1 Nephi - Chapter 15

My natural inclination would be that Nephi would return from his vision invigorated for having been granted such a great blessing.  Instead he was utterly spent.  Such seems to be regularly the case.  Moses and Sidney Rigdon are just a couple of examples.  Also, when after Lehi received his first vision, he went home and cast himself upon his bed.  Such experiences appear to be a physical as well as spiritual ordeal.  I wonder why that is.  I wonder what the nature of their exertions are that should leave them so spent that they need to recuperate afterwards.

Possibly, with divine assistance, the capacity of their minds are enhanced sufficiently to receive large amounts of information in a short period of time.  Both Nephi and Moses seem to have been shown the future in such detail as to have required days to see and comprehend.  It is unlikely that much time elapsed.  Couple that with the utter dismay Nephi must have felt beholding the outcome, which clearly caused him such distress that he thought himself the most afflicted of all people.  My heart goes out to him.  I thank God that I have no idea what tomorrow will bring.  Today is often as much as I can handle.

That begs another question.  Am I remiss in not wanting to see the things which Lehi saw?  I admit that I am content to know that he and Nephi have told me the truth.  That much has been shown me by them in their words and the Spirit has witnessed to me that their words are true.  I am content with that, but perhaps I should seek more.  What do you think?

I have loved living in this day, only dreamed of by the prophets of old.  We are so blessed to be eye witnesses to the blessings of the Restoration.  How marvelous to see first hand, the gathering of Israel and then to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Saints as we gather in our Wards, Stakes and in General Conference and sing praises to God for his great gifts.  To Nephi, these days must have seemed so far off and the conflict, distruction and despair in the foreground of that view must have been a burden beyond imagination.

I remember a Priests Quorum Adviser who complained.  "There is so much we could do, but have you seen the boneheads I've been given to work with?"  His boneheads all eventually went on missions and turned out great.  When compared to Nephi's boneheads, they were angels.  That Nephi never gave up, in light of what he had seen of the future is such a mighty tribute to his character.

1 Nephi - Chapter 14

Verse two has an intriguing phrase:  "...they shall be numbered among the seed of thy father..."  It seems to me that this could mean one of two things.  Either it means that the Gentiles who are converted and leave the Great and Abominable Church are included in the blessings promised to the seed of Lehi or it must mean that those converts shall literally become the seed of Lehi.  Oh, I guess there is a third possibility.  Perhaps the antecedent to thy father is Joseph or Israel rather than Lehi.

Our late Stake Patriarch often taught that it was the second choice - that we are adopted into the House of Israel through the lineage of Lehi.  I'm not sure that makes sense, though I wouldn't resist.  Lehi's choices led to the creation of The Book of Mormon and that book is vital to the restoration and the removal of our stumbling blocks with regard to Salvation and Exaltation.  Perhaps Lehi's choices did, not only enable him to lay claim to us spiritually, but also genealogically.  To me, it doesn't matter either way.  I just wonder why the phrase was stated ambiguously, when Nephi intended to be plain spoken.  Any thoughts?

I remember, growing up, that it was widely believed that the Catholic Church was the Great and Abominable.  That belief was put to rest by the First Presidency.  Today, it is much more obvious that the Great and Abominable Church is more generic than that and must include a much broader spectrum of error and evil and clearly extends beyond even the bounds of organized religion.

It surprises me too, that it is ever more evident that God is indeed pouring out His wrath upon The Great and Abominable Church and is doing so globally.  How provincially we viewed things 50 years ago, compared to now.  Clearly, the name Great and Abominable Church is a collective term representing the same group that is elsewhere metaphorically described as Babylon.  That makes the The Church of the Lamb of God a representation of Zion.  At least from my perspective, I can see no error in making no distinction between the terms.  One important message in it seems to be that conceivably members of the LDS Church could be lingering in Babylon, or actually members of The Great and Abominable Church.

I need to be very careful here.  I do not wish to make accusations or even to encourage anyone to scrutinize fellow Mormons, in order to spot the Babylonians.  I just know that when, during my many years of addiction, though I attended church regularly and went through all of the motions of being a Mormon, I was very much caught up in the belief systems of the whore of all the earth.  I was, as Elder Maxwell put it, "keeping a summer home in Babylon."  Membership in the Church of the Lamb is, in my view a sub-set of membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  To the degree that we, as Nephi puts it, "trust in the arm of the flesh," we remain in affiliation with the Great and Abominable Church.  Remember there are only two churches.  The distinction is not a matter of outward affiliation, neither is it one of perfection.  Imperfect people belong to both Churches.  The distinction lies in whether we rely upon the merits and mercy of Christ or foolishly trust in our own capabilities.

