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A blog for the summer Book of Mormon Readers to share comments and insights!
Book of Mormon Challenge!
This blog is for those who accepted the challenge to read through the Book of Mormon this summer, as inspired by Aldo! Post comments for the sections that you've read in each of the blog posts. Each week will have the next sections.
Blog Archive
"There is a book we need to study daily, both as individuals and as families, namely the Book of Mormon. I love that book. It is the book that will get a person nearer to God by abiding by its precepts than any other book."
-President Benson, 1986.
Get the full talk here.
I want to thank Chase for creating this blog as another tool that we can use to help accomplish this goal. I want to thank everyone who has come on board in this wonderful opportunity to help in building our testimonies of The Book of Mormon and to share it with others.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite verse from the first chapter is the last verse 20. I love this part: "... that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."
ReplyDeleteI think since the Lord is so powerful we sometimes thing he could be stern or serious, but when they say "tender mercies of the Lord" it makes me feel like the Lord is kind and tender.
Awesome verse Chels!!!
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of appearing cheap in my reading I am always struck as I read the BoM for the 100th time (notice I said 'start') with Nephi's first words. Why did Mormon choose to use this text to start this epic book? With all the work he had to do in abridging the plates did he talk about Nephi as a son, and therefore Lehi and Sariah as parents. I believe it is a direct message to us in these days.
ReplyDelete1. Teach your children now.
2. We all have struggles.
3. Keep journals
I, Nephi, having been aborn of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.
The part of the first chapter that I love is the vision that Lehi has. He's downtrodden, feeling discouraged because, I don't know, he just had a vision where he saw his entire city being destroyed, his friends, his neighbors, and this is where he was called to preach, so it was also his mission land. No wonder it says he "cast himself on his bed" and he's taken up in another vision.
ReplyDeleteIn this vision, The Savior and the 12 Apostles come down from heaven, and they give in a book (v. 11) and bid him to read it. Then he prays after reading the book and then this in verse 15: "And after this manner was the language of my father in the praising of his God; for his soul did rejoice, and his whole heart was filled, because of the things which he had seen," all because he read from a book, and prayed about it. It sounds terribly similar to a challenge Moroni gives in the last chapter of the BOM where he exorts all of us to read from the book and to pray about it. From the first chapter to the last, the message seems to be pretty clear!
A few thoughts while reading Chapters 1 & 2 (because I'm the type that can't just follow the program and read it once a day like I should).
ReplyDelete-Journal keeping: He calls this an account of his struggles. I've never thought to record my struggles. I try to make my journal as squeaky clean and seemingly amazing as possible. I think I should start including my struggles and trials for my posterity, because by looking through Nephi's struggles, we've learned so much.
-Parenting: It's interesting reading the BOM with a new perspective as a parent. In chapter 2, when Lehi advises his children and pleads with Lamen & Lemuel to be steadfast, you can feel how much it must bother him that he can't reach these sons.
-Personal Revelation: These 2 chapters have a lot of visions and personal revelations. It shows how important it is to be in tune with the spirit so we can receive personal revelations for ourselves and our families. Where would Lehi and his family be later on if they hadn't listened to God telling him to leave town? It says he left all of his possessions, not to mention all of the comforts of home, to live in a tent. This must have been rough to receive this answer, the hard answer, rather than just telling Lehi, "hey, you're faithful, I'll save the whole city so you can hang out here & live out your days in peace and happiness". The Lord's answer wasn't the easy one, but Lehi chose the right. It's no wonder that Nephi was so strong and courageous, he had a great example through his father.
What a wonderful promise the Lord made to no just Nephi, but to all of us. Such a simple concept. Keep his commandments and we will prosper. I've witnessed this first hand. My parents being worthy to enter into the temple one visit to the Buenos Aires Temple, my Dad received personal revelation to uproot his family, and bring us here. My parents were able to sell everything, but they still left their home they built with their own hands, they left their family and friends, and because of their righteousness and obedience the Lord provided a way to "prosper" and delivered our family to the promised land.
ReplyDelete20 "And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other land."