Once again I have taken my sweet ol' time to write a new post. During that span of time quite a bit has happened. Christ has come and gone to visit other of God's children. The title of 'Lamanite' and 'Nephite' were gone; everyone was equal and all were faithful followers of Christ. Now 300+ years have passed away and not only have the people begun to distinguish themselves once again but they have also become a very wicked and idolatrous people. They have many wars amongst themselves and the Lamanites overcome the Nephites because of their greatness in number and because of the Nephites wickedness. In Mormon 6 we learn of the utter destruction of the people of Nephi. I cannot even comprehend the amount of people killed in this single battle-23 captians all fallen each leading an army of 10,000! After this battle there are literally 24 Nephites left (not including the deserters). TWENTY FOUR!!! That is insane! Especially when previously they could not be numbered because their number was like unto the sands of the sea! Can you imagine being in Morom's place: witnessing the entire destruction of the people you love so much. Though they were wicked just as the Lamanites were at that time, they were still his brothers and sisters and he still loved them despite their hardened hearts.
He says "...I had led them, notwithstanding their wickedness I had led them many times to battle, and had loved them, according to the ^alove of God which was in me, with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them;..." (Mormon 3:12). "And my soul was rent with ^aanguish, because of the slain of my people, and I cried: ^aO ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you! Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I ^amourn your loss. O ye ^afair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have ^bfallen! But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return" (Mormon 6:16-20).
I implore you, let us learn from these stories and deny ourselves of pride which is Satan's greatest tool. Let us repent NOW and come unto Christ Now, that we may recieve the many rich and wonderful blessings the Lord has in store for us while we are still here on the earth. Let us now live as we know we should so that those left after us don't look to our deaths and say "O that ye had repented before this great ^adestruction had come upon you. But behold, ye are gone, and the Father, yea, the Eternal Father of heaven, ^bknoweth your state; and he doeth with you according to his ^cjustice and ^dmercy" (Mormon 6:22). "O be ^awise; what can I say more" (Jacob 6:12)?

:( Alma is almost over!

Ok so its been a minute since I've written and I just want to touch on a few things that stood out to me as I have been reading the last few weeks. Soo much good stuff! Where to start...ok so kind of tying it back into my last post; Moroni prepared his people and it worked. But he didn't stop there. The next chapters (48-55ish) are filled with how Moroni continued to strengthen and fortify the people. I love this because he had found something that worked and that protected them from the Lamanites and yet he continued to prepare because he knew that his people could & must become stronger. He understood that preparation is not simply a one time thing but something that must be continued like enduring to the end, but not just enduring but enduring well. So just because we've prepared ourselves (against Satan, temptations, weaknesses, our enemies/anything that will/can keep us from God) and succeeded once doesn't mean we're good to go or should be content. But that we must continue to prepare/strengthen and fortify ourselves against the enemy. Always staying two or three steps ahead. Being content is a false sense of security and a dangerous state of being. -Random tangent: Satan tries to lull us into a sense of security and contentment because it keeps us from progressing. When we are 'content where we're at' we've stopped our progression and are missing out on things that the Lord is simply waiting to bless us with. So if we feel content with the knowlege and other things that we have (spiritual) something is wrong and we need to take another look and change something.

Ah too much I want to say and not enough time to say it all!!! Um...Moroni is AmAzInG! LoVe him! Alma 48:16-17!

Helaman and his army (the 2000 stripling worriars) so amazing! Their faith, dilligence and commitment to be obedient is phenomenal and as you read chapters 56-58 you will see just how blessed they are for that faith and obedience. They are described as not doubting, having exceeding faith, great faith, fixed determination and more. They are amazing.

I love the scriptures! I learn so much from them as I read them and study them with prayer. I am so grateful to the Lord and 'His great goodness'! I wish I could say more but as I said time is not on my side. Have a wonderful day!!

