I'm reading 1st Nephi chapter 17 today. This chapter is about Nephi and his family traveling through the wilderness and Nephi being inspired to build a boat. I'm focusing on the first part of the chapter today.
It amazes me how he mentioned a couple of times how they "bore many afflictions". I can't imagine wandering through the wilderness. Especially back in that time frame where there was no technology at all, no camping gear to speak of, nothing like what we have now to take with us when we "rough it". I just can't fathom what it was like for them to have to have left behind almost everything they owned and to go completely out of their comfort zone. And on top of that, the women were all pregnant. I've never been pregnant, but I can tell that being in the heat is uncomfortable, and you get tired really easily! I can't imagine being pregnant and wandering through the wilderness, and then on top of that, giving birth out there in the middle of nowhere.
But through all of those trials and tribulations, they kept the faith. They continued to rely on Heavenly Father and knew that he had a plan for them, and that this wilderness part was only temporary.
Reading this part of the chapter taught me 2 things. 1. Comparing to their trials, mine are not that huge. It could have been a lot worse! 2. The Lord is always guiding us as long as we have faith. And that means he'll take us through our own "wilderness" in order for us to get to our own promised land. He hasn't forgotten us, and he has it all planned out. But we need to go through something hard to really appreciate the end result.
Friday, July 29, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Day 128
Today I read Romans chapter 6. I really like Romans. Every chapter I read I feel is full of doctrine. I'm sure every chapter in the scriptures is, but at least in Romans it's easier for me to understand.
This chapter talked about baptism, and how symbolic it is. Not only is it symbolic of our sins being washed away, it's symbolic of Christ's death and resurrection. We are "buried" in the water and then "rise" again, just like Christ did.
"5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection."
I really like that verse because it's telling us that if we are patterning our lives after Christ's, then we will be like him. Meaning we will have eternal life. We will be resurrected. It has been promised to us.
This chapter talked about baptism, and how symbolic it is. Not only is it symbolic of our sins being washed away, it's symbolic of Christ's death and resurrection. We are "buried" in the water and then "rise" again, just like Christ did.
"5. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection."
I really like that verse because it's telling us that if we are patterning our lives after Christ's, then we will be like him. Meaning we will have eternal life. We will be resurrected. It has been promised to us.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Day 127
Today I read 2nd Nephi chapter 8. Nephi is quoting Isaiah in this chapter, and it's a prophecy about the last days. What mainly stood out to me are verses 12 and 13.-
"12 I am he; yea, I am he that comforteth you. Behold, who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of man, who shall die, and of the son of man, who shall be made like unto grass?
13 And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth, and hast feared continually every day, because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? And where is the fury of the oppressor?"
I feel like the Lord says over and over again that we should not fear man above him. We should not take into account too seriously what others think of us, or what we think others think of us. We need to worry about how we are living our lives according to God's commandments and wonder if he thinks we are doing a good enough job of honoring his name. It's so easy to get caught up in what others think of us, but if we are focusing on Christ and what he thinks of us, we can have the light and strength within us to not worry about others judging us.
"12 I am he; yea, I am he that comforteth you. Behold, who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of man, who shall die, and of the son of man, who shall be made like unto grass?
13 And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth, and hast feared continually every day, because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? And where is the fury of the oppressor?"
I feel like the Lord says over and over again that we should not fear man above him. We should not take into account too seriously what others think of us, or what we think others think of us. We need to worry about how we are living our lives according to God's commandments and wonder if he thinks we are doing a good enough job of honoring his name. It's so easy to get caught up in what others think of us, but if we are focusing on Christ and what he thinks of us, we can have the light and strength within us to not worry about others judging us.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Day 126
I read a talk by Elder Packer about standing on Zion's Hill. He gave a detailed history of how the bible was compiled together, and the men who risked their lives to do so ended up being killed on behalf of what they did.
He also talked about how it took 12 years and over 600 individuals to cross reference our books of scripture we have today. It was a task that at the beginning seemed impossible and overwhelming, but they were guided by the spirit and were able to, 12 years later, complete the indexes so that today, we can turn to the back of our scriptures and find references to any topic.
It's a miracle, if you think about it. And that's what I love about this gospel. Many, many miracles happened in order to bring forth this gospel. How can it not be true? It's like Joshua prophesied: This church is like a stone that continues to roll down a hill and cannot be stopped. We are the ones that continue to bring it forward today. We are the ones who experience miracles in our own lives. We are the ones who use these scriptures to gain our own testimonies and pass them on to our posterity. We all have the responsiblity of continuing to bring this church forth.
