Today I'm "Likening"

We are told to "liken" the scriptures to ourselves to really learn the lessons the scriptures teach.  Well, this morning I was playing catch up and rereading some chapters at the end of Alma that I skimmed over about a week ago when I was pressed for time.  The two chapters that caught my attention--and I related to after "likening" were the epistles Nephite leaders Captain Moroni and Chief Judge Pahoran wrote to one another during the war.

While I am neither a Nephite, nor a leader during war, I got a lesson about giving others the benefit of the doubt.

Remember, Moroni was ticked that Pahoran had apparently neglected the needs of the armies.  But the truth was that Pahoran had been the victim of a political coup and wasn't even in the capital but had fled for his safety.  And he asked Moroni to come with a small group of warrior to help him regain his place so the government could re-support the armies at war.

These guys cold have been really mad.  In fact, Moroni's language is bold and forceful in his letter, but as soon as he he gets Pahoran's message back, learning the "why" behind the governments' apparent neglect, he softens and immediately gets things in line to go help Pahoran.

Wouldn't it be nice if we all could respond as Pahoran did?

He wrote that he was pained by the struggles Moroni was dealing with, and he was sorry for it.  But then he explained the hold up at his end and then asks for help.

I could take a lesson here from Pahoran--but also Moroni.  I need to be more understanding as I hear folks coming unglued about something that we all are dealing with, but I also need to be humble enough to ask for help where I need it after I explain myself calmly and gently.

The scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, we've been told are written for our time.  I am seeing that very clearly today as I ponder this lesson.  I hope I am as quick as Moroni and Pahoran to learn it and cooperate to make things better.

Marathon Completed

Last night I was privileged to sit in on another ward's Young Women group who were spending two full days of their Christmas vacation together reading the Book of Mormon cover to cover. They had readers scheduled to come in to read aloud for thirty minutes each so the girls could follow along. I read my section at 7:30 last night.

The portion I read was the last chapters of 3rd Nephi, the book of 4th Nephi and the beginning of Mormon. As I read I was struck with the thought that God really does fulfill His promises. He remembers His covenants with His people. I felt the Spirit in that room reaffirming to me this book was true and the lessons in it were for us and our time.

I hope the girls who participated felt that as well. I know that after that much reading your mind can get a little mushy and you start to get a little punchy. And that happened too, but the Spirit was still there and these girls had been soaking in it for two days. That has to have some kind of influence on them.

That book has a power that, if you have read it, you cannot deny.

On Christmas day a pair of Jehovah's Witnesses came to my door again. One of the ladies has stopped by several times and always visits with me about some sense of destruction and the end of the earth, and she seems to be trying to teach that God will be the only solution to these crises.

While I believe God will ultimately have his hand in the final hours of the earth's degeneration, I also know that the Gospel, as I understand it, is the hope that we can look to in order to not be obsessed with that gloom and doom mentality. The Gospel, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is one of hope and optimism and joy. Sure, troubles come and bad things can happen but the Lord is with His children and He will bless us too.

As this lady and her friend tried to teach me of the earth's destruction, on Christmas day no less, I testified to her that the end was not all to be feared. That Christ is the Redeemer and He has provided a way for us. I read to her the Lord's words to the Nephites the night before his birth in Bethlehem. I told her that this book was my gift to her and that I considered its teaching treasures given to me by a loving Heavenly Father. It was a companion to the prophesies of the Old Testament that she has readily shared with me, and another witness of the teaching given in the New Testament, where Jesus lived and taught and died and was resurrected.

She wouldn't take the copy of the Book of Mormon I offered her. Her explanation was that if she took it, she would not be believing what she already knew. I told her that was right. She would know so much more. I told her that we believe many things that are very similar. We know there is a God who is in control of the world. We know He gave the world prophets in the olden times. And that as a true and living God those prophesies will come to pass. All I was giving her was an extension of understanding to what she already had. She still wouldn't take the copy I offered her.

There is power in this book and she recognized that, in some way. I hope the Young Women in the 6th ward who participated in their Book of Mormon Readathon will recognize that power too and with any luck, that power will sink deep into their hearts and be the foundation of a stronger and deeper testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ and His gospel on the earth today.

