1 Nephi 20-22
I said yesterday that I'm gong to skip the vast majority of Nephi's prophesies this time around. I've read the Book of Mormon many times through and I've found that my enthusiasm and comprehension of the scripture comes to a screeching halt when I get into Nephi's prophesies, they are just too over my head right now. I know some will disagree, but that's what I'm doing so, yeah. I did glean a few nuggets out while skimming through though, and I'm like to discuss them here, I'm super short on time today so bear with me.
22:1 - L&L ask a question that I think is interesting, they ask "are you talking about things to come in the spirit or in the flesh?" I had never thought about it before but they asked this same question before after being taught. I wonder what it is about this concept that is to foreign?
22:17 - I love that Nephi says "he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come... even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire." I've heard stories of other people and even experienced in my own life the power of God's personal protection. I understand that Nephi is talking about this in a future apocalyptic context, but I believe that it applies to us today as well, that's not going to be the only time that God protects his righteous. What's difficult to reconcile in this life, especially for anyone military or who has experienced tragedy, is that sometimes the righteous suffer because of the bad choices of others. Sunday I was talking to some people about this very concept, why is it that some good people are taken before it seems to be there time? I don't know a lot about this, but I know that yes it happens, but also many times there are miracles wrought in our behalf and we are protected. I believe that if something bad happens than it was the will of God for our own benefit, both here and eternally, and that if it hadn't been his will he could have called down the power of heaven to "perserve the righteous." This has gotten me through war both for myself and when my ex husband went.
22:22 - "And the righteous need not fear," I heard once, in my Hawaii Waialua ward "fear is the opposite of faith." And I had never heard that before, and at the time I thought "that's not true, fear is important for survival, otherwise people would be doing all kinds of crazy things, if they didn't fear the consequences." But it wasn't until later that I realized that he was talking about the kind of fear that stops you from growing spiritually, it's the kind of fear that stops you from doing the right things because you don't trust God enough to do what you're told. And don't get me wrong it is very difficult sometimes, there are emotional factors that you never even knew were there sometimes, but it's not until you just do it anyway that the real strength comes. I think we all watched me have a spiritual melt down the last couple of days because I was afraid to be loved by God because I was scared that he would turn on me, abandon me. I'm working on that, it's a major hurdle I have to get over, but I'm working on it, and I still feel really good about how it's going. in fact today, I got some news about money and it was a kick in the stomach to me, and I was freaking out, and I thought "oh if I just had someone to talk to about this..." but then I thought "why don't you pray about it, let him love you." So I did, not like kneeling down or anything, but just in my heart, asking "what am I going to do?" And I felt a gradual peace in my heart. I had to stop and think "I'm very blessed, I have a great job, I have great kids, I'm healthy, really what else is there. There are many people out there worse off than me financially and they are managing to hang in there, just relax." And I feel better, I feel more resolved to keep the commandment of living debt free, but I know that I'm going to be ok, ultimately.
22:1 - L&L ask a question that I think is interesting, they ask "are you talking about things to come in the spirit or in the flesh?" I had never thought about it before but they asked this same question before after being taught. I wonder what it is about this concept that is to foreign?
22:17 - I love that Nephi says "he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come... even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire." I've heard stories of other people and even experienced in my own life the power of God's personal protection. I understand that Nephi is talking about this in a future apocalyptic context, but I believe that it applies to us today as well, that's not going to be the only time that God protects his righteous. What's difficult to reconcile in this life, especially for anyone military or who has experienced tragedy, is that sometimes the righteous suffer because of the bad choices of others. Sunday I was talking to some people about this very concept, why is it that some good people are taken before it seems to be there time? I don't know a lot about this, but I know that yes it happens, but also many times there are miracles wrought in our behalf and we are protected. I believe that if something bad happens than it was the will of God for our own benefit, both here and eternally, and that if it hadn't been his will he could have called down the power of heaven to "perserve the righteous." This has gotten me through war both for myself and when my ex husband went.
22:22 - "And the righteous need not fear," I heard once, in my Hawaii Waialua ward "fear is the opposite of faith." And I had never heard that before, and at the time I thought "that's not true, fear is important for survival, otherwise people would be doing all kinds of crazy things, if they didn't fear the consequences." But it wasn't until later that I realized that he was talking about the kind of fear that stops you from growing spiritually, it's the kind of fear that stops you from doing the right things because you don't trust God enough to do what you're told. And don't get me wrong it is very difficult sometimes, there are emotional factors that you never even knew were there sometimes, but it's not until you just do it anyway that the real strength comes. I think we all watched me have a spiritual melt down the last couple of days because I was afraid to be loved by God because I was scared that he would turn on me, abandon me. I'm working on that, it's a major hurdle I have to get over, but I'm working on it, and I still feel really good about how it's going. in fact today, I got some news about money and it was a kick in the stomach to me, and I was freaking out, and I thought "oh if I just had someone to talk to about this..." but then I thought "why don't you pray about it, let him love you." So I did, not like kneeling down or anything, but just in my heart, asking "what am I going to do?" And I felt a gradual peace in my heart. I had to stop and think "I'm very blessed, I have a great job, I have great kids, I'm healthy, really what else is there. There are many people out there worse off than me financially and they are managing to hang in there, just relax." And I feel better, I feel more resolved to keep the commandment of living debt free, but I know that I'm going to be ok, ultimately.
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