Light!

Ether 6:3

"And thus the Lord caused stones to shine in darkness, to give light unto men, women, and children, that they might not cross the great waters in darkness."

The people of Jared had a problem. They were sailing across the ocean with no light. The brother of Jared solved this problem by having the Lord touch some stones and give them light. These lighted rocks gave light to the boats for nearly a year! This is so incredible and hard to believe, but with the Lord anything is possible. The Lord can solve our problems if we let Him. He doesn't want us to be in darkness and will give us light!

Priorities

Mormon 8:4

"Therefore I will write and hide up the records in the earth; and whither I go it mattereth not."

Moroni is the last Nephite remaining after witnessing the destruction of his entire people because of wickedness. He knows the most important thing is preserving the records. Once that is done nothing else matters. The Lord's work and wishes are the only thing that really matters.

Mormon 4:5

"But, behold, the judgements of God will overtake the wicked; and it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished; for it is the wicked that stir up the hearts of the children of men unto bloodshed."


Wickedness will never prevail. God's laws remain and His punishments will hold.

Wilfull Rebelling

Mormon 1:16

"And I did endeavor to preach unto this people, but my mouth was shut, and I was forbidden that I should preach unto them; for behold they had wilfully rebelled against their God; and the beloved disciples were taken away out of the land, because of their iniquity."

When we are wicked and unworthy we are not following the prophet. Similarly, when a whole people is wicked and rebelling against God, the Lord takes away the prophet from them and no one is allowed to preach unto them. They no longer have the Spirit of the Lord with them and they are no longer able to feel that warmth and love. This is a sad state, and can only be turned around through true repentance and change of heart.

Records

3 Nephi 23:13

"And it came to pass that Jesus commanded that it should be written; therefore it was written according as he commanded."

When Jesus visited the Americas, he asked to see the records. He looked over them and asked for more things to be written. The people obeyed. The Book of Mormon is part of these records. Jesus Christ Himself commanded the Book to be written and He looked over and approved of it. The Book of Mormon truly is another testament of Jesus Christ.

Opposition

3 Nephi 22:17

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper..."

Nothing can prevail against the will of God. Nothing.

Pray in your heart!

3 Nephi 20:1

"... And he commanded them that they should not cease to pray in their hearts."

When we always have a prayer in our hearts, we are acknowledging God throughout the day. We are telling Him what we are doing, what we need help with, and what we are thankful for. We can have an ongoing conversation with the Lord all day as we pray to Him in our hearts.

Ask

3 Nephi 17:3

"Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again."

The Savior wants us to know for ourselves what is true. We can ponder things and pray to the Father for better understanding. The Lord will manifest the truth of things unto us as we ask in sincerity and as we are prepared for the answer.

Wise man

3 Nephi 14:24-25

"Therefore, whoso heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock-
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock."


We learn in the scriptures that Christ is our rock. Thus, this scripture says it is wise to build our house on a foundation of Christ. His gospel should support our homes. When we listen to Christ and do what He says, we are building our lives with Him as our foundation.

Love

3 Nephi 12:44-45

"But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you;
That ye may be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good."

To be known as children of the Father, we must love all His children. He loves us all, and so must we. Even though people will be mean and hurtful, we must forgive and love. Love is the answer.

Build on the Rock

3 Nephi 11:39

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them."

The true doctrine of Christ is built upon his rock. And this rock is steadfast and immovable. Building upon it will bring true joy and fulfillment.

Prophesied Fulfilled

3 Nephi 10:11

"And thus far were the scriptures fulfilled which had been spoken by the prophets."

The coming of Christ, the destruction of so many wicked people and cities, and other things happened as prophesied. The Prophets aren't making stuff up. They are preaching the truth and what will happen in the future.

Only Fear Christ

3 Nephi 7:20

"And the people saw it, and did witness of it, and were angry with him because of his power; and he did also do many more miracles, in the sight of the people, in the name of Jesus."

Nephi was not afraid to continue to perform miracles in the name of Jesus even though many were angry with him.

Prideful or Humble?

3 Nephi 6:13

"Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble, some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God."

Who am I? Am I prideful or humble? Do I return railings with more railings, or do I forgive easily and let things go? Where do I stand before the Lord?

Prophets

Helaman 11:23

"And in the seventy and ninth year there began to be much strife. But it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi, and many of their brethren who knew concerning the true points of doctrine, having many revelations daily, therefore they did preach unto the people, insomuch that they did put an end to their strife in that same year."

True prophets receive revelation daily and know the doctrine. If we heed their words then there is no need for contention.

Sanctification

Helaman 3:35

"Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God."

Fasting, prayer, humility, and faith will fill our souls with joy! These things will purify us and make us more and more like our Savior.

Book of Mormon

Alma 63:13

"Nevertheless, these things were to be kept sacred, and handed down from one generation to another; therefore, in this year, they had been conferred upon Helaman, before the death of Shiblon."

The records were so important that Shiblon had to find someone to keep them before he died. God commanded these records to be kept. They are sacred writ and are scripture. They were preserved for many generations and have been translated by Joseph Smith in the 1800s. We have this record today as the Book of Mormon!

Humility

Alma 62:49

"But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes; neither were they slow to remember the Lord their God; but they did humble themselves exceedingly before him."


It is important to remember the Lord at all times. When we are poor and struggling, as well as when we are well off. The Lord is always our source of guidance and comfort. Having a close relationship with Him and humbling ourselves before Him will help us be the best people we can be. We are nothing without the Lord, so why would we ever feel a need to live without Him?

Happiness

Alma 50:23

"But behold there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni, yea, even at this time, in the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges."

Moroni lead the people with kindness and boldness. He was not a lazy leader. Even in times of peace, he caused preparations to made and worked hard to fortify all the cities. He did not take the peace for advantage. He knew that he needed to work to keep the peace and protect his people. With this great leader, the people were happy. They knew they were loved by the Lord because they loved Him and served Him daily. They did not become content with where they were at spiritually, but worked on their conversion constantly. This is what makes us happy.

Wisdom in God

Alma 49:5

"Now at this time the chief captains of the Lamanites were astonished exceedingly, because of the wisdom of the Nephites in preparing their places of security."


The Lamanites did not know the power of God. They did not know the God led the Nephites and told them how to prepare themselves for the upcoming battles. The Nephites were wise because they followed the Lord's counsel and had a righteous leader.

Leaders

Alma 48:7

"Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God."


There is so much contrast between a true believer in Christ and a follower of the devil. One will seek to life you up and help you become better, while the other will drag you down and seek personal gain. Moroni sincerely cared for his people, but Amalickiah only cared to have power and glory. Amalickiah spent his time killing and deceiving while Moroni prepared the people to trust in God and be clean before Him.

Evil

Alma 47:4

"Now behold, this was the desire of Amalickiah; for he being a very subtle man to do evil therefore he laid the plan in his heart to dethrone the king of the Lamanites."

Amalickiah pretended to be friends with Lehonti as well as the king, but Amalickiah ended up murdering both of them. Lehonti and the king did not expect this at all! Amalickiah, just like the devil, was subtle in his evilness. His whole demeanor was fake. He cared only for power and did whatever it took to gain.

