Friday, March 27, 2009

It Just Makes Sense

2 Nephi 2 is on my list of favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon. Lehi explains the Plan of Salvation so perfectly: It Just Makes Sense.
Also one of my top ten favorite scriptures is in this chapter: 2 Nephi 2:30, it voices my sentiments about the way I teach my children and the reasons I teach them about the gospel. I'm sure parents everywhere can echo his words in this verse. -- Love it!

Friday, March 6, 2009

Here a Little, and There a Little 1 Nephi Chapter 11

The concept of line upon line, precept upon precept has been reaffirmed to me again today. When the Spirit of the Lord Nephi if he understood the mission of the Savior his reply in verse 17 reads: "And I said until him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things."
Even Nephi, a spiritual giant had to learn little by little.
He started our first knowing that God loved him, and from there his knowledge was taken to unimaginable heights. By knowing just that very basic principle so many other things can be unfolded to our minds.
First: Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ -- The rest after that comes as we are ready for it.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

What Time is It? 1 Nephi Chapter 10

In today's reading I thought about the children of Israel, how they wandered in the desert for 40+ years, how they were carried captive in to Babylon and how they have been scattered over the earth.
Verse 3 reads: "That after...the own due time of the Lord, they should return again...and possess again the land of their inheritance."
I think about my own trials and experience that I'm gaining; I know they only end or become fully understood after the due time of the Lord. And I think that I probably echo the sentiments of the house of Israel in asking periodically: OK Lord, what time is it exactly? 'Cause I'm pretty sure I'm done with this one... (sigh)... Only to wait it out just a bit more.
I was also thinking about a testimony that I heard in church on Sunday from Brother Johnson where he stated that the church is so true that we are asked to gain a testimony of our very own. I really like that! Even the great prophet Nephi practiced this. In verse 17 we learn that after his father had prophesied regarding the house of Israel and the coming of the Messiah, Nephi was desirous to know by the Spirit if what his father said was true, so he took it to the Lord to find out for himself. Based on several years of reading the scriptures, I know what comes next chapter, so I can tell you that the Spirit confirms all that his father had told him. What a huge blessing it is to have that ability. To have a member of the Godhead come and tell you stuff, personally, without having to rely on the word of others. I can know for myself. I DO know for myself! What a special blessing!

I need to digress just a moment to clarify my thoughts/intent of my last post.

My point of Sam v. Nephi is not to suggest that emulating Nephi is not a valuable idea. He is an amazing person and had tremendous faith, he even saw the Son of God, which I haven't since I've been on the earth, so it goes to show that his experiences working towards salvation are at a rate that are vastly different than mine. I'm sure the reason we have the books that he wrote are because he is such an amazing individual, and the lessons we learn from his wisdom are vital to salvation, or they would not have been included in the scriptures. My point is this: Nephi's best is different than the best that is expected from me. We are not required to complete the exact same tasks in mortality. He was called as a prophet of God, I have been called as a Mother in Zion in the dispensation of the fullness of time. I don't know what Sam's calling was during his life, but I know based on the scriptures cited yesterday that he fulfilled that calling to his utmost, or he would not have been saved. I love the great prophet Nephi, he is a huge example of a true believer and I want to be like him, but I always felt like Sam got the shaft in the whole experience because he wasn't a prophet, therefore, since I'm not exactly like Nephi, I am just not worth noting. But this is not true. Sam was saved, just like Nephi was. They each did their best and the Savior made up the rest. I'm doing my best and the Savior will make up the rest.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Being Sam?

I used to write the things I'd learned while studying my scriptures in a journal and I ran out of pages. I've used not having anywhere to write thoughts down as an excuse for not being as diligent in my study as I need to be for a few weeks, but then seeing Amberly's post regarding integrity helped give me the boost to recommit to being better at studying the gospel. Since I have no paper, I'll record my thoughts here.
Several years ago I heard a talk in sacrament meeting about asking if I was a Nephi or if I was a Sam. The gist of the talk (I might get it wrong since it was a long time ago, but what I remember it being) was that Sam was the elder brother, but since Nephi was the prophet it appears that Sam was not measuring up to his responsibilities and they therefore fell to his younger sibling. And the question was posed: are we living our lives as Sam, not equal to our potential, or are we striving to be like Nephi.
I have struggled with this concept. Mostly because I feel my own inadequacies cause me to fall in the category of a Sam. And feeling that Nephi-hood is a bit unattainable, and therefore I am falling far from perfection. But I don't want to be a Sam and not live the noteworthy life of a Nephi.
This morning I was reading in 1 Nephi 8:3 and Lehi says:
"And behold, because of the thing which I have seen, I have reason to rejoice in the Lord because of Nephi and also of SAM; for I have reason to suppose that they, and many of their seed, will be saved."
This statement coupled with the fact that God is no respecter of persons suddenly clicked together to liken themselves to my own life. I don't have to be a Nephi; being an Alicia is just fine. And if I find in Sam a kindred spirit, what's the harm in that? Sam partook of the fruit, just like Nephi, and remained faithful, even if he wasn't a leader. He was a disciple, and will be saved. I have partaken of the fruit and am working at remaining faithful. Heavenly Father doesn't expect me to be Nephi, or Sam for that matter.

The other thing that I learned today, might be of particular interest to my friend who told me yesterday that she was asked if Laman and Lemuel ever had a testimony. My gut reaction was yes they had, but they just didn't care enough to do what was right. But read here, friend, and you'll see that they never did.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Chances Are

If the tape deck in your car won't play tapes. (Yes we had a tape deck, a CD player too, though, I'm not that out of the tech-loop).
If the clock keeps resetting itself, even when the car is turned off.
If a 1-year-old battery dies.
If an 8-day-old battery dies.
Chances Are you have $.11 in your tape deck.
Resulting in no more tape deck, but a big gapping hole that is waiting for a new radio to be installed when our neighbor recovers from back surgery he just had....