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Service and The Book of Mormon – Scripture Chain

I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. I love studying it because I learn so many truths of the gospel. One of the principles we learn about in the book of Mormon is Service.

Service - Our Gift

So…Here’s a good Book of Mormon Service Scripture Chain…study it and enjoy!

“And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God.” – Alma 42:4

I have started with this scripture because it is a reminder of why we are on earth – living in this mortal state. We are supposed to repent and serve God. I have actually noticed that most of the time service is mentioned in the Book of Mormon it refers to serving God. Really, is there anything better for us to do?

“And again I say unto you as I have said before, that as ye have come to the knowledge of the glory of God, or if ye have known of his goodness and have tasted of his love, and have received a remission of your sins, which causeth such exceedingly great joy in your souls, even so I would that ye should remember, and always retain in remembrance, the greatness of God, and your own nothingness, and his goodness and long-suffering towards you, unworthy creatures, and humble yourselves even in the depths of humility, calling on the name of the Lord daily, and standing steadfastly in the faith of that which is to come, which was spoken by the mouth of the angel.

And behold, I say unto you that if ye do this ye shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of your sins; and ye shall grow in the knowledge of the glory of him that created you, or in the knowledge of that which is just and true.

And ye will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably, and to render to every man according to that which is his due.

And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.” – Mosiah 4:11-13, 16

I love this scripture. It teaches us the progression of service and commitment to God.

Know God → Receive a Remission of Sins → Feel Joy and God’s Love → Remember His Greatness → Pray Always → Stand Steadfast in Faith → Rejoice → Always be filled with His love → Grow in Knowledge of God and that Which is Just and True → Live peaceably → Succor those who Stand in Need of It

I guess I love noticing this pattern because it teaches me how best to serve others – Service to others is more than something we do once or twice. It is a way of being. It comes as we know God and experience His pure love. We aren’t expected to be charitable in and of ourselves. The Lord knows that we are imperfect people. Instead, we can come unto Him, know Him, and then a natural outpouring of the love we feel from Him will be a love for Him and all of our brothers and sisters.

“Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?” – Mosiah 18:10

Once we have decided that we want the pattern to apply in our lives – of knowing God, being filled with His love, and then sharing it with others, then we ought to be baptized. We can stand as a witness that we have covenanted with Him.

Our part of the covenant: serve Him and keep His commandments.

His part of the covenant: We receive more of His Spirit.

I love this! And think about this in terms of service – if we are filled with the Spirit of the Lord, then we can be better Servants. We can be guided on whom, how, and when we should serve others.

Has this ever happened to you? I have experienced the receiving end of this. One of my best friends began as my visiting teacher. She wanted to do what is right, but was bound by a husband in school, a young boy, one car, etc. I know that it was hard to serve.

When I had a baby she wasn’t able to come by, neither was she able to cook a meal or serve in any way. To be honest, I didn’t even notice it. My mom was in town for about 3 weeks, so I had all the help I really needed.

About a month and a half after having the baby, I was trying to get back into the swing of things. I had two children 17 months apart. I felt a little overwhelmed. Plus, my husband (at that time) was in school and working full time. He was home for maybe fifteen minutes a day. It was a difficult and lonely time for me.

One particularly lonely and difficult day, I heard a knock on my door. I wasn’t expecting anyone, but was surprised to see my visiting teacher – Kara. She had a meal, and was apologizing profusely. She had meant to bring it earlier, and then had the thought she should bring it that day.

I told her not to apologize. The timing was perfect. I know that the Spirit whispered to her that day, to come by, bring a meal, and be a friendly face during a time when I was lonely and struggling. I know that the Spirit can best guide our efforts to both serve God and others.

“And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” – Mosiah 2:17

This is probably the most famous and classic scripture on service. For good reason, too. In some ways, it is difficult to serve God. I mean, He’s God. For example, it was my dad’s birthday last week, and I had the toughest time thinking of what I could get him for his birthday. He doesn’t really want much, and I don’t think that there is anything I can get him that he doesn’t already have. There is no service I can offer him that he can’t do himself. And there is nothing I can do to make up for the lifetime of sacrifices and blessings he has given me. So, I feel like the best way to “repay” my dad is to be grateful and to be the kind of parent to my children that he was to me.

I feel like this is the same with Heavenly Father. There is nothing that we can really do for Him. So, instead of trying to serve Him exclusively, we serve others. We serve His children. We bear testimony of His love to others through our actions.

Back to the example I gave about Kara. When I think of what she did for me, not only was I grateful to her, but still – even now – I am grateful to Heavenly Father. It is through her love for me that I feel the Love of God. I sincerely hope that when I serve others they realize that God loves them.

” And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.

