuse to follow the Lord, then i disqualify myself from many of His blessings.
simple as that.
fill in the blanks: if i follow the Lord, then...
if i refuse to follow the Lord, then...
--> if i follow the Lord, then my life will be full of peace, happiness, joy, and goodness. if i refuse to follow the Lord, then i disqualify myself from many of His blessings.
simple as that.
january.17
1 nephi 13:28 - 39
what can we learn about the bible and the book of mormon in these verses?
--> all scripture has one purpose: to testify that Jesus is the Christ. verse 40 speaks to this: "...these last records... shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plan and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved"
i love the book of mormon. i love the bible. they go hand-in-hand in testifying that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. they are meant to be studied side by side, as companion records.
to read more about the book of mormon and how it complements the bible, click here.
what can we learn about the bible and the book of mormon in these verses?
--> all scripture has one purpose: to testify that Jesus is the Christ. verse 40 speaks to this: "...these last records... shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plan and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved"
i love the book of mormon. i love the bible. they go hand-in-hand in testifying that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. they are meant to be studied side by side, as companion records.
to read more about the book of mormon and how it complements the bible, click here.
january.16
1 nephi 13:10-27
how did the Lord prepare the way for the gospel to be restored?
--> the Lord's plan is perfect. everything that needed to happen to allow His true gospel to be restored, did. because it was such a vital part of His plan, it was carried out with exactness and perfect timing. particularly in this chapter, i like the mention of the scriptures. how there are many plain and precious truths that can be found inside. the coming forth of the book of mormon to restore many of these plain and precious truths was one of the most important things to come from the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. no matter how many times i hear it, i am always so touched when i read or hear about the restoration. if you'd like to read the account for yourself and learn how Christ's true and original church has once again been restored and brought back - in its fullness - to the face of the earth, click here.
how did the Lord prepare the way for the gospel to be restored?
--> the Lord's plan is perfect. everything that needed to happen to allow His true gospel to be restored, did. because it was such a vital part of His plan, it was carried out with exactness and perfect timing. particularly in this chapter, i like the mention of the scriptures. how there are many plain and precious truths that can be found inside. the coming forth of the book of mormon to restore many of these plain and precious truths was one of the most important things to come from the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ. no matter how many times i hear it, i am always so touched when i read or hear about the restoration. if you'd like to read the account for yourself and learn how Christ's true and original church has once again been restored and brought back - in its fullness - to the face of the earth, click here.
january.15
1 nephi 12:11 - 13:9
why do you think it's important to know that satan organizes his forces to lead us away from God and His laws?
--> when you are preparing an investigator to take the leap of faith and be baptized, one thing you always, always talk about with them is opposition. opposition always comes to those who are trying to do good. for a soon-to-be member of the church, i think it's important to be aware of this opposition because some can take it the wrong way... like, "if this is so hard and so many bad things are happening, maybe the choice to be baptized wasn't the right one after all", or "i thought accepting the gospel would make things work out better, not cause a load of hard things to come". it's just as important to understand the role of satan as it is to understand the role of the Savior in our lives - that way we can recognize when his influences are creeping into our lives, then be actively pursuing to resist them or combat them.
To read more about how you can serve the Lord and resist the devil more perfectly in your life, click here.
why do you think it's important to know that satan organizes his forces to lead us away from God and His laws?
--> when you are preparing an investigator to take the leap of faith and be baptized, one thing you always, always talk about with them is opposition. opposition always comes to those who are trying to do good. for a soon-to-be member of the church, i think it's important to be aware of this opposition because some can take it the wrong way... like, "if this is so hard and so many bad things are happening, maybe the choice to be baptized wasn't the right one after all", or "i thought accepting the gospel would make things work out better, not cause a load of hard things to come". it's just as important to understand the role of satan as it is to understand the role of the Savior in our lives - that way we can recognize when his influences are creeping into our lives, then be actively pursuing to resist them or combat them.
To read more about how you can serve the Lord and resist the devil more perfectly in your life, click here.
january.14
1 nephi 11:31 - 12:10
how does knowing about the Savior's sacrifice and love influence your feelings about Him?
--> i could say a lot about the Savior, but tonight i just want to share a favorite picture as of late:
how does knowing about the Savior's sacrifice and love influence your feelings about Him?
