1st Nephi 19-20

Reading these chapters...tells me what

I already knew. The scriptures are of

great worth. They are here to help us

remember the Lord in all that we do.

They are here to help guide us back to

our Father in Heaven.

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The Lord has given us these books to

teach, guide, comfort, remind, and help

us get through our test here on this earth.

We must liken the scriptures unto our lives.

We need to rely on the Lord in all that we do,

through good times and bad. Through everyday

decisions, and life altering choices. The Lord is

there to help us, he wants us to remember him

always. To keep his commandments that we might

have peace and joy in our lives.

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"O that thou hadst hearkened to my

commandments-then had thy peace been

as a river and thy righteousness as

the waves of the sea."

"...there is no peace, saith the Lord,

unto the wicked"

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I know that much for a fact, it sounds

so wrong to say it, but I was wicked.

Wicked just seems like such a harsh word,

but I was. There was a time in my life where I

forgot the Lord....I did what I wanted

when I wanted, I was having

the time of my life. I thought I was happy,

I was on top of the World.

I was wrong!!!!!!!!!!

I see now how foolish I was!!!

I know now what

happiness is. I have this calm in my life.

I know what I want, I know where I want

to go, I know who I am and what I stand for.

I know the Lord loves me, and my heart aches

thinking of all he went through for me. That because

of those choices I made the Lord have to

suffer that much more. And not only for

my sins, but for the pain that I caused

other people....he suffered for that too.

I don't dwell on it, like I used to. But, there are times

that I really think about it and it just makes me want

to be that much better of a person. I don't

ever want to cause Christ to suffer more.

I don't want to have my family and friends

worry about me. I want to make them proud.

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Well, easier said than done....I know I will

never be perfect, but I can promise you this much,

I will live everyday of my life

striving to make the choices that will let

me spend the eternities with all of those

crazy, wonderful people that I love!!

1st Nephi 18

Laman and Lemuel again become

prideful and don't want to hear Nephi

teaching them. So what do they do, they

bind him. They take over the ship...but

because of their wickedness and not having

faith, the liahona will not work for them. They

are lost at sea....and then the weather begins to

take a turn for the worst. Nobody can talk sense

into them. Lehi tries, Ishmael's sons try, Nephi's

wife and children tried and nothing would

soften their hearts. Their Mother and Father

fall ill, as well as their two newest siblings....but

they do not care. They leave Nephi bound.

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The only thing that stops them is the power

of God, threatening to swallow them up

by way of the sea. They finally untie Nephi,

who immediately gives praises unto God.

What amazing faith Nephi had, and because

of that faith he was able to use the Liahona

to sail them to the promised land.

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Talk about having your faith tested and tried.

I was offended at some one's actions at church

and quit going for 3 years. Nephi, was almost

killed by his brothers several times, on the brink

of starvation, had to leave his home taking

only what they needed, wander the wilderness

for many many years, build a ship, and much

much more. He never forgot his Lord and God!!

Boy, I have a lot to learn from Nephi. We have

our own personal liahona in our scriptures and

church publications. But just like the liahona, if

we are not faithful and diligent in reading them....

they will not work. We cannot get guidance

from something we are not using. Thank you

for doing this blog with me. You guys are helping

me more than you know to be diligent to be

a better wife, sister, daughter and friend.

1st Nephi 16-17

Please tell me that I am not the only one

that just wants to strangle Laman and Lemuel!!!

Is this what you guys were feeling when I was

off in my own little world? Well, thank you for

not strangling me!!!

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You see it time and time again throughout the

scriptures. The righteous fall when times get

rough....they forget the Lord, they murmur,

they conspire. Then the Lord reminds them

of whom they serve and they are back on the

path of righteousness. Then times are going

great and what do you know....they become

prideful and they forget the Lord.

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The world today is making it easier and

easier to forget the Lord. We do not say

the Pledge of Allegiance in schools anymore

for fear that we may offend someone that does

not believe in God. You can get into trouble

at some workplaces for talking religion

with coworkers because someone may

overhear and be offended.

