Astonishment!

You know how sometimes we just keep doing the same things over and over and over? And then, oddly enough, we get frustrated/upset/mad when we keep experiencing the same things.

I was reading in Alma 49 this morning. It was rather enlightening. In verses 5 through 9, it mentions three times the incredible astonishment of the Lamanites over finding their grand plans of destruction being thwarted. The scriptures use words like uttermost and exceeding to describe their astonishment. They were truly completely flabbergasted.

Why was this so? It was because the Nephites had prepared for battle "in a manner which never had been known" before.

So, I asked myself..."Self, what is there in your life that you need to change and do in a manner that you have never known before?" I got some good ideas there.

Then I also questioned, "What enemies could I completely blindside by this course of action?" I pictured what the Lamanite's faces may have looked like when they saw what the Nephites had done. I wonder if the Nephites threw up a fisted arm and exclaimed, "Yes!" when they saw them.

In our lives today, Lucifer and his followers would suppose "that they should be privileged to come upon them as they had hitherto done". What if they get thrown for a loop today, this week, this month? Score a point for the good guys, huh?

There's today's take on a story I've read many, many times before. I love how one can always find something new in the scriptures. :)

Testimony is Fragile

Lately, I've been reading the Testimonies of the Prophets. (From that link, click "Next" to go through each prophet's testimony.) Today, I came across this quote, by Harold B. Lee, that I really liked:

"Testimony isn't something you have today, and you are going to have always. A testimony is fragile. It is as hard to hold as a moonbeam. It is something you have to recapture every day of your life."

(Church News, July 15, 1972, 4.)

This reminds me of something someone said once, that on the pathway of life, you are either going up or you are going down. There's no staying the same. Every choice we make will build our testimony or tear it down.

Ancient "Blogging"

While away from home for a couple of weeks, I did a poor job of scripture study. In the middle of checking through my emails, I decided I had better get off on the right foot this morning, so I cruised over to lds.org and chose a random scripture page.

The page I chose to begin reading reminded me of http://i-have-a-testimony.blogspot.com/. I visited the site and was happy to find some excellent scriptures that I could have a more in depth study on. Laurie's "Be of Good Cheer" post really hit the spot for me.

So, what did I read? Jacob 4:1-4 It is great to know we can write to strengthen one another in the gospel by the things that have strengthened our own lives. I am reading all your testimonies with "thankful hearts" and trying to "learn with joy and not with sorrow."

Thanks all!

Be of Good Cheer

Over the next few months, our family is going to have to make a pretty big decision. A decision that only the Lord knows the answer to. As we've begun to pray and ponder over it, I've been concerned with all the little details that it may involve. However, I've always felt that Heavenly Father will help us, as long as we do what He wants us to do. . . . Still, big changes can be overwhelming.

But today, I was reading in 1 Nephi again. I'm in chapter 7, when they go to Ishmael and ask them to come with them into the wilderness. Verse 5 begins, "And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the heart of Ishmael..." As I've been pondering our decision, I've begun to realize that the Lord has also softened my heart concerning it.

The footnote in this verse leads to TG Guidance, Divine. (I've really learned to love the Topical Guide lately!) Today I came across several scriptures that were of help. (See Prov. 3:6; Amos 3:7; James 1:5; 1 Ne. 4:6; Hel. 10:3; Moro. 10:4; D&C 6:14; D&C 8:2-3; D&C 112:10.)

These are all excellent scriptures, but the one that struck me the most was D&C 78:18: "...be of good cheer, for I will lead you along." I realized that no matter what life brings, if we are "of good cheer" we don't need to worry about all the decisions we must make. Heavenly Father will lead us! So even though I have a big decision ahead of me, I know that as I willingly follow God, He will lead me. If I follow Him begrudgingly, it won't be the same! I must be happy with how He leads my life, because after all, He knows best!!

Organize Yourselves

Today in Sunday School we read one of my favorite scriptures, D&C 109:8

"Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing, and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;"

I love this scripture. I need it ingrained in my head. I need to work harder on making my home a spiritual one. Ryan and I are considering getting rid of cable, because we watch TV entirely too much! I need to organize myself and get my act together in a lot of ways. This scripture is such an inspiration to me today.

