1 Nephi 21

Verse 5, I like how the Lord says that he was formed from the womb that he should be Heavenly Father's servant. He also says that he shall be glorious in the eyes of his Lord and that His God shall be His strength.

I think that all of us are formed to be His servants from the womb. We all, if we live righteously, will have a day that Heavenly Father will see us glorified and exalted. To achieve these things we really need to have God be our strength, just like the Lord said.

1 Nephi 20

The lord speaks to Israel. He hells them that they have been baptized, but that they make no covenants in truth or righteousness. That is all that I was able to gather in this chapter. I struggle with the Isaiah comparative chapters.

1 Nephi 19

In this chapter Nephi tells us that he is writing this record for his ancestors that will someday inhabit the land of promise. This makes me think about all of the sacrifices that the prophets throughout the ages have made to make sure that we would have the scriptures available to us in our day.

The prophet Joseph Smith bore tremendous burdens in our behalf because he knew that he had a sacred record for his people. He knew that his people would need the Lord's direction in these last days.

1 Nephi 18 (Pray Often)

In chapter 18 we hear about Nephi finishing the ship and his family departing to the promised land. During their voyage the family of Nephi begin to be very rude and belligerent. Not until the ship was about to be swallowed up by the sea did they once again humble themselves and look to Nephi to guide the ship.

In my life I sometimes fall in to this pattern of lazy worship. This past Sunday we had a lesson in elder's quorum about prayer. The lesson was from a great talk that Elder Bednar gave in the April conference this year. The message I took out of this lesson was that I need to have more committed prayers.

Instead of merely praying for the missionaries to find those who are prepared to hear the message of the restored gospel, I should be praying that I can find people who are prepared to hear the gospel. Once I find these people then pray for the missionaries to be able to teach them. I also should not pray for something unless I am committed to doing what the Lord tells me to do in my prayer.

I think that we could all have more meaningful prayers. We need to pray in the name of Jesus Christ and try to remember him in all that we do. We should be willing to do what ever answers we receive in our prayers and understand that Heavenly Father always has our best interest at heart. He loves us and has given us a way to speak to him anytime. Use this gift more regularly and be more invested in your prayers.

1 Nephi 17 (The Lord Will Provide)

So far in the Book of Mormon we have seen examples of the Lord providing for Lehi and his family as long as they keep the commandments.
In our lives we need to have faith that as we do the things that we are commanded to do by the Lord and his Prophets we will be provided for. We may not all be rich or with out trials, but we will always have the spirit of God with us. That is a promise made to us by God.

If we will keep the Lord's commandments we will be taken care of. I have a testimony of this in my life. The more I am obedient the more I feel the spirit around me, and the more I am able to lead my family in righteousness as a priesthood holder.

1 Nephi 16 (Wicked Easily Offended)

The wicked take the truth hard sometimes. It is hard to have someone tell us that we are wrong or that what we are doing is wrong. I am like this often when Alli points out something that I should have done differently, my first reaction is always to try to defend my actions.

In this chapter, and other chapters, Laman and Lemuel are always offended and quick to defend their position when they are called out by Nephi or Lehi.

I need to take a lesson from this chapter and realize that when I am called out on something it is to help me become a better person and more close to my Heavenly Father.

1 Nephi 15 (Judgment of God)

In verse 30 Nephi states that the justice of God divides the wicked from the righteous. We need to do more than just have faith in the Lord to be saved. Some religions talk about being saved or born again. I think that it is great to love Jesus, and know him personally. I think that there is more to it than that.

President Hinkley said that we must strive to do our very best. Then and only then does the atonement of the Lord make up the difference for us and help us to become like Him. We must continue to keep the commandments and sacred covenants that we have made with God. It is a life long struggle, but with His help we can make it back to. Heavenly Father.

1 Nephi 14 (Armed with the Power of God)

In verse 14 we read about how the power of the Lamb of God descended on the saints of the church. This power is the priesthood of God. As priesthood holder is His church we are entrusted with great responsibility. We should be using this power to bless the people around us. We need to live worthy to exercise this power at a moments notice. As priesthood holders we need to live our lives focused on the savior. We need to use His life and ministry as a pattern for our lives. If we are saying our daily prayers, reading our scriptures daily and looking for ways to give service to others every single day, we will be in the right frame of mind to assist with a blessing or render other priesthood service. I am grateful to have been blessed with the priesthood of God. I know that it is a blessing to me and my family. I pray that I will always live my life worthy to be counted as someone who is armed with the power of God.

1 Nephi 13 (Publish Peace)

Verse 37 asks us to publish peace. I think that there are many ways that we can publish peace in our lives. I think that we publish peace when we are good examples for others. I think that we publish peace when we bear a testimony. Follow me on this one, I think that we can publish peace by raising and teaching our children correct moral and virtuous principles. When we teach our children they can continue the teachings and pass along their own testimonies.

Publishing peace brings us closer to the spirit and helps us to grow our testimonies. Brigham Young once said, "the best way to gain a testimony is to bear one". Find a way to publish peace in your life. You will be blessed for it.

1 Nephi 12 (Temptations)

In this short chapter temptation is described as something that blindeth the eyes, hardeneth the hearts, and lead toward broad paths.