Death

Alma 46:39

"And it came to pass that there were many who died, firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ; thus they went out of the world rejoicing."

Death is rejoicing when we trust in the Lord. The Plan of Salvation explains that death is not the end of our lives, rather it is a passing point to the next phase. When we accept Christ and live our lives how He wants us to live them, we can be at peace and have joy in the upcoming reunion with our Savior.

Yea, I believe!

Alma 45:3

"And Helaman said unto him: Yea, I believe."


This is a very simple verse, yet it has so much meaning. Helaman believed all the words of the scriptures and the prophecies his father, Alma, had made. He believed all the words of the prophet! This firm statement 'Yea, I believe' holds so much power. Helaman believes in Christ, in His gospel, in His commandments, in His all. He believes that if he follows Christ that he will be saved and have everlasting joy in the life to come. He believes that there is more to life than this mortal experience. He knows we are all children of an Almighty God and that there is divinity within us all. He believes all these things, and so do I.

Punishment for Sin

Alma 42:20

"And also, if there was no law given against sin men would not be afraid to sin."

Sinning is bad, but if it goes unpunished there's no incentive not to sin. Sinning brings unhappiness, so the Lord graciously gives punishment for sin so we don't want to sin. Without punishment, we would never learn and choose for ourselves.

After Death

Alma 40:9

"Therefore, there is a time appointed unto men that they shall rise from the dead; and there is a space between the time of death and the resurrection..."

Alma asked the Lord what happens to us when we die. His answer is in chapter 40. Alma teaches that there is a time between when we die and when we are resurrected. During this time we are either happy or miserable, based on how we chose to live our lives in this mortal life. The righteous will teach those who knew not Christ. After this time, we are resurrected. Whether we are all resurrected at the same time or at different times does not matter. God knows and that's all that matters. After we are resurrected, we are judged of God and we receive our glory.

Repent

Alma 39:8

"But behold, ye cannot hide your crimes from God; and except ye repent they will stand as a testimony against you at the last day."

God knows all our actions; whether good or bad. We cannot hide from Him. We are all subject to His laws. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can repent of these sins and become pure before the Father. We don't have to be ashamed of our wrongdoings when we have completely repented and moved away from them. It is so important to constantly repent so that we are not guilty before Him at the last day.

Repentance

Alma 38:8

"And it came to pass that I was three days and three nights in the most bitter pain and anguish of soul; and never, until I did cry out unto the Lord Jesus Christ for mercy, did I receive a remission of my sins. But behold, I did cry unto him and I did find peace to my soul."

Alma was in torment for 3 days and nights because of all the sin he had committed in his life. For three days and nights he thought he was doomed and that there was no turning back. Through Christ, however, he was able to repent and become a better person permanently. He turned away from the sins and devoted his life to the Lord. It was no free repentance though. He had to do his own work. He had to come to Christ and seek His mercy. We can't expect to sin and be ok. We have to repent of these sins in sincerity and then we'll be filled with peace.

Deliverance

Alma 36: 27

"And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions; yea, God has delivered me from prison, and from bonds, and from death; yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me."

When we trust in God, there is no limited amount of times that He will help us. He may not always deliver us out of our trials/hardships right away, but He'll give us the strength to get through them. He will never leave us alone. He will guide us through hard times and give us something to hold onto. He helped Alma, someone who previously was an awful sinner and destroyer of His church, and He will help each of us when we come to Him and ask for help. We must humbly follow Him and He will be there.

Rest from Afflictions

Alma 34:41

"But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions."


I love this outlook on life. Mortal life is full of hardships and trials, but they are not eternal. They are temporary and necessary. They stretch us and help us learn skills and become stronger. These are not lasting, though. One day, when we pass from this life, we will have rest! As long as we follow Christ and make and keep covenants, we will be able to rest from these afflictions and have true joy.

The atonement

Alma 33:11

"And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity; and it is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, therefore I will cry unto thee in all mine afflictions, for in thee is my joy; for thou hast turned thy judgements away from me, because of thy Son."

It's all because of the Son. The atonement is so crucial! Without it, we would never be forgiven and we would not live again after death. Jesus Christ did so much for us. We owe everything to Him. I want to study the atonement more and apply it more to my life so I can understand this great event. This great sacrifice that was necessary for us all to return and live with our Father again.

Faith and Trust

Alma 31:38

"... Now this was according to the prayer of Alma; and this because he prayed in faith."

Before this sentence, it's written that Alma and the other missionaries are provided for by the Lord. They are provided for because Alma asked the Lord for help and because they were doing what the Lord wanted them to do. When we pray for help in faith, the Lord will help us as long as it is with something He wants us to do. We must trust in Him and know that He knows all; especially what is best for us.

Missionary Work

Alma 29:9

"I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy."

The glory  of God is His children. He loves us so much and wants what's best for us. This included living His gospel. There is so much joy in heaven and on earth when God's children follow Him and spread His message to others.

Missionary Work

Alma 28:14

"And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord..."


Due to a great amount of sin and iniquity among people, it's so necessary to labor in the vineyard and share the gospel with all people. Without Christ, no one can be saved, so everyone needs to know about Him and embrace Him.  There are so many missionaries in the world today doing just this, but we don't have to be missionaries to teach the gospel to our friends. I know there's a lot more that I can do, and I want to do better at sharing the gospel.

Death Has No Sting

Alma 27:28

"And they did look upon shedding the blood of their brethren with the greatest abhorrence; and they never could be prevailed upon to take up arms against their brethren; and they never did look upon death with any degree of terror, for their hope and views of Christ and the resurrection; therefore, death was swallowed up to them by the victory of Christ over it."

These people understood the eternal nature of their Spirits. They knew that death was not the end of existence. Death is just a passing point from this life to the next life. Because of Jesus Christ, we will all have bodies again after we die. We will all be resurrected and live in a more perfected state. We will gain the body that reflects how we have lived our lives on the earth. This life is a preparatory state and determines our welfare after we die. When we trust in Christ and live how He lived, death is not worrisome!

Relying on God

Alma 26:12

"Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."


Every success we have in this life we can attribute to God. Likewise, and hard time we have that stretches us and helps us grow we can also attribute to God. He is all aware of us and what we are going through. He will help us and guide us through all times if we seek Him and rely on His strength. We are nothing without God. He is everything and He loves us enough to help us and lead us.

Answered Prayers

Alma 25:17

"...seeing that the Lord had granted unto them according to their prayers, and that he had also verified his word unto them in every particular."


I love how Ammon, Aaron, Omner, Himni, and their brethren recognized how the Lord answered their prayers and fulfilled every part of His word unto them. Their testimony that the Lord answers all our prayers is so powerful and I know I need to look for more ways the Lord has answered my prayers. I'm sure there are answers that I've overlooked and if I take the time to recognize them I'll feel His love and presence in my life.

Charity

Alma 24:18

"And this they did, it being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man's blood; and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands."

The Anti-Nephi-Lehi's were people of God. They were so concerned about the welfare of the Lamanites, who knew nothing about God, that they would rather die than have them die in sin. They were filled with charity towards their brothers, letting go of all selfishness. These people are true examples of the Savior, and how the Savior sacrificed Himself for us.

