For this weeks project, I have been applying what I've been learning in Book of Mormon to my other classes...
It has been hard to apply the things I am learning to some classes but one class that I love and can learn more from because of Book of Mormon is LDS Marriage and Family.
This class is so wonderful!! I am learning how to prepare myself for marriage by bettering myself! In this class I have applied the habits I have learned from Book of Mormon...journal writing and daily scripture study. It has helped me understand so much better the things my teacher is teaching me! Marriage is such an important part of this life and because of Book of Mormon and the things I learn every week, I am preparing myself better than I ever thought I could!
Another important thing I have taken from Book of Mormon and applied in my everyday life and school life, is listening to others' opinions. It is so important that we listen to each other because we all have important things to say and important views to share!! Heavenly Father loves us all for who we are and what we know and we as peers need to have that same respect for each other!!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Falling in Love
So for class today we were to read Alma 43-51...there is ALOT of intense stuff in these chapters!!
43 -- In this chapter I love the mercy given by Moroni! The Lord has shown Alma the strategies of the Lamanites and Alma informs Moroni. As Moroni's army surrounds them, the Lamanites are struck with fear and terror. When Moroni sees this he commands his men to stop shedding blood. I think it is so important for us to take this into our minds...not that we are going to be inflicting terror on others or killing them but just realize that there are people out there that don't know as we know and don't have guidance in their lives...in a sense they are terrified. We must share our knowledge and the pure love of Christ with them.
44 -- In this chapter Moroni commands that the Lamanites covenant to be peaceful or they will be destroyed...we all know what happened. I can't explain enough how important it is to listen to our church leaders! If we do not listen, as the Lamanites did not, WE WILL BE DESTROYED! It is scary to think about but so true!!
45 -- In this chapter, Helaman is converted and Alma prophesies to him of the destruction of the Nephites. I can't even imagine being Helaman in this situation!! Being told that your people are going to be destroyed but you can't tell anyone! It would be so scary! I don't even know what I would do!! It is also scary to think about how the Nephites were supposed to be the righteous ones...they became so wicked that they were destroyed! The Lord will stand by His people if they stand by Him...we need to remember that!
46 -- The title of liberty...so intense!! When I read about the title of liberty and what Moroni did...it literally gave me chills!! Today in class before we discussed this, we sang the Star Spangled Banner. I can't even show my appreciation for singing that song today! It put this whole chapter into such better perspective for me!! It is so important to stand up for what we believe in...no matter what happens!! If we do not stand up for our beliefs and for this church then what are we doing with our lives?? We are wasting time and the purpose we were put on this earth! How do you think Heavenly Father feels when we just sit back and say that it is someone else's problem? Or when people say to just leave them alone...it's their lives?? He is so sad that our world is what it is today! And that the members of this church just sit around and do nothing only makes it worse! From the manual a quote was given, it says (paraphrased) that evil only comes from good people doing nothing...how can we just sit around and let evil infest our world?? We need to make a stand and do what is right no matter what the reaction will be!!
47 -- In this chapter, the Nephite dissenters have become so wicked that they are worse than the Lamanites...this is incredible! It is more apparent in Joseph Smith's time of this happening than it is today...members would leave the church for some reason or another and become key reasons of the torment inflicted upon the saints and upon Joseph Smith. Satan is working so hard to get us to doubt what we believe...he will try anything to get us to falter even a little bit...we need to stay strong and not let the adversary lead us away!!
48 -- This chapter is so amazing! In it, Moroni is so excited to fight for liberty and freedom and he encourages others to do the same! It is so important that we fight for these things! The Lord gave us agency and freedom...no one can take that away from us! We need to fight for this for ourselves and others!!
49 -- Everyone knows that wicked people do stupid things...in this chapter Amalickiah does such things. Amalickiah is EVIL...he curses God and does horrible things to the church. HE IS SO STUPID!! Cursing God is probably the stupidest thing anyone could ever do...but he does! This is just an example of the things you shouldn't do...because he cursed God, he was slain...
