Day 29: June 30, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 9

Verses 5-6

Nephi states that he makes his record for a wise purpose in the Lord which purpose he knows not. Sometimes we are asked to do things in our life that we don’t understand. We are asked to go through certain trials that we may not see the reason behind, but the Lord knows all things. He asks us to do things for a wise purpose in him. We don’t need to understand the reasons except to know that He knows and that it will be for our good. Nephi also says that the Lord knows all things from the beginning. He prepares away for his children to do all works that he needs us to do. He has all power unto the fulfilling of his words. Something that I lack sometimes is trust that the things I go through in my life have a reason and a purpose. Sometimes I forget that Heavenly Father knows all things. He knows what I need to experience in my life to become the person he needs me to be, the person he knows I can be. How grateful I am to know that he is there and that he will never give me more than I can handle. Sometimes it doesn’t feel that way and sometimes I forget that but he is there to help me when I put forth my best effort. That being said sometimes I give myself more than I can handle when I am complacent with my dedication to doing what’s right. I then put more on my plate then I should and have to become humble before the Lord and ask him for forgiveness and to help me overcome the things that I inflicted upon myself. He loves us. He asks us to do all that we can to become like his son and to be obedient. He knows that even if we do our very best we will still be very far from the finish line. Because of that knowledge, and because of his great love for us, he sent his son Jesus Christ to atone for our sins and to make up that difference. I know I am going a little bit off topic from the verses that I read tonight but as I ponder and write I am filled with gratitude and thoughts that I feel like I need to write. The other day I was visited by my relief society president. We discussed a number of things that helped each of us grow in our understanding and love for one another. One of the things we talked about was the atonement. We talked about the great love that the Savior had for us in his willingness to go through that great event. We talked about how he volunteered for the job. He was a perfect individual and didn’t need to do it. He chose to come to earth and to atone for our sins. Even in the moment when he was suffering and asked if there was another way, he could have stopped and said never mind since really there wasn’t anything in it for him. He wasn’t doing it for power or glory. He wasn’t doing it so he could hold it over our head. He did it because he loves his father and because he loves each one of us. What a powerful thing. Something that I know to be true is that even if I was the ONLY individual who was in need of the atonement, Christ STILL would have come to earth and suffered and performed that great sacrifice. Even if it was only going to benefit just me. He loves me that much. That is hard to fathom sometimes but I am so grateful for it. There are times when I make mistakes, despite me knowledge of better choices. I sometime blatantly go against what I know to be right because I am a natural man or woman. Even in those moments, the savior still loves me and still offers me the opportunity to repent and to make things better. I love the Savior of Jesus Christ. He is my Rock and Redeemer. I need him. Always I need him. I forget sometimes that I need him and I try to do things on my own but he is always there for me when I turn around and remember. The atonement is real. It is an amazing act of selflessness performed through great love for me. I want to remember more often the gift the Lord has given me.

Day 28: June 29, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 8

Verses 24, 30

I really like the imagery that I can see in this verse. Lehi describes people who cling to the iron rod and press forward through the darkness so that they can arrive at the tree and partake of the fruit. I can see their dedication and their willingness to press forward even when times are hard. I have had some tough times in my life. Sometimes I find it very hard to keep moving along the path. Sometimes I think it would just be easier to just sit down and give up but I see how these individuals press forward despite the difficulty of the path. I can be like that! I can press forward and make it to where the Lord needs me to be. I just need to trust him more. Allow him to support me and guide me. He knows that I am going to struggle and have hard times and not going to want to keep going, but he needs me to try. I was talking to my bishop the other day about how the Lord is there to help us along. He is willing to give 99% to push us up the hill as long as that 1% that we give is our very best. Heavenly Father wants me to make it to the tree. I need to make the decision to keep pushing on and stop making excuse for why things are hard or why its ok for me to stop. If I want to be truly happy then I need to do everything possible to cling to the rod and to press forward even in the dark mists.