True Conversion

Alma 23:6

"...yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were  converted unto the Lord, never did fall away."

These people were true in their conversion to Christ. They  knew without doubt that the Gospel was true and that living by its principles would bring them salvation. They never fell away from this conviction. They were permanently changed for the better and served the Lord all their days.

Devotion

Alma 22:18

"O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou are God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day..."

This king understood the importance of Jesus Christ and the atonement and truly wanted to have it as part of his life. He humbly asked God with real desire to know if He were real. The king received his answer and believed in God whole heartedly. He gave up all that was not inline with the gospel and aligned his life with the Lord's way. What faith!

Daily Exhortation

Alma 21:23

"... And he did exhort them daily, with all diligence; and they gave heed unto his word, and they were zealous for keeping the commandments of  God."


Daily exhortation is sometimes necessary for us to heed the word. Daily reminders of the gospel through scripture study and prayer are helpful to keep up doing what is right.

Being an Example

Alma 20:26-27

"And when he saw that Ammon had no desire to destroy him, and when he also saw the great love he had for his son Lamoni, he was astonished exceedingly, and said: Because this is all that thou hast desired, that I would release thy brethren, and suffer that my son Lamoni should retain his kingdom, behold, I will grant unto you that my son may retain his kingdom from this time and forever; and I will govern him no more-
    and I will also grant unto thee that thy brethren may be cast out of prison, and thou and thy brethren may come unto me, in my kingdom; for I shall greatly desire to see thee. For the king was greatly astonished at the words which he had spoken, and also at the words which had been spoken by his son Lamoni, therefore he was desirous to learn them."


The king was amazed that Alma did not want power and glory. He was more amazed that he love his son and his brethren enough to plead for their lives. This impressed the king enough that he granted Alma his wishes and also wanted to learn more about his lifestyle. Alma lived the gospel and was an example to the king. The king recognized Alma's good qualities and wanted to learn more about them. Alma's example lead to the king being taught the gospel.

All People

Alma 19:36

"And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites; thus the Lord did begin to pour out his Spirit upon them; and we see that his arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on his name."

We are all Heavenly Father's children, so He loves us all! He wants us all to be happy and the only way to be happy is to repent and believe in Him. When we repent, all the guilt and bad feelings we have can leave and we are left feeling cleansed; a much happier state. This is available to everyone!

Promptings

Alma 18:24

"And Ammon began to speak unto him with boldness, and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God?"


Ammon was in tune with the Spirit and knew how to start a religious conversation with King Lamoni. He starts with asking if the King believed in God. This is what troubled the King the most and what Ammon could help with the best. Ammon only knew this because he was following the promptings the Holy Ghost was giving him. If we listen, the Spirit will prompt and help us with our conversations with others.

Good Example

Alma 17:11

"And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be patient in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good examples unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls."


Being a good example is a great way to do missionary work. Being patient with people in public and in private is a great way to be a good example. This is not always easy, especially when anger and tempers flare quickly.  But, the Lord wants us to be patient and kind to all people. This is something I want to work on more.

Preach!

Alma 16:14

"And as many as would hear their words, unto them they did impart the word of God, without any respect of persons, continually."


Alma and Amulek preached the gospel to whoever would listen to it. They did not preach only to specific people. The gospel is for everyone! Everyone can benefit from it and draw nearer to God through it. The gospel teaches us who we really are and what we are meant to do. Share it with everyone.

Devotion of Disciples

Alma 15:16

"And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek, Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred;"


Wow!  This is a huge sacrifice for the word of God. Amulek was a man who, after being called by the Lord many times, decided to heed the word of God and obey His command to preach with Alma. This decision was not easily made. He lost his precious things as well as the support of his friends and family. I don't think he regretted this though. He could see the blessings that came from following God and was willing to have these hard times because he knew he was doing what the Lord wanted. What else matters?

Action

Alma 14:1

"And it came to pass after he had made an end of speaking unto the people many of them did believe on his words, and began to repent, and to search the scriptures."


When we hear the words of modern day prophets, do we act on them? Do we do as these people did and believe, repent, and search the scriptures? This is a gospel of actions, not just a gospel of listening.

Scripture Study

Alma 13:20

"Now I need not rehearse the matter; what I have said may suffice. Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them it shall be to your own destruction."

We have the scriptures, and within them there is so much information. It's one thing to have the scriptures and another to actually read, study, and know them. It is not enough to own scriptures. They need to be read daily.

Rest

Alma 12:34

"Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest."

I want to enter into the rest of the Lord, so I need to repent continually and keep my heart humble and receptive to the Lord. I should follow the Prophet and study daily as well as fulfill my duties to my family and those around me. It's a lot to do, but it's so worth it and I know it's the only way to truly be happy.

Missionary Work

Alma 11:21,22

"...Now Zeezrom was a man who was expert in the devices of the devil, that he might destroy that which was good; therefore, he said unto Amulek: Will ye answer the questions which I shall put unto you?
And Amulek said unto him: Yea, if it be according to the Spirit of the Lord, which is in me; for I shall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord..."

This chapter includes a debate between Amulek and Zeezrom. Zeezrom tries to get Amulek to deny the Christ, but Amulek would never do that! Amulek continues to preach truth and explains himself in a loving, but bold way. I love Amulek's perseverance and determination to teach what is true and explain himself clearly. Amulek had the Spirit with him and that allowed him to preach the gospel and to say what the Lord would have him say. This is such a great missionary experience!

Obedience

Alma 10:6,7

"Nevertheless, I did harden my heart, for I was called many times and I would not hear...

"As I was journeying to see a very near kindred, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto me and said: Amulek, return to thine own house, for thou shalt feed a prophet of the Lord..."


If we take the time to listen, we'll see that the Lord calls us many times. Amulek chose to ignore the Lord for a long time, but repented and listened. Amulek obeyed the Lord and fed the prophet Alma and went about preaching with him. There are always opportunities to return unto the Lord. We should heed His word because it will make us happy.

Good works

Alma 7:24

"And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works."


Good works are the works of God. That's what I want to do. I need to have faith, hope, and charity so that my life revolves more around doing good things. This is how I can be a good example, help those who truly need help, and make a difference.

Alma 5

Alma 5:26

"And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?"


This chapter is really good! It describes how we need to live our lives to gain salvation. Alma explains the process of gaining a testimony. In this verse, Alma emphasized the need to continually feed our testimonies. Every day there are things we need to do so we keep feeling the Spirit and having the desire to sing the song of redeeming love. There is no one and done with the gospel. It is a continual lifestyle.

Example

Alma 4:10

"And thus ended the eighth year of the reign of the judges; and the wickedness of the church was a great stumbling-block to those who did not belong to the church; and thus the church began to fail in its progress."

When members do not live the gospel, they are no different from the world. Why would anyone need to be a part of a church that's no different from anything else? It's important to set ourselves apart from the world by living our covenants and being Christlike. Wickedness within the church leads to greater downfall and lost potential for growth.

Choices

Alma 3:19

"Now I would that ye should see that they brought upon themselves the curse; and even so doth every man that is cursed bring upon himself his own condemnation."


