All posts in category Alma

The Judgment: Required with God’s Justice

Click here for today’s assignment.

Well…it’s the second to last day…and I’m posting pretty late, but I wanted to write something really quick about today’s study assignment and the judgment.

Alma teaches a powerful concept about the judgment:

“I say unto thee, my son, that the plan of restoration is requisite with the justice of God; for it is requisite that all things should be restored to their proper order. Behold, it is requisite and just, according to the power and resurrection of Christ, that the soul of man should be restored to its body, and that every part of the body should be restored to itself.

And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.

And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame—mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption—raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other—

The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh.

And so it is on the other hand. If he hath repented of his sins, and desired righteousness until the end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness.

These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea, these are they that are taken out, that are delivered from that endless night of darkness; and thus they stand or fall; for behold, they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil.” – Alma 41:2-7

What I’m struck by is the fact that it is requisite with the justice of God that we are judged according to our works.

I think that sometimes the current trend in society is to focus so much on the mercy and grace of God, that we forget His justice. Maybe we use His loving-kindness to rationalize away our sins. But the fact remains: Because of God’s Justice, there will be a judgment.

Now, this doesn’t mean that we can work our way into heaven. We still need the mercy of Christ. However, our works qualify us for Christ’s Grace. (See 2 Nephi 25:23.) One of the greatest works we can do is to repent.

Of course, there is so much we don’t know about the judgment. We really don’t know what it will be like. But thankfully, we know it will be personal. And we also know that standard by which God will judge: Christ. So – depending on how we conduct ourselves, the judgment will either be pretty exciting or scary.

I am both a little excited and a little nervous about the time when I can report to the Savior on what I’ve done in my life. I hope to give a good report. I hope to be able to say that I had done all that He wanted me to do. I hope to be able to admit that though I made mistakes, I always strove to be better. I hope that I will be able to say that I’ve become clean through the power of His atonement. I hope to be able to stand before Christ, with a good report, and full of humility and gratitude knowing that His atonement can help complete my weakness.

What are your thoughts on the judgment? What did you learn as you studied?

Click here for tomorrow’s assignment

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by chococatania on September 25, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Alma, Book of Mormon, Insights, Plan of Salvation Scripture STudy Series
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Posted by chococatania on September 25, 2012

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/the-judgment-required-with-gods-justice/

The Need for an Atonement – Scripture Chain

Click here for today’s assignment.

Yesterday, we learned about what happened at the Fall of Adam and Eve. Today we will look at a scripture chain that is an extension of the theme of the Fall – especially how it resulted in our need for an atonement.

Romans 5:12

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” – Romans 5:12

  • By Adam, sin entered into the world. It is important to note that this doesn’t mean that he committed a sin we must all pay for. “We believe that men will be punished for his own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression,” (See Articles of Faith 1:2). Instead, Paul teaches us that because of Adam, we are born into mortality – and are people who are capable of sinning. When Adam was in the garden, he was innocent. Now, we aren’t. This is how, by one man sin entered into the world.
  • Sin results in spiritual death.

Alma 42:9-10

“Therefore, as the soul could never die, and the fall had brought upon all mankind a spiritual death as well as a temporal, that is, they were cut off from the presence of the Lord, it was expedient that mankind should be reclaimed from this spiritual death.

Therefore, as they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish, by nature,…” – Alma 42:9-10

  • The soul is eternal. (See Doctrine and Covenants 93:29, 33.)
  • Even though the soul can never die, we keep hearing about how the fall brought on death. Alma clarifies that spiritual death means that we are cut off from the presence of the Lord.
  • Temporal death, physical death, is also a result of the fall.
  • Our natures became carnal, sensual, and devilish. In the scriptures, fallen man is often referred to as “natural man.”

Alma 41:11

“And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness. – Alma 41:11

  • I love this scripture!
  • When we are in our “natural” (fallen) state, we cannot be truly happy. This may not seem/sound true. In some ways, I think that our notion of happiness (or at least the world’s notion of happiness) may often be too connected with pleasure or chasing the appetite of the natural man. Of course, seeking to satiate our sensual appetites seems to be impossible. Often, this kind of unchecked passion leads us to bitterness and captivity (ie: addiction, disease, etc.)
  • The nature of God = the nature of Happiness.
  • As we learned earlier, the natural man is cut off from God. If we persist in our natural/fallen tendencies, then we cannot be happy because we are cut off from the nature of happiness.

2 Nephi 9:8-10

“O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! For behold, if the flesh should rise no more our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more.

And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness.

