Cycle for a Good Lifestyle

Book of Jarom

It took me two days to read this chapter – not because I spent so much time pondering, but because I have had the opportunity to remember what it’s like to try to find a moment to read when children are around.  I will never take credit for my good reading habits.  It is my season.

However, as I read in the quiet of my room this morning I was impressed (again) at the cycle Jarom gives for what I wrote in my margin at one time “a cycle for a good lifestyle”.  In verse 4 he gives this formula:

Not stiffnecked (without pride) plus having faith equals having the Holy Spirit in one’s life.  You can check this formula out (just like a math equation) by measuring a person’s faith. Hmmmm.  Writing it doesn’t make it as logical as just reading it.  Doesn’t “to make manifest,” mean to prove?  I think it does.  But can a person’s faith be measured or “proven”? 

That’s an interesting question.  Can someone tell by observing me that I have faith?  What does it look like? 

• Do I keep the commandments?
• Do I listen to the prophets’ counsel and obey?
• Do I pray day and night and in between?
• Do I study the scriptures and the words of the prophets so I CAN obey them?
• Do I serve others?
• Do I hope for things not seen? (Alma 32:21)
• Do I have a perfect knowledge?  No, but do I hope just the same?
• Do I value my life and the lives of others?  If so, what does that look like?  Am I kind and courteous to all?  Am I honest in my dealings with others? 

These are interesting questions and make me want to do a topical study on faith.  Am I living the cycle Jarom talks about?

Where is my rest?

Book of Enos

I love the story of Enos as he receives confirmation from the Lord that his sins are forgiven.  “How is it done?” he asks.  It is such a blessing in my own life to know the answer to this question and to have felt the redeeming power of my Savior in my own life.  It is a real and tangible thing.  Even though the Lord answers this question, it is such an exercise of faith in the Savior to experience it.  It is an action on our part and a true gift from our Heavenly Father. 

A natural thing that happens to us that is shown by Enos, is when we feel this love in our own lives, it is only natural to want to share it – first with our family and loved ones, then to those around us – even our enemies (v11)! 

It is also interesting to me because of my feelings about my own journals, to note that having the records of their people preserved was important to Enos as well as the prophets before.   I would hope my journals would be of value to some future generation.

I’m also intrigued at the description Enos gives of his people, the Nephites, and the Lamanite’s description in verses 20 and 21.  Boiled down it is lazy vs. industrious.  It is a God-given characteristic to want to be busy doing good things, i.e. providing for family and others.  I hope my life counts for being industrious. 

Mostly this is rambling, and I hope to have the opportunity to ponder these things as I go about my day.  It is the last verse I would like to memorize.  As I get older, this type of verse is one I could see me reciting to myself some day.  “And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest.  And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me; Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father.  Amen.” (v27)

Today, rest is a rare thing.  Any rest I do get comes from my beliefs and it’s usually at the gift of keeping the Sabbath day holy.  The life is filled with busyness and worry or concerns about loved ones.  And I can think of nothing more appealing than having the Savior say to me “. . .there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father.”  I too look forward to that day.  Even though we wait for that day of rest, we find it in our daily lives as we come unto the Savior.  Doing so helps us to focus on things of a higher nature rather than the daily troubles of the world.  Yes, the troubles are still there and we go through them.  But we go through them with faith that there will be a better day.  It's usually just around the corner, but we may have to wait a while.  

As I reread this last paragraph I feel to add, we are able to see the blessings as we muddle through our trials.  

Prescription to Battle Depression

Jacob 3

Rx for Depression

Jacob is speaking to the supposedly “good guys” in a gathering and chastising them for poor examples to their wives and children.  That would have been a difficult meeting to attend.  Can you imagine the poor wives and children who were listening to the prophet call out their husbands’/fathers’ sins?  Ouch! 

Then Jacob goes on and tells the “pure in heart” [v1] how to overcome their afflictions.  Since applying the scriptures to our own lives has been the commandment from our latter-day prophets, we can apply this formula to ourselves.  I’ve written in my margin: Prescription for depression.  Well, wouldn’t it be depressing to know your husband/father was in a bad place?  It would be to me.  Anyway, the prescription is rather simple:

• Look unto God (look up)
• Pray
• Have faith
• Receive the pleasing word of God
• Feast upon his love

If we do these things, verse 1 says “. . .he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.”  The key word is “pure in heart”.  He is speaking to the pure in heart.  Is my heart pure?

What is the definition of a pure heart?  Psalm 24:4 says “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully,. ..”