27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength. And again, it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize; therefore, all things must be done in order.” – Mosiah 4:26-27

A last scripture on service. When we serve, we need to do all we can – but we do it in wisdom and in order. It is good to have this reminder. The Lord doesn’t expect us to bankrupt ourselves in order to serve others. We still need to be self-sufficient. We need to be able to finish the race. We need to be smart and diligent.

I love this scripture – especially as a mother. There are times when I feel like I’m running ragged. It is good to remember that if I don’t pace myself then there will be a point when I can’t serve at all. What good will I be if I can no longer serve – physically, emotionally, or spiritually. It is important to follow the Spirit. I feel like there are times when we must sacrifice to serve. When we do, the Spirit seems to strengthen and nourish us. There are other times when the sacrifice is not wise. Those experiences leave us feeling exhausted and we become useless. We need to be wise.

***
How does the Book of Mormon teach you to serve? What are ways that you are able to apply these teachings to your life?

See more posts on the Book of Mormon at Jocelyn’s Blog

2 Comments
by chococatania on February 20, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in Book of Mormon, Book of Mormon Forum, Insights, Scripture Chain, Scripture Study
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Posted by chococatania on February 20, 2012

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/service-and-the-book-of-mormon-scripture-chain/

The Book of Mormon: Establishing the Truth of the Bible

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I love learning about it. I love reading the Bible, and I love thinking about the doctrines taught by our Savior.

One thing about the Bible, it often leaves me fuzzy. Sometimes the doctrines that are mentioned seem elusive – difficult to understand.

I see why there are so many opinions on what the Bible teaches. It is no surprise to me that there are hundreds of religions that stem from a belief in the bible. We know that the bible went through many translations. Even the Lord knew that this would happen, and he explained to Nephi:

“And after they go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away.” – 1 Nephi 13:26

So, it begs the question, What is true? What is the gospel? Which doctrines are true and essential for our salvation? How do we make and keep covenants? Where is authority?

And here is where my love for the Book of Mormon steps in. The Book of Mormon helps to clear up the fuzziness.

“And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved.” – 1 Nephi 13:40

The Book of Mormon does not compete with the Bible. Instead, it establishes the truth of the Bible. Isn’t that amazing! Because of the Book of Mormon, all scripture is relevant. Without the scripture, we are left, to stumble because we don’t have the whole picture. The Bible is missing pieces. How can we be whole, or perfect, if we don’t have all of the instructions?

The Lord knew this would be a problem:

“…after the Gentiles do stumble exceedingly, because of the most plain and precious parts of the gospel of the Lamb which have been kept back by that abominable church, which is the mother of harlots, saith the Lamb—I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb.

For, behold, saith the Lamb: I will manifest myself unto thy seed, that they shall write many things which I shall minister unto them, which shall be plain and precious; and after thy seed shall be destroyed, and dwindle in unbelief, and also the seed of thy brethren, behold, these things shall be hid up, to come forth unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb.

And in them shall be written my gospel, saith the Lamb, and my rock and my salvation.” -1 Nephi 13:34-36

We have the Book of Mormon today. We have the Lord’s record. We have His gospel, his rock, and salvation. We don’t have to stumble on the fuzzy concepts taught in the Bible. Instead, the Book of Mormon enlightens our minds and brings even more beauty and clarity to the words of the Bible.

Plain and Precious Parts of the gospel
Thanks to the Book of Mormon, I have been able to better understand:

There are so many other doctrines that I keep thinking of – including prayer, how to baptize, government, service, and the connection of faith, hope, and charity.

Each of these principles and ordinances can be found in the Bible, but most of them are relatively enigmatic. The Book of Mormon uses plain and simple terms to help us understand true gospel concepts. And, as we learn these things, the Bible becomes more beautiful, informative, and helpful to our lives.

I’m grateful that the Lord has blessed us with a way to access His love and mysteries. We can come to know Him and his true teachings as we study the Book of Mormon and Bible together. I have a testimony of the Book of Mormon. I know that it is the word of God. I know that it will help us to understand His mysteries. As we seek His word – in both the Book of Mormon and the Bible, He will enlighten our minds. He bless us with power and vision. We will be happier people. We will understand our Heavenly Father and Savior more and live lives worthy of the best blessings that He wants to give us. When we read the Book of Mormon, we open ourselves to divine tutelage. The Lord will correct us and direct us in a kind way. Our understanding of the Bible increases, and we can develop a true friendship with our Savior.

***
Do you have a difficult time understanding the concepts and principles of the Bible? Which ones seem fuzzy to you? Do you think that you are open to having greater understanding of the truthfulness of the Bible by accepting the help that comes from the Lord through the Book of Mormon? If so, comment here and we can have a discussion.

Or you can also find the Book of Mormon online – with many handy study tools. You can also get a free copy of the Book of Mormon.