This is the time that we must stand

stronger than ever....the Lord should

be by our side every step we take.

1st Nephi 15

I was reminded so much of my own

family while reading this chapter.

Nephi had so much compassion for his

brothers!!! He loved them so much

that no matter how they hurt him he

instantly forgave them. He loved them

so much he wanted them to learn of

Christ to understand his teachings.

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I love my family so much. It would be so

hard not to forgive them. That is just crazy

to me....I don't think it's possible. No matter

what we have gone through I feel it has

just made us stronger as a family. There

have been many times where I have asked

my brothers and sisters for help or counsel

on situations I did not know how to handle.

And, they were always there to help me!!

We have had our fights, arguments, or

disagreements and we have always found

a way to be alright with whatever the outcome

was. Now it may not always be like Nephi,

where we instantly forgive each other...it may take

an hour, a day, or even a week at times....but

we are always there for each other. I hope to be

a sibling that my family can count on, someone

they can turn to for advice or help!!

I hope to be a sibling like Nephi!!

1st Nephi 13-14

Both of these chapters are of a vision

that Nephi received from God.

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Was anyone else confused reading

this? I got it now, but I had to

read some verses like 6 times to

understand what was going on!!!

Some of the wording was difficult,

and it was really repetitive. I was

exhausted after reading these chapters.

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It started off really interesting to me.

Speaking of all churches that take

men on a course that leads away from

God and his laws. Therefore, taking them

away from salvation in God's Kingdom.

How these people will try to drag

righteous men and women into captivity.

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He saw a vision of Christopher Columbus

being led to the promised land. Cool!!!

Christoper Columbus said

"Our Lord unlocked my mind, sent me

upon the sea, and gave me fire for the

deed. Those who heard of my enterprise

called it foolish, mocked me, and laughed.

But, who can doubt that the Holy Ghost

inspired me?"

He saw many other come to the

promised land....all being led by the spirit.

He saw that these people brought a book

with them to this land. The Bible, and

how many plain and precious things

are taken away from the Bible.

That the great and abominable church

may pervert the ways of the Lord.

That the Bible is not enough.....many

people will stumble because of these

plain and precious things which have

been taken.

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Christ will appear to Nephites

descendants. He will give them the

fullness of the Gospel. That the world

would dwindle in unbelief and the

fullness of the Gospel would be lost.

But, it would come forth again unto the

Gentiles. "And, blessed are they who

shall seek to bring forth my Zion

in that day, for they shall have the

power of the Holy Ghost; and if they

shall endure to the end they shall be

lifted up at the last day, and shall be

saved in the everlasting kingdom

of the Lamb; and whoso shall publish

peace, yea, tidings of great joy,

how beautiful upon the mountains

shall they be."

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The Lord shows Nephi that the

Book of Mormon would

"...establish the truth of the first,

which are of the twelve apostles of

the Lamb, and shall make known

the plain and precious things which

have been taken away from them;

and shall make known to all

kindreds, tongues, and people, that

the Lamb of God is the Son of the

Eternal Father, and the Savior of

the world..."

The Book of Mormon is another

testament of Christ. It goes hand

in hand with the Bible. I know that

the Book of Mormon is true....

Although I have not read it

front to back consecutively, I

have felt, through the power

of the Holy Ghost that what I

have read is true. That Heavenly

Father and Christ live and love

each and every one of us. Just as

a Mother and Father love each of

their children he loves each of us.

They want to give us their

blessings, but we have work to do

first. We must build up Zion!!

So, let's get to work ;)

1st Nephi 12

I am totally emotional reading

this chapter. Nephi is describing

a vision that he has seen.

The vision starts off inspiring with

Christ descending out of heaven.

And the twelve disciples who are

chosen of God, and how they

are righteous forever.

