"he will be merciful unto you..forever" 2 Nephi 4: 1-12

Lehi speaking to Laman and Lemuel in the Valley and by the River

I cannot comprehend the love that Lehi must have felt for his son Laman, his first born. I can try but I am sure I will not come close. The love a parent feels for a child stands within its own realm. The love between father and son can be one of the greatest known to man.

While reading the first verses of 2 Nephi 4, I was struck at the imposition Laman's behavior puts Lehi in. I was struck even more by how he manages to maintain his integrity of faith and still express his love for his firstborn son. Lehi understood that the love he felt for God could only magnify the love he felt for his son. A love and life that began in Jerusalem.

Lehi's life before he left Jerusalem - what was it like? While we can really only give supposition to most of the facts, we  do know that he had great wealth. (1 Ne 3:22-24) That this wealth did not bring him joy can be deduced from his desire to forsake it and find security in the God of Abraham. Although we don't know much that occurred before his prophetic call, we do not that after his call (1 Ne 1:6) he finds great joy in the Lord. So great was this joy that he describes it as being "encircled about eternally in the arms of His love."(2 Ne 1:15) All he wants is for his "seed", like Joseph of Egypt's "seed"(2 Ne 4:2) to have the same joy and peace. He wants his son to know of God's love as he has known of God's love.

God's love is like that. It's joyful. It's life changing. When I read the scriptures and feel of their power, when I pray and feel of God's love in my life, all I want is for those I love to feel of it as I do. What I want most is to share the joy. Lehi's life changed and he only wanted to share the joy with Laman.

An Angel speaking to Laman and Lemuel

But how can Lehi convince Laman? Laman and Lemuel's behavior has caused great discontent, guilt, grievous sorrow, and even the promise of a curse. (1 Ne 2:23)

The promise of this curse came not through Lehi, but rather through Lehi's youngest son Nephi, who like Lehi had "great desires" and a "softened heart"(1 Ne 2:16). His belief caused him to speak to his brothers about their behavior and to then hear God's word. Nephi, not Lehi is promised that if his brothers rebel against him the Lord will "curse them even with a sore curse" (1 Ne 2:23).

Lehi must have taken Nephi's prophetic news with great disheartenment. He must have felt great sorrow with regards to the family discord. To suppose that the sibling rift was such that even his own impending death does little to convince them. Despite his disappointment he uses his faith to bestow blessings of promise upon his son. Despite his sorrow, he uses the power of prayer to sustain his faith and calls on the strength and promises of the prophets before him. (2 Ne 4:2)

After reading the prophecies of Joseph of Egypt concerning his own seed, (Nephi tells us that "there are not many greater," ) Lehi wants to do as Joseph did and leave a blessing upon the heads of all of his children.

Lehi understood the Lord makes covenants with those who love him and that the Lord's blessings and promises are sure. He calls his sons forth and bids them to listen.

As he contemplated the blessing he would give to Laman, Laman's contentious past must have given Lehi much pause. How many times had he and Laman and even a few of the sons of Ismael bound Nephi? or beat Nephi? or openly rebelled against Lehi? How often had he tried to teach them with his words? Only the fear of death and destruction keep them from returning to Jerusalem.

Yet Lehi loved Laban. He was his first born. He was his son. He was his seed. He loved him and wanted only to bless him with the goodness of the Lord's love.

This is where I realized that the love of Heavenly Father becomes our supreme example. Lehi realizes that he has taught them well. He quotes Proverbs 22:6 and tells them:

I cannot go down to my grave save I should leave a blessing upon you; for behold, I know that if ye are brought up in the way ye should go ye will not depart from it.

He draws on the hope of his and Sarah's parenting skills. He draws on the hope of his love and concern for his son. But what if Nephi is right? What if Laman's choices have caused him to be cursed and cut off?

This is when I realized that even the best intentioned parent cannot ensure their children's salvation. Life is a gift that we receive from our parents, but salvation is a choice we make for ourselves. Aware that he can't ensure Laman's salvation, Lehi seeks to buy him more time.

Israel blessing Ephraim. Joseph is standing

Lehi was aware of the many prophetic covenants within his family line. He was aware of the Lord's own promises to him. His love for his own son is such that he does not wish him to be "cut off from "the Lord's" presence." (2 Ne 4:4) His love is such that all of his days he has tried to bring him "up in the way" in such a way that he would "not depart from it." (vs 5) Yet what if Lehi had erred? What if the guilt lay upon the parent? What if while in Jerusalem he had not taught Laman all that was required?

