1 Nephi 9
9:1 - So even though this chapter is short, there are a lot of good points that I've never really considered before. I thought about this the other day and with this blog, I can begin to understand a little bit about what Nephi was talking about, keeping the small plates for "the things of God." I have this blog, and I have my own personal blog. And honestly between the two, this is the one I write on the most, because my time is limited and I really feel the need to read the scriptures and write what I learn, not because I think anyone reads this, but because I know that the Lord does. My other blog I talk about being a single mom, trying to become healthy, stuff I think is fun, my journey to overcome self esteem and confidence issues, and some of that overlaps, but for the most part, this is my special blog, where I get to really ponder and talk through some teachings.
9:2 - Why does Nephi name BOTH sets of plates, plates of Nephi? It's interesting, he names pretty much everything after himself, and then looking at everything, the people who follow him call themselves the people of Nephi, so it must be a cultural thing.
9:4 - I always read this verse and think "so there's a record with even MORE war written on it?!" In an Ensign article I listened to the other day it said that 73% of the Book of Mormon dealt with war, violence, murder, etc. pretty much the whole thing. The article talked about how, because we are in the last days "peace will be taken from the earth" and that when compiling the BOM Mormon made it so heavily about war to teach us in these days how to be a warrior, how to be a soldier while still being a disciple of Christ. A wise man once told me that there are many people who lose their salvation during war, and that's because they make choices and do terrible things. War by it's self is just horrid, and I've been to war, I know how the mind set can be. It's a sort of anything goes, craziness. Most people are not meant to take the life of another person, especially a stranger they don't know. It goes against everything most people inherently know deep within their soul. I mean you always are going to have the psychopaths, but for the most part, performing violent acts against another person sends most people reeling mentally and spiritually. And for this world to be SO enthralled in constant and horrific violence those who are trying to follow Jesus would need a guide on how to conduct war and not lose your soul at the same time.
9:5 - This verse reminds me of when Adam answer that he didn't know why he was performing sacrifice only that God told him to do it. There are so many things in many different aspects of life where the commandment doesn't make sense to us. For instance, my kids can't understand why I don't let them watch PG-13 movies, my son cries to me "but all my friends get to do it!" He doesn't understand that it's for his own good and safety. There have been many time when I didn't understand the commandment and that used to mean saying "screw it," and doing whatever I wanted. I was, and probably am still more than I should be, the justification queen. This verse speaks deeply to me about just doing what I'm told without getting an attitude, without trying to figure out why, just do it.
9:6 - The institute manual says that even those who believe in a loving, merciful God can't accept the fact that he knows all things, from the beginning to the end. In the 4th Lecture on Faith discussed at length here, Joseph Smith talks about God being all knowing and his "dominions" extend over all matter, space, and time. And now that it says that, I think back to my Tender Mercy post, in which God made time stand still so that I wouldn't be late for work. If God didn't know everything there is to know in the whole universe, then he wouldn't be "God" he would be our "mentor." I have mentors, people who have achieved things that I think are admirable, or who have knowledge or attitudes that I respect. They are wise, and usually kind and good tempered. Just like God, they have a sense of justice and mercy, they usually have power to do things, but the main difference, when it comes down to it, they only know about what has happened, they can't teach or prepare for specific events, they can't manipulate the future for or against me. I mean, I don't want to fall out of their favor because I want to learn from them, but not knowing everything that is, ever was or ever will be is a deal breaker when it comes to loving and following a being based on faith.
9:2 - Why does Nephi name BOTH sets of plates, plates of Nephi? It's interesting, he names pretty much everything after himself, and then looking at everything, the people who follow him call themselves the people of Nephi, so it must be a cultural thing.
9:4 - I always read this verse and think "so there's a record with even MORE war written on it?!" In an Ensign article I listened to the other day it said that 73% of the Book of Mormon dealt with war, violence, murder, etc. pretty much the whole thing. The article talked about how, because we are in the last days "peace will be taken from the earth" and that when compiling the BOM Mormon made it so heavily about war to teach us in these days how to be a warrior, how to be a soldier while still being a disciple of Christ. A wise man once told me that there are many people who lose their salvation during war, and that's because they make choices and do terrible things. War by it's self is just horrid, and I've been to war, I know how the mind set can be. It's a sort of anything goes, craziness. Most people are not meant to take the life of another person, especially a stranger they don't know. It goes against everything most people inherently know deep within their soul. I mean you always are going to have the psychopaths, but for the most part, performing violent acts against another person sends most people reeling mentally and spiritually. And for this world to be SO enthralled in constant and horrific violence those who are trying to follow Jesus would need a guide on how to conduct war and not lose your soul at the same time.
9:5 - This verse reminds me of when Adam answer that he didn't know why he was performing sacrifice only that God told him to do it. There are so many things in many different aspects of life where the commandment doesn't make sense to us. For instance, my kids can't understand why I don't let them watch PG-13 movies, my son cries to me "but all my friends get to do it!" He doesn't understand that it's for his own good and safety. There have been many time when I didn't understand the commandment and that used to mean saying "screw it," and doing whatever I wanted. I was, and probably am still more than I should be, the justification queen. This verse speaks deeply to me about just doing what I'm told without getting an attitude, without trying to figure out why, just do it.
9:6 - The institute manual says that even those who believe in a loving, merciful God can't accept the fact that he knows all things, from the beginning to the end. In the 4th Lecture on Faith discussed at length here, Joseph Smith talks about God being all knowing and his "dominions" extend over all matter, space, and time. And now that it says that, I think back to my Tender Mercy post, in which God made time stand still so that I wouldn't be late for work. If God didn't know everything there is to know in the whole universe, then he wouldn't be "God" he would be our "mentor." I have mentors, people who have achieved things that I think are admirable, or who have knowledge or attitudes that I respect. They are wise, and usually kind and good tempered. Just like God, they have a sense of justice and mercy, they usually have power to do things, but the main difference, when it comes down to it, they only know about what has happened, they can't teach or prepare for specific events, they can't manipulate the future for or against me. I mean, I don't want to fall out of their favor because I want to learn from them, but not knowing everything that is, ever was or ever will be is a deal breaker when it comes to loving and following a being based on faith.
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