What the Scriptures tell us about WHY we need the BOM

Why we need The Book of Mormon:

Ezekiel 37: 15-17

15 The word of the Lord came again unto me, saying,

16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one ^astick, and ^bwriteupon it, For ^cJudah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and ^dwrite upon it, For ^eJoseph, the ^fstickof Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:

 17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become ^aone in thine hand.

Article of Faith 1:8 We believe the ^aBible to be the ^bword of God as far as it is translated ^ccorrectly; we also believe the ^dBook of Mormon to be the word of God.

Title Page

• Show the house of Israel what the Lord has done.
• Know the covenants
• Convincing that Jesus is Christ to all nations

Introduction

-Most correct book- get nearer to God

-Keystone of our religion

1. Doctrines of the gospel

2. Outlines the plan of salvation

3. Tells men what they must do to gain peace

1 Nephi 13:40

1.       Establishes the truth of the Bible.

2.       Make known plain and precious truth.

3.       All kindred, tongues and people that the Lamb is the Son of the Father and Savior of the world.

4.       All men must come unto him or they cannot be saved.

2 Nephi 3:12

-          Confound false doctrine

-          Lay down of contention

-          Establish peace

-          Bring them to a knowledge of fathers

-          Bring them to a knowledge of the covenants of the Lord.

2 Nephi 25: 23, 26 and 33:10-11

-persuade our children to believe in Christ

-If you believe in Christ you will believe these words

-They are his words,

-they teach men to do good.

2 Nephi 29:7-11

• I can speak to more than one nation
• I can have two nations write
• I do this to prove you
• Bible is not all of my words.

D&C 20:8-16

-God gave Joseph Smith power to translate

-Contains fullness of gospel

-Angels confirmed it.

-Proves the scriptures are true.

-God inspires men

-God is the same yesterday today and forever

-those who receive it will have a crown of eternal life. 

Tell the Drama to your Llama!

Guess what-- You're the Llama!

DRAMA ONE    About 2 months ago I could not sleep, so I got up and wrote 2 pages to the couple who introduced Jason  and I, and supposedly counseled us.  What a joke!  The letter was good healing for me and I didn't cry or get angry about them afterwords .... until just a few days ago.  I put some money in my credit union and headed home.  That's when the tears and anger started again and It didn't stop.  I was SO mad at them.  They were clueless about Jason's spending, about the money my mom gave me from my inheritance to pay bills. Double and then some of what he took out of his retirement to pay HIS and OUR bills.   I woke up the  next morning and did the same thing.   I'm not sure what set it off, but I had a mind to just write a letter and this time send it.  Just facts this time.  The first letter was harsh and hurtful and clearly expressed how deeply I was wronged.  I've been fine for 2 days now, but.....

DRAMA TWO   Then there is the issue of "The Talk."   I've been in my current ward for 1 year and 3 months now and have I been asked to speak in sacrament meeting?  NO!  If your married and/or have a cute family then of course they ask you to speak with in like 2 months.  Not us singles.  I've come to realize that it's being a respecter of persons, which is not a good thing.

I like pubic speaking and some years back- maybe 8, I had 4 or 5 talk out lines ready to give if I was ever asked.  I wasn't.  I still have them but I'm sure with new life experiences they would be changed somewhat.
So every day for like 3 to 4 weeks I've been giving the "let me introduce myself" portion of the talk out loud to no one or in my head.  It's not pretty.   It's full of bitterness, looking down at others, trying to prove that I am something or at least WAS something.  That's what I figured out- it's about a self- esteem wack.