Verses 25-28

There we some individuals who became ashamed after partaking of the fruit because the people in the Great and Spacious Building were mocking. They became ashamed and fell away. Unfortunatly I can see times in my life where I have made choices that I knew were wrong or I did what was right but out of obligation and not out of obedience and then felt like the people around me were having more fun and were happier because they were carefree and didn’t have to worry about keeping the commandments. I am sad that I have felt that way. When I truly look at the whole picture I know that I want to be obedient and to partake of that fruit, even if it is not the popular thing to do. Sometimes we take the path that leads to immediate satisfaction rather than pushing forward on the path that will lead to eternal joy and peace. The world does a good job of distracting us from our ultimate goals and desires. They make things look glamorous and consequence free when in the end they will be miserable and bound by the chains that Satan placed upon them. That doesn’t sound like much fun to me.

Verse 33

Lehi says that there were a lot of people mocking and pointing at them from the great and spacious building but they heeded them not. Lehi didn’t care what they thought. He only cared about the Lord and his will for him. I need to stop caring so much what others may think about me. The only person whose opinion really matters is the Lord’s. I don’t need to live to impress anyone else. Anyone who would want me to live differently than how I know to be right is not someone that I need in my life and will just be a distraction from the goals and achievement that I wish to make.

Verse 37

I love the words in this verse. Lehi, who is concerned about the welfare of Laman and Lemuel, exhorts them will all the feelings of a tender parent. He loves them so much that he chastised them and exhorted them to do what is right. I know there have been times and there are times when my parents have suggested that I take a certain course that I might not have agreed with or didn’t want to do, but I know that they were trying to help me to be happy and to progress towards where I need to be. My mom and dad love me greatly and want nothing more than for me to be safe and happy. They have all the feelings of a tender parent.

Verse 38

I just wasn’t exactly sure the meaning of the word BADE as in Lehi BADE them to keep the commandments. I guess I had a general idea but I wanted to look it up. So in a dictionary BADE is the past tense of the word BID. BID means to beseech, to entreat or to issue and order or request to come or invite.

Day 27: June 28, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 8

Verses 19-20

Lehi describes a rod of iron and a strait and narrow path that leads to the tree and its fruit. Its interesting to me the need for an iron road when the path is already straight. It is usually fairly easy to walk in a straight path. But later, as Lehi continues to describe his vision we find out that along this path are mists of darkness, there is a great and spacious building with people luring them off the path. Heavenly Father knew that we wouldn’t be able to stay on that path straight and narrow all the time. We come across bumps in the road that throws us off just a little. But with the Iron rod, the word of God as we are taught by Nephi, is there to anchor us on this path and to help us as we do walk through that mists of darkness that come up in our life or as we feel the influence of others trying to get us to step off that path. I need the iron rod in my life. Sometimes, even with the Iron rod, I get off the path. Sometimes I make mistakes that keep me from moving forward. How grateful I am to know that the atonement of Jesus Christ is there to get me back on the path again where I can cling to the iron rod again. It’s a great blessing.

Verse 21

Lehi sees many numbers of people along the path. He said that they pressed forward. They didn’t just mosey along without purpose, but they PRESSED forward. Sometimes I get too lax with the essential things that will help me on my journey to that tree of life. I forget to read my scriptures, or I do it without really thinking about what is being read. I forget to say my prayers, or I just ramble off a quick prayer so I can get to bed. There are many things I do that keep my progress along the path very slow and sometimes completely stopped or moving backwards. I need to take the example described my Lehi and strive to PRESS forward so that I make progress to that eternal gift.

Verse 23

A mist of darkness arose along the path to the tree of life. There are mists of darkness that cross my path towards that tree constantly. Heavenly Father allows us to be tried to teach us and so we can learn to trust in him. We have the tools we need to overcome the darkness. We have the scriptures, the road map, the iron rod. We have our church leaders, prophets, apostles. We have our family and good friends. We are blessed with many resources that will help us as we have to cross through those dark mists. If we don’t use these resources we will get lost along the path. We can return to the path through the atonement of course, but It is often a difficult and painful process. Heavenly Father loves us so much though. He will allow us many opportunities to find our way back to the iron rod along that path so we can continue our journey. He is constantly there at our aid.