We are free to choose to be good or bad. There are consequences with these choices. These people chose to be evil, thus they were cursed. God did not choose to curse them; rather they chose to curse themselves.

Preparation

Alma 2:13

"And thus they were prepared to meet the Amlicites at the time of their coming. And there were appointed captains, and higher captains, and chief captains, according to their numbers."

The Nephites were prepared because they took the time to prepare. They did not sit idly by; rather they worked with their might to prepare for an upcoming conflict. I need to keep this in mind and not be lazy. I need to prepare myself for troubled times. I need to prepare my home and my family. There is a lot to do.

Service

Alma 1:30

"And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need."

When these people had excess and time to give, they gave it to those in need. There are so many that are in need, and so much that we can all be doing to help out. I love how these people helped anyone, no matter their circumstances, race, gander, or religion. We are all children of God and we all need help sometimes. It feel so good to help others, and these people totally knew that :)

Righteous leader

Mosiah 29:23

"...and thus an unrighteous king doth pervert the ways of all righteousness."

When the government is corrupt and wickedness prevails, it's harder to be righteous. This is why it's so important to have a good leader and to be a good citizen. There are many situations where this is not possible, and examples of people who remain righteous and few but amazing.

Change

Mosiah 28:4

"And thus did the Spirit of the Lord work upon them, for they were the very vilest of sinners. And the Lord saw fit in his infinite mercy to spare them; nevertheless they suffered much anguish of soul because of their iniquities, suffering much and fearing that they should be cast off forever."

These men were the vilest of sinners, but they were able to completely turn their lives around. They were so wicked, but they became so righteous. The Lord forgave them and it was as if they had never done those horrible things. They had to truly repent though, and that required much suffering on their part. But they got through it and were much happier because of it.

Missionary work

Mosiah 27:37

"And how blessed are they! For they did publish peace; they did publish good tidings of good; and they did declare unto the people that the Lord reigneth."

Alma and the sons of Mosiah were extremely blessed because they repented of their sins and spent their time teaching the gospel. Missionary work brings true joy and blessings. These boys were able to turn their lives around and dedicate themselves to the work of the Lord.

Forgive

Mosiah 26:31

"And ye shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say unto you, he that forgiveth not his neighbor's trespasses when he says that he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation."

It's so hard to forgive people when we know they've done something wrong. Especially when they've wronged me. I've found that as I pray and ask Heavenly Father for help, I am able to forgive and let things go. When I hold things against people I'm not being fair to them. They could be going through an awful time and have no idea they've offended me somehow. It's so much easier to let things go and forgive. That's how the Lord wants it.

Thanks

Mosiah 25:10

"And again, when they thought of the immediate goodness of God, and his power in delivering Alma and his brethren out of the hands of the Lamanites and of bondage, they did raise their voices and give thanks to God."

Immediately, after thinking of the great things the Lord did for them, these people gave thanks. They did not just remember this and pass it by; rather, they expressed sincere thanks to their Maker. This helped them remember the source of their blessings and give credit to Him. They did not think they did these things on their own. They knew God was with them and did so much for them.

Thanks!

Mosiah 24:22

"And they gave thanks to God, yea, all their men and all their women and all their children that could speak lifted their voices in the praises of their God."

I love the unity these people had as they gave thanks to God. They knew God had delivered them from bondage and gave Him the thanks He deserved. God loves to thanked for all the things He does for us each day.

Trust

Mosiah 23:22

"Nevertheless-whoseover putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and this it was with this people."

There are so many unknowns in life and so many hard situations. If we put our trust in God, He will help us through those times. When we get too scared to do what He would want us to do, we risk so much more than the risk of doing the task. The Lord knows us and is there for us. We just need to trust in Him. Pray to Him and trust in His answer. Trust in the peace we receive and do what we feel is right.

Receive with Joy

Mosiah 22:14

"And it came to pass that Mosiah received them with joy; and he also received their records, and also the records which had been found by the people of Limhi."


Mosiah received these people into his land with joy! He was so glad they were no longer in bondage to the Lamanites and that they were desirous to live righteously. Aren't we all glad when others make good choices and finally get out of bad situations? Mosiah received these people with love, and we should love too.

Answers

Mosiah 21:15

"And now the Lord was slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities; nevertheless the Lord did hear their cries..."


Even though the Lord may take His time to answer our prayers, He always hears them and is aware of our needs when we pray and tell them to Him. In order to receive answers though, we need to be righteous and ask for righteous things. He's not going to give us everything we want, rather He'll give us what we need.

Family

Mosiah 20:11

"And it came to pass that the people of Limhi began to drive the Lamanites before them; yet they were not half so numerous as the Lamanites. But they fought for their lives, and for their wives, and for their children; therefore they exerted themselves and like dragons did they fight."

Contrast this with Yesterday's post about the selfish king Noah who wanted nothing to do with his family anymore. King Noah did not care for anyone but himself. The people of Limhi were much more Christ-like as they fought with all their might to protect their precious families. They truly loved their families and cared more for their protection than their personal protection. This is how my husband is. He would do anything to protect us. He is a righteous example to me and my children and I am so grateful for him!

Selfishness

Mosiah 19:11

"Now it came to pass that the king commanded them that all the men should leave their wives and their children, and flee before the Lamanites."

This is such a selfish act. 'Save yourselves, and leave your loved ones to perish!' This is just how Satan works. He doesn't care about anyone but himself. He'll leave us his followers to perish and not even care.

Unity

Mosiah 18:21-22

"And he commanded them that there should be no contention one with another, but that they should look forward with one eye, having one faith and one baptism, having their hearts knit together in unity and love one towards another.
And thus he commanded them to preach. And thus they became the children of God."

When we do what the Lord has commanded us, we become His children. We become closer to Him and feel His presence more in our lives. He wants us to be loving and united. It is so wonderful and happy when this happens.

Light and Life

Mosiah 16:9

"He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death."


This verse is beautiful! Christ is both our light and life. He makes the world shine, and He makes it possible for us to live again as He did.

Christ

Mosiah 15:7-8

"Yea, even so he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.
And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men-"


Christ did so much for us. He allowed his perfect self to be taken and killed because it was the Father's will. He was willing to do whatever it took to redeem us from sin. Death no longer lasted, because He was living again 3 days later. He made it possible for us all to be resurrected!

Because of Him

Mosiah 14:6

"All we, like sheep, have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquities of us all."

The Savior, unlike the rest of us, has not gone astray from the Father and He never will. It seems unfair that He, who is perfect, needed to suffer because of what the rest of us did. But He does not see it as unfair. He sees it as the perfect way to show us He loves us. He wanted to know what it felt like to sin and repent. He did it all so we wouldn't have to. He became a great sacrifice and fulfilled the Atonement. Because of Him we can live with Father again and rejoice!

Repent

Mosiah 12:8

"And it shall come to pass that except they repent I will utterly destroy them from off the face of the earth..."


Repentance should be a daily occurrence. We all have need to repent each day. When we do not, our sins become greater and it becomes harder to fix ourselves. When we do not repent we are destroying ourselves.

Leaders

Mosiah 11:14

"And it came to pass that he set his heart upon his riches, and he spent his time in riotous living with his wives and his concubines; and so did also his priests spend their time with harlots."

