Day 25: Words of Mormon - Mosiah 1

Hello Dear Friends!

How is your reading coming along so far?  Anyone have any thoughts they would like to share?  We'd love to hear them.  Just leave them on the comment link below.

Today was another day of shopping but this time with my 15 year old.  It was much easier with her as she knew what she wanted and we got all of her clothes at one store.  Nice!  This year I gave my girls a budget and let them decide what they want to spend it on (as long as I approved).  They are having to look at prices, sale racks, specials, and decide if it is really worth their school budget.  I had a budget when I was their age (which was super small, I might add) so I know they can do it with just a little more than I had.  It's amazing what they find when they know they are running out of money.  Plus, I feel, that it is teaching them to be frugal with their money when they are older and on their own.

For todays reading we read the Words of Mormon and Mosiah 1.  I found the following on lds.org.  I thought this would help describe what the Words of Mormon are.

Why Study This Book?

Through a study of Words of Mormon, you can increase your faith that “the Lord knoweth all things” (Words of Mormon 1:7) and that He guides His servants to bring about His purposes. As a historical account, the book serves as a bridge between the small plates of Nephi (1 Nephi–Omni) and Mormon’s abridgment of the large plates of Nephi (Mosiah–4 Nephi). Words of Mormon can help you better understand which records Mormon abridged as he compiled the Book of Mormon. It also introduces you to the faith and accomplishments of King Benjamin.

Who Wrote This Book?

Mormon wrote this book. He was a prophet, a record keeper, and the abridger and compiler of most of the Book of Mormon. The Book of Mormon is named after him. He was also a Nephite general and a righteous father. The prophet Moroni was his son.

When and Where Was It Written?

Mormon wrote this book about A.D. 385, after having “witnessed almost all the destruction of [his] people, the Nephites” (Words of Mormon 1:1). Mormon did not record where he was when he wrote this book.

In Mosiah 1 verse 7, I love how Mosiah exhorts his sons to study the scriptures.  We can take this same counsel into our own lives.

Mosiah 1:7
"And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers."



*As always, if you have any questions and would like to chat live with a member of my church, click HERE.

Request a copy of the Book of Mormon HERE to join us at any time!  You can read along online HERE while you are waiting for your copy to arrive in the mail.*

Have a great night!  
Robyn

Day 24: Enos-Omni

Hello Everyone!

I hope you all have had a wonderful day!  Mine was spent doing back to school shopping with my 13 year old.  FUN!  I'm probably the only woman who doesn't enjoy shopping at the mall!  I thought I'd share a picture of her new glasses.  She needed a new prescription so I went ahead and got her the "nerdy" looking pair.  LOL!  

Today we are reading all of Enos (which is such a powerful chapter on Prayer)!  I will share some of my favorite scriptures from this chapter.  

Enos 1:4
"And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens."

I am inspired by Enos' dedication to his prayers.  Are mine that heartfelt?  Does my soul hunger?  This verse helps me to take a step back and evaluate how I am praying.  

I love this promise in verse 15.  I know that this is a promise to both you and me as well.  

Enos 1:15
"…Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it."

Of course, I have to share a song or two on prayer by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  I hope you will feel inspired!

What a sweet story on faith and prayer that this young lady shares.  


Here is the song "Did you Think to Pray" sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  This was one of my husband, Bryan's, favorite songs when we first got married.  LOL!  He would start to sing it every time we walked out the front door.  


I will end today with my favorite scripture from Enos.  When I read it I feel a hope.  Hope that I also will be worthy to find rest in the mansions of my Father.

Enos 1:27
"And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest.  And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me:  Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father.  Amen."

Hugs,
Robyn

Day 23: Jacob 6-7

Hello Friends!

Today we finish up Jacob!  I can't believe we are on Day 23 already.  I just wanted to stop in and say "HI" today.  It's been a busy but really good day.  I got lots accomplished and was able to visit some sisters in my ward.  I also made some yummy bread to share with some friends and my family.

I will share some of my favorite scriptures for the day.

Jacob 6:5
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you.  And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts."

What powerful words from Jacob!

Jacob 6:12
"O be wise; what can I say more?"

I wanted to close with sharing some fun pictures I took this past Sunday.  I hope you all have had a great week so far!  My kids go back to school a week from Tuesday!  Yaaaaaaay!  So sad to see them go back.

(I walked by Primary and happened to see my 6 year old helping with the lesson.  I had to snap a quick picture.)

(Some of my sweet Relief Society sisters!)

(Me and my girls having a little chat on Sunday!)

Day 22: Jacob 4-5

Hi Everyone!

I'm so happy that you stopped by to visit us today!  Before we get started with today's reading I wanted to share our Family Home Evening with you all. I thought I would share some pictures that I took  tonight.  Our church encourages every family to set aside one night a week to spend together, usually it is on a Monday.  (Click HERE to learn more about Family Home Evening.)  Honestly it's a little crazy with the boys and 2 teenagers but we do it and we love it!  

We start out with a song and then a prayer.  Usually we sing some fun songs for the little kids.

Next we have Show & Tell where we basically watch Brayden dance and sing for 20 minutes.  LOL!  He is a born performer!

Then we have a lesson.  We usually try to think of something during the week that we need to work on and teach the children.  Tonight, Andrew (my 11 year old) had prepared a lesson.  We like the kids to have a turn teaching.

Next, we have a Family Council where we go around the room starting with the oldest child down to the youngest and ask them if they have anything they want to talk about or ask about or just share with everyone.  Usually they talk about upcoming events like school, vacations, or birthdays.  

