1 Nephi 3:7 He Prepares A Way

1 Nephi 3:7  "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

Sometimes we are asked to do difficult things.  If they have anything to do with being obedient, I know that there are ways prepared for us to accomplish those things.  Those situations may stretch us, stretch our beliefs, stretch our minds, stretch our hearts.  But those experiences are never impossible.  We are the only ones who make them impossible, and sometimes we get in our own way.  It sometimes takes a few steps of faith into total darkness to propel us forward before we can find the sure footing that's there.  

I used to be one of those people who wanted a sure, clear path before her.  I wanted everything spelled out and I wanted to be prepared for what came next.  It was only in the experience of having my world turned upside down that I had to take this walk of faith of which I speak.  

After 30 years of marriage, the confirmation finally came that I needed to part ways with my ex-husband.  I no longer knew what my future held; I no longer could see a few months ahead.  My comfortableness of having my future financially secure was taken away and I couldn't see how finances would work out.  I wasn't sure where I was going to live.  I had never been a burden to society and I didn't want to start now!  

So I lived a day at a time, an hour at a time.  My security became a deeper faith in my God, who had promised to provide if I did my part.  It was difficult -- I felt displaced, unsure of myself.  I wasn't scared, but uncomfortable at not knowing.  Over time I felt at peace at not knowing.  I became 'okay' with not having everything figured out.  People used to ask me my future plans, and all I could answer was "I can't see that far anymore."   I still can't see very far in the future, but doors and windows have slowly opened up for me again.  I'm able to financially support myself and my children.  I'm back in my home and know I can afford to stay there if I need to.  I'm making goals and plans and working towards those things.  I'm no longer in a limbo state and I'm putting together a future.  I love where I'm at, but I hope to never forget where I've been.  

My testimony of my Father in Heaven and his infinite love and concern are etched ever deeper on my soul.  He asked me to walk into the darkness and He guided me onto a more sure, safer, healthier path.  The God I worship prepares all scenarios ahead of me, He makes the way possible even though at times I can't see the next step ahead.

1 Nephi 2:19 God Speaks to Us

1 Nephi 2:19. "And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart."

I believe God speaks to us. It may take time to understand how He speaks, and it may take practice to understand the various ways and means, but I firmly believe He does.  I know that we can come to a place in our spiritual development where we can have this undeniable communication.  

For me there are times when words that aren't my own come into my mind.  There are times when scriptures LEAP off the pages and get my attention.  There are also other people's words that penetrate and sink so deep that I know they are being instruments in God's hands.  He can also speak peace and comfort.  I remember kneeling in prayer one day and physically feeling a cocoon of love and warmth and peace envelop me.   The God I worship speaks to us if we seek Him.

1 Nephi 2:16 Answers to Questions

1 Nephi 2:16. "And it came to pass that I, Nephi...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."

I have a testimony that our prayers and desires are heard on high.  Whenever and whatever we question can be given us if it's for our good.  Sometimes "tradition" and rebelliousness can harden our hearts, and I believe that at times it's only the power of God that can help us get to a place where we can have a soft, believing heart.  Our understanding and perspective is not God's perspective, and it may take a very long time to get a glimpse of His perspective.  We strive to have full faith in Him, but it takes line upon line to build that relationship.  Until then, we sometimes succumb to relying on our own power and our own knowledge.  This sometimes puts us in a position contrary to the will of God.   

I remember having a question for God where I wouldn't get the answer for 10+ years.  It wasn't troubling me every day, but I was confused and sometimes let it bother me.  Looking back, now that I have the answer, I think God was waiting for me to accept that there will be questions in this life that won't get answered.  There are times when we aren't "ready" for the answer to come.  Luckily for me, I was sitting in church one day listening to a 14-year-old give a talk about temples.  In ONE sentence he answered my 10-year-old question.  He said, "If you are not worthy to go to the temple, and go anyway, you WILL NOT bring home the blessings."  All of a sudden for me all the puzzle pieces fell into place.  My understanding broadened and things started to make sense in my personal life. God "visited" me by answering my question that day.  Maybe I needed that long of a time to have a soft enough heart that was ready to hear the answer.  The God I worship hears me and answers me in His perfect timing.