Finally, check out some other great blog posts on the Book of Mormon at Jocelyn’s Book of Mormon Blog Hop

6 Comments
by chococatania on January 22, 2012  •  Permalink
Posted in 1 Nephi, Book of Mormon, Book of Mormon Forum, Insights, Testimonies
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Posted by chococatania on January 22, 2012

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2012/01/22/the-book-of-mormon-establishing-the-truth-of-the-bible/

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
Tagged , , , , ,

Posted by chococatania on November 4, 2011

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

Chad Lewis, Life, and The Book of Mormon

Last night, I went to a fireside where Chad Lewis was speaking.

Fly Eagles Fly...

Oddly enough, I went to it now that I live in Arki-land, not when I actually lived in PA.

I have to say, the fireside was excellent. He said something about his dad that really stuck out to me:

He loved life enough to get after it.

I’ve been thinking about that phrase, and it reminds me of the scripture in the Book of Mormon:

” 24 And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead.” – Alma 12:24

I love that the Book of Mormon teaches us this truth: that our mortal lives are temporary – and there is a purpose to them: we need to prepare to meet God. I think that Chad Lewis’s dad must have understood this concept – this life is a probation. It is a time to prepare to meet God, and, as Chad explained, his dad got after it.

What a good example.

I haven’t always been the best at this. Here I am, 33 years old. I know that I still have a lot of life ahead of me, but I find myself wondering what I’ve done so far. And I wonder if what I have done really matters. Currently, I’m a stay-at-home-mom. Sometimes, it is difficult to remember that even though I’m not running marathons or climbing mountains, I’m raising children, and that’s exactly what I should be doing now. It is my life, I need to love it enough to get after it.

On Friday, it will be the birthday of my late brother, Sean.

Sean-o...Football Pictures all Around!

He passed away in June, and the more time passes, the stranger it gets. I am grateful for the gospel, though. I know that He is okay. He’s learning about the gospel, and He is surrounded by family. His life has been a lesson to me, and I keep hoping that I can learn from it, so that his death isn’t in vain. I mean, it would be meaningless if Sean passed away without anyone learning anything…Is this making sense? Not sure. I’ve been trying to live life more meaningfully, yet I’m also still kind of trudging through life – letting the adversary get me feeling depressed by all that I’m not doing.

It seems like Chad Lewis summed up what I began to learn in June of this year, when Sean passed – Love Life enough to Get After It. – or, as Amulek says: Prepare to meet God.

So…It’s like my new goal, my new life-mantra. I’m going to be happy each day – happy to be alive, happy to be healthy, happy to be preparing to meet God and thank Him for my blessings, personally. I’m going to admire the world around me – and the beautiful seasons here. (Yes! Even Winter! Even the Cold!). I’m going to take more pictures and give more prayers of gratitude. And when things get hard, I’m going to get after them.

For now, I’m going to jump off of the internet, and jump in Puddles with my two year old.

Puddle Jumping

She really knows how to get after it.

4 Comments
by chococatania on October 27, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Alma, Book of Mormon, Book of Mormon Forum, Children, Family, Insights, Life Lessons, Motherhood

Posted by chococatania on October 27, 2011

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2011/10/27/chad-lewis-life-and-the-book-of-mormon/

Obtaining a Testimony of the Book of Mormon

Note: this was originally posted over at We Talk of Christ, We Rejoice in Christ for the Book of Mormon Forum. Check out the forum this month. It is great!

One of the things that sets the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints apart from other churches is our belief in the Book of Mormon. Like many other Latter-day Saints, I have a testimony of the truthfulness and power of this book.

I haven’t always had a firm testimony in the Book of Mormon, but I was fortunate enough to be raised in the Church. The Book of Mormon has always been a part of my life. I was baptized when I was eight, and have felt the influence of the gospel for as long as I can remember. Even though I haven’t always had a testimony of the Book of Mormon, I have to admit, I can’t think of a time when I have doubted it’s truth. I had faith that the Book of Mormon was true – based on the testimony of others. However, over time, faith and borrowed light wasn’t enough. I needed to gain my own testimony.

As I got older, I started to be filled with a genuine desire to know if the Book of Mormon was true. Over time, the desire to know if the Book of Mormon was true translated into the willingness to diligently study the Book of Mormon and other scriptures.

So, I started studying the Book of Mormon. I started applying the lessons I learned in the Book of Mormon. And guess what happened? Nothing much. I prayed, and studied, and felt fine about it, but no visions, no crying, no falling on my knees.

I feel like my experience isn’t uncommon. When I was a teenager, I read the book of Mormon, and I felt like what I had read was good, and I figured it was true, but I was still waiting for my moment when I would have some kind of Heavenly Visitation or hear a voice. I was waiting until I cried a lot (I’m not much of a cryer, so it never happened for me). Because I hadn’t seen a vision, because I hadn’t cried a lot, I wondered if I had received a witness of the Book of Mormon. I continued faithful – sure that testimony is faith affirmed, and that my faith would be affirmed at some point in the future.