Day 26: June 27, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 8

Verse 13

After Lehi has the opportunity to partake of the fruit of the tree of life he wants nothing more than to share his joy and this gift with his family. My family is so important to me. I have been blessed with wonderful parents who teach me, even in my adulthood, how to trust the Lord and how to make it to that tree of life and to partake of the that fruit. I had a hard day today and I was stressed and anxious about my finances and I called mom in tears not sure what I should do. She helped calm me down and helped me to come up with a plan so that I could take care of all of my financial responsibilities. Her lover for me is amazing and I want her to partake of this fruit with me. My dad is a strong, worthy, faithful man. He shows me of the importance of honoring his priesthood. He has blessed me some many times with the priesthood that he holds and I am so grateful that he remains worthy to do so. I want him to partake of this fruit with me. I have a brother Eric who was the greatest example to be of serving a mission. I saw him give up two years of his life to serve the people in Spain. Because of his example and because he was faithful in writing to me I chose to go on a mission as well. He is married to a sweet daughter of God, Cori. I am so grateful for her and for the opportunity I have to have her as a sister. I love her. They have an amazingly beautiful little girl, Morgan. She is sweet and is always there to give me hugs when we see each other. She was baptized in March and I am grateful for her desire to follow the example of the Savior. I want to partake of the fruit with them. My sister, Jill, is a strong woman of faith. She is a hard working wife and mother. She was the first example to me of being sealed in the temple to a worthy companion. Her husband Mitch is a hardworking, loyal man who loves my sister and treats her well. I am grateful for him and for the brother that he is to me. They have three boys, Tucker, Deacon and Jared. I had the opportunity to spend some time this past weekend with them sa they visited Utah. They are such a blessing to me. Tucker and Deacon both got pocket sized copies of the Book of Mormon and they were so excited about it. They wanted to constantly have that book in their hands. They set a good example to me. I want to partake of the fruit with Jill and her family. I have an amazing little sister Megan. She is sweet and kind but strong and firm in her decisions. She amazes me with her devotion to live her life according to the commandments. She is my best friend and I am so grateful to have her in my life. I want to partake of the fruit with her. I can see why Lehi wanted his family there so badly. Family is everything to me. I would not be who I am today if I didn’t have the constant love and support from such a wonderful family. They are one of my greatest blessings.

Day 25: June 26, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 8

Verses 9-12

After Lehi was led into the dreary wilderness and prayed for a release from that dark place the darkness faded and he was led into a spacious field that had a tree full of fruit that was desirable to make one happy. He was blessed to partake of this sweet fruit. It was RIGHT after he asked to be released from the darkness that he found the fruit of the tree of life. Sometimes we do go through hard times. Sometimes if feels like we are trapped in the evil and wicked world. Sometimes we allow ourselves to be taken advantage of. Sometimes we inflict our own pain up ourselves by the errors that we make. We are not perfect. Far from it. We NEED our Heavenly Father to take us from that dark and dreary place and to open up the field where the tree of life sits so that we may partake of the fruit. He loves us. He loves me so much that He sent His only son to the earth to atone for my sins. He loves me so much that he will allow me to go through a hard time so I can learn and grow but when I have learned what I needed to to become better He offers up the fruit of the tree of life that I might be forgiven of my sins and that I might come unto his loving arms. I know that he loves me. Sometimes I am slow to recognize that. I look at myself too often as a victim or as someone who is a failure but I am not. He doesn’t see me as that. He sees me as his daughter. He loves me and wants me to be eternally happy. Sometimes I don’t understand the darkness that fill my life, but I don’t have to because he does. He has a perfect plan for me if I choose to follow it. I can and will return to living with my father again