Nephi saw three of his generations

pass away in righteousness. Clean

and Pure because of their faith

in Christ. He saw his 4th generation

pass away in righteousness also.

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This is all so great.....right?

Then it starts to go down hill.

He see's the great and spacious

building and the river of water

from Lehi's vision.....then he see's the

Lamanites turning the hearts

of his descendants. He saw wars

and rumors of wars, and they dwindled

in unbelief....and in 23

"And it came to pass that I beheld,

after they had dwindled in unbelief

they became a dark and loathsome, and

filthy people, full of idleness and all

manner of abominations."

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How sad would that be to see

happen to your family. To your

future generations.

Would it light a fire under you?

Would it change anything?

Would you act differently towards

your family now?

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My heart just aches for Nephi, to

have to see that.

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I think of my family here on

this Earth. Some are very active

in the Gospel and then some are not.

I want so badly for all of my Family,

direct and extended, to be able to

spend the eternities together.

There are times I pray for my

family and I just cry. Part of me

wants to believe that one day

they will turn to the Gospel.

That we will all be together through

the eternities, but, am I part of the

reason they are not deep in the Gospel

now? Because I don't open my mouth

and talk to them about it?

And why? Because I am afraid?

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Not good enough Sarah!!!!

Am I strong enough to change?

1st Nephi 11

Read it.....so unbelievably busy

did not really have time to

post...other than that I read it.

and that was even a day late.

;)

1st Nephi 9-10

I have tried to post my thoughts

on this 3 times and all of them

have failed....

sometimes I can be a little long

winded and these were pretty

lengthy posts and I don't want to fail

again at posting

so here is my very

very very simplified thoughts

on these chapters

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I have a very strong testimony on the

power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I know personally that you are never at a point in

your life, where you are so far gone that

the Lord is not happy to forgive you. He

is just waiting for us to come to him and

enter into the comfort of our Fathers loving

arms!!! He aches when we ache, he cries

when we cry, he finds joy in our laughter. He

wants so badly for us to return home to him. And,

he has given us the tools and instructions on how

we can return home.....we just need seek him out!!!

He is waiting ever so patiently to embrace us

when we enter into his Kingdom.

1st Nephi 8

Lehi's vision

Lehi is out in the field working with his boys.

He tells Nephi and Sam that he has reason to rejoice

in the Lord because he thinks they and thier seed

shall be saved. But, he fears exceedingly for

Laman and Lemuel, then he explains why.

He tells them about this dream, this vision he had.

He see's a man in a white robe (Heavenly Father).

The man asks him to follow, when he did he found

himself in a dark and dreary waste

This dark and dreary waste is when we seperate

ourselves from God when we question or are confused

about the truth. So after wandering for hours, Lehi

prays to the Lord for his mercy.

After he prays he see's a lage field with a tree,

whose fruit was desirable to make on happy. Lehi partakes

of the fruit and describes it as swetter than any

sweetness he had ever tasted. More white than

other white he had ever seen. While he ate it his soul was filled

with exceedingly great joy. Lehi desired his family

to partake of the fruit also. The large field represents

the world, the tree represents love that our Heavenly

Father offers us through the atonement

of His Son Jesus Christ , and the fruit represents the

blessings we recieve through the atonement.

Sounds pretty amazing the way Lehi describes it.

Makes you want to partake of that fruit. Lehi looks for his family and beholds a river of

water. Near this river of water were Nephi,

Sariah and Sam and they look confused and lost.

He calls unto them to come to him and partake of the

fruit and they do. He looks for Laman and

Lemuel and calls unto them and they do not

hearken unto his call.

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The river of water represents the depths of hell.

I wondered why the Lord has a river of water

represent hell. The more I thought about it the more

I thought it was totally accurate. Satan if the Father of lies,

a master deciever. The river in the picture above is

beautiful and inviting. It makes you want to be there.

Water although refreshing and fun at times can be deadly.