While waiting for this groundbreaking Spiritual experience, I was gaining a witness of the Book of Mormon – line upon line, precept upon precept. And, I finally came to realize that the witness that I’ve received of the Book of Mormon has been cumulative rather than singular. It has been a bunch of small experiences with the scriptures and Book of Mormon that have worked together to be a witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon.

So – what is my witness? What are these small blessings?

Because I spend time each day, studying the Book of Mormon, my life is better. The book of Mormon has illuminated my soul. (See Alma 5:7.) Even though I am far from perfection, even though I struggle with sins and weakness, I feel like the Lord, in the midst of my darkness lights the path before me. And it is the Book of Mormon that has been the way that He has lightened my path. The light has come upon me like a sunrise, a little at a time, until, eventually, I’m bathed in the warm sun.

As I have continued reading and pondering the scriptures, I have had more experiences with the Spirit. For the most part, they haven’t been emotional or overwhelming in the “girls’-camp-bawl-my-eyes-out-way”. I haven’t felt my bosom burn, as many people do. Instead, I have experienced the following: “13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy,” (Doctrine and Covenants 11:13).

I have felt enough of this joy and enlightenment, and feel it whenever I read the Book of Mormon, that my soul truly hungers for it. I don’t mean this in a self-righteous way. In fact, my soul hungers for the enlightenment and joy of the Spirit precisely because of my weakness and affinity toward sin. Because of the joy and peace I feel as I study the Book of Mormon, I hunger for the edification of the Spirit. It helps me make sense of my life. I feel rejuvenated and nourished. I feel able to “make it.” Studying the Book of Mormon fills me with peace and hope. I have felt the love of God pour on me as I’ve studied the Book of Mormon. And I’ve come to know that there are only a few other things we can do to feel this kind of nourishment, love, peace, and hope. Not everyone has a temple nearby. We can’t always spend our time at Church; however, we can access the blessings of peace that the Lord will bestow upon us daily through the Book of Mormon.

This blessing, I have come to know, is my witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. The blessing of an illuminated soul, an enlightened mind, and joy is what we hunger for. I know that many people don’t understand how to find these blessings. They look for it through drugs, sex, or some other kind of way. Yet, we can access these blessings daily through scripture study. I have been able to access these blessings through daily study. Experiencing these blessings, these miracles, is how I’ve come to know that the Book of Mormon is true.

You can find out more about the Book of Mormon here.

2 Comments
by chococatania on October 25, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Book of Mormon Forum, Testimonies
Tagged , ,

Posted by chococatania on October 25, 2011

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/obtaining-a-testimony-of-the-book-of-mormon/

Giving Away a Book of Mormon

So…I sent a Book of Mormon off to someone today. I guess I “placed” it. I don’t know what to say, but it is on it’s way.

I’ve given away a few Books of Mormon. In ninth grade, I gave a Book of Mormon to my teacher Mrs. Dellapolla. She taught my World Cultures class. As I look back, I think that she was my favorite teacher. She had actually lived life before teaching. She was a refugee from Hungary. And somehow she had decided to deal with a bunch of ninth graders. I’m grateful for that.

I’ve given a book of Mormon to a college professor, a couple of colleagues, and even a door to door salesperson. None of them were really all that “scary” to give away. I was open, and tried to give them the Book of Mormon with my testimony only (and no expectations) – I figure I can let the Spirit work on them after I bear testimony.

Today was a little different. Today, I gave a Book of Mormon to my dad.

It’s funny. I’ve known him for 33 years, and yet I’ve never attempted giving him a Book of Mormon. I’ve never really felt right about it. It isn’t that I was ashamed, it’s just that I hadn’t felt the spirit prompt me to before. I’ve always wanted to give him one, but I didn’t want it to be done in vain.

So, I’ve waited.

And this year, the right opportunity has presented itself. Things have been hard on my family – my dad most of all. And my heart aches for him. I’ve been praying for him. I feel comfort knowing that my ancestors have the gospel. I know that there are many people both here and beyond the grave who are “rooting” for Him.

I don’t want to air his dirty laundry, but I can say that I have been through some of the things he’s going through – so I have empathy. Additionally, he is experiencing things that I can only imagine – but I feel like I can sympathize. One thing I know, as I’ve struggled in life, I’ve been able to turn to the scriptures, especially The Book of Mormon for support. It truly is like a friend – who comforts, illuminates, and uplifts. So, I sent my dad a Book of Mormon.