O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster; yea, that monster, death and hell, which I call the death of the body, and also the death of the spirit.” – 2 Nephi 9:8-10

  • We can praise God: His mercy and grace. He prepared a way for us to overcome the effects of the fall. Remember: “For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man,” (Moses 1:39). God’s purpose – His work – His glory is our immortality and eternal life. A way needed to be prepared for us to escape from the effects of the Fall.
  • If our bodies couldn’t rise again, then our Spirits would have been subject to Satan. – This would frustrate God’s purposes.
  • If our Spirits became subject to Satan, we would have become like Satan – remaining forever in misery. – Again, this foils God’s plan.
  • Heavenly Father, understanding the calamitous effects of the fall, yet the necessity for us to experience mortality and a spiritual separation from him (in order for our progression), made a way possible for us to overcome spiritual and physical death: the atonement.
  • When we consider the terror and bitterness of death, the concept of the atonement becomes a source of hope.

***
I am a woman who has been affected by the Fall. First of all, my body is imperfect, and I don’t just say that because I don’t have flat abs. I’m sitting here, on my couch, and I have been for 3 1/2 weeks straight – healing from a hysterectomy. I needed to have the hysterectomy because of problems caused by endometriosis. My body gets sick. I’m getting older, and I feel it in my bones. It isn’t something I like to think about: but I know that one day, my body will be laid to rest…I will die.

Additionally, I sin. I’m not as charitable as I should be. I make rash judgments. I get short-tempered with my kids. I think bad thoughts, say things I shouldn’t say, and then even do things that I regret. Obviously, I sin, and these sins, one by one, push me further away from God. I don’t really like thinking about this, either.

The thing is: we have hope in the atonement of Christ. God knew we would need it, and, to perform His purpose, he has provided a Savior that we so desperately need.

***
As you studied these scriptures, what were some of the things you noticed in a need for an atonement?

Click here for tomorrow’s assignment.

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by chococatania on September 18, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in 2 Nephi, Alma, Book of Mormon, Insights, New Testament, Plan of Salvation Scripture STudy Series, Romans
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Posted by chococatania on September 18, 2012

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2012/09/18/the-need-for-an-atonement-scripture-chain/

Having an Eye of Faith – Scripture Chain

I’m intrigued by the concept of having an eye of faith. I think that it interests me so much because it has been hard for me to develop, yet I know that in many facets of our lives, visualizing ourselves accomplishing our goals will help us to see them through.

Can you imagine yourself reaching your goal – whether it is losing weight, getting a certain job, writing a novel, winning a golf tournament – do you see yourself obtaining that which you are working for? Chances are, if you can’t visualize it, then you won’t be able to accomplish it.

This concept holds true for obtaining eternal life. The Lord asks us to develop an eye of faith. Doing so will help us to achieve our ultimate goal of eternal life.

So – here’s the scripture chain.

Matthew 6:22 – Look to God

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” – Matthew 6:22
Notice, especially, the footnotes for the word “single”:
1. This is a Greek Idiom for healthy, sincere, without guile.
2. JST explains that the phrase “to the glory of God” should proceed included.

This scripture teaches us what we should be envisioning with our eye of faith: our eye needs to be single – to the glory of God, then our whole body will be full of light. This is the vision we must see with our eye of faith. Then we will be blessed.

The Lord doesn’t ask us to imagine ourselves keeping the commandments. He doesn’t ask us to imagine ourselves getting some kind of calling or even making a covenant. He tells us to envision His glory. It is the glory of God that will fill our souls with light and enable us to achieve our goal. Of course we need to keep the commandments and make covenants, but that should not be the focus of our eye of faith.

This makes sense to me. Sometimes, I forget to think of the glory of God. I forget about His power and mercy. I forget about His love and grace. Instead, I begin to focus too much on my flaws, then I get overwhelmed by the idea of perfection. I become discouraged and distracted. If we focus, instead, on the glory of the Lord, then our beings will be filled with light and hope. He will help us overcome our natural weakness and flaws. We will be able to see through to the time when our eye of faith is realized.

Doctrine and Covenants 88:68 – Be Sanctified

“Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.” – Doctrine and Covenants 88:68

Here we learn that in order to have our minds become single to God, then we need to sanctify ourselves. To be sanctified means to be made pure. This happens as we repent, are cleansed in the waters of baptism, and continually work to keep the commandments and renew our covenants. As we keep our eye on God and work to become more like Him by being sanctified, then there will be a time when we do see him.

If we think of this scripture on very practical terms – as far as having an eye of faith concerning other goals – then I think that we apply this scripture to mean that we need to do what it takes to achieve our goal. If the goal is to run a marathon, for example, we can’t simply imagine ourselves crossing the finish line. We must also “sanctify” ourselves, by waking up early, running, eating right, signing up for the marathon, and logging in the miles. As we do this, not only are we are better able to keep our eyes on the ultimate prize: of crossing the finish line, but we will actually do it, too!

