2 Nephi 3
v. 11-12 One testimony I have of the Book of Mormon as scripture and Joseph Smith as a prophet is how they support and clarify the teachings of the Bible. They do not contradict or destroy God's word as previously revealed. They work together to bring the meaning of the gospel of Jesus Christ into focus, so that there is no mistaking what is expected of us.
v. 13 "And out of weakness he shall be made strong..." Another testimony I have of the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith comes from the very fact that Joseph was an uneducated boy of 14 when he first received his vision. A lot of people find this to be a sticking point with them. Why would God call a 14 year old boy to be His prophet? Yet, to me, it makes perfect sense. Joseph Smith was young and impressionable, malleable, humble, willing to listen to the Lord and obey in all things. He was not already jaded or clouded with the teachings of the world. He did not have his own beliefs and pride to contend with.
I also find it laughable when critics claim that Joseph himself wrote the Book of Mormon instead of being the instrument of translation. I myself am a writer. I am 45 years old, I'm college educated, and I have a Mensa-qualified IQ (I say not to brag, but to make a point). And I struggle with the plot lines of a simple story of a housewife in a mid-life crisis. Could I have written the Book of Mormon, with all its intricacies, with all its converging story lines, with all its Biblical references, with the many, many different themes that run throughout? Good grief, no. The Book of Mormon told simply as a story is epic in scope. There is no way I could accomplish something like that. So an uneducated farm boy? I really don't think so.
v. 19-20 I am always moved by the phrase, "they shall cry from the dust." When reading the Book of Mormon, I always feel a connection to the different men who share their stories, from the obedience and faith of Nephi, and his suffering when his own brothers turn against him, to Alma the younger who repents and spends the rest of his days trying to fix his wrongs, to Ammon, the great missionary whose joy and zeal in the work is contagious, to the great and righteous warriors, to that Nephi later in the book who sorrowed so much for the wickedness and stubbornness of his people, to the very end where Moroni walks alone, friendless and hunted. I marvel at the sacrifices they made to record and preserve their words... for me. To help me in my day to day struggles, to bring me to Christ, to help me know God better.
Showing posts with label Scriptures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scriptures. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Monday, October 4, 2010
Prophets
Jaccob 4:4-6 Mosiah :13-18 Acts 10:34-43 Amos 3:7
I love how my scripture study has taken me to the topic of prophets right after I have had the privilege and blessing to feast at the feet of true and living prophets through General Conference. At the conference, they bore testimony several times of the importance of our prophet. That testimony echoed in my heart.
How grateful I am to have a prophet to guide me through these difficult days. How grateful I am that God is not a respecter of persons, that He loves me as much as He loved his children anciently. How grateful I am that He has not left me to grope blindly in the dark, hoping to stumble upon answers that will help me and help my family return home to Him.
I love the scriptures. I love the words of the ancient prophets. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The gospel never changes. In the scriptures, I find the commandments that will bless my life, admonitions that will help me, warnings that are still in force. Still, I need a living prophet.
The words of Adam could not save the people of Noah from the flood. The words of Noah could not lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. The words of Moses did not save the people of Zachariah from destruction and captivity. And the law of Moses had no power to save anyone who rejected Jesus Christ.
So it is with me. I look to the living prophets for words that will save me and my family from the flood of wickedness that is washing over the earth, threatening to come into my home, seeping under doors and through windows. I need to be aware; I need to be warned; I need to know how to protect myself and my loved ones from the destruction Satan wishes so greatly for us.
I bear you my witness that we do have a living, loving prophet on the earth today, President Thomas S. Monson. I invite you to listen to his words and live.
I love how my scripture study has taken me to the topic of prophets right after I have had the privilege and blessing to feast at the feet of true and living prophets through General Conference. At the conference, they bore testimony several times of the importance of our prophet. That testimony echoed in my heart.
How grateful I am to have a prophet to guide me through these difficult days. How grateful I am that God is not a respecter of persons, that He loves me as much as He loved his children anciently. How grateful I am that He has not left me to grope blindly in the dark, hoping to stumble upon answers that will help me and help my family return home to Him.
I love the scriptures. I love the words of the ancient prophets. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The gospel never changes. In the scriptures, I find the commandments that will bless my life, admonitions that will help me, warnings that are still in force. Still, I need a living prophet.
The words of Adam could not save the people of Noah from the flood. The words of Noah could not lead the children of Israel out of Egypt. The words of Moses did not save the people of Zachariah from destruction and captivity. And the law of Moses had no power to save anyone who rejected Jesus Christ.
So it is with me. I look to the living prophets for words that will save me and my family from the flood of wickedness that is washing over the earth, threatening to come into my home, seeping under doors and through windows. I need to be aware; I need to be warned; I need to know how to protect myself and my loved ones from the destruction Satan wishes so greatly for us.
