Day 58: September 25, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 18

Verse 1

Nephi is taught how to build the ship little by little. He would complete a task and then go to the Lord to know what to do next. I sometimes think I want to see the whole picture all at one time, but I know that isn’t how the Lord wants me to do it. He wants me to learn and choose for myself and little by little the picture is revealed before me. I get so frustrated sometimes, but I know I need to trust in the Lord more.

Verse 2:

Nephi didn’t build the ship after the manner of men, but rather after the man which the lord revealed unto him. He says he didn’t build after the learned ship maker. I have mentioned this before but I love that picture. Even the most learned ship builder doesn’t have the knowledge that the Lord does. It is something I need to work on to be more trusting and more reliant on the Lord for he is the source of all knowledge.

Verse 3:

Nephi went to the mount often and he prayed often and then the Lord showed him what to do. I have the opportunity to live so close to one of those mounts. The temple is a place that I can go and commune with my Father in Heaven. It is a place that I try to go often so I can feel that special spirit and receive that revelation that he has in store for me. Prayer is something that I need to be better about. I need to be more sincere in my prayers to my Father in Heaven and make it more of a two way communication that I am making it now.

Day 57: September 15, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 17

Verse 23

Nephi asks his brothers if Moses and the Children of Israel would have been delivered from the hands of the Egyptians and delivered from their bondage if they had not listened to the Lord’s commandments. They wouldn’t have. They would have remained slaves and never would have found the Promised Land. It really makes me think. What am I missing out on by not always being as obedient to the commandments as I should be? What blessings am I being kept from because I don’t heed all the promptings of the Holy Ghost? I don’t want to miss out on what the Lord has in store for me. I want to know that I am doing everything in my power to keep the will of the Lord. I know that I will fall sometimes because that is part of this life. But I can do a lot better than I am right now.

Verse 36

I really like this verse. It teaches us the purpose for why the earth was created as well as why we were created. The earth was created that it might be inhabited and we were created that we might possess the earth. Our Heavenly Father created this world so that we could come and live and learn and experience things that we need in order that we can become like him. Life is hard sometimes. I struggle daily with things and I often feel like it is more than I can handle. Heavenly Father promised us that he would never give us more then we can handle. This knowledge gives me strength and helps me understand a little bit better why I am here. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father and his son created this beautiful world. It is amazing to me how beautiful it really is. I am sitting here at the top of a hill in Salt Lake City and I see the vast city and valley below. Its night time and so the lights of the city are prominent in my view. I can see the state capitol in its majesty. I see tall buildings and lights as far as my eyes can see. But the one thing that stands out more then all of these is the Temple of the Lord. I see it with its spires lit and I am reminded of how blest I am to live on this earth at this time in history. The gospel has been restored. The church is spread forth among the world. And temples dot the land. What a blessing. Why do I sometimes forget this great blessing? Why do I sometimes do stupid things that would prevent me from all the blessing which my Father has in store for me? He loves me! He loves me and wants me to be happy and worthy of his blessings. I know that I kind of got off topic from what the verse was talking about, but I feel like the spirit directed me tonight to come up here so I can contemplate the beauty and peace found in my father’s creation and I needed to record those feelings as they came to my mind in conjunction with this verse.

Day 56: September 14, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 17

Verse 19-22

Wow are Laman and Lemuel big complainers. They must be so insecure about themselves because they are constantly putting Nephi down and rejoicing in his sorrows. They don’t think that he can build the ship. They think that he and Lehi were foolish in their visions and in leaving Jerusalem. They are so blinded to the wickedness that was found in Jerusalem. I know that on occasion when making fun of someone I feel a little better about myself, but that feeling rarely lasts. I know how much It hurts to be put down and doubted. I want to be more aware about how I treat others. I need to show that I love each of God’s children including myself! I am the hardest on myself. I think very poorly of myself so often that it’s a constant negative element in my life. I must work on this. I know who I am. I am a daughter of God and I need to act that way!

