2 Nephi 32
Love this chapter! (I feel like I'm saying that all the time!)
A couple things that caught my eye today.
Nephi ended the last chapter by talking about enduring to the end. I don't know how many classes I've had throughout my life that talk about what that means. Here we learn that that is not a new endeavor. People throughout time have follows the very tangible and physical steps of obedience, then sought for clarification on just what exactly they do next.
He spells it out here: Ask God, through prayer, to direct your path. Listen to Him through the gift of the Holy Ghost, which you received after baptism. Then, use the gifts of the Holy Ghost, keep the covenants you have made, and do the things which you are prompted to do by Him.
Often people wonder (especially women) if they are doing all they can or should be doing. We often focus on our weakness and shortcomings, our mistakes and trials. We second guess our ability to hear the Spirit, and we often don't follow the promptings we receive.
God knew we would do this.
That's why, in verse 9, we are reminded to pray always, that we won't faint. Constant prayer affects our actions and our very thoughts. It will help keep us focused on the things of eternity- especially if we don't "perform anything unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father..."
It doesn't say that when we do that we will for sure be told exactly what to where, what to say, how to walk and talk, what to do and who to do it for every single time. No- the Lord wants/expects us to use the minds that He gave us. But, he hopes/expects that we will use them to make choices that allow us to keep His commandments and follow the promptings that we have received.
IF we pray unto Him in all that we do, and IF our intentions are pure and righteous, He will consecrate our performance for our benefit.
Do you realize what that means!!?!?!?
That means that if we try our best (which is what he asks) that even our mistakes (no purposeful, wicked choices, but honest to goodness mistakes and shortfalls despite our best efforts) will be consecrated to make us better.
EVEN WHEN WE FALL SHORT HE MAKES US BETTER
That is a fantastic and beautiful concept! (Can you tell I'm excited?)
The key is the always include the Lord in our doings, pray continually, and be worth of, listen to and follow the Holy Ghost. We will be lifted up and betterfied (I just made that word up) even when our actions fall short of our intentions.
I also love the personal accountability Nephi puts on all of us. In verse 4 he says, "Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock..."
He basically says that if we don't get it, it's because we haven't asked, or knocked.
Asking is a cognitive and verbal thing. It takes no more that a desire, thought, sentence or even a simple look to ask. We ask for understanding when we pray.
Knocking is a physical activity. It's not something we say, it's something we do. After we ask, we need to do. We need to follow the promptings we receive. And- if by some reason, we don't receive inspiration on a certain subject, perhaps God is waiting to see if we can figure it out on our own. In those cases, look at the situration in the light the Plan of Salvation, the principles of the Gospel, the example and characteristics of the Savior, and make the choice YOU THINK God would have you do.
Then, even if it might not be exactly what He would have you do, because your intentions are pure, and you've prayed (asked) unto Him, and you've acted (knocked) on the choice you believe to be righteous, He will still consecrate the experience for you betterment.
It's the most beautiful safety net I can imagine!
Oh yeah- the other thing I thought was amazing was in verse 3 when Nephi records that "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost..." I'm sure there is so much more to the actual process of heavenly visitations than we realize. Columns of light, burning bushes, Angels announcing, visions and even visitations from Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father themselves. All transcending our coarse, mortal existence by the power of the Holy Ghost and the Priesthood. Someday I hope to learn just how it happens. Until then,I will just gawk at the magnificence of it all.
What did you think/learn today?
A couple things that caught my eye today.
Nephi ended the last chapter by talking about enduring to the end. I don't know how many classes I've had throughout my life that talk about what that means. Here we learn that that is not a new endeavor. People throughout time have follows the very tangible and physical steps of obedience, then sought for clarification on just what exactly they do next.
He spells it out here: Ask God, through prayer, to direct your path. Listen to Him through the gift of the Holy Ghost, which you received after baptism. Then, use the gifts of the Holy Ghost, keep the covenants you have made, and do the things which you are prompted to do by Him.
Often people wonder (especially women) if they are doing all they can or should be doing. We often focus on our weakness and shortcomings, our mistakes and trials. We second guess our ability to hear the Spirit, and we often don't follow the promptings we receive.
God knew we would do this.
That's why, in verse 9, we are reminded to pray always, that we won't faint. Constant prayer affects our actions and our very thoughts. It will help keep us focused on the things of eternity- especially if we don't "perform anything unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father..."
It doesn't say that when we do that we will for sure be told exactly what to where, what to say, how to walk and talk, what to do and who to do it for every single time. No- the Lord wants/expects us to use the minds that He gave us. But, he hopes/expects that we will use them to make choices that allow us to keep His commandments and follow the promptings that we have received.
IF we pray unto Him in all that we do, and IF our intentions are pure and righteous, He will consecrate our performance for our benefit.
Do you realize what that means!!?!?!?
That means that if we try our best (which is what he asks) that even our mistakes (no purposeful, wicked choices, but honest to goodness mistakes and shortfalls despite our best efforts) will be consecrated to make us better.
EVEN WHEN WE FALL SHORT HE MAKES US BETTER
That is a fantastic and beautiful concept! (Can you tell I'm excited?)
The key is the always include the Lord in our doings, pray continually, and be worth of, listen to and follow the Holy Ghost. We will be lifted up and betterfied (I just made that word up) even when our actions fall short of our intentions.
I also love the personal accountability Nephi puts on all of us. In verse 4 he says, "Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock..."
He basically says that if we don't get it, it's because we haven't asked, or knocked.
Asking is a cognitive and verbal thing. It takes no more that a desire, thought, sentence or even a simple look to ask. We ask for understanding when we pray.
Knocking is a physical activity. It's not something we say, it's something we do. After we ask, we need to do. We need to follow the promptings we receive. And- if by some reason, we don't receive inspiration on a certain subject, perhaps God is waiting to see if we can figure it out on our own. In those cases, look at the situration in the light the Plan of Salvation, the principles of the Gospel, the example and characteristics of the Savior, and make the choice YOU THINK God would have you do.
Then, even if it might not be exactly what He would have you do, because your intentions are pure, and you've prayed (asked) unto Him, and you've acted (knocked) on the choice you believe to be righteous, He will still consecrate the experience for you betterment.
It's the most beautiful safety net I can imagine!
Oh yeah- the other thing I thought was amazing was in verse 3 when Nephi records that "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost..." I'm sure there is so much more to the actual process of heavenly visitations than we realize. Columns of light, burning bushes, Angels announcing, visions and even visitations from Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father themselves. All transcending our coarse, mortal existence by the power of the Holy Ghost and the Priesthood. Someday I hope to learn just how it happens. Until then,I will just gawk at the magnificence of it all.
What did you think/learn today?
Knocking, asking.... praying always... speaking with the tongues of angels.... receiving inspiration....
ReplyDeleteThe request of my fervant prayers at the moment. It's wonderful to know that God has and will continue to answer if I keep turning to Him for guidance.
verse 3 - the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.
ReplyDeleteverse 5 - receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do.
verse 9 - ye must pray always
If we have any doubt as to what we should do in a situation, God is giving us the formula for finding the answers. Read the scriptures, pray, and the Holy Ghost will tell you what to do.
We aren't alone here on earth. God is watching over us down here. He has given us help to get through the challenges of life, so that we can return to him again. Great chapter.