Acts 7:55-56 – Look Steadfastly

“But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” – Acts 7:55-56

This scripture is part of the account of Saint Stephen. Notice the phrase in the quoted verses, “[he] looked up steadfastly into heaven.” Stephen was steadfast in his vision. I have a feeling that Stephen spent his entire life looking to Heaven. He didn’t happen to finally have an eye of faith at the end of His life. Stephen had looked to heaven, steadfastly, for a long time and eventually saw – literally – what he had seen with his spiritual eyes for so long.

Not only do we have to look, and be sanctified, but we have to be steadfast. We have to maintain an eye of faith even when the vision we have seems completely impossible.

Doctrine and Covenants 101:38 – Seek the Lord

“And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life.” – Doctrine and Covenants 101:38

Here we learn that sometimes we’ll have to seek the face of the Lord, and we may even need to be patient.

I forget this so much. It isn’t that the Lord’s face is hard to find, but it can be when I’m not being spiritually tuned into Him. When I really think about it, the Face of the Lord can be seen in everything around me. Have I ever mentioned how beautiful it is where I live?

This is where I live!

A few nights ago, I was busy in my house, getting ready for dinner, etc, when I happened to notice the sunset. Sunsets in Arizona are pretty much amazing. I decided to turn off the stove for a minute so I could go outside and enjoy the winds, the oncoming monsoon, and the amazing sunset.

I realized how often I go without taking much notice of the world around me – because I’m so focused on what is happening before my eyes. I don’t always seek the beauty of the world around me. I don’t always seek the face of the Lord in His creations and my blessings. So often, my little pathetic life is getting in the way of the bigger picture I need to have.

We may know that we need to have an eye of faith and look to the Glory of God, but there are times when this “vision” isn’t so apparent. We may need to seek His glory. Often, seeking Him isn’t so difficult – it is just a matter of turning down the distractions. No matter how you do it, we need to seek. If we do, we will find Him.

Alma 36:22, 28 – Reaching our Goal

“Yea, methought I saw, even as our father Lehi saw, God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels, in the attitude of singing and praising their God; yea, and my soul did long to be there.

And I know that he will raise me up at the last day, to dwell with him in glory; yea, and I will praise him forever,…” – Alma 36:22, 28

In this final scripture, Alma (the younger) is teaching his son shortly before His departure from mortality. He relates the experience of his conversion to his son, Helaman. He had endured the pains of his own sins, then he felt the joy of repentance. After repenting, Alma caught a glimpse – of God sitting on his throne, the beauty of the angels praising and singing. Alma longed to be there.

This vision became the picture Alma saw in his eye of faith.

We can study Alma’s life after his conversion. He spent his time devoted to the Lord. He was sanctified through keeping the commandments and making and keeping covenants. He was steadfast and didn’t waver once he had covenanted with God. He sought the Lord diligently and with patience through prayer and fasting. Because of Alma’s eye of faith, he was, eventually, able to know that he would be able to go where his soul longed to be.

How do you keep an eye of faith? How has having an eye of faith helped you to get through trials and difficulties in life? What are your favorite scriptures that teach us about having an eye of faith?

***
Read this blog post for more information on marking scripture chains in your scriptures.
or
Check out my free eBook Getting More from the Scriptures: Techniques and Projects for Effective Scripture Study.

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by chococatania on August 9, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Acts, Alma, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, Insights, Matthew, New Testament, Scripture Chain, Scripture Study
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Posted by chococatania on August 9, 2012

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2012/08/09/having-an-eye-of-faith-scripture-chain/

Mothers in May – The Mothers of the Stripling Warriors

Happy Mother’s day!

So…one of my favorite examples of mothers given in the scriptures are the mothers of the stripling warriors.

We don’t get to read their narrative. We don’t read their testimonies, per se. We don’t know much about them, specifically, yet these mothers play an integral role in the history of the Nephites. When we learn about their sons, we also learn about the mothers.

The Stripling Warriors
This is what the scriptures teach us about the stripling warriors:

“And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.

Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.” – Alma 53:20-21

The stripling warriors were young.
Usually, when I think of the stripling warriors, I think of the classic picture of Helaman with his host of armies…

Stripling means “youth”. Think about the youth in your ward, perhaps. The young men most likely come in various shapes and sizes. There may be some who are strong and big. Yet there are some who are probably still growing – lanky, a little clumsy, and maybe even scronny. I have a feeling that the young warriors were probably like a typical teachers and priests quorum in shape and size.

The stripling warriors were also exceedingly courageous, strong, and true in whatever they were entrusted.

These dudes were awesome. We learn that these warriors weren’t just born true and sober, but had been taught to keep the commandments.

Helaman explains:

“Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.” – Alma 56:47-48

The courage, confidence, and integrity of the Stripling Warriors had been taught to them by their mothers. I think about this, and wonder – what am I teaching my children? Do I teach them to keep the commandments? Do I teach them that God will deliver if they will keep the commandments? Have I taught my children to be true, to obey with exactness?

