The Principles of Agency and Grace

"Therefore cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves--to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that is is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved. Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen" (vs. 23-25). Grace is a powerful gospel principle as well. We are free to choose, but it is only through grace after all we can do that we can be saved. In this mortal state we are all sinners and are fallen and therefore have to rely on the grace of God.

Nourish the Good Seed

If it is a good seed; It will grow!

The most important quality about the Book of Mormon is the influence it has had in my life every day.  When, on occasion, I miss the opportunity to read from its pages I feel a void, an emptiness of spirit: But when I do read and listen for the important message God wants me to find therein I feel refreshed, my burdens are lighter, my day is filled with accomplishment and order.  I feel a closeness to my Savior that is otherwise lacking.  I have always gained strength from reading the book of Mormon.  I hope you too can be edified by its light from our Lord, Jesus Christ.

The Book of Mormon prophets remind us of the propensity towards person growth found therein.
                        Nephi reminds us to apply scripture to ourselves in- 1 Nephi 19:23.
  Alma compares the word of God unto a seed which when it begins to grow it enlarges our soul-Alma 32:28.
Moroni entreats everyone to Come unto Christ- Moroni 10:32-33, and ponder Christ's word in our heart-10:3 and pray to know for ourselves if these words are true-Moroni 10:4.  I pray that you will nourish yourself with the good word of Christ and feel of his love each day in study, faith, and prayer.

This blog was created about two years ago.  I started with the first chapter in the Book of Mormon and summarized what I read, a chapter at a time.  I began this blog for my family so that we could share our feelings with each other about what we read.  I love the Book of Mormon and wanted to share it with them and now with you, enjoy!

Worthy things

"When we are unhurried and wise we perceive that only great and worthy things have any permanent and absolute existence, that petty fears and petty pleasures are but the shadow of reality."                                                     Henry David Thoreau

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."         (2 Corinthians 4:17-18, KJV)

Weaknesses

“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness, I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.” Ether 12:27

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

Jacob 4:7

Just opened the book

I was reading in Helaman chapter 7 today and Nephi is lamenting about the wickedness of his day. He wished he could have lived in the days of his ancestor, Nephi, when "his people were easily entreated and firm to keep the commandments of God (vs. 7). I don't wish to live in the days of the pioneers, but I do know that it wasn't that long ago that people were more attentive to God. I was raised in Utah, but I here of events here in Virginia, that on Sundays there would be cars lined up in front of all the churches, stores were closed and people's thoughts were of Christ. Oh to live in that not too distant past again. But my greater joy would be for my children and grandchildren to enjoy those times; times of prosperity and times of respect for God and nation. A self-reliant, motivated, generous people prevailed and loved one another. This is what I remember. I know this is probably not what everyone remembers, but times have changed, people seem more anxious and stressed. Anyway I look for a day when people are "slow to be led to do iniquity; and...quick to hearken unto the words of the Lord.

2 Nephi 29

Although I have been reading everyday, I have not published for sometime. It is time consuming so I hope it is beneficial for someone other than me. We know that God wants to bring his word to his children. He wants us to benefit from the scriptures. Chapter 29 focuses on God's written word given to many nations. The Jews whom we have to thank for the Bible, the Book of Mormon in whom we are grateful to the Nephites, who possessed the American Continent. These two act as combined witnesses of God one true word, which is the same message God has always given of Jesus Christ. God's word will continue to be gathered to gather as the 12 Tribes are gathered and restored to the lands of their inheritance.

"Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written. For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written" (v. 10-11).

Why Study World Religions?

Roger R. Keller

To know how God works with all His children is to know that the family of God is much broader than The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Yet many Latter-day Saints wonder why they should study the religions of the world. Why, some ask, should we, who have the fulness of the gospel, study religions that are not true? Such a question shows a lack of understanding of the teachings of the Presidents of the Church from Joseph Smith to Gordon B. Hinckley about our relation to our religiously diverse neighbors. It also exhibits a misunderstanding of the place of truth in our own religion. We need to remind ourselves of prophetic statements, both past and present, that deal with these issues. For example, the Prophet Joseph Smith said the following:

“Wherein do you differ from others in your religious views?” In reality and essence we do not differ so far in our religious views but that we could all drink into one principle of love. . . . If I esteem mankind to be in error shall I bear them down? No! I will lift them up and [each] in his own way if I cannot persuade him my way is better! And I will ask no man to believe as I do. Do you believe in Jesus Christ . . . ? So do I. Christians should cultivate the friendship with others and will do it.[1]

The incredible thing about this statement is that the Prophet did not demand, or perhaps even expect, all persons to become Latter-day Saints. He recognized that the Lord can move people further along the spiritual pathway through various faiths. He will lift people up in their own ways—which could be Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, or Buddhism—if they are not prepared to become Latter-day Saints. While the fulness of the gospel offers the greatest benefits, all are not prepared to receive it. Thus, the Prophet Joseph was willing to work with God in His various ways to bring people to that fulness. Similarly, President Brigham Young recognized that truth can be found in many places. He stated:

For me, the plan of salvation must . . . circumscribe [all] the knowledge that is upon the face of the earth, or it is not from God. Such a plan incorporates every system of true doctrine on the earth, whether it be ecclesiastical, moral, philosophical, or civil: it incorporates all good laws that have been made from the days of Adam until now; it swallows up the laws of nations, for it exceeds them all in knowledge and purity; it circumscribes the doctrines of the day, and takes from the right and the left, and brings all truth together in one system, and leaves the chaff to be scattered hither and thither.[2]

President Young tells us that wherever there is truth, the gospel is present—not necessarily in its fulness—but the gospel encompasses all that is true in whatever venue or discipline or religion it is found. Truth is truth. Wherever there is truth, God has been and is present.

Roger R. Keller, “Why Study World Religions?” in Window of Faith: Latter-day Saint Perspectives on World History, ed. Roy A. Prete (Provo, UT: Religious Studies Center, Brigham Young University, 2005), 213–30.

This information has been obtained from and are direct quotes from the following website;
http://rsc.byu.edu/archived/window-faith-latter-day-saint-perspectives-world-history/26-why-study-world-religions

2 Nephi 28

"And the things which shall be written out of the book shall be of great worth unto the children of men..." (2). "Wo unto them that turn aside the just for a thing of naught and revile against that which is good and say that it is of no worth..." (16). "... because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men" (14). "...For the day shall come that the Lord God will speedily visit the inhabitants of the earth; and in that day that they are fully ripe in iniquity they shall perish. But behold, if the inhabitants of the earth shall repent of their wickedness and abominations they shall not be destroyed, saith the Lord of Hosts" (16-17). "Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost" (26). "Wo be unto him that shall say; We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough! For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have" (29-30). I love the scriptures and particularly the Book of Mormon, but I know in many instances I do err. It is always tough when Christmas is over and my husband returns to work. This year my daughter moved out right after Christmas. I applied for another job and got yet another rejection notice. It would have been fun to be around others. Yet I know I am so blessed and I need to put Satan behind me and overcome any challenges I face. This one is minor compared to others and what others experience. I just need to pick myself up and move forward. I am grateful for the scriptures and the guidance and hope they give. I am also grateful for the Holy Ghost and the peacefulness I feel when I listen. I know that God gives us weaknesses so we will rely on him and in many instances I have learned that we are taught here a little and there a little. Most generally answers do not come all at once but a direction is set and a course can be followed.