The Atonement of Jesus Christ: The Best Victory of all.

My daughter coaching her Lacrosse Team

I was asked to speak on the atonement and its relevance to the Book of Mormon. I chose to use a sports metaphor as I believed it would reach the younger crowd in our ward. 

Choose your Sport 

In 2001, we moved to Georgia. Our daughter, who is now 28 was then a Junior in High School. When she discovered that her new High School did not have her beloved sport of Lacrosse.. she was not happy.

While investigating the possibility of starting a Lacrosse team, she was instructed(by her ex pro physician Dr. Kosobucki) that in the south there were only three sports. 1. Football 2. Football and 3. Football.

I tell you this because sports play an important role in our lives. For young people maturing and growing in our society they teach the importance of rules and laws.

Sports help teach the concept that rules help us achieve goals. 

Sports also teach us how to feel the joy of winning.. and how to handle the agony of loss.

There are numerous analogies that be drawn between sports and the game we call life.

Heavenly Father's Plan 

Life however is not a game. Rules that are broken lead to players being sidelined or even being permanently removed, ie. death.  There are no rain delays and certainly no tiebreakers in the game we call mortality. Mortality offers us no eternal security. 

Like the coaches that establish rules, draw up game plans and put key players into the game, our Heavenly Father has given us eternal laws, designed a plan of happiness for us and even given us a key player that insures us joy.

Games and sports allow for only one winner and many losers. Heavenly Father’s plan of Eternal Happiness, however, was designed that all might know the joy of success.

A Key Play: The Atonement 

This eternal plan of happiness as the Book of Mormon prophet Alma called it (Alma 42:8), is otherwise known as the atonement. Jesus Christ is the star and key player. Prophets both living and ancient bear witness of his divinity, of his role in helping us all learn how to practice and find eternal joy.   

The Atonement in the Book of Mormon: Law 

The Book of Mormon prophet Lehi understood he could not travel into the wilderness of a new land without the laws that taught of Jesus Christ’s divine mission and role in God’s Plan of Happiness. Without the brass plates he would not be able to teach of his father’s eternal covenants with God, of past prophets testimonies, of the Ten Commandments, or of God’s love.  

In 1 Nephi 4:15 we read :

Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, save they should have the law.

Lehi was the first prophet of the Book of Mormon to testify to the divinity of Jesus Christ’s role in the Great Plan of Happiness. The Book of Mormon has multiple prophets that testify of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

GamePlan: Atonement

The prophet Jacob asked, 

“Why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him?” (Jacob 4:12)

Kay Player: Jesus Christ

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The brother of Jared shared the savior’s words to him : In Ether 3:14 we read:

Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ.

To the list of Book of Mormon prophets who testified of Jesus Christ and his divine atonement we can add Zenock, Neum, and Zenos ( 1 Nephi 19:10).  King Benjamin, Alma the Elder, Alma the Younger, Amulek, the sons of Mosiah, Captain Moroni, the brothers Nephi and Lehi, Samuel the Lamanite, Enos, Jarom, Amaron, and Amaleki also testified of the atonement.

The Book of Mormon – another testament of Jesus Christ – contains 6,607 verses. 3,925 refer to Jesus Christ.  It references the Savior’s atonement 39 times and speaks of the resurrection of Jesus Christ 81 times. When you consider that Jesus Christ is it’s principal character there can be little mistake that the Book of Mormon makes the solemn declaration that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. (A Testimony of the Book of Mormon)

One of my favorite prophets is the courageous Abinadi. He gives us a good understanding of the relationship between living the rules (law of Moses) and in utilizing the atonement of Jesus Christ.  After prophesying the people’s destruction, he has been taken before the courts of King Noah to be questioned.. To Noah’s priest’s, Abinadi taught and testified:

And again he said unto them: If ye teach the law of Moses why do ye not keep it?  Mosiah 12:29-31

Noah and his priests soon are ready to be done with Abinadi, but Abinadi is filled with the spirit of God and cannot be touched. He then recites to them the Law of the Ten Commandments and tells them they are not living them, nor are they written on their hearts.

He continues to explain the atonement to them.  From Mosiah 13: 27-28 we read:

And moreover, I say unto you, that salvation doth not come by the law alone; and were it not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses.