I bear you my witness that we do have a living, loving prophet on the earth today, President Thomas S. Monson. I invite you to listen to his words and live.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
A Closer Look
2 Nephi 31:20 "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, with a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."
I've chosen this scripture for memorization this week, and for a deeper look. The words I've highlighted are words that stick out to me, inviting me to look further and understand better.
Steadfastness -- The footnote references the topical guide topics commitment, dedication, perseverance, steadfastness, and walking with God. It is interesting to me that waking with God was included. That's a bit of imagery I want to think more about today. Am I walking with God? Or am I walking away from Him? Again, the reminder to be guided by the Spirit plays an important part.
The dictionary defines steadfast as:
I've chosen this scripture for memorization this week, and for a deeper look. The words I've highlighted are words that stick out to me, inviting me to look further and understand better.
Steadfastness -- The footnote references the topical guide topics commitment, dedication, perseverance, steadfastness, and walking with God. It is interesting to me that waking with God was included. That's a bit of imagery I want to think more about today. Am I walking with God? Or am I walking away from Him? Again, the reminder to be guided by the Spirit plays an important part.
The dictionary defines steadfast as:
fixed in direction; steadily directed: a steadfast gaze.
firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment, etc., as a person: a steadfast friend.
unwavering, as resolution, faith, adherence, etc.
firmly established, as an institution or a state of affairs.
firmly fixed in place or position.
I like to think that I am a steadfast friend to the Lord. That I am steadily directed. I'm old enough to be firmly established; I've been a Mormon for 37 years now. I ought to know what I'm doing by now, right? I do not waver.
Perfect brightness of hope -- Again, it helps to turn to the dictionary.
Perfect:
conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type.
excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement.
exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose.
entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings
accurate, exact, or correct in every detail.
thorough; complete; utter.
pure or unmixed
unqualified; absolute.
expert; accomplished; proficient.
So, my brightness of hope is exactly fitting to my needs and purposes. It is accurate, thorough, complete. It is pure, not mixed with any hint of despair.
I must have a love of God and ALL men, not just the ones I get along with.
Feasting -- "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Matt 5:6
Endure --
to continue to exist; last.
to support adverse force or influence of any kind; suffer without yielding; suffer patiently.
So, I must first of all continue to exist, and I must outlast my adversary. I must suffer patiently without yielding.
Eternal life -- "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." John 17:3
Whew. That's a lot for today. Now back to more pondering.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Apply and Live
2 Nephi 31
Am I humble?
I have promised to be obedient to His commandments. Am I?
I have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Do I follow the promptings I receive?
Do I follow Christ with full purpose of heart? Without hypocrisy? With real intent?
Do I repent of my shortcomings?
Am I really willing to take His name upon me? Do I honor His name by my thoughts and actions?
Am I effectively enduring to the end?
Am I pressing forward? Or am I stagnant?
Am I steadfast?
Do I have a perfect brightness of hope?
Do I love God and my fellow man? How do I show it?
Do I FEAST upon the word of Christ?
I can give an answer to each question, glibly perhaps, off the top of my head. But I think I'll make this an exercise in pondering and prayer today. Where am I weak? How can I improve?
Am I humble?
I have promised to be obedient to His commandments. Am I?
I have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Do I follow the promptings I receive?
Do I follow Christ with full purpose of heart? Without hypocrisy? With real intent?
Do I repent of my shortcomings?
Am I really willing to take His name upon me? Do I honor His name by my thoughts and actions?
Am I effectively enduring to the end?
Am I pressing forward? Or am I stagnant?
Am I steadfast?
Do I have a perfect brightness of hope?
Do I love God and my fellow man? How do I show it?
Do I FEAST upon the word of Christ?
I can give an answer to each question, glibly perhaps, off the top of my head. But I think I'll make this an exercise in pondering and prayer today. Where am I weak? How can I improve?
Monday, September 20, 2010
Mysteries
1 Nephi 10:17-19 Doctrine and Covenants 11:21-22 Doctrine and Covenants 50:19-24 Doctrine and Covenants 88:118
In many churches, the mysteries of God are considered unknowable by man. In our church, this is not the case. A mystery is any doctrine or principal that you do not yet understand. Heavenly Father doesn't want to withhold information from us. He wants us to learn always. That is why we have the scriptures; that is why He has commanded us to study them, no not just to study them, but to FEAST upon the scriptures. He wants us to be hungry for the knowledge, the mysteries contained in them, and He promises to fill us according to our desires.
