I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from The Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity - the pure love of Christ - will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness. - President Marion G. Romney
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Book of Mormon in 100 Days - Day 2
I'll add commentary tomorrow, but wanted to get the reading assignment posted for any early birds -
1 Nephi 1-2
If you'd like, you can mark 1 Nephi 1:20.
How have you experienced the tender mercies of the Lord?
I'm looking forward to hearing about the tender mercies of the Lord in your lives.
I wanted to share something I learned from chapter 2 in our reading today, verses 12 & 16, particularly. This seems to be one of the first compare and contrast scriptures between the elder versus younger brothers.
Verse 12: (Laman and Lemuel) did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them. Verse 16: (Nephi) having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore I did cry unto the Lord, and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father.
It strikes me that right after Lehi told them of his vision, all of the brothers struggled. I'm sure, now that I think about it, that none of them were jumping up and down in excitement over leaving their home to go who knows where. But, the difference between them was that L & L simply gave up - they didn't want to go. The didn't want to find out for themselves, and they didn't make an effort to get a testimony -- and that didn't end well for them. Nephi, on the other hand, didn't stop at "this doesn't sound like something I'd like to do." He desired to know the mysteries of God, he cried unto God to know, and then he was visited by the Spirit - he received a testimony of the vision of his father and the things they had been commanded to do; wherefore he did not rebel against his father like unto his brethren. *Desire*Faith*Prayer*Obedience*
Long thought, but something that really made me think this morning as I was reading.
Julie, that's awesome...not to pray "why on earth do we have to do this?" but "please help me understand and have faith regarding this". It's a big difference, huh? I'm slow at the reading this week; I'll be back.
I'm late to the game...I went back on forth with starting the Book of Mormon again and trying to finish it from where I am currently on my own. I've now decided to start again with the hopes that this group will keep me on a track for more than a few weeks. :)
Here are my thoughts: Like Nephi, I have been born of goodly parents. I know the truth of God and His goodness so I really should be keeping a better record of my thoughts, life, etc.
Verse 14 (chapter 1) stuck out to me because the evidence of the great and marvelous works of God are all around us and each season brings new proof of that. (Can you tell that fall is finally making an apprearance here in the NW?)
Tender mercies - I'll admit that when people talked about tender mercies, I didn't really know what they were talking about. Reading this verse again (20) combined with Elder Bednar's quote from my personal copy of the Book of Mormon in 100 Days has taught me what they are. I'll now be on the watch for them in my own life.
Last thought: 1 Ne. 2:16, Nephi talks about how his heart was softened. Me too. I think I've always had a soft heart - I don't really struggle with different doctrines of the church. I've been blessed with that. I also notice though that I feel it more when I am being better with prayer and scripture study. I hope that makes sense...
The only thing that really stuck out to me in these chapters was that Lehi's pleadings for his children meant more to me, or I understood them differently, because as my kids get older, I get worried more about them the way Lehi was worried about his kids.
Anyway, Amanda, I appreciated you pointing out verse 14. I reread it and thought about how I see God's marvelous works -- I will be looking for them more deliberately. In fact, I just looked up and out my kitchen window are a maple and a sumac tree in all their autumn glory. Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty!
Julie, boy oh boy, do I agree. Later on, we'll read that Lehi exhorted his sons with "all the feeling of a tender parent." That phrase really speaks to me.
Ok, after reading, I have to admit a weird thing that I've always thought about for years. Lehi and his family were wealthy, but they were told to leave that wealth behind and move. I always knew, especially when buying and setting up a home, that I didn't want to have anything that I couldn't leave behind. I've often thought about Lehi's faith, and hoped that I would have that same faith if I were ever asked to leave, whether it be for a couple's mission, to serve somewhere or to leave permanently. I think one of my "goodly parent" experiences, that I've realized as an adult, has been the gift of parents who have never been materialistic. Sure, we had fun things, but growing up my parents' influence and focus was on what we can give to others as opposed to what we can get and keep for ourselves. I see many people my age who are so wrapped up in "things" that it would be a very difficult decision to leave those things behind. I'm just glad that choice has already been made for me. I've also seen a tender mercy recently with the warnings we received about my health before I was even sick. It let me know the Lord is aware.