Satan is tricky but he's not all that. Today in my studies I was reading in Alma 43. This chapter is mainly talking about the war between the Lamanites and Nephites but it is sooo good! Someone once said if you're looking for an action book or a story such as 'Lord of the Rings', the Book of Mormon is the place to find it! So true! I love it! A verse that stuck out to me today is verse 24 "...the armies of the Lamanites were marching round about in the wilderness, that they might come over into the land of Manti, that they might commence an attack upon the weaker part of the people..." In an earlier verse it talks about how the Lamanites were too afraid of the Nephites to face them head on so instead they tried to take the pansy way and aim for they're weak spots. It didn't work. -Because the Nephites had the Lord on their side. They relied on Him and were given strength and the ability to know what to do. Satan does exactly as the Lamanites did to us each day. He knows our weaknesses and he knows how to use them against us but as we rely on the Lord as did the Nephites he will have no power over us and our weaknesses will be made strong (D&C, Book of Mormon, Bible).
This chapter is so good I love Captain Moroni and his ability to inspire and strengthen his armies through being an example and relying on the Lord and being prepared. Read this chapter (book) with this question in mind 'how can this relate to me in my life right now/today?' as you do I promise inspiration will come through your reading and praying.
Sometimes its hard/impossible to learn anything if we go in reading the scriptures with an attitude of 'these things (ex. wars, genealogy, etc.) have no application to me' or 'I'm just reading to read and to be obedient'. Thats not what we were given these precious record for. We were given them to learn and to strengthen our faith in Christ through reading the words and applying them to our lives. The Book of Mormon is so amazing and no matter how many times we have or will read it we can learn new things each time. -Because each time we read it we are at a different point in our life and the teaching bring on new meaning and application. I LOVE this book and I know it is meant for everyone despite race, nationality, and circumstances. It is centered on Jesus Christ and His Gospel and He and His Gospel do not discriminate nor leave anyone behind. He loves each of us and showed that love through His sacrifice and atonement for us.
In the name of Our Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

I lOvE Alma! Why are we here? What is the purpose of this life? How can a faith in Jesus Christ help me? These are just the tip of the ice burg of questions to the soul answered throughout The Book of Mormon. Yesterday I was reading in Alma 34 and it talks about why we are here. I love the lines "...now is the time and the day of your salvation" (vs. 31). "...this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity..." (vs. 34).  "this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors" (vs. 33). So why are we here? Well it tells us right there! I love that chapter!

Today I was reading in Alma 36 and I LoVe this chapter too! This chapter talks about how a faith in Christ can and will help us if we allow it to. In this chapter Alma is talking to his son Helaman. He shares an experience he had earlier in his life when he came to know Christ and was "born of God". He shares the exquisite joy and peace that came from accepting Jesus Christ and allowing the healing power of the Atonement to take place in him. I love how he describes his experience; "I ^dremembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world. Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, ^ahave mercy on me, who am ^bin the ^cgall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting ^dchains of ^edeath. And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my ^apains ^bno more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more. And oh, what ^ajoy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy" (Alma 36:17-21).

Our faith in the Savior brings joy, peace, love, and the ability to be forgiven. We can repent. We can overcome and be forgiven for our sins! I have felt the amazing powers of the Atonment work in my life. I have felt that forgiveness and cleansing power. It is real. I know that our Savior truly did live and die for me, and for you. He truely has felt everything each of us has ever has and will go through-each temptation, each pain, each sorrow, each sickness, everything (Alma 7:11-12 vs. 13 is a good one too!). He made it possible for us to return and live with our Father in Heaven. And why did he do it? "...that he may know according to the flesh how to ^csuccor his people according to their infirmities" (Alma 7:12). I love the definition of succor-to run to. He did it so that he would know exactly how to comfort and help each of us. I love Him so much! I love His gospel and I absolutely love the scriptures and the many many things they teach me each day! I love serving the Lord and just as Alma "...I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste" (Alma 36:24)! That is why I am here serving the people in Florida for 18 months. That is why when I return home I will never cease to share what I know about my Savior and His love with everyone around me. I love this work! I love my Savior and I love my God. I say these things in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

With all Diligence

Today's post will be short and sweet! I was reading in Mosiah 7 today and I absolutely LOVE this verse!: "But if ye will ^aturn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all ^bdiligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage." Bondage can be a spiritual bondage, a temporal bondage or anything that is holding us back and keeping us from progressing and returning to our Father in Heaven. Don't let life get you down. Trust Him. He knows what He is doing and what we need. He loves us and will not give us anything that we cannot handle (1 Nephi 3:7).
Turn to Him and he will help you in all your endeavors as long as they are righteous. I love this work and I love my Savior and Father in Heaven sooooo much! Have an AmAzInG day!!!

Testimony

Today I would just like to bear my testimony.

