Book of Mormon Analysis

The end of September, I finished my Book of Mormon analysis, where I had searched for action phrases.  I was looking for things we were invited to do, not just any verbs throughout the book.  Repent is used the most times (94), followed by the invitation to come unto Christ (58), believe (56), remember (44), and hearken (30).  When combining some words into categories, it's repent (132), keep the commandments (78), be (73), pray (68), serve / do good works (65), come (65), believe (56), search the word of God (49), hear and hearken (48), remember (47), look to God / seek Him (43), love and interacting with others (38), exercise faith / trust in God (37), baptized / born again (36), do / act / work (31), praise and worship God (27), preach the gospel (26), rejoice / lift up (26).  I went all the way down to unique phrases said only once (over 100).  I wasn't surprised that God asks us over and over again to repent.  We need that constant reminder of things we shouldn't do or should be doing.  It's all about change and striving to be a little better each day.  We're asked several times to simply remember, such as "remember that God is merciful".  I was pleasantly surprised with how many times God tells us to rejoice, lift up our eyes or heads, cheer up our hearts, break forth into joy, or be of good comfort.  There is so much to rejoice and delight in despite these challenging times.  We can't keep our heads down or wallow away in despair.  We're meant to have and find joy in the journey and see that the Lord brings us joy.  Some of my favorite phrases are "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ", "stand as witnesses of God," "reconcile yourselves to the will of God," and "come with full purpose of heart and cleave unto God."  I enjoyed doing the analysis.  

The day after I finished my scripture analysis, President Nelson passed away.  As I woke up on Sunday morning, I had the hymn "We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet" in my head.  I realized the song intersected with my scripture analysis.  We rejoice in a prophet, the gospel, every blessing.  We find it a pleasure to serve and obey.  When "dark clouds of trouble hang o'er us... there is hope smiling brightly before us... we doubt not the Lord nor His goodness... we'll sing of his goodness and mercy, we'll praise him by day and by night, rejoice in His glorious gospel, and bask in its life-giving light."  We have light in these dark times because of Jesus Christ, and we can repent because of God's grace.  Savannah was singing "Amazing Grace" in the shower after she learned of President Nelson's passing.  I think the Lord speaks to her though music, among other ways.  It was sweet to hear her expressing thoughts through song.  

It was interesting to listen and watch General Conference the next weekend.  President Dallin Oaks wasn't sustained yet as prophet, a new apostle wasn't named, and no new temples were announced.  The talks were good though.  We always enjoy relaxing at home for conference weekend and eating crumb cake.  

Savannah got to go on a youth temple trip the end of October. 

Family Night Lesson

We've been studying Isaiah recently for our Come Follow Me lessons.  I did an object lesson with one of our scriptures.  

Isaiah 1:16-18 says, "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil.  Learn to do well, seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

I had previously put a teaspoon of baking soda and a couple drops of red food coloring in a cup of water, and if you put in about a 1/4 cup of bleach, it takes the color out of the water.  It makes a pretty good object lesson about what Jesus Christ's Atonement can do for our sins, to make us clean.  

Isaiah talks a lot about what will happen to the wicked during the last days, but he also talks about repentance and redemption - "his hand is stretched out still."  We can avoid the destruction by making sure we're clean and come unto Jesus Christ.  Isaiah 12:2-3 says, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation."  We don't need to afraid if we're on the Lord's side.  The Lord will create a "tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain."  We talked about these places of refuge and protection - temples, churches, our homes where the Spirit dwells.  We can seek these places of refuge and find joy amidst the darkness of the world.

Joy in the journey

We're trying to find lots of joy in our journey... despite the trials and unexpected things in life.  We lost some loved ones last year, who we miss.  It's been just over a year since we lost Alex's brother Jim.  Ringing in the new year may always have a little sadness associated with it, since it was New Year's Eve when he passed away.  We continue to find peace in the gospel of Jesus Christ and in the knowledge that we'll see our loved ones again.  We are very blessed in our daily lives and the freedoms we enjoy.  Freedom to worship how we choose, freedom from debt, freedom from addictions.  While we're not free from disappointment, sorrows and trials, we feel very blessed in our relationships and family life.  The kids are happy most of the time, we're healthy, and we're pretty spoiled with where we live and our financial status and needs being met.  There are not many things I can think of that can compensate for unhappy kids or unhappy relationships.  We are very grateful to be blessed with happy kids and relationships.    