Lehi 's love was such that he accepts the curse upon his own head. He says in verse 6

If ye are cursed, behold, I leave my blessing upon you, that the cursing may be taken from you and be answered upon the heads of your parents." 

The mercy he feels for is own son is akin to the mercy that had been extended to him by an all loving God. For what does our Father in Heaven do for us, but say that if we will but come unto him all that we have done wrong can be answered through the atonement of Jesus Christ?

Lehi is not sure if Laman will be "cut off." He can not be sure about Laman's future choices and if he will bring a cursing upon his own head. Likewise he cannot be sure as to who to put the blame of Laman's transgressions, but he can and does know that the Lord's promises to Lehi are sure. So he promises Laman and all of his children, that they will not perish, but rather "He will be merciful unto you and unto your seed forever."

The power of this blessing comes not from the fact that Laman's actions ensured his destruction, but rather that the love of Lehi for God ensured his existence. Lehi is aware of the difference.

He bestows the same blessing upon Lemuel's seed and then states "thou shalt not utterly be destroyed." To Nephi and Sam he promises that they will be "blessed in all thy days." The contrast between the two older sons blessings with their younger siblings seems small, but a lifetime of experience proves it to be much greater.

To the elder is given "mercy ...forever" and the promise of not being destroyed." To the younger  the promise of the land and a blessing of "all they days."

Why couldn't Lehi simply bless all of his sons with great promises from the Lord? Security? Eternal life? Joy? Peace? Because it was not his to give. As a patriarch he is bound by the promises of the Lord. These promises come to those who desire to dwell within the Lord's presence. They come to those whose actions prove their love.

That Lehi loved his sons is apparent. That he worried about the err of their way is also apparent. As a prophet of God and a father what a wonderful blessing he gives to all of his sons. What a wonderful blessing of mercy he gives to those who have not yet comprehended the love of God.

I am grateful to have understood this aspect of Lehi's love. I am glad to have mercy extended to me and feel certain that Laman and Lemuel shared a love for their father, if only for the promise of mercy that he extends to them. What a blessing it is to see this mercy fulfilled later within the pages of the Book of Mormon. Jacob points out a time when Laman's children were "more righteous" than the Nephites  (3 Ne 10:18). After Christ visited the continent there was even at time when the seed of Lehi shared no contention between them. (4 Ne 1:2).

Who Do you think you are? Who is your Guide? Helaman 12

So who do you think you are?

I asked the question to a child. The child looked up at me and said "I am Trainboy!" TrainBoy is a boy of seven. Is seven years a long enough time on this earth to know who you are? Yes.

I asked an older man, "Who are you?" He told me a long story of his life and then said,

I'm almost done with my life, What does it matter who I am? " It matters. He wrote his story and published it in a book so that all the world would remember who he was. We all want to matter to someone. We think that who we are depends on what we are remembered for?

I asked my father, "Who are you?" He told me he was a son of God. He told me I was a daughter of God. He told me I

mattered to him, but mostly I mattered to God.

I know that what he told me was right. My spirit inside me told me I was more than blood and flesh. My spirit told me I was my father's daughter, but before this I was his sister. We are all children of God.

We all have to decide if we will see our lives merely as a passage of time inside a body of flesh and blood, or as a spiritual being created to have joy. If we choose one way we will seek guidance as "children of men". If we choose another, we will choose guidance as "children of God."

Who we are matters. It changes everything.

I am a child of God. I did not do it my way As a child of God I learn to do it His way and this

makes all the difference. He (God) has sent me here. I did not show up as a chance of nature. Has given me a an earthly home. I have a spiritual home that I left to come here. With Parents Kind and Dear God knew he could not be physically with me so he gave me parents to be with

me here on the earth. Lead me Guide Me Walk Beside me. Help me Find the Way My parents can lead me... They can guide my steps, my actions, my words, my pathways.. When they don't know how to guide me they turn to God and teach me to do the same.

Teach me all that I must do to live with Him someday. If I am a child of man what destiny do I have after my time here is done? If I am a child of God ... I know I have a destiny, a purpose, and a life after my time here is done. I get to live with Him.. I get to love and help others who also love Him. I get to have joy in my family.

So .. who do you think you are?

God wants us to always remember we are his children. He does not want to rob us of our agency. He wants to show us what we don't know we don't know. Like a guide in a foreign land who speaks a foreign language, we can learn much from Him.

And like a master builder who knows the infrastructure of a building, he has great power and knowledge that he can use to help us as we walk through the buildings of our lives. He has the ability to move walls, raise floors, and guide us all the while. If we fear, we lose our ability to feel his love. His love is needed to help us find our way.

