These things are True

Well, my reading of the Book of Mormon recently has averaged about 5 verses per day. Not so hot. And part of that is maintained only because I try to read 3 verses to 3 year old Madeleine during breakfast as a nod to good parenting.

Ether 4:11
But he that believeth these things which I have spoken, him will I visit with the manifestations of my Spirit, and he shall know and bear record. For because of my Spirit he shall know that these things are true; for it persuadeth men to do good.

I'm supposed to teach a lesson in Relief Society in a little less than 2 weeks and I am freaking out. The suggestion was to teach on the Book of Mormon, that being a theme of a recent Ensign and much of the most recent General Conference. Sadly, I don't feel inspired or ready or excited about teaching that topic! Which to me means that I haven't been reading it enough and feeling the power of it enough.

So, while I do know that the things of the Book of Mormon are true ("things" being the sophisticated term for principles, teachings, truths...) and that they not only persuade me to do good but they help me feel good. I don't know if I have yet been visited with manifestations of the Spirit (or maybe I have been visited with such but haven't been listening) and I am not sure how powerfully I will be able to bear record of this. But I do believe and know that the Book of Mormon is true.

It is real. The teachings are true. It is a historical account. It is a blessing. It is a story. It is gospel teaching. It is the words of Christ. I believe this. And because I have had the spirit testify to me of its truthfulness, I KNOW this.

P.S. I'll let you know what topic I finally do decide to teach. May inspiration come quickly! May I be worthy of it!

Sacrifice & Faith

I need to learn the Bible better. *and, yes, I realize that was a poor use of the english language

We were discussing Paul's (Paul, right? See what I'm saying? I don't know the Bible) teachings to the Hebrews in Sunday School and I had something of an epiphany.

My Patriarchal blessing talks specifically about Hebrews chapter 11 which is an entire chapter about faith. Good old faith. Why is this the hardest principle for me to comprehend? Perhaps it has something to do with the complexity of the subject.

But, I digress...

I've read chapter 11 countless times. I've tried to understand it and apply it to my life. The result has been something akin to: "So... faith." Nothing more. Nothing less. In and of itself, this is a good lesson, n'est-ce pas? But there is more to it than that (obvi)!

The chapters that precede ch11 contain Paul's teachings to a Jewish (converted to Christianity) nation whose roots were so tightly wrapped around the Law of Moses that they struggled to understand that Christ's sacrifice replaced the tradition of blood sacrifices.

Oh, to actually know the history of the bible!

This led me to ponder the relationship between sacrifice and faith. Is there faith without sacrifice? Is there sacrifice without faith? Turns out? They are in a seriously committed relationship! Like, goin'-to-the-chapel-and-gonna-get-married kind of relationship.

I tried to think of an instance wherein sacrifice occurred without faith and vica versa. I couldn't think of any. So, is it safe to say they are mutually exclusive?

Either way, I took a look at my life, at the things the Lord has asked me to sacrifice (hello, 33 and single!) and I think I get what the Lord is trying to tell me ("hey, kid! you're gonna need some faith!")

I think there is more to it that this but I'm still trying to wrap my head around it. Thoughts?

Jacob... my new favorite BoM prophet

I'm going to have a lot more to say about this tomorrow but I would just like to say that I love Jacob! WOWZA! He is intense and speaks/teaches with incredible power. I just read the entire book of Jacob tonight and, just... wow.

I couldn't wait to show you how I "illustrated" chapter 5. For some reason this has been a chapter that has been somewhat confusing in the past. I mean, there are just so many trees and branches that it's hard to keep track of them all! I drew/wrote it all out so that I could make some sense of it and, believe it or not, it kind of worked!

Mormon 9 Applies!

To be honest, I didn't think that I would have much insight or anything to share from the rest of Mormon. Just sadness, carnage, and loneliness of a prophet and his son. Sad stuff.

But, just now I read Mormon 9 and guess what? I can see how some things can apply to an actual situation that I've been facing with a family member. We've had, shall we say, a little tiff. Where I may or may not have been somewhat critical or chastising of them.

Verse 27: "and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation with fear and trembling before him."... well, from this I take it I need to probably lay off and a) take my grievances to the Lord, humble MYSELF, and worry about my relationship with Heavenly Father first and b) let my family member work out THEIR OWN salvation instead of me getting all in their face and business. Hmph. I guess that put me in my place. We are our own agents. Particularly when I should honor and respect this family member quite significantly, I think that in this case... I am not responsible for their salvation. As a friend of mine once said about her husband who was, as she saw it, less observant than she: "I realized that he didn't need a Savior. He has a Savior. He needs me to love him. To be his wife, not his Savior." More love, more charity. Less chastisement. Okay, I see. It applies to me today.

and Verse 31: "Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection,..." Again, the same mercy which I hope to receive (and honestly have received) from this family member and from God, should be the same that I show unto him/her. I don't want to be condemned for my imperfections and neither should I condemn. Oy. I have been put in my place. And exactly at a time when I though these particular chapters were "yadee yada" - stuff that I thought was good but not applicable. How much I have to learn.

God is a God of miracles. He miraculously guides me and has mercy on me. Reminds me continually. Gets me through things. Is there for me. It's a miracle, especially considering all that He has on His plate.