Happiness

Where can happiness be found in a world where there is much wickedness? We see it in movies, read it in books, hear it in songs on the radio, find it when we are searching the web for homework and so forth. Well, Nephi and his people are a perfect example. His brethren Laman and Lemuel, were being wicked. So wicked that they had to remove themselves from them. This caused Laman and Lemuel to be angry and seek contention with Nephi and his people. Making wars and contentions. And yet, Nephi cried unto the Lord, saying "why is it that this natural man in me anger against my brethren?" and continues crying just in disgust with how natural he really is. When Nephi did this, he turned his problems over to the Lord, in faith knowing the Lord would answer him. And he and his people "lived after the manner of happiness" (2 Nephi 5:27).

Like Nephi, I can turn my problems over to the Lord, and he will answer my prayers and lift my burdens, take away my anger against others, and help me to have his pure love.

This is my testimony.

Trust in Christ

: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
18  I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
19  And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
2 Nephi 4:17-19

I like Nephi, get great anxiety over the natural man in me, sometimes feeling like everything is up to me, to save myself. Then I remember that I can trust in Jesus Christ.

The verses continue.

20  My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
21  He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
2 Nephi 4:20-21

I have had many afflictions, and each and every time, Christ has lifted me out of them, and brought me to a peak of highness that I never knew, possible. And yet he does this for me again and again. The verse says "he hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh". This is remarkable. Just what the love of Christ can do. The love of Christ can knock out the natural man, who hateth when things don't go as they planned. This is why I want to obtain the pure love of Christ.

The Pure Love Of Christ.

With experiences I've been going through this last month, I have struggled, but have come to know the pure love of Christ. Christ knows us perfectly, and is always knocking, he wants to be our best friend. Whenever we are ready to reach for the door and let him into our lives, he is there. But we have to reach.

How can we obtain the pure love of Christ, if we have not suffered, the pain of everyone, like he has, and felt the joys of everyone, and the trials of everyone.

By coming to know Christ, we can obtain this same pure love. It is through Christ that we are made whole, by coming to know Christ and serving him we can come to have his pure love.

This is why I want to serve a mission for this wonderful church. I want to serve Christ, by serving his people. By doing this, I will come to see others through the Saviors eyes.

In all honesty, I think this is what life is all about, is learning to love, and serve as Jesus loved and served us. There is a quote that hangs in the wall of my sister's room that says I have sent my greatest among you to serve you. Now I am no greatest! This is not what I am saying at all, however, I want to become like him who is the greatest, this is my ultimate goal in life and all eternity. To love as Jesus loved.

I've heard that sister's have a hard time letting go of investigators who are unwilling to commit. This is where trusting in Christ comes in to play. A lot of times I trust in myself, and this is something I'll have tried to learn to do, and will continue. Relying less on myself, but more on Christ. Sometimes, the best thing to do is the hardest, like letting go of someone you have served for a period of time, like an investigator. However, like heavenly Father let us go to earth to make decisions our self, there comes a time when we must also let others go like investigators, and loved one's who make wrong decisions along the way, and turn them over to Christ, leaving them with your love and the understanding that you are there for them, whenever they are ready.

This has bits and pieces to do with a man I loved and had to let go of. I really did love him, but when their decisions, confuse you so badly, that is when it is time to turn them over to Christ, again with the knowledge that when and if they are ready, you are there to be their friend.

This I know to be true, and my testimony on this is only beginning to sprout, and my words are very mumbo jumbled. But here we go.

Pages 18-24

Today I decided to pick a verse and Study!

The verse I chose is
1 Nephi 11:31 It reads, "And he spake unto me again saying: Look! And I looked, and I beheld the Lamb of God going forth among the children of men. And I beheld multitudes of people who were sick, and who were afflicted with all manner of diseases, and with devils and unclean spirits; and the angel spake and showed all these things unto me. And they were healed by the power of the Lamb of God; and the devils and the unclean spirits were cast out".

Foot Notes

Mark 5:15-20; 7:30.

1st, a "devil" had over taken someone. Christ healed this person and said go forth and tell others what great things I have done for you. This is how I think of people who get mental illnesses. Christ can heal them, so that they can preach the gospel, even if you get struck with a mental illness, don't let it keep you from serving a mission if you still do feel that that is what the Lord would have you do. And if you can't, don't beat yourself up about it, Christ would never want you to do that!