Promise Given

Christmas Eve for the Nephites...

9 Now it came to pass that there was a day set apart by the unbelievers, that all those who believed in those traditions should be put to death except the sign should come to pass, which had been given by Samuel the prophet.
10 Now it came to pass that when Nephi, the son of Nephi, saw this wickedness of his people, his heart was exceedingly sorrowful.
11 And it came to pass that he went out and bowed himself down upon the earth, and cried mightily to his God in behalf of his people, yea, those who were about to be destroyed because of their faith in the tradition of their fathers.
12 And it came to pass that he cried mightily unto the Lord all that day; and behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, saying:
13 Lift up your head and be of good cheer; for behold, the time is at hand, and on this night shall the sign be given, and on the morrow come I into the world, to show unto the world that I will fulfil all that which I have caused to be spoken by the mouth of my holy prophets.
14 Behold, I come unto my own, to fulfil all things which I have made known unto the children of men from the foundation of the world, and to do the will, both of the Father and of the Son—of the Father because of me, and of the Son because of my flesh. And behold, the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.

All You Have To Do Is...

A little serendipity happen this weekend in our family scripture reading. We are reading King Benjamin's address in the Book of Mosiah and it was General Conference on TV.

It's been a little while since we were in Mosiah, and I was pleased to recall the simplicity of the message Benjamin is relating to his people. In verse 22 of chapter ,he says:

"And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you."

That sounds like what the general authorities of the church taught us all weekend: Keep the commandments and you'll be blessed.

I'm glad that Gospel of Jesus Christ is just that simple. It makes it easier to keep track of, don't you think? "When you're good you're glad, when you're bad you're sad." That makes sense to me.

Choice above all other lands...

As a family we survived the first batch of Isaiah, as quoted by Nephi in the Book of Mormon this past week and have moved onto 2 Nephi.

In the first chapter of that book, Lehi prophesies about a "land of liberty" and teaches us, along with his children, what must happen in order to obtain such a choice land.

In verses 5 through 9 he gives us some information and directions. Knowing, as we do, that he was referring to the "New World" and specifically America, do you remember what it is that we must do to "obtain a land for our inheritance"?

He teaches in verse 6 that "none shall come into this land save they be brought by the hand of the Lord". My great grandmother was mail order bride from Finland. She got here and then had to work to repay her passage. Unfortunately, she didn't care for the man who brought her over and instead fell in love with his brother and married him! For her opportunity, I am grateful! Plus it makes a great "pioneer" story in my family.

In verse 7 Lehi tells us that "if it be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given them, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity". We must obey the Lord's commandments. Many of are trying to do that, but the vast majority of our nation is not. This just adds to our responsibility to share the gospel with our friends and neighbors. How are we doing?

In verse 8 we learn that "it is wisdom that this land should be kept as yet from the knowledge of other nations". Just over a year ago The Girl got the lead (Christoper Columbus) in the 6th grade musical. While she was preparing for that role, we talked about how Columbus himself wrote that he felt led, as if by the Spirit of God, to find this new world. Uhhh. Yeah. We could have told him that.

Finally in verse 9, we find out that "they shall dwell in safety forever" in this land if the inhabitants will be obedient and keep the commandments. I know there have been times when the safety of this nation was compromised, but according to this scripture, it is due to our own disobedience. We know what we need to do to have this blessing. Are we doing it?

The Lord did preserve this land for a reason, HIS reason. He lead and inspired patriots to plan and prepare a government upon this land to bring His purposes to light. We are blessed to be living here with those promises made to Lehi and his family still intact for us if we just listen and obey.

We sing "God Bless America" as almost a pleading prayer. He has blessed us and will continue to do so if we do our part. It can feel discouraging when you listen to the news or read the paper on any given night. But I know God's promises are sure and He will not forget us.

God Bless America, Land that I love. Stand beside her and guide her thru the night with a light from above. From the mountains to the prairies, to the oceans, white with foam. God Bless America, My Home Sweet Home.

Have a wonderful 4th of July with your family.