I'm combining these two chapters since they flow together. You can read Chapter 11 HERE and Chapter 12 HERE
First off, I need to apologize for taking so long on moving on to Chapter 11 & 12. I've actually read and re-read and re-read again. I really needed to take these chapters in and figure out my feelings and questions on them before I posted. So here it goes.....
I'm actually pretty proud of myself on my personal interpretation on Lehi's dream. There were areas that I was missing, but for the most part I was right on. I'm mostly inspired to talk about the building. I was listening to a rap song on the radio today called Lollipop by Lil Wayne. Listening to this song makes me think about going clubbing. Going clubbing makes me think about drinking. Something about this music pulls me into almost missing something I rarely even did.
Do I think rap is evil? No. That is a type of music I've listened to for years, however, I think that rap stands for the building for me. I hope this is making sense. The devil works in some sneaky ways. I've actually been trying to keep soft hip hop (Mariah Carey, stuff like that) and I have a church CD that my cousin Jenna made me and I listen to that A LOT. I feel like that type of music keeps me on track with what I'm working towards.
My aunt Rayna is an active Mormon as well and she used to love to go dancing at clubs without drinking. She told me the other when we were talking about these chapters that she's always looked at clubs as "the building". We all have different things in our lives that can stand for the building. It's all the temptations out there to pull you into what going against the tree of life - the love of God.
Now I want to talk about how Nephi was getting visions of everything that would happen to Jesus. First question I have is.... he saw a vision of a virgin. How does one know that someone is a virgin? That just kindof struck me as funny, so if someone could leave a comment here and explain that one to me :)
Next questions... the fact that Nephi is getting visions of the future and they're exactly what happens. That must mean that God knows a lot about the future and that leads me to question free agency. We have the gift from God for the right to choose. We make our own choices. How can God know the future if we're the ones making the choices? Does he already know which choices we're going to make?
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
1 Nephi Chapter 10
You can read 1 Nephi Chapter 10 HERE
WOW! Kindof a powerful chapter here. What's amazing is that Nephi wrote of future exactly as it would happen. Everything that happened with Jesus was supposed to happen with Jesus. So he came here knowing what in store for him. He did all of that for us. Amazing. 600 years before it even happened and it was written down for what was to come.
We learn here that it's by the power of the Holy Ghost that we can learn from God. It's by the power of the Holy Ghost that we gain testimonies. Without the Holy Ghost it's almost like we would have no way of knowing anything.
I'm going off topic here for a minute to share a time that I know without a doubt that I felt the Holy Ghost. I lost a baby girl named Mya. Her heart stopped beating when she was still inside of me. After I had lost her I kept getting this warm feeling inside of me, and at that time I was being comforted for my loss from the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost was there to let me know that I'm not alone, that everything including my baby girl is okay. The things God does through the Holy Ghost makes you wonder how anyone could ever doubt it all.
The comparison to the olive tree in this chapter basically talks of how everybody will be scattered upon the earth and separated, because some will believe the words of the prophet and some won't. But it does say that the olive tree will be put back together again once the fullness of the gospel is restored. Look at what is going on. We have the gospel being brought to people all over the world. Our missionaries are in many, many countries! What was written down in this chapter is happening now. Now is the time and I am so blessed to be born in a time that I get to know these things, and know that they are true.
WOW! Kindof a powerful chapter here. What's amazing is that Nephi wrote of future exactly as it would happen. Everything that happened with Jesus was supposed to happen with Jesus. So he came here knowing what in store for him. He did all of that for us. Amazing. 600 years before it even happened and it was written down for what was to come.
We learn here that it's by the power of the Holy Ghost that we can learn from God. It's by the power of the Holy Ghost that we gain testimonies. Without the Holy Ghost it's almost like we would have no way of knowing anything.