Day 24: June 20, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 8

Verses 7-8

As Lehi travels on the path in his vision is led to a dark and dreary place that eventually he is delivered from as he prays to the Lord, who blesses him with his tender mercies. I was thinking of my life and my journey on the path and look for times in which I entered into a dark and dreary waste. I think that biggest dark and dreary spot in my life was when I was going through my divorce. I felt very sad and empty. It was a very hard time for me and I doubted my self-worth and my ability to be a wife. As I was in that dark and dreary waste, the Lord blessed me with tender mercies and helps to deliver me from that feeling. As I went through my divorce and even now, I have seen the hand of the Lord blessing and leading me time and time again. It amazes me just how blessed I am and how the Lord personally knows and loves me. Some of the ways I can say that I saw the hand of the Lord was that I was able to get my job back at Interpath Lab within less than a week of moving back to the east side of the state. Not only was I able to get my job back but I was stationed inside of Vista Family Health were I was able to find a great LDS doctor, meet many wonderful friends, and get on the Ideal Protein diet. I am so grateful for the Lord’s tender mercies in my life and helping me come out of that dark and dreary place into the light.

Day 23: June 16, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 8

Verse 3

In Lehi’s dream he sees that Nephi and Sam’s families will follow the righteous and obedient path. He rejoices because of this. I rejoice when I see my family and friends accept the gospel and live it. I am very grateful for their examples to me. My little sister Megan has been a great example to me as she attends the temple every Thursday to do baptism for the dead. I rejoice that she sees the importance of doing this great work and remaining worthy to do that. Thank you, Megan, for your good example to me.

Verse 4

On the reverse side, Lehi is sad and fearful for Laman and Lemuel and the dark path that they walk on. It saddens me when I see those I love reject the gospel or chose to not follow the precepts. I still love them and want them to join the groups mentioned in verse 3. I need to be sure that I am always a good example to them in my words and actions. Sometimes I may forget that they are watching me, even if they don’t want to obey themselves, to see if I will do what is right. I want them to know that I am willing to follow the Lord and his commandments and that I have great joy because of it.

Day 22: June 15, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 7

Verses 17-18

Nephi calls upon the Lord for strength and because of his faith the bands were loosen and he was free from the cords his brothers placed him in. His faith was so strong that results were immediate. I want to develop faith like that. Where I KNOW that the Lord will help me in the moment that I need. I know that isn’t always right when we think we needed it, but I also know that if I had that kind of faith I would understand that the Lord has his own time table for how things need to be. I want to trust that more and be more filled with faith and hope.

Day 21: June 14, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 7

Verse 13

If I am faithful I will receive….a land of promise according to Nephi. But I think if I am faithful I will be blessed in ways that I need for my life and in my day. Heavenly Father is waiting to bless me with many blessing and he just needs me to be faithful in keeping his commandments. I need to trust that the Lord will lead me from the destruction that he has foretold and into that Promised Land.

Verse 14

The people in Jerusalem have been wicked in not listening to the prophets and trying to murder them. Because of this wickedness the Spirit was no longer with them. I don’t ever want the spirit to cease striving with me. It goes along with what I said for verse 13. I need to be faithful and the spirit will continue to be with me.

Verse 15

Nephi is telling his brothers that if they return to Jerusalem they will be destroyed. If I turn back to my spiritual Jerusalem I will be spiritually destroyed. I have done things in my life that I am not proud of that if I look back upon and long for those days I will not be able to progress. Just like with Lot’s wife. She wanted the sinful worldly days that she had in Sodom and Gomorrah. When she looked back she was turned to salt. If Nephi’s brothers turned back they would be destroyed. If I turn back I will be putting the atonement at not and will be facing spiritual destruction and salt pillars. I need to keep my focus on my goal of returning to my Heavenly Father and not let the things of this world detour me.

Day 20: June 13, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 7

Verse 5

Ishmael’s heart was softened and he went with Nephi. He harkened to the promptings of the spirit and recognized that the Lord wanted him and his family to leave Jerusalem. I want to be more quickly obedient to the Lord and his will for me. I question things too much and I want to be more willing to move forward.

