Jesus Christ --> Davidic Descent - Day 17

 Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. 

He, Jesus, knew how much the Jews valued their prophecies and lineages. This was a way for Him to confirm to them who He was.

The Book of Mormon: 3 Nephi 19:1 - 29
    What most impresses me today is the subject of prayer. In particular these subjects:
        1. The Nephites prayed before and after the sermons given by the Twelve disciples.
        2. The Nephites/Disciples prayed directly to Jesus
        3. Jesus stepped away more than once to pray to God His Father
        4. Those who prayed were given the words they should speak in their prayers.
            - And they were filled with desire
        5. When they first prayed, once Jesus was with them, it was for what they most desired: the Holy                     Ghost.
            - We desire the Holy Ghost because He will bring the gifts of faith, hope, and charity, which we so                 desperately need.
            - I desire the Gift of Wise Speech. I desire to say only those words that Jesus would use.
            - What are the things He would say to lift others? (And for me to not try and aggrandize myself)
            - Does each habit align with a Gift of the Spirit?
            - Does each Gift prepare me to better serve in the Kingdom of God. If not, I want to forgo that                     thing.

Conference: President Nelson:

Pure Truth, Pure Doctrine of Christ, Pure Revelation

Day 147 Today's reading: Alma 7:1-13

Question of the day: What does Alma prophesy about the Savior?

He prophecies that the Savior will come, but not necessarily to them in the Americas. More importantly, Alma teaches what the atonement of the Son of God is, and the way it blesses all.

D&C 59: This section teaches so much about the commandments that need to be kept: the Ten Commandments, Sabbath Day observance, fasting and prayer, gratitude, and more.

Day 122 Today's reading: 21:9-27

Question of the day: Why did the Lord not see it fit to deliver the people of Limhi out of bondage (21:15)? How does this relate to us and our trials?

We are all in varying levels of bondage. The key is to be humble, trust in the Lord, and pray consistently, constantly, plead with the Lord for deliverance. 

I"m also interested in the idea that the Lord may be slow or fast to hear our prayers.

D&C 35: The Lord heard the prayers of Sidney Rigdon and Edward Partridge.

Day 108 Today's reading: Mosiah 11:1-15

Question of the day: How are King Benjamin and King Noah different? How can we develop character traits of King Benjamin?

King Benjamin was a giver and King Noah was a taker. (I'm reading/listening to a book by Adam Grant called Give and Take) These two kings are polar opposites. King Benjamin worked for his own income, King Noah kept leaning more heavily on others. He was selfish and prideful.

D&C 19: God, Jesus Christ, suffered all that we might not suffer if we will repent. Pray in public and in private

Day 79 Jacob 4:1-18

Question of the day: When asking the Lord for something in prayer, how do you make sure to still take His counsel and not attempt to sway Him?

When I really think about it, and it isn't very often that I consider the above, I take time to listen and think if what I'm asking for is really His will. Sometimes I will also present alternatives asking which might be right or if there is a better alternative I haven't considered. Still very much learning, like a child, how to do any of this.

Day 336 & 337 Today's and Yesterday's reading: Ether 2:1-12, Ether 2:13-25

Question of the day (336): When have you followed a spiritual prompting and then received further direction from God? Why do you think we sometimes need to respond to a spiritual prompting before we can receive additional revelation?

I'm not sure I can think of a specific example off the top of my head of a time that I have followed a prompting and then received further direction. But I would say that it is very common for me to ponder upon an issue for days or weeks and find that as I continue to seek guidance or information that more comes over time. I find it very interesting to go back to my journals or prayer notes and see how an idea started and then continued and changed over time.  This leads to my answer to the second question, faith is developed with work. Faith without works is dead being alone. So as we follow a prompting and then continue to seek more guidance, the Lord does give us more and refines the information given. I think the Lord always wants to give us more, we choose how much to receive.  Check this out from Elder Scott in April 2012 Conference:

"When I am faced with a very difficult matter, this is how I try to understand what to do. I fast. I pray to find and understand scriptures that will be helpful. That process is cyclical. I start reading a passage of scripture; I ponder what the verse means and pray for inspiration. I then ponder and pray to know if I have captured all the Lord wants me to do. Often more impressions come with increased understanding of doctrine. I have found that pattern to be a good way to learn from the scriptures."

Question of the day (337): The brother of Jared asked the Lord questions concerning air, steering the boat and light. What were the different ways the Lord answered his prayers and what are ways the Lord answers your prayers? 

So this example falls in line well with what we learned from Elder Scott, that if we work for it the Lord will give us more. First the Lord gives Moriancumer the exact solution to getting air.  Then he makes it tough by asking Moriancumer how he will get the light ('figure this one out yourself'). But he follows it with 'the winds have gone forth out of my mouth, and also the rains and the floods have I sent forth', this is how they will be directed or steered towards the promised land. So the Brother of Jared received two direct answers and one invitation.  The invitation is to make him sweat a little, to work for the answer, and an answer will come. Not just a simple yes or no answer, but action on the Lords part, and even more important the completion of faith and the institution of knowledge. He will no longer just have GREAT faith in the Lord, he will see and know that the Lord lives. 

Day 335 Today's reading: Ether 1:1-43

Question of the day: What principles can we learn from the way the brother of Jared prayed and the way the Lord answered his prayers?

1. There was counseling with Jared.
2. There were specific questions.
3. TboJ definitely "cried" unto the Lord. There was feeling and concern.
4. The was consistent effort over time. (The Lord said these blessing were because, "this long time ye have cried unto me".
5. Clearly there is faith both with Jared and tboJ that the Lord will answer their prayers.
6. I also make the assumption that the Holy Ghost prompted them to know what to pray for. 