6 comments:
I'm looking forward to hearing about the tender mercies of the Lord in your lives.
I wanted to share something I learned from chapter 2 in our reading today, verses 12 & 16, particularly.
This seems to be one of the first compare and contrast scriptures between the elder versus younger brothers.
Verse 12: (Laman and Lemuel) did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them.
Verse 16: (Nephi) having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore I did cry unto the Lord, and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father.
It strikes me that right after Lehi told them of his vision, all of the brothers struggled. I'm sure, now that I think about it, that none of them were jumping up and down in excitement over leaving their home to go who knows where. But, the difference between them was that L & L simply gave up - they didn't want to go. The didn't want to find out for themselves, and they didn't make an effort to get a testimony -- and that didn't end well for them.
Nephi, on the other hand, didn't stop at "this doesn't sound like something I'd like to do." He desired to know the mysteries of God, he cried unto God to know, and then he was visited by the Spirit - he received a testimony of the vision of his father and the things they had been commanded to do; wherefore he did not rebel against his father like unto his brethren. *Desire*Faith*Prayer*Obedience*
Long thought, but something that really made me think this morning as I was reading.
Julie, that's awesome...not to pray "why on earth do we have to do this?" but "please help me understand and have faith regarding this". It's a big difference, huh? I'm slow at the reading this week; I'll be back.
I'm late to the game...I went back on forth with starting the Book of Mormon again and trying to finish it from where I am currently on my own. I've now decided to start again with the hopes that this group will keep me on a track for more than a few weeks. :)
Here are my thoughts:
Like Nephi, I have been born of goodly parents. I know the truth of God and His goodness so I really should be keeping a better record of my thoughts, life, etc.
Verse 14 (chapter 1) stuck out to me because the evidence of the great and marvelous works of God are all around us and each season brings new proof of that. (Can you tell that fall is finally making an apprearance here in the NW?)
Tender mercies - I'll admit that when people talked about tender mercies, I didn't really know what they were talking about. Reading this verse again (20) combined with Elder Bednar's quote from my personal copy of the Book of Mormon in 100 Days has taught me what they are. I'll now be on the watch for them in my own life.
Last thought: 1 Ne. 2:16, Nephi talks about how his heart was softened. Me too. I think I've always had a soft heart - I don't really struggle with different doctrines of the church. I've been blessed with that. I also notice though that I feel it more when I am being better with prayer and scripture study. I hope that makes sense...
The only thing that really stuck out to me in these chapters was that Lehi's pleadings for his children meant more to me, or I understood them differently, because as my kids get older, I get worried more about them the way Lehi was worried about his kids.
Blogger ate my comment! Grr!
Anyway, Amanda, I appreciated you pointing out verse 14. I reread it and thought about how I see God's marvelous works -- I will be looking for them more deliberately. In fact, I just looked up and out my kitchen window are a maple and a sumac tree in all their autumn glory. Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty!
Julie, boy oh boy, do I agree. Later on, we'll read that Lehi exhorted his sons with "all the feeling of a tender parent." That phrase really speaks to me.
Ok, after reading, I have to admit a weird thing that I've always thought about for years. Lehi and his family were wealthy, but they were told to leave that wealth behind and move. I always knew, especially when buying and setting up a home, that I didn't want to have anything that I couldn't leave behind. I've often thought about Lehi's faith, and hoped that I would have that same faith if I were ever asked to leave, whether it be for a couple's mission, to serve somewhere or to leave permanently. I think one of my "goodly parent" experiences, that I've realized as an adult, has been the gift of parents who have never been materialistic. Sure, we had fun things, but growing up my parents' influence and focus was on what we can give to others as opposed to what we can get and keep for ourselves. I see many people my age who are so wrapped up in "things" that it would be a very difficult decision to leave those things behind. I'm just glad that choice has already been made for me.
I've also seen a tender mercy recently with the warnings we received about my health before I was even sick. It let me know the Lord is aware.
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