Day 48: July 28, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 15

Verse 24

Nephi explains that the rod of iron is like the word of God. His scriptures and the words from his prophets. He said that if we obey the words of god, and hold onto that iron rod, that we will be able to avoid temptation and the darts of the adversary. What a wonderful blessing. I have such easy access to the words of God. I can open my scriptures. I can pull up lds.org, I can read an ensign. I need to be more diligent in seeking out these words and heeding them so I can avoid temptation and the fiery darts.

Day 48: July 27, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 15

Verses 16-21

Nephi just explains what Lehi meant about the House of Israel being an olive tree and how the Gentile nations are grafted in. I didn’t really find anything that had poignant application at this moment in my life but I am grateful for the example of Nephi. He is taking time to explain to his brother the things of great import. He is teaching them the gospel and of the Lord’s plan for them and I think that is a great thing.

Day 47: July 26, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 15

Verse 11

I need to be diligent and study things out and then ask the Lord and he will make things known unto me. To add to some of the thoughts I had last night about feeling like I am sometimes like Laman and Lemuel, I was talking to my bishop today and he told me I was far from what they were, as they became hard and past feeling. We then talked about how I may be like them when it comes to being complacent. I get to a certain point and then I just “coast” or being ok with things. This is where I am sometimes like Laman and Lemuel. I cannot afford to just be ok with things. I need to work towards making things great and always trying to better myself and my life. I know that’s kind of a tangent from what this verse said, but it was more of what I read last night and it just made me think about the discussion with bishop. I don’t want to be complacent. I want to improve myself little by little every day. Another thing that the bishop suggested is asking for direction in my life but not asking for the end product. I should ask the lord to direct me one step at a time. Ask him to lead my one step and then when I have fulfilled that step to ask for guidance for the next. I don’t need to see the big picture. I just need to trust him.

Day 46: July 25, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 15

Verse 3

Nephi agrees that the things Lehi had taught and spoke of to his sons were hard to understand….UNLESS…you ask of the Lord. We have things that we may not fully understand but how often do we take the time to ask the Lord for his understanding and guidance? Something I need to do more!

Verse 8

After finding out what his brothers were arguing about he simply asks….have you asked? How often do I find myself questioning things in my life and feeling frustrated that I don’t have the answer when I haven’t taken the time out to ask the Lord. I am more like Laman and Lemuel then I would like to be sometimes!

Verse 10

Nephi asks his brothers some questions that kind of hit home today. Why do you not keep the commandments? Why would you rather parish? Sometimes, even when I know they are wrong, I do things that I shouldn’t do. Every time I do that I am choosing death instead of life. Gratefully I have the opportunity to repent, but how much easier would it be if I just didn’t make the mistake in the first place? Why do I choose the immediate results of my choices over the eternal rewards of making righteous choices? I have heard that it is easier to PREPARE and PREVENT than it is to REPAIR and REPENT. What a powerful statement!

Day 45: July 21, 2011

1 Nephi 14

Verse 14

Nephi is describing the mother of all harlots and the church of the devil and how there are few members of the church of the Lamb of God in comparison. But here in this verse the Nephi describes the great power of the Lamb and how it rests upon the faithful and the righteous army. I love how it talks about this great power. Maybe the number of saints will be few in comparison to those of the church of the devil but with the power of the Lord his work will go forth and he will reign. I love that.

Day 43: July 19, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 14

Verse 5

If you repent it will be well with you. What a comforting statement. We all make mistakes, some bigger than others, but we are promised that if we repent and come unto Christ we will be forgiven and it shall be well with us. What a wonderful promise and blessing. I am so grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ which makes this possible.

Day 44: July 20, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 14

Verse 10

Nephi sees the great and abominable church. He is told that there are two churches. The church of the Lamb of God and the church of the devil. If you don’t belong to the Church of the Lamb of God you belong to the church of the devil. That made me think a little as I read it. When we make mistakes that are against the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ, we are living the teachings of the devil. That’s a gross thought to me. I don’t want to give Satan power. I want to live the gospel of the Lamb of God!

Day 42: July 18, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 13

Verses 30-36

As I have been reading these verses the phrase “plain and precious” has come up several times. As I contemplate this phrase I think that it is such a true statement. The gospel of Jesus Christ is made up of plain and precious truths. Truths that to the world may seem simple and unexciting, but which have eternal worth and everlasting effects. I am so grateful that the gospel is so plain to understand because even though it is plain to understand I still stumble from time to time. I am grateful that I understand the significance of the gospel of Jesus Christ to some small extent. I love the gospel. I love the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon and its plain and precious parts.

Verse 37

This verse talks about enduring to the end. Such a simple statement but so difficult some times. In thinking about enduring to the end I just had the thought that this phrase doesn’t mean we can reach a spiritual peak and then expect to just stay there if we don’t continue to exercise and build it. Enduring to the end doesn’t just mean sitting still and waiting for the end to come. If we do that we are not enduring but are losing ground. WE have to be actively going forth and keeping commandments and mankind sacred covenants. I need to remember that. I have a testimony but I sometimes get too complacent and comfortable with where I am. I am not enduring to the end and my testimony is not nearly as strong as it could be. That is something I must work on.