Day 333 Today's reading: Mormon 9:1-21

Question of the day: What experiences have you had that confirm that God is still a God of miracles?

God answers my prayers, even about small things, frequently. And then I usually have a spiritual feeling to remind me that God heard my prayers and they were answered and I should be grateful. When I express that gratitude in prayer the blessings continue to flow and faith is increased.

2 Nephi 9:52 Prayer

Prayer has come to have a new meaning to me of late. There have been times when my prayers were more powerful than they are at the moment, but I have come to feel very dependent on the purpose of my prayers. They keep me receiving the blessings I most need from God. My faith is growing, slowly, step by step. I always give thanks for having received the blessing I asked for, then I plead for it again. Day in, and day out.

Alma 13:28 ...tempted above that which ye can bear...

We read Alma chapter 13 this morning as a family. These are the words of Alma to the people of Ammonihah.  What a wicked people! Alma continues to make the effort to help them to understand that they are not subject to this, they can change.  Alma and Amulek preached with such power, with what I assume is no real confidence in who they would get to repent.  We know that Zeezrom does, and maybe it was words such as these that helped him to know that he could repent and he could avoid temptations.  Verse 28 reads:

28 But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;

We Truly need prayer to 'make it'. I hadn't really considered how essential it was until I read this verse. I knew from reading 1 Corinthians 10:13 that we would not be tempted above we are able: 

 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

But the obvious key I was missing was the need for prayer.  The way to escape temptation is through prayer. 

Elder Bednar taught us about prayer, and specifically about how to use prayer to over come weakness.  I believe that the weakness is overcome as we avoid temptation.  Elder Bednar teaches a process of praying morning and night and having each lead and support until the next prayer.  The idea is to show gratitude for blessings seen between prayers (especially in regards to the temptation or weakness we are focusing on) as well as other aspects of the day behind us or ahead of us. 

2 Nephi 4:35 Pray - Vocally

I am reminded here of the need to pray, even without ceasing. And one of the references recorded in the topical guide subject of prayer was one that pointed to Joseph Smith's first prayer - it was the first time he prayed vocally. We and I should too.

I Need Thee Every Hour

It strikes me in my study this morning, for some reason more deeply than other days, that I need time EACH morning before the day starts to hear, see, and ponder on the Word of the Lord.  It changes everything.  My day wasn't perfect yesterday and I still made some choices that weren't perfect for inviting the spirit but my day was better and I felt the value of what I was reading and learning.

Again, I know I'm not good at seeking the Spirit every hour, but I do need Him every hour, and starting with my scripture study each morning seems the step in the right direction.  If I could find one thing to be consistent in and have that be something I was known for, it would be this, I never miss morning scripture study.  I plan for it, I make time for it, and I just always do it.

This morning I read from the Book of Mormon in the introductory section called "A Brief Explanation about the Book of Mormon".  I very much enjoyed reviewing these few paragraphs that describe the structure of the Book of Mormon.  It is helpful to remember that what we have up through Omni comes from the small plates of Nephi.  We have an insertion from Mormon and then the abridgment of the Large plates of Nephi from Mosiah to Mormon chapter 7.   Then there is the Book of Ether and Moroni's commentary.  How grateful I am for Mormon and Moroni and their ability to take instructions from the Lord and the Spirit to provide us with this Book written to lead us in the Latter days.

I spent time listening and reading a talk from Elder Mervyn B. Arnold.  He taught us to carefully think about what our name means.  What legacy will we leave under that name and more importantly, if we have taken upon us the name of Christ, what are we doing with His name?  Most memorable is the story about a cow that breaks through a fence to each growing wheat and dies.  E. Arnolds wife says "You stupid cow.  That fence was put there for a reason."  We have fences that we must recognize are put around us to keep us safe from spiritual death.

Again I am grateful for the opportunity to study the Book of Mormon and the words of the prophets from conference.  I will do it each day.  I have felt a good spirit yesterday and today as I have made time to do this.  Starting with heartfelt prayer seems to be key as well.  I love this time and will do my best to plan to have 45 minutes to an hour each morning to study, ponder, worship, write and keep my life in the right direction.  Consistency will bring the greatest changes and help me to be able to say that I never did anything with my name for which my ancestors, my family, or my Savior, need be ashamed.  Personally I rejoice in the peace and happiness this habit provides.

Simple Miracles

You know those stories where the person simply prays to find something, like their car keys, and as soon as they do they find it? The cynic says it's coincidence. I had one of those experiences today and don't believe it to be coincidence at all but feel it was a blessing. I believe I learned something about faith...maybe I relearned it. I prayed to find the soil we brought from England, that I was to give to Devon, when I first went looking for it two days ago. But there was still that negative feeling in my heart that something out of my control had occurred that would disallow the small jar to be found. I gave up looking for it, despite having gone through all of the boxes twice.

Today, I realized I needed to find that jar, and that it was not for me that it needed to be found but for someone else. I knelt and prayed, with this new thought and feeling in my heart. And then that subtle confidence came that I would find it. I walked out to the new boxes with a new plan in mind, 'empty each box and put it all back in'. I emptied the first box that I thought held the jar of soil. I didn't find it, but as I was putting it all back into the box there was the jar. Even after feeling that 'subtle confidence' that I would find the jar, it still surprised me. There it was. I had probably searched this box 4 or 5 times. Prayer works, I need to use it more. I knelt and offered a prayer of thanks to God for remembering this insignificant creature and his lost jar of English soil.