Day 5 1Nephi 14-15

Reading Chapter 14 and 15 was a tiny bit confusing for me.

Everyone who ever lived and dies does indeed get taught about Jesus Christ.  It's why we have Temples and do their work by proxy.  One last thing, I think Nephi stating "there is the church of God and of the devil only", is referring to believers in Jesus Christ and those who don't believe.  That there area two camps of belief.  I do not think he is talking about denominations per say.  In Nephi's time there were zero denominations.  

I believe The Church of Jesus Christ holds all of the Priesthood keys and authority to act in the Name of Christ, and it has the fullness of the everlasting Gospel, but it is also still growing in knowledge and truth and also there are other Christian Faiths that have beautiful truths.  Maybe not complete, but they do have truth.  

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints does not teach that churches that are not LDS are Churches of the Devil!

Day 4 1Nephi 11-13

 

Nephi had such love for his father Lehi, and he trusted him.  He also loved our Heavenly Father.  Because he trusted his father and believed what he was telling him, he desired to understand the interpretation of his father's dream.  When the angel asked him if he believed, Nephi said he did, but he  wanted to know the interpretation of the dream and what meaning was represented in the waters, the tree, the fruit, the great and spacious building, etc.  The angel showed him.  

What I love about chapter 11 is how when Nephi asked, he had faith that he would receive an answer, and he did receive an answer.   I felt such gratitude for Nephi's recording of his answers to Lehi's dream in the plates  because in these latter days, I am able to read Lehi's dream and know the interpretation of that dream, too!  The Virgin Mary, birth of Jesus, his teaching ministry, etc.  Nephi saw it all!  

The angel rejoiced that Nephi believed and by believing showed him the answers to his questions.  We can have that same experience!  We really can and I believe Heavenly Father wants us to.

I try to put myself in Nephi's shoes as he saw in vision the wars, hardships, and natural disaster in the future.  So much wickedness, destruction, disobedience, hardship, and I imagine that it would have been overwhelming to witness.  Maybe he had a desire to stop it or intervene and yet knew he couldn't.  It must have been a somber experience.

1 Nephi 13:37 was a promised blessing that I was thankful to be reminded of.  I am thankful for Nephi's vision of our modern days.  He also warned that if we don't come unto Christ we will NOT be saved.  

We don't have to experience this world without guidance and direction.  We aren't left to navigate through this world alone.  God had made a way for us to know his will and what we should do to stay valiant and faithful. We have The Book of Mormon and the Bible.  Companion scriptures to lead and guide us; the Iron Rod, the Word of God.

Day 3 1Nephi 8-10

In light of our Prophet, President Russel M Nelson, passing last night, and the tragic shooting in a Ward building during church service in Michigan today, I will post the reading for today and add my reflection this evening.  Check back tonight or tomorrow for my reflection.  

I wrote up an entire entry and it didn't save.  I will attempt to write again.  In Chapter 8, we read of Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life.  The fruit was white and Lehi wanted his family to partake of it.  There was a Rod of Iron which led people who held on to it, to the Tree.  The tree represented eternal life.  Laman and Lemuel wouldn't hold to the Rod and were lost in the great and spacious building.  Lehi's wife and other two sons held to the Rod.

I read this through a different lens as a wife and mom than I did in my youth.  As a wife and mom I relate more to Lehi and how he felt wanting his family to partake of the fruit and watching to make sure they held on!  As a youth the Rod represented me not being lost, me finding my way, and me staying away from places that would draw me away.  Now, also I saw the Rod as The Book of Mormon.  Made of Iron and strong, immovable, the guide that leads to eternal life.  The truth we need for this time.

1Ne 9:6 is a wonderful verse

1Ne 9:6 "But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all His works among the children of men; for behold he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all His words.  And thus it is. Amen.

Please spend a little more time with Chapter 10.  It is such a powerful chapter.  My reflection about it is that Lehi was truly a Prophet.  I got a bit emotional reading about him seeing the Messiah come, seeing his life, death, and resurrection. 

 1Ne 10:18-19 I highlighted. 

My blog is not to give just the summary of the chapters but my thoughts, too. I want you to read the chapters and I  want to share my feelings about what I read, maybe insight i gleaned from the pages.  I encourage you to share as well in the comments section if you would like.

Chapters 8-10 were a timely read for me.  I am reminded that we are not left alone to navigate this world.  We have the Prophets, Scriptures, our families, our church family,  and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are loved by Heavenly Father, His Only Begotten Son, and The Holy Ghost.  ❤️ 

Day 2 1Nephi 4-7

Happy Saturday.  Today while reading these chapters, I had some personal reflections.  1 Nephi 19:23 admonishes me to "liken the scriptures unto ourselves", and I find that when I do this, I relate better to what I am reading and it brings the Scriptures to life for me.  Sometimes I read things that I struggle with and have a hard time "likening unto me".  This doesn't make me unrighteous or rebellious, but gives me an opportunity to pray to Heavenly Father, ask Him to help me understand, and resolve my concerns.

