July 6th Is ALMOST Here!!!!!

Yes, I'm a bit behind (only to mid-Mosiah), but I'm pluggin along - 7/6 is coming fast though. I love this part of the Book of Mormon (Mosiah), where Abinadi reminds us why we come to this world like we do - carnal, sensual and devilish; and how the biggest challenge is to realize that, then as the book of Revelations teach us, overcome! Alma got the message from his dad (Alma), and it was taught many times that the carnal man (natural) is an enemy to God and must change. I also love Paul's epistle to the Galatians (ch 5) where he describes the dual nature of our being, and encourages us to choose allegiance to the spiritual nature within us. If we can only remember what the Prophets tell us, and unstop our ears, hearken to their words, and soften our hearts we will be so at peace with our lives. Remember, O Remember to read your scriptures - daily! And PRAY! I love you all! Thanks, for the encouragement, Jenni!

So I'm slow

I skip around reading different things - the Ensign, certain topics for lessons I'm going to teach, scriptures, etc. I need to be better at reading those things and always read the Book of Mormon from where I am also. But I was doing a study - I love the word Remember in the scriptures. I've always wanted to read through and as I came upon this word write about it in my little Remember journal. So I started that and then lost the journal! So I felt like I couldn't keep reading, dumb I know. So I read around and studied other things - and now I have found the journal, so I am continuing on my search. This morning I was reading in 1 Nephi 21. I loved it and felt the love Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for all of us and at that moment I felt it for me. I have always loved verse 16, but today it just felt even more special for some reason. In the end of verse 15 - ok it says the opposite of remember - it says forget, but only to clarify that he doesn't forget us - he remembers and loves us. It reads: "...yet will I not forget thee, O house of Isael. 16. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." I felt the love that he was trying to describe to us about how much he loves us. I could just picture him saying "I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands!" I know he wants us to remember His love for us. It is important to feel loved in life, that is their main message to us.

What does the end of the scripture mean: "...thy walls are continually before me." Thoughts anyone?

I will share more "remember" scriptures soon!

I survived

I taught seminary yesterday and today and I'm still alive. :) My friend that subs also kept telling me that 4th hour is a nightmare, so I was worried about that. Then yesterday, every class leading up to that class would mention something about 4th hour and I'd say "I've heard." I guess there's two boys in the class that are trouble makers. So they came and we started class...and they listened...and they participated when I asked them too...and they were GOOD! I actually enjoyed this class the most. My friend called and asked how it went and I told her they were good. She said maybe they just didn't know me so they didn't act up. I thought the same thing, so I wondered about the next day. They came and were a bit more comfortable before class started, they talked a lot and one sat on his desk, I wondered if I was going to have to ask him to get down. Once we started...they both sat down...listened...participated. Hmmmm. My lesson the first day was on angels, I think I had help from some don't you think??? Yah. I really enjoyed teaching them. Today our lesson was on D&C 130, which talked about the Godhead, the Urim and Thumim, the second coming, and about what we can take with us when we die - our knowledge and covenants and so forth. It was a lot crammed into one lesson. I enjoyed reading, studying and learning about these things. In verse 18 where it talks about how whatever intelligence we gain in this life we keep it with us in the next - in the lesson plan it had this idea to have two glass jars (or glass bowls like I used), fill one with a little water representing a persons life. Then you put worldly things into the jar this person enjoyed, car keys to represent a car, a ring to represent jewelry, coins to represent money. They tell them that this person died unexpectedly as you pour it all out into a strainer which is over the other bowl. Ask how the strainer represents death - you can't take your worldly possessions with you. Then do it again putting everything into the water again - things they enjoyed on earth, BUT this time also add drops of food coloring (or sprinkle kool-aid powder like me :) and list off things she did also, like read her scriptures, prayed, graduated from college, married in the temple, etc. Then she dies, pour everything into the strainer over the other bowl again, and they see that she kept all of her knowledge and covenants this time. It was a great visual way to explain this concept I thought. I want to do it as a FHE for my kids sometime.

D & C 129 anyone???