It can grab you with such force and trap you, taking

away your breath, taking away your ability to move,

taking the life right out of you.

Water is a very powerful force, it can wash away

the strongest of objects with ease. I also think of

swimming in deep water it's not easy to tread water,

even the strongest person can only tread for so long,

eventually the water will win. It's just much easier

to stay out of the "water" ! Even that's not easy....

Water is decieving and strong just like Satan.

Along the bank of the river Lehi saw a rod

of iron, which led to the tree where he was standing.

Right next to the iron rod was a straight and narrow

path. He saw numberless concourses of people

many were pressing forward to the path

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The Iron rod represents the Word of God. The

straight and narrow path is our way to eternal life.

Heavenly Father has showed us the way

to return to him. It's straight and narrow the

path and it's our job to stay on the path and to lead

others to the path. To call unto them

as Lehi did with his family. To show them the way.

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Lehi also saw exceedingly great mists of darkness,

inso much that they who commenced int he path

did lose their way, they wandered

off and were lost.

The mists of darkness represent the temptations

of the devil. When we succomb to Satan's temptations

we fall further and further away from the truth or the

"rod". We become lost and it's hard to find our way

back to Heavenly Father.

Lehi also saw a great a spacious building,

and it was filled with all manner of people and they

were dressed in very fine clothing and they were

mocking those that were on the path and

those that were partaking of the fruit. And

many of the people that had tasted the fruit were

ashamed because of those mocking them

and they fell away into the darkness.

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The great and spacious building represents the

pride of the world. Lehi saw many people cling to

the iron rod and eat of the fruit.

He saw many people enter the great a spacious

building. He saw many people drown in the

fountain of water. He saw many people

wandering strange roads. And Lehi saw that

Laman and Lemuel did not partake of the fruit.

What a sad thing for a Father to dream of his sons!!

Lehi's vison says so much, but the message is clear.

We must cling to the Word of God

if we want to be able to resist the temptations

of the Satan. The second we let go of the rod we are lost.

The further we stray the harder it is to

find our way back. The Word of God is

our safe haven, our place of peace and assurance.

1st Nephi 6-7

They have to go back to Jerusalem???!!!
Once again, that is no easy journey for them.
But, I bet they were pretty happy to be going
back for some ladies.....hehehe!!!
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I can't help but get frustrated and even
angry with Laman and Lemuel.
Time and time again they lose sight
of everything....are people in Heaven
feeling for me, what I feel when I read
about Laman and Lemuel? Oh, I just
almost can't even write about it because
I get so stinkin frustrated. But, once again
There was their family and friends to set
them straight and show them the light.
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I just want to say that I love my family so
much and I am so grateful for the compassion
that I have seen in them and the support that
they have given me. And, yes for the things that
they said to me when I didn't want to hear it....to
set me straight and help me return to the truths
of the Gospel. I don't know where I would be without
all of you. I am forever in your debt.

1sr Nephi 5

When I read the first part of this chapter

I can't help but think about how Sariah's faith

wavered....and how Lehi comforted her.

I have mixed feelings about this....

because how many times does our faith waver?

Why, because we do not see the good results when

we want to see them. Her sons were gone for a

long time and she just kinda gave up on the Lord

and started calling Lehi a visionary man......and I

don't think she meant it in a good way either.

Saying he drug them out to the wilderness

to perish, and sent her sons on a suicide mission.

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But then of course when her sons came back

she was all, now i know that the Lord commanded

my husband to flee and delivered my sons out

of the hands of Laban. Well Sariah....what if one

or two of your sons died.....then what? What if

it took them 6 years to get back to you ....then what?

Would you have not believed for 6 years, forever?

Your husband is a prophet!!! It just kinda drove

me a little crazy. But, I know, I can be the same way.

When times get hard, when it doesn't happen

the way I want it to happen, when I don't get my

answer right away, when it's not the answer I wanted.

Sometimes we are weak....we give up too easily.