I have to admit, I’m working on all of this. We have Family Home Evening. We read the scriptures. These are good things, but I have a feeling that it is more than that. I have a feeling that not only did the mothers of the stripling warriors teach their children through precept, but that these Warriors could see the testimonies of their mothers in their examples. If I want my children to trust God, be courageous and strong, and to be true, then I need to trust God, be courageous and strong, and be true. Funny how that works!

Not only did the mothers teach their young sons, but they didn’t doubt that their mothers had testimonies. I think about that, and I wonder, do my children know that I know? What am I doing to share my testimony with my children. Even if my own children falter in their own testimony, I want them to be sure that I have one.

I love the example of these women. There are only a few mentions of them – they are phrases in three verses, yet their impact has been felt by millions. Not only did they teach their sons, but their testimony preserved the Nephites. Additionally, their examples – as women and mothers – have encouraged and inspired many women in these latter days. I’m so grateful for this quick mention. It helps me remember the importance of what I am doing in my home.

How do the mothers of the stripling warriors inspire you? What are you doing to teach your children and instill your testimonies into their hearts?

***
Learn more about the mothers of the stripling warriors. Download the PDF, and read/study the scriptures. You can also answer the questions to help you think about and learn from their examples. (If you don’t see the PDF below, then click here).

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by chococatania on May 13, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Alma, Book of Mormon, Family, Insights, Motherhood, Mothers in May
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Posted by chococatania on May 13, 2012

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2012/05/13/mothers-in-may-the-mothers-of-the-stripling-warriors/

Discipline and Prayers

So…my main goal for this year is not an accomplishment or something to do as much as it is someone to become. I want to have more discipline in life. I feel like if I can cultivate discipline in my life, then I will be able to achieve various accomplishments.

In trying to cultivate discipline, I have decided to make changes 21 days at a time. Right now, I’m working on my prayers.

It’s funny – I have a strong testimony of the gospel. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I love the scriptures. I know that the temple is a holy place – it is the House of the Lord. I am grateful to have covenanted with Heavenly Father. I know that Jesus Christ has made everything in my life possible.

Despite all of this, I’m horrible with my prayers. It is embarrassing, and I have intended to change it for some time.

I love this scripture:

“But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;

Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest.” – Alma 13:28-29

In my mind, I feel like I want to humble myself before God. I know that I am nothing and that I depend on Him for everything, but if I don’t pray – or at least don’t pray well, then I’m not really showing much humility.

I love the scripture by Alma because I need the blessings of the Spirit. I need to have the strength to overcome temptation. In order to become the woman I want to be, I need to become meek, submissive, patient, and full of love. These characteristics will help me to strengthen my relationships with my husband, family, children, and myself. And it all can happen as I strengthen my relationship with the Lord through prayer.

So – two weeks ago, I decided that my newest “21 day challenge” needed to be meaningful prayer twice a day. I decided to go into my closet, shut the door, and pray first thing every morning and last thing every night. I don’t try to pray about every single thing during every single prayer. There is always so much to pray about. I just try to think about what is on my mind, and pray. When other things come up during the day, I may say a silent prayer about that subject. It is hard for me – as there is so much I want to pray about. I feel like I can relate to Enos (not that I’ve prayed overnight), but that I will pray – for myself, then my friends, then others, and I want to go on, but I can’t. There are duties that I must attend to, children that need to get ready for school, chores that need to be done, etc. I can’t pray as much as I feel like I need to.

And I think that I’m realizing that every prayer I give doesn’t need to be like Enos’s prayer. There may be times when I pray like this (and I have), but typically, I need to pray, counsel with the Lord, then get to work. I can pray always – not by kneeling and praying all day, but by keeping a prayer in my heart as I go. A few years ago, Elder Bednar spoke in conference about prayer. He explained:

“Morning and evening prayers—and all of the prayers in between—are not unrelated, discrete events; rather, they are linked together each day and across days, weeks, months, and even years. This is in part how we fulfill the scriptural admonition to “pray always”. Such meaningful prayers are instrumental in obtaining the highest blessings God holds in store for His faithful children.” – David A. Bednar

I’m grateful for this advice about prayer and for prayer, itself. As I’ve made the commitment to pray, it has been good. I have noticed that my prayers are getting better. I feel like I still have a lot of room for improvement, but I’m thinking about my prayers. I’m thinking about communicating with the Lord. I’m taking time to be quiet, thank Him, talk to Him, counsel with Him, and plead for repentance.

It feels good to know that I’m taking time to actually pray. I feel more peace in my life. I feel more focus. I also feel like I can have more power in my life to accomplish some of the goals I have for myself. For example, if I want to have discipline, then I know I need some help from Heavenly Father. When I pray to Him, I can ask Him for strength. Even the act of praying strengthens me. Change is a process, but a process made easier when we have the power of the Lord with us.

I’m grateful for what I’m learning about prayer. How do you work to give meaningful prayers daily?

