Read
the Book of Mormon in 30 days challenge starts today. I always noticed
in Chicago when we did this that the people who read had great
insights. It inspired me to try as I thought it seemed impossible.
Here are some insights we all had this morning.
1. Nephi chose to
confirm, not conform. When his Dad said they needed to leave their home
he went to God seeking confirmation. Others appeared to have felt
resentful as maybe they felt forced to conform. Nephi sought to follow
God and his will and when it was confirmed to him through prayer that
leaving was right, I have to imagine it gave him strength to stick with
what appeared to be an illogical situation.
2. Nephi was
honest with the fact that this was difficult. John Bytheway points out
that " We can only imagine how thrilled Sariah must be to have an
account of her families problems to be published among all nations,
kindreds, tounges and peoples. How grateful we are for sharing their
families trials and triumphs with us". He points out that we can gain
comfort knowing ancient families struggled as well.
In one of
my grandmother's journals, she asked us not to judge her because of her
trials and struggles. And yet I still judge. I am bratty and good at
self pity and imagine a lot that many people, not all but many don't
have struggles. I feel bitter about this at times. This leads to #3.
3. "And thus being the eldest, Laman and Lemuel did murmur against
their father and they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of
that God who had created them". I am so good at murmuring. Why do I
have to have the dysfunctional family, divorced parents who fought the
entire time they were married, had to get off the bus in middle school
to attend drug rehab with my adopted siblings, pick up siblings from
Prison alone, have my dad tell me I would never get married because I
only wear sweats ( as if getting married is the only proof people are
worthy of love). Why do I have to still struggle with confidence at the
age of 40 because of the way I was treated as a child? Why do I have
to have a terrible back, get in car accidents, have a daughter with
diabetes, a son with sensory integration issues and whaa whaa whaa, the
list goes on. This scripture reminds me to TRUST MY HEAVENLY FATHER. I
don't always understand the dealings of the God who created me but I do
know he has shown me tender mercies as Nephi says.
4. Nephi
was always trying to tell his brothers to be better. He must have felt
like a total good two shoes and it could not have been comfortable
having your brothers think you were so annoying and self righteous they
wanted to kill you. He wanted to follow God's plan and encourage others
to do so. Curtis got punched in the face on his mission by other
elders because he asked them to keep the rules. He realizes his methods
were probably super annoying but it was still exceedingly humiliating.
5. Nephi reminds us not to give up. I feel everyday I am failing
in my parenting, callings, reaching out, anger I feel, resentment I
feel, attempts to love others. AACKKK! I guess we just can't give up.
There are days I wish I could.
They tried three times to get
the plates. Drawing straws and bringing in the gold were probably not
the best options. It was only when Nephi was led by God now knowing
what he would do that he had success. It was God's success. Shows
Nephi, no matter how faithful and humble, was not capable of doing
REALLY HARD THINGS alone. He needed God and those failed attempts sure
showed that. This reminds me to get on my knees and plead for help
because if I try to solve hard things alone, I will just be spinning my
wheels or making things a lot worse.
Did he feel social
pressure by his brothers to go along with the group and just draw straws
and get their precious things???? I don't know but I know following
the group has gotten me in trouble. Looking to my right or my left and
not up is not a good idea and yet I still do it!!
Forgot
this insight as well. Nephi prayed the storm would be calmed and it
was. I wondered if that is indeed possible. Can I pray to have storms
calmed. I know if it is his will then of course I can. It reminded me
to pray to have storms calmed. I
got in a car accident as someone ran a red light and it has been an
overwhelming hassle, Annie got diagnosed with scoliosis, Curtis does not
have a job, we have mold downstairs and have not idea where it is
coming from and probably need to replace all of our carpet with
something else. The list goes on as I am sure yours do too. Good
reminder we can pray for the storm to be calmed or at least for
ourselves to be calmed as we navigate the storms of life. I love the
symbolism in the Book of Mormon.