Day 55: September 13, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 17

Verse 14

The Lord showed the way for Nephi and his family to arrive in the Promised Land. As mentioned previously, he did many great things for them so that they could fulfill his commandments. He did this so that they would know and be able to declare that He had led them from the wickedness and destruction in Jerusalem to a land that was promised to them. In my own life, the Lord has been my light and my fire. He has prepared away for me to arrive in my own promised land. I am grateful each day for that guidance. There are times in my life that I don’t understand why He has allowed things to happen in the ways that they do, but I know that he is perfect. His plan is perfect. One day, if I follow the guidance and light that he gives, I will arrive in the promised land and will know that He truly is the source for which I received all the blessing and it is by Him that I was able to return home.

Verse 15:

I love Nephi’s obedience and willingness to do so. He is given instruction by the Lord and then he obeys it diligently. There is no hesitation on his part. He doesn’t sit there and say, well tomorrow is a good day to start being good again. He doesn’t complain that the Lord is asking too much. He doesn’t give excuses for whey he can’t fulfill what is asked of him. He simply and immediately begins whatever the Lord has commanded him. I have much to learn from Nephi. What a great example of courage and obedience.

Verse 17-18

In stark contrast to Nephi’s swift obedience is Laman and Lemuel and their continual murmuring and complaining and putting Nephi down. Why are they so hard of heart? They had the same upbringing as Nephi. They witnessed miraculous events and acknowledged many times that the Lord was present, yet they always forgot. They didn’t let those feelings become a part of them. They didn’t make needed changes and daily repentance that is required. I do not want to be like these brothers.

1 Nephi Chapter 17

Verse 9-10

Nephi continued to follow the counsel of the Lord as he went about building his ship. He trusted the Lord and didn’t rely on his own understanding. He asked for guidance in making the tools and other items. Sometime I think I can figure things out on my own. I need to trust in the Lord more fully and ask him for his guidance.

Verse 12

As Nephi and his family traveled in the wilderness, they didn’t need any fire because the lord made it so the meat was nutritious for them. Al things are possible with the Lord.

Verse 13

Not only did the Lord bless their food but he was also their light as they traveled in the wilderness. He led them from Jerusalem and was their guide. I need to let the lord be the light in my life more. He is there to guide me and I am slow to heed him. Something that I must work on.

Day 53: September 11, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 17

Verse 6:

Even though Nephi and his family had suffered a lot in the wilderness, they found good things to be grateful for. They had been led to a place where they could continue forward towards the promise land. They rejoiced. I sometimes get too focused on what Is wrong and what I don’t have. I forget sometimes to thank the Lord for what I do have and the things that I are blessings in my life.

Verse 7:

The Lord calls Nephi and tells him to get into the mountain. Arise and get into the mountains. Knowing symbolism, I know that the mountain is also a word for temple. Nephi goes forward to the mountain and receives the message from the Lord. I too have the opportunity to get myself up into the mountain, or rather to attend the temple. Each time I go I feel the spirit and I am able to reflect on the things that will be of most value to me. I love the temple and am so grateful to be so close to so many temples.

Verse 8:

While on the mountain conversing with the lord, Nephi is commanded to build a ship after the manner which the Lord shows him. I love this verse. I can picture Nephi building this ship and having a master ship builder come and ask him why he is building it like that. He would respond, because this is how the Lord has taught me to do. The Lord has a plan and purpose for each of us. Sometimes the Lord looks at us and thinks that we are weird for how we live or how we do things, but it is after the manner which the lord shows us that we should live our life.

When I was on my mission, I started to struggle more with my depression. The medicine wasn’t working like it should have any more. I was instructed by my mission president to pray and ask the Lord if I was supposed to go home. I put it off because I didn’t want to go home yet. I finally prayed and followed what the spirit told me to say. I knew immediately that I was supposed to go home. I had done what the Lord needed me to do there in Texas. I still struggled with it. One day while studying the scriptures I read this chapter. This verse really stood out to me. I realized that while the world or most members would think that going home early was not normal and negative, the Lord had a different plan for me. I knew that He was leading my life. How grateful I am for that.