Day 19 2Nephi 27-28

 SPIRITUAL CROCODILES

I want to start with the last verse of Chapter 27!  "Those who murmured will learn doctrine!  That spoke to me.  I mean honestly the whole chapter did, but that last verse, chapter 27:35 hit deep.  It says, "They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine."  That is talking about me!  I erred in spirit, but came to understanding, and I murmured and then learned doctrine.  I felt like Bastian in "The Never Ending Story", when he was reading and realized he was reading about himself!  😄 

Chapter 27 amazed me all together.  Nephi was so specific with how the Book of Mormon would be given to Joseph Smith, how many witnesses there would initially be, etc. It reminded me of how detailed Isaiah was regarding Jerusalem.  It also reminded me of how specific Pres. Nelson was about so many things since 2022.  We need to be paying attention and following the Prophets!  They DO indeed converse with the Lord.  

Back in verse 26 Nephi says the Lord would do "a marvelous work and wonder" bringing forth the Book of Mormon.  It truly is a miracle of a book.  I'm falling in love with it in a different way than ever before.  I have read it, but this time it sits deeper inside of me.  It truly is Marvelous.

In Chapter 28 Nephi sees where the Church of Christ will become apostate and different religions will spring up all over and all prophesying that everyone but them are wrong. Even some will say there is no God anymore, but God is living through them.   There will be religions that say, "we can do whatever we want, lie, steal, cheat, and it doesn't matter".

I received personal revelation from this chapter that I won't share, but I encourage you to read this chapter slowly and with a prayerful heart.

Likening these chapters to myself

#1 Christ will always be here for me and his arm is outstretched.  When I turn away he pursues me and when I turn back to him through repentance and openness to his will, he is right there.

#2 We live in a fallen world right now and it is only going to get worse before the Savior comes again.  I need to soak up the scriptures and internalize them to be my shield.  I need to be mindful always to know I am not strong on my own without Heavenly Father.  Not in today's world.  Not ever.

#3 Following Pride, False Doctrine, believing I can do whatever I want and there are no consequences is Satan's lie and it's as old as The Garden of Eden.  I need to follow the Prophet and immerse myself totally and fully in The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We are out of time.

#4 This life is a test.  I want to pass and so studying God's word and asking the Holy Spirit to tutor me is the only way.  Christ is the only way to the Father and I've got to be all in!

Lastly, when I was a teenager, I heard a talk about "Spiritual Crocodiles" by Elder Boyd K Packer and I wanna play it for you now.  It is all about 2 Nephi 28!!!  Its the video at the beginning of this post!