I'd mention things about:

How many countries in Europe I'd been to (8).
How many states I've visited (2/3rds)
My Israel and BOM lands cruise. 
Then I tell them about my HUGE family- 7 kids, 26 nieces and nephews, 11 great nieces and nephews.
I'd tell them about how I came to this earth (through my father following the prophet).
I speak about how Twin Falls is clueless about the SA program.
How Idaho is just full of Farmers who have never left the state and know nothing of the outside world.
Of course I mention my wards with millionaires in it.
The CEO of Expedia being in the bishopric, the millionaire stake presidents, single men making 6 figures a year.
I'd point out that men here are so proud of of making 50K at a cheese, dairy or yogurt factory and I cringe.  Cringe because I sure as heck don't want to date them and don't want to live in Idaho the rest of my life and sure as heck don't want to raise kids that have only experienced this, because we couldn't afford it.
I'd tell them how I was a tree hugger, how I'm NOT from Idaho.
I'd mention callings- you know- give them my "church resume"- seminary teacher, temple ordinance worker, my mission. 
I'd tell them that the church was the same everywhere, except for the SA program here in ID.  O gosh I had/have the list of beefs that everyone else is CLUELESS about.
I'd mention my marriage, that it was abusive on 4 different levels.  That I had to come here to heal among strangers.  

Can you feel the pride?  The enmity? So can they. 

I couldn't stop doing this.  It was like an addiction. I didn't know why, and then all of a sudden I realized it was an effort to build me up (or at least knock them down), to show value in my self.  Clearly I didn't have any.  A few weeks previous I remembered what I had learned about 10 years earlier- that men don't find angry and bitter women attractive and this time I learned that neither do women.  While doing my scripture study I did some foot note searches and found out of the blue scriptures that we don't really use for  the topic of pride.  It was good for me, but "the talk" still continued.

One night I couldn't sleep.  I was up crying and doing basically the same thing- reviewing the past.  How was I going to make it stop?  When it hit me- my word for the year- TURN!  Turn from the PAST to the FUTURE.  So... what of my future?

DRAMA THREE   I've been subbing and some days have been good.  The para-ed's have liked me and other's it's been.... I've been... "demanding" of kids that are lazy, not trying, stupid, etc and I have not treated them nicely.  Geese Becky,  didn't you learn your lesson in Gooding?  I mean  do your job and shut up!  Don't insult the kids!  Don't loose patience! And be nice- ya know- like Jesus would. I subbed in HS resource room, but I was also on NO meds. That combination = trouble. I don't have the kindness and patience and ability to make connections with those kids.  I see problems that need to be disciplined, not kids that need to be reached.

I can't be a teacher.  I don't have the patience.  You have to be SO on your toes ALL THE TIME- with class work, behavior, preparing for next day, next week, etc.  It's to much for my brain to handle.   One on one PSR is good.  I've thought about foster care for the money and helping too, but mostly the money.

My future.  What does it hold?  More schooling?  More low paying jobs with no benefits.  Maybe school and then perhaps another failure or another low paying job. What do I do?  The bishop mentioned 'career goals' in his last email to me.  Here's the deal- I don't have career goals.  I never have.  I had the get married and be a mommy career plans.  I kept waiting for that to happen and it never did. Now I'm 40.

I'm working 2 low paying jobs that in a month will go up to almost 15 an hour.  Subbing which is... random and only 65 a day.  And in the summer?  Then what?  I don't have unemployment till Aug 2013.  I need to find a better job.  I need a roommate.  So what did I do?  I filled out applications for low income housing.  I qualify.  I probably qualify for help with heating bills too and also Medicare or caide - what ever it is.  Aren't I just the college grad success story? 

What's fun is my sisters who are judgmental about Ruth and I. What would they be doing with no husband to buy them big homes and trips?  How would their self-esteem be?  Could they go to church every Sunday and feel equal?  Could they support themselves with a pre-school teachers income or what ever they went to school for?  NOPE, but they judge.

I'm judgmental about teachers in Gospel Doctrine.  I didn't participate too much in last weeks SA get together. I played games on my phone instead.  Then there's the SA progam here.... I don't even want to get into that.

The lady who I almost killed on the motorcycle is wanting 1 million dollars from me.  Will they go to mom? Only time will tell.  Mom can give them 1/4 of a million from insurance.