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is Jesus Christ's church on the earth today. It has been restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith who was called of God and given the Priesthood authority to do so. I know that we have a living Prophet on the earth today, just as in Bible and Book of Mormon times, his name is Thomas S. Monson and he has been called of God. I know that my Father in Heaven is there. I know that he is aware of EVERYTHING that I (and all of you) have and have yet to experience. I know He loves me and is waiting for me to return home to Him. I know that my Savior Jesus Christ lives and that he atoned for each of us, individually, so that we could return to our Father's presence. I love my family more than anything and I am so grateful to know that I can be with them for all eternity. I love this Gospel. It has brought so much joy and happiness into my life. I am inexpressibly grateful for the opportunity I have to share what I know with my brothers and sisters so they too can have this joy in knowing.

I know these things to be true and I know the Book of Mormon and the Bible are from God and that they support one another and teach us of the things we must do to return to live with our families and our Father in Heaven. I am grateful God loves us enough to share these sacred records with us and to continue to give us modern day revelation through the Apostles and Prophets to guide us back to Him. I know and I so testify in the name of my beloved brother and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

How Strong is Your Faith?

Oh if only we all had the faith of Enos! He hears the voice of the Lord and is fogiven of all of his sins. When he asks the Lord how it is made possible the Lord says: ^"aBecause of thy ^bfaith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen...thy faith hath made thee ^cwhole" (vs. 8). His faith in Christ causes him to have great love for his brethren and he desires for their welfare-even those who are his enemies. He wants to please the Lord and he "knows". Do I know?

Every time I read this chapter is always think 'how strong is my faith?' Is it sufficiently and continually strong enough that I too have the promise given to Enos by the Lord? -"Whatsoever thing ye shall ask in faith, believing that ye shall receive in the name of Christ, ye shall receive it" (vs. 15).

We should each, each day strive to increase and strengthen our faith in our Savior Jesus Christ and our loving Father in Heaven. As we do so we too like Enos will "rejoice in the day when [our] ^cmortal shall put on ^dimmortality, and [we] shall stand before him; then shall [we] see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto [us]: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the ^emansions of my Father" (vs. 27).
I love the scriptures! I especially love the Book of Mormon. I love the testimonies which fill its pages and I love the great examples we can learn from and the lessons that are taught. I love my Father in Heaven and am so grateful for the many things he puts in each of our lives to show His love for each of us. I know He loves me. I know He loves you.

God loves His children more than any earthly parent could.

Today I was reading in 2 Nephi 26, which talks about Christ ministering unto the Nephites. I love verse 24 which reads: "He doeth not ^aanything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he ^bloveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw ^call men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation." Our Saviors entire purpose and goal is and was to enable us to return to live with our Heavenly Father. As the Father and His son are one in purpose, our Father in Heaven doeth nothing save it be for our benefit as well. This is hard to remember when we see all of the suffering in the world, when we feel like everything around us is falling apart, and when our tedious life planning completely and slowly unravels; But it is all part of a much greater 'life plan' and part of our learning and experience here on this earth. We shouldn't be so concerned as to why its happening but more how we deal with what is happening. Are we helping those that may have less or who are suffering as much as we can? Are we taking the trials that come into our paths or the unseen turns in our plans and making them into something positive, into something to overcome and learn from? When we "^acheerfully ^bdo all things that lie in our power;... then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the ^csalvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed" (D&C 123:17).
We may not know all the whys or be able to paint in our minds the magnitude of God's love and plan for us but we can strive to make the most of things. When in those times of uncertainty or when we are in the darkest abyss that is when we have the potential to grow the most. That is when we have the ability to put all of our trust in the Lord and feel His love more than at any other time in our lives.
Our Savior, Jesus Christ and our Father in Heaven love us. That is all we need to know. Now just put your faith and trust in them, do your very best, learn, and find what God has in store for you.
Also read D&C 121, 122, 123

Jesus Christ: the chief corner stone of our religion.

Today I was reading in 2 Nephi 25 in the Book of Mormon. The prophet Nephi teaches plainly and prophesies of our Savior's coming and crucifixion. One of my favorite verses is verse 26, "And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, [and] we prophesy of Christ..." Everything we do and teach in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is centered on and around our Savior Jesus Christ and his Gospel (Ephesians 2:20). We must continually strive to center our own lives upon his teachings and by doing so strengthening our faith and relationship with him.
I know that Jesus Christ knows each of us personally and had felt every single thing I have ever felt and experienced. He suffered for you, me, and everyone who ever has or ever will live on this earth. I love him and I am continually grateful for his love, comfort, and help. I say these things in his name, even Jesus Christ, Amen.