(here’s a little mo-tab goodness)

1 Comment
by chococatania on March 4, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Alma, Book of Mormon, Discipline and The Process 2012, Insights
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Posted by chococatania on March 4, 2012

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/discipline-and-prayers/

Joy and Thanksgiving – List – Gratitude and Salvation

So, today we’re studying another list that can be found in the scriptures. I really like finding lists. In some ways, I think that I’m a list person, so seeing these lists in the scriptures really helps me know how I can apply the advice given into my own life.

So…before we get into the list, here’s what it’s all about:

“And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye should remember these things, and that ye should work out your salvation with fear before God,…” – Alma 34:37

Here, Amulek is advising that we work out our salvation with fear before God – based on our study this last week about happiness – we know that salvation is a really great thing. Salvation is eternal and endless happiness. So, if we want to inherit it, we need to work it out before God.

Amulek doesn’t just leave us hanging without any further explanation. What continues is a list that can help us to work out our salvation with the Lord. (starting in verse 37)

“…and that ye should no more deny the coming of Christ;

That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you.” – Alma 34:37-38

So – here is the list that he gives us…

  • No more denying of the coming of Christ
  • Contend no more against the Holy Ghost
  • Receive the Holy Ghost
  • Take upon the name of Christ
  • Humble yourselves
  • Worship God
  • Live in thanksgiving daily
  • Be watchful unto prayer continually (see verse 39)
  • Have patience (see verse 40)

You can take time to study each of these points- because they are really great, but I want to really think about the overall attitude of gratitude.

We can see in the list that Amulek has included to “live in thanksgiving daily.” But I think that gratitude is a general attitude – a way of being – that really can fit into, and help us accomplish, every single bullet point listed here.

For example, if we are living with a grateful heart, then will we deny Christ? Think about denying Christ…Even Peter denied Christ. I don’t say this to slam Peter. I say this because I think that we all deny Christ at some level – even when we’ve covenanted with The Savior.

So – how do we refrain from denying Christ? Perhaps an attitude of gratitude helps. When we remember Christ, when we remember that He was born, a small babe in Bethlehem and placed in a manger…

When we remember that he taught the people...

...when we remember that He called His apostles and organized the Church...

...when we remember how Christ healed the people...

...when we remember how He, the Messiah, loved and served others...

...when we remember that He suffered for our sins and infirmities...

...when we remember that He died for us...

...and when we remember that three days after his death, He was resurrected...

When we remember Christ, then we are filled with a sense of His love, and we feel gratitude for Him. It is hard to even think about Christ’s life and love for us without feeling humbled, and grateful.

So…gratitude can help us – to refrain from denying Christ.

Let’s look at that list again:
Working our Salvation before the Lord with gratitude

  • No more denying of the Christ – gratitude for Christ shows our willingness to accept Him and the Love Him.
  • Contend no more against the Holy Ghost – Gratitude helps us to be more agreeable with the Holy Ghost and the promptings He gives.
  • Receive the Holy Ghost – I’m not sure if we could receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost with an ungrateful heart.
  • Take upon the name of Christ – When we are grateful for the Savior and His willingness to atone for our sins, we are led to the waters of baptism – there to covenant with Him and take on His name. Gratitude for the Savior and all the blessings we enjoy will also help us to ensure that we bear His name honorably once we have taken it on ourselves.
  • Humble Yourselves – Gratitude is essential in humbling ourselves. I’m not sure that you can be humble and ungrateful.
  • Worship God – That’s the thing that I think I’m learning about gratitude. I think that gratitude is a form of worship. When Christ healed the ten lepers, only one gave thanks, and he did more than just say thank you. He fell down at the Savior’s feet and glorified Him. We need to have a grateful heart when worshipping God, and I think that gratitude helps us to worship the Lord more purely and genuinely.
  • Live in Thanksgiving Daily. – Gratitude helps us to live in thanksgiving daily because we are already grateful. If we are truly grateful, then we’re going to express our thanks.
  • Be watchful unto prayer continually – An attitude of gratitude will help us to remember to pray always.
  • Have Patience – Gratitude helps us to turn our heart to the Lord, even in times of trial. The Lord can then bless us with the patience we need to overcome the difficulties of the world.

So – with gratitude, we can accomplish what Amulek has taught us to do. I feel like as I begin to understand the Savior more, why I need, Him, His love for me, my gratitude for Him grows. The trick, too, is really remembering this all the time. I have a tendency to get a little bit self-centered and even “spoiled”. Gratitude can help us to do get closer to the Savior and His spirit. When we are close to the Savior, and have His Spirit, we are closer to His happiness and peace.

***
For Tomorrow’s Assignment, please click here.

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by chococatania on November 19, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Alma, Book of Mormon, Insights, Joy and Thanksgiving, Lists, Scripture Study
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Posted by chococatania on November 19, 2011

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2011/11/19/joy-and-thanksgiving-list-gratitude-and-salvation/

Joy and Thanksgiving: Theme – Wickedness Never Was Happiness

Before I get started, check out the Book of Mormon Forum Blog Hop happening at We Talk of Christ… There are several really great posts here about the Book of Mormon.

