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).