The Gifts of God: Let Go and Let God!

1 Nephi 10

Two Gifts

I. Our church ward recently witnessed the conversion of an entire family. The father had spent the previous two years studying the scriptures. He bears testimony of how he knew the scriptures well, of how he attended (a different) church weekly, and yet he felt something was missing? He described his conversion as one of recognizing and accepting the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

II. The world believes that Christianity dates back to the birth of Jesus Christ. The world (because it does not believe and have faith in God nor his prophets) does not understand that the Messiah was promised "from the foundation of the world"(vs. 18). Jesus Christ is God's Gift to redeem the world.

I am aware of many gifts of God. As a child I was made to count them. I often counted them as butterflies, sunbeams, dogs, smiles, and food. But Nephi saw two other gifts of God. He recognized that God gives the Holy Ghost to those who believe in his words, and that the Messiah was a gift that came as part of the plan of salvation.

Today I learned how God uses the gift of the Holy Ghost to help me recognize all of his other gifts. Today (finally after how many years) I saw that when I am connected to God (through the Holy Ghost) I am connected to life. Life becomes more meaningful when I have eternal understanding. Life takes on a new purpose when I am filled with the Joy of God's love.

I am grateful to Nephi for helping me understand these greater gifts. (and Adena with whom I was speaking with this morning)

(Words and Phrases)

concerning the Jews (vs. 2) Nephi was a Jew. This is significant because Lehi is going to expound to him all that is going to happen to, through, and because of the House of Israel. The Lord is able to give his gifts to mankind because of the faithful prophets from the House of Israel. The Jewish people gave us many gifts: the Bible, the prophets, the prophecies, eternal perspective, the law of Moses (my Dad's specialty), traditions, culture, language, and so much more.

they should return again (vs 3)- I am of the House of Israel. I am not Jewish by religion, but the blood of the House of Israel runs through my veins. As I read about how the Jews were "carried away into Babylon", I am reminded that they returned again. I can liken this unto my own cycle and struggle with faith. I am often carried away.. only to return again. But Lehi's prophecies are not metaphorical, they are literal. History teaches us these things all took place. History teaches us how God used the Jewish nation to bestow and teach His gifts.

concerning the prophets (vs 5) - (how great a number that testified)

What of the prophets that taught of the Savior? What other gifts do prophets have? Clearly they have the gift of the Holy Ghost and an understanding of the mission of Jesus Christ, so what sets them apart?

They cultivated the desire to not only find the gifts of God, but to learn how to use them daily in their lives. I want to be like Nephi. I want to be desirous to see, and hear, and know of these things. Is this a bad thing? Why when I say it does the world want to put me down for it? Would God think it a bad thing?

I am so grateful we have prophets today. I am grateful for men who diligently seek out the Lord's will concerning men, and teach us truth not only through words, but through example. I am grateful to understand the power by which the prophets work. Nephi taught that it is available to all "those who diligently seek him"(vs 17). It was "in times of old", it is today, and it will be when Jesus Christ returns. Why because the course of he Lord is "one eternal round".

lost and fallen state (vs. 6) What does it mean to be in a lost and fallen state? If you are lost then you have need to be found? If you are fallen then you have need to be lifted up? How does the Holy Ghost and the Redeemer change things?

What I see is this: As humans in a physical state we see the world purely physically. We understand with reason, fact, and rational. We live to eat. We eat to work. We work to sleep. And we sleep to live. But this is a dreary way of life. Life eventually wears you down. Where is the Joy?

The Joy is found in God's gifts. They change us, our views, our thoughts, our spirits, our perspective. By believing there is more than the natural and physical cycle to life, we lift ourselves up to a spiritual plane. Nephi spoke of it in verse 17 when he stated, "the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God."

We are all "lost and fallen" until we learn to believe in the power of the Holy Ghost which will bear witness to us of the divinity of the Son of God's mission as our Redeemer. We are lost because we have no plan, no road, no course to follow. Fallen because we cannot go where God's love dwells.

rely on this Redeemer (vs 6) - How do we rely on this Redeemer? "by the power of the Holy Ghost which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him."(vs 17). The two work in tandem. If I accept the power of the Holy Ghost then I will know of the power of our Savior's Redemption. If I have faith to believe in the Savior's redemptive power, then I have faith to receive the Holy Ghost. By relying on either of these gifts I am entitled to have the power of both in my life.

the way is prepared for all men (vs 18) - How is the way prepared for me? Where is God's plan for me? Without the Holy Ghost or the belief in God's redemption my time here on earth takes on a view of finality. What a wonderful thing it is to know... (through faith) of God's power of Redemption and of his comforter (the Holy Ghost). I don't have to do any of this alone. I am part of the "all men". I am part of God's plan. When I use faith to ask, the Holy Ghost teaches me. When I falter, God's redemption lifts me up.