We then have family scripture and closing prayer.  Lately we have been studying the scripture by topic.  We will ask if anyone has a question about the gospel and then all use our scriptures to find versus that might help answer the question.  We have family scripture and prayer every night before we go to bed. I have found that by reading the scriptures as a family we have been strengthened and blessed.  

Okay, let's go ahead and get started with our reading today.

Jacob 4:7
"Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things."

I love how Jacob talks about how he has weaknesses, too, along with the rest of us.  "God showeth us our weakness"….   I am grateful that the Lord does show me my weaknesses so that they can be made strong through Him and the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I found the following on lds.org

WEAKNESS

See also Humble, Humility

The condition of being mortal and lacking ability, strength, or skill. Weakness is a state of being. All people are weak, and it is only by God’s grace that they receive power to do righteous acts (Jacob 4:6–7). This weakness is manifest in part in the individual weaknesses or frailties that each person has.

We all have different weaknesses to overcome.  I want to share this video on weakness.  I hope this might touch someone's heart today as they watch it.



Jacob 5 covers the Allegory of the Olive Tree.

I found this great quote on lds.org..

An allegory uses symbolic representations to convey moral or spiritual ideas. These symbols provide additional meaning to the story when studied. The value of the allegory lies in understanding what it represents. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presented the principal theme of Zenos’s allegory:

“This allegory as recounted by Jacob is from the outset intended to be about Christ. …

“Even as the Lord of the vineyard and his workers strive to bolster, prune, purify, and otherwise make productive their trees in what amounts to a one-chapter historical sketch of the scattering and gathering of Israel, the deeper meaning of the Atonement undergirds and overarches their labors. In spite of cuttings and graftings and nourishings that mix and mingle trees in virtually all parts of the vineyard, it is bringing them back to their source that is the principal theme of this allegory. Returning, repenting, reuniting—at-one-ment—this is the message throughout.

“… At least fifteen times the Lord of the vineyard expresses a desire to bring the vineyard and its harvest to his ‘own self,’ and he laments no less than eight times, ‘It grieveth me that I should lose this tree.’ One student of the allegory says it should take its place beside the parable of the prodigal son, inasmuch as both stories ‘make the Lord’s mercy so movingly memorable.’

“Clearly this at-one-ment is hard, demanding, and, at times, deeply painful work, as the work of redemption always is. There is digging and dunging. There is watering and nourishing and pruning. And there is always the endless approaches to grafting—all to one saving end, that the trees of the vineyard would ‘thrive exceedingly’ and become ‘one body; … the fruits [being] equal,’ with the Lord of the vineyard having ‘preserved unto himself the … fruit.’ From all the distant places of sin and alienation in which the children of the Father find themselves, it has always been the work of Christ (and his disciples) in every dispensation to gather them, heal them, and unite them with their Master”.

Olive trees on Thassos, Greece: photo by Peter Pakandl, 7 September 2006

I encourage all of you to pray and ponder as you read Jacob 5.  There is a lot of deep, spiritual meaning in it and I know that we can find out for ourselves what it means for each of us.

I'd like to close today with More Holiness Give Me sung by a combined Brigham Young University Choir.

Lyrics

1. 1. More holiness give me,
   More strivings within,
   More patience in suff'ring,
   More sorrow for sin,
   More faith in my Savior,
   More sense of his care,
   More joy in his service,
   More purpose in prayer.
2. 2. More gratitude give me,
   More trust in the Lord,
   More pride in his glory,
   More hope in his word,
   More tears for his sorrows,
   More pain at his grief,
   More meekness in trial,
   More praise for relief.
3. 3. More purity give me,
   More strength to o'ercome,
   More freedom from earth-stains,
   More longing for home.
   More fit for the kingdom,
   More used would I be,
   More blessed and holy--
   More, Savior, like thee.
4. Text and music: Philip Paul Bliss, 1838-1876

Day 21: Jacob 1-3

Hello Everyone!

We are starting the Book of Jacob today.  In the beginning of the first chapter we see that Nephi dies.  I am so grateful for the teachings of Nephi that encompassed 1 Nephi and 2 Nephi.  I have learned so much from studying his teachings.  

I'll share some thoughts from some of the scriptures that pop out to me today.

Jacob 1:4

"And if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ's sake, and for the sake of our people."

This scripture made me think of my own personal journaling.  Am I keeping a record of all things spiritual for my children and children's children?  I truly enjoy scrapbooking, which I consider a form of journaling, but I do not write personal happenings on my scrapbook pages.  

How will keeping a personal journal bless me and my family?

The Lord and His prophets have emphasized the importance of keeping records. Writing in a personal journal gives us an opportunity to reflect on our lives and recognize the many blessings God has given us. Our journals can also be a source of inspiration and strength to future generations of our families.

(I consider this page to be one of my "journals")

Jacob 1:7
"Wherefore we labored diligently among our people, that we might persuade them to come unto Christ, and partake of the goodness of God, that they might enter into his rest,…"

President Henry B. Eyring said:
"The words “come unto Christ” are an invitation. It is the most important invitation you could ever offer to another person. It is the most important invitation anyone could accept. From the beginning of the Restoration of the gospel in this dispensation, it has been the charge given by Jesus Christ to His representatives. Their charge has been “to warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ.”

Jacob 2:18-19

18 But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.

 19 And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted.

One of my favorite scriptures from today's reading is in Jacob 3 verses 1 and 2.

Jacob 3:1-2

1 But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.

 2 O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever.

Those words give me such great peace and comfort.

I hope you all have a great night.  I will check in with you tomorrow.  I am super sleepy and ready for bed.  I had a great day at church and then went out and visited a handful of sisters in my church.  I love fellowshipping with the sweet ladies in my ward!

Hugs,
Robyn