While at times there is a longing to be a super mom, to have a great marriage, mostly I see kids at HS kissing and I want to puke.  I don't like fat guys. I don't like being on top.  I don't the idea of being poor.  Sometimes I'm too bold, too blunt and almost crude at times- in my head mostly. I started a thread on BYU-Idaho Alumni page on FB and it caused some to not be happy.  While there is so much more I want to say to others, I filter.  Scott Mowrer would be proud- his and his million dollar traveling family now.  Ya'd think the rich could throw the poor a bone every once in a while. I love being left behind.

But I'm taking this Llama thing to a gripping session and that's not what I wanted to do.  So I end here.  It's too long.  Most won't read it and I don't have a big readership anyhow.  But it's out there.  Out there for someone to maybe respond.

On a positive note, I'm reading the scriptures every night from the original copy BOM look alike. 

Christian thing to do, Less sin for you

Jason had only learned to handle problems by reviling back.  He practiced the law of Moses.  It drove me crazy because he was so mean and angry and it solved nothing.  He blamed others for his behavior. I put scriptures on the fridge like:

3 Nephi 6: 13 Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God.

and 

Alma 34: 40 And now my beloved brethren, I would exhort you to have ^apatience, and that ye bear with all manner of ^bafflictions; that ye do not ^crevile against those who do cast you out because of your ^dexceeding poverty, lest ye become sinners like unto them;

There are other scriptures that say the same thing with out using the word revile.  Matt 5:39-40

 But I say unto you, That ye resist not ^aevil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right ^bcheek, ^cturn to him the other also.  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.

And then Mormon 8:20 Behold what the scripture says—man shall not ^asmite, neither shall he ^bjudge; for judgment is mine, saith the Lord, and vengeance is mine also, and I will repay.

There is more than one form of smiting.  It doesn't always mean physical violence, but verbal  as well. 

It really came home to me though a few months ago when I was teaching the be-attitudes in 3 Nephi.  I light bulb went on so bring that had never been on so bright before. Here is a few of the scriptures from Matthew: 

6: 14-15  For if ye ^aforgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

But if ye ^aforgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

5:44 But I say unto you, ^aLove your ^benemies, ^cbless them that ^dcurse you, do ^egood to them that ^fhate you, and ^gpray for them which despitefully use you, and ^hpersecute you;

 45 That ye ^amay be the ^bchildren of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth ^crain on the just and on the unjust.

 46 For if ye ^alove them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

3 Nephi 12: 22 But I say unto you, that whosoever is ^aangry with his brother shall be in danger of his judgment. And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

 23 Therefore, ^aif ye shall come unto me, or shall desire to come unto me, and rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee—

 24 Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be ^areconciled to thy brother, and then come unto me with full ^bpurpose of heart, and I will receive you.

Here is the big kicker.   If you want to come unto Christ and there are people that have anger towards YOU, (not you towards them) go to them and make restitution with them.  

So, I've had a lot of anger in the past towards Jason and the Twitchells, but I think I've almost let it go.  There are others too, but I'm learning that to be the righteous one, turning the other cheek is the best thing to do.  My dad was awesome at doing this.  It may seem like signing up to get walked on, but it's just letting it go and not letting it bother you.  Do not let someone walk all over you and treat you like crap. Do not. 

Not reviling back when someone reviles at you is the Christian thing to do and avoids MORE sin.  They can keep their sin.  You take the higher road, forget the law of Moses and that eye for an eye stuff!

So while I still want to send a letter I wrote to the Twitchell's or send emails to Jason that are true, but sarcastic, rude and in your face, I don't. I don't because it will do no good for me.  It will only cause me harm (bad replies and proof for them I'm crazy and have not moved on) and increase my anger and my sin. I take the high road of self-denial.  The road where even if you are justified, you don't act.  The road that at first that can be painful, but in the end will bring more peace once time has lapsed.  Good job Becky for finally learning this lesson.  It's about time! 

 Proverbs 25: 21 If thine ^aenemy be ^bhungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall ^areward thee.