In  Mosiah 15:1-7 Abinadi continues:

 I would that ye should understand that God himself shall come down among the children of men, and shall redeem his people.And after all this, after working many mighty miracles among the children of men, he shall be led, crucified, and slain, the flesh becoming subject even unto death, the will of the Son being swallowed up in the will of the Father.

 Mercy and Mistakes

In learning how to play a sport mistakes are inevitable. And mistakes ensure both a winner and a looser. Shots will be missed, fouls incurred, rules and boundaries broken, and we might even score a goal for the wrong team.

 In life we might commit what we perceive as an unforgivable sin, a no win situation, but as Elder Marcus B. Nash of the Seventy points out, “through the infinite Atonement, God has provided a means whereby we can both overcome our sins and become completely clean again. This is made possible by the eternal law of mercy. Mercy satisfies the claims of justice through our repentance and power of the Atonement. Without the power of the Atonement and our complete repentance, we are subject to the law of justice. (2006 April General Conference, The Great Plan of Happiness)

Additionally Alma taught that “mercy claimeth the penitent” (Alma 42:23) and that the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance.” (Alma 42:13). 

Russel M. Nelson said that, “The resurrected Lord taught, "This is the gospel which I have given unto you--that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me." (3 Ne. 27:13. Then He amplified that one-sentence definition: "My Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me." (3 Ne. 27:14)  This unique mortal mission of the Lord--the gospel as He defined it--we know as the Atonement., (A Testimony of the Book of Mormon Russel M. Nelson.)

The personal ministry of the resurrected Lord to people of ancient America bears an unmistakable testimony of the Savior’s mission.  To them He made this revelatory announcement:  "Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. . . .  ". . . The scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled. . . .  "I am the light and the life of the world. . . .  ". . . Whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost. . . .  ". . . I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.  "Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. . . . I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me, . . . and be saved." (3 Ne. 9:15-16, 18, 20-22) 1999 October General Conference, (A Testimony of the Book of Mormon)

 

Temp View High State Lacrosse Champs. My son as their coach. 

I have watched my children participate in many sport events. Some they have even coached and refereed for. I have witnessed their joy when the scoreboard favored their team. I have wiped away tears when it did not. 

But Of all the victories that I hope my children will understand and strive to win, I hope they will seek the victory of eternal life that comes through the atonement of Jesus Christ. 

Jacob taught that without the atonement we might all be like the losers on the sport field. We might all be lost.He said:  

And this is not all—it has been made manifest unto me, for I have heard and seen; by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, I know if there should be no atonement made all mankind must be lost. Jacob 7:12

The Book of Mormon testifies not only of the atonement, but of its infinite power to bring us joy, no matter what the score board might read. Through the Savior’s example of mercy and charity we all are given the power to lift not only ourselves up to a happier state, but to also offer that same score to our fellow saints and teammates. The atonement of Jesus Christ offers a win win situation.  

I bear witness that there is a power of goodness and healing that comes from reading the Book of Mormon. I believe this power stems from the pureness of God's atoning love and from the witness that is brings to us, the covenant people of Israel. 

In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Genesis 22 A Lamb for an offering

When God asks us to sacrifice, he always provides a lamb in the bushes.

It's been a long week for me. A week of second guessing myself and choosing direction.  A week of travel, meetings, and family time that has caused me to wonder why I read and ponder and study the scriptures the way I do.  Why am I on this scripture journey? And that led me to consider if Abraham ever wondered why his love for God had brought him to the place where he was willing to listen to obedience and love for God over ethical reason, over family security?  His faith was so sure that he didn't know how God would answer his pleas, but he knew he had to obey, and that his answer would come in and through his obedience. In practicing obedience he would find the answers and understanding of God's law that he longed for.  God had kept his promise before, why would God forsake him now? He didn't know where the Lamb for an offering would come from, but surely as he prepared and did all that God required of him, he knew that the lamb would be there. He trusted God. And in trusting God, he learned to trust himself. God knew how Abraham would respond. The test was for Abraham to learn how Abraham would respond. 

Concerning Abraham, President Hugh B. Brown said,  

"God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac because "Abraham needed to learn something about Abraham" (in Truman G. Madsen, The Highest in Us [1978], 49). 