1 Nephi - Chapter 13

So often we hear offensive statements about religion, like these:

“If there is a God, atheism must seem to Him as less of an insult than religion.” ~ Edmond de Goncourt

“When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said, 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them we had the Bible and they had the land.” ~ Bishop Desmond Tutu

“Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you'd have good people doing good things and evil people doing bad things, but for good people to do bad things, it takes religion.” ~ Steven Weinberg
 
“We have just enough religion to make us hate, but not enough to make us love one another.” ~ Jonathan Swift

“The tendency to turn human judgments into divine commands makes religion one of the most dangerous forces in the world.” ~ Georgia Harkness

"Behold the formation of a church which is most abominable above all other churches, which slayeth the saints of God, yea, and tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron, and bringeth them down into captivity."  1 Nephi 13:5

I must admit that I've looked upon comments like those above, with a good amount of disdain.  But, in light of the angel's comment, quoted also, above; I should be looking upon the people who made those observations with a goodly amount of charity.  I guess I assumed them to be lumping the Restored Gospel into the mix.  Clearly, these observations are entirely justified and the folks who made them, perhaps among the most honest and courageous around.

We can only hope to show everyone that there is religion that lacks abomination and that is not rooted in such.

Because of the abomination of religion and the "plain and precious" things that have been removed from the Bible, we are eye witnesses to the stumbling of the Gentiles.  The cure for that stumbling lies in seeking to bring forth Zion.  The more her beautiful banners are unfurled before the world, the more good people will recognize her safety, peace and purity.  Clearly the scriptures of the Restoration are key to this, most especially The Book of Mormon.

Lately, I've bought into a dooms day mentality regarding America and her current woes.  Somehow, this chapter has filled me with hope.  I felt as I read this morning, that we are just beginning the process of removing the stumbling blocks created by the Abominable Church and that there lies before us a glorious period of clarity, joy and triumph as the Gentiles and the remnant of Israel, through discovery of restored truth, have those stumbling blocks removed.

1 Nephi - Chapter 12

This had to be a most difficult portion of Nephi's vision, so full of darkness and sorrow.  Right after the blessing of seeing the majestic life of the Savior; to have to witness so much war and destruction among his own posterity.

The way in which the vision is presented to Nephi interests me.  Nephi sees the "mist of darkness" that Lehi saw and the next verse segues into the "vapor of darkness" that encompassed the people at the time of Christ's crucifixion.  What a poignant and interesting visual effect to go from a metaphorical description of the temptations of the devil, to a literal manifestation of the results of succumbing to that temptation.  Similarly, he sees the cities and buildings of his descendants crumble to the earth and then views and understands the meaning of the "large and spacious building" his father saw.  He sees the great division between the peoples of the Land of Promise and witnesses the great gulf that divides the righteous from the proud and they that do wickedly; again, literally as well as metaphorically.  When we watch the evening news, do we make similar comparisons between the symbols of Lehi's Dream and the literal manifestations of his message that surround us?

1 Nephi - Chapter 11

Verse two has caught my attention this morning.  The Spirit of the Lord says to Nephi, "Behold, what desirest thou?"  I suppose that could be altered to something like "Here am I, what desirest thou?"  Which would make sense, especially since Nephi is gazing upon the Lord.  That interestingly phrased question might also mean, "Before you is what you ought to desire, what do you desire?"  I have occasionally heard invitations to pray by the Spirit, or in other words to let the Spirit guide my prayers.  I often thought it odd that I should let God tell me what I wanted, needed or should pray for.

As I have grown in maturity, I've discovered that the quality of our answers is completely dependent upon the quality of our questions.  Would it not make sense to let God guide our questions then?  Could it be that the Lord's oddly placed behold was an invitation to select a slightly different question than what Nephi intended to ask?  Maybe Nephi had come in prayer with a notion or two about his father's dream that were incorrect assumptions.  Perhaps the Lord knew that if Nephi asked the wrong questions he might come to the wrong conclusions.  Anyway, right or wrong about the wording of that sentence, my thoughts have guided me to seek the Spirit more diligently, in the questions I ask, the blessings I seek and the desires I select.

With the vision comes responsibility.  Nephi is told he must be a witness.  By implication, and later by action, Nephi accepts that calling.  What a blessed thing to witness the glorious life of the Master.  At the Detention Center, one of my Councilors often shows the video Finding Faith In Christ.  As we get a new batch of kids every six weeks or so, my friend shows us that video every couple of months.  Over three years that amounts to around 18 times I've seen it.  Every time I feel the Spirit confirm it's truth to me as I watch the glorious events of the Savior's life unfold on the video screen.  How the quality of that video presentation compares with what Nephi saw remains a mystery to me; but, in a very real and poignant way, I have been privileged to "see what (Nephi and his father) saw.  Seeing that video, in the company of the Holy Ghost, at least to a degree, can and in my case has, had the same effect as Nephi's vision.

More and more, I am thankful to live in this day and age of freedom, technology, ease, information, Priesthood and restoration.  I rejoice that in ways we do not adequately appreciate, we can envision the life of the Savior in ways never before possible.  Like Nephi, though I do not know the meaning of all things, I know He loveth his children.

1 Nephi - Chapter 10

I is interesting to me that Lehi sees so much detail of the future that he can quote John the Baptist.  I have often wondered how I'd have felt, relying upon an Atonement that chronologically, hadn't happened yet.  I suspect that the detail of Lehi's vision and the subsequent description might have made it more real for me.

It appears that Lehi's family did not know many details regarding when, how, where the Atonement would transpire.  After his dream, Lehi is able to describe in great detail what was to take place.  Being able to visualize it would have helped me a lot!

