Obedience 1 Nephi 16-18 Building One's Own Boat

If the sun were me or I were the sun.
I would shine my light for everyone.

I would not let the cold of storm
keep the earth from knowing warm.

I would not let the dark of night
make me want to hide my light.

I would not let the thick of cloud
keep me from shining- shining - out loud

I would shine on field and flower
and help them know of God's power.

I would not miss one single day
to share my light - to brighten another's way.

I would set my course..
I would set my mind.
I would set my path.
I would shine. I would shine. I would shine.


The sun comes up. The sun goes down. The world spins round. And, the sun shines. It lifts my soul, it brightens my way. It is one of God's creations that knows obedience. It is one of God's creations that displays it's purpose and power daily. It's sureness of path inspires and calms me.

With God's help, Nephi knew he could build a boat.

Like the sun that obeys God's design, Nephi knew the power that comes from obedience. He understood that God gives us commandments and sets us on a path because He loves us! God wants us to know who we are. He wants us to know our potential. But, unlike the sunshine, a knowledge of who we are is something that can't be given; It must be uncovered through our willingness to obey. The power of self is something that we have to discover.

The only way we can actually discover who we are and the power of God that lies within us is to follow God's commandments. So I ask the question, "Why does God not politely ask us to obey his commandments?"He could ask, "Would you please keep the commandments?"

The reason. God is Great. God is the creator of all things both in heaven and in earth.(17:36-39) He knows what is best for us. To ask is to suggest. Keeping the commandments is not a suggestion. It's a sure way. Like the sun, it's a path that is meant to teach us how to shine, how to give warmth, how to love, how to help all around us grow, how to learn consistency, how to stay the course and be still in an eternal realm where agency holds the key to eternal joy.

Nephi was able to build a ship and he knew it. Not because of his own power but because of the power that comes from obedience to God's commandments. (1N17:49-51)" He understood that, "When we obey God - we follow the influence of the Spirit and choose to conform to His will." (PmGpg.72)

Lehi discovers the Liahona at his tent door

But we are human. We are not the sun. We have weaknesses. When Nephi's bow breaks, Lehi and his family succumb to their hunger and begin to murmur. They had only just begun their journey when they forgot God's goodness - how he  blesses us when we obey. God knows our weaknesses. He blesses us and teaches us line upon line.. precept on precept. (2 N28:30)

To Lehi he gave a Liahona: a ball of curious workmanship whereby he might learn how God blesses us through our obedience to faith, and diligence to duty, and willingness to heed to the God's spirit.

the Liahona 

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.1 Nephi 16:28 

To Nephi he instructed through prayer.

 And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.1 Nephi 17:7

Nephi was instructed to build a ship. Though his brothers mocked him and complained, he held sure in his belief that if God had commanded it, it was possible. His brothers had forgotten those who wanted to take their lives and the promised destruction of Jerusalem.  Wanting to remember their ancestral heritage of God's hand in their lives, Nephi spoke to them of Moses. He asked:

Do ye believe that our fathers, who were the children of Israel, would have been led away out of the hands of the Egyptians if they had not hearkened unto the words of the Lord? 

Yea, do ye suppose that they would have been led out of bondage, if the Lord had not commanded Moses that he should lead them out of bondage?1 Nephi 17:23-24

Lehi's travels led them through dangerous dessert

Keeping the commandments of God protects us. It was pointed out in last nights class that while traveling in the dessert the Lord commanded the family troop to not build fire. That seems like an odd thing - when fire is needed for warmth and the preparation of food. But by not building fire, the family was protected from marauding bands that would have robbed and carried them away. The light from a dessert fire carries long and far and offers no protections from the evil heart of man.

The only protection against man's choice for evil is man's choice for good. When we choose to live God's commandments we choose protection, power, love, light and eternal life.  Alma taught about the commandments when he said,

 Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men,...., knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good—Alma 12:31

But Keeping the commandments does more than protect us. It helps us discover our eternal spirit. It helps us discover and remember a purpose greater than survival. It helps us give light and warmth and become a source for good. It helps us learn to love as God loves and see the world as He intended it to be: a place for us to grow and learn - a place for us to share his love and bask in the warmth of his word.

