July 2
3 Nephi 11:3
“...and it
was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and
notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the
center …”
I just
returned from youth conference where I struggled with some decisions that were
being made. I wanted to say something, but mostly didn’t. When I did, I’m not
sure that it was not a “harsh” voice. This scripture spoke to me today; that I
need to speak not with a harsh or loud voice, but with a small voice and trust
that if I speak with love and in truth that it will still be effective.
July 3
4 Nephi 1:23
“…they had
become exceedingly rich, because of their prosperity in Christ.”
We talk
sometimes about the promise in the Book of Mormon that if we are obedient we’ll
“prosper in the land”. Sometimes we don’t know if we’re supposed to take this a
temporal prosperity or spiritual. But in the verses that follow this statement
it talks about how they began to be lifted up in pride and wearing costly
apparel and the fine things of the world (which they obviously were in
possession of) so I think it is a literal blessing.
Why do we
discount the reality of this promise? Is it because we don’t feel we’re as
blessed temporally as we’d like to be yet we think we’re being obedient enough
to receive the promise? What if we AREN’T being obedient enough? The scriptures
state that “when we receive ANY blessing, it is by obedience to the law upon
which that blessing is predicated.” Are there exceptions to this law?
My challenge
is to seek “prosperity in Christ” and not in the world or in myself. “Seek ye
first the kingdom of God and all these things SHALL be added unto you”. Where
is my heart…really? If I’m not prospering, where do I lack? How do I define
“prosperity”? Maybe I have been “prospered” but don’t appreciate it enough?
July 5 Helaman 11
God used a
famine to destroy thousands of the more wicked of the people. I wonder how He
is able to be somewhat selective in that? Does our wickedness or righteousness
have an effect on our physical body? It’s strength? Biologically, that would
have to be the answer, though I know God can do ANYTHING!
July 83
Nephi 17:2-3
Nephi 17:2-3
“I perceive
that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded
of the Father to speak unto you at this time. Therefore, go ye unto your homes,
and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my
name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come
unto you again.”
Here, Jesus
is associating not understanding His words with being “weak”. What are they
“weak” in? - Body? Mind? Desire? Faith? Belief?
His remedy
for overcoming this “weakness” is to go home; ponder what He’s already said;
pray and ask “in His name” for understanding; prepare their minds for His words
the next day. These actions seem to suggest the “weakness” is in their
minds/hearts/spirits and not in their physical body. Let’s look at each piece
and see how they contribute to the “strength” needed to “understand”:
1. Go Home:
Home is where we learn the gospel, gather with family, study, pray, and
discuss. We can be “strengthened” in our homes by sharing our faith; asking and
searching together with the aid of the Holy Ghost.
2. Ponder
what has been said: Things to ponder could be – did I hear what has already
been said? Do I believe it? Have I acted upon it? What questions do I have that
will lead me to “further light and knowledge”?
3. Pray to
the Father in the Name of Jesus and ask for understanding: D&C 9:7
says: “Behold, you have not understood;
you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save
it was to ask me.” Understanding is given after we ask the Father.
4. Prepare
your mind: How does one prepare their mind? Perhaps we get ourselves in a spirit
of desire, belief, faith, anticipation – not just to hear but to act and
embrace what is given. We remove all fear or judgment or skepticism. We look
for questions that lead us to faith, not for reasons not to believe or justify
our exception.
All these
things Jesus asked of them because He was COMMANDED of the Father to teach
certain things to them. They weren’t ready to receive/hear/believe them, so He
waited until they were ready. Or rather…He gave them a day to prepare to be
ready. I suppose if they didn’t go home and prepare He was still returning and
speaking the next day.
July 9
Jacob 1:
Jacob 1:
As our
prophet has warned us of coming persecution, this chapter has some interesting
and helpful teachings:
1. It’s ok for leaders to “admonish” us
when we’re going astray
2. After persecution, the righteous are
often led away – “And the time speedily
cometh, that except ye repent they shall possess the land of your inheritance,
and the Lord God will lead away the righteous out from among you.”