I might interject that in and around the Great Council in Heaven, we all had to face the same thing.  We all had to decide if we were going to rely on Jesus to do what He said He would.  If we're here and mortal, we clear chose to do so.  I don't really know if it took more faith to believe before the event than it does after the fact, but it gives me pause to ponder.  It seems clear that the Atonement was in full effect in their lives though.  They were able to repent.  Their sacrifices and baptisms yielded remission of sins.  The Atonement was infinite and universal so its effects clearly flooded, rich and powerful, through the expanse of time as well as that of space.

Lehi exhorts his family to be of one accord in their quest for the Promised Land.  The Greek word that most commonly is translated into exhort or exhortation in the New Testament means to call along side or invite into fellowship.  It's meaning seems to have deteriorated to something less inviting in modern English.  I believe Lehi is inviting his family to be of one heart and one mind.  Oh, that it could have been so.  It must have been such a disappointment for him to have seen such a blessed vision of the possibilities and then to see some of his children reject the great gift that was offered to them.  Clearly, it was not the loss of individuals alone, that troubled him.  The loss of collective strength and harmony had to trouble him as well.

It is one thing to be shown great things.  It is another to discover their truth and meaning for ourselves.  I have no doubt that Nephi believed his father's account.  It would have been easy to accept it and go on.  Something I do all the time.  So many times, reading The Book of Mormon, I have just accepted that what I understood was all there was to understand.  Over and over I would tell myself, "I get that."  "I understand."  Only to discover later that I didn't understand at all.  When I read Farrell's great book The Peace Giver, I only marked one passage.  It was counsel from a wise grandfather to his grandson, "Don't be so quick to understand."  The grandfather then went on to show the young man, and me how very much we didn't understand.  Thank goodness Nephi wasn't so quick to conclude that he understood.  Rather, he went to the Lord and plead to see and I think more importantly, to understand what his father had seen.  I hope it will ever be so with me.

1 Nephi - Chapter 9

That God could know in advance and prepare for Martin Harris' loss of the early Book of Mormon manuscripts is interesting and wonderful.  Salvaging Martin Harris' boo boo took revelation to Nephi and Mormon, not to mention effort on the part of each of them.  The story can be faith promoting.  It can also sound like a lame excuse to cover a fraud.  Which means it is a tool for separating the sheep from the goats, so to speak.  Right off the bat!  That God would anticipate and correct such an enormous problem, so far in advance, is wonderful and believable.  The possibility that he could, and probably does create and use such things in our own lives is very real.  (See  Coincidence?  I Don't Think So  for a recent example)  It isn't that He could or would that interests me.  What interests me is that He did do that, rather than just preventing the loss instead.

Clearly the answer to that question is that Joseph and Martin both had important lessons to learn from the incident and that learning from our mistakes is a vital part of God's plan for us.  Is it not wonderful, that God would orchestrate in our lives, such elaborate opportunities to learn and grow!

There is another element of the story that I had not thought of before.  During the translation of those 116 pages, Joseph Smith learned some things that may, even yet, be hidden from the rest of us.  I think there is a very real possibility that Joseph needed to understand some things from Lehi's family and travels, that we do not.  Here, in addition to all of the other reasons for the inclusion of the Small Plates of Nephi, may be the most important of all - a little aside between God and his prophet, if you will.  One that probably wouldn't have been necessary later, when Joseph was more adept and receiving revelation, but that may have been critical in those early moments of the restoration.  I have a testimony that Mormon was guided by God in what to include and what not to include in his abridgment.  Clearly, then, what he included in that lost portion was not to be wasted.  I suspect that it was far from wasted.

1 Nephi - Chapter 8

I love Lehi's Dream.  I think, rather than focus on the symbolism and meaning of the dream's elements, which we'll surely examine in more detail when Nephi receives and interprets the vision, I'd like to think about a couple of other things.

One is that Lehi shared the dream with his family in the tender hope that he could help prepare them for God's great gifts.

The other is the manner in which the dream can do that.  Consider the close parallels between Lehi's Dream and the Savior's Parable of the Sower.  Essentially, they both examine the nature and behavior of four types of people.  No, I don't want to say types.  That would imply that if I were born a "stony ground" person I was doomed to wither and die.  Rather, I'd say four types of preparation to hear the word.  The key to Lehi's Dream and the Parable of the Sower is in preparing the ground to receive the seed.  It is seed sown in our hearts and minds.  The seed or the Word of God, is viable in all cases.  The seed is not in question.  The question is the manner in which we choose to receive it.

Lehi has just immersed himself in the scriptures.  It appears this is probably the first time he's had complete access and opportunity to do so.  Certainly, it was not a one time event and he surely studied the Brass Plates for the rest of his life.  In his dream he learned that his children would benefit from The Word of God in their lives as well.  In fact the Word of God was key to their success in negotiating the challenges presented in this very Telestial world.

Making the Parable of the Sower comparison helped me realize the primary difference between those who partook of the fruit and those who did not, was humility or the manner in which we receive the Word.  This past Summer Sweetie and I created some raised bed gardens in our back yard.  We prepared our own soil of 1/3 Peat Moss, 1/3 Perlite, and 1/3 Compost.  Never in our long lives of gardening have we seen plants flourish as they did this Summer.  The soil was prepared to receive and nurture the seed and the yield surpassed our wildest dreams.  When I harvested the potatoes, planted one hill per square foot, the soil was so soft and loamy that I sifted out the spuds with my fingers.  Each hill yielded 10 pounds of potatoes!  (A parallel to the Parable of the Talents.)