He also talked about how it took 12 years and over 600 individuals to cross reference our books of scripture we have today. It was a task that at the beginning seemed impossible and overwhelming, but they were guided by the spirit and were able to, 12 years later, complete the indexes so that today, we can turn to the back of our scriptures and find references to any topic.
It's a miracle, if you think about it. And that's what I love about this gospel. Many, many miracles happened in order to bring forth this gospel. How can it not be true? It's like Joshua prophesied: This church is like a stone that continues to roll down a hill and cannot be stopped. We are the ones that continue to bring it forward today. We are the ones who experience miracles in our own lives. We are the ones who use these scriptures to gain our own testimonies and pass them on to our posterity. We all have the responsiblity of continuing to bring this church forth.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Day 125
Tonight I read the first chapter of Colossians. This was a powerful chapter to me. The apostle Paul has an amazing testimony and I felt like I highlighted most of the verses in this chapter.
I don't know if I can focus on one thing I learned the most out of this chapter. I loved how he testified how the gospel first needs to be fruitful in ourselves before we can teach others and help the church be fruitful. How can we testify of faith if we haven't used it and have our own personal testimony of it?
I also love how he mentions we have redemption through Christ's blood. We are blessed to have eternal life because Christ gave up his life. It's a concept that I will forever be grateful for and remember and do my best to honor by living the way I need to.
I have a testimony of this gospel, and reading the scriptures every day really is helping my testimony strengthen.
I don't know if I can focus on one thing I learned the most out of this chapter. I loved how he testified how the gospel first needs to be fruitful in ourselves before we can teach others and help the church be fruitful. How can we testify of faith if we haven't used it and have our own personal testimony of it?
I also love how he mentions we have redemption through Christ's blood. We are blessed to have eternal life because Christ gave up his life. It's a concept that I will forever be grateful for and remember and do my best to honor by living the way I need to.
I have a testimony of this gospel, and reading the scriptures every day really is helping my testimony strengthen.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Day 124
I read a short article by Elder Packer today. It was directed to children. The language he used was simple, and the concepts were simple, and I loved it. To me it showed how simple this gospel can be that even little children can understand it. This gospel is for everyone. We of course continue to learn as we grow, but even at the youngest age we can begin to learn and love the teachings of this true church.
Heavenly Father loves us so much that he sacrificed his Son for us. That is so important to know that we learn it at a young age. It needs to stick with us so that we can remember that even when times are tough, we can still hold onto the Atonement and the love of our Heavenly Father.
Heavenly Father loves us so much that he sacrificed his Son for us. That is so important to know that we learn it at a young age. It needs to stick with us so that we can remember that even when times are tough, we can still hold onto the Atonement and the love of our Heavenly Father.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Day 123
Roman's chapter 5 is what I read today. Verses 3-5 were what really stood out to me.
"3. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4. And patience, experience; and experience, hope;
5. And hope maketh not ahsamed: because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
I love how those verses explain what we will experience from a trial if we go about it with faith. We will face opposition, but trials give us patience (whether we like it or not!), and we then gain experience from that trial and learn from it, and then after realizing what we've experienced, we can have hope that things will work out, and also when another trial comes along, we can hope to gain good experiences from it just like we did the last one.
It just testifies to me again about how Heavenly Father knows how everything works. And we can too as long as we have faith in Him all along.
"3. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4. And patience, experience; and experience, hope;
5. And hope maketh not ahsamed: because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
I love how those verses explain what we will experience from a trial if we go about it with faith. We will face opposition, but trials give us patience (whether we like it or not!), and we then gain experience from that trial and learn from it, and then after realizing what we've experienced, we can have hope that things will work out, and also when another trial comes along, we can hope to gain good experiences from it just like we did the last one.
It just testifies to me again about how Heavenly Father knows how everything works. And we can too as long as we have faith in Him all along.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Day 122
This week I'm focusing on talks by Elder Packer. Today I read an article he wrote about the sacredness and importance of bodies. He made one really profound point that really stood out to me: Your body is the instrument of your mind and the foundation of your character. That really struck me because I had never really thought about my body that way. But it is so true! This is the one and only body I'm blessed with on this earth. If I choose to abuse it, what does that say about me as a person? What is that telling Heavenly Father? He created this amazing body for me to use every day, to help me to return to him. If I ignore that gift and complain about it, how would that make Him feel?