3. While “one being is as precious in his
sight as the other”… God still condemns our wicked choices and judgment is
attached to it.
4. To the persecuted we have these words:
“Look unto God with firmness of mind, and
pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your
afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who
seek your destruction. O all ye that are
pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and
feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.
July 10
Jacob 1:5
“but behold, hearken ye unto me, and know that by the help of the all-powerful Creator of heaven and earth I can tell you concerning your thoughts, how that ye are beginning to labor in sin, which sin appeareth very abominable unto me, yeah, and abominable unto God.
Jacob 1:5
“but behold, hearken ye unto me, and know that by the help of the all-powerful Creator of heaven and earth I can tell you concerning your thoughts, how that ye are beginning to labor in sin, which sin appeareth very abominable unto me, yeah, and abominable unto God.
I had a
conversation with my sister today about how we sometimes think we know what others
are thinking. This scripture shows that it is possible to know the thoughts of
another “by the help of God”. If we try on our own, or with the help of the
adversary, then we will not be able to really know another’s thoughts.
Why was this gift given to Jacob? In verse 2 he says he had a responsibility under God to magnify his office with soberness, and rid his garments of their sins. Elder Christofferson said
“If when [the watchman] seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; “Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.” On the other hand, “if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, … his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”
Jacob had a responsibility to warn those he had stewardship over. To warn them correctly, God had to show them their hearts.
Why was this gift given to Jacob? In verse 2 he says he had a responsibility under God to magnify his office with soberness, and rid his garments of their sins. Elder Christofferson said
“If when [the watchman] seeth the sword come upon the land, he blow the trumpet, and warn the people; “Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.” On the other hand, “if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, … his blood will I require at the watchman’s hand.”
Jacob had a responsibility to warn those he had stewardship over. To warn them correctly, God had to show them their hearts.
July 11
3 Nephi 3:12-21
“…Lachoneus, the governor, was a just man, and could not be frightened by the demands and the threatenings of a robber; therefore he did not hearken to the epistle of Giddianhi, but he did cause that his people should cry unto the Lord for strength against the time that the robbers should come down against them.”
Pres. Nelson is our “governor” and a “just man”. He is not frightened by the devil and his threatenings of persecution. He asks us not to listen to the devil but to pray mightily for strength against the time that the persecution hits hard.
“…gather together …unto one place. And he caused that fortifications should be built round about them, and the strength thereof should be exceedingly great. And he caused that armies…should be placed as guards round about to watch them, and to guard them from the robbers day and night.”
So how do we prepare for this coming persecution? We gather together as families, classes, quorums, congregations. We build “exceedingly great” spiritual fortifications all around us. The devil will say we’re being “extreme” or “religious zealots” by going to such lengths to protect against something that isn’t here. We don’t listen. We block out all the incoming channels of the devil. Who are the “guards” that watch for the devil to enter our lives? Parents, church leaders and teachers are on the front lines. We need to be watching 24/7 even the “approaching” of the enemy and not wait to only respond when he arrives.
“except ye repent of all your iniquities, and cry unto the Lord, ye will in nowise be delivered out of the hands of those Gadianton robbers.”
3 Nephi 3:12-21
“…Lachoneus, the governor, was a just man, and could not be frightened by the demands and the threatenings of a robber; therefore he did not hearken to the epistle of Giddianhi, but he did cause that his people should cry unto the Lord for strength against the time that the robbers should come down against them.”
Pres. Nelson is our “governor” and a “just man”. He is not frightened by the devil and his threatenings of persecution. He asks us not to listen to the devil but to pray mightily for strength against the time that the persecution hits hard.
“…gather together …unto one place. And he caused that fortifications should be built round about them, and the strength thereof should be exceedingly great. And he caused that armies…should be placed as guards round about to watch them, and to guard them from the robbers day and night.”