The seminary teacher here had emergency surgery the other day. Since she will be out for a while my friend Danielle and I are subbing this week. I will be teaching Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday is section 129, about angels and how we know if it is an angel of God or of the adversary. I wondered why this is something they would need to know and found out that it was mostly something they taught back when Joseph had his vision. Others began to proclaim they had visions also. Joseph had to explain the difference so they knew if it was a "good" angel or not. One part suggested discussing Moses 1:12-22. I have always loved this chapter because of how Moses describes talking with God, then right after Satan came tempting him and he knew right away that it was different, he saw darkness, not light. He tells him "I can judge between him and thee." I feel like that's the most important part of the lesson to make sure they can discern between the two feelings and be able to "judge between" them.

In YW today I taught about our Legacy and those who went before us also. It was fun to talk with the girls about Book of Mormon heroes of theirs and what their legacy's are. I decided to play the song us girls wrote for Oma. I talked about her, Jeremy and Grandpa and about how others that go before us leave a Legacy no matter how old they are. I am so thankful for each of them and others, and each of you also! It's nice to have great examples all around me and in the scriptures to look to for strength.

Book of First Nephi

It appears that a summary of First Nephi is given by Nephi in 1 Nephi 1:1 - his parents were good teachers, and he was apparently a good student; he saw many afflictions in the course of his days, but through it all he felt he was "highly favored of the Lord" and "had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God", and he made a record, a testament of his sacred experiences.


I believe Elder Maxwell coined the phrase "hell-bent Laman and Lemuel", and based on Nephi's account it appears they were bound and determined to get there - hell! It appears that it all began with a heart murmur (hard hartedness), and that Laman and Lemuel "did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them". They missed Jerusalem and did not believe it could be "destroyed according to the words of the prophets". External influences were soon ignored after they spent a little time reasoning-away wise counsel from their father, faithful brother, an angel and even a demonstration in God's ability to destroy them while at sea; yet they continued to murmur and disbelieve.


It appears that Laman and Lemuel may have been too entrenched in the society and life of ease they enjoyed in Jerusalem; a contemporary prophet, who most likely walked the streets of Jerusalem with Lehi was Jeremiah - chapter 24 of his book tells all about the "naughty figs" who lived in the city. Lehi appears to be a concerned father who petitioned the Lord about preserving his family from the decay he saw in society, and was led away just in time to escape the Babalonian captivity which occurred about 586 B.C.


A most favorite part in the First Nephi is chapter 19, verses 18-20, where he seems to relish in the saving grace of the Lord in preserving him from the destruction at Jerusalem. He calls on all of the house of Israel to "remember the Lord their Redeemer ... if it so be that they should obtain [the Book of Mormon]"; and tells of the "workings in the spirit, which doth weary me even that all my joints are weak, for those who are at Jerusalem". Remembering the Lord weekly during the Sacrament should be a practice for each of us in recalling the mercies of the Lord in our own lives.


I love you all, and hope you are all enjoying the Book of Mormon - it's true and very powerful!

Prophecies Come to Pass

So, in 1 NE 13, it talks about Christopher Columbus coming to the promised land. And it talks about other people coming across the ocean with the spirit of God with them also. And that they brought the bible with them. God delivered them out of the hands of the people fighting against them when they came here so they could be a free people. Anyway, it's so cool reading about history in here when it was written like 2000 yrs before it happened! I especially LOVE it in vs. 37 and on when it talks about the Book of Mormon coming forth & us bringing forth Zion. And about the other books that would come like D&C, Pearl of Great Price and such. Anyway, it's pretty exciting & amazing reading about it all. The gospel is true!

Murmur Schmurmur

I'm just going to post my thoughts throughout the week as I read, there's no way that I would be able to remember & hold it all in 'til Sunday. As I read about Laman & Lemuel, it's interesting how infectious people's attitudes can be on others. Laman had that effect on Lemuel. They murmured about everything & were usually compelled into humility by the spirit so they would finally obey. I took a look at myself...am I a Laman? Do I whine about things the leaders ask me to do in the church, then try to get people on my side with my views? I need to be a Nephi and "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." So, I'm going to be a Nephi, and not criticize, murmur, or be difficult & whiney when there is a change in the way of doing things or am asked to do something that may require some faith & effort.