--> i could say a lot about the Savior, but tonight i just want to share a favorite picture as of late:
He IS the light, the life, and the love. the way. the only way.
january.13
1 nephi 11:12-30
how does knowing that God loves you provide direction in your life?
--> i have always loved the verse 17 which says, "i know that he loveth his children, nevertheless i do not know the meaning of all things."
of all the things that i know and believe, the knowledge i have that God loves me is the thing i have the strongest conviction of. i've thought about this a lot - how did i gain such a strong testimony that Heavenly Father actually knew me and loved me? it's something that is reinforced every. single. day. i can see evidences of God's love every single day. the times in my life where i've taken the time to record these evidences, or even just stop for a moment to think about them, have been some very happy times. when i take time to recognize them, i end up recognizing more and feeling more love and gratitude than before. the course of the Lord is surely one eternal round. always.
knowing that God loves me gives me incredible purpose and direction. specifically, i understand that whatever happens to me, happens for a very specific reason. because God is in control in my life, i can trust that everything will be ok, eventually. i know that His love will guide me through each day no matter what. i also appreciate the understanding that because God loves me, He will allow everything to happen to me that needs to to allow me to learn what i need to learn and return to live with Him again. God is perfect. God is good.
i've always loved romans 8:38-39 - "for i am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." that is so true. nothing, nothing nothing will ever separate us from the love of God.
how does knowing that God loves you provide direction in your life?
--> i have always loved the verse 17 which says, "i know that he loveth his children, nevertheless i do not know the meaning of all things."
of all the things that i know and believe, the knowledge i have that God loves me is the thing i have the strongest conviction of. i've thought about this a lot - how did i gain such a strong testimony that Heavenly Father actually knew me and loved me? it's something that is reinforced every. single. day. i can see evidences of God's love every single day. the times in my life where i've taken the time to record these evidences, or even just stop for a moment to think about them, have been some very happy times. when i take time to recognize them, i end up recognizing more and feeling more love and gratitude than before. the course of the Lord is surely one eternal round. always.
knowing that God loves me gives me incredible purpose and direction. specifically, i understand that whatever happens to me, happens for a very specific reason. because God is in control in my life, i can trust that everything will be ok, eventually. i know that His love will guide me through each day no matter what. i also appreciate the understanding that because God loves me, He will allow everything to happen to me that needs to to allow me to learn what i need to learn and return to live with Him again. God is perfect. God is good.
i've always loved romans 8:38-39 - "for i am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." that is so true. nothing, nothing nothing will ever separate us from the love of God.
january.12
1 nephi 10:11 - 11:11
what do you think it means to diligently seek?
--> i have lots of thoughts about this subject, but i loved what @eserenity7 wrote on the instagram feed comments today. enjoy for yourself: "i think to diligently seek means that we need to search until we find something that speaks to us. the mysteries of god will be unfolded. in other words there are little treasures or tender mercies hidden all over in the scriptures if we will diligently seek them. i like that when nephi was taken away by the spirit he was asked if he believed what his father saw. the spirit knew he believed but he needed to have nephi say it too. the Lord also knows our hearts but he needs us to be proactive and tell him so he can help us. we need to hear that we believe much more than he needs to hear it. sometimes we are our own worst enemies and if we just speak with the Lord through prayer and reading scriptures, we will be blessed."
what do you think it means to diligently seek?
--> i have lots of thoughts about this subject, but i loved what @eserenity7 wrote on the instagram feed comments today. enjoy for yourself: "i think to diligently seek means that we need to search until we find something that speaks to us. the mysteries of god will be unfolded. in other words there are little treasures or tender mercies hidden all over in the scriptures if we will diligently seek them. i like that when nephi was taken away by the spirit he was asked if he believed what his father saw. the spirit knew he believed but he needed to have nephi say it too. the Lord also knows our hearts but he needs us to be proactive and tell him so he can help us. we need to hear that we believe much more than he needs to hear it. sometimes we are our own worst enemies and if we just speak with the Lord through prayer and reading scriptures, we will be blessed."
january.11
1 nephi 9:1 - 10:10
what would happen to mankind if they did not rely on the Savior?
