I will Follow the Lord

2 Nephi 18

I read this chapter this morning from my iPad hoping to remember some of the things I have written in my scriptures. I did okay, but it still seems to be written in code. Those sentences that I do understand seem to drop off without completion.

I understand that v3 where it says “Call his name Maher-shalai-hash-baz” is another type of Jesus Christ. I don't understand why. I just wrote it from “Understanding Isaiah”.

The one thought that I might be able to really understand is v9 where it says “Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces. . .” Associate with what? The adversary. Counsel together and it won't be good either. Strategies are useless, is what I wrote in the margins. We must not walk in the ways of people but in the ways of the Lord, receiving counsel from him; teaming with him.

Apologies. I know the Lord is my light and it is his laws I will keep. That will have to suffice until I'm more spiritually mature enough to understand Isaiah who says he writes plainly. Really?

Comfort in Serving

2 Nephi 16 & 17

Isaiah is still being quoted. Chapter 16 prophesies of the coming of Christ. Chapter 17 talks about the waring in the last days.

It continues to be a struggle for me to understand these chapters and that makes me sad. However, I get the gist of what it is I'm reading because of a few phrases I've been told to watch for in the Book of Mormon and specifically these Isaiah chapters. When we read “in that day”, it is speaking about the last days – our days. Chapter 17 is talking about the wars that will be waged in the latter days.

As I am reading this morning, I noticed that the Lord (Vs 18) shall “hiss” for the fly and the bee. Now these are pretty small and somewhat insignificant creatures, yet they are who the Savior calls to fight the battle. They come and are sent to desolate valleys. Could this mean missionaries are sent to far away countries to preach the gospel? I'm guessing.

I'm sad I'm not better at this, but I will say this much. The more I read it, the more I think I might understand. I actually read Chapter 17 twice this morning. Once on my iPad and once out of my scriptures which have markings from classes I've taken and when I used my “Understanding Isaiah” book. Although there is much I miss, I do understand that the last days – our days – are going to be filled with war among nations and within nations. Such a comforting thought. NOT! The real comfort comes in staying on the Lord's errand.   

Just as a footnote.  When I post each day, I notice someone is looking at these posts.  Oh how I wish I could get a conversation going.  Am I making any sense?  Or is this nonsense?  I know (or at least I think) I have a brother and mother who check in regularly.  But there are more.  Let me know who you are.

Temple brings peace in the last days

2 Nephi 14 & 15

The entire gist of these two chapters is the judgments that will come upon those wicked who reject the words of the Lord and make their own laws. Where is the comfort for those who keep the laws and have loved ones who do not? It is only in the covenants we have made in the temples of the Lord and the promises that are given if we are faithful. It will be tough for those who reject the gospel. But I know the Lord has a plan. I can only stay focused on that thought.   

Countenance witnesses against the wicked

2 Nephi 12 & 13

I obviously move through Isiah chapters a little differently. I have writing in the margins so small I can't read them now. But as I read, I get the gist of what I'm reading. In the last days, things are going to be pretty tough. In many ways, those days are now. However these two chapters don't specifically talk about the calamities in the world but rather the decadence of the people of the world – even of Zion. In Chapter 13 it talks specifically about the women and their clothing, fine linens, etc. It definitely gives the reader cause to pause. Am I the subject? Is it I?

Verse 9 says “. . .their countenance doth witness against them. . .” This is a verse I think of often. I know we aren't to judge others. It is very difficult when you see a person apostatizing from the gospel and you can see it in their eyes first, then it begins to show in their very appearance. The interesting thing is that those of the world see it and don't know what is happening. When you have the Holy Ghost, you know what's happening when you see it and it sad.

I will never forget when I was turning my life around and embracing righteousness. I was in the work place and not all knew what was going on in my life. Those who knew me but not my personal life would come up and ask me if I had cut my hair. Had I lost weight? Had I changed my makeup? Of course, the answer was no. I knew at this time what was different. It was fun for me as well and interesting to watch it happen in the lives of others as well since then.

My soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord

2 Nephi 11

Nephi is now the author. He delights in the scriptures. He saw the Savior as well as Jacob and many others have testified of seeing him. His delight is in proving the truth of the coming of Christ. I had to smile when I read that. When Chase was on his mission, that was his joy as well. He loved to prove the truthfulness of the gospel.

I particularly came to attention when I read v5 because if is somewhat the theme for our single stake's ward conferences this year. “. . .my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord. . .” As I have pondered this theme for weeks, I find that I too find delight in the covenants. As I struggle with the course of a wayward child, it is almost more than I bear. Then I do an endowment and hear the promises that are made through my keeping of the covenants and I somehow find comfort that things will work out. I don't know how. I see such entanglement in sin and destructive behavior that I wonder just how the Lord can fix this. But I have faith that I did what I covenanted to do as a parent. We taught the gospel to our children. We taught them about the atonement and that they have a Heavenly Father and a Savior who will be there for them. Because of this, I know somehow at some time, she will reach out and beg for forgiveness. It may not be in this life. I understand that too. I don't understand exactly how, but I understand it is not over until the judgment day.