What if we prepared our hearts to receive the Word of God in such a manner.  God can chasten, instruct, bless and even afflict, but it is we who must humble ourselves.  Of late, my heart has been hard and stony. Today's reading has been a wake up call.  I have need of making my heart more like my raised bed gardens.  I have great need of repentance.  My heart needs to be lifted above the hard soil of the world around me by forgiveness and a remission of my sins.  Then if I can mix the peat moss of humility, the Perlite of willingness and the compost of experience in healthy proportions, I might expect a bountiful yield from the seed the Lord sows in my heart.  I must come when I am beckoned, cling when I am darkened, remain when I am scorned and partake when I'm redeemed.

A Baptist Minister Shares His Testimony of The Book of Mormon!

Here's a bit of a diversion from our normal business here.  I just have to share it with you.  It's an article called -

The Baptist Version
of
The Book of Mormon

Protestant Doctrines within the Book of Mormon

by
Lynn Ridenhour,

Southern Baptist Minister

What a fun and enlightening read!

1 Nephi - Chapter 7

I don't ordinarily seek answers outside the text.  I have two reasons.  One concerns time constraints and the other concerns a conviction that what I need is right before my eyes, the rest is relative fluff.  But, while looking for a picture for today's post I stumbled upon an interesting article dealing with whether or not Lehi had daughters and about some commentary of Joseph Smith's regarding the content of the 116 pages of lost manuscript that sheds some light on Lehi and Ishmael's families.  If you have time, you can read it here:

http://www.farmsnewsite.farmsresearch.com/publications/jbms/?vol=4&num=1&id=94

I was beginning to rethink our conclusion, earlier in the week, that the slaying of Laban and loss of Lehi's riches had closed the door on Laman and Lemuel's return to Jerusalem.  Then I read Nephi's question to them, "..if ye have choice.."  I think in those words, Nephi was reminding them that what they wanted to do was impossible at worst and impractical at best.  Certainly, Laman and Lemuel and at least some sons of Ishmael ( Here is says, and their families.  I wonder if Lehi and Sariah had daughters who'd already married into Ishmael's family and had been left behind.) were frustrated.  Frustration is a red flag indicating that we want what we can't have.  I think that's probably what Nephi was reminding them of.  In their hearts, they knew it, they knew he was right, and that made them all the more angry.  Their thinking didn't have to be logical.  It is not all that uncommon for us to work ourselves into a frenzy over silliness.  I think that is mostly because we feel trapped.

I have learned in the process of recovery from addiction that if I seek the will of the Lord instead of seeking my own will, I never get frustrated.  Frustration ONLY comes when we are seeking our own will.  So it is here with Laman, Lemuel and the others.

When, after persuasion, and perhaps a cooling off period, they accepted reality.  When they thought things through and accepted the truth of their situation and the evident guidance they'd been given from God, they actually did repent and seek, honestly for forgiveness.

I think the key is in Nephi's question, "How have ye forgotten?"  There is much in the world to distract me.  That is why I feel such an earnest need to spend serious time in The Book of Mormon everyday.  It is a strategy to keep these things in remembrance.  It is easy to forget, just like Laman and Lemuel did.  Remembering, requires effort.  Regular study of the scriptures, most especially The Book of Mormon helps me keep on remembering.

1 Nephi - Chapter 6

I don't think Nephi was selective in what he included in his record because he was stingy with the space.  His desire to persuade men to come unto God and be saved is the focus of his writing.

It is interesting that here he refers to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  So, far He is not called Christ.  I'm going to watch for the incident when His name is revealed to them.  Apparently, it is not given in the Plates of Brass, or Nephi would know it by now.

My grandmother kept a record for her posterity.  A record, that testifies of Christ.  A record that is persuasive in helping me come unto Him.  Surely, these were not idle days, where the luxury of keeping a record could fill empty time.  Yet, Nephi took the time to write.  And we are the beneficiaries of his effort.  We would do well to do the same for our posterity.  This chapter makes me think that perhaps I should make a set of "small plates" so to speak.  I write an extensive journal.  So large that I doubt if anyone will want to wade through the extent of it's long daily entries.  Perhaps it would be good if I started a less cumbersome record that is specifically refined to only those things most precious and of worth to my children.  I think I will.

After reading The Book of Mormon so many times, I have come to the conclusion that there is nary a wasted or unintentional word in the entire book.  Having made that determination, I often pause and ponder at words, stories or expressions that seem insignificant and ask, "What is God's purpose here?"  I'm convinced that there is meaning and blessing in every word if we will just seek it.  Everyone from Nephi to Mormon took Nephi's edict to heart, every word is carefully, prayerfully selected and of worth.  Some, I don't understand yet, but if I work at it I hope I will.  Others have been made plain and I have found hidden truths in places I would have never expected.

