Nephi talks about showing forth His power to fulfill His promises to the wicked In His case the wicked were being given a chance to use here agency and were proving those disobedience so the judgment they received would be just. It demons me of Alma and amulek and the people burned in Nephihah. I a firm believer though that our Heavenly Father loves us completely and individually and we will never suffer anything that isn't for our personal growth and edification. How much did this experience strengthen the faith of Nephi and Sam and the great prophet Jacob? Even Laman and Lemuel repented for a time. I think wd are never more loved than when we are chastened. We must also never be so prideful to thimk we cant do a little better.
I can't believe how quickly Laman and Lemuel forget the Lord. In V4 they have humbled themselves, they are probably excited about and amazed at the huge ship they helped make. And then in V9 it says they have already forgotten.
They are a great cautionary tale for each of us in our lives. It's a good reminder that we should always remember Him and as we do this, we will have His Spirit to be with us.
It is a real pattern that we need to avoid. In chapter 17 it says, 45 Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God.
Do we ignore the commands of God until we start to receive the negative results, then do better until we are comfortable, then repeat? That has been a constant theme that has really stood out to me from Laman and Lemuel.
Nephi's mode of avoiding this seems to be remembering what The Lord has done. He compares them to ancient Israel, reminds them they've seen an angel, etc. Reflecting on the goodness of God can help us have a desire to show him our love through obedience.
For nephi it seems that he allows the hardships too strengthen his faith and to praise God. For Laman and Lemuel it seems to be used to humble them...and many are brought on by their sin. I think it shows Gods loving character that he chastens then through trial but only to bring them to repentance, he continually gives them opportunities to recognize his power but sadly they continue to forget.
Good question, one that I have pondered a lot myself! My best answer would be that it's different for everyone. I do think there are lessons to be learned through hardships that cannot be learned any other way & they are specific to the person. One thing that stuck out to me is the lack of respect/reverence that Laman & Lemuel & their families (obviously based off of their examples). First, it explains how they were dancing around and getting a party on when it wasn't appropriate. Then, they didn't have respect for the children and others that pleaded with them to loose the bands they used of Nephi. It took an awful storm that scared them to pause and have some reverence for the power of the Lord. This shows me that when we are only concerned about our level of comfort and entertainment then we really aren't getting much out of life. We aren't living with purpose or direction, we're just living for ourselves. Hope that makes sense!
Man, L&L have a really hard time remembering. But at the same time, I think it is also pride. They don't want to admit they need to change or that their attitudes need to change. I think this is a big reason why we are given hardships. It allows us to be put in a situation where we can grow and change the way God wants us to--of He let us figure it out without trials we would never get where we need to be.
How hard to you think it would be for Nephi and their families to warp straight from a rich life style in Jerusalem, where they had plenty of luxuries (based of Laban wanting their "great" possessions) into a world with absolutely no civilization. Nothing was there except what they made with it. Maybe they needed to learn how to fashion bows, or molten tools, or wander the wilderness in tents... you think that any of us would survive that crash course with a little help? Maybe the trials we get sometimes are actually there to help us later, not always but I think this is sometimes the case. Would Nephi have had the faith to ask the Lord where to find food, if he hadn't already found Laban, or build house and cities and temples if they hadn't built a ship.
if I was to go on a boat I would want someone that had sailed through rough seas to be the captain, not someone that just started. The way we gain this experience is going through the storms.
Most importantly about these trials is always Nephi ' reactions. He followed the Spirit to get the plates, he asked where to go, or how to do, he didn't complain,he turned to the Lord for help, and He in turn blessed him in the trials to learn and grow and become better. That is the best way to learn from trials, go through them with the Lord.
I was reminded tonight that one person, or two in Nephi's case, can affect the happiness of a family. My circumstances are different than Nephi and his family..they struggled with wayward children/siblings. I have a son with autism and I can attest that one child can affect the happiness of one family! He has the ability to brighten our home into rays of sunshine, or create overwhelming amounts of chaos and frustration. He colored my leather couches with permanent marker today...it's all good I am totally over it. 😉 I was reminded in verse 19 that like young Joseph and Jacob, I too, have other children in my home who "also being young, having need of much nourishment." While there is one child who can take up much of our physical, spiritual, and emotional reserves we need to be conciencious that our other children need to be nourished. Our children are so in tune and "are grieved because of the afflictions of their mother." My children know and can sense when I am having a hard day, week, month, year! Our homes struggles when I let my reserves get depleted. I admire Nephi. He "praises Him all the day long" and "does not murmur against The Lord because of mine affliction."
Sometimes we have to experience the "storms" in our life so we can appreciate the calm. The Book of Mormon isn’t the story of a perfect gospel family, they are just like us. When I think of all the hardships Nephi experienced with his brothers, the persecution, going back to get the records and on and on, he is a great example to me of remaining faithful and learning and growing from our challenges and I remind myself...I can do this, these things are for my good. Can you imagine how Sariah must have felt to have an account of her family’s problems published among "all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples.” Kind of makes my little family issues not seem like such a big deal and comfort as well that if Nephi can get through these hardships then I can keep pressing on too.