For a King, this is disgusting. He took one-fifth of all his people had and used it to support his sinful lifestyle. His example to the people was awful. He cared for only himself and made the people work for him. How lazy! This is not how a leader should be. Leaders should care for their people and work with them. They should be good examples as well.

True Strength

Mosiah 10:11

"Now, the Lamanites knew nothing concerning the Lord, nor the strength of the Lord, therefore they depended upon their own strength. Yet they were a strong people, as to the strength of men."

The Lamanites did not know their potential for greater strength with the Lord. They were raised to hate the Nephites and their religious ways, so they were completely closed off from the blessings of believing in the Lord. They were strong according to man's standards, but they were weak in spiritual standards. They lacked so much!

God Provides

Mosiah 8:18

"Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings."

Faith truly is a power to make miracles happen. We can all be instruments in the Lord's hands and can make great things happen as they are His will. We can become more than ourselves as we focus on the Lord's will.

Lord's Way

Mosiah 7:29

"For behold, the Lord hath said: I will not succor my people in the day of their transgression..."

The Lord cannot help us when we are rebelling against Him. We must be humbly ask Him for help and commit our lives to Him.

Steadfast and Immovable

Mosiah 5:15

"Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen."


King Benjamin wishes all people to be steadfast and immovable, because he wants us to receive everlasting salvation and eternal life. Through the Book of Mormon we learn that the only way to receive those blessings is to live worthy lives. We must do our part.

Live it!

Mosiah 4:10

"And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them."


I believe these things but I may not do them all the time. How hypocritical of me! What is a belief if it is not lived? How can I say that I believe in Jesus Christ and His teachings if I do not do them each day? If these things really are true and if I truly believe them, then my life will portray that. I will live each day in humility, repentance, and service to others.

How to be happy

Mosiah 2:41

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of neverending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

People who keep the commandments truly are happier than those that do not. Keeping the commandments gives us confidence before God and helps us feel comfortable in holy places. This gives us happiness. We're happy when we please our Father and do good things. When we don't we're filled with regret, shame, and feelings of loss. Those are not desirable feelings!

Friends/Family

Friends/Family (click on the word to see the For the Strength of Youth article)

FRIENDS

-To have good friends, we must be a good friend. Ways to do this include: showing genuine interest in others, smiling, let people know you care, never bullying in any form, acting with kindness and respect, and being friendly to those who are shy or different.

-This is a great video about Bullying. President Uchtdorf encourages us to just 'stop it!'

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."  -Ephesians 4:29

-"The Savior taught us to love not only our friends but also those who disagree with us... In the gospel of Jesus Christ, there is no place for ridicule, bullying, or bigotry." -Spiritual Whirlwinds by Elder Neil L. Anderson May 2014.  Here is the talk.

-In the talk What Are You Thinking?, Elder W. Craig Zwick emphasizes the devastating consequences of harsh words. He quotes from a First Presidency letter from Jan. 10, 2014 "The gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love and treat all people with kindness and civility-even when we disagree."

         Elder Zwick later says, "What mattered most was listening to each other and understanding the other's perspective."  This is a sure way to be a great friend. When we focus less on ourselves and more on others, we learn to truly love them and be there for them. Here is Elder Zwick's talk.

-Another topic in the Friends section from the For the Strength of Youth is about having the courage to stand alone in order to do what is right.

       I LOVE the story in Elder Anderson's talk Spiritual Whirlwinds (linked above) about the Laurel who had the courage to defend her view of marriage between a man and a woman, even though many gave her mean comments. She realized that "Sometimes, as President Monson said, 'You have to stand alone.' Hopefully as youth, we will stand together in being true to God and to the teachings of his living prophets."  I love her trust in the Lord.

-Another great message from Elder Anderson's talk is a story about when President Henry B. Eyring was a teenager and moved and made little friends. He read the Book of Mormon so much that it became one of his greatest friends. What a great book to befriend!


-Family members can also become great friends. Here is a great quote from Elder Marvin J. Ashton's talk titled Friends Forever . Here is the link to the talk.

"I sincerely feel that one of the great purposes of family evenings and home teaching is to have family members realize that a brother can be a friend, and that a sister can be a friend, and that a father and a mother can be more than parents, they can be friends.

I would hope and pray that we may catch the wisdom and the inspiration of building a home so that our members in that sacred unit can look upon a father and say, “He is my best friend,” or “My mother is more than a mother, she is my friend.” When we realize that parents and family members can be more than blood relations and are in very deed friends, then we will have a glimpse of how our Heavenly Father wants us to live, not only as brothers and sisters but as very close friends."

    - I know that my Dad has become one of my greatest friends. Whenever I've gone through a hard time, my Dad will call me with the soul purpose to make me laugh. He'll tell my funny stories and they always make me smile and brighten my mood. He's a true friend and really cares about my happiness. I know he loves me, not just because he's my Dad, but because he's my friend.


-Here is a great quote from President Eyring: First Presidency Message July 2010. Here is the link.

"In the next few days you will have many opportunities to be a friend for Him. It may be as you walk on a dusty road. It may be as you sit down in a railroad car. It may be as you look for a place to sit in a Church congregation. If you are watching, you will see someone carrying a heavy burden. It may be a burden of sorrow or loneliness or resentment. It may be visible to you only if you have prayed for the Spirit to give you eyes to see into hearts and have promised to lift up the hands that hang down.

The answer to your prayer may be the face of an old friend, one you have not seen in years but whose needs suddenly come into your mind and heart and feel as if they are your own. I’ve had that happen to me. Old friends have reached out to me across the miles and the years to offer encouragement when only God could have told them of my burden."

FAMILY

-The Family: A Proclamation to the World
   You can find it here

-Our primary is learning the song The Family Is of God, and it is a beautiful song! Here is the song.

1. Our Father has a family. It’s me!

It’s you, all others too: we are His children.

He sent each one of us to earth, through birth,

To live and learn here in fam’lies.

2. A father’s place is to preside, provide,

To love and teach the gospel to his children.

A father leads in fam’ly prayer to share

Their love for Father in Heaven.

3. A mother’s purpose is to care, prepare,

To nurture and to strengthen all her children.

She teaches children to obey, to pray,

To love and serve in the fam’ly.

4. I’ll love and serve my family and be

A good example to each fam’ly member.

And when I am a mom or dad, so glad,

I’ll help my fam’ly remember:

[Chorus]

God gave us families to help us become what He wants us to be—

This is how He shares His love, for the fam’ly is of God.

-From Spiritual Whirlwinds by Elder Anderson:
   "While many governments and well-meaning individuals have redefined marriage, the Lord has not. In the very beginning, God initiated marriage between a man and a woman—Adam and Eve. He designated the purposes of marriage to go far beyond the personal satisfaction and fulfillment of adults to, more importantly, advancing the ideal setting for children to be born, reared, and nurtured. Families are the treasure of heaven."