On Christmas Day, I completed a challenge given by our prophet, President Nelson.  At the women's conference in October, he challenged us to read the Book of Mormon again by the end of the year.  He also asked us to focus on and look for all of the references to Jesus Christ.  And finally, he asked us to talk about Christ with our family and friends.  I shared my experience with reading on FaceBook and I shared my thoughts in testimony meeting at church, but I'm going to share again here.  The book is 531 pages, so it wasn't a really easy task to complete during a busy time of year.  I did complete the task however, and I had an interesting experience with the way that I marked the references.  As I read on my phone, I copied and pasted all of the references into the notes on my phone. When I finished, I sent my notes to my email (so I could get a normal sized font and print out) and printed out all the references.  I was amazed to have 39 pages worth of references to the Savior that I had found.  I'm sure I may have missed a few, but to read through nearly 40 pages of words that testified of Christ was pretty amazing.  The Book of Mormon truly is another testament of Christ, that in addition to the witness of the Bible, brings so much power and peace into my life.  

Just the other day, I was talking to Savannah about Jesus and whether he was alive.  She apparently talked about it with one of her friends at school, who didn't believe that Jesus lives.  I told her that He isn't with us right now on the Earth, but He is very much alive.  Because He lives, we will live again after we die.  And that brings so much peace and comfort to know that our time here is just a small part of the eternal plan that God has for each of us.  We're blessed with this opportunity to learn and grow and make choices and enjoy family relationships.  But that doesn't end when we die, because of the Atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and because of a loving Father in Heaven who sent His Son to die for us and rise again.   

The kids sing a song in primary at church called He Sent His Son.  I love the words to the song:  

1. How could the Father tell the world of love and tenderness?
   He sent his Son, a newborn babe, with peace and holiness.
   How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go?
   He sent his Son to walk with men on earth, that we may know.
   How could the Father tell the world of sacrifice, of death?
   He sent his Son to die for us and rise with living breath.
   What does the Father ask of us? What do the scriptures say?
   Have faith, have hope, live like his Son, help others on their way.
   What does he ask? Live like his Son.
2. Words: Mabel Jones Gabbott, 1910–2004
   Music: Michael Finlinson Moody, b. 1941

The scriptures do show us the way to live, because they testify of Jesus Christ and His life and His teachings. One of the other interesting things I gained from highlighting the references was all of the different titles and names of Jesus Christ.  I know there are other references in the Bible, but these are the ones I found in the Book of Mormon: 

Jesus

Christ

Eternal God

Lord

Son of God

Savior

Messiah

God of Abraham

God of Isaac

God of Jacob

Prophet

Redeemer

Lamb of God

Shepherd

Everlasting God

Rock

Salvation

True Vine

God of Israel

Holy One of Israel

Lord of Hosts

Father

Holy One

Mighty One of Jacob

Great Mediator

Maker

Keeper of the Gate

King of Heaven

King

Light

Immanuel

Wonderful

Counselor

The Mighty God

The Everlasting Father

Prince of Peace

Lord Jehovah

Only Begotten of the Father

Father of heaven and of earth

Son of Righteousness

Beloved Son

Only Begotten Son

Lord Omnipotent

Creator

Lord of the harvest

Great and last sacrifice

Good Shepherd

Light and life of the world

Word of truth and righteousness

Well Beloved

God of Miracles

Holy Child

Eternal Judge

Jesus Christ

love the lord with all thine heart

Deuteronomy 6:5
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

If only we could fully keep this seemingly simple commandment.  I don't know how to love with ALL my heart, soul, and might, but I'll keep working at it.  To love with ALL that we have requires a deep commitment to keep all God's commandments and to have charity, the pure love of Christ.  

weak things become strong

Ether 12:27
"And if men come unto me, I will show unto them their weakness.  I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men who humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

This gives me so much hope because I have many weaknesses.  It's encouraging to know I can turn those into strengths if I have humility and faith.  I also think it's interesting that we may not realize what things are weak - only after we come unto the Lord are we able to identify some of those weaknesses.

mountain of the Lord's house

Isaiah 2:2
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it."