I can't be the sun. But I can be like Nephi. I can say..

Wherefore, I Linda, did strive to keep the commandments of the Lord, and I did exhort my brethren to faithfulness and diligence.1 Nephi 17:15

And like Nephi I can build my own ship of sure faith that will carry me.  I am sure there will be times when God will ask things of me that others will mock. And I myself may question, but it is my prayer that the experiences I have will help prepare my heart so that it will not be hard, but willing - and that it will not murmur - but be filled with gratitude. And that it too - like the sun - will learn to shine, shine, shine and spread God's glorious love to all who will not only embrace it, but use it as a source of strength as they too learn the power that comes from keeping God's commandments.

ye shall prosper 2 Nephi 4:4

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper
and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth 3 John 1:2

Prosper:  Verb: to succeed in an enterprise or activity; especially : to acheive economic success; to become strong and flourishing, (14th century) From Middle English, Anglo-French prosperer, from Latin prosperare to cause to succeed, from prosperus favorable. flourish, thrive, do well, bloom, blossom, burgeon, progress, do all right for oneself, get ahead, get on, be successful; 

A few weeks ago I gave a lesson in church on a talk by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland entitled "The First Great Commandment." Elder Holland expounded on the feelings and thoughts of Peter just after the Savior's crucifixion.  His words helped me understand the deepness of the  Savior's love. He lived his life to set a pattern, and example for Peter (and me) to follow. He helped Peter learn about the power that we receive when we live our life for God and others. After the Savior ascended into Heaven for the last time, Peter was in charge of the young church. Peter had only the Holy Ghost and the experiences he had shared with the Savior to guide him. 

My studies led me to ponder and consider Peter's life as a follower of Christ. Elder Holland explains that the Savior had died and Peter did not know what to do, so he went fishing (John 21:3) Like a scene from three years prior, the disciples joined Peter in the boat and all that night they caught nothing. In the morning the Savior walked on the shore but the disciples did not know who he was. He instructed them to cast their net on the right side of the boat. Again, like the three years previous, their nets were so full they could not draw them in.(John 21:6) Clearly the Lord knew how to fish.

Upon recognition of his Savior, Peter leaps from the boat to share a most joyous reunion. They count their 153 fish and then the Savior asks him, "Peter do you love me?" Peter answers three times in the affirmative. (John 21:15) And here is where Elder Holland's talk struck me. Here is where Elder Holland with great emotion in his voice, elaborates, 

“Then Peter, why are you here? Why are we back on this same shore, by these same nets, having this same conversation? Wasn’t it obvious then and isn’t it obvious now that if I want fish, I can get fish? 

We all want fish. We like all of God's creations need fish, a means to live by. Peter was a fisherman. He fished. It was what he knew. 

So how do we meter out the efforts that we must give to finding our fish of prosperity and serving the Lord? 

What is prosperity? 

I know this is one of the words we all read and it seems like a "no brainer." We all seek it. We need it in order to procure security. And the scriptures make it clear that the Lord wants us to have it. He has made a way for us to find true prosperity. We must only obey him? 

But then I thought about all of the people I know who have prosperity and wealth but don't know God. What's that all about? Why don't they have to follow the commandments to find wealth?

So I searched through the scriptures looking for all that I felt would help answer my questions. As I did the words Elder Holland believed the Savior might have said rang in my head. 

"If I want fish, I can get fish." 

The Lord of the earth is in charge, for "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." (Psalm 24:1) And the "riches of the earth are 'his' to give;" (D&C38: 38-39) All he "requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you.” (Mosiah 2:22) 

I thought about this a bit and realized that wealth, riches and prosperity may not be the same thing? When we prosper we grow, we succeed in all aspects of our life. We have peace. Remember the psalmist who said, “Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.…Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good.(Psalm 122:7-9) Most who seek wealth without God cannot find peace.

