You can read 1 Nephi Chapter 16 HERE.
There's something so much bigger than you and I, and it's something that we won't understand until the day we walk through the veil. This thing is... why. Why is it that even though we're doing everything we should and everything according to God's plan we face afflictions. It's so easy when things go wrong to blame God.
This chapter shows, however, that even when things go wrong, you can still turn to God. Even if you have blamed him and disappointed him. When you humbly go back to God and ask for his guidance and help, you just have to listen closely to that still small voice for the directions.... or listen to your heart.
Showing posts with label 1 Nephi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 Nephi. Show all posts
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Sunday, December 14, 2008
1 Nephi Chapter 15
You can read 1 Nephi Chapter 15 HERE.
This chapter is Nephi explaining to his brothers about the meanings of their father's dream. A couple of things were in my mind when reading this chapter. I'll start with the first.
In the beginning of this chapter it talks of how after the Messiah the fullness of the gospel will come unto the gentiles. The first thing that came in my mind was Joseph Smith. Was this talking about what would come through Joseph Smith?
The other thing I was thinking was evil vs good. How can a soul gain so much power? The Devil has so much power on people and I don't understand fully how this is possible. I know there's so much more that I need to learn, but this one has always boggled my mind. How can 1 soul have so much impact on this world. He originally was just a spirit child right?
If you have any input on this, please comment. I love to hear others chime in, because it helps me to learn on my journey.
This chapter is Nephi explaining to his brothers about the meanings of their father's dream. A couple of things were in my mind when reading this chapter. I'll start with the first.
In the beginning of this chapter it talks of how after the Messiah the fullness of the gospel will come unto the gentiles. The first thing that came in my mind was Joseph Smith. Was this talking about what would come through Joseph Smith?
The other thing I was thinking was evil vs good. How can a soul gain so much power? The Devil has so much power on people and I don't understand fully how this is possible. I know there's so much more that I need to learn, but this one has always boggled my mind. How can 1 soul have so much impact on this world. He originally was just a spirit child right?
If you have any input on this, please comment. I love to hear others chime in, because it helps me to learn on my journey.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
1 Nephi Chapter 14
You can read 1 Nephi Chapter 14 HERE.
We are told in this chapter of how we should follow the light of Christ. That we should not be swayed away by the devil. There are promises and blessings that come from this. Everyday we are faced with challenges that tempt us towards choosing the wrong. It talks of how there are only 2 churches on this earth. The church of Christ and the church of the devil. Anything that is taking us away from the Church of Christ is the church of the devil.
Basically, we have to stay away from the things that tempt us away from Jesus.
This chapter is the end of Nephi's vision where he is carried away by the spirit to understand what his father saw. It is revealed unto Nephi that an apostle will talk of the end of the earth, and that is John in Revelations.
I don't have a lot of words with this chapter.
We are told in this chapter of how we should follow the light of Christ. That we should not be swayed away by the devil. There are promises and blessings that come from this. Everyday we are faced with challenges that tempt us towards choosing the wrong. It talks of how there are only 2 churches on this earth. The church of Christ and the church of the devil. Anything that is taking us away from the Church of Christ is the church of the devil.
Basically, we have to stay away from the things that tempt us away from Jesus.
This chapter is the end of Nephi's vision where he is carried away by the spirit to understand what his father saw. It is revealed unto Nephi that an apostle will talk of the end of the earth, and that is John in Revelations.
I don't have a lot of words with this chapter.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
1 Nephi Chapter 11 & 12
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?
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?
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.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
1 Nephi Chapter 7
You can read 1 Nephi Chapter 7 HERE
The first thing I want to talk about is that this Chapter is how Nephi's brothers have seen an angel of God and yet they still rebel against God. It's easy to forget. It's easy if you don't do the things you are supposed to do and do it faithfully we can all forget. In this Chapter Nephi kept asking how his brothers have forgotten all of the good that God has done for them. All of the blessings handed to them. It's so easy to forget, but we're not supposed to. Before when I used to pray I'd instantly jump into begging for blessings. I don't do that anymore. The first thing I do when I pray is thank Heavenly Father for every blessing that is given to me daily, and there are so many of them. Living. The fact that we have another day on this earth with our families is the biggest blessing of all. We cannot forget where we come from, who we are here for, and what it is that we are supposed to be doing. Do I forget? Everyday. It's when I connect with Heavenly Father while reading my scriptures, writing on this blog, or even my other blog, praying that I remember. We are here to be obedient to Heavenly Father. The only way that we can do that is through DAILY prayer, scripture study, and a lot of time spent together as a family.