Elder George Q. Cannon spoke about Abraham in the April 1899 Conference. He said: 

“Why did the Lord ask such things of Abraham? Because, knowing what his future would be and that he would be the father of an innumerable posterity, he was determined to test him. God did not do this for His own sake; for He knew by His foreknowledge what Abraham would do; but the purpose was to impress upon Abraham a lesson, and to enable him to attain unto knowledge that he could not obtain in any other way. That is why God tries all of us. It is not for His own knowledge; for He knows all things beforehand. He knows all your lives and everything you will do. But He tries us for our own good, that we may know ourselves. ... He required Abraham to submit to this trial because He intended to give him glory, exaltation and honor; He intended to make him a king and a priest, to share with Himself the glory, power and dominion which He exercised” (GeorgeQ. Cannon, in Conference Report, Apr. 1899, 66).

Sometimes it feels like when I sit down to write I am listening to obedience over reason. I don't have a clue how many people I am reaching?   Do my words matter? Is it a wise use of my time, my faith? But I know, like Abraham,  that God is reaching me: one person, one mother, one daughter, one sister, one grandmother, one handmaiden of the Lord, one family.  When there are so many other things I can with my time I wonder why I write so deeply about what I learn? The beauty is that every time I write... every time I am obedient to the promptings to analyze and present my thoughts on the scriptures, I find "a lamb" in the bushes, some surprise that God has prepared for me that I would not have seen if I had chosen to disobey. Usually it comes in a learned principal that raises my spirit up, or stabilizes the ground I stand on. Or it might teach me a new perspective that becomes imperative in my own families peril of survival, but not always. Sometimes it merely brings me peace. A peace that I am certain Abraham felt when he realized where his loyalties lay and the rewards that his faith would bring him and all of his likewise obedient progeny. 

The sister missionaries in my daughters mission

I have a daughter who is currently on a mission for our church. Her leaders have kept a mission blog and I read it from time to time. Tonight when I read through it I was amazed at how much sacrifice is given by each missionary and by each leader. There is one photo of the mission president and his wife washing dishes. Mission Presidents come from all walks of life: wealthy, poor, educated, not so educated, successful businessmen, farmers, sportsmen, educators, etc. When they come to serve the Lord they come to serve. The only prerequisite they need is a willing heart to sacrifice what or whom they love so that others can learn and feel of God's love.  Fortunately the law of blood sacrifice passed with the atonement by Jesus Christ. God now proves us by asking us to present our willingness to serve and love one another. It starts in our family with our spouse, our children, our parents and then moves to our neighbors our church community, our school or city of residence. We are asked to forsake selfish pleasures and desires for the welfare of something larger than ourself.  When we do this we find .... our own joys.  But mostly.. we find ourself. We discover what we hold dear. Each choice to serve and obey defines us. It draws us into the circle of God's love. 




It's not because God needs to know who we are and what we are capable of, it's because like Abraham who was given a commandment to sacrifice the very thing he had lived his entire life for, the very promise that God had given him, we are brought to our own personal trials so that we too might know where our loyalties and our joys lie. 


I have found that when I read and contemplate the scriptures each week, I am able to make my relationship with him more active. No longer am I a passive receiver of words.  By writing what I learn the lessons become imprinted on my heart and act as a guiding star in my daily decisions. How often have I considered Sarah and Abraham and their love for one another, their epic story of love, fidelity, faith, and what they sacrificed for me so that I might have a higher understanding of God's law. How grateful I am to my friend who challenged me a year ago to read Genesis. Never in my wild imaginations could I have conceived how profoundly this book of holy scripture would forever change me. By making a consistent effort to commit to feast on his words I have found great peace and comfort in my trials. I have learned to let anxiety pass me by and understood better what it means to trust in the Lord with all my heart, might, mind and strength. I have not known fewer trials, but I have had the strength to use my trials as stepping stones. And isn't it true that with each trial we face if we don't make it into a stepping stone, it becomes a stumbling stone that stresses us and causes us to loose our way. 

Concerning the stress and trials that Abraham went through to discover these truths Elder Neal A. Maxwell  said our lives “cannot be both faith-filled and stress-free....

“Therefore, how can you and I really expect to glide naively through life, as if to say, Lord, give me experience, but not grief, not sorrow, not pain, not opposition, not betrayal, and certainly not to be forsaken. Keep from me, Lord, all those experiences which made Thee what Thou art! Then let me come and dwell with Thee and fully share Thy joy!” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1991, 117; or Ensign, May 1991, 88 ).