1 Nephi - Chapter 5

Isn't is fascinating that the derisive word Sariah used to accuse Lehi was the truth?  Lehi was a visionary man, but somehow she had given that term a distasteful connotation.  I suppose we all do the same thing when we know what's right, but don't like or some how feel to resist it.  It's kind of like the man who groans because his, Relief Society President, wife gets a phone call that yet another funeral will take place in their Ward.  We all do it, when we know what is right, but what is right interferes with our plans.  That crossing over, from seeking our own will and surrendering to Father's is one I'm struggling with enormously right now.  I'm like Sariah, very much in this respect.

When Lehi mentions that he has "obtained a land of promise" he tells us very much about the strength and power of his faith.  He clearly demonstrates this notion, by lingering in the Valley of Lemuel long enough to thoroughly read the plates of brass.  He seems in no rush to be in the land of promise.  It is already his and the journey is just as rewarding as the destination.  I need this lesson big time.  I need to learn to live in the here and now and quit longing for the blessed day when the journey is over.  I tend to live in the future.  "Things will be so sweet when I retire."  "It will be such a relief to have an empty nest."  "The sun will come up tomorrow."  They're all variations on a discontented theme in my life.  Here Lehi is showing me that the promise of milk and honey is mine, not just in my future but right here, right now.  Maybe one reason he was better at it than we modern folk tend to be, is because he knew how to rely on an Atonement that hadn't even happened yet.  For the next six hundred years of story line in The Book of Mormon, we will observe that great testimony, that Christ will come, will live a perfect life, will give His life and will redeem.  They had indeed obtained the promise toward which they journeyed, spiritually, if not physically.

1 Nephi - Chapter 4

It can be a troubling thing, to be"...led by the Spirit not knowing beforehand..." what you should do.  The key though is to be led by the Spirit.  The not knowing is often a blessing too.

I remember, while reading my grandmother's journal; I accidentally skipped a page and became aware that Uncle Lawrence was going to pass away on the following day.  When I went back to the page I had intended to read, the clan was having a family reunion.  They played baseball, visited, ate and laughed together.  All the while, not knowing, that Uncle Lawrence was to be taken from them the following day.  How a foreknowledge of that event would have changed the complexion of the reunion.  Reading the account I found myself realizing a little bit about God's perspective and His goodness.  Surely, He knew of Uncle Lawrence's approaching demise.  How kindly, He withheld that knowledge from everyone.

Of course not knowing calls for a measure of Faith and is important in that respect as well.  But, how kind God was to Nephi, in not making him stress about the "gory details" as he went forth to keep His commandments.

Here, for the first of many times, the Israelite Exodus is cited as a motivating example of God's power of deliverance.  That benchmark event in the history of Israel, still has that power today.  The plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, the manna, the pillars of smoke and fire, all reminders of God's great power.  Even then, when Moses approached the Israelites and told them they had been liberated, they were reluctant to go.  Why would they choose bondage over freedom, you might ask?  I think the choice is never between bondage and freedom, but rather between bondage and the unknown.  How important then, to be led by the Spirit, into the unknown, so it can truly be manifest as freedom.  Most of Israel took their bondage with them into Sinai and never actually, became free.  I am like them and long to be like Nephi.

1 Nephi - Chapter 3

This chapter is dear to my heart.  Trusting that the Lord will provide has been an elemental theme in my life.  Sometimes I have, sometimes I have not - trusted.  Always, it has been accompanied by the opportunity to grow in trust and acquaintance with God.

This principle promises that God will always provide.  It also seems to promise that it will include an element of difficulty.  I am grateful to revisit this particular story, today.  Today I am unemployed and in need of divine assistance.  I am reminded of a previous time in my life when my circumstances were similar.  I had owned a business which failed.  On the final day, my partner and I closed the doors and divided up the cash in the till.  $100.00 for him and $100.00 for me.  The following morning, Sunday, my Bishop called me in for a visit.  As I sat in his office I expected a new Ward calling.  Instead, he informed me that accompanying the new High School being built in our community, a new Seminary building would be required.  He then asked that my family contribute $100.00 to the Seminary building fund.  Looking back, I think it is significant that I was asked for the exact amount of money I had in my pocket.

I explained, that morning, to the Bishop, that I was unemployed, deep in debt, had a family to feed, bills to pay, and that $100.00 was literally all I had to my name.  Kindly, the Bishop excused me from my obligation.  As we are wont to do in such humbling circumstances, I went home from church and began again, to read The Book of Mormon.  I came to 1 Nephi 3:7.  As I read that wonderful account of Nephi's faith, the Spirit whispered assurance that the same principle applied to me.  Filled with faith, bolstered by this scripture and the companionship of the Holy Ghost, I got up, returned to my Bishop and gave him every cent I had in my possession.

That afternoon we went to my Mother-in-law's for supper and upon our return, found a friend standing on our front porch.  We invited him in and chatted a while.  Then he explained that he'd been sitting in Sacrament Meeting in his Ward.  While there he'd offered a silent prayer that Heavenly Father would guide him to someone who would both work for him on his Oil Field Service Rig and be a clean spoken, clean living companion on out of town jobs.  He told me that my name had been impressed upon his mind.  He'd had no idea my business had failed, but came to see me anyway.  He pleadingly offered me the job accompanied by a $1500.00 signing bonus, both of which I gratefully accepted.  Today, I can't drive by or visit that Seminary building without feeling deeply grateful to a loving Heavenly Father, who always provides a way to keep all of His commandments.

