A Latter Day Prophet

Book of Mormon: 1 Nephi Chapter 22

:2- And I, Nephi, said unto them: Behold they were manifest unto the prophet by the voice of the Spirit; for by the Spirit are all things made known unto the prophets, which shall come upon the children of men according to the flesh.

     Throughout all time, people have been blessed to be prepared because of Prophets called by God to warn of things to come.  Just as Moses went to the Egyptians to warn them (even though they didn't heed the warnings for a while), we are blessed to have a Latter Day Prophet for our day:  Thomas S. Monson

To get to know him better, you can go here to watch a video about his life.  I love him so much, he truly is a man of  God:  

 8 And after our seed is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of greatworth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders.

Israel shall be scattered.  I believe that when people do not hearken unto the Lord, they  lose direction and become lost.  Missionaries and members will gather Israel  and bring them out of the darkness and into the light where they will once again know who they are and collect the birthright the Lord has prepared for them:

9 And it shall also be of worth unto the Gentiles; and not only unto the Gentiles but unto all the house of Israel, unto the making known of the covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.

 12 Wherefore, he will bring them again out of captivity, and they shall be gathered together to the lands of their inheritance; and they shall be brought out of obscurity and out of darkness; and they shall know that the Lord is their Savior and their Redeemer, the Mighty One of Israel.

Just like I said, the Lord called Moses back in the day.  But today he has also called a Prophet just like he did then:

 20 And the Lord will surely prepare a way for his people, unto the fulfilling of the words of Moses, which he spake, saying: A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that all those who will not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among the people.

Love,

 Becky joy

#discoverthebook

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGhI4p4G1P4&sns=em

He is Personal and Real

Book of Mormon 1 Nephi chapter 21

14 But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me—but he will show that he hath not.

 15 For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.

 16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

     There have been times in my life where I was swallowed up in a trial and I felt so alone.  I wondered why when I prayed I felt as though no one was listening.  Later I saw my prayers answered and peace came.  I was blessed to know that the Savior was not on the sideline cheering me on, but He was right next to me doing it with me.  He has lifted my burdens, not removed them necessarily, but He is right next to me lifting them allowing peace to flow through me.

     I love the words of a Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson when he said, "I bear testimony that this work is true, that our Savior lives, and that He guides and directs His Church here upon the earth. I leave with you my witness and my testimony that God our Eternal Father lives and loves us. He is indeed our Father, and He is personal and real. May we realize how close to us He is willing to come, how far He is willing to go to help us, and how much He loves us."

     These words hit me so hard, because I have faith in the Prophet. I know what he says is true.  It filled my heart with so much joy and I felt my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ so close to me the day I heard the Prophet speak those words.  My prayers were filled with so much faith.  I know it's true.

Love,

     Becky joy

No Excuses. (Period)

Book of Mormon: 1 Nephi Chapter 20

     Can I start out by saying that Isaiah is so HARD FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND!  I have to read and reread.  Also I have found that the Book of Mormon is more understandable to me when I study the Old Testament.  They go hand in hand.  Nephi is Jacob and Joseph's ancestor so it is just the story continuing.  Perhaps I need to study it (Old Testament) better.  

     I actually was reading the Old Testament a lot in 2014 and then I got a little confused and bored so I stopped but I must continue!!  I think it will benefit my Book of Mormon studies oh so much.

     Any who, the reason I brought up Isaiah is because Nephi quotes Isaiah a ton in his writings and it all begins in 1 Nephi chapter 20.

     Like I said, I have a hard time with Isaiah but there were a few scriptures from this chapter that stood out to me and the spirit touched my spirit as I read them:

:16- Come ye near unto me; I have not spoken in secret; from the beginning, from the time that it was declared have I spoken; and the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me.

     The Lord may have sent us to this earth with no memory of where we came from, but He has certainly supplied us with sources of knowledge, and to top off the knowledge, he has given us our conscious.  So in other words, we know right from wrong.  And the thing that I love love love in my own life when as I come unto Christ is (drum roll please):

:18- O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments—then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.