Verse 8

Nephi is sad that his older brothers and some of Ishmael’s family are so slow to obey the Lord’s commandments. He asked them how they can act in such a way that their little brother has to be the example. I think sometimes we are asked to be over or examples to a group of individuals that we might feel inadequate or feel that they should be in our place. I think it’s good that Nephi didn’t coward to his brothers but that he willingly set the good example for them.

Verses 9-12

Nephi asks his brothers how they can forget the witnesses they have received. I think I am too quick to forget spiritual experiences or promptings in my life. I feel good about them in the moment but then I don’t think about them beyond that. I need to make changes so that those experiences help to mold me into who I need to become.

Day 19: June 12, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 7

Verse 1

Lehi knows of the importance of family and when the Lord tells him that his sons need to find wives and have seed he knows that it is true. Family is something that is very important to me. I am blesses with a wonderful family who each take time to show love for one another. I have been blessed to see the importance of marriage by the example my older siblings have set for me by being sealed in the temple and by raising children. I will have the same opportunity sometime and look forward to that.

Verse 3

Once and again Nephi and his brothers go forth obedient to the commandments. I find it interesting that the lord had them complete one task and then go back to Jerusalem again for the second task. I think I might complain a little thinking that it would have been easier to just take care of both things on one trip, but Nephi doesn’t complain. He goes forth and completes the commandments of the God. How grateful I am for that example. It is one that I need to model my life after and be more willing to be obedient and slower to complain.

Day 18: June 11, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 6

Verse 4

Here Nephi explains why he is making this record. He is writing to persuade others to come unto Christ. I am making my own record to help me in coming to Christ. It is helping me to do more than just read the scriptures. I am studying and coming to understand how thse things apply to me. I am making this record available to others and if it helps them to come unto Christ that is a blessing as well.

Day 17: June 9, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 5

Verse 17

Lehi was filled with the spirit and able to prophecy. The scriptures fill us with the spirit of the Lord. They help us be come in tuned to spirit of revelation. We have the opportunity to study and read the holy words of the prophets of God, who are mouth pieces for God himself. I am grateful for the special spirit that I feel as I read and study the scriptures. As scripture study is becoming more and more a habit and routine in my life I can tell the beautiful spirit that I feel.

Verse 18

Lehi tells us that the plates of brass should go forth towards all nations. In the same sense, the Book of Mormon is promised to go to all people in their own language. It is my responsibility as a member of the Church to help in the efforts of taking the book of Mormon to all the nations. I need to be more willing to share the book of Mormon with those who haven’t read or heard of it. I need to be more willing to open my mouth and talk about my life as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In this effort, I can help in taking the Book of Mormon, the scriptures, the gospel to all nations of the earth.

Verse 20

Nephi states that he and his father have kept the commandments of the Lord thus far in their lives. They were obedient and willing to do whatever the Lord placed in front of them. I need to be more like Nephi in my obedience towards the commandments.

Verse 21

Nephi sees the great worth of the brass plates to him and his family. He knows that they will be a great blessing in his life. I have a testimony of the importance of the scriptures. I know that they are a special blessing from Heavenly Father to his children and are a guide in my life. I am glad that my testimony of this can be strengthened each time I open the scriptures and read the word of God.

Day 16: June 8, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 5

Verses 14-16

As Lehi is studying the brass plates he learns of his genealogy coming as a descendent of Joseph of Egypt. Nephi indicates that it was for this purpose, well one of the purposes, that the record was recorded. I know genealogy is an important thing that needs to be done. To study about my family and where I came from. I am excited for this summer as I will be taking a religion class on genealogy. I hope to learn more about how I can participate in this work and look for my loved ones who are waiting to be found and have their work done. I love being able to go to the temple and help those who didn’t have an opportunity on this earth. What a great blessing it would be to be able to take name of my own ancestry through the temple. I know that I come from great roots and I look forward to learning more about them.