-We must do our part in the family.  Our part as the parent includes (according to President Joseph Fielding Smith in Teachings of the Presidents of the Church Joseph Fielding Smith Chapter 16): Here is the link to this chapter

   ~ Set a righteous example
   ~Begin teaching children when they are young
   ~ Teach children to pray
   ~Introduce children to the scriptures
   ~Hold family home evening
   ~Teach virtue, chastity, and morality
   ~Prepare children to be witnesses of the truth and to serve missions
   ~Help children prepare to have eternal families of their own

President Smith also says in this chapter
  "Let us try humbly to keep our families intact, to keep them under the influence of the Spirit of the Lord, trained in the principles of the gospel that they may grow up in righteousness and truth. … [Children] are given unto us that we might train them in the ways of life, eternal life, that they might come back again into the presence of God, their Father."

-Parents are not one above the other. Elder Oaks says this in his talk The Keys and Authority of the Priesthood; here is the talk:

"Some years before the family proclamation, President Spencer W. Kimball gave this inspired explanation: “When we speak of marriage as a partnership, let us speak of marriage as a full partnership. We do not want our LDS women to besilent partners or limited partners in that eternal assignment! Please be acontributing and full partner.”

-President Packer, in his talk The Witness, talks about the blessings available to those who are single or childless. The blessings are beautiful and I felt comfort from his words. Here is the talk.

"Parenthood is a sacred privilege, and depending upon faithfulness, it can be an eternal blessing. The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is that a man and his wife and their children can be happy at home.

Those who do not marry or those who cannot have children are not excluded from the eternal blessings they seek but which, for now, remain beyond their reach. We do not always know how or when blessings will present themselves, but the promise of eternal increase will not be denied any faithful individual who makes and keeps sacred covenants.

Your secret yearnings and tearful pleadings will touch the heart of both the Father and the Son. You will be given a personal assurance from Them that your life will be full and that no blessing that is essential will be lost to you.

As a servant of the Lord, acting in the office to which I have been ordained, I give those in such circumstances a promise that there will be nothing essential to your salvation and exaltation that shall not in due time rest upon you. Arms now empty will be filled, and hearts now hurting from broken dreams and yearning will be healed."

Good/Bad

Omni 1:25

"...for there is nothing which is good save it comes from the Lord: and that which is evil cometh of the devil."

Good things are of the Lord and bad things are of the devil. It's that simple, but that tricky as well. Everything needs to be evaluated and put into perspective.

Prick our hearts

Jarom 1:12

"And it came to pass that by so doing they kept them from being destroyed upon the face of the land; for they did prick their hearts with the word, continually stirring them up unto repentance."


This is how we keep ourselves from being destroyed. We must continually feast from the word. We do this through daily prayer and scripture study as well as family prayer, scripture study and home evening. Reading conference talks and church magazines will also give us added protection. The more we do these things the more we feel the Spirit and the more we do what the Lord wants us to do.

Preaching in Vain

Enos 1: 14

"For at the present our strugglings were vain in restoring them to the true faith. And they swore in their wrath that, if it were possible, they would destroy our records and us, and also all the traditions of our fathers."

I felt this way today. I went out with the Sisters to visit a guy and he had a hardened heart. Much more hardened from last week when we met with him. He let his pastor tell him some falsehoods and looked things up online that were not true about our church. He did not want to hear anymore about the Book of Mormon or about our doctrines. We realized that whatever we told him would be vain, so we left early, letting him know we loved him and enjoyed getting to know him better. We cannot force people to open their hearts to the true gospel of Jesus Christ. They have to choose to listen and live it. Satan is real and does not want people to follow Christ, so he makes this Church seem crazy and false. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true with all my heart. I also know that I  cannot force anyone else to believe it. We all have agency and can choose what we want to believe.

Guidance

Jacob 7:8

"But behold, the Lord God poured in his Spirit into my soul, insomuch that I did confound him in all his words."


Jacob was completely guided by the Spirit when he taught Sherem. The Spirit told him what to say and how to say it. I'm sure he said things he had never said before. I know that our words can be guided by the Lord when we have His Spirit with us.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Jacob 6:11

"O then, my beloved brethren, repent ye, and enter in at the strait gate, and continue in the way which is narrow, until ye shall obtain eternal life."


This is a guideline to live by. We must repent, be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and then endure faithfully all our days. If we do these things then we can obtain eternal life and be happy forever!

Last days

Jacob 5:62

"Wherefore, let us go to and labor with our might this last time, for behold the end draweth nigh, and this is for the last time that I shall prune my vineyard."

We are in the last days. This is the time where the Lord is pruning out his vineyard the last time. We need to make sure we have good fruit and that the Lord can see our good works and know our good hearts. This is it!

Firm forever

Jacob 3:2

"O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever."

I love the notion that we can feast upon His love if our minds are firm forever. If we are fully committed to Him we can always feel His love. This sounds great to me!

Money

Jacob 2:18

"But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God."


Money is great, but it what's we do with it that matters in this life. Are we purchasing tons of new things so we keep up with the latest and greatest? Are we living within our means? Are we giving money to those who need it more than we do? There are so many ways we can use our money. The best way is to pay tithing and help build the kingdom of God that way. Tithing is a way we can let go of worldly things and give to the Lord.

Suffer His Cross

Jacob 1:8

"Wherefore, we would to God that we could persuade all men not to rebel against God, to provoke him to anger, but that all men would believe in Christ, and view his death, and suffer his cross and bear the shame of the world; wherefore, I, Jacob, take it upon me to fulfill the commandment of my brother Nephi."



Jacob encourages us all to do these things:

-not to rebel against God
-believe in Christ
-view his death
-suffer his cross
-bear the shame of the world

These are all loaded points. Each one is a life long pursuit and may never be attained in this life. To truly be as Christ is we must put ourselves where He was. We must feel as humble as He felt when he carried His own cross through mockers and sinners. He did it with love, and we can too! It's hard, but the only thing worth anything in this life.

Nephi

2 Nephi 33:3

"But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great worth, and especially unto my people. For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my god in faith and I know that he will hear my cry."

I love the faith Nephi has. He knows that the Lord will hear his prayers. He prays for others and not just for himself. He is not selfish, but full of charity. His words are important and we should remember them.

Endure

2 Nephi 31:16

"And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man shall endure to the end, in following the example of the Son of the living God, he canoe be saved."

After baptism, there is so much more that we need to do in order to be saved in the Kingdom of God. We must endure life as Christ would. We must pray to be like Him and focus our lives in His service.

Covenant People

2 Nephi 30:2

"For behold, I say unto you that as many of the Gentiles as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will not repent shall be cast off; for the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son, who is the Holy One of Israel."


There is no specific race or culture that is deemed the covenant people of the Lord. Everyone has the opportunity to covenant with Him so long as they repent and believe in the Son. This will lead them to live their lives in a way that they can enter into the Holy Temple and make sacred covenants with the Lord.

More Books

2 Nephi 29:10

"Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written."


Here, the Lord says that He has caused more than the Bible to be written. Thus, the Book of Mormon is another book inspired by God. It is divinely appointed and holds sacred truths.

Word

2 Nephi 28:29

"Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!"


God has not closed His mouth. He is still giving us His word. We have many scriptures, Prophetic counsels, and other forms of His word. We should always seek for more of it and have the desire to live according to His word.

Miracles

2 Nephi 27:23

"For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith."


