Not Like Nasty Medicine

The speaker at church today had a great quote about how reading the Book of Mormon should not be like taking nasty medicine or having a shot.  (I believe he said the quote came from Elder Russell. M. Nelson?)  I thought that was a very clever way to help me remember to keep family and personal study interesting and fun. Hubby is really great at that.

Willingly Waiting When Underwhelmed

Alma was told by an angel to return to Ammonihah. That was a very direct revelation with clear instructions. Alma obeyed. Yet it was "many days" before he was given the direction to go out and preach again. I wonder how Alma felt during the waiting. I think it would be easy to get impatient or to wonder if he had missed some part of the instructions . It might seem strange to think that resting and waiting can actually be part of God's plan.

Elder Neal A Maxwell referred to those waiting periods as seemingly flat periods of lite and suggested that our character is also tested during those important times when we may feel "underwhelmed" or tired of the routine.(I cant remember which devotional address this topic was discussed in) a -

I am thankful that feeling underwhelmed is part of the plan. I am not always required to work so constantly and always keep myself busy enough to be overwhelmed. I can take periods of waiting, even after receiving revelation giving direction for future service, with knowledge that I may just need to wait patiently for God's perfect timing. And I can be thankful He has given me a time to prepare before that new challenge.

Book of Mormon Index

I have wanted to actually read through the Index for the triple combination for the last few years. I usually run out of study time without finishing my reading for the year and so I don't get to read through the index. Yea! This year, thanks to following our stake presidency reading challenge, I have already completed reading the Book of Mormon so I have time to expand my goals: 1)read through the index 2) listen to the BYU Broadcasting Discussions on the Book of Mormon 3)on Monday's try to read through the Sunday School teacher's manual for the lesson from that week.

Today I learned that Aaron (the son of Mosiah) was a part of mire missions than I realized. For example, he was a part of the group who went with Alma the Younger to preach to the Zoramites.

Sustaining with Patience

"By our sustaining vote, we make solemn promises. We promise to pray for the Lord’s servants and that He will lead and strengthen them (see D&C 93:51). We pledge that we will look for and expect to feel inspiration from God in their counsel and whenever they act in their calling (see D&C 1:38)."
(First Presidency Message June 2012 by President Henry B. Eyring)

". . . my interest in patience is not solely personal; for the necessity of having this intriguing attribute is cited several times in the scriptures, including once by King Benjamin who, when clustering the attributes of sainthood, named patience as a charter member of that cluster (Mosiah 3:19; see also Alma 7:23). " (Patience, by Neal A. Maxwell)

How can I become a better example for my children by increasing my capacity to sustain those around me, especially my husband,with patience?

The Blessing of Liberty

". . . and they were exceedingly rejoiced because of the liberty which had been granted unto them."(Mosiah 29:39).

"Wherefore, honest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil."(D&C 98:10)

Being Prepared Takes Time ; Trust in the Lord

I have almost finished reading The Book of Mormon :Another Testament of Jesus Christ, so I have decided to begin a supplement to reading and listen to BYU roundtable Discussions on the Book of Mormon. While listening to the first one today, I was struck with the long years of preparation Joseph Smith went through before being prepared to fulfil each part of his mission on earth. Even after seeing heavenly messengers, he still waits three years after the first vision before Moroni visits him with further instruction and then four more yearly visits with Moroni before receiving the plates to translate. . .etc.
What am I being prepared for? Maybe it is not always a sign of misunderstanding when I am inspired to work toward certain things and the efforts don't seem to bear fruit. Maybe I just need more patience to wait and maybe the "failed" attempts are really only part of the preparation.

Diligent Prayer

"And the first fruits of repentance is baptism;and baptism cometh by faith unto the fulfilling the commandments; and the fulfilling the commandments bringeth remission of sins;

"And the remission of sins bringeth a meekness,and lowliness of heart; and because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the visitation of the Holy Ghost,which Comforter filleth with hope and perfect love,which love endureth by diligence unto prayer,until the end shall come, when all the saints shall dwell with God." (The Book of Mormon :Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Moroni 8:25-26)

The last part of the chapter summary for Moroni 8 stood out to me: "Faith, repentance, meekness and lowliness of heart, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end lead to salvation. " Then the above verses from near the end of the chapter gave an important clue of how a humble human being can receive the strength, power and stamina to accomplish that lofty goal of endurance. "Diligence unto prayer" is a simple prescription for that wonderful blessing of enduring "-until the end shall come"

Am I taking increased advantage of that constant gift of prayer? Do I sometimes feel that gift is too simple to be my most important solution to daily challenges? If I don't use the gift of prayer diligently in daily challenges, how can I hope to endure to the end?

Ether and Moroni : Kindred Spirits

I am impressed with the fact that Moroni was able to have an example and empathetic friend from the scriptures as he read and abridged the life of Ether. They both had very similar life missions as they were each the last living faithful member of the Church and watched all those around them be killed because of their choices not to repent. Ether says :"Whether the Lord will that I be translated, or that I suffer the will of the. Lord in the flesh, it mattereth not, if it so be that I am saved in the kingdom of God. Amen."(Ether 15:34). I am sure Moroni received great comfort and had very similar thoughts and desires as he faced his own challenge of living without fellow faithful Saints.