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. 

Pathway Progress

         I have not updated my blog in a while.  Okay, almost 3 years.  Many things have happened, we’ve been blessed to have another beautiful little girl, and we are in Arizona, and we are very happy.  One other new item is that I am going back to school.  I chose to use the pathway program through the LDS church education system, and part of my class is to write about what I am learning, and share it on a website or a blog for others to read.  If you would like more information feel free to contact me!

This week in my religion class we are reading in 1^st Nephi chapters 15-22.  There is a lot that happens in those chapters, and it helped me tremendously to use the institute student manual, but here is what I took from this week’s readings.  In 1^st Nephi chapter 19: 21-24 Nephi explains why he is writing and recording all of these things of a spiritual nature.  He is writing to his people in an effort to persuade them to follow Christ, and remember Him.

         In verse 23 Nephi says after trying to persuade his people to believe in Christ WHY he is reading them the books of Moses and Isaiah.  

         “For I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.”

This is the meat and potatoes of what I learned from the readings this week.  I am not supposed to go through the motions of reading and robotically recite what I read.  I am meant to read, and then think how this can help me in my life.  I am to ponder on the things that I have read, and learn from them.  Whether that be following a righteous example, or a cautionary tale about Laman and Lemuel, and how to avoid their downfall. I think the thing that I loved most about this is something I wasn’t expecting.  Later in chapter 20 Nephi talks about the ‘furnace of afflictions’.  I loved his example of how he had suffered many tribulations and afflictions, and yet still through all of it he expressed his gratitude to the Lord for the things he did have.  If we liken these scriptures to ourselves, the way I see it is this:
Nephi went through some hard stuff.  I have been through some hard stuff.  I know everyone has.  If I apply Nephi’s example to my life I gain an understanding of a few things:

1.    I am not alone in going through hard things.  I don’t need to feel alone.  My Savior is there for me always, AND there is a pretty awesome dude in the scriptures who would get it too.

2.   An attitude of gratitude can literally CHANGE my perspective on what I am going through, and even if I can’t make sense of why in that moment, I know that through the furnace of my afflictions I will be made stronger if I rely on my Heavenly Father. 

3.   The more obedient and faithful I am during times of trials will bring peace and comfort in those difficult moments.  

 I hope the insights I've had in my own life have helped you in some way.  I know this life is hard, but we don't need to go it alone.  Negativity drives away the spirit, and even in hard times, He is there to help us though. I know that this is true.  My Savior has been there for me in my darkest hours, and I feel His love for me every day.  I know you can too.

I am really excited to share what I have been learning.  Pathway is an inspired program that four weeks in I can already see amazing progress in my own life.  I wasn’t expecting it, but I am so grateful for it.

Love-

Rachael

Here's what our brood looks like lately.