--> i'm not as concerned about what would happen to mankind as a whole if they didn't rely on the Savior as i am concerned about what would happen to me if i didn't rely on the Savior. verse 6 says that we would ever be in a lost and fallen state if we didn't rely on the Savior. thinking about my own life, the times when i'm not as consistent as i should be in following the Savior with exactness, i do feel lost. things in my life don't work out the smooth way i envision. i feel uneasy. usually it's not until after the fact that i realize that things aren't working out as they should because i'm not following the Savior as i should. if everyone in the world recognized Him as their personal Savior, the world would be a happier place. if everyone in the world would take that recognition of the Savior and use it to motivate them to act in a holier, happier way, think about the rise in morality and goodness that would occur. i love the Savior.
what would happen to mankind if they did not rely on the Savior?
--> i'm not as concerned about what would happen to mankind as a whole if they didn't rely on the Savior as i am concerned about what would happen to me if i didn't rely on the Savior. verse 6 says that we would ever be in a lost and fallen state if we didn't rely on the Savior. thinking about my own life, the times when i'm not as consistent as i should be in following the Savior with exactness, i do feel lost. things in my life don't work out the smooth way i envision. i feel uneasy. usually it's not until after the fact that i realize that things aren't working out as they should because i'm not following the Savior as i should. if everyone in the world recognized Him as their personal Savior, the world would be a happier place. if everyone in the world would take that recognition of the Savior and use it to motivate them to act in a holier, happier way, think about the rise in morality and goodness that would occur. i love the Savior.
january.10
1 nephi 8:16 - 38
what can we do to "continually hold fast" to the word of god?
--> consistency is the key in everything gospel related. once in seminary, our teacher did this visual where he put one week's worth of toothpaste on a toothbrush and asked a kid in our class to brush his teeth with it. as you can imagine it was a disgusting, frothy mess. after he got cleaned up, we talked about how brushing your teeth once a week just doesn't cut it... even if you do use a week's worth amount of toothpaste on the brush. he compared that to reading the scriptures. reading 10 chapters on a sunday afternoon just isn't enough to carry you through the week.
i can totally feel that in my life. i'll be honest, there have been times in my life that i have much more diligent in my scripture study than i currently am (but this challenge is helping a ton!!). during times of consistency, though, i find myself totally immersed in what i'm reading and looking forward to the next time i get to read, rather than looking at is as a chore. in this crazy world we live in, there just isn't room for inconsistency. we HAVE to fight the battle and daily, consistent scripture study is one way to build that armor so we are prepared.
president scott once said that character is built through CONSISTENT, CORRECT CHOICES. i believe that now more than ever.
what can we do to "continually hold fast" to the word of god?
--> consistency is the key in everything gospel related. once in seminary, our teacher did this visual where he put one week's worth of toothpaste on a toothbrush and asked a kid in our class to brush his teeth with it. as you can imagine it was a disgusting, frothy mess. after he got cleaned up, we talked about how brushing your teeth once a week just doesn't cut it... even if you do use a week's worth amount of toothpaste on the brush. he compared that to reading the scriptures. reading 10 chapters on a sunday afternoon just isn't enough to carry you through the week.
i can totally feel that in my life. i'll be honest, there have been times in my life that i have much more diligent in my scripture study than i currently am (but this challenge is helping a ton!!). during times of consistency, though, i find myself totally immersed in what i'm reading and looking forward to the next time i get to read, rather than looking at is as a chore. in this crazy world we live in, there just isn't room for inconsistency. we HAVE to fight the battle and daily, consistent scripture study is one way to build that armor so we are prepared.
president scott once said that character is built through CONSISTENT, CORRECT CHOICES. i believe that now more than ever.
january.9
1 nephi 7:16 - 8:15
in 1 nephi 8:12, how can you relate to lehi's feelings in your life?