Day 41: July 16, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 13

Verses 20-29

Nephi sees a book from the mouth of Jew going forth and notices, according to the angel, that many plain and precious things have been removed and that this is the stumbling block. I am grateful for the bible. I know that the bible is the word of God as long as it is translated correctly. Even with this correct translation I find that the bible is not as plain and simple as the book of Mormon. I am grateful that we have both of these books of scripture that together contain the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was interesting, I was talking to a friend the other day who is not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints. He often brings up things about the church here and there that gives me an opportunity to discuss the gospel. We were talking about how the bible is hard to understand sometimes and that he has heard that Mormons think that the Book of Mormon is easier to read. This opened up to a discussion about how over the years the bible had been translated and retranslated and corrupted in some ways. It was no long a pure text with the word of God. I explained that we do believe the bible to be the word of God as long as it has been translated as correctly as possible. I then explained that the Book of Mormon was only translated once. It still contained all the pure and plain parts that the bible was lacking. I don’t know that he cared or that he really wanted to hear what I was saying but it helped me remember that we need both the bible and the Book of Mormon to study and ponder. It also made me think that I need to spend a little more time studying the words in the bible so I can understand it better. I am grateful for the scriptures.

Day 40: July 14, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 13

Verses 13-19

Just makes me grateful that the Lord prepared this promise land and that he protected it from others. I think it’s so interesting how much of a role the Lord’s hand was in bringing the people into this country and for all he did to inspire those who played a role in the founding of this great free nation. What a blessing to live in America.

Day 39: July 13, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 13

Verse 12

Nephi is shown in vision Christopher Columbus who came across the many waters to find the Americas. I think it is so interesting the ways in which the Lord led individuals to the promise land. Recently we celebrated the 4^th of July. What a wonderful blessing to be a resident of this great land and for all of the many freedoms that I possess.

Day 38: July 12, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 12

Nothing really stood out in verses 12-23 that really applied to me. Its sad to see how Nephi’s people went from such righteousness to such wickedness. Satan really knows how to mess things up if we let him. So I don’t want to let him! I am in control…with the Lord. I am a daughter of God and Satan can have no power over me that I don’t give him.

Day 37: July 11, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 12

Verse 11

I love the visual image that I can see in this verse. Nephi sees three generations of his people who are righteous. He says that their garments are white, like the saviors. They are white because of the blood of the savior. I want my garments to be as white as the Savior. He has already bled for me. He already atoned for my sins. I need to make sure that I am not taking the atonement for granted in my life. This might be a tangent from what the verse says but I am feeling led by the spirit right now to write some of the things that I am feeling down. I have been raised by great parents and taught the gospel by them and wonderful church leaders and teachers. I have studied the scriptures and have gained a testimony of their truth. I served a mission teaching my brothers and sisters of the joy and blessings that come from the atonement. I am at a point in my life where I am forgetting those things and those blessings. I sometimes am too casual in my prayers with my father in heaven. I sometimes read the scriptures just to get through them rather than studying them in order to be strengthened and edified. I sometimes do things that I know I shouldn’t do, or I don’t do things that I know I should do. While I am not a horrible sinner, I am a sinner. I make mistakes daily and I am not turning to the Lord enough to trust in him. As part of some additional scripture study today I was reading the parable of the ten virgins. Something hit me today as I was reading. The foolish virgins were not bad people. They were not out committing horrible sins. They had their lamps. They knew they needed the lamps and they wanted to go to the wedding just like the wise virgins. They just forgot the oil. They forgot that essential element to making their lamps shine. What a powerful thought. I desire to attend that wedding, to be in my Saviors presence. I know that I need my lamp so that I can see where I am going. I carry it with me because I know I need it. But I keep forgetting the oil. I keep forgetting that there is more than just desiring. I need to put the oil in my lamp. I do not want to be left out and have savior now know who I am. That would be the most tragic moment ever and I cannot allow that to happen. I need to start RIGHT now to make some changes in my life. I can’t wait any longer. I can’t keep walking on the edge. I need to get as far from the edge as I can so that I can keep out of Satan’s grasp. I AM A DAUGHTER OF GOD! I am a princess who can become a queen. I have so much potential and so much divine worth. My Father in Heaven loves me. He loves me so much. I do not want to disappoint him. I don’t want to make him sad. I know what needs to be done and I just need to do it. I am ready to let go of those things that are keeping me from filling my lamp with oil. I am ready for my garments to be as white as my saviors. I am ready!

Like I said I realize that was a stretch as to what I could learn from this verse but I honestly feel like the Lord was inspiring me with what to write. Before I started studying my scriptures tonight I asked that something for Nephi’s vision would be applicable to me and touch my heart. The spirit used this verse to get me thinking and helping me realize that I can have my garments made white in his blood. I am so grateful for this inspiration tonight. Oh how grateful I am know that my Heavenly Father hears my prayers. Sometimes I forget that. Sometimes I don’t feel like I am worth him hearing my prayers. How wrong of me to think this way. How wrong of me to deny myself his love. HE does love me and he just proved that to me again right now. No matter what mistakes I make he still loves me. He wants me to return to his presence and he continues to give me opportunities to repent and he never gives up on me even when I give up on myself sometimes. My testimony of his love grew tonight. I am worth so much more then I give myself credit for. Thank you Heavenly Father.

