3 Questions

Here's the plan:

September 1st. I've been studying a few random scriptural topics the last few weeks since I finished The Book of Mormon. I reread Sister Julie Beck's talk from last Women's Conference (Fantastic!). I'm anxious to again pick up with The Book of Mormon cover to cover so I'm taking her challenge- Read it from cover to cover while searching out 3 questions:

1. Who Am I?

2. What are my responsibilities in the house of Israel?

3. How do I fulfill those responsibilities?

I've noticed that many blog authors have 'give aways' of things they love. I love The Book of Mormon.  So that's going to be my give away. When I'm all finished (in a month or two or three), when the book is full of my notes and thoughts, I'll give it away. I don't know if anyone will want it with all my scribbling, but time will tell. 

...and even if I can't give it away, I'm excited for me.

And for those of you who have never read it, you don't have to wait that long. Give me a call and I'll get you a copy asap and you can read it with me. 

Famous last words

*And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen.

So perhaps this would only be considered famous to a select demographic, but everytime I read this, I get so excited. Of all the people I want to meet in life, Moroni is high up in my top 10. (Does anybody else have a top 10?) What an amazing life-before and after.

I love the personal insights he gives of his own life. Some of them just make me anxious to read more. For example:

An epistle of my father Mormon, written to me, Moroni; and it was written unto me soon after my calling to the ministry. And on this wise did he write unto me, saying:

Think about it. He is completely alone. The only people around want to kill him and anyone like him. He saw his entire civilization self destruct. His father was killed and any other family/friends he may have had. He has the incredible, heavy responsibility to care for and protect this sacred record and there are definitely forces that oppose that charge. Certainly he had the help and companionship of the Holy Ghost, and he had the writings of the prophets for his friends. And he has us. Us.

He knows us. He's seen us. He cares about us. He's worried about us. And so he writes to us. And this is what he shares. "This is a letter from my Dad that he wrote to me. He wrote it soon after I was called. This is what he said."

A letter from his dad. Probably one he read over and over again. It was certainly sacred to him. And he wants us to have it, too. A voice from the dust. More than any other author in The Book of Mormon-or any other book-when I read his words I have the impression that I'm reading letters from my friend, and I can't wait to shake his hand. 

'Til we meet again!

murmur, murmur, murmur

I love all the songs in the primary children's song book, but one of the kids' favorites is Nephi's Courage. (Do you think it's because of the hand motions?) And why not? It's a great story! What kid can't relate to being teased for wanting to do the right thing or has a big task ahead of them that they've never done before? What young boy or girl (grown ups, too) out there doesn't need more courage to do the hard things? We want heros that inspire us.

Certainly Nephi was courageous, but even more than courage, Nephi possessed a willing heart. Perhaps those two qualities can't thrive without the other. Reflecting over the last two years and rereading the passages of 1 and 2 Nephi again and again, I'm struck by how much attitude, not aptitude or opportunity, make the difference in a successful and happy 'journey'.

When I read 1 Nephi 3:5 & 6, it seems to me that Lehi is sad his older sons don't recognize his relationship with the Lord and his role as a prophet. They 'murmur' about the difficulty of the assignment. (Note that Lehi doesn't discount it is a challenging requirement.) Then, without any recorded comment from Nephi, Lehi knows Nephi will go without murmuring. For that willingness, Lehi responds, "go...and thou shalt be favored of the Lord..." It's only after these statements that we receive Nephi's inspiring words, "I will go and do..." How did Lehi know Nephi would respond positively? Can I think of specific responses I've made that put me in either the category of the 'doers' or the 'murmurers'? What possibilities opened up to Nephi due to his willing heart?

When Mark talks about Nephi, he often speaks of 1 Nephi 3:7 "I will go and do" and 2 Nephi 33:15 "I must obey" as the book ends of Nephi's life. I love that visual. I feel like I'm doing OK with the first end, now I only have to finish strong-and isn't the finish the most important part and the most difficult? So what do we do to maintain or even develop a willing heart?

Nephi knew the Lord would prepare a way-how? Through the same pattern that any principle becomes knowledge; through his own experiences and the experiences of others as taught by prophets-scriptures. [Alma 32, Bible Dictionary 'faith' and John 7:17-a pattern of persistent action and obedience.] Nephi had developed a relationship with God that Laman and Lemuel hadn't despite being taught by the same parent. (1 Nephi 2:12) Reflecting on the past and learning from it is a big part of that. We don't just read the scriptures, we apply those principles, or precepts, to our life. One of my favorite phrases in the scriptures is, "O remember, remember". And what is it that we're meant to remember?

'What great things the Lord has done for the children of men'. Each of those accounts deal with Him freeing them from bondage, healing them, guiding them, and being merciful to them-all shadows or types of the Atonement. To have a willing heart, we must come to know the Savior-who He is and why He is.

"As your understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ grows, your desire to share the gospel [and obey any of God's commandments with a willing heart] will increase. You will feel, as Lehi did, the 'great importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth.' " (PMG pg 2) Increasing our understanding of the Atonement is a topic for another day, but I'll leave with one final thought. When we take the Sacrament, we do it in 'remembrance' and as a 'wittness' that we are willing, that we will remember, and that we will obey.