I hope he will read it. I don’t know if he will. If anything, I hope that he reads the letter I wrote to him, and realizes that

  • Heavenly Father loves him, personally. – Adversity is proof that Heavenly Father Loves us – He, like a father, is allowing us to gain the experience we need to “walk on our own two feet”. This doesn’t come without some stumbling.
  • We can find strength during our trials. – We will always experience trial, but we don’t need to experience them alone.
  • The Book of Mormon can bring us happiness. – I don’t mean skippy, bouncy, tra-la-la happy. I don’t mean pleasure/ecstasy. I mean deep, abiding happiness. Hope. Peace. The kind of happiness that can comfort us even deep in the pits of our despair.
  • The Lord pleads with us – to Heal us. – Is there any more hopeful message – that we can be healed?

Everything is working out – nearly serendipitously. (Even though I know it isn’t serendipity…) I’ve been working on this Book of Mormon forum, The October Ensign is all about the Book of Mormon, Elder Scott gave an amazing Conference talk on Scripture – especially the Book of Mormon, and my brother’s (who passed away earlier this year) birthday is Friday. It is the perfect time for me to send it to him.

So I did.

2 Comments
by chococatania on October 24, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Book of Mormon, Book of Mormon Forum, Insights, Testimonies
Tagged , ,

Posted by chococatania on October 24, 2011

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2011/10/24/giving-away-a-book-of-mormon/

Lehi’s Dream

I love Lehi’s Dream. It is one of the most informative and uplifting vision in all of recorded scripture. If you are not familiar with it, you can read it 1 Nephi 8. A few years ago, I “illustrated” Lehi’s dream – using mixed media. I’ve decided to post it here. I hope you enjoy.

Lehi’s Dream

“And it came to pass that while my father tarried in the wilderness, he spake unto us, saying: Behold, I have dreamed a dream; or, in other words, I have seen a vision…

And it came to pass that I saw a man and he was dressed in a white robe, and he came and stood before me…

And it came to pass that as I followed him I beheld myself that I was in a dark and dreary waste.” – 1 Nephi 8:2, 5, 7

“And it came to pass after I had seen the tree, I said unto the Spirit: I behold thou hast shown unto me the tree which is precious above all.

And he said unto me: What desirest thou?

And I said unto him: To know the interpretation thereof – For I spake unto him as a man speaketh…

And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities…and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white…

And he said unto me: Behold the virgin whom thou seest is the mother of the Son of God, after the manner of the flesh…

And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.

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 th ehearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things.” – 1 Nephi 11:9-11, 13, 15, 18, 20-22

“And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.

And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; …

“And the multitude of the earth was gathered together; and I beheld that they were in a large and spacious building which my father saw. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Behold the world and the wisdom thereof; yea, behold the house of Israel hath gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of the lamb.

And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the great and spacious building was the pride of the world; and it fell, and the fall thereof was exceedingly great.” – 1 Nephi 8:26-27; 11:35-36

“But to be short in writing, behold, he saw other multitudes pressing forward; and they came and caught hold on the end of the [iron rod]; and they did press their way forward, continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.

Wherefore, the wicked are rejected from the righteous, and also from that tree of life, whose fruit is most precious and most desirable above all other fruits; yea, and it is the greatest of all the gifts of God.” – 1 Nephi 8:30, 15:36

8 Comments
by chococatania on October 22, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Insights, Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi, Book of Mormon Forum
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Posted by chococatania on October 22, 2011

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2011/10/22/lehis-dream/

Working Together in Marriage

A few years ago, I was remarried. To “homey”…”vito”…whatever you want to call him. It was a blessing that I had begged for. I prayed for years. I worked hard. And when it was time to get married, I was beside myself.

Then we were married, we were both 28. We both already had cars, microwaves, and silverware sets. We both had jobs. We both had ways to budget our money. We both had preferences. And we were both used to doing things our way.

Suddenly, we were married, and we had to do it all together.

It was a surprising challenge.
I) I had to give up control over some of the home-management things.
I couldn’t really justify $30 shampoo with another adult in the mix. It wasn’t only my money anymore. This is an easy enough change. Cheaper shampoo, conditioner, shoes, etc – all were worth the chance to be a stay-at-home-mom again.

II) I had to give up control over some of the Spiritual/revelation for our family.
Now – before I go further, I want to emphasize, my husband is a good, worthy priesthood holder. He isn’t some insane power freak.

I was used to being the sole receiver of revelation for my family. I was a single mom for a few years. Before that, I was married to a man who never seemed to receive inspiration (spiritual or otherwise) for our family. I understand why that was now, but the point is – I had never experienced being in a family situation where someone other than me received some kind of spiritual revelation.

Then, when I got remarried, a situation came up, and “homey” had been inspired to act a certain way. I didn’t receive that revelation. I hadn’t received any. I didn’t know what to think…Now, This was not a bad thing. It just meant that I needed to be willing to give up some control.

