Sometimes its hard to pull something especially earth shattering from a short chapter like this. There are a few alleys I could dive into, but for simplicity's sake, and will try to remain plain.
This is a small observation and perhaps of little consequence. Just a fast thought from my mind. Nephi has to make 2 sets of plates. One to record the ministries of his people, and one to record the more historical/secular dealings. And I admire that he did that. It would have been much easier to just put it all in one. One great big record of his people. But the Lord asked for 2, so of course Nephi does it. He doesn't try to cut corners, or weasel around it. What a good example. The Lord asks many things of us. The long term benefit of Nephi making two records is very significant to us having the Book of Mormon. Perhaps Nephi knew this, perhaps not. In any case, its likely we don't often realize what the affects of the things the Lord asks of us might be. Often times we must act in faith, believing and trusting that the Lord has a "wise purpose" in mind, which he always does.
Showing posts with label Trust. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trust. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Saturday, October 23, 2010
1 Nephi 7 - Does God Answer Prayers
I will call attention to what may be a common insight in chapter 7. But it is common because it is good. It is important. It is powerful. Lets look at verses 17 & 18. Nephi has been tied up and left for dead. What a great situation to be in. I'm sure he's thanking the Lord for these tribulations. Ha!
So what does he do, well of course, he PRAYS for help. He asks the Lord for the strength to "burst" the bands he is held bound with. But are they burst? Not so much. We read that they are but "loosed". Now this is a small difference, but we can learn a big lesson from it. Does the Lord sometimes answer our prayers according to our needs, and not necessarily according to our wants? When it comes down to it, all Nephi needed was to be freed from being bound. He didn't necessarily need strength to break the bands. Do we sometimes ask the Lord for something we want, and he gives us something a little different? Do we recognize that our prayer has been answered, or do we look beyond the mark, having our heart set on what we wanted?
S. Michael Wilcox expounds this principle extremely well in a talk given as a devotional at BYU-Hawaii. He references Luke 11:9-13. When we ask for bread, God does not give us stones. The same principle applies in all things. When we ask for bread, the Lord gives us bread. He fill our needs. But sometimes we may be so focused on getting marble rye, that when He gives us whole wheat, we don't accept it. It becomes a stone. (Read the whole talk HERE, its fantastic but really long)
In Nephi's case, I hardly think he's about to be upset about not receiving strength to break the bands as he asked. Surely he is thrilled just to be free. I hope we will all accept the help and guidance the Lord offers us, and not be so focused on what we want, that we don't recognize that He has likely given us, or surely will give us, what we need. The Lord answers in His own way, in His own time. But He does answer. And He does so according to our faith (v.17). May we trust in Him that He will always give us bread, no matter what kind.
Does God Answer Prayers?
The 4th Watch on CD
So what does he do, well of course, he PRAYS for help. He asks the Lord for the strength to "burst" the bands he is held bound with. But are they burst? Not so much. We read that they are but "loosed". Now this is a small difference, but we can learn a big lesson from it. Does the Lord sometimes answer our prayers according to our needs, and not necessarily according to our wants? When it comes down to it, all Nephi needed was to be freed from being bound. He didn't necessarily need strength to break the bands. Do we sometimes ask the Lord for something we want, and he gives us something a little different? Do we recognize that our prayer has been answered, or do we look beyond the mark, having our heart set on what we wanted?
S. Michael Wilcox expounds this principle extremely well in a talk given as a devotional at BYU-Hawaii. He references Luke 11:9-13. When we ask for bread, God does not give us stones. The same principle applies in all things. When we ask for bread, the Lord gives us bread. He fill our needs. But sometimes we may be so focused on getting marble rye, that when He gives us whole wheat, we don't accept it. It becomes a stone. (Read the whole talk HERE, its fantastic but really long)
In Nephi's case, I hardly think he's about to be upset about not receiving strength to break the bands as he asked. Surely he is thrilled just to be free. I hope we will all accept the help and guidance the Lord offers us, and not be so focused on what we want, that we don't recognize that He has likely given us, or surely will give us, what we need. The Lord answers in His own way, in His own time. But He does answer. And He does so according to our faith (v.17). May we trust in Him that He will always give us bread, no matter what kind.
Does God Answer Prayers?
The 4th Watch on CD
Friday, October 15, 2010
FIrst Nephi Chapter Three - 1 Nephi 3
GOAL SETTING!
Alright, I loved the great lessons from this chapter about setting goals, making plans, and relying on the Lord. Let me first try to paint a fast picture of what is going on here. The family of Lehi has left Jerusalem. They have journeyed into the wilderness for who knows how long. Wilderness in this part of the world pretty well means DESERT = not especially enjoyable. Lehi informs his 4 sons that the Lord has commanded them to return to Jerusalem to get some records, which are basically the Bible, as written to that point in time.