Day 36: July 10, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 12

Verses 1-10

Nephi continues to see his visions. I don’t know that I found anything that really stood out to me as a personal application but i think it would be so amazing to see the things that Nephi saw. I think it would be awesome to see the savior come to earth and watch as he fulfilled his ministry and just see all the things that Nephi saw. It’s enjoyable to read about these visio

Day 35: July 8, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 11

Verse 25

The Iron rod is the word of God. I have the iron rod that I can hold on to and gain direction to the tree of life through the scriptures. What a great blessing to me to know that if I hold tight to the teachings found in the scriptures then I can make it to the tree without falling away. I need to hold more tightly.

Day 34: July 7, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 11

Verse 10

Because Nephi was righteous the spirit was able to ask his desires and to grant them because they are righteous. I want to be to a point in my life where my desires are more often righteous. Not that I have wicked desires because I don’t, but I would like to know that if asked what my desires are that I might be able to know that they are righteous and for an effort towards the building up of the kingdom of god instead of for selfish purposes.

Verse 22

The tree of life represents the Love the Lord has for the children of men. It is most desirable. This verse mentions that it spreads forth among the heart of the children of men. I am so grateful to know the Lord loves his children so much. I want to feel that Love in my heart on a regular basis and in order to that I need to make sure that I am living my life to be as obedient as possible.

Day 33: July 5, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 11

Verse 1

Nephi had a desired to see and know the things that his father had talked about. He had desire then he had faith that the Lord would show him it. Then he pondered and studied things out in his mind. This is a good pattern to have. Desiring a righteous desire. Faith that that desire will be shown and then pondering and preparing for it to be fulfilled. I think this is a great equation to apply to my life.

Verse 6

The spirit rejoiced that Nephi had faith in the Savior of the world. I can picture the spirit and angels being so happy that I know that Jesus is the Christ and that he truly atoned for my sins. It reminds me of my favorite passage from the Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 27:30 And now, behold, my joy is great, even unto fulness, because of you, and also this generation; yea, and even the Father rejoiceth, and also all the holy angels, because of you and this generation; for^anone of them are lost. Makes me realize how great of worth I have. And even though I am not perfect the Lord still rejoices in me

Day 32: July 4, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 10

Verse 19

I like the promise made here. If I diligently seek the Lord I will find him. His mysteries will be made known to me as I seek to know and study them. I am glad to know what I can understand better the plan which the Lord has for me if I truly seek to know them. I need to put this into practice more.

Verses 20-21

We are reminded that whatever we do in this life will be judged by the Lord. If we are wicked and unrepentant in this life then we will be found unclean and no unclean thing can dwell with God. Now I don’t think that I am wicked, but I am a human being who is very capable of making mistakes and sinning. I am so grateful for the atonement of Jesus Christ and the knowledge that I can repent and be found clean at that last day. I desire to be found clean and I want to live with my Heavenly Father again.

Day 31: July 3, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 10

Verse 6

All men are in a lost and fallen state and ever would be save they should rely on the Redeemer. I am so glad that I have the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I don’t want to be lost and fallen forever. The Savior came to this earth to make it possible for me to return to the presence of my Heavenly Father again. I am so grateful for that knowledge.

Verse 17

After recording all that Lehi had said, Nephi had a desire to know for himself the things which his father had said. He said that he would learn them by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is available to all of us if we diligently seek him. I want to have more desire to study things out and know them for myself. I believe things to be true but I need to come to knowledge of things for myself.

Verse 18

Teaches us that God is the same today, yesterday and forever. He has prepared a way for each of us to receive the things we desire if we will repent and come unto him. I love this knowledge. I am grateful that I can repent. I am grateful that God is unchangeable. I can trust that he will not change. And that’s an important thing to me. Especially in a world where it is hard to trust things. I know that I can trust my father in heaven.

Day 30: July 2, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 10

Verse 3

Lehi is talking of the Jews and those being carried away captive. He said that they would be restored to their lands of promise in the own due time of the Lord. The timing of the Lord is something that I am striving to trust and understand more. The Lord knows what is best for each one of us and knows when things should take place. A lot of times I feel like I am ready for certain things or I am impatient. I want things to happen now. But the Lord has other plans for me. He knows what experiences I need to have in order to be prepared for what He needs from me. I am grateful that He is mindful of me. I may not always understand it but I know that His plan for me is perfect and one day I will look back and see how his timing is perfect.

Verses 4-5

Lehi testifies and prophecies of the coming of the Savior. He tells the people of the atonement and sacrifice Christ was to make. Well the Savior has come and he made the ultimate sacrifice. I am grateful that He was willing to atone for my sins. I am so glad that He chose to come to the earth and for the support that I feel. I am grateful for the Savior and I know that he lives and that it is through him only that I can return to my heavenly home once more.