Day 70: October 31, 2011

2 Nephi Chapter 2

Verses 18-20

I am grateful for Adam and Eve. They were willing to partake of the fruit which there were forbidden to take so that there could be opposition and so that we could come to this earth. I think sometimes we forget that it was part of our Heavenly Father’s plan. They needed to make that sacrifice so that they could be subject to life and death. Heavenly Father knew they would choose this and because of the fall he sent his son to the earth to atone.

Verse 21

It says here that the days of man were prolonged so that we can repent. Our Heavenly Father understands that we will fall. He knows we will make mistakes and come up short. He also knows how important it is that we repent. I was recently told that the greatest tragedy isn’t that we sin. The greatest tragedy is when we don’t repent. We are naturally inclined to make mistakes and sin. We are blessed with the opportunity to repent. Satan would want us to think that if we are repenting we are horrible people. We may have made a mistake, but by repenting we are proving to our Heavenly Father that we love him and want to be invited into his presence again.

Verse 24

We are reminded that the plan was created by a being who has all knowledge. He knows and understands why things happen the way that they do. He has a perfect plan for each of us. We need to trust in him.

Verse 27

When we choose to follow our Father in Heaven we are choosing to be free. When we chose to follow Satan we choose to be in captivity. Sometimes people say that the commandments are binding them. But in reality they are what keep us free and will one day lead us to our Heavenly home.

Day 69: October 30, 2011

2 Nephi Chapter 2

Verse 11

There must be opposition in all things. I have seen this in my own life. I struggle with depression and anxiety and it is very hard. But I know that because of this hardship now, I will one day be able to experience and understand true joy because I have felt it’s opposite. I am grateful for that. Sometimes I wish there wasn’t opposition, but we wouldn’t learn and grow as needed.

Day 68: October 29, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 2

Verse 1

Lehi talks to Jacob, who he was is the first born in the days of his tribulation. This recent general conference, there was a talk given, and I can’t remember by who right now, that talked about the importance of children and having a family. The speaker talked about how a husband and wife should counsel with each other and with the Lord to know when it is the right time to have children. He also talked about how you shouldn’t wait until your life if all in order to do so. He used Lehi as an example. Even as they traveled in the wilderness, Lehi and his wife realized the importance of having children and obeyed the Lord to do so.

Verses 6-7

Lehi is teaching Jacob of the importance of the Savior. He is teaching that Jesus is the only way that we can be saved and return to our Father’s presence. He talks about the importance of having a contrite heart. We need to be humble and willing to do the will of the Father and accept the Savior in our life and do all that we can to make things right in our life and then rely on the Atonement to make up the difference. I am so grateful for the atonement in my life. I am grateful for this perfect plan of happiness that allows us to make mistakes and learn and grow and then allows us to repent. Because of the sacrifice of our Savior, we can be forgiven and given another chance. What a blessing.

Verse 8

It is important to teach the inhabitants of the earth of the Savior and how it is only through him that we can return to our heavenly home. I had the amazing opportunity to do this as a missionary in Dallas, Texas. I wanted those amazing people to know this amazing plan of happiness. I realize that I can still do my part in sharing the gospel. I need to look for more opportunities to do so.

Day 67: October 28, 2011

2 Nephi Chapter 1

In the remainder of chapter 1, Lehi continues to talk about what a blessing it is that they had been blessed to be lead to the Promised Land. He teaches his sons that the Promised Land will be a place blessed for them and they will prosper there as long as they keep the commandments of God. I know that I too must be faithful in keeping the commandments. Some thoughts I am having as I study tonight are about the atonement. Lehi talks a little about the Redeemer who was to come. He has come. He came to the earth and taught us how to live. He was the perfect example of love and service. He then atoned for each one of us. For our sins and for our weaknesses and our heartaches and pains. He felt all of those things. Then he died for each of us. I am so grateful for the blessing of the atonement in my life. I know it is a vital part of this plan which our Heavenly Father prepared for us. I know that we can be forgiven of our mistakes. Heavenly Father loves us so much. He knows we are going to mess up. It’s part of life. He knew from the beginning the mistakes we would make and because of that he sent his son for us. What a great blessing! I know my thoughts are not exactly in correlation to the verses I read tonight but this is what the spirit is asking me to make record of. He lives. He loves us. With him we can return to our Father’s presence. Our Promised Land.

