January 30th Reading Assignment
Daily Reading Question
In verse 23 it talks about likening the scriptures. How have you likened or applied the scriptures in your own life?
Good Talk
Bonus Talk
In verse 23 it talks about likening the scriptures. How have you likened or applied the scriptures in your own life?
Good Talk
Bonus Talk
I was listening to a talk by Jean A. Stevens. She was taking about.being protected by covenants and I had the thought, 'How have I blessed' it turned 'inside out' (a phrase from the previous talk) a feeling I've had to fight and that is, 'I must be doing something wrong or be unworthy of a husband.' The new thought was, 'i doing right to have been protected from multiple bad suitors. I was clearly had a prayer answered about whether guy I was dating d porn on his computer and I barely found it. And believe it or not it was still forth hard to stop dating him...it took a lot of study and prayer. I actually don't like this story because there are many wonderful righteous people caught in bad marriages, but that is kind of.the point it. We can look at what we do have and thank Heavenly Father and be motivated to obedience. Or, we look at what we don't have and lose hope. In other words murmur like L&L I we often talk about how obedient Nephi was ...I'be noticed this time around how grateful he was and I think that is why he had the strength to be obedient.
ReplyDeleteCan I just say that another way. If we want to be more obedient we MUST be more grateful. Thanks Nephi!
ReplyDeleteI love this quote by Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon was written for us today. God is the author of the book. It is a record of a fallen people, compiled by inspired men for our blessing. Those people never had the book—it was meant for us. Mormon, the ancient prophet after whom the book is named, abridged centuries of records. God, who knows the end from the beginning, told him what to include in his abridgment that we would need for our day” This makes me realize the importance of likening the scriptures unto my life. I know when I really try to apply what I am learning into my own life it helps so much. In our recent reading I have really tried to see where my attitude and obedience level is at. It has been really helpful to see the examples of Nephi and also Laman and Lemuel and see how I can improve.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, let me say that for me personally, this blog has helped me "liken the scriptures" to my life better than I ever have before. Thank you so much for doing this and for helping us understand, appreciated, and apply this book in our lives.
ReplyDeleteI like how Nephi says in V19 that he writes these things to help persuade us to remember Christ and in V23 that we may believe in Him. I learned the following today:
1. Christ wants us to believe in Him (faith), and to remember Him.
2. When we do this, we are promised that we will always have His Spirit with us.
3. When we have the Spirit with us, we choose the right.
4. If we continue to choose the right, we'll be able to return and live with Him forever.
Our loving Heavenly Father simply wants His kids (us) to return to him. So He's provided a simple formula for us to do that. He knows if we always remember Him, and his perfect Son, it will lead us back to Him.
Agreed Maury. I started to read the bible during Christmas time recognizing that I wanted a better relationship with God and stumbled upon this on instagram. Having "assignments"each day has helped me keep up on the reading and reflect on the questions and answers. We should do the bible next year!
DeleteNephi tells us the purpose of the things he has written--”that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer” (vs. 18). He tells the purpose of reading the scriptures to his family--”that they might know concerning the doings of the Lord in other lands, among people of old.”(vs. 22) The Lord reminds us over and over that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We come to know Him as we read of His PAST doings and His FUTURE doings in the scriptures--it helps us recognize and trust in the things He is doing TODAY and everyday in our own lives--guiding, succoring, blessing, healing, cleansing, changing, strengthening, nourishing, delivering and saving us as we repent, come unto Him, and strive to keep our covenants with Him. Finally in vs. 24 Nephi says, “Hear ye the words of the prophet… which were written unto all the house of Israel, and liken them unto yourselves, that ye may have hope....” As we hear, read, and liken the scriptures unto ourselves we develop faith in Jesus Christ and have a hope in Him that will grow brighter and brighter until the perfect day.
ReplyDelete1. In verse 9 and 10 I was reminded of Christ's attributes: "he suffereth it" and "yieldeth himself."
ReplyDelete2. The phrase "turn their hearts aside" appeared a few times in our reading...it is only when we willingly yield ourselves to Him that He will remember the covenants He has made with our fathers.
3. In verse 18 we are reminded that the record was written to help us remember the Savior.This verse reminded me of a quote I read several years ago...thought I would share...(Elder Bednar, Ricks College, January 1998 Devotional)
"A covenant is an agreement between God and his children here upon the earth. God sets the conditions of the covenant, and there are promised blessings. As we are obedient to the conditions of the covenant, we receive the promised blessings. Verse 77 in Section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants outlines the three specific covenants we make at the time we enter the waters of baptism. We hear this prayer and are reminded of the covenants each Sunday as we partake of the emblems of the sacrament.
O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen. (D&C 20:77, emphasis added)
The three conditions are that we (1) take upon us the name of Christ, (2) always remember him, and (3) keep the commandments. The promised blessing is that we will always have his Spirit to be with us.
I want to draw your attention to the second covenantal obligation to "always remember him." I do not know of a better way to always remember him than to daily study the scriptures. That covenant is not an abstract notion. It can be honored in meaningful, personal prayer every morning and night and in diligent study of the scriptures.
When I served as a stake president and interviewed literally hundreds of members of the Church, I frequently would ask, "Do you remember and keep the covenants you have made?" I do not recall many people answering no. When I would inquire further and ask about their scripture study, some would say, "I do not have time." Then I would ask about their personal prayers, and the answer often was, "I am not as consistent as I should be." On some occasions I would then inquire, "Do you, in fact, keep the covenant to always remember Him?"
The covenants we make in the waters of baptism are a commitment to always remember him, in part through meaningful prayer and diligent study of the scriptures."
It struck me as I read today that the fact that Nephi's faith and perspective are strengthened is because he likens the scriptures so often. Whether it is talking to his brothers or simply recording his own thoughts, he does it a lot. He allows the scriptures to change him. I feel I get the same blessings as I earnestly seek to learn and apply principles of daily scripture study.
ReplyDeleteGood points Suzanne. I need to keep this in mind. Thanks!
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