Pathway Lesson 1: Alma 30-35

Hello new semester!!!  I’m excited to finish the second half of the Book of Mormon this semester.  Our reading this week was Alma 30-35. 

We start off with Korihor, an Anti-Christ.  We all see anti-Christs all over the place in this world.  Alma talks with Korihor and uses a timeless method, his personal testimony.  Korihor asks for a sign.  He denies God and Alma warns him that he will be struck dumb.  He denies again and is struck dumb for the rest of his days.  We learn in Alma 30:60 And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell.  Satan will not stand with you, where as Christ will never leave you. 

The biggest thing I got out of this week’s reading was on prayer.  In Alma 31 we hear the Zoramites prayer, which is the same prayer, it has no feeling, no requests.  It states what they believe and what they don’t believe.  Its like they are praying the articles of faith.  Plus they have specific place for them to pray.  Up high and only one person could fit up there.  How can Heavenly Father help them?  There is no request for help. 

Next we hear Alma’s prayer.  Alma’s prayer has lots of feeling.  He says “Lord” 14 times.  He prays with feeling, he asks questions.  He is specific.  He prays for others and is specific and he prays for them by name.  Alma talks candidly to Heavenly Father.  He tells exactly how he is feeling.  There is no sugar coating it. 

There is such a difference in their prayers.  We learn so much from Alma’s prayers.  Our prayers need to be heartfelt, specific, and for others.  Prayer is communication to our Heavenly Father.  Alma prayed to Heavenly Father as someone who he has a relationship with.  We need to pray to our Heavenly Father just like we would talk to our earthly father.  If we can do this, we can gain a better relationship with our Heavenly Father and will for sure be blessed for it. 

Eder Carlos E. Asay said “The souls of our brothers and sisters who may seem to be more feeble and less honorable are precious. The Church has need of them. We should make every attempt to know them and to help them claim the full blessings and joys of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our prayers should be as Alma’s: ‘Give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee.’ (See Alma 31:35.)

“We must remember that our salvation is intertwined with the salvation of others. We must care more for those who seem to care less for their faith”

This struck me.  How do I react when someone I know is having a struggle with their faith or doesn’t follow what we believe?  I would probably think “that’s their choice.”  But I should act more like Alma and “care more for those who seem to care less for their faith.”  

Pathway Lesson 11 Mosiah 27-Alma 7

 I loved this week's readings.  We read about Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah's conversion.  We learned about the reign of Judges.  We learned about how one person's example can make a huge impact.  We also learned more about the atonement.  

I'll start off with Alma's conversion.  I love how as soon as he is converted he wants to go and spread the gospel.  In Mosiah 28:3 it says "Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble."

 It made me think about my life, am I excited to share the gospel?  I’m not sure I have that burning desire, like these men do.  Something I need to change.  A few weeks ago I taught the Relief Society lesson on Member Missionaries.  As soon as I saw I was teaching on that, I started praying for a missionary experience.  Not much had happened, I think sometimes we get caught up in our own bubbles and see the same people.  I was afraid this was happening.  Then some controversy with the church on Facebook happened and I had to really research to understand my stance and what I believed in.  At that time, there wasn't anything put out by the church yet, so I turned to the scriptures and to prayer.  I was able to understand and get a testimony of what I believed in.   Then, the Thursday before I taught; we had a visit from our case worker.  We have a pretty close relationship and knowing that I’m a Mormon she asked me about this controversy.  I then shared my testimony with her.  I testified of the love and importance of families and how important they are to me.  She thanked me for sharing with her and helping her understand.  I was so grateful she asked me and I was able to share my testimony.  I think its simple ways like that we can be share the gospel. 

Next, we learn about how powerful one person can be.  Nehor teaches false doctrines and many people follow him.  It made me think how powerful our examples can be, either for good or evil.  My son Johnny was at a birthday party for a friend.  This friend is not one of his best friends, and is a little bit of an outcast.  While at the party, my son took this friend by the hand and had him come play with his group of friends.  His friends all played with this boy because of my son’s example.  We need to make sure we are using our examples for good rather than evil.  The influence of one is great. 

Moving onto the Atonement.  Reading about Alma’s teachings to the people are really great chapters.  Alma 7:12 says “And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.”  Christ has taken on our sins and has shown us his mercy.  The atonement is the ultimate gift we could receive.  At this holiday season, I’m so very grateful for our Savior who came to this earth for me and for you.  I hope we can remember the true reason for the season.  

Pathway Lesson 9 Enos-Mosiah 3

To start our reading we read about Enos.  Enos taught us a lot about prayer.  He says "his my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer”  (Enos 1:8)His soul hungered.  I’ve had times in my life where my soul is hungering, I think its in moments like that that our faith is expanding.  This is when we learn the most from our Heavenly Father.  Now I think we need to learn to have our soul hungering all the time.  David A Bednar taught us in his conference address Pray Always “Morning and evening prayers—and all of the prayers in between—are not unrelated, discrete events; rather, they are linked together each day and across days, weeks, months, and even years. This is in part how we fulfill the scriptural admonition to “pray always””

Another scripture that stood out to me was Omni 1:26 “And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.”  I love this scripture.  I think its all summed up in this one scripture.  We need to come unto Christ and partake in his salvation and then offer our WHOLE soul unto Him.  Elder Maxwell taught that giving our whole soul is the only thing that is truly ours to offer up.  I’ve never really thought about it that way before.  By giving our whole soul we are showing we are willing to sacrifice and give our faith to Heavenly Father.   

Also, in this week’s reading we read one of my favorite scriptures: Mosiah 2:17 “And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.”