***

So…I get excited about the literary elements of the scriptures. I get excited about connections, symbols, lists, and themes. Obviously, I’m kind of a nerd, but maybe you are, too. :) And if you aren’t excited yet, hopefully this scripture study series will convert you…

A theme is a broad, sweeping idea. It is often found repeatedly in the scriptures. Today, the theme we’ll be studying is wickedness never was happiness.

How I mark themes in the scriptures. I use a little post-it flag. I have tons of flags and will figure out what to do with them someday.

“Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.

And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.” – Alma 41:10-11

A few points from these two verses:

  • We cannot expect to live this life in sin and then live in happiness the next. It just doesn’t work that way

    • Don't you love this?

  • Wickedness never was happiness.
  • We are currently in a natural, carnal state. This state is in the “gall of bitterness.” Sounds rough, and sometimes I don’t feel like I am suffering so much. But the reason why Alma says this is because we are separated from God. Now, I think that when we do things that are good, and we covenant with God, then we make connections to Him. Thanks to Christ, we are able to be atoned. So, we can experience happiness. But when we live as fallen men and women and give into our natural, carnal selves, we cut ourselves off from God, and that is a bitter place to be.
  • The nature of God is happiness.

As I read these two verses, I realize that I often do not define happiness the way that Alma does here. Sometimes, I’m led to believe that happiness is what feels good. Which is why I hesitate on doing dishes. It is why I gobble up brownies. Yet, happiness is putting off the natural man (what feels good) and turning to God. We turn to God by putting off the natural man and yielding to the promptings of the Spirit through the atonement of Christ. (See Mosiah 3:19.)

This is true, too. As often as I give into my natural desires, I feel like I’m pleased momentarily. Then the pleasure goes away, and I’m left with the fact that I just ate five brownies, and now I can’t remember what the chocolate tastes like, but I know I don’t feel well physically or emotionally. Or, I put off doing something that I should – like dishes. I go and have fun, but am left with the stress of a messy home and a big mess that’s harder to clean than it needed to be.

“But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late, and your destruction is made sure; yea, for ye have sought all the days of your lives for that which ye could not obtain; and ye have sought for happiness in doing iniquity, which thing is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head.” – Helaman 13:38

This scripture emphasizes the theme that wickedness never was happiness. Seeking for happiness by following the appetites of natural man will result in failure. It is impossible. It isn’t because happiness doesn’t exist. We just can’t find happiness in sin because that’s now where happiness is.

For example, you can search for a polar bear in the Caribbean sea, but you won’t find one. Does that mean that Polar Bears don’t exist? No! You just have to look in the right place.


“But she that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.” – 1 Timothy 5:6

When we seek only for pleasure, then we become dead while we’re alive…so…we’re basically zombies. Of course, here, Paul means that we are spiritually dead while physically alive. And what good is it for us to die spiritually? Instead, we should seek the Lord, and become alive in Christ.

“But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin.” – Mormon 2:13

Here, the consequence of the theme we’re studying is fully illustrated – in reality. The Nephites were completely wicked. They mourned. This mourning wasn’t a result of their conscience or repentance. They were sad because they lived sad lives. They were sad because that was their only option. They had shut their lives off from the Light, life, and love of the Lord. The only thing left was coldness, death, and misery.

I guess an example would be, if you had a fire, and you didn’t feed it, over time, it would die out. It wouldn’t get cold all at once, though. The fire would still burn. It would get smaller, but the coals would still smolder. Eventually, all of the fire would be gone, and the ashes would cool. You would then be left without any light or heat. You are left in the cold – not because the fire refuses to burn, but because you refuse to feed it.

I don’t want to end on a sad or depressing note, so one last scripture:

“And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the choirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are one God, in a state of happiness which hath no end.” – Mormon 7:7

We can be found guiltless. We can dwell in the presence of God and experience happiness which hath no end. We just need to desire to give up our natural desires (which takes a lifetime, I really think) and choose to accept Christ’s atonement by covenanting with Him. It is simple and do-able. We don’t need to be perfect, we just need to be made perfect in Him. Then, we will be able to experience the happiness and blessings that He has in store for us.

Eternal Happiness – sounds pretty cool, actually.

***
You can find tomorrow’s assignment here.

4 Comments
by chococatania on November 14, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Alma, Insights, Joy and Thanksgiving
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Posted by chococatania on November 14, 2011

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2011/11/14/joy-and-thanksgiving-theme-wickedness-never-was-happiness/

Joy and Thanksgiving: Symbols – Fruit

I absolutely love the symbolic imagery that we studied today! I love thinking about the gospel, and symbols help me to understand the abstract concepts of the gospel so much more.