which power he received by faith (vs. 17) How does faith bring power? How does faith bridge the gap between our earthly world and God's gifts of the Holy Ghost and His redemptive love? I believe that power comes to those who believe like it comes to the seed who sprouts it's root deep. It comes to those who exercise their own power to let go of worldly views and believe in something that will lift them higher. We do not always have to understand the power, we only have to believe in it for it to benefit us. I.E. I don't understand how jets fly, but I believe they will fly me to my destination. Faith in God's power is like this, we may not understand the mechanics of it, but we only have to believe that it will help us reach the desires of our heart for it to begin to work within us. Unlike the gift of airplane-flight, the gift of faith requires that we participate. We must be the generator of the power. By believing, the power is made stronger and we gain even greater heights of understanding.

the mysteries of God (vs 19)- What is a mystery? Is it something to one but something different to another? Does it rely on our experience? Does it rely on faith to understand?

Are the mysteries of God like the mysteries of science?

I have experienced many mysteries that I have not understood. As a child I remember watching in bewilderment as a plate glided effortlessly across the table. As a pre-teen I remember learning to listen to a "still small voice" as it whispered to me that answer to a prayer on where to find the key I had lost.

God is no more mysterious than the laws of science. We need only to "diligently seek" to find. We need only to believe in God's love and gifts. He waits patiently for us to not only to open them, but to learn how to use them.

As I think about how I have used the gifts of God in my life, I am reminded of many different occasions when the Holy Ghost has prompted me to change my course while driving in the car, to call someone on the telephone (only to discover they had great need), to stop what I was doing and to pray for a child (and learn later they had a near miss accident), to learn to forgive myself and let God carry the burden for me.

My mother has a wonderful adage she tells me often.

"Let Go and Let God". In letting Go of my life, I must learn to rely on the Holy Ghost as it directs me down my path. In Letting God, I have learned to allow God's love carry me, so that I don't have to carry my burdens of mistakes.

What gifts have you been made aware of this day? What have you done to Let Go...

to Let God?

1 Nephi Chapter 1 The Goodness and the Mysteries

1 Nephi Chapter 1: 1-10

I think of all the chapters in the Book of Mormon this is probably the most read. Not because it is popular, but because of where it sits, at the beginning of the book. So many of us begin reading with good intentions, and then, for one reason or another, a few days of not reading turns into a few weeks, a month.... longer ... and, we lose our place. Out of humility, forgetfulness, embarrassment or just good intentions for "doing it right" we begin again.

When we begin again, we find that God, (understanding our flaws) wants us to remember (because we keep rereading it) "our goodly parents." He wants us to know that not only is Nephi "highly favored", but we too can be "favored" if we will head the prophets and add the Lord's strength and wisdom to our own. If we will learn that there is such a thing as a "great knowledge" of the "goodness and the mysteries of God." If we will ask, "how does God favor me?"

What are the goodness and the mysteries of God? How do we obtain a great knowledge of them? Nephi introduces us to what he intends to share with us. He reaches into the many memories and recalls not the dark "afflictions" that so many are wanton to dwell on, but rather the "learning of my father", and "the great knowledge," the goodness, and the mysteries" that he has seen and known during "the course of his days."

Phrases and Words

(these are my comments on phrases of words that jump out at me)

I was taught (vs1) I hope that I can be taught. Having a teen-ager in the home, I realize that it is not only the young who believe they know everything. We are all blinded by what we think we know. I wonder if I will "be taught" all that God would teach me?

language of my fathers (vs2)- a language is a manner of communication. It consists of words, phrases, mannerisms, rituals, traditions, patterns of speech. There are many languages that each of use to communicate with everyday. I.E. Music, body language, computer, business. Each of these have many different layers within them. Music for instance has jazz, classical, country, rap, etc. For Nephi it was in "the learning of the Jews" and the language of the Egyptians. We know that Nephi's family was from Jerusalem. What is the language of your fathers? How does the language of your fathers bring you closer to God?

true- (vs3) Nephi speaks truth, and seeks truth. He knows only the truth that is in him, and he tells us that it is written, "in mine own hand" and "according to my knowledge." When I read this I am reminded that History is seen in the eyes of the beholder. If this book had been written by either of any of his brothers, Lamen, Lemuel, Sam, or Joseph, there is no doubt it would be different. Would it be wrong? No. We all have our own perspectives. What makes Nephi's view special? He made an effort to see, hear, witness, and then write his account as it relates to "the great goodness and the mysteries of God."

So why should we believe him? Belief is a choice but it's been my experience in life that we all have an ability to know good when we see it. As you experience something, you know if it is good. How it makes you feel. What effects it brings into your life. Goodness comes from God. Nephi says he will tell us about the "the great goodness" of God. What goodness of God could you share as it relates to your days?