While reading 1Ne 4, it talks about Nephi coming upon Laban drunk and passed out.  Nephi is commanded by the Lord to kill him and obtain the Plates of Brass.  Nephi was told that God delivered Laban in to Nephi's hands.  I personally have never understood this command in Chapter 4 to kill Laban. This chapter usually brings me a bit of grief?  Why?  Because I oppose war and I don't even believe in the death penalty.  I always have felt this way since middle school in the 1980s.  I know I will always feel this way.  Having said this, I don't question the Lord anymore, but can't pretend to understand. It seems that I am faced in my brain with two opposing views that are both true, I don't believe in killing, God commanded it, and God is perfect. 

I ask myself then, "how do I reconcile these two things, the idea that I don't have a set belief about something, but won't question my God if it seems He says something different?"  The Bible and Book of Mormon talk of Wars and Rumors of Wars throughout their pages. I asked myself, "How can I read things I personally oppose  without shutting the pages or saying to myself that I'm not gonna read anymore because I don't agree or that it can't be true if it isn't something I embrace."

A few thoughts entered my mind, 

#1 There is a scripture that says in Isaiah 55:8-9

8"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways sayeth the Lord.

9For as the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Is it that simple?  Yes!  For now, and until I gain more maturity and faith in God, it's that simple for me.  When a trusting child is told something by a parent, even if they don't understand, they listen.  

Nephi struggled with God's command (1Ne 4:10-13), but he listened.  I struggle, but acknowledge that I don't understand things simetimes in my own life.  "Why did God say no to a prayer I prayed?",  "Why is this answer to a prayer taking so long?",  "Why am I being asked to do something I oppose?".  It goes back to Isaiah 55:8-9.  

I believe the scriptures are the word of God.  The Bible verse Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not on thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and he will direct thy paths."

Nephi did what the Lord commanded and did obtain the Plates.  They took Zoram, Laban's Servant, with them into the wilderness and promised him freedom if he went with them, which he did.

I will read many things within the pages of Scripture and I will choose to trust the Lord. I know God won't lead me astray. Even if I don't understand, I will continue to read, learn, ask, and grow.

Some verses that stood out to me that I highlighted for my personal reference.

1 Ne 4:6, 4:13, 4:32-34

1 Ne 5:4-5, 5:8, 5:14-15, 5:18-21 (Sariah was worried about her son's and Lehi comforted her. She saw that God protected her sons and believed her husband was following the Lord).

1 Ne 6:4-5 (Nephi records that he wants to persuade all to come unto God with his writing.  He also shared he is a relative of Joseph of Egypt).

1 Ne 7:1-2, 7:8-13, 7:17, 7:21 (Nephi and his brothers went to House of Ishmael.  Lehi's sons married the daughters of Ishmael and everyone journeyed together to begin living together in the wilderness.  Some rebellion occurred and Laman and Lemuel wanted to kill Nephi.  Nephi was preserved).

Day 1 1Nephi 1-3

 

Welcome to day one of "Reading the Book of Mormon in 90 days".  This is a really nice time of year to start a 90-day journey reading the entire Book of Mormon.   You will finish around the Christmas Season!  What a wonderful way to celebrate the birth of our Savior by reading The Book of Mormon and drawing closer to Jesus Christ,  leading up to the celebration of His coming in to the world.  The Book of Mormon prophecies about Christ being born and I am so happy to be sharing this journey with all y'all at this time of year!!!  In this blog, I will share a daily thought and encourage any comments from you about what you have been reading as well.  Let's learn together, inspire one another, and grow in love for Our Savior. -Stacey

Photo downloaded from "Latter Day Saint Scripture of the Day"

Day 1 Reflection

Right off the bat the first thing that amazes me about The Book of Mormon is how much faith Lehi had.  Can you imagine what it must have felt like to have creature comforts, friends, family, and status in your community and have the Lord tell you to take your entire family, go in to the wilderness, leave your life, treasures, money, animals, home, and everything behind to follow God, preserve his family, their faith, and be obedient without any direction yet?  That kind of Faith is powerful!  In Chapter 3, we read that Lehi wants his sons to go back to Jerusalem and get the plates of brass from Laban (which was dangerous).  What does Nephi say?  In 1 Nephi 3:7, which I have sometimes heard  refered to as, "Nephi's promise", the verse says, "I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandment unto the Children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them, that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them".  Wow!  Such amazing faith in God.  Already, we get to learn that this family really loved the Lord and trusted Him fully.