Day 86: Ether 9-11

Hello Everyone!

We are almost finished reading the Book of Mormon!  Some of you might already be done if you have been keeping up with the chart.  I have been doing my best reading but haven't had a lot of time to get to my blog.  I will have to post a few posts today to get caught up!

First, I have been cleaning and organizing a lot and found this cute scrapbook page of my oldest daughter who is now 15 1/2.  These were pictures of her with her first Book of Mormon.  How sweet!!

Let's start off today with a video from the Mormon Channel on Youtube.  It's called Wrong Roads and has a great lesson in it.

In today's reading we are still in the Book of Ether, which is about the Jaredite people.  I read the following on lds.org…

Ether 11. The Final Stages of Jaredite Civilization

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  As with the Nephites, the Jaredite society repeatedly moved through the cycle of prosperity, apostasy, judgment, repentance, prosperity, and so on. Eventually, as with the Nephites, the depths of apostasy and wickedness became increasingly fatal. (See diagram “The Cycle of Righteousness and Wickedness” in the appendix, page 414.) Ether 11recounts the final stages of the Jaredite cycle of apostasy. They rejected, mocked, and reviled the prophets. Though King Shule had passed a law protecting the prophets and punishing those who persecuted them (see Ether 7:23–26), a later king made it policy to execute the prophets (see Ether 11:5). Finally, the wickedness became so rampant that the prophets “mourned and withdrew from among the people”

Ether 11:2–5, 13, 20–22. They Rejected the Words of the Prophets

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  The prophet Amos taught that one role of a prophet is to warn people of impending destruction (see 2 Nephi 25:9; see also Ezekiel 33:7–10).Ether 11 clearly demonstrates the consequences of not heeding prophetic warnings. Consider what President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency said concerning the cost of rejecting prophetic counsel and the safety that comes from heeding prophets:
  “Looking for the path to safety in the counsel of prophets makes sense to those with strong faith. When a prophet speaks, those with little faith may think that they hear only a wise man giving good advice. Then if his counsel seems comfortable and reasonable, squaring with what they want to do, they take it. If it does not, they consider it either faulty advice or they see their circumstances as justifying their being an exception to the counsel. Those without faith may think that they hear only men seeking to exert influence for some selfish motive. …
  “Every time in my life when I have chosen to delay following inspired counsel or decided that I was an exception, I came to know that I had put myself in harm’s way. Every time that I have listened to the counsel of prophets, felt it confirmed in prayer, and then followed it, I have found that I moved toward safety” .

I love that!  I am so thankful for a Prophet of God in these last days to lead and direct the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  I know that he has revelation directly from the Lord for us.  Here is a picture of our prophet, President Thomas S. Monson and a little clip of his last counsel from General Conference.

You can click HERE to learn more about what we believe about a Prophet of God.

If you missed General Conference and would like to watch it in whole, please click HERE!

I was pondering about reading the Book of Mormon with you and thought how happy I am to share my beliefs with you all.  I also thought I would share the Articles of Faith with you, too.  These 13 articles sum up what Mormons believe.  You can also go to mormon.org if you have any more questions.  Someone is also available to chat with you live 24 hours a day.

13 Articles of Faith

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul-We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

I want to bear you my testimony today before I close up.  I know that all we have read and will continue to read from the Book of Mormon is absolutely true!  I have prayed about it and have received a personal witness that this book is the word of God and was written for these last days.  As we study the Book of Mormon, along with the Holy Bible, we will know what the Lord wants us to do with our lives and how we can be truly happy.  

I will chat with you all soon!!

Love,
Robyn