Alma 47-49
War talk. Lamanites are stirred up to war, meanwhile, Moroni has been rebuilding and strengthening the cities. Finding the weakest spots and fortifying and strengthening them so when the Lamanites come to battle, they are terrified and fear for their lives.
While reading this past year, I've been more in tune with my strengths and weaknesses, been able to see clearer. I know where my weak spots are and I'm working on strengthening them.
Alma 46:12 And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it-In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children-and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.
*Title of Liberty! It's short, sweet, and to the point. We must always defend our God, our religion, our freedom, our families at any and all cost. We must stand up for what we believe in. And we must be willing to give all so we remain true and faithful. I believe that if we pray daily for these things, to be strengthened in these categories, we will be. :)
Alma 43, battle. The Lamanites come to war against the Nephites. But they end up retreating to the wilderness. Moroni sends his spies to see where they're going, but he also sends messengers to Alma, who receives revelation and prophecy about the plan of the Lamanites. Moroni is a man of faith and a man of action. He doesn't just send messengers, he does something to help himself and his armies. He doesn't just sit around waiting for Alma to reveal the plan, he acts on his faith.
The Holy Ghost can and will guide us in EVERY aspect of our lives, but we have to make a decision first. Decide, then pray.
Alma 41:10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.
11:..they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.
*I keep seeing a pattern, and it was spoken in the Women's Conference tonight. Happiness. Joy. Men are that they might have JOY. We are designed BY GOD to have happiness. We are created in His image. God is happiness! Oh this makes me smile. I love this.
Alma 40:12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.
23 The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.
*These verses give me so much peace & comfort, both for myself & for my loved ones have passed on.
Alma 37:46 O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.
*Just because the way is easy, doesn't mean we can take it easy. We still need to exercise our faith, study, learn, teach, pray. I've been working on praying out loud more and often, to help ease the tension and stubbornness between the boys and I. Today was a good day, but by lunch Korbin was all out of prayers. Tomorrow...
Alma 34-36
One scripture in particular, stuck out for me right now :
36:27 And I have been supported under trials and troubles of every kind, yea, and in all manner of afflictions;... yea, and I do put my trust in him, and he will still deliver me.
*I've come to realize I need to strengthen my prayers. And pray more. I need to cry unto Him in all things, and at all times. I need to show my boys the power of prayer. I need them to see the comfort and peace that prayer can bring. I keep worrying about things down the road, and I need to give my boys all the tools possible to handle everything and anything.
Alma 32:27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
*I love this one. I love how it starts with just a particle, just a desire to believe. It is the simplest instructions, the beginner's guide. And it's not about believing everything all at once, it about opening your heart to receive the words. I never thought of it this way.
I have a desire to feel the Spirit and be taught by the Prophet and leaders during conference. I need to exercise faith and prepare myself to receive His Spirit.
Alma 30:2...but it came to pass after they had buried their dead, and also after the days of fasting, and mourning, and prayer, ...there began to be continual peace throughout all the land.
*I can't help but think of Ruth (my MIL who passed away in May) this week and all the sadness the family holds. I read this and instantly felt peace. I know it'll take time (months maybe years) but we will again have peace after the passing of a loved one.
Alma 27:27...And they were also distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men...
Zeal = passion love fire devotion energy
*I think sometimes I lose my zeal and just trudge thru my responsibilities. But I need to focus more on this (29:9) ...but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.
*Maybe my going to church when my boys are fussy and my head hurts will make someone smile. Maybe my comment will touch their heart. Maybe I'll be able to console a crying child or mother. I pray to be zealous.
Catch up day.
Alma 26:17 Who could have supposed that our God would have been so merciful as to have snatched us from our awful, sinful, and polluted state?
*I have always felt a connection to Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah. I love their conversion story. I feel a connection because, even tho there wasn't a shaking of the earth or an Angel, I feel like their story is my story. (I was not out to destroy anything tho.)
