2 Nephi 7

I feel that I get so much more out of these scriptures than I am able to share but I will continue to try my best. "Wherefore, when I came, there was no man; when I called, yea, there was none to answer. O house of Israel, is my hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem, or have I no power to deliver?..." (vs. 2). God is the one that has the power, not us. "Behold all ye that kindle fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks which ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand---ye shall lie down in sorrow" (vs. 11). The last part of this verse is not a threat, just the end result of trying to live without God. In my college course a healthy sense of self and a healthy sense of need are explored. Autonomy is important for ambition, understanding and adventure but there are natural limits. We see this in young children as they "encounter trials of hunger, injury, or loneliness, they...turn to their caregiver for help and comfort. The same pattern can be seen in (our) spiritual lives. In order to draw close to God, to understand his grace and love, we must also understand our need for God" (p. 36) Paul in Romans 7 could "not find God's healing love until he acknowledged his broken, needy condition (p. 37). "A healthy awareness of human fallenness enhances our relationship with God by getting our eyes off ourselves and onto God's magnificent character" (p. 42). "A healthy sense of self allows us to exercise freedom, accept responsibility, and make good decisions. A healthy sense of need allows us to keep our humanness in perspective and to keep us looking to God for hope and direction" (p. 83). To draw our attention to God's magnificent character verses 2 and 3 mention a few of the things God has power to do, such as, dry up the sea, make the rivers a wilderness, clothe the heavens with blackness. God's mightiest power is exemplified in the saving of each human soul and how we are turned to him through the challenges of daily life. When I find myself focusing on myself and all that I have to accomplish; ignoring or shutting out promptings with my business; this is when I feel anxious, annoyed and rushed. When I let Christ into my life and have a prayer in my heart in all I do; I feel centered and at peace. I pray for the day when my confidence in God and his ways will wax strong and make me sufficient. I do know it is my times of trial that have moved me closer to God, through prayer and scripture study, and for this I am eternally grateful. I love my Savior and his saving power. He is mighty to save.

McMinn, M. (1996) Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling, Carol Streams, IL. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

2 Nephi 5 and 6

v. 5- The Lord warned Nephi that he should take those with him that would follow and flee into the wilderness. I have heard many stories about people that were warned and either fled or prepared themselves. I remember the story of a pioneer family that was sleeping in a covered wagon and the father was warned to move the wagon. Shortly after, lightning struck the tree where the wagon had been resting. The family would have been crushed. In Relief Society yesterday they talked about the earthquake in Chile and how the mission president's wife felt inspired to give the elders specific instructions about how they were to handle themselves when the earthquake would hit. There was not one missionary lost in the earthquake and many of the local leaders had also been impressed to prepare the members. The same thing had happened with the typhoon in the gulf. The leaders instructed members to evacuate and were unharmed because of their obedience. This is how the Lord uses commandments and inspiration. Commandments are specifically designed for our benefit.

When Jacob teaches the people it is recorded, "I am desirous for the welfare of your souls. Yea, mine anxiety is great for you" (vs. 3). I am grateful for concerned leaders who strive to strengthen the members of the church and give them the counsel they need so they can return to live with their Heavenly Father again.

2 Nephi 4 and Esther 3-5

This weeks Sunday School reading is entitled, "If I Perish, I Perish." Daniel and Esther both may have perished by someone's hand. Lehi dies in this chapter, but it is then Nephi who is left to deal with his brothers and has to flee for his life in the following chapter. Daniel, Esther, and Nephi all had great courage.

Nephi referred to the prophecies of Joseph who was carried into Egypt. Nephi states, "And the prophecies which he wrote, there are not many greater. And he prophesied concerning us, and our future generation; and they are written upon the plates of brass. I often wonder about the writing on the brass plates and how many more things we do not have in our Bible because the brass plates were carried into the wilderness with Lehi's family. Would these writings still have been lost to us even if they had remained in Jerusalem when Jerusalem was destroyed? I wish we had the writings of Joseph (vs. 2) and Zenos (Jacob 5-6 and Alma 32), Zenoch and Moses (Alma 32).

2 Nephi 3 and Daniel 6

The last time I read Lehi's blessing to Joseph I discovered that his seed would not all be destroyed (vs. 3). This meant a great deal to me because I thought all the Nephites were destroyed. I like the terminology about the writings of Judah and the writings of Joseph growing together (vs. 12). I have seen this happen quite often as I have been studying the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon.

In the book of Daniel Darius is appointed king. He appointed one hundred and twenty princes and three presidents and Daniel was preferred over the presidents and the princes, "because an excellent spirit was in him" (vs. 3). The presidents and princes were jealous of Daniel and sought to find something against him. They could not find anything. So they sought to find something against him in the way he worshiped his God. They knew that he prayed to his God so they got the king to sign a royal decree stating that the people could only petition King Darius for 30 days, or be thrown in the lion's den. We all know the ending of this story. Darius fasted for Daniel and asked him to petition his God because he knew He could deliver him. The life that Daniel lived caused Darius to believe in Daniel's God.