--> i have a strong belief that when we experience good things in life: joy, peace, love, happiness, and other healthy emotions, we naturally want to share them with someone. often those emotions are the result of an interaction or experience shared with someone in the first place. but i know that when something truly makes me happy or excited, i want to tell everyone i love about it. when lehi partakes of the fruit of the tree of life and feels that "exceedingly great joy", it's perfectly fitting that he immediately wants to share it. i think that says a lot about his character and his values.
a time in my life when i felt this way was as a full-time missionary. i served in the beautiful city of calgary, canada, and i can never remember a time in my life when i was so excited to talk about the gospel and share the joy with everyone i came in contact with. there is a quote in preach my gospel that says "as your understanding of the atonement grows, your desire to share the gospel will increase". i believe that with all my heart. as we come to recognize the important, special parts about this life and the experiences we can have when we choose Jesus Christ to be our Savior, we naturally want other people to experience those too.
one of the best, most fulfilling ways i've been able to experience joy in my life is by serving others. to read about how this can bless your life more, click here.
in 1 nephi 8:12, how can you relate to lehi's feelings in your life?
--> i have a strong belief that when we experience good things in life: joy, peace, love, happiness, and other healthy emotions, we naturally want to share them with someone. often those emotions are the result of an interaction or experience shared with someone in the first place. but i know that when something truly makes me happy or excited, i want to tell everyone i love about it. when lehi partakes of the fruit of the tree of life and feels that "exceedingly great joy", it's perfectly fitting that he immediately wants to share it. i think that says a lot about his character and his values.
a time in my life when i felt this way was as a full-time missionary. i served in the beautiful city of calgary, canada, and i can never remember a time in my life when i was so excited to talk about the gospel and share the joy with everyone i came in contact with. there is a quote in preach my gospel that says "as your understanding of the atonement grows, your desire to share the gospel will increase". i believe that with all my heart. as we come to recognize the important, special parts about this life and the experiences we can have when we choose Jesus Christ to be our Savior, we naturally want other people to experience those too.
one of the best, most fulfilling ways i've been able to experience joy in my life is by serving others. to read about how this can bless your life more, click here.
january.8
1 nephi 7:1-15
how can youth prepare now to marry and raise up children in the gospel? what spoke to you in these verses?
--> verse 9 is one of the most important questions nephi asks his brothers in all his interactions with them. he says, "how is it that ye have not hearkened unto the word of the Lord?" in speaking about how to raise children and prepare for marriage and a family, i would say the number one lifeskill that would be of most importance would be an ability to interact with the Lord. this includes listening to and obeying the words of the Lord, as they are written or delivered through His inspired servants, but more importantly, learning how to communicate with God. the relationship between God and an individual is the most sacred, pure, and important relationship that can be developed and nurtured in this life. it's like the old, familiar proverb: "give a man a fish, feed him for a day. teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime." we could also say "give a man an answer, satisfy him for a moment. teach a man to pray to find an answer, satisfy him for a lifetime." the most important thing i can teach my children is how to ask questions to the Lord and listen for answers, how to communicate with their Heavenly Father.
want to read more about how a personal relationship with Heavenly Father can bless your life? click here.
how can youth prepare now to marry and raise up children in the gospel? what spoke to you in these verses?
--> verse 9 is one of the most important questions nephi asks his brothers in all his interactions with them. he says, "how is it that ye have not hearkened unto the word of the Lord?" in speaking about how to raise children and prepare for marriage and a family, i would say the number one lifeskill that would be of most importance would be an ability to interact with the Lord. this includes listening to and obeying the words of the Lord, as they are written or delivered through His inspired servants, but more importantly, learning how to communicate with God. the relationship between God and an individual is the most sacred, pure, and important relationship that can be developed and nurtured in this life. it's like the old, familiar proverb: "give a man a fish, feed him for a day. teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime." we could also say "give a man an answer, satisfy him for a moment. teach a man to pray to find an answer, satisfy him for a lifetime." the most important thing i can teach my children is how to ask questions to the Lord and listen for answers, how to communicate with their Heavenly Father.
want to read more about how a personal relationship with Heavenly Father can bless your life? click here.
january.7
1 nephi 5:7 - 6:6
how has your life been blessed by "searching" the book of mormon daily?