The first time my husband went to church he said, "It makes you not want to do anything bad." EXACTLY! That is the reason why we are supposed to have God in our daily lives. It makes us not want to rebel against him.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!!
The first thing I want to talk about is that this Chapter is how Nephi's brothers have seen an angel of God and yet they still rebel against God. It's easy to forget. It's easy if you don't do the things you are supposed to do and do it faithfully we can all forget. In this Chapter Nephi kept asking how his brothers have forgotten all of the good that God has done for them. All of the blessings handed to them. It's so easy to forget, but we're not supposed to. Before when I used to pray I'd instantly jump into begging for blessings. I don't do that anymore. The first thing I do when I pray is thank Heavenly Father for every blessing that is given to me daily, and there are so many of them. Living. The fact that we have another day on this earth with our families is the biggest blessing of all. We cannot forget where we come from, who we are here for, and what it is that we are supposed to be doing. Do I forget? Everyday. It's when I connect with Heavenly Father while reading my scriptures, writing on this blog, or even my other blog, praying that I remember. We are here to be obedient to Heavenly Father. The only way that we can do that is through DAILY prayer, scripture study, and a lot of time spent together as a family.
The first time my husband went to church he said, "It makes you not want to do anything bad." EXACTLY! That is the reason why we are supposed to have God in our daily lives. It makes us not want to rebel against him.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
1 Nephi Chapter 6
You can read 1 Nephi Chapter 6 HERE
This chapter was really short. This chapter basically is saying to me that Nephi's main goal here is to get people to worship God and that his main purpose is basically pleasing God and not pleasing the people of this world.
Extremely short, but sweet. I might be taking this off course a little, but imagine our everyday lives. We live our lives to please others. We live our lives to please others in this world. We care what others think. Some people aren't like this, but most are. I am. I love to please others. BUT! How many of us stop to think and want to please God. Honestly, I don't think of that often. I know that this chapter wasn't mainly about pleasing God, but that's what I'm taking from it and that's what I'm going with. I feel that as I read the BOM and think pop into my head that is what God is wanting me to feel and learn from. I think that what I'm doing in my life now is pleasing God. I'm opening a door for my family that was sealed shut for many years. I'm giving my family an opportunity to be sealed together. My kids are going to grow up learning and living by and hopefully loving the gospel. I think that is quite pleasing. However, there's much more I could be doing and not doing that would please Him. I think through prayer and faithful scripture study I will progress more and more in pleasing Him.
I hope that reading this will inspire others to stop and think before acting. It's something we're all guilty of. We all should think first "Would this please God or will it just please others in this world."
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ... Amen!
This chapter was really short. This chapter basically is saying to me that Nephi's main goal here is to get people to worship God and that his main purpose is basically pleasing God and not pleasing the people of this world.
Extremely short, but sweet. I might be taking this off course a little, but imagine our everyday lives. We live our lives to please others. We live our lives to please others in this world. We care what others think. Some people aren't like this, but most are. I am. I love to please others. BUT! How many of us stop to think and want to please God. Honestly, I don't think of that often. I know that this chapter wasn't mainly about pleasing God, but that's what I'm taking from it and that's what I'm going with. I feel that as I read the BOM and think pop into my head that is what God is wanting me to feel and learn from. I think that what I'm doing in my life now is pleasing God. I'm opening a door for my family that was sealed shut for many years. I'm giving my family an opportunity to be sealed together. My kids are going to grow up learning and living by and hopefully loving the gospel. I think that is quite pleasing. However, there's much more I could be doing and not doing that would please Him. I think through prayer and faithful scripture study I will progress more and more in pleasing Him.