Most focus in Genesis 22 is on  the fact that he is offering his son, that he has ignored the moral law of not killing your own, that it goes against everything God had taught him, or that it is just so horrible to consider that he would give his son. We focus on Isaac and his grief and pain. Abraham's sacrifice is hard to consider because Abraham's trial is our own. It is why we have a hard time pondering it. It is the sacrifice we forsake to serve another, to stand as a witness, to show God and ourself that the love within us is the love we believe it is. 

that they might know and remember (Helaman 16) a first ray of light

Families have stories that settle deep within us, that become the core strength of our existence, of our success, of our faith. These stories become our shafts of light that not only teach us so that we might know, but also remind us of how we first came to know of his love.

Faith is to believe in things hoped for but not seen. But sometimes.. the Lord allows us to see and feel and behold things ..... so that as Samuel says

"that they might know and remember at the time of their coming that they had been made

known unto them beforehand."

If we don't take time to write these blessings and accounts down, we might forget and miss the opportunities that God wants us to receive. I am grateful to my father for his written account of our families first ray of light.

My parents married in 1954 in Florida. Because my father had recently returned from Japan he attended school on the GI Bill. Before he set a goal to graduate from Michigan State University he and my mother set out to farm a small acreage of land on the family farm. Farming is not an easy life, and they struggled to make ends meet.

By the grace of God they managed. But then one July day in 1955 a heavy rain deluged his crops and drove him to his knees. The downpour had destroyed everything and left him totally broke. He prayed like he had never prayed before. He prayed until God showed him a sign. From this sign he knew that he had been heard and that his prayers had been answered.

After much consultation and consideration the family moved to Florida and began life anew. Then in September of 1960 a knock came upon their door. Two missionaries stood at their threshold telling him of eternal truths.

Dad politely listened as he smoked his cigarettes. He politely listened until he heard them speak of Joseph Smith's vision, of a ray of light. A ray of light that came as a shaft from heaven and lit the entire space of his room.

At this testimony my father took pause. His heart skipped. His throat tightened. He too had seen a light. Back in Michigan on his knees, he too had experienced this same answer to prayer. A spirit of truth shot through him. An understanding took root and he began to listen with greater sincerity.

In answer to his prayers, God had sent him a shaft of light as a sign to his love. My father recognized this light as the truth that he had felt that hot Michigan night while on his knees. He recognized that he had been given "that "he" might know and remember at the time of their coming that "his love" had been made known unto "him" beforehand.


Dad accepted the gospel and was baptized December 17, 1960. This December will mark 50 years in the faith of Jesus Christ. As he puts it... December 17 marks my birthday into eternal life.      

God will prepare the way for us, but we must do our part. My father was able to recognize the truth of God's love in the message of the missionaries because he did his part. He prayed with a sincere heart and then he exercised this prayer through his faith. When God sent his missionaries his heart was prepared to "know and remember" and then receive.

How has God prepared his love for me? How has my life been changed because my father accepted the message of the Lord's missionaries? Why is it important for me to write and ponder these things from time to time? Why is it so easy in today's world to be carried away by the winds of the world and forget all that God has given and done for us?

Words and Phrases

vs 1 many who heard - there are many who listen and hear the words of the prophets. We are blessed with many great blessings when we heed the words of God's beloved prophets.

vs 2 The spirit of the Lord was with him - God will protect his prophets until the time of their message is fulfilled.

vs 3 - there were many more who did believe - (because they could not hit him) strange way to convert, but okay. God's power is mightier than man's strength.

vs 4. that they might know - baptizing, prophesying, preaching, repent, signs wonders, miracles.. ... not a little work for the welfare of the souls of men.

vs 5 that they might know and remember at the time of their coming that they had been made known unto them before hand - we all have things that God has told us and when it happens we think back. I knew that was going to happen. When we listen.. When we read. When we take the time God will direct us and show us all that we must do to be kept safe and to witness to us that He is real and that his Mission is for our salvation.
vs 6 he hath a devil - Why would they think this? Because they could not understand God's ways. Because he was able to tell the future. Because of his gifts of the spirits. Because they were not lovers of truth, but rather lovers of selfishness.

vs 10 the more part of the people.. .the lesser part - not very equally divided.