6 Desires

The Sunday school lesson I taught today to the 16 year olds was on 3 Nephi 17-19.   I used a teaching idea the manuel suggests of having the kids write down 6 desires and then share with them what the Nephities desired.  What they desired was the Holy Ghost.  After we read and I taught about this, I then asked them to cross off any desire that was not spiritual. 

None of the kids crossed off anything.  One young man asked a question asked about his desire for a good job.  I shared with him one of mine about getting out of debt and how that is spiritual to me because I'm in bondage.  Having a good job is a spiritual goal because he will be able to take care of his family.

Since I haven't shared anything spiritual in a while I thought I'd share what I wrote down.  Here are my desires. 

1. Financial worries gone
2. A temple marriage to a righteous husband.
3. Children
4. Anger completely gone, never to return.
5. knowledge about how to do my job better
6. Sarcasm and bitterness gone.

As I walked out of church I thought of another one I should of put down, but wasn't thinking of. 

7. Being able to forgive Jason.

Another thought came to me as I was preparing this.  Maybe the anger, bitterness, sarcasm would be gone once I had forgiven Jason.  Another thought came too.  However I am not just angry about Jason, but other people and situations as well.  I know that number 4 and 6 are biggies in my life right now.  I am sarcastic, angry and bitter A LOT of the time. But if I could forgive Jason I would need to assume my anger towards him would be gone. 

I'm trying to read a book my niece recommended that really helped her.  It's called Love is Letting Go of Fear.   This book says that the only goal we should have is peace of mind.  The book also states that forgiveness is our single function and the way to achieve peace of mine.

I didn't think I was going here, but I guess thinking through things is like therapy, which is why many counselors tell their clients to journal.

Not sure how to do all that, but I know I need to do it.  I'll ask my counselor and I'll turn to Heavenly Father and maybe the bishop.  There is SO MUCH under all of #4 and 6 that go WAY back that still plague me today. 

Oh.  The big message umbrella message that came to me while I was teaching today and shared with the kids was the Jesus knows and loves us all personally.  Ya, even in all our weaknesses and infirmities.  That's what I told then, but do I believe it enough to not make me hate myself enough to love and forgive others.  Enough to stand by myself and still feel my worth and value as an individual.  For decades now I've felt that I will never be completely healed of my infirmities until I am in the arms of my Savior.  Exactly what happened to the Nephities.

Wow- look at the way that all came around as I sat here and cried and thought my way through so many things.

Things I must share!

Julie B. Beck on blogging

Healing the Wounded Soul

The last 2 years have been some of the hardest of my life. I'm used to studying the scriptures- really studying them, digging in, but sad to say I've gone through spurts where I've tried to go it alone, meaning I haven't turned to God as much as I should.  For me studying the scriptures, any of the 4 standard works are helpful bringing in the spirit or teaching me how to respond to life, but The Book of Mormon especially does that.  It even says so in the book!

Jacob 2: 8 And it supposeth me that they have come up hither to hear the pleasing ^aword of God, yea, the word which healeth the wounded soul.

Jacob is a VERY righteous man.  In fact he, like many other prophets in the Old and New Testament, The Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price and of course The Book of Mormon had actually SEEN the Savior of the world, even Jesus Christ. (link above brings you to the list of those who have seen and talked to him from all 4 books)


Jacob is talking to his people and wants to give them good news, but he needs to call them to repentance instead of bringing them the the pleasing word of God to feast upon.  This is what he says in vs. 9:

Wherefore, it burdeneth my soul that I should be constrained, because of the strict commandment which I have received from God, to ^aadmonish you according to your crimes, to enlarge the wounds of those who are already wounded, instead of consoling and healing their wounds; and those who have not been wounded, instead of feasting upon the pleasing word of God have daggers placed to pierce their souls and wound their delicate minds.

One week I was overwhelmed with my life and everything I needed to do and then everything I wanted to do and I thought maybe I need to cut down on the scripture study and only do it on the weekends.  Oh, what a silly thought!  One night soon after that I read Jacob chapter 2 and realized how wrong I was.  Instead of dropping my scripture reading to almost nothing I need to drop other things.  If anyone needed healing it was me.

