Latter Day Saints Keep On Trying

I appreciate the example that we have of Nephi and his brothers going back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates. We learn so much about our human experience ,the attitudes and amount of difficulty that we may be placed in our earth life. However, the most important thing that we learn from this account is the way that we as Latter Day Saints, must keep on Trying, and the witness that Nephi gave us, " The Lord will give no commandment to the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them to accomplish the thing which He has commanded."

As we watch Nephi and his brothers go the " distance of 180 miles through hot, barren country infested anciently by many robbers, or a twelve to fourteen day trip " ( BOM Student Manual Religion 121 )

But, this is not all they suffered to follow God's instruction, they even offered all their gold, silver and all they had! After being beaten by his brothers, and being blessed by an angel appearing, Nephi does finally get the plates after three tries.

I am reminded of the beautiful talk given this past General Conference by Elder Renlund, titled
" Latter Day Saints Keep on Trying ".

We truly must go on no matter our trials, circumstances, or even temptations to take the gospel lightly...

This is what makes us His disciples, and Latter Day Saints. I am so very thankful that in the scriptures, we are given such witness that those whom do keep trying, will eventually be blessed, just as Nephi did receive the help that he needed to obtain the brass plates...

These are my two favorite quotes from this wonderful talk that was so inspiring to me!
I love my Father in Heaven and His Son Jesus Christ. I hope that I can keep trying on being the best servant that I can for Them....

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

"God’s desire that Latter-day Saints keep on trying also extends beyond overcoming sin. Whether we suffer because of troubled relationships, economic challenges, or illnesses or as a consequence of someone else’s sins, the Savior’s infinite Atonement can heal even—and perhaps especially—those who have innocently suffered. He understands perfectly what it is like to suffer innocently as a consequence of another’s transgression. As prophesied, the Savior will “bind up the brokenhearted, … give … beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, [and] the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”⁹ No matter what, with His help, God expects Latter-day Saints to keep on trying."

"My invitation to all of us is to evaluate our lives, repent, and keep on trying. If we don’t try, we’re just latter-day sinners; if we don’t persevere, we’re latter-day quitters; and if we don’t allow others to try, we’re just latter-day hypocrites.¹⁰ As we try, persevere, and help others to do the same, we are true Latter-day Saints. As we change, we will find that God indeed cares a lot more about who we are and about who we are becoming than about who we once were."

( Elder Relund , Latter Day Saints Keep On Trying, April 2015 GC )

An Acceptable Sacrifice

As I was in the temple a couple of weeks ago, I had the most beautiful thought. My thought  reminded me of a scripture that I read tonight. I considered as I read he fact that, Lehi's group had just left their homes, and all of their belongings; as if that wasn't sacrifice enough? They were sacrificing even more, after traveling days into the wilderness. 

1 Nephi 2:7

7 And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God. http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/2.7?lang=eng

My thought in the temple, was about the stones that are used to build an altar. For us, the stones can be representation of all that we do to serve God in His kingdom here on earth. 

Like Lehi's group, we are asked to leave the world; and enter into  a place that some might consider lonely, dreary or undesirable; but to Lehi's group, the wilderness was a great blessing; and a place where many promises could be bestowed upon them; just as leaving the world is full of blessings and great joy, for us as well.

Lehi's group literally took rocks and built an altar, to thank God upon, as they placed their offering onto it.

Today we too have left the world as His disciples. We build our altars by sacrificing our time daily, to do those things that will make our offerings pleasing unto Him. 

Some examples are :

As I study more diligently for a lesson that I need to prepare, the rocks that I am stacking, Will be more sturdy, and my offering, or my lesson, will more pleasing unto Him.

As I take extra time to make a person, or child feel loved, my rocks are bigger, that make the platform that my children will stand on, more sturdy, and my offering of raising up righteous seed unto Him, a more pleasing offering. 

There are so many examples. and yet, as I ponder upon what I have been reading in the Old Testament about Cain and Abel, and what made each of their offerings acceptable, and unacceptable to the Lord; I consider the inner heart of man, and our motivations; or the reasons why we are trying to build this altar to offer thanks to Him. If we have any selfish reasons behind our building the altar, or the sacrifices that we make in the gospel; say maybe for reasons such as we want to appear a certain way, or because we feel that we have to do these things in order to not be damned; then our offering is unacceptable to Him; just as it was for Cain, as satan was Cain's motivations and influence behind his actions.

When our sacrifices in the gospel of our natural man desires are pure, and holy, our altars are being build upon a sturdy foundation. 

The way I vividly saw each act of sacrifice in our lives, as the rocks that build our alters, was beautiful to me. 

I saw how one offering even in our day, beyond just paying tithing, could be more whole and acceptable to the Lord, than the next....And the representation of how the altar was built, was a wonderful new way for me to see how we are building our altars daily. 

I love to sacrifice even some of the things that I love, for Him. Say some times not getting a workout in, because I need to spend more time with a child, or say sometimes my sacrifice is actually not going to the temple, where I love to be, because I need to spend time with my spouse. Say sometimes, receiving a lower grade because I need to attend the temple and it's the only day I can go, when I have class, and I must miss it.

Say sometimes making the sacrifice of leaving dishes in the sink for a night, in order that I can spend more time in scripture study and prayer. 

As I make righteous sacrifices, I can see how truly, in the end, what I am sacrificing is all the parts of me, that I don't want around anyways. It is really not a sacrifice at all, once it's all over.

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

One man's trash is another man's treasure

As I read from 1 Nephi 19, I felt such a connection with Nephi as he explains leaving a record for his posterity. 

  

One reason that I love the scriptures is because I feel the same way that so many of the writers in the scriptures express that they felt, and my desires are the same as theirs. I hope to meet them, and it will be such a joyful day for me.

  I like Nephi, generally do not feel to write about anything; except I feel it is pleasing to the Lord. Also like Nephi, I do know that I have weaknesses in many ways; including writing, and likely some  interpretations of the scriptures; in which case I desire to be taught....

  I also feel deeply for Nephi, as he ponders and witnesses that there are those whom will not find his writings of great worth, or in other words, they will not care for it. Also, Nephi explains that there will be some whom find what he values; the gospel, and truth that he writes; to be of great worth....

  I witness that Nephi's words are my reality; and I am thankful that I can have a slight experience, like that of my most precious SAVIOR, whom had the truth that he loved, and shared ....set at naught, and trampled under their feet. This helps me to know Him more; and appreciate what He does for me more. Oh how I love Him.....

  1 Nephi 19:

  6 Nevertheless, I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred. And now, if I do err, even did they err of old; not that I would excuse myself because of other men, but because of the weakness which is in me, according to the flesh.

  7 For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet. Yea, even the very God of Israel do men trample under their feet; I say, trample under their feet but I would speak in other words—they set him at naught, and hearken not to the voice of his counsels. 

The Words Will Be Verified

One reason that I feel the scriptures are so important, is because they witness of His promises to us and prophesy of His patterns.

  

Even Jesus Christ Himself said that He came to fulfill the law and the prophets...

  

"Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill."

‎Matthew 5:18 

  

This to me, means He came to show that what is written, is true and Will be fulfilled, along with many other reasons...but,

  

Many scriptures testify that if it is written, then it will happen. I take great faith in this. As I see the truths testified of in the scriptures being fulfilled, I can take faith that as I do His work, all will be well for my future, because I have seen His promises kept so many times in the scriptures....

Omni 1:6

  

yea, he would not suffer that the words should not be verified, http://lds.org/scriptures/bofm/omni/1.6?lang=eng

  

I say this in Jesus Christ. Amen.