Power to convert

1 Nephi 2:14 Lehi spoke to Laman and Lemuel while being so filled with the power of the Spirit that their bodies shook and they were confounded. Then the did as he said and obeyed. But they were not converted.

Asimismo, in 1 Nephi 17:48, Nephi speaks to them when they want to throw him into the sea to drown, and speaks with such force and power of the Spirit that they dared not touch him because if they did they would be shocked and would shrivel up and die! But they were not converted.

In Mosiah 13:5 King Noah and the wicked priests did not dare lay their hands on Abinadi because he was so filled with the power of the Spirit that he face "resplandecio con un brillo extraordenaria". They were brought under submission long enough for him to deliver his entire message and did not touch him. But they were not converted - except Alma.

Why? All of those examples of someone having so much of the Spirit of God with them while they preached didn't convert them because the Spirit didn't (or couldn't) enter in their hearts.  No matter how much power of testimony or how filled with the Spirit the speaker or missionary is, he cannot convert anyone. He can have so much power that touching him would kill them, or make their bodies shake, but they cannot convert them. We have no such power.

The only thing that can convert is to have the Spirit enter into the other person. It cannot be an external experience; it has to be internal. The person has to have a heart that is soft enough to let the Spirit in and not be 'past feeling' like Laman and Lemuel.

Conversion only comes from the Spirit entering into a person's heart. We cannot convert no matter how strong our Spirit is or how strong the Spirit is in us.

Do I have Great Desires?

1 Nephi 2:16 Nephi had GREAT DESIRES to know the mysteries of God. The first thing we need to be able to 'know the mysteries of God' is the have GREAT DESIRES. We can't just wnat it or have a casual interest in the Church or in God and His dealings (or His way of proceeding) with men. It needs to be GREAT DESIRES to know.

Then when we pray, it needs to not just be a casual prayer. Nephi says he "cried unto the Lord." In Spanish, he "clame", which is what Enos did.

I would think that if Nephi had GREAT DESIRES and was desirous to CLAMAR to the Lord, that is evidence that his heart was in the right place. But after his GREAT DESIRES, and then acting upon those desires (Because we aren't blessed for our desires, but for what we do with them) an then crying to the Lord, his HEART WAS SOFTENED. so he believed his father's words.

I've always believed the prophet's words without any effort  - but if I had GREAT DESIRES and then acted on them by CRYING OUT to God, my heart could be softened.

Many times in the Scriptures it talks about people whose hearts are hardened. It is probably a characteristic of the natural man that we all need to overcome - to have our hearts softened.

In verse 16, Nephi shows us how. It requires great effort. It is not a prayer at the side of the bed where we thank God for our many blessings and ask for the "things that Thou seest that we stand in need of." But rather a great effort of sincere prayer, crying out to know the ways of God, with great desires to do His will after we learn it.

I need to strive to increase my desires to know and increase my efforts that I put into my prayers to be stronger; then increase my desires to do His will after I learn it.

Knowing God's ways

1 Nephi 2:12       Laman and Lemuel murmured against the prophet – their father. They saw all the trials – or rather they saw everything as a trail: leaving their home – not the blessing of going to a promised land; leaving their comforts and gold – not the blessings of still having their FAMILY; having a ‘visionary man’ for a father – instead of the blessing of having a PROPHET in their home and in their blood; having to leave Jerusalem – instead of being grateful their lives were saved, and on and on.

In every situation we can see the trial or see the blessing. But their greatest fault was criticizing their Priesthood leader.  “Criticism of those in authority is the first step to apostasy.”  When they criticized their father and challenged his authority as a prophet, they were well on the path to apostasy. Verse 12 says in English they “knew not the dealings” of God. In Spanish it says, “no conocían la manera de proceder de …. Dios.” In Spanish it gives more of a feeling of – the way God proceeds – how He does things.

It isn't just that they didn't know WHAT He has done; they didn't know how He works with men.  If they really knew HOW GOD WORKS – His way of doing things, they would not criticize His prophet – no matter what he tells them to do.

Can we follow our Priesthood leaders no matter what they tell us or ask us to do?

Blessings in the wilderness of life

1 Nephi 2:2         Because Lehi was righteous and poured out his heart to God, God blessed him by having him take his family out of their nice home into the wilderness.  Lehi’s family was in the wilderness for so long, they had marriages, bore children, and basically went on with their lives for a good number of years! They didn’t know when the wilderness part of these blessings would end or when the Promised Land part would start.

When we turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, sometimes we are first led through a desert with problems and asked to do hard things. We are blessed while we do the hard things, but they are still hard. Sometimes this happens before we receive the fullness of the blessings He has for us.

We shouldn’t be surprised when we pray a righteous prayer and the find ourselves in the middle of a ‘wilderness’ with a lot of hardships for what may seem a never-ending length of time and with no ‘promised land’ in sight.