God does miracles. It should't be surprising that He was able to preserve an ancient text and have an unlearned boy translate it. He can do whatever necessary to perform His work. He is our Supreme Creator and He knows how everything works. He will not show forth these miracles, however, until we are faithful to Him.

We are All His Fold

2 Nephi 26:25

"Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price."

The Savior does not pick and choose who he wants to be saved. He saves us all. We are all welcome to enter into His presence, but it's up to us to be worthy of Him. Like the Savior, we should not shun people from wanting to learn more of Him. We should share the gospel with everyone!

Labor Diligently

2 Nephi 25:23

"For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."


reconcile: restore friendly relations between (from google)


Nephi and all the authors of the Book of Mormon worked so hard at keeping that record because they knew the importance of it to God. They knew He wanted them to write it, and they knew it would benefit their posterity. They were committed and devoted to this sacred work. They worked to teach of Christ by the Spirit and share their beliefs. 
This life is not a joyride. Rather, it is a time to work. A time to show to God who we are and how we can help Him. We must do so much, and after we do all we can the Savior does the rest. Through His help we can achieve far greater things that we anticipated. 

Second coming

2 Nephi 23:22

"...and her time is near to come, and her day shall not be prolonged. For I will destroy her speedily; yea, for I will be merciful unto my people, but the wicked shall perish."

The second coming of the Savior is coming and is soon at hand. This event is unavoidable. What side will we be on?

Fear the Lord

2 Nephi 18:13

"Sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread."

We should not fear what anyone thinks of us other than the Lord. He is the ultimate judge, and He alone knows our hearts. There is nothing we can hide from Him. He understands us perfectly and loves to listen to us as we pray to Him.  Why fear anyone else?

Tender Mercies

1 Nephi 1:20

"...Behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

This talk by Sister Jean A. Stevens is all about tender mercies and how the Lord answers our prayers.  She urges us to have faith and trust in our Savior; that he will deliver us because of our faith. Tender mercies are real and prevalent. They happen everyday. We just need to look for them and be grateful for them.

Mixed up

2 Nephi 15:20

"Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"


In these days there is much confusion. Evil things, such as premarital sex and drinking, are not looked at as evil. Rather, they are normal and everyone seems to be doing them. This is not right. The commandments are still in play, and the Lord wants us to be righteous. Even though the world does so many evil things, it does not make them right. There is such a difference between the world's view and the Lord's view. Whose view do you want to follow?

Pride

2 Nephi 13:18

"In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments, and cauls, and round tires like the moon;"

We cannot create our confidence based on what we own, and how we ornament ourselves. It is nice to look our best, but we must not be consumed by it. Are we dressing to look better than others, or just to look as good as we can?

Christ cometh

2 Nephi 11:6-7

"And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish.
For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time."

Nephi delights in sharing his testimony of Christ with others. It brings him joy to help others know Christ as he does. There is no doubt that Nephi knew Christ personally and was filled with His love for everyone of us. There is a God, Christ lives, and He will come again. Spread the word!

Sabbath Day Observance/Tithes and Offerings

I am teaching Institute this week and the topics are from the For the Strength of Youth Pamphlet.  Here are some great quotes from General Authorities of the Church about these topics.


Sabbath Day Observance  

"I personally believe that some of the destruction and suffering we see in the world today is the result of a people who mock God and who do not keep His basic commandments, such as properly observing the Sabbath day. One of the key messages of the Book of Mormon is how people suffer when they do not keep God’s commandments. As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Ezra Taft Benson quoted President George Albert Smith as saying that “much of the sorrow and distress that is afflicting and will continue to afflict mankind is traceable to the fact that they have ignored his [God’s] admonition to keep the Sabbath day holy” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1935, 120; quoted in “Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy,” Ensign, May 1971, 7)."
-Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy, Elder Earl C. Tingey, Feb 2000


"Keeping the Sabbath day holy is a covenant between man and the Lord for he said: 'Ye shall keep the Sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: everyone that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.' All the Ten Commandments are everlasting covenants. The law of tithing is a form of an everlasting covenant, the covenant of revenue for the church, although some day we shall be given a higher form of this law known as consecration." (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation)


"And the matter of Sabbath observance remains to this day as one of the great tests which divides the righteous from the worldly and wicked.
Sunday being the Lord's Day, it is a day on which men should do the Lord's work, and do it exclusively. There should be no recreation, no unnecessary travel, no joy riding, and the like. The Sabbath is a day for affirmative spiritual worship, aside from which, 'thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart.'(D&C 59:13)" (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine)

*Questions:

-How can we teach our children about keeping the Sabbath Day holy?
-What are some activities we can do on the Sabbath Day as a family and as individuals?


Tithes and Offerings

"All of is can afford to pay tithing. In reality, none of us can afford not to pay tithing." (President Thomas S. Monson, Ensign, Nov 1996)


"Salaries, wages, gifts, bequests, inheritances, the increase of flocks, herds, and crops, and all income of whatever nature are subject to the law of tithing. (D&C 119)." (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine)


"By this principle it shall be known who is for the kingdom of God and who is against it. By this principle it shall be seen whose hearts are set on doing the will of God and keeping his commandments, thereby sanctifying the land of Zion unto God, and who are opposed to this principle and have cut themselves off from the blessings of Zion." (Joseph F. Smith)


"Spirit of inspiration in temporal and spiritual pursuits so that in the end he is ahead financially and temporally, to say nothing of spiritual growth that always attends such a course." (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine)


"Further, since all saints are under covenant, made in the waters of baptism (Mos. 18:8-10) to keep all of the commandments of God, it is a serious defalcation on their part to fail to give Deity his tenth of their income."  (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine)



*Some blessings from paying tithing from Elder Hales:

-Feel more confidence asking God for what we need
-encourages us to be honest
-feel more gratitude
-faith to live a higher law
-feel an increase of love for God

(The Blessings of Tithing, Engisn June 2011)


*Tithing is used for many things. Here is a link that shows what it's used for.


*Questions:

-How can we teach our children about the importance of paying tithing?
-How has paying, or not paying, tithing affected your life?

Probation

2 Nephi 9:27

"But wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state!"

This is me, and it's something I fear. I do not want to waste this time I have. I should not waste time on wicked or unholy things, such as bad tv shows and music, laziness, and being mean. I should focus on holy things and try to make myself better each day. I know this will make me happier.

House of Israel

2 Nephi 8:2

"Look unto Abraham, your father, and unto Sarah, she that bare you; for I called him alone, and blessed him."

This verse, quoted from Isaiah, reminds me of the significance of the Old Testament. In the OT, the house of Israel is established and blessings are poured forth. These blessings are still in play and we must live up to them.

Look For Him

2 Nephi 6:13

"Wherefore, they that fight against Zion and the covenant people of the Lord shall lick up the dust of their feet; and the people of the Lord shall not be ashamed. For the people of the Lord are they who wait for him; for they still wait for the coming of the Messiah."


The Lord, Jesus Christ, will come again. His second coming is at hand and will happen. There are people who deny this and make fun of those who wait for Him. They will regret this when the Savior comes again. Those of us who believe in Him and have covenanted with Him will be blessed and unashamed. There is nothing shameful about following God.