• Not prone to vain things
• Is truthful
• Trust the Lord
• Does not lust
• Merry heart
• Meek and lowly
• Love God
• Singleness of heart
• Obey truth
• Love one another
• Stripped of pride
• Understanding
• Drawn out in prayer
• Ponder the words of Christ
• Believe
• Softened
• United with the brethren

 These are just a few words I gathered as I skimmed the Topical Guide under heart.  As I answer the question today, I need to ponder these thoughts to know if my own heart is really pure.  In so doing, I qualify to partake of the prescription for depression.  However, as I ponder this string of thoughts, I can’t help but wonder if there is a connection between having a pure heart and not knowing depression.  There’s the real question to ponder.

Believe in Christ

2 Nephi 32-33

I love the words of Nephi.  I love the Book of Mormon!  As I read, I marvel that anyone could read it and not understand with clarity what our responsibility is on this earth.  I didn’t have time to write when I read chapter 28.  I’ve written all over on the pages of this chapter.  This chapter is Satan’s playbook.   It tells us what we must do to avoid the trappings of Satan. 

Chapter 31 reminds us that we must “press forward with a steadfastness in Christ. . .(20)”  These are beautiful words giving us hope for what is to come – eternal life. 

Chapter 32 tells us how we can speak with the tongue of angels.  It’s rather simple.  Read the scriptures.  Make them a part of you and when you open your mouth, the Holy Ghost will bring to your remembrance the things you should say (v3).  Oh, how do angels speak?  I love what Brother Christensen, a speaker at Education Week, said: “They’re nice.”  Why are they nice?  They speak with the power of the Holy Ghost.

Verse 9 in Chapter 32 is my go to whenever I’m called upon to perform in any capacity.  Pray always . . .that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.”  It is so simple, yet such a powerful promise. 

The more I read the Book of Mormon, the plainer it becomes.  I don’t believe this is due to age and maturity, although it doesn’t hurt.  I believe it is the drops of oil spoken of in the Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25). 

So how do I apply today those things I have read this day?  I hope it is to deepen my desire to focus my life on my Savior.  That the things I say will bring glory to Him.  I hope it is to “carry on” in my efforts to live a life worthy of returning to my Heavenly Father and Savior.  Some days, reading solidifies or continues to solidify my resolve to live as a disciple of Christ.   

Rejoice in Christ!

2 Nephi 25

After several chapters of Isaiah’s writings, Nephi spends this chapter glorying in the plainness of Isaiah.  I’m getting better at understanding Isaiah, but it is still very hard for me.  But fear not!  There is a bottom line and I understand it quite clearly.  In 2 Nephi 25:26 we are told to talk of Christ, rejoice, preach, prophesy and write about Christ.  I can do that.  Why?  “. . .that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.”

I wrote next to sins “bondage”.  Sin is bondage.  You don’t have to observe much to come to this realization.  Once we sin, we begin to limit ourselves as to the things we are able to do.  It is a truth that cannot be argued.  How grateful I am for a Savior who has paid the price for my sins so I can change.  It is a real thing.  Anyone doubting it has not yet experienced it; but the Atonement is there for all of us.  Reach out.  Ask Heavenly Father for help.  He wants us to return to him.  We only need desire enough to make the changes he asks.  

Wo, wo, wo

2 Nephi 15

Nephi is still sharing Isaiah with us.  This chapter gives me chills and it is not hard to see he is talking about our day.

I love the first verse because it explains why there are so many beautiful hymns written about our Savior and His love for us.  I love to sing the songs of the church.

As I’m reading this entire verse, it is being seen through my daughter’s eyes.  The entire chapter screams her life, but I will mention v18 “Wo unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope”.  The deeper she goes, the heavier the burden.  The thrashing that is being done seems almost unbearable.  She calls evil good and good evil (v20).  Wo is mentioned at least six times (quick count).  What does wo mean?  The online dictionary says “intense grief or misery”.  That pretty much sums up what we’re able to see in her life.  Why or why is it so hard for a person sitting in such grief to see none other than himself or herself is generating it?  And yet in v25 it says “. . .but his hand is stretched out still.”  How is it stretched out?  Is it anger?  Is it in love?  Yes to both.

Heavenly Father must grieve terribly to see his children messing up so badly.  He’s given us this beautiful gospel to guide us home to him.  And yet some say “I don’t believe it”.  What is so hard about believing we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and wants us to return home?  What is so hard about viewing His family as we would view our own small families?  He has patterned the family after his own.   We long to be with our family.  Even my daughter wants to be with family; but it is so painful because we have something she wants.  What she doesn’t understand is that the only have to have what we have is to embrace the truth that family and gospel are the same. 

Dare I even post this?  These are the feelings of my heart.