The Lord has a plan for me.

Helaman 9 – Nephi gives signs so the people will know he is a prophet.  Why would he do this? Matthew 12:39 says ". . . An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign;"  Maybe he knows he's dealing with an evil and adulterous generation.  Hmmmm.

His first sign was that he tells of the murder of the chief judge.  Then after the five who verified that the judge was indeed dead, he tells who the murderer is .  The people were amazed, but not all of them just because of Nephi’s words.  Some believed after hearing the testimony of the five who found the judge murdered.  (D&C 6:28 “. . . in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”)  In this story, the Lord allowed Nephi to give a sign.  At least in so doing, a prophet was preserved so he could do the Lord’s work.  His mission was not complete.

How does this apply to me?  Well, certainly it seems at times that some people’s lives are preserved when people all around them have been stricken with death, i.e. tsunamis, earthquakes, tornadoes, illness, car accidents, etc.  It is obvious to me that the Lord has a plan for each one of us, and we will remain on this earth until that plan is accomplished.  Of course, we have our agency and can choose to end our lives.  This would be a very tragic thing.  Aside from that thought, it is critical that when we are spared, or even when things get a little tough, that we remember the Lord does have a plan and that we are part of that plan.  The real question to ask is “What am I to learn from this experience?” 

Logic - God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Helaman 8 – Nephi speaks boldly to the people in spite of the fact the judges are trying to convince the people to capture him for speaking against them and their city.  (Cowardice leaders - very much like some we see today.)

What grabbed my attention was Nephi’s logic.  If God could give power unto Moses to do so much, then surely he could do the same for Nephi. (v12)

Also, he boldly testified of the coming of Christ and the joy past prophets had in His coming day.  As I read that, it occurred to me in all our preparations for His return at what looks to me to be a near future, we should be filled with this same Spirit of rejoicing because of “that which is to come.”  (v23)

Nephi points out evidence of the prophecies but then says, “ye have rejected the truth and rebelled against your holy God . . . heaping up for yourselves wrath against the Day of Judgment.”

I will apply Nephi’s logichere as well.  Those who reject the words of the prophets and rebel against God today can surely expect this same judgment.  You can deny it all you want, but this we know:  God is the same today, yesterday and forever. (1 Nephi 10:18)

Ramp it up!

Helaman 7 – This chapter has always made me curious.  Nephi returns home because he’s rejected wherever he goes.  He prays in his garden – out loud – and is apparently quite visible.  People gather to hear his mourning.  Why would they not listen when he was preaching?  And why would he pray where and in such a way as to gain a crowd?  To me, prayer is a private time with my Heavenly Father.  With the exception of couple prayer, I’m quiet – even if I speak audibly, which I sometimes do.

Nephi, when he realizes he has an audience, tells them of their wickedness and impending danger if they don’t repent.

I don’t perceive that their wickedness exceeds that of our nation currently.  It doesn’t sound like they have evil politicians bent on carnal exhibitions, per se.  Our nation’s leaders are disgusting (some), and the entertainment world is even worse.  I was thoroughly disgusted with Christina Agulara last night.  She left nothing to the imagination.  And everything out of her mouth was disgusting!  The “world” seems quite okay with this type of display.  Surely the Lord is ready to show his power once more and we as a people are in danger.

What do I do?  I need to ramp up my relationship with the Lord to be worthy of his guidance and protection.  Food storage and personal preparedness for what the future holds is on that list as well.   

Work=Peace; Prosperity=Pride

Helaman 6 – The Lamanites become righteous and the Nephites become wicked.  How does this happen so quickly?  Verse 2 says they were impenitent, grossly wicked, and rejected the word of God and prophecy.  All this was happening at a time when the Lamanites and Nephites were actually getting along.  Then the Nephites prospered and became rich.  Ooooh, a four-letter word!  Work=Peace as far as verses 11-12 indicate; but they became so blessed that they “set their hearts upon their riches”.  Prosperity=Pride

I have a sticky note on this page “The moment we revolt at anything which comes from God, the devil takes power.” Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith.  The Nephites began to “trample under their feet the commandments of God”.  Once this begins in any of our lives, it is a speedy downhill slope to wickedness because of the withdrawal of the Spirit.  The Spirit somehow helps us to see more clearly.  When you lose the Spirit, you are left to your own wisdom which is poor because Satan has taken over, and you wander in darkness.

Once the Lamanites converted, they were strong because they remembered their sorry state (aka blindness).  This is why it is so critical that we read daily from the scriptures and keep our cups full of spiritual nourishment. 

How does this apply to me today?  Keeping my cup full has become much easier.  Now it is my time to influence others for good.  That is the challenge.  But I do remember the dark and wicked world I came from and I do these things that there is never the risk of returning there.  It was miserable!  Maybe this is why the Lamanites were stronger.  They remembered how miserable they were and did not want to risk going back there.  The Nephites did not have this memory.  Perhaps this explains why so many of our young people fall away from the gospel teachings.  They don’t remember because there is nothing to remember.  This is why it is critical that they develop their faith while they are young.