--> there are a few ways i have approached reading the book of mormon. 1. giving myself a specific time to read, and doing the math accordingly i.e. finish in 3 months. 2. deciding to read just one chapter a night until i finish. 3. deciding to read a set time a day until i finish. 4. reading from cover to cover in one sitting (ok, it was more like 9 hours a day, and took me 4 days). while i will say there are benefits to reading from start to finish (like we are doing right now, with this challenge), i will also say that the most meaningful of my scripture experiences have been when i have truly been searching for an answer - not reading from start to finish, but pieces here and there.
the most effective way, in my opinion, to read the book of mormon, is when you come with a question. then, whether you use the index to conduct a topic-specific search, or just open to a random spot and start reading, you will always find the answer you are seeking. i can say that with confidence, because it's worked with 100% success rate for me. the book of mormon is there to answer questions. questions about spirituality, questions about religious matters, questions about work and family, questions about temporal matters, everything. the book wouldn't be useful or applicable to us today if it didn't answer the questions that are in our hearts.
all that being said, there's also something to say about consistent, daily scripture study. if you have a question and read for a week, then don't touch them again for 3 months until you have another question, they won't do you much good. best practice is to read them consistently every day. that way, they can fill you up with that extra measure of spirituality you need every single day. i'm not perfect at reading every single day, but i for sure have a testimony that consistency really does make all the difference!
don't know where to start? check out the answers to these more common questions:
- is there a God? alma 22 - pg. 263
- what does Jesus Christ expect of me? 2 nephi 9 - pg. 72
- how can a belief in Jesus Christ help me? alma 36 - pg. 297
- is there life after death? alma 40 - pg. 307
- what is the purpose of life? alma 34 - pg. 293
- why does God allow evil and suffering to occur? 2 nephi 2 - pg. 56
- does my infant need to be baptized? moroni 8 - pg. 525
- does God know me? alma 5:38, 58 - pg. 217
- does God answer prayers? enos 1 - pg. 136
- how can i find peace and joy? mosiah 2, 4 - pg. 147 and 154
- how can i balance my family and career? 3 nephi 13 - pg. 433
- how can i strengthen my relationship with my spouse? 3 nephi 14 - pg. 435
- how can i avoid the evils that threaten my family? alma 39 - pg. 305
- how can i avoid sin? helaman 5 - pg. 377
how has your life been blessed by "searching" the book of mormon daily?
--> there are a few ways i have approached reading the book of mormon. 1. giving myself a specific time to read, and doing the math accordingly i.e. finish in 3 months. 2. deciding to read just one chapter a night until i finish. 3. deciding to read a set time a day until i finish. 4. reading from cover to cover in one sitting (ok, it was more like 9 hours a day, and took me 4 days). while i will say there are benefits to reading from start to finish (like we are doing right now, with this challenge), i will also say that the most meaningful of my scripture experiences have been when i have truly been searching for an answer - not reading from start to finish, but pieces here and there.
the most effective way, in my opinion, to read the book of mormon, is when you come with a question. then, whether you use the index to conduct a topic-specific search, or just open to a random spot and start reading, you will always find the answer you are seeking. i can say that with confidence, because it's worked with 100% success rate for me. the book of mormon is there to answer questions. questions about spirituality, questions about religious matters, questions about work and family, questions about temporal matters, everything. the book wouldn't be useful or applicable to us today if it didn't answer the questions that are in our hearts.
all that being said, there's also something to say about consistent, daily scripture study. if you have a question and read for a week, then don't touch them again for 3 months until you have another question, they won't do you much good. best practice is to read them consistently every day. that way, they can fill you up with that extra measure of spirituality you need every single day. i'm not perfect at reading every single day, but i for sure have a testimony that consistency really does make all the difference!
don't know where to start? check out the answers to these more common questions:
- is there a God? alma 22 - pg. 263
- what does Jesus Christ expect of me? 2 nephi 9 - pg. 72
- how can a belief in Jesus Christ help me? alma 36 - pg. 297
- is there life after death? alma 40 - pg. 307
- what is the purpose of life? alma 34 - pg. 293
- why does God allow evil and suffering to occur? 2 nephi 2 - pg. 56
- does my infant need to be baptized? moroni 8 - pg. 525
- does God know me? alma 5:38, 58 - pg. 217
- does God answer prayers? enos 1 - pg. 136
- how can i find peace and joy? mosiah 2, 4 - pg. 147 and 154
- how can i balance my family and career? 3 nephi 13 - pg. 433
- how can i strengthen my relationship with my spouse? 3 nephi 14 - pg. 435
- how can i avoid the evils that threaten my family? alma 39 - pg. 305
- how can i avoid sin? helaman 5 - pg. 377
january.6
1 nephi 4:20 - 5:6
what can you gain from today's verses?