I just thought of an experience I had about a year ago. I was reading through a history of my great grandmother Lenna Burch Filmore. She is my Grandma Christensen’s mother. I knew little about her. I knew that when my grandma was little, her mom and dad were divorced. I learned about how Lenna stayed strong and did what she needed to take care of herself and my grandmother. Eventually she married Grandpa Filmore, who we consider to be our grandfather, and who is actually Lenna’s first husband’s brother. He was good to Lenna and to my grandmother, raising her as his own. I am grateful for the great courage Lenna had and I felt like I had a connection to my family member who I never met in this life. I look forward to the day when I can talk to her and thank her for her strength and courage in the difficult time of life and how it was a great example and testimony to me of how I can gain strength and courage and overcome the difficult times I have faced in my own life.

Day 15: June 7, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 5

Verse 8

When the sons return to their father’s tent Sariah is comforted and says she knows of a surety that the Lord commanded them to do those things. It was after a trial of her faith that she came to know for a surety. I have trials here and there that may be hard and may try my faith, but I need to use them as opportunities to grow and to come to understand God’s plan for me.

Verse 9

The very next thing they do is build an altar and thank the Lord. What a good example. I often times forget to be grateful for the blessings I receive each day or to express that gratitude. It is something that I want to be better on. It is an immediate thing for Lehi. He thanks the lord right after they return safely.

Verse 10

After giving thanks Lehi next studies the scriptures. He doesn’t wait. He doesn’t wait till after dinner or after his favorite TV show is over. He doesn’t put his homework first or his social life. After he thanks the Lord in prayer he opens up His word. Even though I am doing much better in my study of the scriptures, it is not a priority in my life and it needs to become one.

Day 14: June 6, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 5

Verse 2-3

While Nephi and his brothers are getting the plates, we learn the Sariah is upset and worried about them and she complains to Lehi about him being a visionary man. I can see a glimpse of my mom here. Not the complaining part. I don’t remember hearing my mom complain very much if at all. But she does worry about me a lot. It’s a good worry though. She is my mom and I am grateful for her. She tells me it is her job as a mom to worry about me and that someday I will understand. I am learning to be glad that she worries about me. It means she loves me and wants me to be safe and happy. Thanks for being a great example and mother!

Verse 5

As Lehi comforts his wife he shows that he has great faith that his sons will be delivered out of the hands of Laban. What a good example of faith. He doesn’t know what is going to happen to his sons. But he trusts that the Lord will protect them as they fulfill his commands. I need to trust Heavenly Father more. Yesterday was fast and testimony meeting. The common theme was trusting the Lord. It helped me to realize that he knows what I need to hear and he prompts others to speak those things. I am really trying to make a tough decision about my future right now. And I keep going back and forth. I forget to trust that the Lord will tell me if I am on the right path or not as I do my research and make the best choice for me.

Day 13: June 5, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 4

Verse 31

As Nephi tries to stop Zoram from fleeing he says he has received much strength in the Lord. I want to remember that I have enough strength to accomplish hard things because I can gain that strength from the Lord.

Verses 32-38

Nephi and Zoram make an oath that is a strong binding contract. I think that is amazing how just the words were so important and that no one wanted to break an oath. I wish things were like that now.

Day 12: June 4, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 4

Verses 7-18

Nephi finds Laban drunk and is told by the spirit to slay him. Nephi has to wrestle with himself because he knows that we are commanded not to kill, but the spirit reminds him that the Lord had provided a way for him to accomplish all things. So he did something very difficult and trusted the spirit which he felt. I am sometimes prompted by the spirit to do or not to do certain things but I am not as swift to heed as I should be. I need to remember that the spirit is a gift given to me to help me in my life as I strive toward reaching my heavenly home.