I am so grateful for my body and all that it does for me. And I hope to continue to take good care of it to show Heavenly Father how grateful I am for this gift he's given me.
I am so grateful for my body and all that it does for me. And I hope to continue to take good care of it to show Heavenly Father how grateful I am for this gift he's given me.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Day 121
2 Corinthians chapter 1 is a great chapter! I was constantly underlining as I read it today. Maybe it was just full of what I needed to hear today. :) But I learned a lot about trusting in the Lord. At the end of verse where Paul writes, ". . that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead."
I really liked that for some reason. So many times I get caught up in my own life and think that I have to do everything and that everything is my responsiblity. And it is, in a way, but I can't do everything alone. Heavely Father sent me down to this earth to yes, grow and learn and take responsibility, but to also exercise faith and rely on him to help me through. Trusting in men will only lead to frustration. Trusting in God will lead to peace.
I need to be better at remembering that.
I really liked that for some reason. So many times I get caught up in my own life and think that I have to do everything and that everything is my responsiblity. And it is, in a way, but I can't do everything alone. Heavely Father sent me down to this earth to yes, grow and learn and take responsibility, but to also exercise faith and rely on him to help me through. Trusting in men will only lead to frustration. Trusting in God will lead to peace.
I need to be better at remembering that.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Day 120
I read an interview with Elder Nelson today. He talked about the job an apostle has to do and how each of us can find ways to share the gospel. He mentioned how the word apostle means "to go forth", and that they are called to reach out in the world to help the church grow. For 12 men, that is a very demanding calling. No wonder they are always so busy all the time!
But he also talked about how he has come to rely on the Savior to help make his burden light. We are taught to "yoke" up with the Savior, so that we aren't carrying our own heavy burden. We have someone to help make it lighter. That is what the Savior wants to do. He wants to help us.
But he also talked about how he has come to rely on the Savior to help make his burden light. We are taught to "yoke" up with the Savior, so that we aren't carrying our own heavy burden. We have someone to help make it lighter. That is what the Savior wants to do. He wants to help us.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Day 119
Today I read Jeremiah chapter 29. It was an interesting chapter. Jeremiah told the Jews that they needed to prepare to be held in captivity for the next 70 years. 70 years! The Lord knew this would happen and was telling the people to prepare for it. I can't imagine being told that I would be under someone else for that long. What would I do? How would I find the good in that? Luckily the Lord continued to give them advice on how to be happy and ok during those years.
5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant agardens, and eat the fruit of them;
5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant agardens, and eat the fruit of them;
6 Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.
7 And seek the apeace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.
10 ¶For thus saith the Lord, That after aseventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and bperform my good word toward you, in causing you to creturn to this place.
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected aend.
14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will agather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
I love how Heavenly Father promises them that he will rescue them. And he has promised us the same thing. Are we not, in a way, in captivity right now? We are in this world with temptations and heartache all the time. But he has promised that if we continue to pray to him and love him and trust him, he will rescue us, and we will be able to be with him again.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Day 118
I finished reading Moses chapter 7 today. I had been splitting it up because there was a lot to digest for me. I read verses 51-end today. These verses were all about the last days.
What I loved the most about these verses was reading the exchanges between Heavenly Father and Enoch. It seemed like a normal conversation between dad and son, even though they were talking about heavy things. But don't we have heavy conversations sometimes with our parents? Enoch seemed to have so many concerns about the last days and what Heavenly Father was going to be able to do to comfort his children, and Heavely Father always had an answer.
Heavely Father has a plan, and knows what he is doing, even when our lives seem chaotic and we don't know what to expect. It's so comforting to know that he knows everything. And we have the ability and blessing of being able to trust him. And as soon as we do, everything goes so much smoother.
What I loved the most about these verses was reading the exchanges between Heavenly Father and Enoch. It seemed like a normal conversation between dad and son, even though they were talking about heavy things. But don't we have heavy conversations sometimes with our parents? Enoch seemed to have so many concerns about the last days and what Heavenly Father was going to be able to do to comfort his children, and Heavely Father always had an answer.