PEACE.  

     The other day I got the opportunity to go to the temple and witness a friend of mine and her husband go through the temple for the first time.  I felt joy for her and her husband and their decision to take that step in their lives, but the thing that I loved most about sitting in the walls of the Temple, was the constant peace I felt while I was there.  It. was. wonderful.

Love,

      Becky joy

Obedience Sets You Free.

Book of Mormon: 1 Nephi Chapter 19
1: "And it came to pass that the Lord commanded me, wherefore I did..."

     Every time I study the words written by the ancient Prophet Nephi, I am truly amazed by his obedience.  The statement above is the first sentence Nephi wrote as he began to write chapter 19.  He amazes me.  And you know who he reminds me of??  The Savior.
     Jesus Christ, the ultimate example because of His obedience to His Father.  I am so thankful for the words of Nephi, that remind me of how to get back to my Father in Heaven.  
     Today while I was visiting another sister in my ward (visiting teaching) I read these words from the visiting teaching message by Elder Christofferson:
     " Obedience gives us greater control over our lives, greater capacity to come and go, to work and create."
      So true!!  Just as vegetables and eating healthy (although they take work and extra time) allow our bodies to be strong and healthy, obedience to God allows spiritual (and sometimes physical) strength as well.  Think about it.

Love,
    Becky joy

Family Home Evening Last night at the pool

Sibling love.

Introducing the Book that changed my life.

     A few evenings ago I finished the Book of Mormon.  My Dad taught me to read the book daily and so I have since I was a little girl.  I am not sure how many times I have finished this book, but I do know that each time I read it,  the words influence me to do better.  
     I have started reading it again and the past few years I love to start with the Introduction to the Book.  It talks about what can be found within its pages.  
    
So according to the Introduction, What is the Book of Mormon?

* "a volume of holy scripture comparable to the Bible." (When I study the Bible along with Book of Mormon, the Bible actually helps me understand the Book of Mormon better because the Prophets in the Book of Mormon and ancestors to the people in the Bible.
*It is a record of God's dealings with America from ancient days  ( I think this is so cool because I live in America now, and it is really neat to hear some of the history of this land).
*It contains "the fullness of the everlasting gospel".  While many churches have fractions of truth,  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (aka Mormon church) is the only true church on this earth today because we have the FULLNESS of Jesus Christ's gospel.

From the introduction, Who wrote the Book of Mormon?

*"many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophesy and revelation. Their words, written on gold plates, were quoted and abridged by a prophet-historian named Mormon." 

Who is the Book of Mormon a record of?
*The record gives an account of two great civilizations. One came from Jerusalem in 600 B.C.and afterward separated into two nations, known as the Nephites and the Lamanites. The other came much earlier when the Lord confounded the tongues at the Tower of Babel. This group is known as the Jaredites. After thousands of years, all were destroyed except the Lamanites, and they are among the ancestors of the American Indians."

-Okay seriously how cool is that?  The American Indians who were discovered by Pilgrims are the children of the people who came to America years before recorded in the Book of Mormon.

What is the crowning event in the Book of Mormon?
" The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Nephites soon after His resurrection."  

Alright so the coolest thing to me about the Book of Mormon is that it has a record of Jesus Christ coming to America after he was resurrected.  Some of the things he taught the ancient Americans are recorded in this book.  It is promised in the Introduction that as we follow the Savior's teachings we will receive peace in this life and salvation in the life to come.  Sorry if I say so cool too many times but seriously I just think this Book is so cool!!!


     I testify that this Book is true.  The spirit has testified it to me and I have learned it for myself.  You will come to learn for yourself the words found in The Book of Mormon are also true as you exercise the challenge found in the Introduction:  We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)

Because of the Book of Mormon, my daughter has graduated from Nursery and is now a Sunbeam in Primary!!  I think the transition was harder for me than it was for her.  I sure love my little Sagie girl.  

  Love,
      Becky joy