2 Nephi 2 and Daniel 3

Han-a-niah, Mishe-el, and Az-a-riah alias, Shadrach, Meshach, and A-bed--ne-go would not kneel down and worship the idol the king had built, and commanded that everyone should worship. (I found this interesting because many of the Jews in Jerusalem had been worshiping idols). The king asked them why they would not worship his idol and he rehearsed unto them the punishment of being burned in a fiery furnace. They answered, "If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king" (Daniel 3:17). The king was angry and he had the furnace heated 7 times hotter than usual. The mighty men that threw these three young men into the furnace died from the heat. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were delivered. The king said that "there is no other God that can deliver after this sort" (vs. 29).

Jacob, Lehi's firstborn in the wilderness, also suffered many afflictions. This was not at the hand of a king but his own brothers. Lehi told Jacob that God would consecrate his afflictions for his gain (2 Nephi 2:2). Jacob had seen his Redeemer; "And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh..." (vs. 4). Shadrach, Meshach, and A-bednego also beheld His glory while in the fiery furnace; It was reported to the king "...Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God" (Daniel 3:25). "Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah..." (2 Nephi 2:8). "And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil..." (vs. 5). "Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man, And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil...And now, my sons (and daughters), I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit" (vs. 27-28). The creation, the fall, Adam and Eve, and opposition in all things, are also spoken of in this chapter and I cannot begin to do it justice. This is a powerful chapter. As I read about the creation and also about prophets testimonies I thought about those who deny the creation and call it creationism; I felt to listen to Alma's testimony and echo with him, "...For behold, I say unto you, I know there is a God, and also that Christ shall come. An now what evidence have ye that there is no God, or that Christ cometh not? I say unto you that ye have none, save it be your word only. But, behold, I have all things as a testimony that these things are true; and ye also have all things as a testimony unto you that they are true...Ye have testimony of all...the holy prophets...yea, all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator" (39-44).

2 Nephi 1 and Daniel 1

It has been interesting how my Book of Mormon reading is keeping right in step with the Old Testament Sunday School reading. Lehi tells his children that he has seen a vision wherein Jerusalem has been destroyed. The first verse in Daniel tells us that the King of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. He also carried away children of Israel and of the king's seed and brought them to be taught in the language and arts of the Chaldeans (vs. 3-4).

There is also a comparison between Lehi's counsel to his sons to be men and the type of men Daniel and his friends turn out to be. Lehi further explains, "be determined in one mind and in one heart, united in all things" (vs. 21). This also reminds me of Adam's blog post about masculinity that he posted several months ago (very well written). Daniel, Han-a-niah, Misha-el, and Az-a-riah refused to eat of the kings meat and drink of his wine. They were determined in one heart and one mind. They also were aware of the consequences of disobeying the king. They became stronger in mind and in body eating pulse and water to drink than they others that were fed on the kings meat. "As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams" (vs. 17). The king found none like them and they stood before the king in all matters of wisdom and understanding (vs. 18-20).

I just love verse 15. Lehi is saying that he must soon die, "But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.

1 Nephi 22

This is the second time recorded that Nephi's brothers asked him for enlightenment of spiritual things. To me it is ironic because many times they complain that Nephi takes it upon himself to be a leader over them. They asked him if the things that Isaiah had written pertained to things that were spiritual or things that were temporal. Nephi said it was both then he proceeded to tell how it was temporal in that the tribes of Israel will be scattered and they will be gathered. I think what I like most is that Nephi doesn't end with only interpreting what they have read about the gathering of the righteous and the destruction of the wicked but he dwells for sometime on the second coming of Jesus Christ and what the conditions will be. He also talks about how the righteous will be preserved in the final days when they wicked are fighting against the wicked. Nephi addresses the different ways that people are led away from Christ, through the lusts of the flesh, to be popular, to get gain, and power. I do belief there is a difference between being wicked and being weak. The wicked seek to control others and to lead them to be captive. The weak are those that submit to the wicked and the captivity of the devil.
I look forward to the coming of our Lord and Savior. I have never been very concerned about what might transpire prior to his coming, until recently. In this I probably err because it shows my lack of confidence in how God prepares and nurtures his children. We need to be humbled (or as it states in my recent college class "broken") so we can turn to the Lord for support, guidance, and peace. Verse 25 states "And he gathereth his children from the four quarters of the earth; and he numbereth his sheep, and they know him; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd; and he shall feed his sheep, and in him they shall find pasture." Christ loves all of his children and teaches them. He listens to their concerns and waits patiently for them to implore him in earnest prayer.