My opinion is: there are some times when the father/husband receives inspiration for his family. There are some times when the mother/wife receives inspiration for her family. In a good marriage/family, each partner receives inspiration. Sometimes, that revelation comes to only one partner. Later, the spouse can receive a confirmation on the revelation received. Sometimes, we have to express faith in the revelation received by our spouse, but, in time, the Lord will confirm His will to both spouses.

This took me a little bit of time to learn. But one story from the Book of Mormon really helped.

“1 And it came to pass that after we had come down into the wilderness unto our father, behold, he was filled with joy, and also my mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad, for she truly had mourned because of us.

2 For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; and she also had complained against my father, telling him that he was a visionary man; saying: Behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness.

3 And after this manner of language had my mother complained against my father.

4 And it had come to pass that my father spake unto her, saying: I know that I am a visionary man; for if I had not seen the things of God in a vision I should not have known the goodness of God, but had tarried at Jerusalem, and had perished with my brethren.

5 But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in the which things I do rejoice; yea, and I know that the Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of Laban, and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness.

6 And after this manner of language did my father, Lehi, comfort my mother, Sariah, concerning us, while we journeyed in the wilderness up to the land of Jerusalem, to obtain the record of the Jews.

7 And when we had returned to the tent of my father, behold their joy was full, and my mother was comforted.

8 And she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them. And after this manner of language did she speak.” – 1 Nephi 5:1-8

So…here, we see that Sariah was getting a little frustrated with Lehi and his visions. They had left Jerusalem, left their homes, and were headed to an unknown promised land. Lehi had sent his sons back to Jerusalem to obtain a record. Sariah was worried about her sons and was growing impatient. She complains to Lehi, he comforts her, her sons return, and she receives confirmation of Lehi’s inspiration.

Lehi and Sariah

This example from the scriptures gives us a good model of how to support each other in marriage.
For the Receiver of Revelation

  • Lehi is great. After Sariah complains with Lehi – about him being a visionary man – he doesn’t defend himself. He doesn’t attack her. Instead, he agrees with her saying, “I know that I am a visionary man.” Then, he bears testimony. Lehi doesn’t tell her to be faithful. Instead, he comforts her with the power of His testimony.
  • Sometimes, it is easy to get prideful – if we are the receivers of a revelation. We may think that the other person ought to take our word for it. We want to be right. Lehi isn’t confrontational. He is agreeable and filled with the Spirit. Even though Sariah’s sons hadn’t returned, even though Lehi and Sariah were still in the wilderness, she had been comforted.
  • We can only comfort one another when we have the power of the Spirit with us – taking the message from our mouths to the heart of another. Lehi lived worthy of the Spirit, and this helped to keep their marriage strong, even in the face of adversity and confrontation.

For the spouse of the receiver

  • Sariah wasn’t all that bad. In fact, she was really great.
  • She went along with Nephi! She left her riches. She left her home. I would think that she may have left family and friends. She left her comfort. And she went into the hot, Middle Eastern desert.
  • She watched her sons go back to Jerusalem. And it was a long, dangerous trip.
  • She had the spirit to be comforted by the words of Lehi. If she hadn’t been humble, then his agreeable response to her complaint and his testimony wouldn’t have touched her in any way. She was upset, but still humble enough to be comforted.
  • She remained faithful, until her faith was proven.
  • When her sons return, she bears testimony. I love that we have the testimony of Sariah in the Book of Mormon.

For both the receiver and spouse

  • After the experience, worship and express thanks together.
  • “And it came to pass that they did rejoice exceedingly, and did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto the Lord; and they gave thanks unto the God of Israel.” – 1 Nephi 5:9

    Well, this sounds like fun…Kiss and make up. I love how after this entire experience, they rejoice, worship, and give thanks to God. Can you think of anything better to do after having a dispute with your spouse?

I love the Book of Mormon. It is full of practical examples for our lives. I know that it is the word of God. I know that the Book of Mormon can help us in our relationships.

Earlier in my marriage, I was surprised when my husband received a revelation that I hadn’t already had. I was able to receive confirmation, and I know that his revelation came from God. I have also had experiences when I have received a revelation for our family, and my husband expressed faith until he understood it more. I know that we, spouses, need to work together – as Lehi and Sariah did…rather than compete for “control.”

***
If you haven’t read the Book of Mormon, you can! Check it out here or order a free copy here.

1 Comment
by chococatania on October 19, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in 1 Nephi, Book of Mormon, Book of Mormon Forum, Family, Insights, Marriage
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Posted by chococatania on October 19, 2011

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2011/10/19/working-together-in-marriage/

The Book of Mormon and Families

In my mind, two thing that are distinctive characteristics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or, the Mormons) are our emphasis on family and the Book of Mormon.