I'm going off topic here for a minute to share a time that I know without a doubt that I felt the Holy Ghost. I lost a baby girl named Mya. Her heart stopped beating when she was still inside of me. After I had lost her I kept getting this warm feeling inside of me, and at that time I was being comforted for my loss from the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost was there to let me know that I'm not alone, that everything including my baby girl is okay. The things God does through the Holy Ghost makes you wonder how anyone could ever doubt it all.
The comparison to the olive tree in this chapter basically talks of how everybody will be scattered upon the earth and separated, because some will believe the words of the prophet and some won't. But it does say that the olive tree will be put back together again once the fullness of the gospel is restored. Look at what is going on. We have the gospel being brought to people all over the world. Our missionaries are in many, many countries! What was written down in this chapter is happening now. Now is the time and I am so blessed to be born in a time that I get to know these things, and know that they are true.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
1 Nephi Chapter 9
You can read 1 Nephi Chapter 9 HERE
Very short chapter. I got more information on this chapter with the study guide that I am using. I must say this study guide really does help. The Lord has a reason in everything he asks of us. Instead of questioning we should just do as he asks. Plain and simply.
Very short chapter. I got more information on this chapter with the study guide that I am using. I must say this study guide really does help. The Lord has a reason in everything he asks of us. Instead of questioning we should just do as he asks. Plain and simply.
1 Nephi Chapter 8
You can read 1 Nephi Chapter 8 HERE
To be honest I'm having a really hard time grasping what the message in this chapter is. I know it's right in front of my face and I think I might be looking too hard. I've actually sat on this chapter for some time now trying to figure it out. So, I am going to ask others for their input.
Here's kindof what I'm getting and I could be completely off base here. There were 4 different groups 1) The people who just got completely lost on their way to the tree of life. 2) People who made their way there and partook of the fruit yet felt ashamed as people were mocking the. 3) People who desired the building more than the tree & 4) The people who had no shame. Basically, it goes with following the gospel in a way to me....
1) There are people who get lost and are in the darkness and don't have a clue on what they should be doing with their life. 2) Being a Mormon it is difficult with our society. People judge. People mock. I can see how it can be very easy to be ashamed and to turn the other way... go with the bad, because it might seem better at the time than being mocked. I can especially see this with being a teen. 3) People desire wrong over good. We have all been given a choice to follow what God wants us to do or not. Some people go with selfish desires over what God knows is best for you. 4) The people that stand up for what they know is true. They are not ashamed.
When Lehi first had his vision he was in darkness. It's like our life here. Through prayer God took that away. Wouldn't that work for us all? Through sincere prayer shouldn't we be able to find the path that we are supposed to be on?
What do you think? Am I completely off base or are you seeing here what I'm seeing. What else can you add to this.
To be honest I'm having a really hard time grasping what the message in this chapter is. I know it's right in front of my face and I think I might be looking too hard. I've actually sat on this chapter for some time now trying to figure it out. So, I am going to ask others for their input.
Here's kindof what I'm getting and I could be completely off base here. There were 4 different groups 1) The people who just got completely lost on their way to the tree of life. 2) People who made their way there and partook of the fruit yet felt ashamed as people were mocking the. 3) People who desired the building more than the tree & 4) The people who had no shame. Basically, it goes with following the gospel in a way to me....
1) There are people who get lost and are in the darkness and don't have a clue on what they should be doing with their life. 2) Being a Mormon it is difficult with our society. People judge. People mock. I can see how it can be very easy to be ashamed and to turn the other way... go with the bad, because it might seem better at the time than being mocked. I can especially see this with being a teen. 3) People desire wrong over good. We have all been given a choice to follow what God wants us to do or not. Some people go with selfish desires over what God knows is best for you. 4) The people that stand up for what they know is true. They are not ashamed.
When Lehi first had his vision he was in darkness. It's like our life here. Through prayer God took that away. Wouldn't that work for us all? Through sincere prayer shouldn't we be able to find the path that we are supposed to be on?
What do you think? Am I completely off base or are you seeing here what I'm seeing. What else can you add to this.
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