I hope that reading this will inspire others to stop and think before acting. It's something we're all guilty of. We all should think first "Would this please God or will it just please others in this world."
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ... Amen!
Friday, April 4, 2008
1 Nephi Chapter 5
You can read 1 Nephi Chapter 5 HERE
Reading this chapter I really tried to put myself in Sariah's shoes. I couldn't imagine first off blindingly following my husband into the wilderness and THEN having my husband send my children off back into the wilderness to go and risk their lives. I completely don't blame her for questioning things and getting basically angry with Lehi. However, the joy she must have felt when she saw that her sons were fine. That the Lord did protect them, and that the Lord does have control of all things.
At the end of the chapter when Nephi is talking of how following God's commandments just did good for them and filled them with the spirit and that all they need to get through their journey to the promised land is wisdom in the Lord is amazing! That's all we need. I truly believe this. If we have wisdom in the Lord and we follow his commandments good things will happen. It definitely is something that we should all teach our children. That there is a reason God gave us commandments and if we follow his commandments and trust in him he will deliver unto us what we need.
So, this is what I've learned from Chapter 5. It was a small chapter, but it was a good one!
Reading this chapter I really tried to put myself in Sariah's shoes. I couldn't imagine first off blindingly following my husband into the wilderness and THEN having my husband send my children off back into the wilderness to go and risk their lives. I completely don't blame her for questioning things and getting basically angry with Lehi. However, the joy she must have felt when she saw that her sons were fine. That the Lord did protect them, and that the Lord does have control of all things.
At the end of the chapter when Nephi is talking of how following God's commandments just did good for them and filled them with the spirit and that all they need to get through their journey to the promised land is wisdom in the Lord is amazing! That's all we need. I truly believe this. If we have wisdom in the Lord and we follow his commandments good things will happen. It definitely is something that we should all teach our children. That there is a reason God gave us commandments and if we follow his commandments and trust in him he will deliver unto us what we need.
So, this is what I've learned from Chapter 5. It was a small chapter, but it was a good one!
Monday, January 7, 2008
1 Nephi Chapter 4
You can read 1 Nephi Chapter 4 HERE
Even though Nephi and his brothers had failed in the past Nephi was still motivated to keep the Lord's commandment in getting the records from Laban. Even though keeping the commandment was hard, he still was determine to keep it. His faith in God helped him. His brothers could not understand why even after having angel come before them. His brothers had no faith. They had not prayed to God w/all of their hearts.
Nephi put all of his trust into God. He actually killed another human, a relative of his, for God. At first I thought ~ why would God have Nephi kill somebody? But, it makes sense after what Joseph Smith said ~ “That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another" This could be opened up into a whole other topic of discussion, but what I get from this statement is that God gives us commandments, but understands that there are circumstances that they need to be broken. For instance...self defense. What if we were to kill somebody who was attacking us? Would we be condemned for not upholding the "Thou shall not kill" commandment?
What are your thoughts on this?
Even though Nephi and his brothers had failed in the past Nephi was still motivated to keep the Lord's commandment in getting the records from Laban. Even though keeping the commandment was hard, he still was determine to keep it. His faith in God helped him. His brothers could not understand why even after having angel come before them. His brothers had no faith. They had not prayed to God w/all of their hearts.
Nephi put all of his trust into God. He actually killed another human, a relative of his, for God. At first I thought ~ why would God have Nephi kill somebody? But, it makes sense after what Joseph Smith said ~ “That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another" This could be opened up into a whole other topic of discussion, but what I get from this statement is that God gives us commandments, but understands that there are circumstances that they need to be broken. For instance...self defense. What if we were to kill somebody who was attacking us? Would we be condemned for not upholding the "Thou shall not kill" commandment?
What are your thoughts on this?