Words and Phrases.

Children of Men: (everlasting evil)

vs 1 unsteady hearts,

vs 2 hardened hearts,

vs 2 forget God t

vs 2 trample under feet

vs 3 not remember God

vs 4 foolish , vain, evil, devilish

vs 4 quick to do inequity,

vs 4 slow to do good

vs 4 set their hearts upon the vain things of the world

vs 5 lifted up with pride

vs 5 quick to boast

vs 5 slow to remember God

vs 5 slow to give ear to His counsels

vs 5 slow to walk wisdom's path

vs 6 they do not desire God to rule over them

vs 6 they will not that he should be their guide

vs 7 less than the dust of the earth

Children of God (everlasting Life)

vs 1 trust in Him

vs 2 prosperity, spared lives,

vs 23 blessed are they that repent

vs 23 blessed that hearken unto voice of God

vs 24 restored grace for grace

vs 24 repentance and good works

God as our Guide.. .

vs 7.. we are less than the dust.. Why? because the dust will obey the voice of God. We do not obey the voice of our God but follow our own will.. Imagine you are in the wilderness .. with your Guide and he has the power to move the earth, to move mountains, to save you. What a great guide that would be.

vs 9-10 power over the land

vs 11-15 power over the earth

vs 16-18 power over the waters of the deep

vs 18-19 Power to accurse

vs 22 -24 power to save and restore grace for grace

vs 25 power to cast out

So who do you think you are? Who do you want to be? Who will be your guide?

Is it possible for a child of seven to know who they are? Yes? They are a child of God and it is the most important thing for them to know. It alone will keep them secure, safe and sure footed on their journey through life.

Josh. 24: 15

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, orthe gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Dear God (Helaman10: 6-19)

Helaman 10: 6-19

Dear God..

(to understand a prophet I went to the counsel of the living prophets)

I read your scripture today and I did not understand it. I tried to but it seems to be beyond anything that I can comprehend. I could never imagine that you would trust me enough to give me so much power as you did Nephi. I could never imagine that I could smite the earth with famine or that I would want to? I understand the need to discipline and to help those I love through "tough love" by being strict, firm and strong, but I don't believe I could ever be a Nephi.

But wait. Nephi was a prophet. He spoke with you often and you spoke with him. You and he had a great understanding of one another. I don't believe I could ever find anything in these scriptures that would liken me to them? Could I?

Words and Phrases

vs 6 thou art Nephi and I am God..... I see two seperate beings here. I see a God and a follower of God, a son of God, a true believer, a disciple. A prophet made so pure by his faith that he was able to earn the trust of God.

vs 7 I give unto you power... When has God ever given me power? I am a mother. I have been given God's power to co create and raise souls unto joy. I am a woman and I have been given the power to heal and to love those in need of loving. I am a daughter and I have been given the power to see the vision of my father's faith. I am a sister and I have been given the power to build up and love the siblings of my youth. I am a Saint of God and I have been given the power to help others understand his love, his faith and his path.

vs 7 I give unto you power..to seal.. I am the maker of hearts and I can seal my heart to God's by my faith. I can seal my love to my family by my actions. I can seal my acts of kindness to those in need of his love.

Helaman 10:7 whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven

Joseph Smith

“The doctrine or sealing power of Elijah is as follows: If you have power to seal on earth and in heaven, then we should be wise. The first thing you do, go and seal on earth your sons and daughters unto yourself, and yourself unto your fathers in eternal glory, and go ahead, and not go back, but use a little wisdom, and seal all you can, and when you get to heaven tell your Father that what you seal on earth should be sealed in heaven, according to his promise. I will walk through the gate of heaven and claim what I seal, and those that follow me and my counsel.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 340)

Boyd K. Packer

“That sacred sealing power is with the Church now. Nothing is regarded with more sacred contemplation by those who know the significance of this authority. Nothing is more closely held. There are relatively few men who have been delegated this sealing power upon the earth at any given time—in each temple are brethren who have been given the sealing power. No one can get it except from the prophet, seer, and revelator and President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“A clear statement follows regarding the sealing power as binding on all that we do for the living and the dead.

“’Whenever the fulness of the gospel is on earth, the Lord has agents to whom he gives power to bind on earth and seal eternally in the heavens (Matt. 16:19; Matt. 18:18; Hel. 10:3-10; D&C 132:46-49.)

“’All things that are not sealed by this power have an end when men are dead. Unless a baptism has this enduring seal, it will not admit a person to the celestial kingdom; unless an eternal marriage covenant is sealed by this authority, it will not take the participating parties to an exaltation in the highest heaven within the celestial world.