David spoke of the prosperity of the wicked in his 73 Psalm. He says they "prosper in the world" and are "un-godly" as they "increase in riches." (Psalms 73:2-12). Nephi speaks about prosperity when he admonishes those who are "rich as to the things of the world," because they will "despise the poor, persecute the meek, and their hearts are on their treasures." He says, "their treasure is their god. And behold their treasure shall perish with them." (2Nephi 9:30) And Jeremiah asks us if the wicked do prosper? He asks, wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?"  

The difference is not what prosperity brings you, but what you love in order to obtain it, or what you love after you obtain it. Jacob taught us about perspective when he said, “But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.” (Jacob 2:18) And to the prophet Joseph Smith the Lord taught, “And if ye seek riches which it is the will of the Father to give unto you, ye shall be the richest of all people, for ye shall have the riches of eternity; and it must be that the riches of the earth are mine to give; but beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old. (D&C 38:38-39)  

Pride in our wealth, in our success, in our station destroys our prosperity – it destroys our peace. When we love God first, we love others more than wealth, we love the joy and the feeling that comes from helping those in need more than we love the possessions our wealth brings.

President James E. Faust in his talk “What’s in it for me” reminded us the pitfalls of covetous pride.

 The Savior warned us, as recorded in the book of Luke: "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

 "And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: "And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? "And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. "And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. "But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? "So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." (Luke 12:15-21)2002 October General Conference, What's in It for Me? 

Now when I think of prosperity as I read about it in the scriptures, I will not merely think of the acquisition of wealth and power. Prosperity- in my mind – has come to represent not only security and success but also the peace that comes from living a life filled with truth, integrity, service and gratitude toward God.

Wealth does not always equal prosperity, and prosperity does not always equal wealth. Prosperous people are happy people. 

 David teaches us that "Happy is that people,... yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord.(Psalm 144:15) And John says  "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."(3 John 1:1-2)

And they are happy not because of their temporal prosperity but because of their deeper understanding of spiritual joys. They are able to understand the eternal treasures that await those who learn to love God and eternity more than the riches of the earth. Alma explains this to his son Helaman.

43  And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.44  For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.45  And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.46  O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.47  And now, my son, see that ye take care of these sacred things, yea, see that ye look to God and live. Go unto this people and declare the word, and be sober. My son, farewell.Alma 37:43-47

Prosperity then is not to be measured by our collected wealth, but rather by our desire to "look to God and live." I know that when I am looking toward my God and all the wisdom he desires to teach me, I have a wealth greater than all the riches the earth can bring. I have friendship. I have a feeling of peace that comes from helping others and I the strength and love of my family. Trust and integrity grow plentiful in my life and the lives of my children are not set upon the things of this world, but upon the prosperity that only God's love can bring.  


 Some scriptures verses  that I found:
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For the Lord God hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; and inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence   2 Nephi 4:4


And now I, Mormon, would that ye should know that the people had multiplied, insomuch that they were spread upon all the face of the land, and that they had become exceedingly rich, because of their prosperity in Christ.
4 Nephi 1:23

Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.  Joshua 1:7

Behold, do ye not remember the words which he spake unto Lehi, saying that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land? And again it is said that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.  Alma 9:13

I give unto you this privilege, this once; and behold, if you proceed to do the things which I have laid before you, according to my commandments, all these things are mine, and ye are my stewards, and the master will not suffer his house to be broken up. Even so. Amen  D&C 104:86

Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do Deuteronomy 29:8-9

And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself:  1 Kings 2:3

11 Now, my son, the Lord be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the Lord thy God, as he hath said of thee
12 Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the Lord thy God
13 Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the Lord charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.
1 Chronicles 22:-1-13

12 When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden
13  He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.  Proverbs 28:12-13

11 But the Lord is with me as a mighty terrible one: therefore my persecutors shall stumble, and they shall not prevail: they shall be greatly ashamed; for they shall not prosper: their everlasting confusion shall never be forgotten.  Jeremiah 20:11