50 -- The Book of Mormon is a great example of good conquering evil. In this chapter, Teancum defeats the wicked dissenters and saves the righteous people of the church. It is easy to see that if we are on the same side as God...we will have His help and can be saved!!
51 -- Back to Amalickiah...HE IS SO STUPID! Oh I just can't get over how dumb he really is!! He curses God and doesn't even realize that he just made the biggest mistake of his life!! Well in this chapter Teancum slays Amalickiah. I know we aren't supposed to rejoice when things like this happen but I was so happy!! I just can't believe someone can live in this world and see the things that God has given us and hear the teachings from His prophets and still deny Him!! It just baffles my mind that people can deny our Creator and still take advantage of all He has given us!! Oh I just wish that I could tell everyone how dumb they are!!
Ok so that was a VERY long post!! And, you are probably all wondering why I titled it Falling In Love...the more I read the scriptures I understand them so much more!! I can indeed say that I am falling in love with the scriptures and love having them in my life!! They are such a great blessing and they teach me so much about what I can do to prepare myself for the future and for eternity!!
43 -- In this chapter I love the mercy given by Moroni! The Lord has shown Alma the strategies of the Lamanites and Alma informs Moroni. As Moroni's army surrounds them, the Lamanites are struck with fear and terror. When Moroni sees this he commands his men to stop shedding blood. I think it is so important for us to take this into our minds...not that we are going to be inflicting terror on others or killing them but just realize that there are people out there that don't know as we know and don't have guidance in their lives...in a sense they are terrified. We must share our knowledge and the pure love of Christ with them.
44 -- In this chapter Moroni commands that the Lamanites covenant to be peaceful or they will be destroyed...we all know what happened. I can't explain enough how important it is to listen to our church leaders! If we do not listen, as the Lamanites did not, WE WILL BE DESTROYED! It is scary to think about but so true!!
45 -- In this chapter, Helaman is converted and Alma prophesies to him of the destruction of the Nephites. I can't even imagine being Helaman in this situation!! Being told that your people are going to be destroyed but you can't tell anyone! It would be so scary! I don't even know what I would do!! It is also scary to think about how the Nephites were supposed to be the righteous ones...they became so wicked that they were destroyed! The Lord will stand by His people if they stand by Him...we need to remember that!
46 -- The title of liberty...so intense!! When I read about the title of liberty and what Moroni did...it literally gave me chills!! Today in class before we discussed this, we sang the Star Spangled Banner. I can't even show my appreciation for singing that song today! It put this whole chapter into such better perspective for me!! It is so important to stand up for what we believe in...no matter what happens!! If we do not stand up for our beliefs and for this church then what are we doing with our lives?? We are wasting time and the purpose we were put on this earth! How do you think Heavenly Father feels when we just sit back and say that it is someone else's problem? Or when people say to just leave them alone...it's their lives?? He is so sad that our world is what it is today! And that the members of this church just sit around and do nothing only makes it worse! From the manual a quote was given, it says (paraphrased) that evil only comes from good people doing nothing...how can we just sit around and let evil infest our world?? We need to make a stand and do what is right no matter what the reaction will be!!
47 -- In this chapter, the Nephite dissenters have become so wicked that they are worse than the Lamanites...this is incredible! It is more apparent in Joseph Smith's time of this happening than it is today...members would leave the church for some reason or another and become key reasons of the torment inflicted upon the saints and upon Joseph Smith. Satan is working so hard to get us to doubt what we believe...he will try anything to get us to falter even a little bit...we need to stay strong and not let the adversary lead us away!!
48 -- This chapter is so amazing! In it, Moroni is so excited to fight for liberty and freedom and he encourages others to do the same! It is so important that we fight for these things! The Lord gave us agency and freedom...no one can take that away from us! We need to fight for this for ourselves and others!!