I think that as we are tempted and as we sin we will blindeth our eyes. Things that we know are bad somehow become not so bad. We also tend to become very defensive about others who may try to help us (harden our hearts). We also loose our way sometimes when we sin. Our focus is changed and we become less motivated in reaching our celestial goals.

Conversely, when we keep the commandments we are more sensitive to the spirit which helps us to see upcoming troubles and temptations. When we are living the right way we also have more compassion toward others. When we keep the commandments it is easier to resist temptation and stay on the straight and narrow path.

1 Nephi 11 (Pride of the World)

At the end of this chapter Nephi is shown the fall of the great and spacious building. The angel tells Nephi that this is the fate of all who seek to destroy the 12 apostles of the Lord. This should not make us happy to see the destruction of those who oppose our views. We should be saddened that we couldn't teach them the message of happiness.

As we heard in general conference this past weekend. We should not contend with those who oppose our church and our message. We should be humble and meek and prayerful for those who don't agree with us. The best defense to use is a simple testimony of the Savior.

1 Nephi 10 (Jesus' Example, and the Holy Ghost)

In this chapter we read about how the Savior was baptised. I think it is great that even though the Savior never sinned he was still baptised. This is a great example for us. We need to look at the Savior's life and try to live the way that he did. We need to be baptised so that we can receive the Holy Ghost.

We also read in this chapter that the Holy Ghost is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him. We are promised in this chapter that as we seek Him the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto us by the power of the Holy Ghost.

1 Nephi 9 (A Wise Purpose)

In seminary in high school I was told that the wise purpose of why Nephi created two sets of plates is that the pages that Oliver Cowdry lost where the plates of Lehi. So, because Nephi kept the record and related the things that his father had told him we still have the record that Lehi would have us know.

I don't know if this is the right story behind Oliver Cowdry loosing the pages, but I think that is what I was told. I guess don't quote me.

1 Nephi 8 (Tree of Life)

In this chapter Lehi tells his family about a vision he has had. This is the tree of life vision. I think one of the things that struck me this time in reading this chapter was that the people who were searching for the tree of life, once they reached the tree and partook of the fruit, were ashamed of themselves. The people in the great and spacious building were mocking them because they were being righteous.

I think this happens in our lives. As members of the church we have a glorious gift. We are members of the only true church on the Earth. We have the fullness of the gospel. Others may look at our large families, our dress, our values, or our dedication to our church and scoff at us. We must not be ashamed of our Gift. We have so many blessings as members in Lord's true church. Pray for those who may look at us and laugh.

I was up at the Veterans Hospital on Friday when I read this chapter. In the break room that I was reading my scriptures in a discussion broke out between some of the nurses and hospital staff. Of the group there were only two members, myself and one Anesthesiologist. The staff was making fun of the fact that as members we wait till we are married before we have sexual relations. They thought that this was just the most awful thing that could be required of someone. The Anesthesiologist tried to help them see the beauty of this commandment, but there was no change in the views of the group. They also could not believe that we subject ourselves to having so many children. It is sad that they see children as a burden. They have no understanding of how great it can be create a family that can be tied together forever.

I guess in my eyes I will have to view the VA hospital as the great and spacious building. :) .

1 Nephi 7 (Forgiveness)

Nephi and his brothers once again travel to Jerusalem. They find Ishmael's family and convince them to leave the city and save themselves from destruction. On their travel back in to the wilderness to find Lehi many of the party including Laman and Lemuel become wroth and murmur against Nephi. They become so mad, after being chastised by Nephi, that the bind Nephi and try to take his life. Nephi prays unto the Lord to loosen the bands that bound him. He is freed and Lamen and Lemuel try to bind him again. Ishmael's wife and daughter plead with Laman and Lemuel and they soften their heart and ask Nephi for forgiveness. Nephi forgives them and asks them to pray to Heavenly Father for forgiveness.

In our lives we must forgive everyone that trespasses against us. It is not our place in this life to be the judge over other people. We need to try to love them and forgive them and hope that they repent for their actions to Heavenly Father.

1 Nephi 6

In this short chapter Nephi states that he is going to use his space in this book to write the things of the Lord, not the thing that would be pleasing unto the world.

1 Nephi 5 (Our Own Land of Promise)

In verse 5 Lehi states that he has obtained a land of promise. I think it is interesting that Lehi already considers the wilderness to be his "Land of Promise". After they left Jerusalem it must have been such a great feeling to be away from the wickedness and unbelief that was in that city. I think we should consider our homes and our wards "Lands of Promise". Anywhere that we are free to worship the way we choose and any place that we can be sheltered from sin and the world is indeed a land of promise.

Lehi wasn't waiting for his ideal place, or his mansion and worldly possessions. He wanted to be in a place where he could freely worship his Lord and teach his family. That was the most important thing to him.

1 Nephi 4 (The Lord Provides a Way)

In this chapter Nephi kills Laban and gets the gold plates. He convinces Zoram to join his family in the wilderness.

Nephi had the faith to attempt to obey the Lord's command. The Lord provided a way for Nephi to accomplish the thing that he had commanded Nephi to do. It truly is better that one man perish than a nation dwindle in unbelief. Now Nephi and his family will have the genealogy and accounts of the prophets to sustain them on their journey to the promised land.