Back on Track

Ok, I am back and ready to prioritize my thinking out loud blog. So to back up a few days. I studied 1 Nephi 15 for the last few days. There is a lot of information in this chapter. Verse 3 I think had a very important message in it. The beginning of the chapter talks about Nephi returning to the tent of his father after being carried away in the spirit and his brothers were disputing what his father had told them. Verse 3 says, "For he truly spake many great things unto them which were hard to be understood, save a man should inquire of the Lord; and they being hard in their hearts, therefore they did not look unto the Lord as they ought." The part where he said that the things said were hard to understand save a man should inquire of the Lord really stood out to me. There have been many times in my life when I haven't understood things my parents have cautioned me of and I was hard in my heart thinking they were crazy and I didn't seek confirmation from the Lord...the result of my actions...2 totalled cars within 2 years of my life! How I would go back and inquire of the Lord and not have driven those 2 times! It would have saved me a lot of heartache...BELIEVE ME...alot of heartache. The only wrong thing I did was not listen and trust my parents when they said they didn't think I should drive during those 2 situations. There was a just a feeling for them, like they knew something bad was going to happen. Luckily the Lord spared me from injury, its too bad it took me a few times to learn my lesson. It does lead me to the question, "How many times should I have inquired of the Lord and didn't?" "How would my life be different today if I had?" "When I am not in agreement with my Spouse, instead of arguing what I feel is important at the moment should I be stopping and inquire of the Lord about the things that are being said?" That seems like a no brainer...but who actually has the willpower to do it? I need to try to do that...darn my stubborness! "Over how many different things a day should I be inquiring of the Lord?" "Can I inquire too much?" Not 10 questions Joe, but getting pretty close. Maybe when I finish the Book of Mormon this go around I will start over with a 10 questions a verse...that would be interesting I think. I kind of like the idea. I would learn a lot!

Moving on, Verses 5 and 6 Nephi talks about how he was overcome because of his afflictions from seeing the fall of his people. I wonder sometimes if President Monson has seen our future as a people. Do you think he has seen and feels that sorrow or affliction. I am sure he becomes overcome, but I wonder what he has seen and what a heavy burden he must carry. That would be so hard. I have a raised level of respect and love for him and all the prophets after thinking about this more. Sometimes I think I still seperate our prophets today from the ones in the Book of Mormon, but again I think they experience such similar things.

Verse 8, "...Have ye inquired of the Lord?" I just love this verse because I think we shoudl ask this to ourselves daily. I wish I could remember to do it, but I think it needs to be done. My day would be so much more accomplished if I would.

I have to get dinner ready for my husband now..he will be home in a minute...so more on chapter 15 tomorrow. This is a great one I think!