2nd, A woman's daughter had a devil cast out of her. I think of a "devil" as anything that blocks you from having peace, joy, and happiness. Whether the devil in your life is a tragic event, or a sin, allow Christ to heal you.

Mosiah 3:6.

Another word for "devil" is an evil spirit that fills your heart. Christ can replace any evil feeling in your heart with the spirit.

Mormon 9:24.

God's power to heal in modern days, is given to the authority of the Priesthood. Whether this is talking to a bishop to heal your sin, or a Father's blessing when you are going through a hard time. God's power to heal is here on earth through the Priesthood.

Poem

Here is a Poem I wrote by righting down some of the key words from first Nephi 7-10

Let Love replace Hate.
Kindness strike away Anger.
Allow faith in christ to Soften your heart and give you Strength.
Let forgiveness take away the sorrow.
Rejoice in Light instead of Dwelling in Darkness.
Let gratitude for Tender mercies relieve the pain of Dreary days.
Let joy fill your heart for your Desire to do good.
Be Wise.
Be Sweet.
Seek Knowledge and Truth.
Diligently study the scriptures.
Let the Holy Ghost guide you to whom you can Preach the gospel to.
Gather in the House of Israel.
Rise and Stand with all your Might, mind, and Strength.
Rely on Christ to heel your Broken heart.
Stop dwindeling in unbelief.
If you have Fallen and feel lost.
Give Christ a chance to lift you up out of Captivity.
Remember each day is a Gift from God!

1st Nephi

Chapter 4:

"And it came to pass that (Kimberly) did take courage at the words which I spake. Now (Kimberly) was the name of the servant;and he promised he would go down into the wilderness unto our father. Yea, and he also made an oath unto us that he would tarry with us from that time forth"(35).

Just like Zoram took courage to follow Nephi who served as a prophet of God. I take courage each day to follow my latter day prophets teachings, even if I do not fully understand the why.

Chapter 5:

I often have wondered why Laman, Lemuel, and Nehi were commanded to go back and get the plates, instead of getting them before they went on their journey. The only real answer I can think of is that our timing is not always the Lord's timing, and the Lord knows the best timing for everything, and sometimes we just have to put our faith in Christ and his plan.

I also made a comparison in this chapter. Lehi's wife Sariah to Joseph Smiths wife Emma. I've noticed that it is almost harder on the women who stand behind prophets. Like Lehi, Joseph Smith was commanded to do an incredible thing to bring about the Lord's work. It takes great faith for these women who are not having the prophesies and visions that their husbands do have. 

Chapter 6:

"For the fulness of mine intent is that I may persuade men to come unto the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, and be saved"(4).
This is the intent of Nephi, that we may come close to the God, who has worked miracles for so many , and will work miracles for me as long as I am faithful, and call upon him.

"Wherfore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world"(5).
I put this on the front of my Journal once, because this is a motto I want to live by. I want to only write a life of things are pleasing to my Heavenly Father.


Chapter 7:

Again it takes faith, when the Lord commanded them to return to Jerusalem again for wives. I sometimes wonder maybe Laman and Lemuel had more faith than I thought or gave them credit for. But then, I think they probably just feared the Lord enough to go back. The thought that they had seen an angel, you would think they would be perfectly obedient. And yet they were not.

Day 1 of 90

Nephi:

Chapter 1:
Develop a knowledge of the goodness and mysteries of God.
God gives many tender mercies to those who have faith in him.

Summary: Lehi sees a vision that the people of Jerusalem Shall be destroyed. 

Chapter 2:

"Blessed art thou (Kimberly), because of the things which thou hast done; and because thou hast been faithful and declared unto this people the things which I commanded thee"(1).

"O that thou mightiest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness"(8)!

"O that thou mightiest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord"(9)!

"wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken my my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him"(16).

"Being grieved because of the hardness of their hearts I cried unto the Lord for them"(18). 
Like Nephi, I have cried unto the Lord for those who are close to me who are not living the gospel or being perfectly obedient. It grievous  me, however the Lord brings me peace. He tells me that when I keep the commandments, I will make it to the "promised land" this means heaven.

Chapter 3:

"The Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them"(7).