And, as typically is the case, two brothers complain, two brothers oblige. I have to wonder what I would personally say if I was told to cross the desert AGAIN. Verse 7 is a beautiful, famous verse which shows Nephi's amazing faith, and confidence in the Lord. He knows the Lord will provide a way.
So they go back to Jerusalem. In a first attempt to get these records, they figure they may as well start by asking for them, which turns out to fail miserably, nearly resulting in the death of one brother. Okay, I think we better go home now, clearly this isn't going to work. Right? No sir. What does Nephi do? He sets a goal (v.15) - We are not going home until we do what we came here to do. Then he makes a plan (v.16) - Here's how were going to do it: first, we are going to be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord (spiritual preparation first), then we'll go get all the gold and silver we left behind, and make a trade for the plates. Perfect. Sets the goal, makes a plan.
What happens? Attempt two once again fails miserably (v.25-27)! Now they still don't have the plates, and they lost all their riches. Great. What's going on?! Now it is definitely time to go home. This is a waste of time. Right?
Well chapter 4 is going to reveal the finale of this sticky situation, but let me just say that THE LORD PROVIDES A WAY. Let us learn that sometimes we must persist in our efforts, even if they seem in vain. Even if our first and second attempts fail miserably. If we are on the Lord's errand, doing something he has asked of us, we can trust with all the surety in the world that "the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." (v.7) President Eyring gave a fantastic example of his own experience of following the prophet's council to get out of debt, and how the Lord truly prepares a way for it. Go watch/read it HERE! The talk, from the most recent General Conference, happens to be titled "Trust in God, Then Go and Do."
Perhaps we want to attend the Temple more often, or quit smoking, or do our home/visiting teaching every month, or get out of debt, or build up food storage. Whatever our righteous desires may be, let us take courage that the Lord will open doors and make it possible for us to accomplish whatsoever thing he asks of us, just as he did for Nephi (read on to chapter 4!). But we must exercise our faith and trust in Him, perhaps into the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th attempts (Pres. Uchtdorf's talk on Patience). The Lord will provide a way. My being out on a mission is a testimony of that, so I offer you my own witness that the Lord will do the part we cannot. That as we set righteous goals, we can see miracles in our lives. Go and Do!
Alright, I loved the great lessons from this chapter about setting goals, making plans, and relying on the Lord. Let me first try to paint a fast picture of what is going on here. The family of Lehi has left Jerusalem. They have journeyed into the wilderness for who knows how long. Wilderness in this part of the world pretty well means DESERT = not especially enjoyable. Lehi informs his 4 sons that the Lord has commanded them to return to Jerusalem to get some records, which are basically the Bible, as written to that point in time.
And, as typically is the case, two brothers complain, two brothers oblige. I have to wonder what I would personally say if I was told to cross the desert AGAIN. Verse 7 is a beautiful, famous verse which shows Nephi's amazing faith, and confidence in the Lord. He knows the Lord will provide a way.
So they go back to Jerusalem. In a first attempt to get these records, they figure they may as well start by asking for them, which turns out to fail miserably, nearly resulting in the death of one brother. Okay, I think we better go home now, clearly this isn't going to work. Right? No sir. What does Nephi do? He sets a goal (v.15) - We are not going home until we do what we came here to do. Then he makes a plan (v.16) - Here's how were going to do it: first, we are going to be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord (spiritual preparation first), then we'll go get all the gold and silver we left behind, and make a trade for the plates. Perfect. Sets the goal, makes a plan.
What happens? Attempt two once again fails miserably (v.25-27)! Now they still don't have the plates, and they lost all their riches. Great. What's going on?! Now it is definitely time to go home. This is a waste of time. Right?
Well chapter 4 is going to reveal the finale of this sticky situation, but let me just say that THE LORD PROVIDES A WAY. Let us learn that sometimes we must persist in our efforts, even if they seem in vain. Even if our first and second attempts fail miserably. If we are on the Lord's errand, doing something he has asked of us, we can trust with all the surety in the world that "the Lord giveth no commandment unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." (v.7) President Eyring gave a fantastic example of his own experience of following the prophet's council to get out of debt, and how the Lord truly prepares a way for it. Go watch/read it HERE! The talk, from the most recent General Conference, happens to be titled "Trust in God, Then Go and Do."
Perhaps we want to attend the Temple more often, or quit smoking, or do our home/visiting teaching every month, or get out of debt, or build up food storage. Whatever our righteous desires may be, let us take courage that the Lord will open doors and make it possible for us to accomplish whatsoever thing he asks of us, just as he did for Nephi (read on to chapter 4!). But we must exercise our faith and trust in Him, perhaps into the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th attempts (Pres. Uchtdorf's talk on Patience). The Lord will provide a way. My being out on a mission is a testimony of that, so I offer you my own witness that the Lord will do the part we cannot. That as we set righteous goals, we can see miracles in our lives. Go and Do!
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