 If we look, we will see the blessings we are receiving during the desert part of our lives and we need to continue in faith, without murmuring, because in the Lord’s due time we will receive a promised land of great blessings. While we go through our desert, we should do as Lehi in 1 Nephi 2:7 and give thanks to God at the first chance we get.

Reading scriptures

1 Nephi 1:13       Revelation comes through and while we read and study the scriptures. Lehi was READING the book that Christ gave him in his (Lehi’s)  vision – and while READING, he said he had SEEN the abominations of Jerusalem. As we READ and study the scriptures, we can SEE what we need for our lives.

In verse 14          The more we READ and study God’s word, the more we want to praise God for His goodness to us. All we have to do is draw near to Him and learn his dealings with men – the way God does things, the way He works, the more we will want to praise Him for His goodness with us. Everything He does is to bless us in the best ways, to bring us happiness – not just today, but for eternities!

In verse 18          When we receive a firm testimony of God’s love and mercy, we want ALL to know if it too. If we don’t have the Spirit of missionary work, it may be because we don’t yet have a firm testimony of God’s love and mercy.

Follow My Example?

As Tom and I are reading the New Testament, I’m more and more impressed with the early Apostles. They seemed to be like little children while Christ was on the earth. They never seemed to quite grasp what He was talking about, or what His plan was, or how He did things. 

But after Christ was crucified, suddenly the apostles are great men, preaching and ministering to the people, trying to keep the gospel alive, trying to bring people to Christ. And as I read Paul’s epistles, I am more and more impressed with him.

In Philippians 3:17, Paul counsels the saints to “Be followers together of me…. Ye have us for example.” I would really like to be so righteous that I could say to anyone, follow what I do; do what I do. Let me be your example of how to behave, how to serve, how to be a follower of Christ!

Out of the world

1 Nephi chapter 1 starts with a prophet-father taking his family out of the world to follow the counsel of the Lord. 

It strikes me that this is what every righteous parent is trying to do – take their children out of the world to follow the counsel of the Lord.

Criticism and contention

Last week Elder Francis gave an excellent spiritual thought about not criticizing the mission president. Most of the missionaries here, especially those in the office, were here when the old mission president left, and so are inclined to compare the old one, who they loved dearly, to the new one, who they are just getting to know. He does things differently, and they liked how things were.

We have that same tendency in our Wards when we get a new Bishop or a new Gospel Doctrine teacher. My favorite Seminary teacher, Bishop Gustafson, taught that “Criticism of those in authority is the first step to apostasy.”

We need to be careful not to criticize our Priesthood leaders – our mission president, our Bishop, or any Priesthood leader. Not because there is nothing to criticize, because there always is! People even found reasons to criticize Christ, who was perfect! But whenever we criticize our leaders, we are letting Satan into our hearts. Where there is criticism, there is no charity.

But beyond not criticizing our Priesthood leaders, I suggest that we need to try and make every effort to not criticize anyone – the rude driver, the annoying companion or neighbor, the insane employee or boss who demands the impossible, or any other mortal being.

I believe criticism is a form of contention. Criticism brings anger, strife, feelings of discord. We would not criticize someone we really love.  2 Nephi 26:32 has contending listed among other things like MURDER, STEALING, AND WHOREDOMS.

Add to this the scripture, “If ye have done it unto one of the least of these, you have done it unto me.” Would we, like the Pharisees, criticize the Lord? When I criticize a really annoying person, am I “doing it unto the Lord?”

If someone criticizes one of my children, it hurts ME to the core. Possibly Heavenly Father feels the same. D&C 88:123-124: See that ye love one another; cease to find fault one with another. I am going to try harder to have a more charitable heart and not criticize others.

With all Heart

1 Nephi 1             It occurs to me that Lehi was a very righteous man. When the prophets came to Jerusalem, he was not one of those who stoned or killed them. He believed their words and because of them was VERY worried about the future of his people. He was so worried and upset, that he prayed, “con todo Corazon”.  

He didn’t just kneel down at bedtime and pray that they ‘would be kept safe from harm and danger’ He prayed with all his heart on behalf of the people of Jerusalem. He had to have been very close to God already; he believed in God and knew He would answer his prayers.

I need to try to be more like Lehi and pray “con todo corazon” for the will of God to be made known in my life.

Highly Favored of God

1 Nephi 1:1         What does it mean to be favored of God?

Nephi says he has been highly favored of God. Does it mean he is more special to God? Does God love him more? How many of us can say we feel favored?

1Nephi 17:35 says, “He who is righteous is favored of God.” So God doesn’t favor someone more highly because He loves them more. He blesses those who obey Him. The Brother of Jared was also “highly favored” of God.

So if we want to be highly favored of God, we need to draw near to Him and obey His will. I believe I have been highly favored because I have been richly blessed in my life. I have a wonderful, faithful husband; wonderful children who bring me MUCH joy, a happy, fulfilling life, and now the great blessing to be in Chile again serving here.