1 Nephi 2:14 God's Power

1 Nephi 2:14. "And it came to pass that my father did speak unto them ... with power, being filled with the Spirit, until their frames did shake before him. And he did confound them, that they durst not utter against him; wherefore, they did as he commanded them."

At this point in the story, Lehi's family is on the verge of splitting up.  The two oldest sons want to return back to Jerusalem; they do not believe their father is a prophet and they want the comforts of home.  Traveling in the wilderness is not a easy thing, no matter how wonderful the given promises. It's imperative that the family stay together, so Lehi is given power to persuade in his time of need.  

There have been times in my life where I needed additional power.  Sometimes I just don't have enough faith on my own, enough strength, enough energy, enough love.  The God I worship fills us with what we need to sustain us.   My ugly divorce took a lot of "stuffing" out of me and at the end of the day I was amazed that I could still keep my chin up and perform with grace and dignity. I carried a lot of emotional weight in response to my ex-husband's actions, and I tried to bolster my own children as well as myself, and if left alone, I knew I would have fallen short. I relied on God's power to get me through the tough days.  God's power is real.

1 Nephi 2:1-2 Partner in Parenting

1 Nephi 2:1-2.  "...behold, they seek to take away thy life... And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness."

The God I worship is concerned about our families.  In this scriptural instance, Lehi had been prophesying to the people in Jerusalem, and because of the wickedness of the people, they did not like what he was saying and sought to take away his life.  God warns Lehi to get out of Dodge.  

God is very concerned about our families and will help parents in every way as we struggle with parenthood that comes without instruction manuals.  We can be guided by the whispering of the Holy Ghost, listening for counsel and direction and warnings.  I have been guided many times in what to say to my children when they asked questions I could not answer or wouldn't share at all.  I've been able to give them peace when they were at odds with the world, hope when life seemed miserable, and a sure witness that God knew their troubles inside and out.  God's greatest work is to bring us back Home, so He is there to help me in my work as a parent.  My sorrows are His sorrows.  My joys His joys.  My worries His worries. The God I worship is my partner in every way.

1 Nephi 1:20 Tender Mercies

1 Nephi 1: 20  "And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

Two phrases stood out to me.  I worship a God who sends tender mercies my way.  I also worship a God who gives me the power of deliverance.  

Tender mercies -- those things we don't deserve?  Possibly.  In my case, one example was simply being in a situation that was totally out of my control.  I was in Lima, Peru with my Spanish-speaking daughter.  I know all of 10 words in that language.  I was dependent on her everywhere we went.  One afternoon we were boarding a bus back to our hosts' home.  When the bus doors opened, a man had gotten in between my daughter and me.  Right when I got to the doors, they shut in my face.  My daughter was inside and I was outside.  Both of us were in shock as the bus whisked my daughter away.  She had told me where we were getting off, but because of my ignorance in the language, I couldn't remember it let alone be able to recognize it on signs.  Luckily for me, or a tender mercy -- you decide -- the very next bus that pulled up was the same #.  I got on and kept my eyes on her bus.  I had a decent enough view that I could see when she got off.  Unfortunately, at one of the stops, my bus passed hers!  So now my bus was in front.  She had no idea that I had gotten on the next bus.  She wasn't carrying a cell phone.  We thought one phone between us would be a safe enough thing.  ;0)  My mind was whirring about what to do.  Our hosts didn't speak a lick of English, so I couldn't call them. And I didn't even have their phone number.  I didn't have their address so I couldn't even hire a taxi.  And if I did have their address, would the driver understand the address I could give?  One idea I did have was to stop at an Internet cafe and email the mission home.  