So how do we prepare for this coming persecution? We gather together as families, classes, quorums, congregations. We build “exceedingly great” spiritual fortifications all around us. The devil will say we’re being “extreme” or “religious zealots” by going to such lengths to protect against something that isn’t here. We don’t listen. We block out all the incoming channels of the devil. Who are the “guards” that watch for the devil to enter our lives? Parents, church leaders and teachers are on the front lines. We need to be watching 24/7 even the “approaching” of the enemy and not wait to only respond when he arrives.
“except ye repent of all your iniquities, and cry unto the Lord, ye will in nowise be delivered out of the hands of those Gadianton robbers.”
Notice that
after all of their preparations and careful watching, (which could tempt them
to think that they could rely on their own strength, thinking there’s no way
now that the robbers could get to them…) they are warned that it will not save
them. ONLY repentance of ALL their iniquities and mighty prayer would deliver
them.
We have been told by our prophet that we need to repent daily and spend more time in prayer. How do you repent of ALL your sins? What happens after you repent of ALL your sins? Isn’t the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost next? Doesn’t one come to know the Lord after that?
We have been told by our prophet that we need to repent daily and spend more time in prayer. How do you repent of ALL your sins? What happens after you repent of ALL your sins? Isn’t the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost next? Doesn’t one come to know the Lord after that?
“And so great and marvelous were the words
and prophecies of Lachoneus that they did cause fear to come upon all the
people; and they did exert themselves in their might to do according to the
words of Lachoneus.”
We hear often
the accusation that it is not appropriate to be a “fearmonger”. The definition
of that term is: “One who spreads the idealogy of
fear through propoganda to fulfill a concealed agenda. Similar to a terrorist,
but it fights with information and not direct violence. Politicians, media
personas, and internet posters can all be fearmongers.”
One of the problems of our day is people take a word like this and apply it to ALL uses and forms of the word “fear”. If they feel fear, then the person making them feel that way is a fearmonger. If they mean that word, then the person talking is deliberately trying to create fear for some secret evil agenda.
Many times in the scriptures we hear about fear. In this case, the people felt fear because of the REALITY of their situation and the “agenda” of the Lord. The must repent or face the robbers and certain death or captivity. This fear moved them to righteous obedience.
In verse 20 the people ask their spiritual leader to pray for permission to attack the robbers before they attack them. Perhaps they wanted the destruction to impact the robbers property and not their own. Perhaps they didn’t like living in “fear” of the day they would attack. Perhaps their “fear” wasn’t completely righteous and it was impacting their faith.
The response to their plea was, “no”. “…we will prepare ourselves in the center of our lands, and we will gather all our armies together, and we will not go against them, but we will wait till they shall come against us;….if we do this he will deliver them into our hands.”
We need to prepare ourselves in the “center” of our homes and churches and neighborhoods and communities. Gather Israel (and the Lord’s battalion – the youth) and wait til it comes. THEN, the Lord will deliver our enemies into our hands.
Are we preparing? How? Are we “waiting” for the enemy? Do we even expect him?
One of the problems of our day is people take a word like this and apply it to ALL uses and forms of the word “fear”. If they feel fear, then the person making them feel that way is a fearmonger. If they mean that word, then the person talking is deliberately trying to create fear for some secret evil agenda.
Many times in the scriptures we hear about fear. In this case, the people felt fear because of the REALITY of their situation and the “agenda” of the Lord. The must repent or face the robbers and certain death or captivity. This fear moved them to righteous obedience.
In verse 20 the people ask their spiritual leader to pray for permission to attack the robbers before they attack them. Perhaps they wanted the destruction to impact the robbers property and not their own. Perhaps they didn’t like living in “fear” of the day they would attack. Perhaps their “fear” wasn’t completely righteous and it was impacting their faith.
The response to their plea was, “no”. “…we will prepare ourselves in the center of our lands, and we will gather all our armies together, and we will not go against them, but we will wait till they shall come against us;….if we do this he will deliver them into our hands.”