1 Nephi - Chapter 2

Metaphorically speaking, everyone wants the promised land.  At least in my experience we all long for a land of freedom, milk and honey, peace and prosperity.  The question is then, are we willing to sacrifice what we now have for something better?  Are we willing to go, with an eye of faith, into a wilderness of discomfort, challenge, education and preparation to receive such a gift?  When we do so, what is the force behind our journey?  Are fleeing something and thus motivated by fear?  Or, are we pursuing something and motivated by faith?  Perhaps a combination of the two.

I felt a strong suspicion today, that though Lehi was warned to leave Jerusalem in order to save their lives, he'd have gladly stayed behind, like Jeremiah, if that had been the desire of God.  I would put Lehi and Nephi in the category of those not fleeing from, but seeking for.  While it is easy to identify with murmuring Laman and Lemuel, they were different than anyone I know, they were willing to murder their father in order to keep their material possessions and the life they had known.  I don't believe I know anyone that seriously rebellious and vile.  As for me, I seek the promised land, but so far my progress has been grossly retarded by my desire to take my possessions with me.  The effort has become such a logistical nightmare and has so seriously retarded my progress that I've begun despair that I might never arrive.  It is clear to me this morning, that I have serious need to lighten my load.

I might have learned this long ago.  My friend Randy invited me a few years ago to accompany him on a six day, 60 mile backpacking trip into and back out of the Grand Canyon.  He insisted that we travel light.  I have done some backpacking and ordinarily on such a trip I'd have taken about 50 pounds of pack.  Randy insisted I cut that weight down to 25 pounds.  We sawed off the handles of toothbrushes, substituted light weight pants for blue jeans, took no change of clothes, whittled here and trimmed there.  He went over the rim with 23 pounds, and I with 24 including 8 pounds of water each.  We never missed a thing we left behind, we ate well and substantially and made wonderful progress everywhere we went.  Occasionally, we'd pass someone laboring along with 50+ pounds on his back and rejoice that we were not so encumbered.  On our third day in someone asked us how we'd come so deep into the Canyon on a day hike.  Our packs were that small.  We were virtually skipping along and as we sipped our water, our loads got lighter as each day progressed.  As we consumed our food our loads got lighter still.

This morning, lesson learned, I've concluded that I need to lighten my load, both spiritually and physically in my pursuit of the promised land.  I've been possessed by my possessions and the hungry heard of camels required to bring it all with me.  The silliest part of all is that even if I managed to drag it all to the gate of my promised land, I'll be required to leave it all outside anyway.  Something tells me that much of the peace I seek will be found in the liberation that lightening my load will bring.  I suspect that if I actually manage to keep up with you guys on this journey we've begun, it will be because I kept this morning's resolve.

By the way, thank you all for joining up with The Book of Mormon Today.  Especially, let me thank Kathy Kidd for publicizing the project in her wonderful Meridian Magazine column.  We ought to take a poll on that.  I suspect there'd only be three or four of us here were it not for Kathy's kindness.  Also, thanks to each, of you who have shared your wisdom and insight in the various and thoughtful comments you've shared.  Perhaps one of you ought to write the posts rather than I and let me make comments.  I read, enjoy and learn from every contribution you make.  And finally, thank you for being there and thus motivating me to actually get up every morning to do this.  I am the beneficiary here and I deeply appreciate the gifts you each bring to this project.

1 Nephi - Chapter 1

Wow!  Already, this is such fulfilling fun!  Yesterday Wendy suggested looking for patterns.  Today, it seems, that was all I could see.  Lehi is shaken by a vision of the world's troubles; we too, see trouble all around.  He is given a book by the Lord, invited to read it and was thus filled with the Spirit; we too have a book given by the gift and power of God, are invited to read and be filled with the Spirit.  He learns of the Atonement and pleads for the mercy only Christ can offer; we too are utterly dependent upon the Savior for deliverance.  Lehi keeps a record of all he sees and hears; Nephi follows his example and by extension, we are encouraged to do the same.

The parallels are powerful.  Is not the world in a similar plight to that of Jerusalem?  Is it not being, or on the verge of being, destroyed and/or carried captive into Babylon?  From the personal perspective of a recovering addict, I know first hand about the captivity of Babylon.  If you listen to the voices of our current prophets, the insidious plague of addiction, especially pornography, is clearly an urgent and constant concern, even among the Latter-day Saints.  Babylon is all about captivity.  Be it the captivity of debt, or ignorance, or sin, or oppression, or death, or pride, it is all captivity and like the book Lehi got, ours, The Book of Mormon, can identify the pitfalls, fortify the willing and magnify their power to flee to Zion and safety.

In the next few months we too, will read and see and write "many great and marvelous things" and perhaps, like Lehi, we will be lead to exclaim, "Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty!  Thy throne is high in the heavens and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!"