Day 11: June 3, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 4

Verse 6

Nephi was led by the spirit not knowing beforehand what he was going to have to do. It is kind of interesting to me that this is the verse that I would read today. I didn’t leave myself with much time to do study but wanted to make one entry. But just today I was thinking how nice it would be if I could be told what I should do in my life with knowledge before it happened. It could be so much easier if I had just a small glimpse of what was to come. But here Nephi, who had made 2 attempts to retrieve the plates, trusted in the spirit without any idea what he was going to be commanded to do. I need to trust that the Lord will guide me by the spirit in my decision making in life. I don’t need to know what is going to happen in the end. I just need to strive to live the gospel worthily and to be productive in my life. The spirit will help me know if I am on the right path or not. I am grateful this is the verse that I read today. It really helped me feel better about things.

Day 10: June 2, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 4

Verse 1

Nephi tells his brothers they need to try again. He knows the power the Lord has and that he has greater power then Laban. Nephi, who has tried twice before to get the plates and has been yelled at and beaten by his brothers, still gets up and encourages them to try again. What perseverance! I give up too easily sometimes and it’s not a good thing. When things get too hard or when I feel like I am not good enough I give up. I need to be more like Nephi.

Verse 2

Nephi uses the example of Moses parting the Red Sea to show the power the Lord has and how his desires are always accomplished. I love how he refers to the scriptures and to those good examples who have gone before. I want to be able to pull example from the scriptures more.

Verse 3

Nephi encourages his brothers with love and with evidences that they have received that they can accomplish this task. I love how positive he is. I know that I am negative too much of the time and it is a weakness I have. But the Lord shows us our weakness that we can make them strengths. I need to strive to be more positive.

Verse 4

Even after the encouragement and testimony of Nephi and the visit from the angel, Laman and Lemuel still murmured and were still angry. They went with Nephi but begrudgingly. I am like Laman and Lemuel too much I think! Reading the scriptures is an eye opener!

Day 9: June 1, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 3

Verse 8

Lehi is so pleased that Nephi trusts in the Lord and knows that He can accomplish anything with the Lord. I love knowing that my parents are proud of me in my journey towards Heavenly Father. I love being able to talk about the gospel with them and to know of their love for me and for our Savior. I had a neat experience in the temple yesterday and I was grateful that I was able to share that with them and to have them be as excited about it as I was. I am blessed with such good parents!

Verses 9-27

Nephi and his brothers go as they are commanded to the house of Laban. First Laman goes in and asks for the record, with no success. Then they go to their house and get their gold and silver in order to trade with Laban. Once again no success. I think that I learn from this that sometimes the Lord doesn’t just give us the answer or show us exactly where we should turn. We have to try on our own and use our best knowledge and judgment. I was just on Facebook and my cousin had a status that said Life never goes like we have planned. And I thought that it’s true and that it’s a good thing because Heavenly Father has a much better plan in store. However he lets us make choices and lets us learn for ourselves sometimes. We can trust that he does have a plan for us even if we have to make several attempts at finding which way that plan is taking us.

Verses 15-16

I love how much perseverance Nephi has. After Laman attempts to get the plates, he and his brothers are sad and want to give up, but Nephi stands up and says that they came for a purpose and that they should be faithful in the commandments of God. Sometimes things don’t go the way we want to. Sometimes it is hard to make good choices. But we need to do our best to fulfill the commandments given to us. Even if they are hard or if they are unpopular to the world. We should stand tall and know that we are doing the will of our Heavenly Father!

Verse 28

Laman and Lemuel are angry with Nephi and yell at him and say mean things to him and smite him with a rod. Now, I don’t yell or smite people, but sometimes I judge people in my mind, or think mean things about people who might irritate me or might be mean to me. I do not what to be like Laman and Lemuel. I may not be saying the mean things out loud, but the thoughts I have are not kind and I need to try to think of everyone as a son or daughter of God, even if they irritate me. I need to see them as He sees them and try to understand where they are coming from.

Verse 31

Even after an angel comes and tells the brother’s that the lord will provide away for them to fulfill the command, Laman and Lemuel continue to murmur and don’t trust the lord. I don’t want to do the same. I need to remember that all things are possible with the Lord if it is his will. I need to trust him more and complain less. Life would be so much better if I just trusted him more!