There is a caveat, however. Gospel knowledge is given "line upon line, precept upon precept." (Isaiah 28:10, 13; 2 Nephi 28:30) You cannot expect to receive revelation about all the worlds created if you haven't yet developed the faith to pray. You cannot expect to understand the atonement if you don't have the faith to repent. Heavenly Father has promised to give us milk before meat. (1 Corinthians 3:2) Don't ask for something you're going to choke on.
And that is the beauty of reading the scriptures over and over again. I approach the scriptures each time with different needs and a different level of understanding. It becomes a personal conversation, as the Lord reveals to me exactly what I need exactly when I need it, to lead me towards personal growth, comfort, and knowledge. And always, the scriptures lead me to Christ, they lead me to act, and they lead me to become a better person.
In many churches, the mysteries of God are considered unknowable by man. In our church, this is not the case. A mystery is any doctrine or principal that you do not yet understand. Heavenly Father doesn't want to withhold information from us. He wants us to learn always. That is why we have the scriptures; that is why He has commanded us to study them, no not just to study them, but to FEAST upon the scriptures. He wants us to be hungry for the knowledge, the mysteries contained in them, and He promises to fill us according to our desires.
There is a caveat, however. Gospel knowledge is given "line upon line, precept upon precept." (Isaiah 28:10, 13; 2 Nephi 28:30) You cannot expect to receive revelation about all the worlds created if you haven't yet developed the faith to pray. You cannot expect to understand the atonement if you don't have the faith to repent. Heavenly Father has promised to give us milk before meat. (1 Corinthians 3:2) Don't ask for something you're going to choke on.
And that is the beauty of reading the scriptures over and over again. I approach the scriptures each time with different needs and a different level of understanding. It becomes a personal conversation, as the Lord reveals to me exactly what I need exactly when I need it, to lead me towards personal growth, comfort, and knowledge. And always, the scriptures lead me to Christ, they lead me to act, and they lead me to become a better person.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Feasting on the Words of Christ
2 Nephi 4:15-16 2 Nephi 32:3 Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-28 Doctrine and Covenants 88:118
I've had this particular set of scriptures since the Christmas before I served my mission back in 1986. My maiden name is engraved on the front. There's a loving inscription from my father on the inside cover. One page is torn -- Ephesians 6 on one side, Phillipians 1 on the other. The page is poorly mended, so it sticks out at the edges. The outer leather cover is starting to pull away from the binding; it's barely holding on at the back of the book.
When I thumb through the pages, they are brightly colored. Lime green for promised blessings, purple for warnings and curses, blue for passages that sing to my heart, orange for linking topics together, dark green for definitions, red for testimony of Christ, peach for reference to other scriptures, brown for significant deaths, and yellow for my missionary scriptures.
As I stop to see what has captured my attention over the years, I see my spiritual journey. I see that I longed for peace, that I wanted to repent and improve, that I wanted an orderly home for my family, that I desired spiritual healing long before I desired physical healing. I see how a particular scripture has grown in depth of meaning, marked by additional colors, changing according to my changing needs.
I can see now, that when I wanted to develop a certain Christ-like quality, that the scriptures were my encouragement and cheerleader, that they helped me chart my progress, that they whispered peace to my soul as I came closer and closer to my goal.
Perhaps the greatest blessing I find in these pages is the developing relationship I have with my savior, Jesus Christ. I came here to learn of Him, to love Him, to become His friend.
Ah, yes, my soul delighteth in the the scriptures.
I've had this particular set of scriptures since the Christmas before I served my mission back in 1986. My maiden name is engraved on the front. There's a loving inscription from my father on the inside cover. One page is torn -- Ephesians 6 on one side, Phillipians 1 on the other. The page is poorly mended, so it sticks out at the edges. The outer leather cover is starting to pull away from the binding; it's barely holding on at the back of the book.
When I thumb through the pages, they are brightly colored. Lime green for promised blessings, purple for warnings and curses, blue for passages that sing to my heart, orange for linking topics together, dark green for definitions, red for testimony of Christ, peach for reference to other scriptures, brown for significant deaths, and yellow for my missionary scriptures.
As I stop to see what has captured my attention over the years, I see my spiritual journey. I see that I longed for peace, that I wanted to repent and improve, that I wanted an orderly home for my family, that I desired spiritual healing long before I desired physical healing. I see how a particular scripture has grown in depth of meaning, marked by additional colors, changing according to my changing needs.
I can see now, that when I wanted to develop a certain Christ-like quality, that the scriptures were my encouragement and cheerleader, that they helped me chart my progress, that they whispered peace to my soul as I came closer and closer to my goal.
Perhaps the greatest blessing I find in these pages is the developing relationship I have with my savior, Jesus Christ. I came here to learn of Him, to love Him, to become His friend.
Ah, yes, my soul delighteth in the the scriptures.
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