In the Darkness Christ Proclaims. . .

As I read the heading for Chapter 9 of 3^rd Nephi, it hit me like a brick.  The Nephites have been in darkness for three days.  For three days they haven’t dared to move because the layout of the land has changed.  They had no way of knowing if this was going to be their lot until what?  Death?  Or maybe this was hell and the eternal fire and brimstone that had been taught.  How could they know what their future held?

This is a very interesting scenario to me and very easy to relate to.   If we turn away from our Savior and righteous living, we can be guaranteed we are in darkness.  It is cold and dark in that place – maybe not as literal as the Nephites had it, but it is nonetheless.  It is in this darkness – when it becomes dark enough, that the Savior speaks to us, and we are finally ready to listen.  If we’re smart enough, we go to our bishop and ask for help to get out of this dark place so we can hear the Lord’s voice.  Our bishops are inspired to help us on this path and we will eventually see the Lord’s hand in the process.  Just like the Nephites heard the Savior’s voice three times and didn’t have a clue what they heard, the third time they did “look steadfastly towards heaven from whence the sound came. . .” (3 Nephi 11:5).  I got a little ahead of myself for this.  I guess that happens when you’ve read the Book of Mormon a few times. 

And this is where I am hanging my faith for a daughter who is in total darkness and so very cold, frightened and miserable.  I know eventually she will be miserable enough to reach out for help.  I pray with all my heart she will remember the Family Home Evening lessons we’ve had on repentance.  I pray that like Alma the younger, she too will remember the Savior’s power to save.  I pray she will listen and obey the promptings.  In this I am no different than any other parent who watches the speedy destruction of a child who had such promise.  

Do I believe? How?

Do I believe?  

Two questions Alma asked the people in Alma 33 when they were upset because they were not allowed to worship in the building they had built:

Alma asked the people if they believe in God?

How do they worship him?

Do you believe the scriptures?

In reading Alma 33 we are told by Alma that if we believe in God, and believe in the scriptures, that we must also believe that God hears and answers our prayers.  Then he tells us that we should pray at all times – in our infirmities, trials, as well as when things are going well.  He told them it is not necessary to have a church building in which to worship, but that our closets and our secret places can be as effective. 

What assurances do I have that this is true?  Experience!  As I have implemented the counsel Alma gives, I too know that God hears and answers our prayers.  Does he always answer them in the way I desire or as soon as I would wish?  No.  But I know they will be answered.  I know when we are serving others and we pray for guidance in how to serve, we are given that guidance.  How?  Experience.  As Alma preaches in a most beautiful way in Alma 32, if you have so much as a tiny seed, plant it.  Compare the “word” (scriptures) to a seed.  If it is good, it will grow.  (Alma 32:28)

Formula for Success

Preach my Gospel took me to the story of Nephi and his commandment to build a ship.  Again, the instructions were to consider what the story teaches about the nature of inspiration. 

What the Lord did	What the Nephi did
Wakes Nephi and tells him to go to the mountain	Arose and went up into the mountain and prayed
Told him to build a ship
Showed Nephi how to build the ship	Nephi asked where to go to find the materials to build the ship
The Lord told him where to go	Nephi made bellows, made fire
The Lord was all the light they needed in the wilderness	Kept commandments; exhorted brethren to do same
	Made tools,
	They worshiped the Lord
	They made work of curious workmanship.
The Lord showed from time to time what to do.	Nephi went into the mount often to pray
Lord showed Nephi great things
Lord told Lehi, the father, that it was time to go into the ship	They went as families and their individual provisions down into the ship.

This story gives a clear formula for accomplishing the things the Lord asks us to do.  We know that Nephi had always been praying.  The Lord awoke him one night and told him to go up into the mountain.  He obeyed, and received instruction to build a ship.  He asked the Lord how to do this.  The Lord showed him.  Nephi immediately got to work making the tools to make the ship.  The workmanship was unlike that of man, but truly inspired.  From time to time the Lord gave him additional instructions as Nephi went into the mountains to pray.  Curious to me that the Lord then gave Lehi, his father and prophet, the command to go into the ship once it was complete. 

What does this teach me about inspiration? 

• Continually pray to Heavenly Father for guidance in my life.
• When I’m woke up in the middle of the night for whatever reason, consider this my call to listen to what the Lord might be telling me.
• Ask how to accomplish the task, whatever it is.
• Listen.
• Don’t be afraid to do as I’m told.  Nephi had plenty of opposition from his brothers.  But he stayed strong and completed the task the Lord gave him.

The mountain in this story is a metaphor for the temple.  We must go back to the temple frequently for further instruction and inspiration on how to accomplish the tasks we’re given.  What is the most consistent “task”?  Our task is to raise a righteous family who will embrace gospel principles and raise their families in righteousness as well.  Where are we taught to do this?  We are taught how this is to be done in the temple (mountain of the Lord).

Boiled down it goes like this:

• Pray
• Listen
• Heed promptings to go to the temple
• Ask how
• Listen and Obey
• The Lord blesses