1 Nephi 20

I know that we are entering the most difficult part of the Book of Mormon, but stick with it. Chapter 20 is an introduction to Nephi's brothers and to us. The Lord wants us to know as part of the House of Israel that He knows us. He knows we are a stubborn lot and we will try to deflect the fulfilment of prophecy to our idols, but He has chosen us and is refining us. The Lord loves His prophets and we should listen to them. The Lord will do His pleasure on Babylon. We are starting to see it, but we will see His displeasure with Babylon overflowing on us unless we flee Babylon and preach repentance as we go. He will protect us as He did the Israelites leaving Egypt.

Well, I'll join the "I'm behind in reading" club.

I was reading 1 Nephi chapter 11 last night and found just three simple keys that stuck with me. In verse 1 Nephi wanted to know the things his father had seen. He does the following:
first he desired to know the things that his father had seen
Next, he believed that the Lord was able to make them known unto him
thirdly, he sat pondering in his heart.

How simple. Desire, believe and ponder. I can do that!!
Love,
Mom

Hi family, I guess Cassie is not the only one who is behind in reading, but, I will be caught up by the end of the week. Nephi is one of my hero's. In chapter 17 when Nephi is filled with the Spirit, "even unto the consuming of my flesh". I would like to aspire to that level of righteousness. I wonder and have often wondered what Joseph thought when he translated this and the many other times when Prophets stood and rebuked by the power of the Spirit or threw down the walls of prisons. And later when he was being falsely encarcerated and held prisoner in Liberty jail, did he remember those episodes in the Book of Mormon and ask the Lord why can't I do that? I wonder if in section 121 of the D&C if part of his pleading (that was not written) was to allow him to use his ordained power as a bearer of the Melchezedic priesthood to through down the walls of the prison as Alma did in Alma 14:26-27. It must have been somewhat frustrating to know that he had the power but the Lord was staying his hand. Nephi's hand, however, was not stayed. A number of times he was used to show forth the power of God. The time will come and in the not too distant future where we may be in similar situations. I hope we will be worthy of the Lord allowing us to use His power is a similar manner, but I also wonder if our hands will be stayed as Josephs.

1 Nephi 16

So I realize I am probably behind everyone else. Oh well, at least I am still reading right? As I read this chapter a couple of things came to mind. One, Laman and Lemuel complain that the things Nephi has said to them are hard. Then Nephi says basically that if they were righteous they wouldn't feel what he said was hard. How often do we experience those same feelings? How often do we feel like the prophet or members of the Quorum of the Twelve are saying harsh things? I know I have. When we are truly righteous, in every aspect, then what they say are things to rejoice over, because we are already following their counsel.
The second thing I realized, and it happens over and over, is how fast the people go from having faith and listening to the Lord, to murmuring and planning to kill Nephi. Again, how often do we do the same thing? Aside from planning to kill Nephi, that is. As long as our lives are going well, and there are no bumps in the road, we feel our faith is strong and we are happy to obey. But as soon as it gets hard, and we are now facing challenges, will we murmur against the Lord? Will we complain about our lot in life? Or will we stay strong and seek guidance? Are we Nephi or Laman and Lemuel? I think we are both. The question then becomes, can we be more like Nephi and less like Laman and Lemuel? Just my thoughts.

1 Nephi 11-14 are amoung my favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon. In HP quorum we had a discussion about the initial spirit that visits Nephi in verse 1. We get a hint as to who it might be in verse 11. Our discussion was whether the spirit was just a spirit or if it was the Lord Jesus Christ still in spirit form. My personal belief is it is Christ, "I knew it was the Spirit of the Lord" in capital letters and also before He shows Nephi the birth of Christ, He disappears and is replaced by an Angel. Why the discrepancy between a spirit and an angel if who the spirit was was not important. Also why did the spirit not continue the visit? I think He left before He showed Himself to Nephi as a child and then later Nephi was also shown the visit of Christ to his people, and again this was the angel showing Nephi this event. It must have been very joyful for Nephi to know that Christ would visit his people and see that they live for two hundred years in peace, indeed in a Zion condition. Then the pain he must have felt when he was shown the destruction of his people because of wickedness. That must have caused him periods of great sadness throughout his life. It is my hope that we will be able to enjoy the same kind of Zion condition soon, as we continue to increase our own righteousness and live the commandments for fully and ask for the gift of charity, which is the pure love of Christ. I love you all , DAD

1 Nephi 1-10

By the end of this week we should all be up to 1 Nephi 10, how are we doing? Have we learned anything significant? Two things stick out to me at this moment. First that if we trust in the Lord and do as He has asked of us that He will provide the means for us to accomplish it. Whether that is doing our home teaching or any other calling, or completing an assignment from our Bishop, Elders Quorum Pres, or even our auxilary leader. Our problem is our desire to do it. But the Lord will help if we try. Second is our responsibility to not just blindly obey but to ask the Lord to show us as well. It is important to be obedient, however, it is also just as important, or even more so, for us to listen then go and ask the Lord to know from Him. When we ask then find out for ourselves, we get practice in receiving revelation. The more we ask the more the Lord will reveal to us. It takes time and it takes us really working at being obedient and worthy (not perfect) of the Lords blessings. Just a side note on worthiness. Being worthy does not just mean moral or obedient but it means that we are made for it, in other words, we have practiced enough that it becomes part of us. When we get a new pair of shoes, usually it takes a little time before they fit our feet perfectly, they mold to the contours of our feet. So it is with inspiration and revelation, the more we wear them, the more we work at it and expect if from the Lord the better it fits us, we countour ourselves to fit the communication and will of the Lord.