We (Mormons) believe that families are central to Heavenly Father’s plan. This isn’t some new invention, either. Families have been central to Heavenly Father’s plan since Adam and Eve. Not surprisingly, Satan has done what he can to destroy families since Adam and Eve.

I have not had the best of luck when it comes to “family” – compared to the ideal. I was born out of wedlock and didn’t know my biological father for the first 31 years of my life. My mom married, and her husband adopted me (I consider him my father, and I love him as if he’s my father). When I was ten, they divorced. My mom remarried when I was 11 and then divorced again when I was 15. She remarried a third time when I was 15 (later that year). It has been interesting. Meanwhile, My dad remarried when I was 11. This last year, my step-mom (after 22 years) called it quits. I have also experienced a marriage, divorce, and another marriage of my own.

Most of the problems that I have faced have been associated with my family.

The greatest blessings I have experienced have been associated with my family.

Family is important.

I know that I am not the only one in the world who comes from a “broken” family. In fact, I recognize that I have been greatly blessed in many ways. Despite the divorces, my family has always had monetary means, my father has been a big part of my life, and I even found my biological father. So – I’ve been blessed, but I know how much pain and sadness can come from these relationship that should be filled with Love.

In The Family: A Proclamation to the World, we are taught:

“Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is where the Book of Mormon fits in. We believe that the Book of Mormon is another witness of Jesus Christ. The Book of Mormon helps us to learn who Jesus Christ is and allows the Spirit to fill our lives. The Book of Mormon tells us what the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ are. The Book of Mormon is a powerful key in achieving happiness in family life.

The Famlily: A Proclamation teaches:

Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.”

We can get scriptural examples of each of these principles in the Book of Mormon.

  • Faith
    • “And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.” – Alma 32:21

      Faith can help us in our families – as we endure trials together – we can use this opportunity to express faith together. Faith is required in our lives as we raise our children – we don’t have a perfect knowledge as parents, but rely on the Lord. This kind of faith will help us to overcome marital struggles, and other difficulties. Faith in Christ is paramount in a successful – happy – family.

  • Prayer
    • The Savior, himself, taught:
      “Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed.” – 3 Nephi 18:21

  • Repentance and Forgiveness
    • This is completely necessary in our families. If we don’t repent (and if we don’t forgive), then instead of living in happiness, our families will live in anger and pain. Jesus taught:
      “Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I will receive you.” – 3 Nephi 12:24

  • Respect
    • Sometimes respecting each other can be hard to do – especially within the family. Nephi is an amazing example of respecting his family members – even though his brothers mocked him, bound him, and even tried to kill him, he continues to love and respect them. After the Lord prompted Nephi to shock Laman and Lemuel, they tried to worship him. Instead, Nephi says:
      “…And they fell down before me, and were about to worship me, but I would not suffer them, saying: I am thy brother, yea, even thy younger brother; wherefore, worship the Lord thy God, and honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which the Lord thy God shall give thee.” – 1 Nephi 17:55

      Nephi respects the Lord, and won’t let Laman and Lemuel worship anyone other than the Lord. Nephi respects his brothers. He refuses their worshipping. Nephi respects his parents, and he urges his brothers to do the same.

  • Love and Commapassion

    • Charity and compassion are closely related, which is why I’m including them together. Charity is the Pure Love of Christ – and it never fails. So, if our family is based on Charity, and Charity is felt in our homes, then – our homes will be solidly anchored in Christ and will not fail. Learn more about charity:

      ” 45 And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

      46 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

      47 But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.” – Moroni 7:45

  • Work
    • After escaping the Lamanites, Nephi and his people inhabited a new land. There, they kept the commandments and began to prosper. Nephi relates:
      “And the Lord was with us; and we did prosper exceedingly; for we did sow seed, and we did reap again in abundance. And we began to raise flocks, and herds, and animals of every kind.
      …
      15 And I did teach my people to build buildings, and to work in all manner of wood, and of iron, and of copper, and of brass, and of steel, and of gold, and of silver, and of precious ores, which were in great abundance.

      And I, Nephi, did build a temple; and I did construct it after the manner of the temple of Solomon save it were not built of so many precious things; for they were not to be found upon the land, wherefore, it could not be built like unto Solomon’s temple. But the manner of the construction was like unto the temple of Solomon; and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine.

      And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did cause my people to be industrious, and to labor with their hands.
      …
      And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness.” – 2 Nephi 5:11, 15-17, 27

      We can live after a manner of happiness by following the same pattern of righteousness and work.

  • Wholesome Recreational Activities
    • We don’t get many recorded examples of “wholesome recreational activities” in the Book of Mormon. It seems like the times when they were righteous may span hundreds of years, but are represented by only a few pages in the Book of Mormon. Instead, it seems that the Book of Mormon records more recreational activities that were not wholesome, and the negative consequences that follow.