Stillness

Once again, I followed a chain of scriptures and discovered some interesting things. This time, I read 1 Nephi 3:7, which is a scripture most people know. But I decided to focus on the word "prepare." After reading the other cross references, the last one was D&C 5:34. "Yea, for this cause I have said: Stop, and stand still until I command thee, and I will provide means whereby thou mayest accomplish the thing which I have commanded thee." The first part of this scripture really struck me! "Stop and stand still until I command thee." I went to read the cross references for stand and came across 1 Samuel 9:27. The last part reads, "stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God."

In order to know the word of God, we need to stop! Just stop and wait for the Spirit of the Lord to come into our lives and show us what He would have us do. So many times we get caught up in LIFE, that we forget what it's all about! It's not about a spotless house or putting our kids into 5 different classes. It's about learning the word of God and following His commandments. When we stop running around so much, He will lead us to where we need to be.

Endurance

Today, I read 1 Nephi 2:10. I decided to study footnote b: TG Dependability. After reading several of the references, I came to D&C 82:24, which reads: "For even yet the kingdom is yours, and shall be forever, if you fall not from your steadfastness. Even so. Amen."

We always hear people mentioning "endure to the end" as one of those "Sunday School" answers. But it really is the key!! As long as we're trying, "the kingdom is [ours]." That's a wonderful promise!

A Trail of Testimony

This time around, I've decided to read The Book of Mormon a little different - by topic. I still started with 1 Nephi 1:1, but I got "sidetracked" with "therefore I was taught." I spent a good 45 minutes looking up scriptures on parenting yesterday. (That post will come shortly.)

Today, I got as far as 1 Nephi 1:3! That's where I found a trail of testimonies! I challenge each of you to read these verses. Then, go to each verse and read the footnotes for each of their "trues." You'll find an amazing group of testimonies!

"The Best Part of the Lesson"

This is an article from the August Ensign. I've noticed this same thing over and over again and thought this was a great article that everyone should ponder. So, here it is, in its entirety:

"A wise institute teacher once gave me some advice that changed my behavior during Church meetings. His advice addresses a problem that often occurs at the end of gospel lessons or talks in sacrament or other meetings. Frequently, when speakers begin to conclude and bear their testimonies, we prepare to leave by zipping scripture cases, shuffling papers, and packing bags. Sometimes the noise is so loud students can barely hear the teacher. Unfortunately, this noise happens at what is often the most significant part of a lesson or talk: the sharing of testimony! The sound disrupts what can be a powerful spiritual experience for the listeners.

"My institute teacher suggested a simple solution to this problem: sit still. He challenged us to listen attentively until we hear the amen. Even though we are often anxious to get to another class, chat with friends, or even go home to eat, he urged students not to begin packing up books and papers until the class or meeting is over.

"I took this challenge to heart, and the result has been amazing. I feel more spiritually nourished by lessons and talks. I am able to listen to my teachers' conclusions and testimonies rather than concentrate on the next activity. My focus is exactly where it should be. I try to stay alert and attentive until the very end of the lesson, even if everyone is rustling around me. We are commanded to 'endure to the end,' and I believe that this admonition can apply to meetings and lessons as well (see D&C 14:7). This simple challenge to 'sit still' has completely changed the experience I have during sacrament meetings, classes, and even non-Church events. I do not remember the name of my wise institute teacher, but I will never forget his challenge that has allowed me to more fully feast on the gospel of Jesus Christ."

The Book of Mormon

I finished The Book of Mormon once again today. It never ceases to amaze me that I learn SO much each time I read it! There's always a new concern or question in my life that it answers or clarifies. I've also noticed that I've been much more mellow in the last few months. I've always read my scriptures every day, but I think this time was a little bit different. I tried really hard to focus on what I was reading. If my mind wandered, I went back and started over! I don't know if that ever happens to you while you're reading your scriptures, but I find my mind wandering quite often! But whenever I realized it, I stopped reading and started over again.

Another difference was that I chose to read in the middle of the day, in the same room (for the most part) as my children. They've seen me reading, and sometimes they'd climb up on my lap and ask me to read out loud. It's such a joy to teach love for the scriptures to my children. They're young enough right now that this is pretty much their first experience with the scriptures.

I'd also like to thank my sister and her family for their consistence in reading as a family every single night. My family has always struggled with this, but seeing their example has given me courage to really focus on this when we get home from our vacation. Family scripture study was always a little stressful for me, because my kids would get bored or be loud or... etc. etc. etc. But it doesn't matter how much we read each night - just that we read! Even if that means 2 verses right now, at least we'll be forming the habit of reading every day!

I'd love to see posts from any others that took this 3-month challenge!!!