I have recently chosen to return to school and am starting the BYU Idaho Pathway program. I will be blogging what I am learning to see how I grow. I also have a Becoming Project and have chosen the attribute humble, to search for as I read, to be more like Christ. I will share my insight and feelings as I read with becoming more humble in mind.
This week we studied in 1 Nephi 1-5. I loved learning about the study skill, Principles and Doctrine. As I read I asked myself, "So what?" as in what will I do now with this information that has been given to me. As I daily studied and reflected on these passages several parts touched me that I'd like to share. Nephi shares the story of his family and how they came to leave the land they had always lived in and loved. I could relate with our difficult move four years ago from the city our children had grown up in, known and loved for thirteen years. He is the younger brother and listens as his father, the prophet Lehi, tells of coming destruction. Lehi prays and the Lord warns him of the destruction of Jerusalem with visions and dreams. Lehi tries to warn Jerusalem that their wickedness will have them destroyed if they don't repent. This endangers his life and his family. The Lord tells Lehi in a dream to "take his family and depart into the wilderness." (1 Nephi 2:3) He is obedient and takes his family.
I loved reading that Nephi prays to know for himself. I have always loved the counsel given by
Joseph Smith that we cannot endure on borrowed light; if we do not have
self-light, we will not stand. (See Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp.
11-12.)
I feel a great urgency to make sure my self-light is strong and
sure.
Nephi tells us "when the Jews heard
these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old,
whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life,
that they might take it away. But behold, I Nephi, will show unto
you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen,
because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."
That last sentence is powerful to me.
As we have faith we can be the chosen who receive these tender mercies
from the Lord, if we need, even to the power of deliverance. There are many tough challenges in our family
that I hope for deliverance from. Starting
with my own pride and attitude sometimes, to the difficult emotional and
physical challenges within our family daily.
Elder David A Bednar tells us
that tender mercies are “very personal and
individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance,
loving-kindnesses, consolation, support and spiritual gifts which we receive
from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ.” (David A. Bednar,
“The Tender Mercies of the Lord,” Liahona, May 2005, 99–102) I loved the insight this gave into many
mercies I receive but hadn’t realized.
One of the examples I loved studying this week was of Sariah,
Lehi’s wife. They have lived in
Jerusalem all their lives. Lehi is
instructed by the Lord to warn Jerusalem and then to preserve his life must
take his family and leave. They leave
all comforts and the home and life they love behind. They travel around two weeks to get to a safe
place for their family and then are instructed to go back to get the record of
the people and the gospel. Sariah has
faith in God but trusts her husband enough that she lets her four sons go back
when she knows they aren’t getting along.
They are gone longer than expected and I felt she was heartbroken and
thinks her sons have been killed. As I
watched her joy at their return and praise to God I see her grow and her faith
grow. What a tender mercy that God is
patient with a sorrowing mother and brings her sons home. I love how God works in my life and is
patient with me, even when I sometimes murmur as Laman and Lemuel did. I am working on seeing the tender mercies in
my life. Will you join me?