vs 13 great signs given unto the people - wonders, -

vs 14 the scriptures began to be fulfilled -

vs 15 depend upon their own strength - it is the most difficult path when we will not allow our father's wisdom to guide us.
vs 17 they began to reason ... and contend - reasoning is not faith. reasoning leads to contention. Why? because reasoning means that you must rely on the mind of man and only one man can be right. Faith allows for greater perspective.

vs 22 many more things did they people imagine - when our faith fails us we turn to our imagination. When our faith fails us we forget to remember the signs of his love.
vs 23 not withstanding the signs and the wonders - we all have opportunity to have God work in our lives. I believe that a loving Father makes it possible for all of us to receive his love in our life and to know of signs that witness to our heart. But some of us will refuse these signs... some of us will "notwithstanding" all that we see and know and believe. Some of us will forget, we will not write it down upon our hearts.

In our family, my father has written it down. In his personal history he tells a most eloquent story of his conversion and the shaft of light that became his sign. Everytime I hear or remember the story of Joseph Smith's prayer in the sacred grove, I am reminded of my father's prayer one cold Spring night. I am reminded that this sign was given that we (his family) might all "know and remember" how God loves us and how God sends us signs so that when the truth comes our hearts know.

no cause for unbelief (Helaman 14: 20-39)

"No cause for unbelief "

Life doesn't always turn out the way we would like.

We work hard to build lives that offer financial success. But the financial world is, like the relatively new science of economics describes as unstable as the human psyche that created it.

We work hard to build lives that bring physical stability. But like the flowers that bloom and then fade away in the afternoon sun, our bodies turn tide against us.

We work hard to build lives that bring social security. But friends that we network with change, families move away, jobs end and the politics that frame our standards and laws ebb and swell with the changing mood of the masses.

So where do we go to build an infrastructure of sureness? To whom do we turn?

In my life I have had many miracles. I have had many reasons that I could say "I have no cause for unbelief." With an unseen hand my God has directed my paths and the paths of my children. He has loved me and given me great reason for rejoicing.

As I thought of these verses I realized I could not think of one instance or one occurrence that spoke louder than another. Instead I have had many that have helped my faith wax strong. As I have dipped my candle into the words, the counsel and the direction of wisdom's call, my inner candle of faith has waxed stronger.

I have never felt the earth move under my feet or know the fear of walls falling around me, but I have the structure of my life pulled out from under me more than once only to find that my faith has steadied me.

I have never felt the wind of a tempest blow me down or watch it carry away every earthly possession, but I have had angry and bitter winds of corporate jealousy, greed, and competition threaten to destroy all that my family represented, only to find that I was carried by God's love through a storm so fierce that I would not have survived without Him.

I have never seen an angry volcano explode and spew hot lava or ash over my world, but I have known the fear that angry words bring, the aftermath of angry emotions, and the peace that forgiveness forges as well as the fertile soil that comes from understanding.

I have never seen a mountain laid low or a hurricane blow its mighty wrath upon the land, but I have seen the hand of God as it steered my life on a course that would make it possible to heal my child's birth defects in such a way that she would not only be able to live a normal life, but would do so with grace and most importantly without a sense of victimization.

My trials are not over. Life isn't something we orchestrate as you would a physical structure. It is much more fragile. Life requires faith in energy that lives within the materials we use to build the structure. The elemental source of life itself.
We call Him God. He is the one that keeps the rocks from falling on us during a catastrophe (either physical or spiritual). He is the one who loves us beyond our greatest comprehension. All he requires is that we understand... we "have no cause for unbelief."

Words and Phrases

vs 20 in that day... From the time Christ dies there begins a time of 3 days where there is no light. This could have been because of an eclipse, or a volcano explosion which would block the light from the sky, or ???

vs 25 graves shall be opened - a first resurrection for those who died before the Savior.

vs 27 a darkness - for three days. This darkness was like no other. The closest I could think of would be like going into a cave and turning out your flashlight.

vs 28 to the intent - might believe.. to the intent no cause for unbelief. So in other words.. those that believe will have great cause to believe... so great will be the signs and wonders that will be predicted and known beforehand.. and also the miracles of those who will be saved because of their faith and obedience..

vs 29 a righteous judgement - those who will not believe will be judge according to just judgments.

vs 30 perishes unto himself - those who do not believe .. believe in themselves. and therefor they will perish unto himself. There is not reward in not believing in the Savior Jesus Christ. You are alone. You have no community, no help, no truth.

vs 31..choose life or death - this is not about a physical life, but rather a spiritual life. When we choose eternal life, we gain an understanding of what it means to live. All of the physical turmoil around us cannot distract us from our faith in Christ.