2 Nephi Chapter 1

Verse 5

After all the afflictions that Lehi and his family were asked to suffer, the lord blessed them with a promised land. Heavenly Father allows us to go through trials and afflictions. If we endure faithfully through them he promises us the same in his kingdom for eternity. I hope that I can endure through the afflictions I am asked to face so that I can live with my Father in Heaven again.

Day 65: October 26, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 22

Nephi teaches about the scattering and gathering of Israel.

Verse 17:

Heavenly Father promises that he will preserve those who are righteous and obedient to the will and commandments. Those who are wicked will feel of his wrath.

Verse 20:

He promises that he will prepare a way for his people. What a great blessing and comfort to know that he will help us along the path of this life.

Verse 26

Satan has now power of us if we are righteous and faithful in keeping our covenants and the commandments.

Day 64: October 25, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 21

Verse 1

Listen! We are told to listen and harken to the words of the prophets. They speak the words of God. They are His mouth pieces and will lead us in the direction that we should go.

Verse 16

I love this verse. I love knowing that we are graven on the palms of the Lord’s hands. He will never forget us. It is so reassuring to know that we are his children and that he loves us so much. He made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can be happy and return to live with our Father in Heaven. What a blessing.

Day 62: October 24, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 20

This Chapter is full of the words of Isaiah and I am not sure what he is talking about in it at all. But I know that I need to study it more and see if I can understand it more clearly.

Verse 18

Here Isaiah has said that if they had harkened to the commandments then they would have peace like a river and righteousness as the waves of the sea. I know for me I often will do things contrary to what I know is right because in the moment it brings me satisfaction and happiness, but later I feel guilty and sick and worried and more miserable then I was prior to the wrong choice. If I would just remember who I am and what I want out of this life I will not have that momentary satisfaction nor will I have that awful guilt, but I will have everlasting joy and peace like a river. That is what I want in my life.

Verse 19

This verse continues the thought about if you had kept the commandments and then talks about seed of the individual. I want my seed to be blessed because of me. I want them to have a positive role model in me. I want to be blessed with seed. SO I need to be more obedient to the commandments.

Verse 20

Get out of Babylon! Stop living the way the world says to live.

Day 62: October 12, 2011

1Nephi Chapter 19

Verse 7

Nephi said that sometimes people trample the words of God under their feet and don’t harken to them. I’m afraid that I am guilty of this sometimes. I don’t always do the things I am supposed to and I occasionally do things that I know are wrong. I don’t want to trample the words of God as things of naught. I know that they are the only way I can return to him by abiding by them and fulfilling his will. This is something I will work on.

Verse 9

I love how the Savior is described in this verse. Here Nephi is prophesying of the coming of the savior and how the world will look at him as a thing of not. They will do all things to him and he will suffer it so that he can fulfill the will of the father and atone for our sins. I am sorry He had to go through all those things but I am oh so grateful that he kept going and for his love for me.

Verse 23

Liken the scriptures unto yourself for your profit and learning. That is what I am trying to do with this study. I want to make the scriptures mean something specifically for me in my life.

Day 61: October 11, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 19

Verse 1-6

Nephi tells how he has been commanded to make this sacred record and how he tries to keep separate the worldly things from those things that are most sacred. I am grateful for his obedience to the commandments and for the example he is to me. I am also grateful that I have access to his words because he was willing to heed the word of God and write these things down. They are a blessing to me in my life.

Day 60: October 10, 2011

1 Nephi Chapter 18

Verses 20-25

They finally made it to the Promised Land! They had hard times in the wilderness but they were able to make it there with the help of the Lord. They trusted in him and he did provide for them.

Day 59: October 9, 2011

1 Nephi 18

Verse 9-12

Nephi and his family got on the ship and headed out towards the Promised Land and those brothers of his started making problems again and the Lord caused storms to happen and the liahonna didn’t work. Life has storms often. It part of why we are on this earth. But when we chose to be disobedient to his commandments, the Liahonna (Holy Ghost) can’t tell us how to navigate the storm because we are not in tune to his promptings. I want to make sure I have the spirit in my life and that I can hear him speak.

Verses 17-19

Laman and Lemuel’s actions didn’t only affect them and their relationship with God, but they had effects on their loved ones too. Sometimes I forget that the choices I make affect the lives of others too. I need to be more aware of that.