Sunday, January 6, 2008
1 Nephi Chapter 3
You can read 1 Nephi Chapter 3 HERE
This chapter really shows you that God makes a way for you to follow what he commands of you. It takes Faith in him. Faith is my resolution word for the year 2008. I'm working on strengthening my Faith in all areas of my life. Faith in my marriage, my parenting skills, my job, my love for God. God does make it easy for you to follow his commandments. There are so many temptations out there, but God gives us a way through the Gospel that we can follow what he commands of us. Something neat about this chapter was it shows that God will not command something of us that is not reachable. He will help us, we just have to have Faith in him.
This chapter really shows you that God makes a way for you to follow what he commands of you. It takes Faith in him. Faith is my resolution word for the year 2008. I'm working on strengthening my Faith in all areas of my life. Faith in my marriage, my parenting skills, my job, my love for God. God does make it easy for you to follow his commandments. There are so many temptations out there, but God gives us a way through the Gospel that we can follow what he commands of us. Something neat about this chapter was it shows that God will not command something of us that is not reachable. He will help us, we just have to have Faith in him.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
1 Nephi Chapter 2
You can read 1 Nephi Chapter 2 HERE
This chapter really hit home. It's amazing how if you are unfaithful to the Lord and deny him and don't follow his commandments you are going to continue down that downward spiral. If you don't pray with your heart and ask for the truth you aren't going to get it. When you rebel against God you lose the Holy Spirit. Even in my own personal life I can say that when I was up to no good and going completely against what God wanted for me I lost my way. But all it takes is one prayer and faith to start feeling the spirit again.
For Lehi to put all of his faith in God and take his family away from everything they knew and loved he must have really trusted God. In a way this was me 9 months ago. I felt like Sacramento was doing no good for us. It's almost like it was corrupting my life. I never would have imagined packing up my family and uprooting our roots the way I did, but something inside of me told me that it was the right thing to do. If I didn't listen to that voice inside of my heart who knows where my life would be today. I had to put faith in God that everything would work out and it did.
There's so many people that deny the spirit like Laman and Lemuel. I can understand the frustrations that Nephi is feeling with his brothers, because I too have family that I wish would follow a different path and not go against God and go against the commandments, but all I can do is pray for them.
Does this Chapter relate to your life at all?
This chapter really hit home. It's amazing how if you are unfaithful to the Lord and deny him and don't follow his commandments you are going to continue down that downward spiral. If you don't pray with your heart and ask for the truth you aren't going to get it. When you rebel against God you lose the Holy Spirit. Even in my own personal life I can say that when I was up to no good and going completely against what God wanted for me I lost my way. But all it takes is one prayer and faith to start feeling the spirit again.
For Lehi to put all of his faith in God and take his family away from everything they knew and loved he must have really trusted God. In a way this was me 9 months ago. I felt like Sacramento was doing no good for us. It's almost like it was corrupting my life. I never would have imagined packing up my family and uprooting our roots the way I did, but something inside of me told me that it was the right thing to do. If I didn't listen to that voice inside of my heart who knows where my life would be today. I had to put faith in God that everything would work out and it did.
There's so many people that deny the spirit like Laman and Lemuel. I can understand the frustrations that Nephi is feeling with his brothers, because I too have family that I wish would follow a different path and not go against God and go against the commandments, but all I can do is pray for them.
Does this Chapter relate to your life at all?
1 Nephi Chapter 1
You can read 1 Nephi Chapter 1 HERE
I really enjoyed this chapter. What a great way to start the BOM. I found similarities of Lehi's account with God with Joseph Smith's. They came to god with all of their heart during time that the world needed him most and God came to them and showed them the way. Gave them books to help lead them. They both were mocked and rejected for what they said they saw.
Nephi is not writing an account of his own in this book, but of accounts of his father, and he's writing this account to show us 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. See 1 Nephi 1:20.
If you're following this journey with me what is your take on Chapter 1?
I really enjoyed this chapter. What a great way to start the BOM. I found similarities of Lehi's account with God with Joseph Smith's. They came to god with all of their heart during time that the world needed him most and God came to them and showed them the way. Gave them books to help lead them. They both were mocked and rejected for what they said they saw.
Nephi is not writing an account of his own in this book, but of accounts of his father, and he's writing this account to show us 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. See 1 Nephi 1:20.
If you're following this journey with me what is your take on Chapter 1?
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