We have no reason.. no cause for unbelief.

Testimony (Helaman 5 17-20

Helaman 5:17-20

Preach = Teach + power+ conviction

Every month our church allows those, who so feel the need, to stand up before the congregation and bear their testimony. This is called Testimony meeting. My husband and I recently enjoyed the fruits of our preteen son's testimony as he taught us about service, friendship, and the power of God's spirit as he experienced it.

Preaching usually conotes a listener enduring a teacher's reprimand. One of the functionalities of the gospel that sets the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints apart from other religions, is that it allows its members to explore their own feelings and share them monthly with one another. This allows the congregation to learn through the power and testimony of new converts, young converts, old time seasoned members, as well as anointed church leaders. As I listen to the individual stories of members of my ward, I am often drawn closer to them in the relization that we share similar life struggles. I am reminded of my own struggles and have (in many a testimony meeting) been touched in special ways.

The power of words is very real. Nephi and Lehi saw this as they stood and bore their testimonies to those dissenters who had need of repentance. They also understood as they traveled from city to city declaring the word of God to those who had lost hope.

What always amazes me about the sharing of my testimony either in written word or in spoken testimony is the power of the Holy Ghost that surges through me as I sift through my life to uncover true feelings, true doctrines, and true practices. What is important in the understanding of personal testimony is not who it comes from, but that it comes with a sincere honest spirit that desires to speak the truth.

As our GuitarGuy stood before us on the first week of July, he bore a simple heart felt testimony of the power of being with good peers, and helping another find his way in God's church. It was not showy. His words were not obscure. His words told of a group of twelve year old boys who enjoyed living God's standards in a boyscout camp environment. He told how he was proud to be a member of the church and how his troop stood out for their acts of service and their ability to motivate and honor their scout code. I know that my testimony grew that day. As I looked around the chapel, I saw several of my son's friends sit just a bit taller that day.

Words and Phrases

vs 17 preach with great power - When you set out to teach the word of God, the Holy Spirit gives you power so that others will hear your voice. The Holy Ghost will always be where there is truth. You do not have to teach with a loud voice, or profound words. You only have to speak, like our GuitarGuy did, what is in your heart. The Holy Ghost will do the rest.

vs 17 they did confess their sins - Truth leads us to an honest heart. I believe we all want to have the blessings of having an honest heart. When we hear the truth given to us with the power of the Holy Ghost we have the desire to confess and make retribution to those we have offended

vs 18 they had what they should speak given to them - The joy of writing about scripture is I don't know what I will say until I begin to write it. It is given to me... When we stand to bear our testimony to those who will listen (testimony meeting) if we will listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can find direction to speak what we should. Often times it does not have anything to do with our own personal growth, but we might say something that means a great deal to others. The Holy Spirit knows these things.

vs 19 convinced of the wickedness to the traditions of their fathers - I heard a saying in church last Sunday. A mother said to her daughter: "You are the best of my best attempt to do good". Families try to do what is right. Many times we are led astray and family traditions then become the norm for generations. I.E. Tobacco was introduced to the American Public in WWII when it was given free to the soldiers. The tobacco company knew that it was addicting and that it would enslave not only one American soldier but generations of Americans. Why? Because children tend to do what they see everyday. It took a massive public campaign to convince the public of the wickedness (dangers) of smoking. Preaching did not do it for all. Only the teaching of the younger generation who then pleaded with their parents to stop so that their lives would be prolonged held the answer. We have to all take a look at what small pervasive traditions our families share that need to be corrected so that we can understand the truth of God that is within us.

These Plates of Brass (1 Nephi 5: 10-22)

1 Nephi 5: 10-22

These plates of brass

I attended a fast and testament meeting that was unusual in that the majority of the testimonies revolved around how the scriptures and in particular the Book of Mormon (these brass plates) had changed their lives. I wrote down several of the comments. As we think about these brass plates, I think we can learn to appreciate all that the Lord had in store for those who follow his spirit (1 Nephi 4) and find learn the dealings of that God (chpt2).