49 -- Everyone knows that wicked people do stupid things...in this chapter Amalickiah does such things. Amalickiah is EVIL...he curses God and does horrible things to the church. HE IS SO STUPID!! Cursing God is probably the stupidest thing anyone could ever do...but he does! This is just an example of the things you shouldn't do...because he cursed God, he was slain...
50 -- The Book of Mormon is a great example of good conquering evil. In this chapter, Teancum defeats the wicked dissenters and saves the righteous people of the church. It is easy to see that if we are on the same side as God...we will have His help and can be saved!!
51 -- Back to Amalickiah...HE IS SO STUPID! Oh I just can't get over how dumb he really is!! He curses God and doesn't even realize that he just made the biggest mistake of his life!! Well in this chapter Teancum slays Amalickiah. I know we aren't supposed to rejoice when things like this happen but I was so happy!! I just can't believe someone can live in this world and see the things that God has given us and hear the teachings from His prophets and still deny Him!! It just baffles my mind that people can deny our Creator and still take advantage of all He has given us!! Oh I just wish that I could tell everyone how dumb they are!!
Ok so that was a VERY long post!! And, you are probably all wondering why I titled it Falling In Love...the more I read the scriptures I understand them so much more!! I can indeed say that I am falling in love with the scriptures and love having them in my life!! They are such a great blessing and they teach me so much about what I can do to prepare myself for the future and for eternity!!
Monday, January 25, 2010
Wickedness Never Was Happiness...
So today for B of M we read Alma 40-42.
GREAT CHAPTERS!! Alma is still speaking to his son Corianton but instead of begging Corianton to repent of his sins, Alma is testifying to him of Christ and the miracles that will happen when He comes to the Earth and the wonderful Plan of Salvation.
In chapter 40, Alma explains to Corianton what comes after death. He explains that the righteous will go to paradise and the wicked will go to outer darkness to await Christ's coming and the resurrection. It is interesting to think about this phase in the Plan...will everyone I love and know make it to spirit paradise?? Will I make it to spirit paradise?? I know that God is the only one who knows where we will be but I believe it is important to keep striving towards paradise and know that the Lord knows our hearts and knows how hard we strive to be righteous and if we try with all our heart, might, mind, and strength that we will be blessed.
In chapter 41, Alma explains a lot of things...one thing that stood out to me the most was that even though we will leave this mortal world...we will have the same attributes in immortality as we do in mortality! I like this for the most part...I have some attributes that I'm not fond of and I know other people do too...but it love that Heavenly Father loves us no matter what and we are perfect in His eyes, so much that He wants us to be the same now and for Eternity.
In chapter 42, Alma teaches of the Atonement. He teaches that only through God can we be saved. It breaks my heart to think about the Atonement...I'm so thankful for it and for My Savior Jesus Christ for Atoning for me...but it hurts me to think that I caused Him pain and that He sacrificed His life for me!! Sometimes I make stupid little mistakes that I know caused Him agony...it kills me!! I wish that I could just have a line drawn before me so I knew which path to choose and which decisions to make so that I would not mess up and add to the pain that Christ felt!! He is so loving and cares for each of us so much!! I am so thankful to have Him in my life and the knowledge of His great sacrifice! Without this knowledge, I don't know where I would be or what my life would be like...
As I read these chapters I realized that I knew all of this stuff!! But I realized even more how important it is to keep studying the things that we think we know the best...because in fact we don't know them as well as we could!
You have never studied the Gospel enough!! There is always room for growth in everything!! It is obvious in the scriptures how important it is to be continuously studying!! The scriptures repeat the same commandments, promises, warnings, blessings, stories, etc. How can it be that some people (myself included unfortunately) think that they know all they need about this Gospel and that they discontinue their studies?? I have faltered in this way and have realized the things I need to do and the things I will do from this point until Eternity.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
New Concept: Learning From Others
So I know that I put that this is a new concept...even though it isn't...but I have realized more through this class, these projects, and from my sister that learning from others, although not new, is essential to our spiritual growth!! For this week's project I read five posts from people from my class! It was such a great experience to know what they are learning from this class and the experiences that they are having!! I love listening to the different ways that we interpret the gospel based on our lives and how it applies! I just love learning from the people around me!