Just as mountains are the highest reach of the earth towards heaven, so are temples in a spiritual sense.  We can get closer to God in these sacred temples than any other place.  I love the peace and beauty found in temples.  Alex and I try to go once a month to the temple to do special work for those who are deceased and also for our own learning.  The temple is a good place to go for answers and peace.  It's not a secret what we do, but it is sacred so we don't talk about all the things that go on in the temple.  Here's a good link if you want to know more about what goes on inside.  And here are some more:  entering the temple, blessings of the temple, and inside the temple (you can see what a sealing room looks like, where marriages take place.)   It's also neat to look at temples around the world.  Alex and I have been to a small number of them and hope to be able to go to as many as we can.  Here's the ones we've been to (Alex may have been to some others that I forgot - I know he's been to Provo, UT): 

Albuquerque, NM
Ciudad Juárez México
Dallas, TX   (my brother was married here)
Denver, CO  (we were married here)
Hamilton, New Zealand
Houston, TX  (sister Ashley was married here)
Los Angeles, CA
Melbourne, Australia
Memphis, TN
Mount Timpanogos, UT  (sister Alison was married here)
Nauvoo, IL
Oklahoma City, OK
Salt Lake, UT  (sealed to my parents here)
San Antonio, TX
San Diego, CA
St. George, UT  (sister Audrey was married here)
St. Louis, MO
Sydney, Australia


 Here's the one we added to the list just this weekend.  We were able to go to the San Diego Temple -  I love it!  It's so beautiful.  I think this may be one of my very favorites so far.  

let your light shine

Matthew 5:16
"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

This is one of the first scriptures I've memorized in the past.  It helps me remember who I am and where the source of my light comes from - God.  We're His children, so we each have that light of Christ in us, a spark of divinity.  When we serve others, our light shines brighter and glorifies our Father in heaven.

be wise

Jacob 6:12
"O be wise; what can I say more?"

seek not to counsel the Lord

Jacob 4:10
"Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand.  For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works."

This is good advice.  How many times do we try to tell the Lord what our will is and counsel Him?  I've heard it said that if you want to make the Lord laugh, tell him your plans.  He knows what's best for us, and so we should strive to seek His will in all things.

Good Shepherd

John 10:14-16
"I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.  As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.  And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: and them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."

The Good Shepherd is another one of the names for Jesus Christ.  I love to think about listening and following the voice of the Good Shepherd.  We talked about shepherds in Sunday School - in Ezekiel chapter 34 the Lord is speaking about the shepherds of Israel.  Besides following the Good Shepherd, we each have to be shepherds as well, to help those around us and gather lost sheep.  In the lesson today, the teacher made a chart that showed the difference between shepherds and sheep herders (she would be glad to know I took notes...).  It looked something like this: 

                                                        shepherds                                            sheep herders             

walk with sheep                                     leads                                                   behind (drives)          

relationship with sheep                   knows by name, loves                    may or may not know - just a job

response to danger                      will give his life for protection           will flee or run in self preservation


It's interesting to think about how Jesus is the Good Shepherd - he leads us, knows us, loves us, and gave his life for us.  Ezekiel 34:11-16 talks about some of the things he does - he searches for, delivers, gathers, feeds, strengthens, binds up what is broken.  We have to do the same thing for those around us, to be shepherds and not sheep herders. 

bread of life

John 6:35
"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life:  he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." 

I love this scripture, which mentions one of the roles of Jesus.  He was called many things - the Good Shepherd, the Prince of Peace, Lamb of God, Redeemer, etc.  The bread of life is easy to understand because we know how important bread and water are to our physical bodies.  Just as we're sustained through bread and water, Jesus is what sustains us spiritually.  Tomorrow is Sunday and I'm grateful for the opportunity to take the sacrament.  Hopefully I'll remember this scripture as I'm taking the bread and water, symbolic of spiritual renewal of covenants.  In this scripture, I also like the words cometh and believeth.  Why couldn't he just say he that believeth on me shall never hunger or thirst?  Or use just the word cometh?  I think both words are significant - cometh requires action and believeth implies faith.  Even if we just believe, we won't thirst, but it requires action and effort on our part to satisfy our spiritual hunger.  I think we could go with just water for a while, which is extremely important to survival, but eventually we need more to sustain us.

