Perseverance

1 Nephi 16:18-22
It is interesting to see how Nephi deals with things not going his way. It does not say if he got discouraged. We know the others did, including his father. I imagine v. 19 is describing Nephi also, he was fatigued and hungry. But, he kept moving forward, working to get more food. He made a bow and an arrow. Maybe he only had strength to make one arrow, but he did it with faith and went to his father and priesthood leader for guidance.

I look at my own life. Sometimes I do not remember to just keep going forward doing the best I can. Sometimes I do. Either way, murmuring or working, things work out. Why not keep the faith and be positive and seek the Lord's mercy as Nephi did?! I can look back on my life and see that the Lord has always delivered me...even when it seemed there was no way out of the predicament. Things just work out through the Lord. I am grateful for this wonderful blessing.

Opposition

Yesterday evening I had some strong depressed feelings. I was looking at pictures from my mission with the kids and for some reason that spurred those feelings. My mission was very difficult and I regret how I dealt with other elders that were not wanting to work etc. I was dedicated but I think I missed the opportunity to reach out in more love towards everyone, including missionaries. I worked hard but I could have been a better servant. I read in 1 Nephi 15:6 says “after [he] had received strength [he] spake unto [his] brethren…I read Sunday in 1 Kings 19:4 Elijah is fleeing Jezebel, after he called fire from heaven, for she has vowed to take his life. In this verse it sounds to me that Elijah is down or depressed. It reads, “But he himself went a day’s journey in to the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.” I think he is tired, worn out in the service of God and his fellow beings. Then the Lord encourages Elijah and he finishes his mission. It is a natural thing to feel down and discouraged in the service of God. It is not an easy work and rarely are our efforts fruit-bearing according to our timing. It takes concerted, diligent effort. After those we work with start to catch the fire of the Spirit the work is not done. Opposition comes and we are called upon to give even more to help them. The work of God is never ending (Moses 1:39). Yesterday evening, as I was pondering my mission, I looked back on my years of college life and family life. It has been a joyous experience, especially since getting sealed to my wife. Our children are wonderful. They come with all the challenges expected, but they bring so much of joy and happiness. I laid down by my 2 year old last night and listened to him chatter to me and grab my hair while he sucked his thumb. I do not believe it gets any better than this.
Another thought I had as I pondered these verses. It is okay to rest. The Lord does not expect us to run faster than we have strength. Nephi said he waited until after he had received strength before he went and kept working with his brethren. Timing is important. Timing for others and timing for ourselves.

Power vs. Authority

1 Nephi 10:17-19

Great verses to explain how to have power. When we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost we are commanded to receive the Holy Ghost. If we receive Him, we have power. These verses give great instruction on how to unlock the power of the Holy Ghost and really receive Him and His influence.

"17 And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the ^awords of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a ^bvision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the ^cMessiah who should come—I, Nephi, was ^ddesirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the ^eHoly Ghost, which is the ^fgift of God unto ^gall those who diligently seek him, as well in times of ^hold as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men.

18 For he is the ^asame yesterday, to-day, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.

19 For he that diligently ^aseeketh shall find; and the ^bmysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the ^cHoly Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the ^dcourse of the Lord is one eternal round" (1 Nephi 10:17-19).

In our recent General Conference Pres. Packer taught that the authority of the priesthood has been widely established. Now, we need to unlock the power of the Holy Ghost. He has wonderful insight into the power of the priesthood for he uses that power daily in his own life. Hopefully the link below will send you to the talk or you can look it up. "The Power of the Priesthood," Pres. Packer, April , 2010, General Conference. Found in the May 2010, Ensign.

http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1207-2,00.html

Small and Large Plates, 1 Nephi 9

1 Nephi 9

I have decided to do my scripture study and journal on a blog. I hope this will make my study more effective and become a witness for Jesus Christ to my posterity and to anyone else who reads it.

1 N 9:5 Nephi says the Lord has commanded him to "make these plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose [he] knows not." I have scene the fruits of the writings of the prophets. They have burned a conviction to the divinity of Jesus Christ deep in my mind and heart. I hope my witness will add to their witness.

Here is a great talk from last General Conference about the importance of scriptures. I believe our journals and records may also be viewed as scripture someday. The scriptures are records of the disciples of Jesus, are we not also disciples of Jesus? So "we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and be reconciled to Him" (2 Nephi 25:23).

A great General Conference talk was given by Elder D. Todd Christofferson entitled, "The Blessing of Scripture," May Ensign, from April's General Conference, 2010. Here is the web address:
http://lds.org/conference/talk/display/0,5232,23-1-1207-12,00.html