And then I see the other side of it....and my heart

swells. Lehi comforts her and pulls her and pulls

her back in the arms of the Lord. This just shows me

how important our families and friends are.

Why it is so important for us to surround ourselves

with worthy members of the church. So when we start

to doubt and our faith starts to waver,when we

start making those choices not in accordance

with the Lord they are there, our friends and

family are there to walk us back into the loving

arms of our Heavenly Father.

Yay...all the boys return with the brass plates!!!!

They celebrate by thanking the Lord and offering up

sacrifices and burnt offerings. Then what do they do?

They start at the beginning and he searched the

plates and discovered the genealogy of his fathers....

Lehi is a descendant of Joseph son of Jacob

who was sold into Egypt

The book contains the 5 books of Moses ( Genesis,

Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy)

Which told the story of the creation of the world,

and also told of Adam and Eve, our first parents.

"And now when my father saw all these things,

he was filled with the Spirit, and began

to prophesy concerning his seed-

That these plates of brass should go forth unto

all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people who

were of his seed."

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How true is that today.....Think of all the places

missionaries are being sent, temples are being built,

scriptures are being printed and read in different languages.

Think of the Internet and how anyone in the world has

access to the scriptures online.

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In studying the scriptures Lehi and Nephi both

found them to be desirable, even of great worth

to them. I know the scriptures are of great value to

me, but why did I put off reading them for so long?

I can honestly say that I did not find reading them

desirable....I thought it was boring. But, I have found

this new energy in reading them, I don't really know

how to explain it, other than, I am excited to learn now.

I hope that you feel the same too.....maybe you already did ;)

1st Nephi 3-4

The Lord commanded Nephi and his

brothers to go back to Jerusalem to get

the brass plates.

For Nephi to be so willing and without

doubt knowing that he was supposed

to go is amazing to me. This is no easy

journey....180+ miles through hot, barren

lands with the constant worry that you will

be attacked by robbers. This is a 12-14 day trip

for them going only one way. WOW!!!!

This story always makes me think of and sing

the primary song....I must have sang it to myself

3 times while reading this story ;)

We all have a little something to learn from Nephi.

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Alright again I am amazed at Nephi. They try

several times to get the plates...they try

just talking with Laban about it. Maybe he's a

reasonable man...not so!!! They try bribing him

with gold, silver all kinds of possessions...that

backfires and he just takes whatever he wants

of theirs including their land (which they fled

anyway). But, instead of giving up, Nephi makes

an oath with the Lord that he will not fail and he

will not return to the wilderness until he

has the plates. So he and his brothers

are visited by an angel of the Lord that they

should go back to Laban's and he will be

delivered unto them. An angel visits them

and Laman and Lemuel still murmur....crazy!!!

So they go back and Nephi finds Laban

passed out drunk on the ground. He is then

commanded by the Lord to kill Laban. Whoa

that would be hard to do...for me. It is kind of

comforting for me to know that it was hard for

Nephi too. He had never killed anyone before

he did not want to do it....but the spirit confirmed

to him again to kill Laban. So he did....then he

dressed in Laban's clothes and went to the treasury

got the plates and took Laban's servant Zoram

with him back to meet his brothers.

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Wow....the Lord will deliver!! He will keep his

promises that he makes. Just like the primary

song says....

I will go, I will do the things the Lord commands

I know the Lord provides a way, he wants

me to obey!!!

The Lord will not put anything on us that we

cannot handle.

1st Nephi 2

Alright so Lehi had a vision in a dream.....

a dream. If I had a dream that told me to

get my family out of dodge, I think I would have

to second guess it. I guess because I have never

personally had revelation in a dream, it's kinda hard

for me to think I would take it seriously.

I guess that the Lord would let you feel the urgency,

or somehow help you to distinguish the difference

between a dream and a vision....I don't know. Lehi

must have had a ton of faith to leave everything and

take his family into the wilderness.