I was in Lima  "picking up" my daughter after she had served a mission here for 18 months, and the mission home was the one place I knew I could get help. As the bus stopped at a few more stops, I managed to see down a side street and locate the mission home - the very first place I had been in Lima.  Coincidence or tender mercy?  How is it that the mission home could be so close to the bus route I was on.  I got off on the very next stop after orienting myself where that side street was.  It happened to be the very last stop where the bus turned and headed backwards on its "loop".  Just in case, I waited there for 10 minutes to see if Kyra's bus would come.  I watched 3 different buses come with the same #, but no Kyra.  Unbeknownst to me, she had gotten off at a different stop, hoping that I had remembered where we were going.  The area I was in was not the safest.  Luckily there was some commercial locations which meant more people.  I happened to have a solid wood stool broken apart in a bag I was carrying . . . A gift for my cousin.  I was not in running shoes or walking shoes even because we had been visiting a holy place that afternoon and were in dresses.  So I slung this bag over my shoulder and with eyes wary, started out for the mission home.  I knew that at the first hint of trouble I would start swinging that bag around.  After 10 minutes of walking, I got to the mission home and rung the doorbell.  When they opened the door and I quickly started to explain my dilemma, a car pulled up in front and out comes Kyra with a stranger.  There was a very tearful reunion, and there's more to the story here, but for this blog, I just wanted to demonstrate that the tender mercies of the Lord are all around us.  There is no such thing as coincidences -- there are little (and big!) miracles all around us testifying of God's love and care for us.  This is the God I worship.

The God I worship knew I was close to the mission home.  I believe he inspired me to look the direction I did in order to see the mission home from the bus.  Even though the bus numbers didn't help us in the end, they sure gave me hope that we were both headed in the same direction, plus it gave me hope until I got to the next concrete step.  There's a purpose for everything...there really is!  I also felt calm and at peace that things would work out.  God delivered us from what could have been a greater dilemma.  I worship a God who makes the impossible possible.

1 Nephi 1:18 Prophets

1 Nephi 1:18 " I would that ye should know, that after the Lord had shown so many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard."

I wrote in an earlier post about prophets being called to "shepherd" us.  Lehi is the first prophet spoken of in the Book of Mormon.  Many prophets will follow, but Lehi is the first example of God's reaching.  Throughout the ages God has sent prophets to help guide and direct us.  In this instance, Jerusalem will be completely destroyed soon, so God sent a prophet to 'wake up' the people, to help bring them back into remembrance.  

We have prophets in our day.  There is a First Presidency, much like Peter, James & John, and then there is a Quroum of Twelve Apostles.  Fifteen good men who have been divinely called as prophet, seers and revelators.  Twice a year a General Conference is held where we get to literally sit at their feet and listen.  They speak for God.  They bless us with their words, strengthen us, comfort us and warn.  Again, God did not leave us down here to wander and try to figure things out for ourselves -- he sent prophets because He loves us.  I worship a God who cares enough about us to send us shepherds, dressed in suits and ties . . . and depending on the setting, perhaps t-shirt and scuffed jeans.

1 Nephi 1:6. Speaking with God

1 Nephi 1:6.  "...as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much..."

This is an extreme example when God manifests himself by a pillar of fire, but the take-home point I learned was that I worship a God who answers.  And not only answers, but answers "much".   Lehi had a different role than I do in this life, and my pleas in the past haven't required "much" -- but this I know....God is not a respecter of persons and if I need 'much' He will give it to me.  Lehi was being asked to leave his profession and become a prophet to warn the people of Jerusalem -- quite a task.  I'm sure God had much to say to him, and much to show unto him in the proceeding vision.  The God I worship answers our prayers and gives us what we need.

1 Nephi 1:4 Shepherds

In the very first book of the Book of Mormon, Nephi writes, "and in that same year there came many prophets..."  The setting was Jerusalem and the time was 600 B.C.