Nephi talks about showing forth His power to fulfill His promises to the wicked In His case the wicked were being given a chance to use here agency and were proving those disobedience so the judgment they received would be just. It demons me of Alma and amulek and the people burned in Nephihah. I a firm believer though that our Heavenly Father loves us completely and individually and we will never suffer anything that isn't for our personal growth and edification. How much did this experience strengthen the faith of Nephi and Sam and the great prophet Jacob? Even Laman and Lemuel repented for a time. I think wd are never more loved than when we are chastened. We must also never be so prideful to thimk we cant do a little better.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how quickly Laman and Lemuel forget the Lord. In V4 they have humbled themselves, they are probably excited about and amazed at the huge ship they helped make. And then in V9 it says they have already forgotten.
ReplyDeleteThey are a great cautionary tale for each of us in our lives. It's a good reminder that we should always remember Him and as we do this, we will have His Spirit to be with us.
It is a real pattern that we need to avoid. In chapter 17 it says, 45 Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God.
DeleteDo we ignore the commands of God until we start to receive the negative results, then do better until we are comfortable, then repeat? That has been a constant theme that has really stood out to me from Laman and Lemuel.
Nephi's mode of avoiding this seems to be remembering what The Lord has done. He compares them to ancient Israel, reminds them they've seen an angel, etc. Reflecting on the goodness of God can help us have a desire to show him our love through obedience.
For nephi it seems that he allows the hardships too strengthen his faith and to praise God. For Laman and Lemuel it seems to be used to humble them...and many are brought on by their sin. I think it shows Gods loving character that he chastens then through trial but only to bring them to repentance, he continually gives them opportunities to recognize his power but sadly they continue to forget.
ReplyDeleteGood question, one that I have pondered a lot myself! My best answer would be that it's different for everyone. I do think there are lessons to be learned through hardships that cannot be learned any other way & they are specific to the person.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that stuck out to me is the lack of respect/reverence that Laman & Lemuel & their families (obviously based off of their examples). First, it explains how they were dancing around and getting a party on when it wasn't appropriate. Then, they didn't have respect for the children and others that pleaded with them to loose the bands they used of Nephi. It took an awful storm that scared them to pause and have some reverence for the power of the Lord. This shows me that when we are only concerned about our level of comfort and entertainment then we really aren't getting much out of life. We aren't living with purpose or direction, we're just living for ourselves.
Hope that makes sense!
I agree. Life is much more purposeful and enjoyable when we are helping others.
DeleteMan, L&L have a really hard time remembering. But at the same time, I think it is also pride. They don't want to admit they need to change or that their attitudes need to change. I think this is a big reason why we are given hardships. It allows us to be put in a situation where we can grow and change the way God wants us to--of He let us figure it out without trials we would never get where we need to be.
ReplyDeleteGreat insight. It reminds me of one of my.all time favorite stories, the parable of the currant bush.
Deletehttps://www.lds.org/new-era/1973/01/the-currant-bush?lang=eng
Thank you for sharing this talk! I just linked it on the blog for a bonus talk.
DeleteHow hard to you think it would be for Nephi and their families to warp straight from a rich life style in Jerusalem, where they had plenty of luxuries (based of Laban wanting their "great" possessions) into a world with absolutely no civilization. Nothing was there except what they made with it. Maybe they needed to learn how to fashion bows, or molten tools, or wander the wilderness in tents... you think that any of us would survive that crash course with a little help? Maybe the trials we get sometimes are actually there to help us later, not always but I think this is sometimes the case. Would Nephi have had the faith to ask the Lord where to find food, if he hadn't already found Laban, or build house and cities and temples if they hadn't built a ship.
ReplyDeleteif I was to go on a boat I would want someone that had sailed through rough seas to be the captain, not someone that just started. The way we gain this experience is going through the storms.
Most importantly about these trials is always Nephi ' reactions. He followed the Spirit to get the plates, he asked where to go, or how to do, he didn't complain,he turned to the Lord for help, and He in turn blessed him in the trials to learn and grow and become better. That is the best way to learn from trials, go through them with the Lord.
I was reminded tonight that one person, or two in Nephi's case, can affect the happiness of a family. My circumstances are different than Nephi and his family..they struggled with wayward children/siblings. I have a son with autism and I can attest that one child can affect the happiness of one family! He has the ability to brighten our home into rays of sunshine, or create overwhelming amounts of chaos and frustration. He colored my leather couches with permanent marker today...it's all good I am totally over it. 😉 I was reminded in verse 19 that like young Joseph and Jacob, I too, have other children in my home who "also being young, having need of much nourishment." While there is one child who can take up much of our physical, spiritual, and emotional reserves we need to be conciencious that our other children need to be nourished. Our children are so in tune and "are grieved because of the afflictions of their mother." My children know and can sense when I am having a hard day, week, month, year! Our homes struggles when I let my reserves get depleted. I admire Nephi. He "praises Him all the day long" and "does not murmur against The Lord because of mine affliction."
ReplyDeleteLove this. I teach preschool and I need to remember to give my really good kids more attention.
DeleteSometimes we have to experience the "storms" in our life so we can appreciate the calm. The Book of Mormon isn’t the story of a perfect gospel family, they are just like us. When I think of all the hardships Nephi experienced with his brothers, the persecution, going back to get the records and on and on, he is a great example to me of remaining faithful and learning and growing from our challenges and I remind myself...I can do this, these things are for my good. Can you imagine how Sariah must have felt to have an account of her family’s problems published among "all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples.” Kind of makes my little family issues not seem like such a big deal and comfort as well that if Nephi can get through these hardships then I can keep pressing on too.
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