There are not words to describe how I feel. Every word I think of seems so weak and plain. Ammon says it best (end of 16) Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel.
Alma 26:6 Yea, YOU shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall YOU be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh YOU shall be gathered together in YOUR place, that the storm cannot penetrate to YOU; yea, neither shall YOU be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry YOU.
7 But behold, YOU are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and YOU are his; and he will raise YOU up at the last day.
*Write this down. Remember it. Study it. YOU ARE HIS! YOU are in His hands, He knows where you are, what you need, He knows your heart. He knows YOU!
Alma 22:15-18
Aaron teaches Lamoni about repentance, and Lamoni is praying to God, saying he would give away all his sins to know God. He believes there is a God because Aaron told him.
*I've leaned on quite a few testimonies over the years, and I can proudly say now, that I have found my own. The foundation was built with the aid of others, but I think everyone's is. It is thru the strength of others that we find our own. I'm grateful for the strong testimonies of my family and friends. Thank you for sharing with me. I love you.
Alma 19:31...as many as heard his words believed, and were converted unto the Lord. 32 But there were many among them who would not hear his words.
*How many times did Laman and Lemuel hear the words with their ears but not their hearts? When we hear His words, we need to make sure our hearts are open that we may hear. Most Sunday's I go just to get thru it, but I'm going to try and go prepared to feel the Spirit and hear what He would have me hear.
Alma 17:2...yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently... 3. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation...
*I love this. These are the simple basics that we learn as children. Read, pray, fast. I love love LOVE it. And I've noticed how quick I am to lose focus on the simple basics. I'm slowly getting back to them as I'm starting to teach the boys.
Alma 14:10-11 Adversity
There are so many hard things in life - and each person's difficulty and struggle is different than the next. I try to be positive about my life and to see where I can lose myself by helping others. I've noticed that I've crossed paths with people who are helped and lifted by my experiences.
Alma 13:2-4 (being foreordained)
*I know I was saved for this particular time, I wouldn't have survived if I had been born in an earlier time. But it makes me smile when I hear people that say my generation is a chosen one, that we have been saved for the last days because of our strength. I smile because now, as a mom, I think "Dang! How much stronger than me are my kids?"
*Like Alma, I think, I hope, I pray: Would to God that (the Second Coming) might be in my day; but let it come sooner or later, in it I will rejoice. Alma 13:25
Elder Nielsen. Waiting for the prodigal. 4/15
His instruction to those who have 10 pieces of silver and lose one is to search until you find it.
After all we can do, we love that person with all our hearts and we watch, we pray, and we wait for the Lord's hand to be revealed.
All of us fall short of the glory of the Father. All of us need the Savior's Atonement to heal us. All of us are lost and need to be found.
*I enjoyed this talk, and rereading it was amazing. My A-ha moment was waiting for the Lord's hand to be revealed. Our timelines are often mortal, His is eternal. It's His plan, His time.
Alma 11:42-44 ...The spirit and the body shall be reunited again in its perfect form...and even there shall not be so much as a hair of their heads that is lost; but every thing shall be restored to its perfect frame...
*I absolutely love these scriptures. For me personally, it hold so much hope and joy for the resurrection. I absolutely cannot wait for the time when I will be perfected in Him and standing in front of Him. Right now, my father in law is holding tight to this scripture because of the promise it holds : he'll see his beautiful and perfected wife again. So much hope. Such a promise.
Alma 7:12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the band's of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according g to the flesh, that he may know how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
To succor means to "run to." I testify that in my fears and in my infirmities the Savior has surely run to me. I will never be able to thank Him enough for such personal kindness and such loving care. -Elder Holland, 10/97 He hath filled the hungry with good things.
*Beautiful. That He may know how to RUN TO His people. One of our duties, as Saints, is to succor (RUN TO) His children to help them. I never thought of it like that, but I'll never stop.
Alma 5:26 And now behold, I say unto you, my breathren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?