Reading the scriptures for me is like being healed.  Wouldn't it be wonderful to have the Master himself reach out and touch you?   The Book of Mormon can do that. If I'm really immersing myself they do that for me.  I go to bed thankful for the gospel of Jesus Christ, thankful that I have it,  that I know and understand it.  If for even just a short while my mind is put to rest or brought to higher things, the book has done at least part of what it's suppose to do.   It's done that for me, over and over again.  It could do that for you too. Feast upon the pleasing word of God and let it heal your soul!


Do you want to learn more?  Hop over to Jocelyn's Book of Mormon blog hop and read how the book has helped others! 

How Christ is the Father

Most the Christian world believes in the trinity that states that The Father,The Son and The Holy Ghost are one in essence- with no body- a trinity.  Mormons do not follow Historical Christianity, but Biblical and Revealed Christianity.  We know through prophets who give us revelation through the Lord himself that they are 3 distinct individuals.   The first revelation was to Joseph Smith when he SAW God The Father and his Son Jesus Christ.  As the Father did on the Mount of Transfiguration and at the Baptism of Jesus the Father introduced his Son and let him do the rest of the speaking.

There is no where in the Bible that resembles the doctrine of the trinity.  As I read the New Testament I mark to the side of  the verse, the number 2 and 3, each time separate beings are mentioned.  Try it sometime. You'll be surprised how often it is in there.

Mormons believe and know that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one in purpose, not in body.  They each have a roll to play.  However there are ways in which the Christ is a Father, our Father and The Book of Mormon explains this.  

Mosiah, a king in The Book Of Mormon explains it this way.  From ch 5:

 7 And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the ^achildren of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are ^bchanged through faith on his name; therefore, ye are ^cborn of him and have become his ^dsons and his daughters.

We are his children, he is our father through the covenant we make with him.   As we have faith on his name he changes us and we are born of him spiritually.  

Nephi, a prophet early on in the Book of Mormon also teaches us another way how Christ is our Father.  In 2 Nephi 25:

12 But, behold, they shall have ^awars, and rumors of wars; and when the day cometh that the ^bOnly Begotten of the Father, yea, even the Father of heaven and of earth, shall ^cmanifest himself unto them in the flesh, behold, they will reject him, because of their iniquities, and the hardness of their hearts, and the stiffness of their necks.

We know through this and other sacred scripture that the Father had the plan, the blueprint if you will for the creation of the earth, but it was the Savior who carried out the plan and did all the work.  He is the Father of heaven and earth.  Heaven meaning the sky around us. 

I testify that The Book of Mormon is the revealed word of God.  It is scripture.  I have read every word of the book over and over again and I know for myself, it is true!

The 5 Gospels Tradition

Many families will read from Luke ch 2 on Christmas Eve night as part of there traditions of celebration. I grew up with this tradition and sometimes we'd read from Matthew chapters 1-2 as well as Luke. I remember one Christmas Eve well, it was just my mom, dad and me. We read about Zacharias and Elizabeth and about Simeon and the widow at the temple too. It was a wonderful night filled with the spirit.

Another tradition came to me from a friend over 10 years ago. The tradition is this: Instead of reading of the Saviors birth one night a year, read about his whole life by reading all 4 gospels the 3 months before the sacred holiday.

Christs birth is prophesied in The Book of Mormon. It's in Helaman chapter 14. You can read it here. Even in America they knew about the star and 5 years from the date specified in that prophecy they saw the star.

Then in the next book called 3rd Nephi Christ comes to the people in America after his resurrection in the old world. Some call this the 5th gospel. This book tells about his visit after his mortal life on earth. He comes to his other lost sheep, also his covenant people, in the Americas after his resurrection in the old world.

If one starts on Oct 27 with Matthew continuing with Mark, Luke, John and then 3 Nephi reading 2 chapters a day you will
finish on Christmas!

healing a wounded soul.

