Seeing the world correctly

Many groups of people in the world see the exact same thing happen and have various ideas about whether it was good or bad, neutral, positive, or negative. What's important is to see things the right way, the way God sees them.

The Book of Mormon gives us a hint about how to see things in life the right way. Here's a verse in 1 Nephi 15 that explains the anchor to guide our decisions:

24 And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.

The word of God can guide our thinking and help us realize the right way to think and how to have the right perspective on many things. Most importantly, it will keep us from becoming blind due to the temptations and harmful intensity created by the adversary.

Have a great day.

Enjoy the scriptures.

Willingly Obedient and Quick to Learn; Applying the Scriptures to yourself and learning from ancestors

1 Nephi 5 is somewhat of a culminating chapter to the experience of going to get the plates. We're told of Sariah's complaints against Lehi but then of her testimony that God had indeed inspired her husband and protected and given power to her sons. We never hear of her complaining again despite the numerous trials they went through over the next several years. She appears to be quick to learn and doesn't forget the lessons she is taught. This is such a critical trait for us to have. We should not have to be taught by the Lord numerous times, and it's important that we retain the lessons he gives us. I admire Sariah very much. Here's her testimony in 1 Nephi 5:

8 And she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath ^acommanded my husband to ^bflee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could ^caccomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them. And after this manner of language did she speak.

We also learn what they initially prized from the plates of brass. They make particular mention of a few items, including that they were descendants of Joseph. In particular they mention that he too had his family preserved by the Lord and also that his descendants were led by God out of Egypt. This is very similar to what Nephi/Lehi were asked to do, and they probably found hope and faith and learned lessons through the scriptures and the story of Joseph and the Israelites. This is the second example we have of Nephi "applying the scriptures unto himself" (the first was in reminding his brothers that God delivered Moses, why wouldn't he deliver them from Laban). It's something he exhorts us to do later in 1 Nephi - (1 Nephi 19:23)). It becomes clear that it's something he did himself.

Also, note that they focused on the fact that Joseph was an ancestor. They learned from his example. Perhaps it's a message to us to pay attention to the lives of those who have come before us as there's things to learn from them as well. Interestingly, after reading about Joseph, his ancestor, Lehi then prophesies about his own posterity. Likely family was a powerful idea on his mind at the time. He also prophesied that the plates of brass would be important - they ended up keeping his posterity faithful (as we learn in Omni 1 by seeing that Muleki's descendants were no longer faithful) and would keep others faithful throughout time. The scriptures and family are 2 clearly important themes in this story.

Here's what they read and emphasized from the brass plates:

14 And it came to pass that my father, Lehi, also found upon the^aplates of brass a ^bgenealogy of his ^cfathers; wherefore he knew that he was a descendant of ^dJoseph; yea, even that Joseph who was the son of ^eJacob, who was ^fsold into Egypt, and who was^gpreserved by the hand of the Lord, that he might preserve his father, Jacob, and all his household from perishing with famine.

15 And they were also ^aled out of captivity and out of the land of Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them.

Here's his prophesy on family and the scriptures:

17 And now when my father saw all these things, he was filled with the Spirit, and began to prophesy concerning his seed—

18 That these ^aplates of brass should go forth unto all ^bnations, kindreds, tongues, and people who were of his seed.

19 Wherefore, he said that these plates of brass should ^aneverperish; neither should they be dimmed any more by time. And he prophesied many things concerning his seed.

Let's take advantage of the scriptures and become as close to family as possible.

Have a great day.

Preparation for receiving the Gospel - understanding of the Scriptures

While sometimes being immersed in another religion can make it difficult for someone to receive/understand the Gospel, in many times it is an advantage. It appears that understanding the scriptures, while not being too dogmatic allows someone to accept new truth that comes along.

For example, consider King Agrippa, who apparently knew the scriptures and was close to accepting the gospel.

Acts 26:
27 King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest.

28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

Paul was able to tie together the prophecies of the scriptures with the coming of Jesus (showing the fulfillment of those prophecies). Agrippa, likely recognizing how nice the additional truth sounded and perhaps felt, was somewhat accepting of the message. It is so helpful when people consider and love the scriptures, as it makes them much more likely to accept our message, that there are prophets in the land again in preparation for Christ's second coming.