The Witnesses and Summary

I grew up thinking Mormons don't believe in grace.  I still occasionally, find Latter-day Saints who resist the notion.  Here the Three Witnesses declare that it is by the grace of God that they beheld the plates for themselves.  When I was young, we used to watch a church film called The Three Witnesses.  (I wonder if it has ever been published on DVD.)  In it is depicted the deep repentance that was required before the Lord would qualify them as witnesses.  This is also hinted at here, when they say, "...if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment-seat of Christ..."  I take that to imply that at that moment, or in that slice of time, they, themselves had been forgiven and were, in that moment, spotless.  In other words, they were not worthy of such a blessing, except that through repentance, they had received a remission of their sins and were thus granted worthiness by the grace of God.

I have had similar slices of time in my life in which I was spotless, the key is to remain faithful in Christ.  For me that requires continual repentance.  It also requires diligent scripture study.

A couple of years ago I was privileged to sit alone in the room in which Joseph first encountered the Angel Moroni.  We missed the Hill Cumorah Pageant by a week and Palmyra was, once again a quiet sleepy little town.  We were the only occupants of the hotel and on this day, I was the only visitor at the Joseph Smith home.  I was told that the building had been recreated in the very spot and that this was indeed the very space.  The missionary left me alone in that bedroom so I could contemplate what transpired there.  It was a special, sacred experience and I wondered why I had not been required to show my Temple recommend to have such a sacred privilege.

It interests me that each time Moroni repeated his message, he then added something.  I wonder if the stuff he added was perhaps not strictly required but more like servant to fellow servant advice and commiseration.  For example, on Alma's second visit with "his" angel, the angel pointed out that he was the same angel who had delivered the original message.  Making that observation was probably not vital to the manifestation, but certainly adds a personal, brotherly relationship between two servants of the Lord. 

I heard a talk once (wish I could remember for you, who - might have been John Lund) in which a phrase from Joseph Smith's testimony, though taken out of context, has been precious to me.  It is:  "...when, in the midst of my meditations, I suddenly discovered..."  We all, have those aha moments, when we ponder the scriptures.  They increase exponentially when I ponder and write.

Have a great day!

The Title Page of The Book of Mormon and it's Introduction

I don't usually go a day without reading from the pages of the Book of Mormon.  In order to gather more participants to this event I put off starting again for a couple of weeks.  This morning was like I'd been holding my breath and reading again was like finally coming up for air!

I love the boldness with which the Lord declares the truth to His children.  He makes plain, His intentions and what is needed to find joy and happiness.  The title page, to me has that declarative and resonant ring I also feel in The Family:  A Proclamation to the World.

I always begin my reading with a question.  One whose answer I hope to find again and again throughout the book.  I've struggled to identify such a question for this time through.  That is until this morning.  I found my question in the Introduction.  At the end of the paragraph the Introduction declares that The Book of Mormon "...tells men what they must do to gain peace in this life..."  I have not been sufficiently at peace lately and need to be.  I hope to find peace, above all else, in this present journey through my favorite book.

The Title page singles out the Lamanites as having need of The Book of Mormon's convincing power.  Last night I sat among four Native American kids at the Detention Center.  My heart swelled with love for them, mixed with sorrow for the cultural challenges they presently face.  Their numbers in detention are grossly disproportionate to their numbers in the population at large.  I am aware that the Introduction to the Book of Mormon has been recently changed.  It used to say that the Lamanites were the principal ancestors of the American Indians; in newer editions, the Introduction says they are among the ancestors of the American Indians.  Some, I've spoken to think this explains why the Church is finding more success in South and Central America as opposed to North America among the indigenous peoples.  My heart tells me that Lamanite, Israelite, blood, flows in the veins of my four sweet friends.  Whatever the percentage, it will one day leaven the loaf.

I received my testimony of The Book of Mormon when I was about 15.  I have had that testimony reaffirmed many times since, most poignantly a couple of years ago while standing atop the Hill Cumorah.  In the last paragraph of the Introduction we are reminded that this Book is fundamental to our faith in The Lord, the veracity of Joseph Smith's prophetic calling and the singular truthfulness of the Church.  My heart swells with appreciation for this book and it's resulting testimony because there have been the times when my heart faltered as to the reliability of the Church and the Prophet.  Times when I was tempted to give up.  But I just couldn't deny or doubt The Book of Mormon.  The strength of its gift of testimony has carried me through and I am eternally grateful it could and did.

One More Day!

I"m so excited!  Tomorrow is the day we begin our journey through The Book of Mormon!  My prayer is that someone will accompany me on the journey and help me along my way.  Years ago, when Sweetie and I were young, we both taught Early Morning Seminary in our Ward in Imperial Beach, California.  I was serving in the Navy.  One day we were approached by a Sister in our Ward, whose husband had just returned from sea duty with the Navy.  He was struggling with his testimony and didn't feel very motivated to read the scriptures.  She wondered if we could read the Book of Mormon together.  Her husband agreed to participate.  Our schedules wouldn't permit us to meet daily, but weekly on Sunday afternoon would work.  We thought we'd use the Like Unto Us film strip series, from Seminary, to guide our discussions as we read.  Somehow, word got out and three other couples asked if they could join us.  None of our apartments would accommodate so many, so I approached the Bishop about using a room in the Meeting House.  He graciously consented.

