It begins...

Today begins the challenge to read the Book of Mormon before the end of 2008. To reach this goal, I divided the total chapters in the Book of Mormon (239, if you're curious) by the number of days left in this year (120, as of today). That means I have to read 2 chapters a day in order to complete it by December 31. I should probably leave some more wiggle room for myself, but I'm not. If I give myself some slack I'll probably take it and that would not be good.

Now, on to the purpose of this blog. To discuss what we've learned. My plan is to list the things that I've either learned or liked or just felt something about. These things may or may not be the same things you've learned or felt. The Spirit teaches us those things we need to know in our own lives, so I wouldn't be surprised at all if you learned different things or had different things catch your attention. The goal of this entire experience is to a) read the scriptures regularly and b) apply them to our lives. With that said, let's see what I learned from the first two chapters of 1st Nephi.

1 Nephi 1

Verse 5: Lehi prays with all his heart on behalf of his people. We see throughout the scriptures many prophets, as well as the Savior, do this. Parents, friends, siblings, etc also do this for those they love. They pour out their hearts in behalf of their people. This just struck me reading it this time.

Verse 9: Lehi sees One descending out of the midst of heaven. We're nine verses into the Book of Mormon and its already testifying of Christ. He is not called Christ for several more chapters, but it's great that the testament begins so quickly.

Verse 12: Lehi reads the book that he is given to read, and as he reads he is filled with the Spirit of the Lord. This is exactly why we read the scriptures today, so that we might have the Spirit with us.

Verse 14-15: Lehi is just swept away with joy. He's incredibly excited about what he has been shown and can't stop praising the Lord. I especially like in verse 15 where it says his whole heart was filled, because of the things the Lord had shown unto him. When we read the scriptures, the Spirit reveals (or shows) things to us.

Verse 18: Lehi begins to go forth and prophesy and warn the people of Jerusalem to repent. Lehi knows what is going to happen to them if they don't, because it has been shown unto him. He cannot sit still. When the Spirit teaches us things, it moves us to action.

Verse 19: The Jews make fun of him and mock him. Lehi testifies that he knows the Messiah will come. Again we see the direct testament that the Book of Mormon offers of Jesus Christ. That's twice (directly) in the first chapter.

Verse 20: I very much like the last sentence of this verse, where it talks about the tender mercies of the Lord and how we can be delivered from those things that threaten us. Lehi faced death for his actions. We all face danger, usually spiritual but not always, in this world. But the Lord looks after his own, "because of their faith", and will never abandon us. That is sure.

1 Nephi 2

Verses 1-4: Lehi is told to flee and he does. Just like that. He gets up and walks out on his land, his home, his hard earned riches. All he takes with him is his family and those things they will need to survive. When this mortal life comes to a close, family is all we have left.

Verses 6-7: They travel three days into the wilderness and then Lehi builds an alter and offers thanks. After traveling for three days in the wilderness for the pioneer trek last summer, I don't know that many of us were in a state to offer thanks for the difficulty of it. Lehi shows his devotion to the Lord by keeping his commandments, even as they are leaving their home and comfortable lives behind. As we face our own trials, do we stop to offer thanks for the goodness that is shown to us?

Verse 11: Laman and Lemuel murmur and complain because they are leaving the easy life behind. They think they are being led to "perish in the wilderness". They do not realize that they would have faced destruction in Jerusalem if the Lord had not led them away.

Verse 14: Lehi speaks to Laman and Lemuel with such power that their frames shake before him. This becomes a bit of a trend for them. =) I really like how it says they "durst not utter agaisnt him".

Verse 16: Nephi prays and has his heart softened by the Spirit. I'm sure Nephi was confused or a bit unsure about things as they went out into the wilderness. It wouldn't be easy to leave everything behind. Instead of complaining about it, Nephi prays and earnestly seeks to know the "mysteries of God". There are times in our lives when we don't know why things are happening the way they are. If we pray and seek for the Spirit, our hearts will be softened and it will be easier to see the big picture, not just the trial that looms in our view.

Verse 17: Nephi testifies to his brother Sam and he believes him. I love how Nephi shares the things he's learned with Sam.

Verse 18: Nephi tries to testify to Laman and Lemuel as well but they will not listen. Acknowledging their agency, he prays for them and is sorrowed by the hardness of their hearts.

Verses 19-24: Nephi is promised by the Lord that, if he keeps the commandments, he will be blessed and led to a promised land. He will become a ruler and teacher. He is also promised that his rebellious brothers (and their seed) will have no power over him or his seed if they do not rebel against the Lord also. Pretty good promise. Are we not given the same promise? Obey and be blessed? Indeed we have received the same promise. It works. Try it if you don't think so. =)

That's our two chapters for today. Please feel free to comment either here or in person. I'd love to learn from each of you as you study the scriptures for yourself.