Doing these projects has helped me understand how important it is to listen to others and ask for their opinion and how much my testimony can actually influence others!! It is so amazing to me that we hesitate sometimes to share what we know is true because we are afraid of what will be said or what others will think! Who cares!! If we are ridiculed by those we share the gospel with, will our lives change?? Will our lives get worse?? NO!!! Heavenly Father knows the intent of our heart and understands that tried our best and He is SOOOOO proud of us for trying! We need to remember that He is the reason we share our testimony! Even if our testimony helps others it is because He has enabled the Holy Spirit to enter into their hearts and make our words mean something! Without our Father in Heaven and His son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, none of this would be possible! I wouldn't be at BYU learning about the gospel and sharing these things on this blog! There wouldn't be missionaries sacrificing two years of their lives to share this with our brothers and sisters around the world! Nothing would be possible...or even worth it without the help of our Heavenly Father and elder Brother! I hope we all realize that and try our hardest to share these truths with those around us!!
Doing these projects has helped me understand how important it is to listen to others and ask for their opinion and how much my testimony can actually influence others!! It is so amazing to me that we hesitate sometimes to share what we know is true because we are afraid of what will be said or what others will think! Who cares!! If we are ridiculed by those we share the gospel with, will our lives change?? Will our lives get worse?? NO!!! Heavenly Father knows the intent of our heart and understands that tried our best and He is SOOOOO proud of us for trying! We need to remember that He is the reason we share our testimony! Even if our testimony helps others it is because He has enabled the Holy Spirit to enter into their hearts and make our words mean something! Without our Father in Heaven and His son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, none of this would be possible! I wouldn't be at BYU learning about the gospel and sharing these things on this blog! There wouldn't be missionaries sacrificing two years of their lives to share this with our brothers and sisters around the world! Nothing would be possible...or even worth it without the help of our Heavenly Father and elder Brother! I hope we all realize that and try our hardest to share these truths with those around us!!
Parental Guidance...
This week we only have Book of Mormon class once (Monday was a holiday). So I'm only writing about one chapter today!! For today's class we were to read Alma 39. In this chapter Alma is counseling to his son Corianton. Corianton has been involved in multiple sexual sins and his father is discussing this with him.
I find it very interesting that Alma pleads with Corianton to repent and change his ways. I love this chapter because of the genuine concern coming from Alma. I know that I haven't always been the greatest child to my parents but I know that they love me and will do whatever it takes to help me be happy and to stay on the right path!
Just as Alma is pleading for Corianton to choose the right and get back on the straight and narrow, I know that my parents plead for me everyday! Not that I'm that bad, but I know that they worry about not only me but all of my siblings! They worry for our safety and for our health! They just want to make sure that we are alright and that we can and will return home to them all in one piece! I know that it is especially hard for them because we are spread all over the world! I can't even imagine how scary it would be to have your kids in foreign lands by themselves!
I just am so thankful for my parents and for all they have done for me and for my siblings! They have taught me so much! I know that they love me unconditionally even though sometimes I don't deserve it! As I read this chapter, I imagined my earthly and Heavenly parents as Alma pleading to me to choose the right and to return home to them!
I miss my parents so much and it is so hard to be away from them and my brothers and sisters but I know that they are praying for me and are there behind me one hundred percent!! I just love them all so much and I hate myself for not telling them as much while we were growing up! They are what keeps me going and what gets me through everyday! Just knowing that they love me and that they will help me if I need them is such a comfort! I can't ever repay them for all they do or Heavenly Father for giving me such a great blessing in my life! From this chapter I have learned that I need to remember that they are there for me and will never leave my side no matter how stupid I can be! They are my best friends and I love them so much!!
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