Not quite moving on yet...

I know I said I was going to start where I am currently, but I keep remembering certain areas that really stood out to me and I felt excited to post about, but of course didn't, so as I remember them I just want to point them out. As we can see I am still struggling with routine, but I am getting back on board I think.

Ok, So 2 Nephi chapter 9 is another beautiful and powerful chapter full of exclamation points in all the right places. When I was in high school I remember my Seminary teacher telling us that if we run into exclamation points to go back and pay close attention to them. So I have always done that. There are alot in this chapter and the words really are powerful. I type out the whole chapter, but just a few of the verses and I really really loved. It was actually a little hard to choose because the whole chapter is amazing, but these stood out the most to me.

Verse 40 through 42 and 44: "O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will revile against the truth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker. I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but the righteous fear not, for they love the truth and are not shaken. O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is the name. And whoso knocketh, to him will will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches--yea,they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them." "O, my beloved brethren, remember my words. Behold, I take off my garments, and I shake them before you; I pray the God of my salvation that he view me with his all-searching eye; wherefore, ye shall know at the last day, when all men shall be judged of their works, that the God of Israel did witness that I shook your iniquities from my soul, and that I stand with brightness before him, and am rid of your blood."

I love the words at the beginning where Jacob warns to now think that his words are hard. It is a great reminder that we need to listen to all the words of our Prophet. Sometimes things seem so trivial and small and annoying and even a little hard to listen, but they are important, important to our growth, not just maintaining where we are but improving upon ourselves. I am sure we have heard before that we cannot maintain our faith or stay the same, if we are not going upwards, then we are going downwards. It has always been a little difficult for me to follow some of the smaller things, well not smaller, but what seems smaller to me, you know...being idle, or spending my time on the more selfish side in things that aren't really going to satisfy me or choosing a nap over something that enrich my life or others. I frequently cave into those things that kind of seem like smaller issues to me, but they really are big things. I know that I would do a greater work in my life if I would discipline myself to do more, but as it is I often choose a more relaxed path. But I will say that sometimes something will light a fire under me and I can feel when I choose the best things to do for a day.

In the middle Jacob speaks and tells us to come unto the Lord and that he has made our path and that through Him is the only way to pass through the gate. It is a simple truth, but such a glorious one. I feel like I hear it all the time, but the moments when it really connects with me I just want to sit and feel the greatness of this truth. All we have to do is go to the Lord, submit ourselves to the will of God and live by His commandments. We will have eternal glory and happiness.

I love the last verse when Jacob says he shakes his garments, that he will not be responsible for anyone's sins because he spoken God's words to them and to us. He was bold and straightforward and I think he could say this because he could feel that He had done God's will. I love the power in that.

So my question is one, what one thing can we do this year that has been hard for us to listen to, but needs to be done? And 2, how can we make sure we are living and teaching God's word the way He wants us to so that we can stand with brightness before him at the time of judgement?

If you haven't done it in awhile, read this chapter, it is amazing.

Moving on

So I am going to just start off where i am currently, but before I do I want to go back to a chapter that I just really love. So I guess I am not starting off where I am currently...but whatever, that will happen next.

I love chapter 4 in 2nd Nephi. It is just beautiful. When I was in the MTC on getting ready to leave for Japan, one of my companions introduced to me this chapter with great excitement. We decided it was worth memorizing. So for a week we spent all our meal times and right before we went to bed memorizing and reciting a good part of this chapter. It is just beautiful and full of goodness. In this chapter Lehi dies and Nephi just pours his soul out to the Lord. It begins in verse 15 (prepare yourself, I am going to be typing straight scripture so you can just read it without getting out your scriptures right now)

"And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children. Behold my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me. And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted. My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh. He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me. Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the nighttime. And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me. And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them. O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions? And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy? Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul. Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions. Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation. O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt though make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin? May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of they righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict to the plain road! O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of they righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way--but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy. O Lord, I have trusted in thee and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm. Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen"

I realize I made a million typos and I will try to catch as many as I can, so please excuse my errors. But WOW, is that not the most amazing pouring out of the soul? I cannot read it without feeling the Spirit and feeling Nephi's love for the Lord and great desire for trusting the Lord and for righteousness. It is inspiring and really grounds me. It really helps me to remember where my thoughts and desires should be. His words are beautiful and full of wonderful emotion. When I read something like this it confirms my testimony and faith in God and that these men were truly prophets. I don't think you can fake words or emotions like this. It re-confirms to me the trueness of the gospel and of The Book of Mormon and of God's love for us. I am so thankful that God loves us so much to have had these prophets of old record what was needed for us to help us build and grow in our faith.

Here's to New Year's Resolutions!

So I clearly dropped the ball on my blogging. I think I started working on Halloween costumes and the holidays just consumed me from there. Now they are over and I am trying to get myself grounded again. Despite my lack of blogging I have actually still been studying, not as well and as concentrated as I was while I was blogging, but at least I have been. So my question is this, do I resume my blogging from where I left off, or do I skip to where I am reading now? I am not sure what is the best course of action, any suggestions?