It would be nice to see more posts and comments for everyone. I love you! Dad

1 Nephi 8

Just a couple of thoughts as I read this. I have never felt ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And maybe because I haven't, I can't quite understand why those people in Lehi's dream felt ashamed after partaking of the fruit. I mean, I can understand being laughed at for doing the right thing, but that has never made me feel like I shouldn't do the right thing. Maybe I'm just lucky that I get the bigger picture. I understand that there is a bigger purpose, beyond what society thinks. There is more than just satisfying appetites now. That doesn't mean it's always easy, but I get it.
My next thought, and I have actually had this one before (amazing, I know), is why did Laman and Lemuel go into the wilderness with the family when they clearly didn't want to. They could have not left in the first place. They could have stayed after getting the plates. Of course, maybe having Laban's guards after them might have been an annoyance. They could have stayed after going back the second time. And yet they didn't. They continually went back and stayed with the family. Why? They were old enough to get married; they were old enough to do what they wanted. I understand that it was they way it had to be, but that doesn't make me less curious. All the times they threatened to kill Nephi and having to be chastised by angels or Nephi himself, wouldn't it have been easier just to stay in Jerusalem?
Just my thoughts.

1 Nephi 1

Okay, I'm just getting into the groove here. Reading the Book of Mormon for my personal progress will be a good exercise and experience for me. Dad is enjoying this so I guess I'd better get with it.
In reading 1 Nephi 1, a few things stuck out. I always like that Nephi mentions right off that he was highly favored of the Lord. What a neat statement. He also says he had a great knowledge of the goodness and mysteries of the Lord. I think in order to have a great knowledge of the goodness of the Lord, we have to have had experiences with the Lord and part of that is faith and trust. Nephi knew that the Lord would always come through. which came first, his knowledge and trust in the Lord or the experiences that proved it true?
Dad and I have discussed what mysteries are. Here Nephi talks of the mysteries of God. Mysteries tend to be those things we don't understand. The Lord understands them and I think also people who ask may understand them. So again the challenge becomes asking. All the amazing things that Joseph Smith received was because he asked. Even Lehi and Nephi received because they asked. I think too often we forget to ask or we don't expect the Lord to answer.

1 Nephi 5

There are two things in chapter 5 that stand out to me. In verse 2 Sariah is complaining to her husband that he is a "visionary man" and that her sons have perished in the wilderness. I am wondering if she did not do the same thing as Nephi, in other words did she not go to the Lord in prayer to ask if what her husband was doing and seeing was right? There is a lesson here. Often we as husbands and wives have differing opinions and when it comes to things of importance like our children, discipline, school, job, moving, where to live, etc. we not just need to trust our spouse when they have a strong opinion about something but we need to go to the Lord and get a confirmation that they are right, or find out what the Lord want to have happen. He is indeed in the details. The other concept that is proposed in this chapter is in verses 16-18. Lehi is reading the plates of brass and when he was reading he was filled with the gift of prophecy and began to "prophesy concerning his seed". The scriptures are written under the gift of prophecy and are to be read under the same gift. That is why we are admonished to pray before we read. But, not just pray but ask for that gift. When we have a problem or question we are trying to sort out we can go the scriptures and pray then begin to read, as we ponder, our minds are often opened up to communicate with the Lord through the Holy Spirit. Thoughts then come in questions are answered, understanding takes place, revelation is received. Dad

3Nephi 17

Last night I was reading about Christ's visit to the Americas. I know, we are supposed to start at the beginning. But this is a good part, right? So tonight I am going to start with the reading schedule. It's hard to go back to the beginning when I haven't reached the end yet. Anyway, I always wonder what it was that Jesus said during his prayer. Does the Lord give us things that only we should hear? Will we find out what it was he prayed for? I hope so.
Wouldn't it be an amazing thing to see your children being administered to by angels? As a parent I think that would be the most amazing thing to watch; to know that your children were touched by such purity. Just my thoughts.
Cassie June

1 Nephi 3 and 4

One of my favorite scriptures is in 1 Nephi 3. Verse 7 talks about trusting in the Lord, He will not command us to do something unless He has prepared a way for us to accomplish it. In otherwords if we do our best to do what the Lord has asked us to do He will provide a way for it to be done. Verse 13 in chapter 4 is an extreme example of that where Nephi is commanded to kill Laban. What a struggle Nephi must have went through, but he was confident in the instructions of the Spirit. In following he commands of the Lord even if they don't seem logical or right sometimes we will be blessed as was Nephi in then getting the plates of brass.