So – today, we’re studying the symbol of the Fruit of the Tree of Life.

“And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.

And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.

And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.” – 1 Nephi 8:10-12

When Lehi partook of this fruit, he was filled with joy! This sounds more satisfying than: It tasted really good. His entire soul was joyful. It’s pretty straightforward – Lehi ate the fruit→He was filled with joy.

A consequence of feeling this joy, he desired to share it with others. Isn’t that the way it goes? When we experience something that brings us joy, we want to share it with others – especially those we love. Joy is contagious.

Nephi explains more about the fruit of the tree of life:

“And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father! Knowest thou the meaning of the tree which thy father saw?

And I answered him, saying: Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.

And he spake unto me, saying: Yea, and the most joyous to the soul.”- 1 Nephi 11:21-23

Here we learn more about the fruit of the tree of life. Not only will our souls be filled with joy, but the fruit is actually the love of God. His love – is pure, and it is the most desirable thing. Another word for Our Father’s pure love: Charity.

Charity is the most desirable and joyous to the soul – That’s so true!! – I know that when I experience the pure love that Christ has for me, then I’m filled with joy. I’m filled with hope and peace. I want to do more to keep the commandments, and I want to do what I can to continue to experience His love and Joy.

Charity sheds itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men. That’s so true!! – When we experience charity, we are moved to also give charity. When we experience God’s love, then we are able to express God’s love. When we feel the Love God has for us, we begin to understand that He loves everyone. And it fills our souls with joy – even if those we share this charity with don’t end up accepting it. (We feel bad, but we still have peace).

The more I study this, the more I want to partake of this fruit.

We can’t just walk up and partake of the fruit, though. It requires a bit of work. We need to take a hold of the Iron Rod and overcome the conditions of the road ahead. In other words, we need to come to the Lord and take a hold onto His word and then overcome the conditions mortality. It isn’t easy, but if we follow the prophets – who, like Lehi, beckon us from the tree to come and partake, and if we press forward, holding onto the Rod of Iron, we will make it. We will be able to pass through “mists of darkness” such as depression or other kinds of trials. We also will be able to overcome the “shouts” we hear from the world and put off the natural man, so we can partake of the fruit.

The people who made it to the tree of life and partook of the fruit (and stayed faithful) didn’t go too quickly. They didn’t cling. They didn’t get distracted. They took it a step at a time. Because of their steady discipline, they eventually partook of the fruit.

Another mention of fruit

” 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 patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.

42 And because of your diligence 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 fruit 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.

43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.” – Alma 32:41-43

Does it excite any of you – to no end – that the seed of faith that we plant in our hearts may one day be the fruit of the tree of life? I love when things like this happen in the scriptures. We can see that the gospel is radial.

This is how I mark a symbol I find in the scriptures.

Alma teaches us that when we partake of this fruit, we will not hunger or thirst. We will be satisfied. We will be filled with the Love and power of God.

So – joy is available to us. This joy isn’t just a fleeting pleasure. It is Christ’s pure love. It motivates us to share. It satisfies and fills us. Even though we don’t experience this in full now, we can continue to press forward faithful. We can continue to nourish the seed of faith in our hearts. When we do these things, we will have the potential to partake.

Pretty cool.

***
For tomorrow’s assignment, click here.

5 Comments
by chococatania on November 12, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in 1 Nephi, Alma, Book of Mormon, Charity and Diligence 2011, Insights, Joy and Thanksgiving, Scripture Study, symbols

Posted by chococatania on November 12, 2011

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2011/11/12/joy-and-thanksgiving-symbols-fruit/

Joy and Thanksgiving: Connections – Opposition and Cause/Effect

Welcome to day one of the Joy and Thanksgiving scripture study series! Today, we found a few connections…So, here we go…

“And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.” – 2 Nephi 2:13

In this verse, Lehi makes a few connections the series he gives is as follows law→sin→righteousness→happiness→punishment and misery→God→Us and the earth Each of these items seem to be connected either because they are opposites or because they are connected through cause and effect.

This is how I've marked the connections in my scriptures.

Cause and Effect – for example, if we are righteous, then we will be happy – is pretty obvious. What is a little bit harder to understand is how opposition can possibly be a part of the plan of Happiness.

As I think about this series of connections, the point where we get to God seems to make the need for opposition to make more sense. Opposition is a simple fact – it is the way that it is. If we want to be like God, then we must experience opposition. Opposition is a fact even in God’s existence, and because Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of Knowledge of good and evil, opposition is a simple fact of our existence.

Now, we know that Adam and Eve didn’t experience this kind of opposition before the Fall, but that doesn’t mean that opposition didn’t exist. They were not aware of opposition until partaking of the fruit and gaining knowledge.