*I love this chapter, Alma Jr is so wonderful and powerful at bearing his testimony. These are amazing questions.
I can see the His image in the countenance of others but cannot see it really in myself. But I think that's a good thing. I think if I were looking for it, than I certainly wouldn't find His image. We must look to and serve others before we can find ourselves in Him and find Him in us.
Alma 4:3 And so great were their afflictions that every soul had cause to mourn; and they believed that it was the judgments of God sent upon them because of their wickedness and their abominations; therefore they were awakened to a remembrance of their duty.
*I desire that spirit: when I have struggles, trials, and bad days, to be reminded of my duty and covenants rather than wallow. I want to look around and work harder at being faithful, fulfilling my callings, and following the commandments. There are some days it's really hard, but I know those are the days I NEED to read, pray and have His Spirit.
Alma 1:6 And he began to be lifted up in the pride of his heart, and to wear very costly apparel, yea, and even began to establish a church after the manner of his preaching.
*In the BOM, apostasy is often identified with the wearing of costly apparel. My thoughts are that the first thing we want people to think about us is : "Gosh, they look so good! Look how successful they are!" A testimony, a temple recommend or a winning FHE aren't visible from afar.
27 And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely.
*But, we can still show our success in our appearance without being vain.
Mosiah 27:29 My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more.
*I love the conversion of Alma the Younger. I love how he wasn't a Nephi, wasn't always a good guy, but still grew to be an amazing instrument in the Lord's hands. If Alma Jr. can do such amazing things, than so can I. I didn't seek to destroy anything, or see an Angel, but I could see the way my life was headed, and I needed to change. I'm grateful I saw both sides of the fence, for only by knowing the sorrow and pain can we know the true joy. I've found my true joy.
The Temple Garment. Aug 97. Asay.
Garments are given to remind the wearers of the continuing need for repentance, the need to honor the binding covenants, & the need to cherish & share virtue in our daily lives.
Garments are the Lord's way of letting us take part of the Temple with us when we leave.
Our salvation depends SYMBOLICALLY on the condition of our garments. Our garments must be washed, cleansed & made white thru the blood of Christ.
*My reading for class. This had so many A-ha thoughts that I had to share them. I need to remember my covenants and to think, really think about the garments.
Mosiah 24:14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.
*I have a testimony of this principle. If we turn to Him in our struggles, despair, depression, trials - He will visit us. He will bless us with His Spirit. During my heart surgery, and with my pregnancies, everyone around me was panicking (thank you all for hiding it!) But I was at peace, I had comfort and was not worried thru any of it. Looking back, I probably should have been. But I received blessings, and He was there.
Monson. 09/02. Patience a heavenly virtue.
Life is full of difficulties, some minor and others of a more serious nature. There seems to be an unending supply of challenges for one and all. Our problem is that we often expect instantaneous solutions to such challenges, forgetting that frequently the heavenly virtue of patience is required.
*I was saying a prayer to have my headaches go away soon. This is the quote for tonight's reading. I needed this right at that moment. The challenges we face are truly but a small moment.
Mosiah 23:21 Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.
*I often ask Korbin if he trusts me when going and doing things. He does, he has to. And so too must we trust Father.
Mosiah 18:8...ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life.
*Our responsibilities as members of the Church of Christ are laid out right there! And the blessings are too! I have a testimony of bearing one another's burdens. I know it is a calling from God and the desire to do it is truly a Gift. But I also know, when I'm helping and lifting others, my burdens are light, and I can get thru my day easier. He strengthens me.
Mosiah 17:11 And now king Noah was about to release him, for he feared his word; for he feared that the judgments of God would come upon him.
12 But the priests lifted up their voices against him, and began to accuse him, saying: He has reviled the king. Therefore the king was stirred up in anger against him, and he delivered him up that he might be slain.
*Noah almost let Abinadi go. But those dang priests reminded him that action needed to be taken against him.
Sometimes it's hard to turn and make different choices when those around you have come to know you to be a certain way.
