Day 8 (10.3.15)
Read: 1 Nephi 17-18
Mark: 1 Nephi 17:45
“Inspiration comes more as a
feeling than as a sound…We do not have the words (even the scriptures do not
have the words) which perfectly describe the Spirit. The scriptures generally
use the word ‘voice,’ which does not exactly fit. These delicate, refined
spiritual communications are not seen with our eyes, nor heard with our ears.
And even though it is described as a voice, it is a voice that one feels, more
than one hears.” ~ President Boyd K. Packer
What
things have you felt while reading or praying?
Day 9 (10.4.15)
Mark: 1 Nephi 19:23
“May I commend you faithful
Saints who are striving to flood the earth and your lives with the Book of
Mormon. Not only must we move forward in a monumental manner more copies of the
Book of Mormon, but we must move boldly forward into our own lives and throughout
the earth more of its marvelous messages. This sacred volume was written for
us—for our day. Its scriptures are to be likened unto ourselves.” ~ President
Ezra Taft Benson
How
do the things you read in the scriptures relate to your life?
Day 10 (10.5.15)
Read: 1 Nephi 22 – 2
Nephi 1
Mark:
1 Nephi 22:26
“If Satan could but capture our
minds, he would have won the battle and the war. He can only do this if we let
him. If we refuse to walk with him, he will have no power over us, for God gave
us our free agency and Satan cannot take it away. So what I am suggesting is
that we refuse to even walk on the same street with Satan. In other words, not
only should we avoid evil, we should avoid the very appearance of evil.” ~
Bishop Victor L. Brown
How
can Satan be bound in his efforts to influence you?
Day 11 (10.6.15)
Read:
2 Nephi 2-3
Mark: 2 Nephi 2:25,
27-28
“Happiness is the object and
design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path
that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness,
and keeping all the commandments of God.” ~ Joseph Smith
What
brings you true happiness?
Day 12 (10.7.15)
Read:
2 Nephi 4-7
Mark: 2 Nephi 4:15-16
“No father, no son, no mother, no
daughter should get so busy that he or she does not have time to study the
scriptures and the words of modern prophets. None of us should get so busy that
we crowd out contemplation and praying.” ~President Spencer W. Kimball
What
is it that brings a person to love the scriptures?
Day 13 (10.8.15)
Read: 2 Nephi 8-9
Mark:
2 Nephi 9:50-51
“Keeping everything in balance
can be a real problem …Often the lack of clear direction and goals can waste
away our time and energy and contribute to imbalance in our lives. …Our main
goal should be to seek “immortality and eternal life.” With this as our goal,
why not eliminate from our lives the things that clamor for and consume our
thoughts, feelings, and energies without contributing to our reaching that
goal?” ~ Elder M. Russell Ballard
How
do you spend your time, money and energy?
Day 14 (10.9.15)
Read:
2 Nephi 10-13
Mark: 2 Nephi 12:2-3
“I can visualize an army of
righteous youth prepared and worthy to attend the temple. I can see families
sealed together for eternity. I can see youth who understand what it means to
be ‘saviours … on mount Zion.’ I can see youth whose hearts are turned to their
fathers. And I can envision youth growing up in such a way that they will come
forth from the temples filled with strength to resist worldly pressures. I can
see a generation of youth who will ‘stand … in holy places, and be not moved.’
~ Sister Elaine S. Dalton
Why
do you think Isaiah compares the temple to a mountain?
Day 15 (10.10.15)
Read:
2 Nephi 14-18
Mark: 2 Nephi 15:20-21
“Today’s popular entertainment
often makes what is evil and wrong look enjoyable and right. Let us remember
the Lord’s counsel: ‘Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil.’
Pornography, though billed by Satan as entertainment, is a deeply poisonous,
deceptive snake that lies coiled up in magazines, the Internet, and the
television.” ~ Elder David E. Sorensen
What
helps you to see things for what they really are?
Dear Sisters,
I hope that you have had a wonderful week, and that you have had a chance to read, search, ponder, and meditate on the Book of Mormon. I have appreciated the discipline this 100 day journey has imposed on my scripture study, and since I spent a fair amount of time in bed with the flu this week, I was able to maximize my quiet time in reflection on these powerful opening chapters.
Here are just a few thoughts I had this week:
- Ordinarily I read just one or two chapters per day in the scriptures. Reading more gives me a much better sense of the sweep of the narrative of this great book. This week I was struck by the parallels between Nephi's growth and development as an individual, the growth and evolution of his family, and the rapid progress of the journey of this branch of the house of Israel. Our individual actions quickly become the essence of the story of our lives!
- I was moved by Nephi's declaration that he did "frankly forgive" his brothers. I am recognizing much more clearly that the Book of Mormon provides us with deep and detailed doctrine about the power of repentance and forgiveness.
- I have also been reflecting on the two "tools" that God "provides" for this traveling family--the iron rod (not a literal tool, but a metaphor that comes to Lehi, Nephi, and their families through revelation) and the Liahona. Both represent the scriptures and guidance from God. I believe that each of us needs both an iron rod and a Liahona in our lives. When we are in the mist, we need an iron rod, a sure guide, to grasp and to follow. At other times, when we are stronger and can see clearly, we may need to seek more, use our eyes and our insight to know where to go in our lives.
I bear you my testimony that this is a sacred and wonderful book, a gift to us in these latter days. Thank you for being part of the journey as sisters in the Seattle North Stake!
Marni Campbell, Your Stake Relief Society President
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