On the Sabbath morning of our first meeting.  Someone passed an announcement around in Elder's Quorum and Relief Society (I was in Aaronic Priesthood and Sweetie was with the Young Women) about what we were going to do, along with a sign up sheet.  So many signed up that we had to move the gathering to the Chapel.  Sweetie and I were overwhelmed!  We prepared so hard each week.  In the end we had 78 regular participants!  Most had never completely read The Book of Mormon.  There were eleven Like Unto Us films, so we created eleven lessons and developed a reading schedule that would finish the book in eleven weeks.  Almost all, finished, on time!

On the 12th week we held a testimony meeting.  Oh, the marvel that meeting was!  One after another bore fervent testimony of the love they'd gained and testimony they'd received from this greatest of all books.  One couple stood together to speak.  They explained that they were new converts.  On the Sunday we began The Book of Mormon, they'd decided they had made a mistake in joining the Church.  Little things had offended them and they had concluded to discontinue their participation.  That is, until the sign up sheet was passed around.  This time is was going around in Sunday School.  They looked at each other and said, "You know, we never read The Book of Mormon as the Missionaries requested.  Maybe we should give it a chance before we give up."  They never missed a meeting or a deadline and finished the book with the class.  Tears freely flowed as they thanked God that they had not missed the chance to confirm their faith by the glorious method proved by so many.  Their testimonies and so many others were enriched and strengthened and my prayer is that such will be the case on our journey that commences tomorrow.

Our method will be different and hopefully, motivating and enlightening.  I'm confident of one thing.  The Book of Mormon, that glorious "voice from the dust" will do it's work.

Now a little about me.  I am a recovering addict.  I found recovery through The Book of Mormon and with encouragement and support from the LDS Addiction Recovery Program - ARP.  After 45 years of bondage and despair, I am blessed with freedom and a remission of my sins.  It was the year President Hinckley asked if we'd read The Book of Mormon by the end of the year.  With the encouragement of my precious daughter, I accepted President Hinckley's challenge and did it.  It wasn't my first time to do so, more like my 100th, though I've never kept track, but this time was different.  I had learned to Capture.  Capture is the LDS ARP term for seeking the guidance of the Spirit as we read and recording every impression.  I never read anymore, without a notebook at hand and I never read, without liberal writing.

Let me encourage you to get a notebook and Capture while you read The Book of Mormon this time.  This is one of the reasons we'll be going slower through the book on this journey.  One chapter a day.  Some day's you'll wish we went even slower, I promise!  I also promise that if you do this you'll gain insight and inspiration that will amaze you.  You will receive impressions that are only for you, but you will also receive impressions you can share with us here.  I hope you will do so as the Spirit directs.

One quick example and I'll finish.  As I was reading and Capturing my way through the Zeniff/Noah/Limhi/ story I discovered that the story was all about addiction and recovery.  The cycle was so familiar, a story of pride, over zealousness, excess, sin, bondage, battles for freedom, humility and delivery.  It so closely mirrored my experience with the bondage of addiction that it was unmistakable.  I had read that story dozens and dozens of times, but until I Captured it, I failed to discover it's rich and saving meaning, specifically for me.

It doesn't matter who you are, or what you're presently dealing with, I promise that The Book of Mormon, if read in companionship with the Spirit, will be abundant with answers and blessings for you, in every single chapter!  The key, as Elder Richard G. Scott has taught is in showing appreciation for those most precious spiritual endowments, by recording them so they won't so easily be forgotten.

Sharing some of those insights here, is but an experiment.  I don't know what to expect from that, but I hope and pray it is beneficial to each of us.  We'll start at the very beginning with the Title Page.  See you in the morning.

One More Thing.....

Another favor I'd like to ask of you who join us in reading The Book of Mormon.  Get a dictionary!  I learned this lesson a while back while singing that sweet Primary song, I Am A Child Of God.  One phrase struck me very notably that day, "help me to understand His words before it grows too late."  I couldn't stop thinking about that and later, when I was reading the scriptures I got out my dictionary and looked up the definition of some of the words.

I was reading Helaman's account of he and the Stripling Warriors.  They were starving, short-handed, out numbered and outside.  The Lamanites were fed, numerous and inside.  Inside fortifications.  Helaman and his "sons" prayed and received assurance and faith that they would be delivered.  I got out the dictionary and looked up delivered.  I was taught much by reading the definition of such a simple, familiar word.

Deliver has three meanings that were instructive.  One is to assist in the birth of.  The Savior assists in our birth into a newness of life.  Another definition is to liberate or set free.  The Savior can deliver us from the bondage of sin and death.  Finally, deliver means to convey to a desired location.  At that time this definition had significant meaning for me because I was a UPS driver and that's what I did for a living, I delivered packages.  In the case of Helaman and the Stripling Warriors I could see the first two definitions quite clearly, especially the second.  But it wasn't until days later, when I read the story of the Jaredites that the third definition came clearly into my mind.  Essentially, the Jaredites built eight boxes, packaged themselves inside, addressed them to the Promised Land and "shipped" themselves to their desired destination.  They entrusted themselves to God and He delivered them to their destination.  So it must be with each of us.

I hope my little example demonstrates the great power of understanding His words.  I believe He selects them very carefully, shall we not seek to understand them with equal care.