In Biblical history, from the very beginning, God has sent prophets down to his children.  What this tells me about the God I worship is similar to what I wrote about in my last post.  He cares enough about us that he will send all means possible to help us remember Him and get back to Him.  It was necessary for us to be physically separated from God, so He provided a way to keep us connected.  Prophets can also be "seers" or see-ers who can see ahead to what's coming and guide us into safe waters.  They are God's spokesmen that He has prepared and sent.

I have personally met two contemporary apostles in my life.  They were mortal men with a divine calling to serve.  They didn't look any different from any other man -- but oh, the spirit that surrounded them was something of a sacred nature.  You couldn't help but feel God's presence by being in their presence.  I know that they were intimately acquainted with Him.  

Analogies of sheep and shepherds abound in Biblical literature.  Perhaps we too, in this day and age,  need a shepherd.  Wolves are a very real, symbolic threat.  Sometimes we combat things in this life where we don't have enough life experience to handle.  Sometimes we are the innocent and naive sheep, who desperately need a shepherd.  The God I worship sends spiritual shepherds who can see around the corner and prepare us for what's coming ahead.

Title Page: Take Two

I discovered another thing about God from the title page of the Book of Mormon.  Moroni wrote, "that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever."  Covenants must be linked to our way back 'home'. Since Moroni was writing by way of commandment, this tells me that God knew we would get off His covenant path, that we needed a way back.  This record was to help us remember and re-learn what we must have known before we ever arrived on this earth.  

This tells me that God is not leaving our development here on earth to chance, that is  . . . unless we choose it to be that way.  He did not just let us out the door to figure things out on our own.   By our own choices, we separate ourselves from God.  He knew this was inevitable and put things in place for us, to help us along our mortal journey, if we choose to seek.  Covenants are two-way promises.  The Book of Mormon helps us discover what those promises are -- our Promises to Him and His promises to us.  

God has a plan for us. God has put things in place for us to not only return, but to return fully developed.   If he wanted us to learn of His covenants, they must help us along the way.  If we didn't come to earth to become a better person, why did we leave in the first place?   We don't send our children off to school so they can come back the same.  We want them to learn, to gain knowledge and wisdom, to grow and develop intellectually, emotionally, socially,  to reason and analyze, to think for themselves and gain confidence in their abilities.  Isn't God the same type of parent?  Doesn't he expect us to return home more developed?  

The God I worship has a plan for us -- He has provided covenants for us to fully access His power as we sojourn here on Earth.  

Title Page: Written Records

I discovered something about God on the very first page.  Moroni's introduction, or "Title Page" lets us know that these records (the Book of Mormon), which contain histories of 3 different civilizations,  were written by way of commandment from God.  The reasons he gives number 3 as well: (1) to 'remember the great things the Lord hath done...', (2) to discover 'covenants' and (3) to convince everyone who Jesus Christ is.

Records must be very important to God.  The Book of Mormon has a subtitle: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.  This particular record bears testimony of Jesus Christ.  Perhaps God's commandment to write about these things was purely for our benefit.  He didn't need the reminder.  The people written about never saw the completed record.  It must have been important to God for us to have something tangible we could hold in our hands.  This record was abridged by a prophet of God, buried in the earth to keep it protected, then brought forth by another prophet of God.  No series of scribes from different sects, no revisions by hand through hundreds of years, no different interpretations.

During a very unpleasant divorce, I wrote letters to God most every night in a personal journal.  I can't remember what made me stop, but I "re-discovered" it 6 months after things were final.  It was chuck full of recognized blessings, feelings of great love and peace from a Divine source, and an acknowledgement of the different windows and doors of opportunity that were opened to me during this time.  This was a volume of my "personal scripture".  I had forgotten probably half of what I'd written.  Mortals forget -- that's just the human part of us.  But I'm so glad that I had written many "great things that the Lord hath done" for me during that time period.  It was my own record and witness of God's personal dealings with me and a witness of how intimate He could be.

Records are important to God, because He knows they will be important to us.  We need these records to continually be reminded of God's love for us, his constant direction for us and to hear His voice at different times in our lives.  I have read these scriptures multiple times, and depending on what phase of life I am in, there seems to always be something that stands out more than others, even though I'd read it dozens of times.