Yes, I find delight in the covenants of the Lord. His promises are sure. He has shown this to me in so many ways. It is up to me to keep the covenants I have made – to attend the temple often to renew those covenants. Interesting that as we get older and our children need those blessings, there seems to be more time – or at least a higher priority – for just that. For this I am grateful.

And tomorrow I begin the Isaiah chapters. Each time I reach this point, it becomes easier and I understand more though I wonder if I'll ever be able to explain it to anyone else. Isaiah was an interesting man in his writings. I find it interesting that he said he wrote plainly for those who had the spirit of the Lord to understand. I pray each time I read these chapters that the Lord will bless me with that spirit to understand.

Gems missed

2 Nephi 10

A few gems I missed. The last few days I've read my scriptures from my iPad. The advantage is that I have have my scriptures nearly anywhere I go. The disadvantage is I miss some of the “gems”. One is 2 Nephi 9:39. SMILE=Spiritually Minded is Life Eternal. I love that thought. Those who have their focus on the Lord, doing His work here on earth and keeping the commandments DO smile more than those who are, as Jacob puts it in chapter 10:24, yield to the will of the devil and the flesh.

This is the first time I've thought about it. The devil and flesh are used in the same breath. Why? The devil never has had a body of flesh. Yet he knows the weakness of the human family. It is the flesh! As I look at it, nearly any sin I can think of is a fleshy one. Drinking, drugs, pornography, sex outside of marriage – the list goes on. That was just an interesting thought to me this morning.

Going back to the SMILE, in Ch10, v23 it says: “. . .cheer up your heart. . .” The Lord wants his people to be happy. Last night in the temple a member of the presidency spoke to us before our endowment session. He mentioned several references to “resting upon the Lord”. What is that rest? It is the peace/rest we find by keeping our covenants in an upside-down world. The world is whacked and it's not going to get better. In fact, prophecy tells us that the world will be worse then Sodom and Gomorrah before the Savior returns. We can see it is headed in that direction, yet those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ and hold strong to the covenants they have made with the Lord and prepare for his coming, somehow find peace/rest and manage to have joy in the gospel. It is an amazing thing.

How do I apply this to myself this morning. Well, the last few days I have let myself dwell on the self destruct of a precious daughter. I know I need to give it to the Lord. I can't fix it and it isn't mine. He will work his miracle with her just as he did with me. I need to find rest in that belief and focus my attention into building his kingdom as I have covenanted to do. I will say that I actually asked the Lord to take this one from me last night. I've done this before, but I for some reason decided to take it back. This is not a good thing. I gave it back to Him and I will move forward. I can love without being consumed in the poor choices of someone else.

O the goodness of God!

2 Nephi 9

O how great the goodness of our God! This is from verse 10. This entire chapter lays out the joy of righteous living verses the consequences of going contrary to the teaching of Christ. One would be wise to study this chapter very carefully. I don't think it's going to be a lot of fun on judgment day when you come before the Savior and have wasted your life.

Satan is described as a monster in v10. Certainly that is a good description. He plays havoc on the lives of those who cannot bring themselves to keep the covenants they have made with God. This whole chapter is so very real to me given the overtime I spend worrying about a wayward daughter. I can see the clutches Satan has on her, and can only envision the miracle that hopefully will take place at some future day that will save her from the life she is creating, which is no life. “. . . wo unto him that has the law given, yea, that has all the commandments of God like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation, for awful is his state!” v27 This is not comforting to a parent of a wayward child, but very clear. I know the Lord will not tolerate sin in any degree. There is only one way out, and that is through accepting Christ as your Savior and Redeemer and turning to him for help. It is doable; but it is hard work. Why is it so hard? Because the chains of Satan are so very strong. As miserable as life is, habits are not easily broken. But this I know. It can be done.

But let's not focus only on the sadness of the judgment. Jacob also warns us not to spend money for that which is of no worth, nor your labor for that which cannot satisfy. Come unto the Holy One and feast upon that which perisheth not (v51). I love the words used in the verse: feast, fatness. In our mortal condition, these are frightening words. However, in coming unto Christ, the more we feast on his words, the fatter we get – the kind of fat that we should all seek after.

Okay, so how does this apply to me today? Does it bring me comfort. Yes and no. I will never stop being concerned for my children. The world is so evil. How I pray every day that they (and I) will embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ to save themselves from the awfulness described in this chapter. Is that all I can do? Love them. Love them as the Savior has loved me. But not tolerate their evil behaviors in my own life. And that is the challenge.