“’All things gain enduring force and validity because of the sealing power. So comprehensive is this power that it embraces ordinances performed for the living and the dead, seals the children on earth up to their fathers who went before, and forms the enduring patriarchal chain that will exist eternally among exalted beings’ (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 2d ed., Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966, p. 683).

“In the Church we hold sufficient authority to perform all of the ordinances necessary to redeem and to exalt the whole human family. And, because we have the keys to the sealing power, what we bind in proper order here will be bound in heaven. Those keys—the keys to seal and bind on earth, and have it bound in heaven—represent the consummate gift from our God. With that authority we can baptize and bless, we can endow and seal, and the Lord will honor our commitments.” (Ensign, Feb. 1995, p. 32)

vs 16 he was taken by the spirit .. did Nephi die. Was he translated? Does anyone know the meaning of this verse? I do not know. What is more perplexing is when it is read in conjuction with ...

Helaman 10:16 he was taken by the Spirit and conveyed away out of the midst of them

Bruce R. McConkie

“Other prophets had been and would be transported bodily from place to place by the power of the Spirit. Ezekiel was lifted up and carried by the Spirit. (Ezek. 8:2-3.) Nephi ‘was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceeding high mountain,’ upon which he ‘never had before’ set his ‘foot.’ (1 Ne. 11:1.) Mary herself ‘was carried away in the Spirit’ at the time of the conception of Jesus. (1 Ne. 11:19-21.) Nephi the son of Helaman ‘was taken by the Spirit and conveyed away out of the midst’ of those who sought to imprison him, and thus ‘he did go forth in the Spirit, from multitude to multitude, declaring the word of God.’ (Hel. 10:16-17.) After Philip baptized the eunuch, ‘the Spirit of the Lord caught [him] away,’ and he was carried to Azotus. (Acts 8:39-40.) It is not an unheard-of thing for the Lord, by the power of the Spirit, to transport mortals from place to place…” (The Mortal Messiah¸ p. 413)

vs 17 he did go forth in the spirit-

vs 18 there began to be contentions-

Richard G. Scott

"The Book of Mormon then teaches a most impressive lesson concerning how we can learn truth: ‘And it came to pass that Nephi went his way towards his own house, pondering upon the things which the Lord had shown unto him’ (Helaman 10:2). As is characteristically the case, that pondering opened a channel of communication that brought additional understanding and truth to Nephi. In this particular instance, because of Nephi’s valiant testimony it allowed the Lord to confer upon him the sealing power. He later used that power to bring many of the Nephites and Lamanites to repentance and salvation.” (Heroes From The Book of Mormon, p. 152)

Gordon B. Hinckley

We all do a lot of studying, but most of us don’t do much meditation. We don’t take time to think. I’d like to suggest that next fast day . . . everybody in this hall set aside an hour or two. Sit by yourself. Go in the bedroom and lock the door. Go out in the yard under a tree. Go in your study if you have one and shut the door, and think about yourself and your worthiness. Read from this great book [Book of Mormon]…There’s a great word that’s used, ‘ponder.’

“’Ponder.’ What do we mean by ‘ponder’? Well, I think it simply means kind of quietly thinking things through. Ponder what you have read. Ponder your life. Are you worthy, are you living the commandments…?” (Church News, 01/06/96)

Growing up unto the Lord (Helaman 3: 19-22)

Grow up unto the Lord

Helaman 3: 19-22

In 2004, we had the opportunity to visit the Philippines to retrieve our son who was serving a two-year missionary service for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Our son (Lacrosse-Guy) wanted to share with us the sights, sounds, feelings and tender hearts he had experienced on his mission. We agreed to fly there and tour the area(s) he served in. He would thin return with us to the states finishing his service time of two years.

For several days he drove us through the top tourist spots and the beautiful surroundings areas around the city of Angeles. My husband and I took in the sights, sounds, politics, and as much of the Philippines culture as we could squeeze into our whirlwind trip. The Philippines are a set of beautiful tropical islands filled with an amazing history and an amazing people. All of our visit left a lasting impression upon my heart. Of all that we saw and visited though, it was the tender-hearts of the members our son had helped teach and convert that caused me to pause and reflect, on how my son had truly "grown up unto the Lord."

