A Mighty Change of Heart

This Morning I was reading in Alma 5, a very popular chapter in the Book of Mormon about reflection. There had been a talk in Sacrament meeting about it as well this week so I wanted to look at it a little bit more. One of my favorite verses is Alma 5:14; 

14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?

One part that I really like and I ponder every now and then is the second question, Have ye received his image in your countenances? It has great meaning and symbolism. It really makes you think of how to become more like Christ, to think what is it that you could do each day, every minute, to be like Him. Now that is the whole point of the Gospel, to become like Him but this question is worded in such a way that it makes it personal, it makes it warm and inspiring. 

Turn the Other Cheek

Each time I read in 4 Nephi I am amazed at the example of those who are persecuted.

Some of the people had become puffed up in their pride with their money, riches, and fine clothing and they willfully broke the commandments. They then persecuted the members of Christ's church who had remained humble. Despite the wicked "[smiting] upon the people of Jesus...the people of Jesus did not smite again" (vs. 34).

As disciples of Christ need to learn to turn the other cheek just as these followers did. Sometimes it can be hard to discern what is defending our faith vs being Christlike and turning the other cheek. I think it is important to keep the Spirit with you and then when those times arise you will be able to do and say what is needed and what the Savior would do. It is important that we seek to keep things peaceful and pray for the patience and charity for our enemies.

Daily Reading

As I was going through the scriptures looking at the chapters I have read, looking for good scriptures to use my mind was blank. I would see the notes I had written and other versus that I liked but nothing called my attention. I started thinking of what I could write and I thought about the importance of the scriptures in general. The impact they have. With college starting and coming back from mission life, just like everyone else, I've noticed that it's not always easy to keep up with the basics. It requires a lot of discipline. I did a little research about habits, and how long it takes to create one. I found a couple different answers but the important part is put effort into it for an extended period of time. So, I decided to create a habit tracker, a simple sheet of paper with the habits of reading scriptures and saying prayers on it so I could track how I do and see where I can improve. I have been doing it for about three weeks now and I have already seen a difference in my daily activities. 

1 Nephi 19:18

 18 And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their Redeemer.

This verse helps me to understand why life improves when we read from the scriptures every day. When we are reading from the scriptures daily we are constantly being reminded that Jesus is the Christ and the Redeemer. When we have those thoughts often we act better, we do better things, we serve and love more. 

Power of Fasting and Prayer

In my study this week I ran into one of my favorite scriptures, Helaman 3:35

35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.

This scripture is talking about the humble who were dealing with persecutions from those "who professed to belong to the church of God" but had been "lifted up in pride" (Helming 3:33-34). Despite having to endure that, which I'm sure was frustrating  and heartbreaking at times, they were able to hold fast. How were they able to get through the mocking and scorning of their peers who had once had the same understanding and humility as they did?

Fasting and prayer.

Fasting is something I have been trying to gain a testimony of. I have definitely seen many blessings come from it, but I still struggle at times. I love that this scripture shows so many of the blessings you can receive from fasting and prayer.

35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.

I would rather have these promised blessings than the praise and approval of the world. This scripture helps me to keep trying and to put more faith and trust in Christ by keeping His commandment to fast and pray often.  

The Guidance of a Prophet

I just finished the first book a Nephi a this last week and had some really great experiences. The book of 1 Nephi has some great insights to it. There is part of a verse in the last chapter that really summed up my experience a what patterns I could see this time around of reading 1 Nephi; 1 Nephi 22:20.

"And it shall come to pass that all those who will not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among the people."

A lot of 1 Nephi is about people not wanting to follow the prophets, mostly Laman and Lemuel not wanting to follow Nephi and Lehi because they thought they knew better but even in Jerusalem or the prophecies of Isaiah the people didn't want to follow the prophets and they were or will be cut off from the people of the Lord. It's very interesting to see it take place in our own day and age. We can see clearly the people who don't want to follow the Prophet of God in these days and they end up leaving the Church, rebelling, or in Nephi's words, they are cut off from His people by their own choices. They think they know better then a Prophet, people think protesting, facebook posts, or tweets  will change God's laws just because they think it should be that way. Lehi gives a good example in 2 Nephi 1:19 of what we should do in these situations, "But behold, his will be done; for his ways are righteousness forever." When Lehi says this he's talking to Laman and Lemuel and he's telling them to shape up, to understand that they are on the wrong path. He says he fears that the wrath of God shall come upon them and destroy them and as a father he is pleading with them to do better so they will be favored of the Lord, then he says; not my will, but thine be done. I imagine that would be a hard situation for Lehi, but he knows that the commandments are from God and it's our own personal choice to follow them. God's ways are eternal and correct and as long as we follow the Prophet we will be on His side.

The Lord is My Light

This morning during my scripture study I read Ether 6:10 which says:

10 And thus they were driven forth; and no monster of the sea could break them, neither whale that could mar them; and they did have light continually, whether it was above the water or under the water.

To give a little background, this is when the Jaredites are crossing the sea in their barges they made. They were confined to an enclosed space without sunlight. Earlier, the brother of Jared had gone to Lord in seeking guidance on how to light the barges. After much pondering and prayer, he had an experience in which he saw Jesus Christ, who, touched some stones and gave them light. The brother of Jared then used these stones to light the barges while they crossed the sea. This provided light in their lives whether they were "above the water or under the water."

The Lord is our Light. Regardless of what is going on, if we make Him the center of our lives and seek guidance and direction from Him, we will make it through. Only through Christ can we have continual light in our lives and joy whether things are going well and we are "above the water" or we are struggling with a hard trial and feel as if we are "under the water."

I have seen an amazing contrast between those times when I am making an effort to sincerely follow the Lord and keep my covenants, versus the times when I am being more complacent.

In Doctrine and Covenants 95:6 is says:

 6 They who are not chosen have sinned a very grievous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day.

Compare the difference between the two scriptures. In the first verse they did not have the physical sunlight, but they had the Savior in their lives and looked to Him for Light. They were living righteously and keeping the commandments. Those in the second verse had been wicked. Although they were physically in the sun "at noon-day," their lives were full of darkness.

Only Jesus Christ can give us the true Light and Life.

The Lord is my light, my all and in all.

There is in his sight no darkness at all.

He is my Redeemer, my Savior, and King.

With Saints and with angels his praises I'll sing.

- James Nicholson