Through the Book of Mormon, we can get a stronger influence of Christ in our lives. We can learn more about the principles that will help us to have successful marriages and families. There are so many wonderful examples that are not included in this blog post. What are some good “family” examples that you can think of from the Book of Mormon?

***
If you haven’t read the Book of Mormon, I encourage you to do so. Read it online here. You can also request a free Book of Mormon here. Check out some other great blog posts in the Book of Mormon Forum.

4 Comments
by chococatania on October 18, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Book of Mormon, Book of Mormon Forum, Children, Family, Insights, Marriage, Motherhood
Tagged , , ,

Posted by chococatania on October 18, 2011

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/the-book-of-mormon-and-families/

How to Study the Book of Mormon

This isn’t going to be a typical “how to study” post. I’m not going to be writing about color codes, gospel themes, or ways to mark your scriptures. Instead, this is a post on how to study the Book of Mormon, according to the Book of Mormon.

Moroni teaches us how to approach the scriptures:

” 3 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.

4 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.

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

How to Study the Scriptires

  1. While reading the Book of Mormon, be mindful of the Lord’s mercy to all of us throughout the history of the world.
    • Pray to be mindful of the Mercy of Christ.
    • The Book of Mormon is full of illustrations of Christ’s love and mercy. Consider marking the scriptures where Christ’s mercy and love is shown or told. One scripture that comes to mind:
      ” 24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.” – 2 Nephi 26:24

      Everything that Christ did was for the benefit of each of us.

    • While studying the scriptures, keep a journal and be mindful of how Christ is merciful to you. This is a great post by my cousin on how studying the scriptures has helped her see that Christ is merciful of her. Scriptures illuminate our lives, and recording these tender mercies is a great thing to do while studying the Book of Mormon.
  2. Ask God if the Book of Mormon is true.

    • In other words: PRAY!
    • We don’t have to wait until we’re finished reading the Book of Mormon to ask for a witness. We can pray for a witness every time we read.
    • This advice isn’t reserved only for those who haven’t yet read the Book of Mormon or received a witness of it’s truth. Even if we’ve read it before, and even if we know it’s true, we can still pray that the Lord will give us a witness of its truth.
  3. Have a sincere heart and real intent

    • When we pray and read the scriptures – give an honest effort. If we are reading to look for problems, we will not receive a witness. Our scripture study will be ineffective. We will not receive the guidance we desire each day.
    • If we pray with real intent, the Lord will soften our hearts – making them fertile for faith. Nephi exemplifies this concept:
      ” 16 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers.” – 1 Nephi 2:16

      Nephi started only with desire – a real intent. The Lord softened his heart, and then Nephi’s faith grew.

    • If we approach our scripture study with a sincere heart and real intent, then the Lord will soften our hearts and help us to improve. He will cause the scriptures to be guide us, correct us, comfort us. Our scripture study will be effective only when we approach them genuinely.
  4. Have faith in Christ

    • Faith in Christ is necessary in studying the book of Mormon. Without faith in Christ, then the Book of Mormon is a waste of time.
    • Consider developing a stronger faith in Christ by studying what the Book of Mormon teaches about Christ.
    • While you read the scriptures, have faith that Christ, through the Holy Ghost, will illuminate your path. Have faith that the scriptures will become clearer to you.
  5. The truth of the Book of Mormon will be manifest by the Holy Ghost.

    • Live worthy of the Spirit.
    • when you receive manifestations by the Holy Ghost, record them.
    • You can have manifestations by the Holy Ghost every single time you read the scriptures. Strive for this to be your goal.

One final note:
The Holy Ghost bears witness of the truth and is connected with the scriptures. Nephi explains, ” 3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” – 2 Nephi 32:3

When we fill our lives with the words of Christ, we fill our lives with the influence and power of His Spirit. As we study the scriptures, we will be prompted on what to do. This is what scripture study is all about.

As much as I love reading the scriptures and studying them – I love marking, I love looking for little elements like themes, similes, or symbols. The point of studying the scriptures is to have them be a conduit of Heavenly Father’s spirit in our lives. Moroni gives us the best pattern for scripture study. So, try it out! Don’t you love the Book of Mormon?!

***
If you would like additional scripture study tips, check out my free eBook: Getting More from the Scriptures: Techniques and Projects for Effective Scripture Study.

For more on how to study the Book of Mormon, check out this article by Elder Christofferson. If you would like to study the Book of Mormon, but don’t have one, access it online here or order a free one here. Check out some more blog posts about the Book of Mormon over at the Book of Mormon Forum.

3 Comments
by chococatania on October 17, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Book of Mormon, Book of Mormon Forum, Insights, Scripture Study
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Posted by chococatania on October 17, 2011

http://thatgoodpart.wordpress.com/2011/10/17/how-to-read-the-book-of-mormon/

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