The Book of Mormon in 93 days (or less)!

Reading the Book of Mormon within 30 days is a common challenge, with great blessings to the soul who accepts. Before you begin the 90 day challenge, it would be well to read the Introduction page, especially the last two paragraphs. Particularly poignant and encouraging is the last paragraph of this page which testifies of the additional insights one will receive, apart from the knowledge that the Book of Mormon is true, relating to Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith and the Church. The following may be used as a 1 to 3 day goal, so you will complete the reading within 31 to 93 days; these are the natural breaks that I've come to know during my reading of the book.

Period 1 to 3 days: read thru 1 Nephi 9;

Period 2 to 6 days: read thru 1 Nephi 15;

Period 3 to 9 days: read thru 1 Nephi 22;

Period 4 to 12 days: read thru 2 Nephi 5;

Period 5 to 15 days: read thru 2 Nephi 14;

Period 6 to 18 days: read thru 2 Nephi 25;

Period 7 to 21 days: read thru 2 Nephi 33;

Period 8 to 24 days: read thru Jacob 7;

Period 9 to 27 days: read thru Mosiah 3;

Period 10 to 30 days: read thru Mosiah 11;

Period 11 to 33 days: read thru Mosiah 20;

Period 12 to 36 days: read thru Mosiah 28;

Period 13 to 39 days: read thru Alma 5;

Period 14 to 42 days: read thru Alma 11;

Period 15 to 45 days: read thru Alma 18;

Period 16 to 48 days: read thru Alma 25;

Period 17 to 51 days: read thru Alma 31;

Period 18 to 54 days: read thru Alma 39;

Period 19 to 57 days: read thru Alma 45;

Period 20 to 60 days: read thru Alma 51;

Period 21 to 63 days: read thru Alma 59;

Period 22 to 66 days: read thru Helaman 3;

Period 23 to 69 days: read thru Helaman 9;

Period 24 to 72 days: read thru 3 Nephi 1;

Period 25 to 75 days: read thru 3 Nephi 9;

Period 26 to 78 days: read thru 3 Nephi 17;

Period 27 to 81 days: read thru 3 Nephi 27;

Period 28 to 84 days: read thru Mormon 4;

Period 29 to 87 days: read thru Ether 3;

Period 30 to 90 days: read thru Ether 11; and

Period 31 to 93 days: read thru Moroni 10.

I have personally experienced the power of the Book of Mormon in my own life, and I continue to be so blessed by the considerable struggles of Joseph Smith, Jr. to know God's will, continue faithful in bringing forth the Book of Mormon, and establish God's kingdom on earth as he gave his own life to do so. Each of you have shared your testimony in ways that tell me you have been blessed with this knowledge also. One of my favorite talks during conference was Elder Uchtdorf, who spoke much about self examination and asked if we were living "far below our privileges" as priesthood holders; are we enjoying "all that the Father" has? You'll have to read it - I enjoyed the little story that went along with it, because it illustrates perfectly how we often miss the mark in the Church. I love you all; thanks Jenni and others for continuing on a new adventure.

The next chapter...Book of Mormon Challenge

I'm excited for our new challenge blog! We will use this blog for different challenges we think of. The first one we talked about is reading the Book of Mormon in 3 months. Dad will post the schedule, we all do the reading and then each week, or more if you desire, everyone can post something they learned or any questions, etc.

I liked this quote from Conference and thought I'd start off the posting with this:

Paul V. Johnson of the seventy said "Sometimes we want to have growth without challenges and to develop strength without any struggle. But growth cannot come by taking the easy way. We clearly understand that an athlete who resists rigorous training will never become a world-class athlete. We must be careful that we don’t resent the very things that help us put on the divine nature.

Not one of the trials and tribulations we face is beyond our limits, because we have access to help from the Lord. We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us (see Philippians 4:13)."

I'm excited for the growth that will come from reading and talking about the scriptures with all of you. How about this week while we're getting this started everyone could post one of their favorite topics over conference - or something you really liked that was mentioned. I'd love to hear! I need to go read up on some, I feel like I missed a lot this conference. So I may come back and post some more. Happy posting!