Pathway Lesson 11: Ether 1-15

This week’s reading is from Ether 1-15. 

Ether 1:43 And there will I bless thee and thy seed, and raise up unto me of thy seed, and of the seed of thy brother, and they who shall go with thee, a great nation. And there shall be none greater than the nation which I will raise up unto me of thy seed, upon all the face of the earth. And thus I will do unto thee because this long time ye have cried unto me.

The Book of Mormon Student Guide says “Enduring obedience coupled with frequent and persistent prayers is powerful.”  Joseph Smith taught, “God is not a respecter of persons, we all have the same privilege.  Come to God weary him until he blesses you and we are entitled to the same blessings.”  When I read these two quotes, I couldn’t help but think about when we were struggling through our infertility years.  I spent many many nights in prayer.  I pleaded with Heavenly Father to send us a baby.  I believed these quotes and I couldn’t understand why our righteous desires to have a baby weren’t happening.  It was a tough 8 years for us.  But now, I know that we were blessed beyond measure and because we went through that time, we are able to fully appreciate the Lord’s hand directly in our family’s life.  All four of us were made for each other.  I know Heavenly Father prepared us for them and them for us.  I’m so grateful for my trials and to be able to learn from them. 

Ether 7:23-24

 And also in the reign of Shule there came prophets among the people, who were sent from the Lord, prophesying that the wickedness and idolatry of the people was bringing a curse upon the land, and they should be destroyed if they did not repent.

And it came to pass that the people did revile against the prophets, and did mock them. And it came to pass that King Shule did execute judgment against all those who did revile against the prophets.

Elder L. Aldin Porter of the Seventy said this about why people reject the teachings of the prophets.  “Some complain that when the prophets speak with clarity and firmness, they are taking our agency away. We are still free to choose. But we must accept the consequences of those decisions. The prophets do not take away our agency. They simply warn us of what the consequences of our choices will be. How foolish it is to fault the prophets for their warnings”

This is simple example, but when I was younger, I wanted to get a second piercing in my ear.  My dad told me I couldn’t.  So, I decided as soon as I moved out, I was going to do it, what harm could there really be in it?  Right as I was getting ready to get the second piercing, President Hinckley gave council stating women should only have one piercing in their ears.  The world wouldn’t have come to an end if I would have gotten that piercing, but I feel like it was a trial for me (and I’m sure others) to see if I was not only listening, but if I would obey. 

Another not quite so simple example is  The Family: A Proclamation to the World.  I was 14 years old when that came out.  I had no reason to question it.  But within the last few years it has been called into question about same sex marriage.  Things that do not make sense to me.  I have quite a few friends who have left the church because of things the prophets have said especially concerning that.  I know  The Family: A Proclamation to the World was written a time before it was needed.  I'm grateful for the strong testimony of prophets I have.  I know they will not lead me astray.   

Pathway Lesson 9: 3 Nephi 23-30

3 Nephi 23-30

This week’s reading was good…I was the lead student, which means, I get and keep a discussion going.  It went well and I'm grateful for my classmates and the friendships that have formed.  Its been so neat to discuss each week what we’ve read, I’ve learned from my fellow classmates and I’m kind of sad to be finishing up the Book of Mormon.  That being said, I’ve learned so much this year.  Anyone thinking of doing Pathway, I completely give it my stamp of approval! 

Our reading starts off with Isaiah.  I still seem to get a little lost when Isaiah’s teaching are being talked about.  When I start reading Isaiah, especially in the past, I usually skim over it, but Christ says at the beginning of 3 Nephi 23 how great the words of Isaiah are.  That really helped change my attitude for all the reading and really try to grasp what is being taught here.

President Boyd K Packer said “Isaiah is the most quoted prophet in the New Testament.  The Lord Himself quoted Isaiah seven times, the Apostles forty times more.  In addition, there are ninety partial quotes or paraphrases of Isaiah’s words.   Isaiah is the most quoted prophet in the Doctrine and Covenants.  Sixty-six quotations from thirty-one chapters of Isaiah attest to the singular importance of this great prophet.  All of this confirms that the Lord had a purpose in preserving Isaiah’s words.”

Sounds like I’m the one with the issue, because there is so much I can learn.

Christ continues to tell us how we need to study the scriptures to prepare for the second coming. 

President Hinckley said “I am grateful for the emphasis on reading the scriptures.  I hope that for you this will become something far more enjoyable than a duty; that , rather, it will become a love affair with the word of God.  I promise you that as you read, your minds will be enlightened and your spirits will be lifted.  At First it may seem tedious, but that will change into a wondrous experience with thought and words of things divine.”  This year, I can honestly say reading the scriptures has gone from something I quickly fit in to something I enjoy and spend time learning from.  If nothing else, I’m so grateful for Pathway for that.

Our study skill this week was symbolism.  I’m so glad I chose symbolism because there is so much symbolism in these chapters!

3 Nephi 24:2 But who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth?  For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap.

The Savior is the refiner, he will cleanse and purify our souls that we can return to live with our Heavenly Father.  The Atonement is the fuller’s soap to help cleanse us of our sins and help us to be spotless before God.

I loved this Mormon Message about the Refiner’s Fire…so powerful!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DIIgm6xABQ

So much doctrine is being taught in these chapters.  It testifies that on going scripture study is something that I need to be constantly doing.  There is so much there that I did not catch it all the first several times of reading it. 

President Kimball said “I have had many people ask me through the years, When do you think we will get the balance of the Book of Mormon records?  And I have said, How many in the congregation would like to read the sealed portion of the plates?  And almost always there is a 100 percent response.  And then I ask the same congregation, How many of you have read the part that as been opened to us?  And there are many who have not read the Book of Mormon, the unsealed portion.  We are quite often looking for the spectacular, the unobtainable.  I have found many people who want to live the higher laws when they do not live the lower laws”

This gives new (ok, new for me) perspective.  We need to do and obey all that we know and have now before we go asking for more.  And I think this advice goes for more than just the scriptures.  As we continue to learn we will be able to learn more and our knowledge will grow.