This is a late post for me so I won't keep you long. Today we read chapters 3 and 4 of 2 Nephi. Lehi finishes speaking to all of his household and gives them blessings. When he is finished, he waxes old and dies. What a great man Lehi was. He obeyed the Lord by leaving Jerusalem and was able to see his family in the Promised Land before he passed away.
After Lehi dies, Nephi shares very wise words in 2 Nephi 4. I will share the verses with you.
Sister Cheryl C. Lant, Primary general president, discussed how2 Nephi 4:15 reveals three ways we can effectively read the scriptures: First, delighting in the scriptures; second, pondering the scriptures; and third, writing the scriptures into our lives:
“First, ‘My soul delighteth.’ I love this phrase! I have thought about hungering and thirsting after knowledge as I read the scriptures, but delighting in them is something else. I find that what I take away from the scriptures is determined by what I bring. Each time I read them, I am, in a sense, bringing a new person with new eyes to the experience. Where I am in my life, the experiences I am having, and my attitude all affect how much I will gain. I love the scriptures. I treasure the truths I find as I read them. Joy fills my heart as I receive encouragement, direction, comfort, strength, and answers to my needs. Life looks brighter, and the way opens before me. I am reassured of my Heavenly Father’s love and concern for me every time I read. Surely this is a delight to me. As one little boy in a Sunbeam class put it, ‘I feel happy about the scriptures!’
“Second, ‘My heart pondereth them.’ How I love to carry the scriptures with me in my heart! The spirit of what I have read rests there to bring me peace and comfort. The knowledge I have gained gives me guidance and direction. I have the confidence born out of obedience. …
“[Third] I, of course, do not write scriptures as did Nephi, but when I read the scriptures and live the principles I learn, those scriptures become written in my life. They govern my actions and are written there for my children to see and follow. I can build a legacy, a tradition of righteous living, based on the principles I learn in the scriptures”.
Next we see how human Nephi was, just like us. In the following verses I can see how Nephi felt about his own sins. He was not perfect nor are we. The only perfect person who walked the face of the earth was our Savior, Jesus Christ. He truly showed us the way, by example, how we should be.
17 "Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities."
18 "I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me."
19 "And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted."
Elder Dallin H. Oaks said…
“God has promised that he will consecrate our afflictions for our gain (see 2 Nephi 2:2). The efforts we expend in overcoming any inherited weakness build a spiritual strength that will serve us throughout eternity. Thus, when Paul prayed thrice that his ‘thorn in the flesh’ would depart from him, the Lord replied, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’
I am grateful for these chapters today. I want to leave you with my favorite scripture from today's reading and also with another video which touches my heart. I want you to know that I know that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior and that he died and was resurrected 3 days later so that I can live again. I know these things with every fiber of my being. I hope that you can also come to know of these things for yourself if you haven't already. Thank you for taking the time to read with me today and learn a little about my faith. Please let me know if you have any questions or if I can do anything for you. I want you to know that you are all in my daily prayers.
2 Nephi 4:35
"Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen."
Please leave a comment on this post with your thoughts from today's reading. I can't wait to hear from you!
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Thank you for your wonderful comments on each days readings, and also for the videos that you post each day. This is the first thing I look at and read each morning and it is such a wonderful start to my day. I am a little ahead, but each of your posts lets me go back and ponder those scriptures again. Thank you for starting this.
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Thank you Robyn for doing the book club! I know it is strengthening my faith and giving me knowledge.
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