I’ve always loved this scripture, but this week especially it touched me.  Our foster baby, Leah, who we’ve had since she was born went home to live with mom today after 18 months.  We knew this day was going to come, but it came earlier than we were expecting.  And out of the blue.  We were kind of thrown for a loop.  Needless to say, it was tough to process.  And then I read the above scripture.  The service we did for her mom is like we were doing it unto Heavenly Father.  That’s why it was so easy for us to love this sweet little babe.  That’s why we were able to love her unconditionally even though we knew she’d be leaving. 

Through this whole process I’ve had this unexplainable love for Leah’s mom.  I’ve had this amazing understanding about her situation.  I’ve been able to rally around her and I want mom to do what she’s supposed to for her to get her children back.  I know I’ve been blessed through this whole process.  I know I’ve had spiritual help as I relied fully on my Savior’s atonement to keep this love for Leah’s mom. 

We will miss our baby Leah, but we know we were able to help a family who needed help and a second chance.  We were able to do service for our Heavenly Father and I know we’ve blessed through the whole process.  

I was reading President Eyring’s Talk: Opportunities to Do Good.  I completely lost it when I read “For the Master I extend thanks for your work to serve the children of our Heavenly Father. He knows you, and He sees your effort, diligence, and sacrifice. I pray that He will grant you the blessing of seeing the fruit of your labors in the happiness of those you have helped and with whom you have helped for the Lord.”

I have comfort in knowing that my Heavenly Father knows me and he knows our efforts.  He has blessed us and will continue to. 

Pathway Lesson 7: 2 Nephi 28-33

After two weeks reading Isaiah going back to Nephi's words was a relief.  Our reading this week was relatively short, but there was so much packed in these few chapters.  (2 Nephi 28-33)  Nephi says he writes in plainness and I appreciate it!  Here is my overview of the past few chapters.  Such good stuff in here!

Chapter 28 starts out talking about all the ways the devil can deceive us.  So much of this is happening right now. 

• ·                 Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die
• ·                  Lie a little
• ·                  Little sin will be justified
• ·                  Deny the power of God
• ·                  Deny the Holy Ghost
• ·                  No miracles now, he’s already done his work
• 
  

I know in my life, I’ve heard all of these.  Maybe not in these exact words, but these are ways temptation can creep in.  And that’s how it happens, with a little lie, a little sin. 

Neal A Maxwell said “The philosophy of ritual prodigalism is ‘eat, drink, and be merry, … [and] God will beat us with a few stripes’ (2 Nephi 28:8). This is a cynical and shallow view of God, of self, and of life. God never can justify us ‘in committing a little sin’ (verse 8). He is the God of the universe, not some night-court judge with whom we can haggle and plea bargain!  

“Of course God is forgiving! But He knows the intents of our hearts. He also knows what good we might have done while AWOL [absent without leave]. In any case, what others do is no excuse for the disciple from whom much is required (see Alma 39:4). Besides, on the straight and narrow path, there are simply no corners to be cut.”

I loved that.  I can’t imagine bartering with God about a little sin I’ve done.  Which reminds me that I need to repent and repent often, because we know he’s a forgiving Heavenly Father. 

The end of the chapter verse 24 “Therefore, wo, unto him that is at ease in Zion.”  We can’t ever be at ease.  We must always be growing. 

Chapter 29 talks about the Book of Mormon and missionary work.  Also about additional records to be brought forth.  This is something I’ve always been confused about.  So I enjoyed reading about this and hearing what the modern day prophets had to say about it.  Neal A Maxwell said, “Lost books are among the treasures yet to come forth. Over twenty of these are mentioned in the existing scriptures. Perhaps most startling and voluminous will be the records of the lost tribes of Israel (see 2 Nephi 29:13). We would not even know of the impending third witness for Christ except through the precious Book of Mormon, the second witness for Christ! This third set of sacred records will thus complete a triad of truth. Then, just as the Perfect Shepherd has said, ‘My word also shall be gathered in one’ (verse 14). There will be ‘one fold and one shepherd’ (1 Nephi 22:25) in a welding together of all the Christian dispensations of human history (see D&C 128:18)” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1986, 70; or Ensign, Nov. 1986, 52).  This simplified it for me and helped me realize the third set will complete the truths we already have.

Chapter 30 talks about the conversion  of the Jews.

Chapter 31: 6-10 talks about how we need to fulfill the Saviors commandment to follow Him by being baptized, keep commandments and be humble. 

Chapter 32 says we need to have the Holy Ghost with us and feast on the words.  In 2 Nephi 32:9 Nephi counseled that we must “pray always”.  My son Johnny was having a hard time with something and we talked about praying to Heavenly Father for help.  We talked about how He is always there to help us.  A couple weeks later he came home from school and told me he prayed in school to ask Heavenly Father for help.  He literally folded his arms and said a prayer.  He was such an example to me of praying always.  He had faith and no shame that Heavenly Father would help him.  I need to have a prayer in my heart always.  I know I’m always thinking of my children, especially when they aren’t with me.  I am sure this it’s the same thing our Heavenly Father feels for us just magnified. 

Chapter 33 is Nephi’s last testimony.  It was so strong.  He talks about his pillows being wet with the tears he had cried for his people.  He basically put it all out there and pleaded for everyone to believe in Christ.  Its powerful.

To end, I want to share 2 Nephi 33:1 it says "And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men." The information can only go "unto" the hearts of the children of men.  If we want the information to go INTO our hearts we have to be prepared to learn.  I loved this, its something I always knew, but maybe don't always practice.  I know this class has helped the Book of Mormon go INTO my heart, but its because I’m really studying it, I’m feasting on the words and am completely being blessed by it!