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So I can remember several times when my

Father gave me counsel and I am so glad that

it didn't come down to him speaking .....

"with power, being filled with the Spirit, until

their frames did shake before him. And he did

confound them that they durst not utter against

him"

Yowzers, I did have halucinations one time

that my Dad was screaming so loud that he

was shaking the house....and that was terrifying.
I imagine it being something like that...except

instead of him screaming, I just imagine Lehi had

a really powerful, booming voice.

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One verse that I never understood and

always made me laugh was Verse 15

"And my father dwelt in a tent."

really?.....

Until I discovered that in their time to

dwell in a tent was considered a great honor.

To dwell in a tent represented living close to

and trusting in the Lord. Also, that

the father's tent was considered the

center of the whole community.

So those simple little 7 words represent so

much more than I used to think. I also find

it very appropriate that, that particular verse

is right after he set Laman and Lemuel straight.

Ahem.....your father should be respected and at

the center of your family.

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Lastly, Nephi is chosen by the Lord,

because of his faith, for he sought the Lord

diligently, with lowliness of heart.

And the Lord promises Nephi that if his

brothers should rebel against him, he would

cut them off and Nephi would be a ruler over

them.....that sounds good to me...hehehe ;)

1st Nephi 1

So the first thing that jumps out at me while reading

this chapter is....the very first thing Nephi mentions is

his parents. "I, Nephi, having been born of goodly

parents..." It may seem pretty simple when you first

read it, but the more I thought about it, the more it

meant to me. Our earthly familiesmust be pretty

important if this is the very first thing Nephi

mentions when writing his story.

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I, Sarah, having been born of goodly parents....

yeah that sounds pretty good to me. For a long time

I took for granted to 2 amazing examples, teachers,

and support systems that I had growing up. It's only

recently into my adult life that I came to the

realization just how much I needed them.

And not just for a roof over my head, or what temp

the oven should be at for baked potato's....but how

essential they are to my happiness, to my eternal

salvation. They chose to raise me in the Gospel,

they raised me knowing Jesus Christ our Saviour,

knowing that I could one day return to our Father

in Heaven, and for that I am eternally grateful!!!

The knowledge that they have given me is far better

than any gift they could have given me for any

holiday or birthday.

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The second thing that jumps out to me is Lehi's

vision.Verses 8, "God sitting upon his throne,

surrounded withnumberless concourses of angels

in the attitude of singing and praising their God"

also verse 9 ""...one descended out of the midst of

heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above

that of the sun at noon-day"

I just love the way that sounds.....it sounds so happy!!!

It gives me the chills, it makes me want to be there.

To return to my Father in Heaven!!

When I think of Lehi trying to warn his people,

telling them of their wickedness, it makes

me think of the world today. We can be so stubborn,

and independent...myself especially!!! I know I should

be doing certain things and yet I choose not to....why is that?

I have time, I have the means, why do I talk myself

out of something so good? Something out here

just for me, for my benefit, for my happiness!!

I think of how they were angry with him, so angry

they wanted to kill him.....now I have never wanted

to kill anyone, but I know when I was making choices

that didn't follow the Lord's standards,

I would be angry and defensive anytime the topics

were discussed at church or elsewhere for that

matter. I would feel the need to argue points, points

that I knew to be true!!! It's silly but, I kind of know

what Lehi's people must have felt at that time....I think

of all the people who were trying to help me, who loved

me enough to not keep their mouths shut while I fell

deeper and deeper into Satan's grasp. What love

Lehi had for his people to want to try

and save them.

The very last verse in the chapter.....

Verse 20

"...But, behold I, Nephi, will show unto you that

the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those

whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make

them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

WOW....what a great verse!!!

I have felt of the Lords mercy first hand. I am not

perfect, nor will I ever be perfect. But I know that

I can turn to the Lord and he will forgive me my sins

and take me back into the comfort of his loving arms.

He wants me to be happy, he wants me to come home.