Testimonies witnessed they receive: a daily dose, a testimony of the Bible, true evidence, a greater glimpse, a purpose, a time to reflect, strength, help during turbulent times, gratitude, an anchor, an uplift, faith in the Savior, blessings, the gift of the Holy Ghost, deep insights into our lives, a personal compass, answers to prayers, witness to an unchanging God, miracles, the spiritual way, knowledge, Peace, and communication with God.

(Words and Phrases)

after he gave thanks ..took the records.. did search them. (vs.10) - I give thanks each morning for food, for a safe night, and then as a family we search the scriptures. It's not enough to read the scriptures. I need to search them. I need to look for what I need that day in order to navigate my choices.

I have a theory that if we listen to our body, it will let us know what nutrients we need and we will want to eat certain foods. I think the scriptures are much the same way. If we will read them, the parts that are important to our spiritual nutrition will jump out at us and we can find wholeness. I hope that I can teach my children to not just read the scriptures, but to search them for all that they need to learn.

Herein lies the difference in just feeding a child and teaching a child how to feed themselves. We can take our children to church. We can read to them from God's Holy Word, but if we haven't taught them to search God's word for what they need, have we really taught them to fish?

five books of Moses (vs.11) What are the five books of Moses? I don't know? Something to think about and study later on? What do we know about these books? They contain an account:

1. of the creation (v11)

2. of Adam and Eve (v11)

3. a record of the Jews through to Zedekiah (v12)

4. the prophecies (v13) beginning - Zedekiah?

5. Jeremiah the prophet (v13)

6. a genealogy (v 13)

7. an account of Joseph (son of Jacob) how he was preserved when they were led out of captivity

from the beginning (v12) - this struck me.. could it mean (from the beginning of when the written word began?) Or is it possible that there was another race of men that actually began with the creation? We know from science that man was here long before his written record was. I really don't believe that there is a problem with science and religion. I believe the problem lies in communication of language, and there is much we don't know. It jumped out at me.

he was filled with the spirit (vs. 17) - Lehi read the brass plates and was filled with the spirit. Many people testified yesterday of how they read "the brass plates" and how they were filled with the spirit (see above). Is it possible for me to read the scriptures and be filled with the spirit also?

he began to prophesy (vs. 17).... he told what would become of the plates....Why do we think that we cannot prophesy concerning our own situation? What is revelation if it is not prophesy? When I read, pray and study God's word, I believe he will open our lives unto us and show us the pathways we have chosen. He will help us to see where we are headed good and bad. Here's the catch. Nephi knew what was in the plates as he read them with his father Lehi. Would what he saw come to pass if he had not written about it? We wouldn't know about it. His written word wouldn't have power to sway our thoughts, emotions, and spirits.

It is one thing to prophesy and keep it in your heart. I believe it is much more powerful to prophesy and write it for all the world to see.

He prophesized:

1. Plates should go forth unto all nations.... it’s happening as we speak.

2. to all kindreds, tongues and people of his seed.... (all nationalities genetically connected)

3. never perish...

4. would never be dimmed by time. These words are words of wisdom that guide the soul.

they were desirable... of great worth. (vs. 21) What is of great worth to me? When I think of all the things I own, it is the things that bring me closer to my children that are of great worth and desirable. If there is anything that can do this, I will seek it out.

it was wisdom that we should carry them with us (vs. 22)- I have to wonder how I use wisdom to carry God's word with me each day? I wonder... I can carry God's word with me or be as those in Jerusalem and be carried away? I wonder do I even remember to pick them up some days? What if Lehi had forgotten them? What if he hadn't gone back for them? What if it was all of men? Would all of this have lasted (never to perish)? Would it have dimmed with time?

What of the other great works? How do they dim with time? I listened to a commentary to "To Kill a Mockingbird". This great classic is beginning to waiver in popularity among university professors and students who have begun to say that its message is dated and no longer applies to them. I thought it all a very interesting conversation.

Still... I wonder what determines what we carry with us each day? If we were to backpack, we would be sure to carry with us essential physical food. Spiritually we all need to be reminded and carry with us essential spiritual food so that when life is hard, when we lose our way, when we exhaust ourselves and need encouragement, and when we struggle with decisions, we will have the wisdom within us to help us make choices that will bring comfort, peace and understanding.

I have found that "these plates of brass", although metal and of great weight, lighten my load each day. They lift me up, teach me of an easier way and give me perspective that keeps me forever in the brightness of His love.