In all his days (vs4) This really struck me. I have never lived in one place longer than a few years. So for Lehi to have "dwelt in Jerusalem in all his days" means he has never moved, went without, or lived alone. He would have always been connected to something, someone, and a definite way of life. Still he was not secure. Jerusalem was in the midst of upheaval. There was great wickedness and the prophets came to warn them.

with all his heart (vs 5) Lehi, after hearing the words of the prophets that came forth in the year of Zedekiah, went and prayed. How did he pray? With all his heart? For whom did he pray? His family, his neighbors, his people. I had to stop here and remember that he had lived here "all his days." He would have been praying for uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, neighbors, fellow business associates, teachers, his rabbi. He would have been praying for his way of life. He did not want things to change. But he did believe. He did have faith that God knew more than he did and that God would replace their afflictions with goodness. Whom do you pray for with all your heart?

I found it interesting that Nephi spoke of praying with all his heart at the very beginning of the Book Of Mormon and that Moron (Moroni 10:4)

again reminds us of the need to pray “with real intent” at the end. Those who pray with real intent or with sincerity intend to act upon their desires.

Prayer begins with good desires. Lehi wanted to help those that he loved. He wanted them to hear the words of the prophets as he had heard them.

“pillar of fire” (vs6) This intrigued me? I have always interpreted this as a wall of fire. It shows you how impressionable movies are as I got my first ‘vision’ of Moses’ burning bush as a pillar of fire in the Charlton Heston version of the Ten Commandments". Now I’m not so sure? I think rather it was like a beam of light? A pillar is defined as a tall vertical structure or something that is shaped like unto it. We know that what Lehi saw was tall and vertical, but did it burn like fire, or did it have the characteristics of fire, namely brilliantly white, hot, constantly moving with energy? Is this one of “the mysteries of God?”

“he saw and heard much”+ “he did quake and tremble” (vs6) What I gleaned from this is that if you are going to see and hear knowledge from God, your body is going to quake and tremble afterwords. So powerful was the energy that came from that “pillar of fire”, so intense were the “things” that his body was overcome.

overcome (vs7) When we speak of being overcome (in our language) we usually are referring to being (emotionally) overwhelmed or overpowered. I have been overwhelmed at the realization of my parental responsibilities, or at the great amount of trust and love that my new-born had for me. Or in viewing a vast landscape of a valley as I stand atop a tall mountain. Lehi was overwhelmed by all that God shared with him. I wonder what he saw?

I am so grateful that God gave us prophets. I am so glad that there are those who can bear all that God would say to us and that we can hear God’s words through the mouth of a holy prophet. I may be selfish here, but I am glad that it was Lehi that was overwhelmed. I think I would have had to be consumed because of my unworthiness. What bit of God's knowledge does it take to overwhelm me? What words of God's truth causes me to be overcome?

carried away in a vision (vs8) I remember reading this as a young child and being totally perplexed? How could Lehi see God? I have pondered this as I have grown and wondered if it didn't mean a spiritual vision, like unto a dream? Still the scriptures are full of different accounts of men who have seen God. (see Manifestations of God) and it does say "he thought he saw God". I think he was asleep, but I may never know.

in the attitude(vs9) As I contemplated this I realize that there is no greater virtue than to have a proper attitude toward our God. As we go through our day to day rituals and routines, as we interact one with another, there are many different things that pull and tug at our attitudes. We can be selfish, childish, demanding, disrespectful with the greatest of ease. But it takes a great deal of effort to be selfless, mature, responsive, respectful and mindful of all that is good within us. One way I can take this verse and liken it unto me, is to contemplate deeply how my attitude sings and praises my God?

luster (vs 9) The word luster refers to gentle sheen or a soft glow. But this personage that descended from heaven had a luster (a glow) that was above that of the sun at noon. I guess this would depend on what part of the earth you live to determine how bright the sun is for you at noon day? (or does it) But for me the metaphor is complete. It is to say that there was no other known shine as great as that that came from this personage from heaven.

brightness did exceed the stars (vs 10) Here again we are led to understand that one of the mysteries of God is that his energy, his light, his glow, is that above all that exists on this earth. The twelve that follow him carry an aura about them that is greater than the stars. I have pondered this. What I have learned about this is that when we are good, we glow. When we are happy we shine with goodness. When we go from one level of goodness to another we shine brighter. People who do good are easily seen by the light in their eyes. The converse is the same. People who know darkness have darkness that emanates from their souls.

I wonder how my brightness is? When others see me, does my brightness help them see the light of goodness in me?

This has taken much longer than I anticipated. But it is rewarding beyond measure. I hope that those who take time to read will glean some goodness from it.

My next blog will focus on the last ten verses of 1 Nephi. I realize that this blog will be long in its journey, but it promises as all goodness does, to be memorable.

To study the scriptures is not just to obtain a knowledge of history, of family, of life, but rather to see and feel and know of the presence of a "great" knowledge of God's goodness, a "great" knowledge of God's mysteries.

A related link: Principles of the Gospel.