No Peace

1 Nephi 20:22

"And notwithstanding he hath done all this, and greater also, there is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked."


It's as simple as that. If you are wicked, then you will not have peace. The devil does not want peace, but wants war and turmoil.

God Provides a Way

1 Nephi 17:50

"And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth; and if I should say it, it would be done."

Nephi knew that whatever the Lord commanded him to do, he would be able to do it. The Lord would help him and provide ways to do what was commanded. Nephi had so many experiences where the Lord commanded him to do a hard thing and Nephi was able to do it.

Reliance

1 Nephi 16:39

"And it came to pass that the Lord was with us, yea, even the voice of the Lord came and did speak many words unto them, and did chasten them exceedingly; and after they were chastened by the voice of the Lord they did turn away their anger, and did repent of their sins, insomuch that the Lord did bless us again with food, that we did not perish."


Imagine relying so much on the Lord that disobedience to Him made it impossible to find food! Even Nephi, who remained faithful, suffered the want of food because his family murmured against the Lord. The Lord does not want us to occasionally obey Him. He wants us to hearken to Him all the time. We must heed Him so we can be blessed and guided.

Revelation

1 Nephi 15:11

"Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?- 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."


This is the pattern of revelation. We can receive answers and personal inspiration from the Lord as we trust in him, believe that we will receive, and keep the commandments with diligence. We need to do all these things to have those answers. The Lord wants to tell us things, but we need to live our lives in a way that He can tell us.

Learn of Christ

D&C 19:23

"Learn of me, and listen to my words..."

Christ encourages all of us to learn of Him and listen to His words. We learn of him through His words which are included in the Bible, Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine and Covenants, General Conference addresses, and other Church publications. There are so many tools of study and so many ways to learn of Christ and hear His words. It should be a daily thing. It brings us closer to Him and so much happier. We learn more about why we are here and where we go after. We gain more purpose and an eternal perspective.

Restoration

1 Nephi 14:7

"For the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God, that I will work a great and a marvelous work among the children of men; a work which shall be everlasting..."

Here, about 600 years before Christ, Nephi is prophesying about the restoration of the gospel in that latter-days after the plain and precious truths are lost from the Church. The Church established by Christ Himself when He lived on the earth was broken down and a great apostasy occurred. Now, we live in a time where the gospel of Jesus Christ is restored to the earth through the Prophet Joseph Smith. We have the Book of Mormon, a book that foretells these things and includes the fullness of the gospel.

Plain and Precious

1 Nephi 13:40

"And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain 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."

Many of the plain and precious things were taken out of the Bible in the past. They are not lost forever though. The Lord is still revealing these things to the Prophet and Apostles today. The 'last records' include the Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, Doctrine and Covenants, General Conference addresses, and much more. There is so much modern revelation that explains in today's language what the Lord wants us to do. They express the eternal truth of the divinity of Jesus Christ and how we must accept Him and follow Him or we cannot be saved.

Faith

1 Nephi 12:11

"...And the angel said unto me: These are made white in the blood of the Lamb, because of their faith in him."

Faith may seem like an easy thing, but it involves so much more than saying "I believe." It involves not only belief, but action. Acting on the gospel and counsels from God is what faith is made of. When we do what He asks us and follow His Spirit, our faith increases and we become more like Him. With this faith we can be like our Savior and our sins can be forgiven through His atonement.

The Most Joyous to the Soul!

1 Nephi 11:22-23

"And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is most desirable above all things.
And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul."

What is the most desirable thing? What is most joyous to the soul? In these verses, Nephi and the Spirit of the Lord proclaim that it is the love of God. This love is so pure and so powerful that it can pierce hearts and bring about so much good.

Spiritual Riches

D&C 6:7

"Seek not for riches but for wisdom, and behold, the mysteries of  God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich."

Money and earthly treasures are not true wealth. The truly rich are those who have eternal life, or those who are working towards eternal life. This earth life is such a short span compared to the eternities! What worldly objects we gain here will not last. We should seek for wisdom, and this wisdom leads us to greater things and greater treasures.

The Lord Provides a Way

1 Nephi 9:6

"But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all this works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen."

And thus it is. The Lord knows everything, and that is the truth. He created us all, He is all-knowing, and He is all-loving. He loves us and wants what's best for us. He knows what will help us grow, so he gives us commandments. He helps us fulfill them and we learn from those experiences. We learn to rely on Him fully and to trust His words completely.

Remember

1 Nephi 7:12

"Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him."


Nephi again reminds his older brothers to be faithful in the Lord. The Lord had blessed Lehi's family so much because they were faithful to Him and listened to Him. Laman and Lemuel often forgot what the Lord did for them. They chose to get angry and violent instead of humble and obedient. Nephi reminds them that the Lord can do all things if we are faithful to Him. It is so important to remember how the Lord has blessed us daily.

He Provides a Way

D&C 5:34-35

"Yea, for this cause I have said: Stop, and stand still until I command thee, and I will provide means whereby thou mayest accomplish the thing which I have commanded thee.
And if thou are faithful in keeping my commandments, thou shalt be lifted up at the last day. Amen."

I love how similar these verses are to the verses in 1 Nephi, which I am also reading right now. The Lord constantly provides ways to accomplish his commands. He never asks us to do impossible things. When we do his commands we are blessed and may be exalted with the Savior someday.

Faith

1 Nephi 4:6

"And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do."

Nephi had no idea that the Lord was about to deliver Laban into his hands. He had no idea that he would kill Laban, dress in his clothes, and lead Zoram and the Plates back to his brethren. All he knew was that the Lord was with him and the Spirit was guiding him. He trusted in the Lord and went with courage to fulfill his calling.

Obey

1 Nephi 2:3

"And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him."

This verse is so simple. Lehi was obedient to God and therefore kept His commandments. Sounds easy right? I'm sure this became easy for Lehi because he had decided in his heart to always follow the Lord. This decision made future commandments easier to follow. The more we obey, the more we trust in the Lord, and the easier it becomes to do what He wants us to do.

Answers to prayers

Luke 1:13

"But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John."

The Lord heard the earnest prayers of Zacharias and Elisabeth through the years. They had prayed for a child their whole marriage, but it wasn't until they were very old that the Lord answered these prayers. Their son, John the Baptist, was meant to come later in their lives so he could prepare the way for the Savior. The Lord heard their prayers but did not answer right away. He answered when it was best.

Repent

D&C 3:10

"But remember, God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which thou hast done which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you, and thou art still chosen, and art again called to the work;"

Even though Joseph did not listen to the Lord, he still has the opportunity to repent and become better. We all make mistakes; some small and some big. No matter the size of the mistake, we can repent and change our ways. We can be forgiven and become in God's good standing again.

Answers to Prayer

Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith

"...I betook myself to prayer and supplication to Almighty God.... While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light appearing in my room... when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside"

Joseph Smith received answers to his prayers. Just as he received answers, we all can receive answers if we ask in faith and trust in the Lord's will. Although Joseph's answer included a visitation by an angel, that's not how prayers are usually answered. Prayers are answered through peaceful feelings, quiet words that come to our minds, or circumstances that happen in our lives. There are many ways that the Lord answers us, and these answers may take awhile to come. But He hears each prayer!