--> today when i was reading, something stuck out to me that hasn't before. i always thought this story was a little comical, how nephi somehow manages to get laban's clothes off and wears them (were they not stained in blood?!) then walks around imitating him. it's all for a good cause because that was the way that the Lord provided, but it's no wonder to me that the brothers started running when they say nephi-laban coming towards them. what i love though, is in verse 29 where it says, "i called out to them, and they did hear me; wherefore they did cease to flee from my presence."
it reminded me of brother balfe from skyline seminary. he told us a story of a crazy wrestling meet that he competed in. there was so much yelling and noise and he was so shaken up, but through the crowd he could hear the voice of his dad quietly cheering him on. it wasn't that his dad's voice was loud or excessive, but because bro. balfe recognized the voice, he could hear it and was calm, even though he couldn't see his dad.
to me there is power in a voice. everyone has such a unique voice (which is intriguing and a topic for another day), and when we hear a voice we recognize, we immediately feel something. i love in these verses that it is the voice of nephi that calms his brothers and lets them know everything is ok, even when he is still too far to be seen in detail. of course the ultimate voice we should be striving to hear is the voice of the spirit - when we come to recognize that one, life is filled with more peace. i testify of that.
what can you gain from today's verses?
--> today when i was reading, something stuck out to me that hasn't before. i always thought this story was a little comical, how nephi somehow manages to get laban's clothes off and wears them (were they not stained in blood?!) then walks around imitating him. it's all for a good cause because that was the way that the Lord provided, but it's no wonder to me that the brothers started running when they say nephi-laban coming towards them. what i love though, is in verse 29 where it says, "i called out to them, and they did hear me; wherefore they did cease to flee from my presence."
it reminded me of brother balfe from skyline seminary. he told us a story of a crazy wrestling meet that he competed in. there was so much yelling and noise and he was so shaken up, but through the crowd he could hear the voice of his dad quietly cheering him on. it wasn't that his dad's voice was loud or excessive, but because bro. balfe recognized the voice, he could hear it and was calm, even though he couldn't see his dad.
to me there is power in a voice. everyone has such a unique voice (which is intriguing and a topic for another day), and when we hear a voice we recognize, we immediately feel something. i love in these verses that it is the voice of nephi that calms his brothers and lets them know everything is ok, even when he is still too far to be seen in detail. of course the ultimate voice we should be striving to hear is the voice of the spirit - when we come to recognize that one, life is filled with more peace. i testify of that.
january.5
1 nephi 4:1 - 19
what is important about the phrase "nevertheless i went forth"?
--> i have always loved verse 6 in this chapter: "and i was led by the spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which i should do." the very next phrase is "nevertheless, i went forth". in common english this translates to me as "hey, we've been asked to go to this crazy man who wants to kill us and get this record that god says is important. we tried before and almost lost our lives. we tried again and almost lost our lives again. now, we've promised god that we will do this, so we better do it. i have no idea what's going to happen, and i have no action plan, but i'm going to do it anyway." i think this further proves his testimony that what the Lord asks and requires, he WILL provide a way. nephi never lost faith in that, even when it was hard and when his brothers weren't so sure the Lord was going to pull through. it wasn't until after nephi went forth that he found out what the plan was - when he found laban on the ground drunk as a skunk. the Lord of course pulled through on his end of the bargain, but nephi didn't receive the confirmation of his faith until he took a step into the dark.
it's like elder bednar always talks about - faith is assurance that leads to action which leads to evidence. we know enough of the will of god to act on something he's asked us to do, then we take a step into the dark and do it, THEN (and usually only then) we see the evidence, which builds our assurance, and the process continues.
i always love the story of joshua and his people as they are carrying the arc of the covenant and have to cross a river. they had the faith that the Lord would fulfill His promises that they would escape safely, but didn't know how. before the Lord could provide them the miracle though, they had to step into the river. they were nearly ankle deep before the water split and they crossed on dry ground. so often in life we have to "get our feet wet" by "nevertheless going forth" before the answers are revealed. and hey, i'm grateful for that principle, it makes the assurance that much sweeter!
if you want to read a brilliant talk about the process of assurance-action-evidence to build your faith, click here.
what is important about the phrase "nevertheless i went forth"?