“And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.” – 2 Nephi 2:23

Again, the connection in this verse is that the concepts are opposites. And all of these concepts and connections help to increase our knowledge. As we experience misery, we can also have a better appreciation for joy. We know what sin is, and we also know what Good works are: we are able to differentiate the two. However, this does not mean that experiencing sin is the requirement to being able to do good. It is simply about our knowledge. We can’t possibly know good works if we don’t know sin. Based on this knowledge, we make a choice. We make the choice to have joy and happiness. Conversely, we can make the choice to be miserable.

Sometimes, miserable trials happen to us. This may be a consequence of our own actions. Or it could be a consequence of another’s mistake. We may even experience pain and misery just because we are mortal. Whatever the case, we experience trials that may have a miserable effect on us. Just because we are experiencing pain doesn’t mean that we will automatically experience joy. But, because we are experiencing pain does mean that joy is possible. The key to turning the misery of these trials into joy is through the atonement of Jesus Christ.

I think of Alma – the experience of his conversion. For three days, he was basically in a coma, and was racked with guilt and pain – the pain of a “damned soul.” He is able to escape it, though. He explains:

“And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.” Alma 36:17-19

Through the atonement of Christ, Alma no longer felt his pains. What is more amazing is what he did feel in place of all of that misery:

“And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.” – Alma 36:20-21

Joy and pain are connected.

“Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.” – 2 Nephi 2:25

Because Adam fell, we all experience pain. We all are born into this mortal world, we will sin, we will be hurt by the sins of others, and we will experience difficulties like sickness and death. Sometimes it feels pretty bleak. But, this scripture helps us to remember, that because Adam fell, we also have the potential to have joy!

Think of a coin:
On the one side, we have heads (Joy), and on the other we have tails (Misery). They are inseparably connected. You can’t pick up only the joy side of the coin. You will also pick up misery. Adam had to fall and experience misery and the pain of the consequence of mortality if he wanted to experience joy.

And where on earth does the joy come from? We find out in the next verse:

“And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.” – 2 Nephi 2:26

Joy comes from our Savior. He has overcome the pains and consequences of Adam’s fall. He will provide us joy even when we experience misery. He is righteousness, happiness, and every good thing.

Remembering this can help us – as we struggle. Sometimes we have a hard day. Sometimes we have a few hard days. Even though they aren’t fun, we can remember to look to the Savior – who will bring some meaning and happiness to our suffering.

***
>What do you think? What did you notice as you studied? Please share! :)

***
For tomorrow’s reading assignment, click here.

9 Comments
by chococatania on November 11, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in 1 Nephi, Alma, Book of Mormon, Connections, Insights, Joy and Thanksgiving, Scripture Study
Tagged , , , ,

Posted by chococatania on November 11, 2011

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2011/11/11/joy-and-thanksgiving-connections-opposition-and-causeeffect/

A Book of Mormon Story

I don’t know about you, but I love the Mormon Messages. They are so nicely done, and they are so real. I always feel the spirit when I watch them.

Today, I watched this new Mormon Message video:

Watch it! Now!!!

I love the scriptures that he quotes:

“Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.” – - Alma 40:11-12

This scripture gave him peace and enlightenment. I love this description of the power of the Holy Ghost because that is exactly how I feel the Holy Ghost speak to me. And it is also how I feel when I read those words in the Book of Mormon.

If you’ve read my blog before, you know that I’ve experienced a death in the family. I have had peace surrounding his situation, but my dad is who I really worry about. I wonder if he is able to feel peace.

I gave him a Book of Mormon last week. I don’t know if he has read it. I hope he does. I hope he makes it to Alma 40. I hope he can learn that Sean is okay. And that he can be, too – if he chooses to be come unto Christ. We experience so much sorrow and difficulty in this lifetime, but we don’t have to forever. I’m so comforted by this fact.

Another scripture was shared:

“And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.” – Alma 7:11-12

This is another one of my favorite scriptures! When I think of the peace of the gospel, I feel overwhelmed by Christ’s love. I know that the peace I experience came at a high cost! Christ suffered pains, afflictions, sickness, infirmity, and death – so that I could feel peace.

I’m grateful for the Book of Mormon and for the love I feel as I read its pages. If you have never read the Book of Mormon, I strongly encourage you to do so. I know that it is a good and true book. I can echo the words of the prophet Moroni:

“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 merciful 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 ponder it in your hearts.

And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” – Moroni 10:3-5

I know that the Lord will manifest the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon to you if you read it and ask Him. I know that the Book of Mormon will change your life. It will not make difficulties magically disappear, but it will infuse your life with peace and understanding. You will be given the capacity to cope. You will see how the Savior runs to your aid. You will love it.

You can find the Book of Mormon online here. Or request a free copy here.

2 Comments
by chococatania on November 4, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Alma, Book of Mormon, Book of Mormon Forum, Insights, LDS.org, Testimonies
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Posted by chococatania on November 4, 2011

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2011/11/04/a-book-of-mormon-story/

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