We need to prepare ourselves in the “center” of our homes and churches and neighborhoods and communities. Gather Israel (and the Lord’s battalion – the youth) and wait til it comes. THEN, the Lord will deliver our enemies into our hands.
Are we preparing? How? Are we “waiting” for the enemy? Do we even expect him?
July 12
2 Nephi 6:12 - 18
12 And blessed are the Gentiles, they of whom the prophet has written; for behold, if it so be that they shall repent and fight not against Zion, and do not unite themselves to that great and abominable church, they shall be saved; for the Lord God will fulfil his covenants which he has made unto his children; and for this cause the prophet has written these things.
2 Nephi 6:12 - 18
12 And blessed are the Gentiles, they of whom the prophet has written; for behold, if it so be that they shall repent and fight not against Zion, and do not unite themselves to that great and abominable church, they shall be saved; for the Lord God will fulfil his covenants which he has made unto his children; and for this cause the prophet has written these things.
13 Wherefore, they
that fight against Zion and the covenant people of the Lord shall
lick up the dust of their feet; and the people
of the Lord shall not be ashamed.
For the people of the Lord are they who wait for him; for
they still wait for the coming of the Messiah.
14 And behold, according to
the words of the prophet, the Messiah will set himself again
the second time to recover them;
wherefore, he will manifest himself unto them in
power and great glory, unto the destruction of
their enemies, when that day cometh when they
shall believe in him; and none will he destroy that
believe in him.
15 And they that believe
not in him shall be destroyed,
both by fire,
and by tempest, and by earthquakes,
and by bloodsheds, and by pestilence,
and by famine. And they
shall know that the Lord is God, the Holy One of Israel.
16 For shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the awful captive delivered?
17 But thus saith the Lord:
Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the
terrible shall be delivered; or the Mighty God shall deliver his
covenant people. For thus saith the Lord:
I will contend with them that contendeth with thee—
18 And I
will feed them that oppress thee, with their own flesh; and they shall be
drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine; and all
flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Savior and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of
Jacob.
These
words were written for us and about us. Some key things we need to know about
the people of the Lord and those who do not believe in Him.
The People of the Lord:
The People of the Lord:
· Repent Am I repenting? – meaning Am I changing?
· Do not fight against
Zion Do I fight against Zion; the building of it;
the idea of it; the counsel of the prophets and apostles?
· Do not unite
themselves with the Great and Abominable Church Do
I recognize who this is? Am I living in both churches?
· Have covenants with
God Do I keep the covenants I’ve already made?
· Shall not be ashamed When persecution comes, do I remember this promise?
· Wait for the Coming
of the Messiah Am I actively, consciously, openly
waiting for the Coming of the Messiah?
· The Lord will recover
them To be “recovered” do I first have to be lost or
in bondage?
· The Lord will manifest
himself to them in power and great glory This is a
great promise for believing/doing the above things
· Shall believe in Him If I believe, then I obey. I cannot just say “Lord, Lord”
· Shall not be
destroyed Man may destroy the body, but they cannot
destroy the soul. Only I can yield my soul to the enemy.
· The Lord will contend
with their enemies This is an important promise to
remember. We must have faith, in the face of overwhelming circumstances that
God is more powerful than all.
The
People who Fight Against Zion and the Covenant People of the Lord
· Shall “lick up the
dust of their feet”
· Shall be destroyed by
The following list are all prophesied. We can
prepare temporally, but the most important protection is the above list.
o
Fire
o
Tempest
o
Earthquake
o
Famine
o
Pestilence
o
Bloodshed
· Shall know that the
Lord is God, the Holy One of Israel No matter how
much people fight and protest, the will all still “know” the truth.
· Shall be fed with
their own flesh and drunk with their own blood This
alludes to the idea that the most evil will be trying to drink the blood and
eat the flesh of the Saints, but what they have planned for others, they will
suffer – like those who killed Abinadi.
ALL people shall know
that Jesus is the Lord and Savior and Redeemer; the Mighty One of Jacob