13  And it came to pass that we began to prosper exceedingly, and to multiply in the land.  
2 Nephi 5:12-13

31 And thus they did prosper and become far more wealthy than those who did not belong to their church.
32 For those who did not belong to their church did indulge themselves in sorceries, and in idolatry or idleness, and in babblings, and in envyings and strife; wearing costly apparel; being lifted up in the pride of their own eyes; persecuting, lying, thieving, robbing, committing whoredoms, and murdering, and all manner of wickedness; nevertheless, the law was put in force upon all those who did transgress it, inasmuch as it was possible.  Alma 1:31-32

My Whole Duty Ecclesiastes 12 P

Ecclesiastes 12

Vanity of Vanities

I am in my youth

Aware of the sun that shines brightly, the wind that caresses my skin,

The taste of golden fruit, and the strength that surges through my limbs.

I am aware of my gifts that God has given for me to see

How his love has sustained and guided, Lifted me.

But in the day when I have wearied from my years that draw nigh,

Will I say that I have lived for wisdom, and given God my best try?

If I find myself alone when my silver cord shall be loosed,

Will my vanity of vanities shadow me from truth?

As my days grow long and my pleasures grow dim,

Will I have learned that my purpose

Was to grow closer to Him?

As the keepers of my house begin to tremble,

And my strong men bow themselves low,

Will I look upon my hands and stand upon my legs

And realize too late, what I don't know?

As my grinders grow few and cease,

And my window shades darken,

Will my teeth and mine eyes

Finally find courage to hearken?

As my doors shall shut up

And the sound of my grinders is low,

Will I remember what mine ears heard,

Or forget the taste of what his love did grow?

When standing on all that is high

Brings a fear of all that shall be in my way,

When my almond tree shall shed strands of grey,

And my grasshoppers shall bring a burden that stays,

Will the desire within me that once

Thought of God, fail to understand,

That the desire of youth see stars that are bright

And knows not of returning clouds rain?

Fear God, in thy youth, He alone can bring truth.

Fear God, keep his commandments true,

Fear God, in thy youth, and live a life

Fear God, Fear God, in thy youth.

Experience will tell you only what is wrong

It will never help you find right.

Experience will tell you what does not work

God's love will give you a joyous light.

Experience is limited to the earth bound life

It will never lead you to higher ground

Experience will only expose your small size

It will never show you to where God's love does abound.

God loved us so he sent us to earth

To see if we could but understand

How his plan is for us to draw nigh to him

and leave the vanity of vanities to man.

Solomon taught his conclusion on the matter

Fear God and keep his ways, find his plan.

Fear God in they youth, learn of his ways.

For this is the whole duty of man.

Linda Conkey Shaw July 13, 2010 copyright

Words and Phrases

vs.1 evil days come not - while in our youth we are truly protected from that which we cannot know. We think life is hard. We don't really understand what our parents and leaders do to protect us from the evil that is upon them.

vs2 keepers of the house - our hands

vs 2 strong men - our legs

vs 2 grinders - teeth

vs2 those that look our windows - eyes

vs 4 door shall be shut - ears

vs 4 shall rise up at the sound of birds - unable to sleep

vs4 daughters of musick - unable to hear well

vs 5 afraid of that which is high - older people tend to be afraid of heights

vs 5 almond tree shall flourish - almond trees bloom in white. this represents our grey hair

vs desire shall fail - no desire to live life, because of the discomfort and difficulty that our bodies bring us

vs 6 all of these metaphorical phrases represent death

vs. 8 all is vanity - without God in our life, we have lived a life that has only served to return the dust back to the dust. The purpose of life was to know God. To build strong relationships with those that we love and to prepare to meet God. If we have failed to do this, we have lived a vain life with no real eternal purpose to it. The work that we have done will return to the dust as well.

vs 9 good heed - listened

vs 9 sought out - asked

vs 9 set in order proverbs - understood what God wanted us to understand. God's philosophy of Man

vs 10-12 words of truth - books there is no end - The best study is the study of God's word.Revere God and all that he says and there is no need to study unto weariness. Gods words are the truth that we all need. Experience will bring truth but only through much pain. We don't need the pain if we will listen to God's words of truth

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