I love the last 5 or so chapters of 2 Nephi. Many times when I've read those chapters I've fallen in love with Nephi and have felt that in the pre-mortal life I followed him around and listened to his words. The chapters are wonderful and full of doctrine.

I've tried to read my scriptures every day since I was 16 (I'm 39), but recently life has been so hectic that I actually thought of giving it up and only reading on Sundays. There are so many members who don't make the scriptures a life long pursuit and I've wondered how they can do that. The scriptures are such a boon to me. I don't know what I'd do with out them. I've had as prophets have said 'a love affair' with them'.

Last night I started to read Jacob ch 2. I read 1 verse and I felt the need, the impression I guess to pray. A scripture came to my mind- the scriptures will tell you all things what ye should do. I didn't think I'd find any mind blowing answers in this chapter, but maybe as I kept reading ideas and help would come. I know people have counseled to pray before you read so you have help to understand, but I've never found that to work for me. In fact it does the exact opposite.. I get more, much more by just reading and studying what comes to me. But I prayed. I prayed for the things I need, am fasting for.

Jacob ch 2 is about pride, plural wives and hearing the pleasing word or God vs. a call to repentance. Many things caught my attention. The pleasing word of God which healeth the wounded soul. I automatically thought of my experiences with my present bishop and my previous one. I went to have my soul healed. One time it happened and one time I heard nothing of the sort. With my life experiences the last 2 years that is what I needed, not a call to repentance. I got the pleasing word of God from Bishop Mix. He didn't read me any verses, but I heard the voice of the Lord through him. Again I'm thankful for that knowledge of what the word of God via the scriptures and a bishop can do for a person.

Then I came to the verses about seeking first the Kingdom of God verses riches. I love what it says about being in the phase of seeking for riches what you're suppose to seek them for- OTHERS, not yourself. I put a box around vs. 17, but studied the many foot notes of vs 18.

17 Think of your ^abrethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your ^bsubstance, that ^cthey may be rich like unto you.

18 But ^abefore ye seek for ^briches, seek ye for the ^ckingdom of God.

I'm in a terrible financial mess. I can't pay all my bills and need to make about 600 more a month. The non-profit credit counselor told me I should consider bankruptcy. Never in my life would I ever NEED to do that if I had not married. Never in my life would I ever consider that. I'm looking for a roommate to help a little.

Funny how the messages in that chapter were the things I'm dealing with. The scriptures have the answers.

S.E.E.D. (an experiment)

Did you know there are TWO invitations and tests in The Book of Mormon to find out if anything, especially spiritual things like the Book of Mormon is true. We of course know there is Moroni 10:3-5:

Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how ^amerciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ^bponder it in your ^chearts.

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ^aask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not ^btrue; and if ye shall ask with a ^csincere heart, with ^dreal intent, having ^efaith in Christ, he will ^fmanifest the ^gtruth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may ^aknow the ^btruth of all things.

But at Alma 32 give us another one and it is for faith and probably many other things we want to find the truth of. This one is for those scientific types. This one actually follows the scientific method basic's of a hypothesis, an experiment, analyzing the data, etc.

The questions: Are these things true? Should I believe?
Background: You need to study and read and find out as much as possible.
Hypothesis: The Book of Mormon is true because it helps me SEE and D.
Test: Plant the seed in your heart(notice it's not your head)
Annalyze that data: Does it do these things that are explained below?
Communicate results: This is what happened to me. It can happen to you. (why we send missionaries out and share our faith with our neighbors)

Here is the invitation:
27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than ^adesire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.

28 Now, we will compare the word unto a ^aseed. Now, if ye give place, that a ^bseed may be planted in your ^cheart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your ^dunbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

Do you see the SEED? If the seed is good and you have not cast it out by unbelief or resisted the Spirit it will

Swell within your breasts,
Enlarge your soul,
Enlighten your understanding and becomes
Delicious to you!

The Book of Mormon does that for me every time I read it- EVERY TIME!