--> i have always loved verse 6 in this chapter: "and i was led by the spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which i should do." the very next phrase is "nevertheless, i went forth". in common english this translates to me as "hey, we've been asked to go to this crazy man who wants to kill us and get this record that god says is important. we tried before and almost lost our lives. we tried again and almost lost our lives again. now, we've promised god that we will do this, so we better do it. i have no idea what's going to happen, and i have no action plan, but i'm going to do it anyway." i think this further proves his testimony that what the Lord asks and requires, he WILL provide a way. nephi never lost faith in that, even when it was hard and when his brothers weren't so sure the Lord was going to pull through. it wasn't until after nephi went forth that he found out what the plan was - when he found laban on the ground drunk as a skunk. the Lord of course pulled through on his end of the bargain, but nephi didn't receive the confirmation of his faith until he took a step into the dark.
it's like elder bednar always talks about - faith is assurance that leads to action which leads to evidence. we know enough of the will of god to act on something he's asked us to do, then we take a step into the dark and do it, THEN (and usually only then) we see the evidence, which builds our assurance, and the process continues.
i always love the story of joshua and his people as they are carrying the arc of the covenant and have to cross a river. they had the faith that the Lord would fulfill His promises that they would escape safely, but didn't know how. before the Lord could provide them the miracle though, they had to step into the river. they were nearly ankle deep before the water split and they crossed on dry ground. so often in life we have to "get our feet wet" by "nevertheless going forth" before the answers are revealed. and hey, i'm grateful for that principle, it makes the assurance that much sweeter!
if you want to read a brilliant talk about the process of assurance-action-evidence to build your faith, click here.
january.4
1 nephi 3:9 - 31
what do the scriptures contain that is valuable to you? why?
--> i have often thought about why nephi and his brothers go to such great lengths to get this record from laban. what was it about the records that was so important that they risked their lives to obtain them? if you skip forward a few chapters to 1 nephi 5, it talks about all the things contained in that record, then in verse 21-22 it says, "and we had obtained the records which the Lord had commanded us, and searched them and found that they were desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the commandments of the Lord unto our children. wherefore it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise." they were able to gain a personal testimony that the things in the record were beneficial and necessary for their lives. if i were nephi and asked to go on that crazy journey to get the plates, give up all my worldly possessions, then have my life threatened by laban multiple times, the scriptures sure as heck better contain something amazing. and they did. they do. nephi also comments that the words in that record "neither should be dimmed any more by time"... meaning they are still applicable today.
as a latter-day-saint, when i refer to "scriptures", i am referring to 4 books: the bible, the book of mormon, the doctrine and covenants, and the pearl of great price. we call these the "standard works". i believe that they should be a part of our lives everyday. the scriptures contain inspired words from prophets long ago, and some not so long ago. why do i love reading the scriptures? because even though they were written hundreds, sometimes thousands of years ago, the principles of life and salvation are the same, no matter who you are or what time period you live in. the principles are universal and unending. everlasting and unchanging. because God is universal and unending. everlasting and unchanging. so when i open the book of mormon up, sure, i may be reading about a family that is crossing the plains to get to a promised land... but i find so much peace and comfort and direction through their examples and principles that are taught through their journey. i can for sure tell a difference on the days where i don't read my scriptures - i feel more irritated, less productive, lazier, and grumpier. i know that the scriptures have blessed my life in countless ways, and find that no matter what questions i have, i always find an answer in some way either in the words i read, or in the spirit i feel as i am reading.
want to learn more about why studying the scriptures could be important to you? click here.
what do the scriptures contain that is valuable to you? why?