open the windows of heaven

Malachi 3:10
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

I've had this scripture run through my mind many times - I have no doubt that this principle is true, for I've seen the fruits of it in my own life.  As members of our church, we're asked to pay 10% of our income as tithing and also be generous in fast offerings.  At first, this may seem like a really hard task, but this scripture promises that when we keep the law of tithing, the windows of heaven will be opened and blessings poured upon us.  And while we may not realize what blessings (whether temporal or spiritual) that we're receiving as a result of paying tithing, we have the assurance that we will be blessed.  At times, it has been very obvious to us how the Lord provides for us.  I asked Alex if I could share one of his experiences with tithing (probably one of his very first experiences with tithing).  Alex is a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  He joined when he was in college.  One of his early experiences with tithing was when he was getting ready to go on a mission for the church.  In preparation, he needed to get a suit, tie, and appropriate attire for what is expected of missionaries to wear while serving their mission.  Shortly before he was to go on his mission, he had a choice to make.  He still did not have a suit, but he also had not paid tithing yet.  He didn't know what to do - missionaries have to be dressed appropriately, but the thought came to him that if he was going to go out and teach the principle of tithing to others, he had better live that principle himself.  He decided to pay his tithing (using what he needed to buy a suit) and still wondering what he was going to do.  Well, it wasn't long after that (maybe even the next day), that he got a check in the mail as a refund from the Bursar's office (from the university).  AND it was the SAME amount that he had paid tithing and just what he needed to buy a suit.  A coincidence?  I don't think so.  I think that was the Lord's way of blessing Alex for paying his tithing.  The Lord says "prove me now herewith if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing." 

Sometimes it takes a little bit of faith, but we will be blessed when we put the Lord first.  Things just seem to work out when we pay our tithes and offerings.  Alex and I were also strengthened in our testimony of this principle early on in our marriage.  When you don't have much money and funds are tight it seems hard to give that 10%.  But we kept doing so, and every time we would be blessed in unexpected ways.  I don't know all the blessings that have come as a result of paying tithing, but I can acknowledge that the windows of heaven have been opened.  I look at my husband, our 4 boys, the opportunities we've been given and the comforts of life, and I feel overwhelmed with gratitude for the blessings in my life ("...that there shall not be room enough to receive it").

hands and work

2 Chronicles 15:7
"Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak:  for your work shall be rewarded."

Recent discussion and thoughts on work prompted me to find a scripture about work.  I like this one because of the imagery of hands and the promise that our work will be rewarded.  When I think about work, I see hands.  I see my parents hands working: preparing meals, gardening, sewing, washing dishes, raking, feeding animals, folding clothes, cleaning, paying bills, cutting hair, wiping noses, changing diapers, helping with homework and science projects, fixing things, etc. etc.  So many things come to mind.  I'm trying to wear out my hands in the same way I saw my parents work and hoping that I'm teaching my children the value of work as well.  There's no place for weak hands around here.  When I look at my hands at the end of the day, I hope they are "stained" and calloused from hard work. 

The other thought that comes to mind is a song called "His Hands" that a friend (Giselle) used to sing so beautifully.  It talks about the Savior's hands.  Here's the lyrics: 

His hands
tools of creation
stronger than nations
power without end
and yet through them we find our truest friend
His hands
sermons of kindness
healing men's blindness
halting years of pain
children waiting to be held again

His hands would serve his whole life though
showing man what hands might do
giving, ever giving, endlessly
each day was filled with selflessness
and I'll not rest until I make up my hands what they could be
'til these hands become like those from galilee

His hands
lifting a leper
warming a beggar
calling back the dead
breaking bread, five thousand fed
His hands
hushing contention
pointing to heaven
ever free of sin
then bidding man to follow him

His hands would serve his whole life though
showing man what hands might do
giving, ever giving, endlessly
each day was filled with selflessness
and I'll not rest until I make up my hands what they could be
'til these hands become like those from galilee

His hands
clasped in agony
as he he lay pleading, bleeding in the garden
while just moments away
other hands betray him
out of greed, shameful greed
and then His hands
are trembling
straining to carry the beam that they'd be nailed to
as he stumbles through the streets
heading towards the hill on which he died
he would die
they take His hands, His mighty hands, those gentle hands
and then they pierce them, they pierce them
he lets them, because of love
from birth to death was selflessness
and clearly now I see him with His hands
calling to me
and though I'm not yet as I would be
he has shown me how I could be
I will make my hands like those from galilee

And a video:

seek God first

Mathew 6:33
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Simple but powerful message.  When we seek God first and do his will, then we are blessed.  It's worked for me. 