The God I worship feels His Word is important enough to be written down, preserved and brought forth and spread across the earth.

Preface -- John 17:3 That We Might Know Thee...

Some time ago in South America, a seasoned group of missionaries was asked, “What is the greatest need in the world?” One wisely responded, “Is not the greatest need in all of the world for every person to have a personal, ongoing, daily, continuing relationship with Deity?” Having such a relationship can unchain the divinity within us, and nothing can make a greater difference in our lives as we come to know and understand our divine relationship with God and His Beloved Son, our Master. (James E. Faust -- I added the italics)

I began this blog with the intent of sharing what I personally know and have learned about God and His Son Jesus Christ from the pages of the Book of Mormon.  I need to say upfront that while I may talk about God separately at times from Jesus Christ, I believe that they are so intimately connected that to speak about one is to speak about the other.  I believe the Son has developed all the qualities and attributes of His Father.  Although they have different roles, I believe their interests in us are the same. They are "one" in all ways imaginable, yet physically they are two separate glorified beings with tangible bodies of flesh and bone.  Have you ever known a couple that could finish each other's sentences?  That knew where each other's thought processes were going with one or two words, or even a look?  THAT is intimacy, and I believe that Jesus Christ shares the highest sense of intimacy with His Father.  Could I ever get to know God this well?  John sure seems to think this would be a good idea: He records in John 17:3 some of the words of a prayer that came from Jesus' lips:  "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."

Bruce R. McConkie, a modern day apostle, wrote in his book Mormon Doctrine: "Man’s purpose in life is to learn the nature and kind of being that God is, and then, by conformity to his laws and ordinances, to progress to that high state of exaltation wherein man becomes perfect as the Father is perfect." [s.v. “God,” 318]

Brigham Young, 2nd President of the Restored Church believes  that we used to know God.  He said, "When you . . . see our Father, you will see a being with whom you have long been acquainted, and He will receive you into His arms, and you will be ready to fall into His embrace and kiss Him. . . . "  (Journal of Discourses 4:54–55)     If we knew God before coming to this earth, isn't possible to come to know Him again?

Lastly, Joseph Smith, the first prophet of this Last Dispensation said, "Having a knowledge of God, we begin to know how to approach Him, and how to ask so as to receive an answer. When we understand the character of God, and know how to come to Him, He begins to unfold the heavens to us, and to tell us all about it. When we are ready to come to Him, He is ready to come to us.” (History of the Church, 6:303–5, 308;  from a discourse given by Joseph Smith on Apr. 7, 1844, in Nauvoo, Illinois; reported by Wilford Woodruff, Willard Richards, Thomas Bullock, and William Clayton).

Modern day apostles and prophets believe that it is possible for mere mortals to come to know God on a personal level.   Doctrines of men have invented all sorts of interpretations of God, so it's no wonder the world is starving for truth.   Joseph Smith revealed in Doctrine & Covenants 123 that "For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—"

My relationship with my Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ is a real, tangible thing.  This has brought me peace and it flows like a river, steady, sure, moving in and around stumbling blocks, bringing me closer and closer to my destination.  Learning about these two deities has made ALL the difference in my life.  Where did I find this truth?

We have two written witnesses of God and His Son Jesus Christ - The Bible and The Book of Mormon.  The Book of Mormon is an ancient record of compiled accounts that records God's dealings with America's inhabitants long ago.  I have learned much about the God I worship in its pages, and I have felt the sweet testifying influence of the Holy Ghost letting me know that it is a sacred, true volume of scripture.  

So . . . . this blog.  Again, my purpose is to share what I know and have learned about my Father in Heaven and His Son.  And I wish to share through a second witness of Jesus Christ, The Book of Mormon.  I have learned these things (that will follow) by the Spirit which has testified to me of many wonderful things that have infused a sense of deep peace into my life.  The knowledge I have of the God I worship and His Son the Living Christ, is one of the most precious gifts I have.