--> i have often thought about why nephi and his brothers go to such great lengths to get this record from laban. what was it about the records that was so important that they risked their lives to obtain them? if you skip forward a few chapters to 1 nephi 5, it talks about all the things contained in that record, then in verse 21-22 it says, "and we had obtained the records which the Lord had commanded us, and searched them and found that they were desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the commandments of the Lord unto our children. wherefore it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise." they were able to gain a personal testimony that the things in the record were beneficial and necessary for their lives. if i were nephi and asked to go on that crazy journey to get the plates, give up all my worldly possessions, then have my life threatened by laban multiple times, the scriptures sure as heck better contain something amazing. and they did. they do. nephi also comments that the words in that record "neither should be dimmed any more by time"... meaning they are still applicable today.
as a latter-day-saint, when i refer to "scriptures", i am referring to 4 books: the bible, the book of mormon, the doctrine and covenants, and the pearl of great price. we call these the "standard works". i believe that they should be a part of our lives everyday. the scriptures contain inspired words from prophets long ago, and some not so long ago. why do i love reading the scriptures? because even though they were written hundreds, sometimes thousands of years ago, the principles of life and salvation are the same, no matter who you are or what time period you live in. the principles are universal and unending. everlasting and unchanging. because God is universal and unending. everlasting and unchanging. so when i open the book of mormon up, sure, i may be reading about a family that is crossing the plains to get to a promised land... but i find so much peace and comfort and direction through their examples and principles that are taught through their journey. i can for sure tell a difference on the days where i don't read my scriptures - i feel more irritated, less productive, lazier, and grumpier. i know that the scriptures have blessed my life in countless ways, and find that no matter what questions i have, i always find an answer in some way either in the words i read, or in the spirit i feel as i am reading.
want to learn more about why studying the scriptures could be important to you? click here.
january.3
1 nephi 2:16 - 3:8
when have you felt the Lord "prepared a way" for you to keep one of His commandments? 1 nephi 3:7: "and it came to pass that i nephi said unto my father, i will go and do the things that the Lord has commanded, for i know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men, save he shall prepare for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commanded them."
--> i can't think of one specific example of when i've been prepared to keep a commandment, but i do have a strong testimony and belief in this verse. i find that when i choose to follow a commandment, the blessings just POUR out of heaven. i am so grateful for the many confirmations i have been given that the things we are asked to do as members of this church are indeed inspired and the Lord will ALWAYS prepare a way for them to be accomplished in our own individual lives and ways.
if you want to read a sweet talk about how the Lord will always prepare a way, click here.
when have you felt the Lord "prepared a way" for you to keep one of His commandments? 1 nephi 3:7: "and it came to pass that i nephi said unto my father, i will go and do the things that the Lord has commanded, for i know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men, save he shall prepare for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commanded them."
--> i can't think of one specific example of when i've been prepared to keep a commandment, but i do have a strong testimony and belief in this verse. i find that when i choose to follow a commandment, the blessings just POUR out of heaven. i am so grateful for the many confirmations i have been given that the things we are asked to do as members of this church are indeed inspired and the Lord will ALWAYS prepare a way for them to be accomplished in our own individual lives and ways.
if you want to read a sweet talk about how the Lord will always prepare a way, click here.
january.2
1 nephi 1:16 - 2:15
what can we learn from lehi offering thanks after leaving behind his home and belongings?
--> "his soul did rejoice, and his whole heart was filled." lehi recognized a greater plan than the one his family was living. he also knew enough of the mind of the Lord to recognize that there's more to life than worldly posessions. the Lord was going to preserve them and take them to a place that would be safer. lehi recognized the importance of sacrificing the worldly for what would have lasting significance.
what can we learn from lehi offering thanks after leaving behind his home and belongings?
--> "his soul did rejoice, and his whole heart was filled." lehi recognized a greater plan than the one his family was living. he also knew enough of the mind of the Lord to recognize that there's more to life than worldly posessions. the Lord was going to preserve them and take them to a place that would be safer. lehi recognized the importance of sacrificing the worldly for what would have lasting significance.
january.1
1 nephi 1:1-15
what is the role of a prophet?
--> "prophet: a person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God."
--> record revelations, testify of truth, pray for his people, preside over the church, receive revelation for the people, follow obediently, teach what he knows, forewarn the people of impending danger, interpret visions and dreams, seek knowledge, apply what he learns, serve, love, inspire.
want to learn more about a living prophet in our day? click here.
what is the role of a prophet?
--> "prophet: a person regarded as an inspired teacher or proclaimer of the will of God."
--> record revelations, testify of truth, pray for his people, preside over the church, receive revelation for the people, follow obediently, teach what he knows, forewarn the people of impending danger, interpret visions and dreams, seek knowledge, apply what he learns, serve, love, inspire.
want to learn more about a living prophet in our day? click here.
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