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.

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!!

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!

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!

Ramblings.....

I just wanted to stop in on my blog here and let all of my viewers know that I still plan on continuing on with my reading and posting of the Book of Mormon. I actually have been pretty busy and I haven't had the time to actually post about my feelings on each chapter. I have been reading though. I've actually been into reading the Gospel Principles book and articles in the Ensign and reading things that I know will strengthen my faith. Preach My Gospel is another one I've picked up reading on.

Things in my life have been busy. If you don't know, I also have another blog, Garibay Soup, where I post about the everyday happenings in my life. I hope within the next couple of weeks I'll have some time free up go back and start reading w/the study guide and post about it.

My family is growing stronger and stronger and we are loving church! I've noticed great things from within me ever since I started going. I've made a great friend, Emily, and I'm excited to make more. Jayden's really involved and he really enjoys it as well. Gino is still attending Sacrament, and taking baby steps, but it's better than no steps. He actually was upset because I slept in on Sunday and we didn't make it to church..... um, WOW! I love that this is completely transforming our lives and love.

I honestly did not have a relationship with Heavenly Father before December. I didn't pray. It's almost like I didn't even think twice about it. I don't know what happened, but I can't believe that I went so long w/out talking with Him about my problems. Thanking Him for my blessings. Living without his principles. No wonder my life was in shambles. I always felt a void, and now I feel kinda complete. It's a good feeling.

Okay - new goal. Effective April 1, 2008 I will be back her posting daily on reading the BOM. In the meantime join me over at Garibay Soup.

A Growing Testimony

I was one that was raised in the church, but wasn't. What this means is I was born into a family that once was very active in the church, but unfortunately most of them fell away while I was still at a young age. I do remember going to primary and I remember getting baptized, but at the age of 12 I was done. I no longer went to church. To be honest, I really didn't know much about the gospel. However, in my heart I knew that this is the true church. There was no doubt in my mind. It really upset me when people would attack the church and say horrible things when they didn't even know what they were talking about. I always stood up for the church even though I really didn't know what exactly it was that I was standing up for. To be honest, I never expected myself to get involved with the Mormon church again. Even though it was burned my heart and soul that it IS the one true church on this earth, I didn't see myself on that path. Things changed. They changed very drastically. All it took was one time of me going back and now I cannot imagine my life without it. Starting this journey in my life I prayed and I asked if this really is the true church and am I making the right decision, and I promise that I could feel it. I knew that the decision I made was the best decision I've ever made in my life. What I really love is seeing how the Lord will open up one's heart to the truth if they're truly searching for it. I've watched the most amazing transformation of my husband right before my eyes. A guy who knew nothing about this wonderful religion now can't wait to go to church. We haven't gone in 2 weeks, because I've had a horrible cold and he made a comment along the lines of, "I hope we're going to church this weekend... we've already missed 2 weeks." He doesn't attend the classes yet, but I can tell that he knows that this is the true church. It's amazing. And I know that our Heavenly Father opened Gino's heart, because there are so many people out there praying for him to feel it. And these prayers are working. I thank each and every single person out there who has prayed for us. The missionaries are coming over on Friday and I'm excited for Gino to finally sit down with them and have many of his questions answered and for his faith to grow even stronger.

We have a new President. President Thomas. S. Monson and I'm excited to learn of the new teachings that he has to offer. I'm thankful that Heavenly Father blesses us with a living Prophet. I am so thankful that I am able to give my children an opportunity to learn and live by the gospel. I hope that my husband and I can be a good example to them.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Not moving on w/my chapters, but rambling

I'm really hoping that I can make it to church on Sunday. I've been so sick with a horrible cold and a sore throat, which kept me from church last Sunday. I'm actually quite happy we didn't go last Sunday, because this was Sunday. If I had to drive home in that weather from Ashland I wouldn't have just been crying I would've pulled over and started praying really hard and hope that we miraculously made it home. I hear that the weather is supposed to be crappy again this Sunday and I hope it's not. I love Fast Sunday. I love to hear everyone's testimonies and in a way it always strengthens mine. I know that this Sunday because of the passing of President Gordon B. Hinkley there will amazing testimonies because of this great man and I definitely do not want to miss those. I don't like it when I miss church and I really can't believe that I missed out on so many years. There's no point in looking back and now all I can do is move forward, and be thankful that I was given the inspiration to allow my children the opportunity to learn the gospel and to be raised in such a wonderful church. My husband has been so positive lately regarding church and if we skip too many weeks I'm scared that his positive will dwindle down to negative... we all know that it is so easy to happen. We are having the missionaries over for dinner next Friday and I'm excited for Gino to sit down and talk with them. The first time that missionaries came over (along w/Gino's boss & wife) Gino left. I think he was a bit overwhelmed, but baby steps. We just have to take baby steps.