Heavely Father has a plan, and knows what he is doing, even when our lives seem chaotic and we don't know what to expect. It's so comforting to know that he knows everything. And we have the ability and blessing of being able to trust him. And as soon as we do, everything goes so much smoother.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Day 117
I read a short article by Elder Nelson on prayer this morning. He mentioned one thing that I really liked-prayer is a way of showing our love for God.
I had never thought of it that way before. Yes, I do pray to Heavenly Father because I love him, but for some reason I never thought of it as a way to really show love to him. But I'm doing what he asks me to do by praying, so I am showing him I love him I guess! To most others, that probably is a "duh, Tara" moment, but for some reason it really stood out to me today.
I have a testimony of prayer and know that it is the key communication to Heavenly Father. I know that he hears and answers my prayers.
I had never thought of it that way before. Yes, I do pray to Heavenly Father because I love him, but for some reason I never thought of it as a way to really show love to him. But I'm doing what he asks me to do by praying, so I am showing him I love him I guess! To most others, that probably is a "duh, Tara" moment, but for some reason it really stood out to me today.
I have a testimony of prayer and know that it is the key communication to Heavenly Father. I know that he hears and answers my prayers.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Day 116
I read a talk today by Elder Nelson about remembering and honoring our roots. It's a topic I don't think I pay nearly enough attention to. My ancestors died and sacrificed many things to bring this gospel forth because they believed in it. How can I turn my back on those who gave so much just because I don't want to do everything the church teaches? It's foolish I tell you, foolish.
It was a great talk. Elder Nelson repeatedly said that we cannot understand the gospel unless we understand the roots of the church. We need to know where this church came from, and the core meaning of it in order to truly have a testimony.
I'm glad I read that talk today, and I hope I can keep my pioneer heritage alive by continuing my life in living this gospel every day.
It was a great talk. Elder Nelson repeatedly said that we cannot understand the gospel unless we understand the roots of the church. We need to know where this church came from, and the core meaning of it in order to truly have a testimony.
I'm glad I read that talk today, and I hope I can keep my pioneer heritage alive by continuing my life in living this gospel every day.
Day 115
I read a great passage last night, but it was too late and I was too tired to get up and blog about it, so I'm doing it now. I read part of Moses chapter 7 last night and there were a few scriptures that really struck me deep. Enoch was shown a vision of the last days and how Satan would have such a strong hold on the world, but even through that, he could still see angels descending and people having the spirit with them.
While Heavenly Father was showing him all this, he (Heavenly Father) started to weep. Enoch then asked why Heavenly Father would cry. Here's Enoch's questions:
Those verses stood out so strongly to me for some reason. To me it testified that Heavenly Father, even in all his perfect glory, really does want the best for me, for everyone. We are his children! He loves us like a father loves any child of his. He wants to see us grow up and be the best we can, just like our earthly fathers do. It was really touching to read this, and I can't imagine how sad it must be for Heavenly Father to see his children fight and kill and do mean and deceiving things to each other. It must be heart breaking.
But it confirmed to me again that Heavenly Father knows me personally, and is sad when I'm sad and happy when I'm happy and wants the best for me, and he knows I can have the best if I follow his words and guidance.
While Heavenly Father was showing him all this, he (Heavenly Father) started to weep. Enoch then asked why Heavenly Father would cry. Here's Enoch's questions:
29And Enoch said unto the Lord: How is it that thou canstaweep, seeing thou art holy, and from all eternity to all eternity?
30And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of aearths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of thy bcreations; and thy curtains are stretched out still; and yet thou art there, and thy bosom is there; and also thou art just; thou art merciful and kind forever;
31And thou hast taken aZion to thine own bosom, from all thy creations, from all eternity to all eternity; and naught but peace,bjustice, and truth is the habitation of thy throne; and mercy shall go before thy face and have no end; how is it thou canst cweep?
Heavenly Father then gave this answer:
Those verses stood out so strongly to me for some reason. To me it testified that Heavenly Father, even in all his perfect glory, really does want the best for me, for everyone. We are his children! He loves us like a father loves any child of his. He wants to see us grow up and be the best we can, just like our earthly fathers do. It was really touching to read this, and I can't imagine how sad it must be for Heavenly Father to see his children fight and kill and do mean and deceiving things to each other. It must be heart breaking.
But it confirmed to me again that Heavenly Father knows me personally, and is sad when I'm sad and happy when I'm happy and wants the best for me, and he knows I can have the best if I follow his words and guidance.
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