Comforter

John 14:26-27
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

I often take for granted the gift of the Holy Ghost and the many ways this Comforter helps me.  Today a reminder popped into my head that I needed to pick up Nathan from school early today.  He has early release every day this week.  I don't think that was my own thoughts, but a little prompting to help a busy mom be where I needed to be.  I'm grateful for those simple promptings like that, but also for the more recognizable times when I feel peace and comfort. 

keep the commandments = happiness

Mosiah 2:41
"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 hath spoken it."

It sounds so simple.  If we keep the commandments, we will be blessed.  If only we weren't selectively obedient to the commandments that appeal to us... 

establish a house of God

Doctrine & Covenants 88:119
"Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God."

This is always on my mind, how to establish a house of order and of God.  I think of this as I'm cleaning, that I'm creating an environment where God wouldn't be ashamed to dwell.  Keeping it clean and orderly is a hard task that I fail at, but I also am trying to make it a house of faith and prayer.  I am thankful that my boys are learning to pray and that they pray for mama, da-da, and each one of us in their prayers.  I think the Lord has a special place in his heart for prayers of young children.

I also think that our "house" is ourselves.  We've heard the scripture about our bodies being temples.  I think we each are a "house," and that gives me perspective in trying to prepare myself, to make sure that I am praying and fasting, have faith, keep learning, and keep myself worthy of the glory I can achieve with God at the helm.  Being created in the image of God and as His children already makes us full of glory, but I think we can build on that and become far greater than we can even imagine.  While I may not have much control over the house that we live in, I take comfort in knowing that I have full control over what I do with myself.

charity never faileth

Moroni 7:45-47
"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in inquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth.  Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail --
But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him."

"Charity never faileth" is the motto for Relief Society, the women's organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I love it.  Charity never fails, but sometimes we fail to have charity.  The phrases "is not easily provoked" and "suffereth long" and "endureth all things" especially speak to me as a mother.  It is really hard to stay calm when you're frustrated, but this scripture teaches us how we should be.  If we always have the pure love of Christ in our hearts, we will be kind and not let our feathers get ruffled easily.  Pure love works.  It never fails.

I also love the story that President Monson shared recently in his talk, "Charity Never Faileth."  He talked about not being critical and judgmental of others:

A young couple, Lisa and John, moved into a new neighborhood. One morning while they were eating breakfast, Lisa looked out the window and watched her next-door neighbor hanging out her wash. 


“That laundry’s not clean!” Lisa exclaimed. “Our neighbor doesn’t know how to get clothes clean!” 


John looked on but remained silent. 


Every time her neighbor would hang her wash to dry, Lisa would make the same comments. 


A few weeks later Lisa was surprised to glance out her window and see a nice, clean wash hanging in her neighbor’s yard. She said to her husband, “Look, John—she’s finally learned how to wash correctly! I wonder how she did it.” 


John replied, “Well, dear, I have the answer for you. You’ll be interested to know that I got up early this morning and washed our windows!” 


Tonight I’d like to share with you a few thoughts concerning how we view each other. Are we looking through a window which needs cleaning? Are we making judgments when we don’t have all the facts? What do we see when we look at others? What judgments do we make about them?

I also like these thoughts he shared from Mother Teresa:

Mother Teresa, a Catholic nun who worked among the poor in India most of her life, spoke this profound truth: “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” The Savior has admonished, “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”  I ask: can we love one another, as the Savior has commanded, if we judge each other? And I answer—with Mother Teresa: no, we cannot.

greater love

John 15:13
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Thank you to all those who serve our country, who are willing to lay down their life for us and our freedom. I know that freedom has a price.

I am also thankful for Jesus Christ who laid down his life for each of us.

A season and a time

Ecclesiastes 3:1 
"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."



Sometime I'd like to memorize the verses that follow, but not now...  :)    Actually I really like this verse, besides that I use it as an excuse sometimes.  It's a good reminder that things happen in the Lord's time and we should enjoy the seasons of life that we're in.  Sometimes I look back at seasons of my life or forward to future seasons and wish I were in a different season, but I am quickly reminded that I'm just where I should be.  Dirty diapers, dirty house, little hands coloring on the wall...hugs and kisses, smiles, and laughter.  It's all worth it and I'm loving this season of my life.