I’m thinking favored means blessed. I think Nephi is saying the Lord had given him many favors, or blessings. He isn’t saying he is a favorite person, but that he has been greatly blessed by God. I like the idea of thinking of God’s blessings of favors and when we receive them, we are favored.  I need to work harder to obey God’s will and submit to His guidance. As I do I know I will be more favored; I’ll receive more blessings and feel His love more.

About valuing our Scriptures

 Since we have the perfect manual, we should not ignore it. The only way it can help us is if we open it daily and search it for the instructions we will need that day.

The Book of Mormon – the most perfect manual. Through it we will know that Jesus is the Savior of the world; that Joseph Smith brought back the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, or rather that God brought back the true Gospel of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith! Because Joseph Smith was the tool in God’s hands so He could give us the manual to follow.

Joseph Smith had the plates 11 years. That is a long time considering the persecution he had while they were in his possession. He had to keep them safe all that time. When I realized that, I thought that it must have been a huge relief to finally give them back.

But then I thought that maybe he was a little sad, too, to give them back. I can sort of imagine how he might have felt because after 11 years, he must have grown to love them. They must have become very precious to him - knowing of the prophets, almost knowing the prophets personally, that had written such marvelous things on them.

I have had many sets of scriptures in my life. When I turned 8, my Primary teacher (a teacher in San Rafael ) gave me a New Testament.  I was new there, so she hardly knew me, but I was so touched that she would give me scriptures. I loved her for that and loved and treasured that book of scripture. She wrote a little message to me in it and I loved and appreciated it so much. It held great value because  of the circumstances under which I got it.

I also have a Bible in English that I treasure that I got when I worked for the Church. The cover is of fine Italian leather. It has an inscription from the First Presidency. I love and highly value that Bible. I have other copies of the Scriptures that I love and that mean so much to me because of the revelations and insights I have received while reading them.

These experiences help me understand some of what Joseph Smith must have felt to give back the golden plates. He had received them from an Angel from God; an Angel he had come to know well and love. They were of gold and contained all the answers he had sought so earnestly as a child. It had to have been a bitter sweet experience to have to hand them back over to the Angel.

Have you read the manual?

These are scriptures and messages that talk of the importance of scripture study.

Why:

Joshua 1:8           meditate day and night and you will have success and prosperity – todo le saldra bien

Psalms 119:105 the Scriptures are a light to guide you

 1 Ne 1:12            You will be filled with the Spirit

1 Ne 15:24           If you hearken to the scriptures, you will never perish; the adversary has no power over you.

2 Ne 32:3             If you fest they will tell you all things you should do.

Jacob 2:8              They heal the wounded soul

Alma 17:2            Search diligently and you will be strong in knowledge of truth and have sound understanding.

Helaman 15:18  they lead – or rather a study of them will lead to faith on the Lord, to repentance; will bring a change of heart; you will become firm and steadfast in faith.

D&C 11:21-22     You tongue will become loosed; you will have the Spirit; then all things will be added to you.

Pres. Benson     We have greater need for Spirit than ever – April 1984

Pres. Kimball      If you study in a determined, conscientious manner, you will find answers to problems and peace in your heart; will have a broader understanding, new insights, greater wisdom to guide your family. Ensign 1975

Pres. Kimball      When you feel God doesn’t hear you, study the Scriptures; we will feel more love for those we should love! – Teachings of Pres. Kimball

Boyd K. Packer  No one an survive in this world w/o personal revelation through scripture study.  The scriptures are our current Urim and Thummin –Oct 1991 Conference

Bruce R. McConkie          You will have a deeper depth to your life, increased faith & desire to do right. (Church News)

Marion G. Romney          Read the Book of Mormon in families and you will have more reverence, respect, love, consideration, less contention, more love and wisdom, more responsive to parents and righteousness; increased faith, increased charity, peace, joy and happiness! –Conf Apr 1980

Joseph Fielding Smith    You will not be deceived. You will have the Spirit of discernment; You will intensify your bod with God. –Conf report Oct 1931

Carlos E. Assay  through the Scriptures you will hear the voice of the Lord (D&C 18:34-36) Conf report, Oct 1978 or Ensign 1978

Gordon B. Hinckley         Reading scriptures is not a pursuit of scholarship but a love affair with the word of the Lord and His prophets.

2 Peter 1:20-21, Rev 19:10, 2 Ne 25:4       Scriptures can only be understood by the Spirit and by worthiness – Hel4:24

Luke 11:9             Prayer must be part of Scripture study

D&C 1:37              It is not just reading we must do. In Spanish the verb is the command form, meaning YOU SEARCH! Do it!

Any one of these is a good enough reason to study scriptures regularly!

And then it mentioned that before studying the scriptures, we need to prepare our hearts. More on next post.