My husband had not served a mission. In this respect, my son did not see an example in his father or grandfather (either side) for him to follow. His grandfather did serve a couple's mission, but not a young adult mission. Why then did he want to give two years of his life to help others learn the truths of the Lord’s Gospel?
When he took us to the home of the Relief Society president who was coincidentally also the ward organist and wife of the Bishop, I was touched. Not because of their home’s humble and meager circumstances (cinder block and tin roof) but because of their love for my son. They cried with joy when we arrived. They shared a special meal with us, showed us their electric organ,(used to help her learn music for R.Society) and did their best to honor and respect our visit so that we might feel of the great love they had for our son. This scene was repeated numerous times during our visit. He had served those he taught well. He had learned to love as the Savior loves, deeply. I could see that his heart was breaking when he thought of never seeing these people again. For he had developed a great respect and friendship with so many of them.

What had happened to prepare our son? How was it that he was able to "grow up unto the Lord" as Helaman's sons Nephi and Lehi? Just as the time that Helaman ruled, when there was contention in the land, our home was far from perfect. We have known great contention, difficulties and stress. So what had come together to give our son the faith he needed to serve others with a selfless love of the Savior?

I believe it wasn't because we did everything right. I believe it was because we tried to do everything right. That is all we could hope for. Like Helaman who tried to serve with "justice and equity", as his parents we did our best to raise our family with justice and equity. Like Helaman who "looked to the standards (statutes), and judgments, and commandments of God, we too looked to God for answers when we didn't understand the complexity of our own lives.

Our son set high standards for his life and achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He served as a priest in his Priest Quorum at church, blessing the sacrament and taking it to those who were unable to attend meetings. He set goals, achieved high grades, and learned the computer sciences. He loved his sisters, and helped his friends reach their goals. He played sports that taught him the value of team building, rules, and sportsmanship. He did many secular things to prepare him.

But I believe, the most important thing was that attended early morning seminary where he learned with other youth his age to love the word of God, to listen to the spirit that guides, and to want to understand the workings of God in his life.

He was not perfect. There were many trials in his young life that might have thwarted his desire to serve, but his faith held strong.

Today our Lacrosse-son is a leader in his community. He sets a good example for young boys that he coaches and he helps gather community support for the organization of Lacrosse. He is a wonderful brother to his siblings and has worked hard to pass his professional exams. And like our visit to the land where he served God, all of these accomplishments pale in existence to his willingness to remain true and faithful to what he believes. He continues to serve and strive to live a life that helps others.

If it sounds like I am proud of him, I am. He is a good example of a young boy who was taught "in the way that he should go" and then chose to follow the path that God prepared for him. He brings such great joy to my heart. He brings calm peace to my heart. Not because he has finished college, not because he is and will be a successful business man, but because he has grown up unto the Lord and has learned to have a joyful, loving heart that loves to serve others.

He truly is an example of what it means to "grow up unto the Lord".

Words and Phrases

vs. 19 great contention in the land - I wanted to point out that there can be contention in the land and still have people and family who are doing all that is right. As the verses continue, we see that the contention begins to subside. I see a direct correlation between the ability to focus on God's word and the amount of contention a family might go through.

vs. 20 justice and equity - this was accomplished by 5 things

a. observe (look) to keep the standards - when you don't get to do what you want, (or your child doesn't) look to the standards and use them as your guide. I remember times when my son wanted me to cave in and let him do what he wanted. I told him..in our house we serve the Lord.

b. try to understand the judgements of God ... we don't always understand the why's of our life, but if we have faith we can find peace in knowing that God does what is best for us.

c. know and keep the commandments of God. - I was impressed with my son this past week. He had a plane to catch, he could have skipped church, but he chose to attend. He knows how to lead and keep the commandments.

d. did do...... what? that which was right. It's hard to do what is right all the time, but we can try.

e. example.. of his father. ... a family.. affair. For those of us who don't have a family example to follow, we have the saviors, the ones that can rescue us by giving us a good example when our family cannot. This is why we attend church. Not only to rub shoulders with those that serve God, but to get and be examples of God's love.

vs 22 they began to grow up unto the Lord - With Helaman as a righteous leader and example, how could they not? But Alma had a son who did not, so we know that it is possible. But I really love this phrase. As a parent, I want to always raise my children so that they grown up unto the Lord. This is not so strange.. People raise their children unto ??? ... baseball, music, math, sports, apprenticeships for their business. We all raise our children to something.. if we don't choose to raise them to the Lord, then they will be raised to the world.

vs 22 contentions began to cease - When we strive to keep the commandments of God, to understand his judgements, we find peace. Peace is not found in the fast pace, selfish, man eat man world. The world teaches every man for himself. God teaches help everyman and you will help yourself. When we learn to help others, others help us and our contentions begin to cease. When we learn to understand the true meaning of contentment, we find we have little need for contention.