1 Nephi Chapter 13

You can read 1 Nephi Chapter 13 HERE

I've read this chapter a couple of times. The first time I didn't really grasp a lot of it, but this morning I opened up my Book of Mormon and re-read it again and I think I got the main points here.

First off I wanted to talk about this abominable church. The church that the devil is the founder of. Read this verse, which is 13:7-8

And I also saw gold, and silver, and silks, and scarlets, and fine twined linen, and all manner of precious clothing; and I saw many harlot. (Harlots means Immoral persons or prostitutes)

And the angel spake unto me, saying: behold the gold, and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine-twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots, are the desires of this great and abominable church.

This makes me think of when we put object, and desirable things above God. So, this "church" isn't even so much a "church", but the way that society is. Choosing the wrong things as your priorities, like going to the club, having the best of everything, doing the things that are wrong, yet are fun.... those are what makes up this "church". Sadly, society is here right now. The majority is all about these things. It's easier to be bad then good, and it might be a lot funner. Yet, once you get a taste of the joy of being good, and listening to the words of God, it's so much better. A lot of work, but like the vision ~ it is the sweetest fruit.

Next I want to talk about Nephi's vision of the Latter Days.

This chapter talks about how the Gentiles take away parts of the bible, so that basically they don't have to follow the rules. We are so blessed today to have the fullness of the gospel restored. We know the fullness of the words that God had for us. Nephi saw in his vision that the fullness of the gospel will be restored. Now we have it, and it is up to us to live by it and follow the words that God has given us.

I can tell you, by my experiences, that following the words of God have brought me so much more joy. I've had a lot of fun in my days. I've done things that I am not proud of, and these things have NEVER brought me joy. I'm so thankful for the opportunity of being able to have the fullness of the gospel in my life.

Verse 37 says:

And blessed are they who shall seek to bring forth my Zion at that day, for they shall have the gift and the power of the Holy Ghost; and if they endure unto the end they shall be lifted up at the last day, and shall be saved in the everlasting kingdom of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish peace, yea, tidings of great joy, how beautiful upon the mountains shall they be.

That verse is enough for me to want to strive hard in my life to follow God's words. I say things things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.