The goal of planting a seed is to get a tree and get fruit!

What's so great about Alma 32 and this experiment is that it tells us the seed will die if we do not nourish it.

37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.

38 But if ye ^aneglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ^aground is ^bbarren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the ^atree of life.

41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with ^apatience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree ^bspringing up unto everlasting life.

42 And because of your ^adiligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the ^bfruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

I have tasted the fruit and it is sweet above all that is sweet and pure above all that is pure.
It is delicious to me.
Of this I testify.

The Messiah in America

The whole month of Oct over at http://beinglds.blogspot.com will be testimonies and answered questions about The Book of Mormon. I hope some of my posts here will be about that too.

Prophets in the Land

In my last blog I discussed all the things I've been thinking about and dealing with. Believe me when I say I was really stressed out with the all issues that could effect the future of America. Scripture studying took a back seat, as I spent too many nights up till 12 reading. Then I saw my General Conference edition of the Ensign, our church magazine for adults. I felt guilty for hardly picking it up except for looking at the pictures. But on Saturday night, I went babysitting. (Yes, I still do what I did at the age of 12.) I brought my magazine along instead a book, and after the girls went to bed I got down to reading. I read 13 talks.

When I watched and listened to Conference in October, as it was happening, what struck me was that there was nothing said about finances or getting your house in order. They had been saying that for years, especially the last 5. But as the bank crisis happened just a week or two before this, it was too late and it's not like they are going to say "we told you so!" Instead the message I got then was Hope and Unity. Basically, things are bad right now, but have hope and help each other. With all my thoughts and the turmoil of the world, it just felt like something was missing. Maybe they just picked the same old topic's as before. But after reading..... Well, my mind was changed.

That night I learned these talks were specifically for our day.

Consider Robert D. Hales talk Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship. This talk is about how to handle persecution. We often want to "put up our dukes", when those in the great and spacious building are mocking and pointing fingers, but we need to handle our accusers in the Saviors way. He spoke of 6 ways that true disciples handle conflict.

This was perfect! We didn't know that with in a month people with signs and hate messages would be picketing and vandalizing our temples telling us we were haters for voting and standing up for the Lord's truth.

Consider President Boyd K. Packer's talk The Test. This talk brought tears to my eyes while listening. His first sentence is; It is my purpose to show that in troubled times the Lord has always prepared a safe way ahead. Joseph Smith's trumped up charges, the extermination order from Missouri, and our three petitions to the United States Congress which were ignored, were just a few of the troubled times mentioned. Latter in LDS history, a celebration was to be held by the early saints. Not yet on American soil, they celebrated patriotism and loyalty to that same government which had rejected and failed to assist them. It was the story of the parade that brought tears to my eyes. The parade started with 24 young men all caring a copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States, then 24 young women carried a Book of Mormon and a Bible, then the Silver Grays, who were all 60 and over carried the flag.

This is perfect. Perfect for a forth of July story, and perfect because, like the men in power not living the Constitution then, today we have corrupted the Constitution and yet, we are still believer's in it's power. We still know that it was inspired by righteous men that God hand picked himself. It's also another testament that we can, as a people, overcome and be unified.

Consider Elder M. Russell Ballard's The Truth of God Shall Go Forth about the growth of the Church in the face of persecution. I found this immediately comforting! What a blessing to feel this regardless of the junk the church is facing right now.

This is perfect. I take comfort in the words of The Standard of Truth and D&C 3:1-3.

Consider Elder Russell M. Nelson's talk Celestial Marriage. While same sex marriage was not mentioned it clearly gives a message to us of what a marriage is.

This is perfect after the fiasco of Proposition 8 in California.

Many other talk were of help and perfect for our day now! It was a testimony to me that we really do have Prophets in the Land- 15 to be exact. Of this I am SO Thankful.

Ether 9:28 And there came prophets in the land again, crying repentance unto them—that they must prepare the way of the Lord or there should come a curse upon the face of the land;.....

The Book Of Mormon: Another Testiment of Jesus Christ