Patience is a Virtue.

First off, I would like to publicly admit something that I am proud of, but is also embarrassing at the same time.  It’s time to air out the shame.  This is officially the furthest I have read in the book of Mormon in the shortest amount of time since I graduated high school in 2001.  There it is. 

This week we were finishing up in the book of Mosiah, and launching into the marathon.  The book of ALMA.  I don’t know why, but I have this mental block with Alma.  It is super intimidating, so I am publicly stating this: This year in Pathway, I will completely read the book of Alma.  I read somewhere that if you write it down, it will happen.  So it’s happening.

I really enjoyed the first seven chapters of Alma this week.  I have a lot of respect for Alma the Younger. To give you some background as to what is happening in chapter one, Mosiah doesn’t have anyone to pass his kingdom on to, and so he sets up what we know as ‘the reign of the judges’.  Basically to prevent there being an evil king who leads the people away from the church, he sets up a panel of men, chosen by the people, to carry out and enforce the rules.  Alma is the chief judge.  In the second year, we hit a bump.  The people who are not part of the church are beginning to persecute those who are in the church.  ‘Even to blows’ as the scriptures say in Alma 1:22.  Fighting in the streets, persecuting those who believed in Christ.  I like to think of it as if people really said face to face what they say or post on Facebook. This brings me to my main discussion point. 

 In Alma 1:25

Now this was a great trial to those that did stand fast in the faith; nevertheless, they were steadfast and immovable in keeping the commandments of God, and they bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them.
Alma 1:25

I feel like there have been several times in my life where I have felt persecuted because of my beliefs.  Especially lately.  It was made even more difficult that those who chose to tell me what I believed, and how I was living my life was not Christ like were actually my friends who used to be members of the church.  It was very confusing and hurtful.  However, this was a turning point for me.  I knew what I believed was true.  No amount of hurtful words or misconstrued ideas was going to change that.  I prayed and fasted, and feel like I was given an understanding into those who choose to persecute.  People often persecute what they don’t understand.  Let’s take it a step further.  A person who understands, or at one point understood true doctrine, could be desperately trying to make themselves feel right about doing wrong.  Thus trying to make you as miserable as they are.  Back to Alma 1:25-“ they bore with patience the persecution that was heaped upon them.”  I like to think that the Nephite people who were diligent in keeping God’s commandments were patient because they understood why those persecutors were so upset.  It changes your perspective.  I bet there was even some pity for those people who were trying to make the righteous’ lives harder.  I know I do.

Lessons Learned from King Benjamin

This week in pathway we are reading in Mosiah.  When King Benjamin addressed his people, there were several topics I found to be insightful.  In Mosiah 2:41 it reads:

“And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God.  For Behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness.  O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God has spoken it.”

I feel like anytime a prophet uses the words ‘remember, remember’ you know it is important.  What I liked most about this verse in particular was the ‘consider on the blessed and happy state of those who keep the commandments of God.’  Even in my own life, I can look back and see that the times when I was the happiest, were the times I was keeping the commandments.  

King Benjamin poses a thought provoking question.  It made me think of those people I know who I think are the happiest.  My Mother, my father, my grandmother, my husband, and my children are probably the happiest people I know.  My children, even with just learning the gospel in their young lives, are happy because of how they lead their lives.  They are kind and compassionate.  They love to laugh, to run and play, and spend time with those they love.  They explore the world with fresh eyes.  They are innocent, and with that comes joy.  I love teaching them because I can see how the commandments fit so naturally with how they live.  

As I have grown older, some commandments have been harder to keep than others.  I know this is natural.  However, even working on being better at keeping certain commandments has brought more happiness into my life.  It does bring blessings of the Spirit as well as temporal blessings.  I have seen this in my life.  I hope that you, whoever you are, will try to live by the commandments and see if your happiness improves. “Remember, Remember that these things are true.”

This week, In Pathway...

This week in my pathway religion class we are reading in 2^nd Nephi chapters 9-16.  The beginning of the Isaiah chapters.  (Insert overwhelmed, deer in the headlights look here.)  I love reading the scriptures, even reading Isaiah.  I feel like I am reading poetry.  Or Shakespeare.  As in I love how it sounds and I love to say it out loud, but in reality I am comprehending about 4.26% of what is being said.  I am happy to report that after utilizing this week’s study skill, symbolism, I was able to bump that number up a bit.  The key for me was understanding that I can’t rush though these chapters.  I had to slow it down.  Like, WAY down.  Looking up words, using those tiny letters by words to find other scriptures to help me understand what was being said, or to understand the context it was being used in.  Thinking after reading a verse, “What is he trying to say.  What can I liken this to in my own life”.  That helped a lot.  I felt like if I understood where he was coming from, and the situation he was in it, it would help me understand what he was talking about.  

My biggest takeaway this week was in the beginning of 2^nd Nephi 9:9.  

And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness 2 Nephi 9:9

In this particular passage Jacob is talking about the resurrection and how men will be judged according to their works.  I loved this scripture because I felt like it gave a great insight into the emotional state of Lucifer.  “to be shut from the presence of our God, and remain with the father of lies, IN MISERY, LIKE UNTO HIMSELF”.  Referring to Lucifer as the ‘father of lies’ is so fitting, because he tries, often succeeds in making sin look fun, desirable, and like it won’t hurt us at all.  But in reality, if we make that choice, and continue down a path of sin and unrighteousness, we will be miserable.  We will not know happiness, peace, love, comfort, forgiveness, and confidence through Satan.  This comes from seeking out a relationship with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.  I feel like in my own life, I have that friend who’s world is always falling apart.  It isn’t really, but she thinks her life is so much more miserable than anyone else’s, and will make it her job to let everyone know how miserable she is, thus making my time spend with her miserable.   This is Satan.  He is in a place that knows no happiness.  And Misery loves company.  Just like a friend who gossips and complains, leaving you feeling uncomfortable and emotionally drained, Satan wants me to feel like I am not good enough, or not deserving, or not strong enough to keep the commandments of God.  This is his lie.  Only through keeping the commandments will we be truly happy.  I love getting insights into Satan, because I feel like the more I know my enemy, the better I will be at defending myself and my family against him.  So thank you Jacob and Isaiah,
for that lovely peek into Satan’s existence.