#becauseofhim 2 Nephi 25

Book of Mormon : 2 Nephi 25

 13 Behold, they will ^acrucify him; and after he is laid in a ^bsepulchre for the space of ^cthree days he shall ^drise from the dead, with healing in his wings; and all those who shall believe on his name shall be saved in the kingdom of God. Wherefore, my soul delighteth to prophesy concerning him, for I have ^eseen his day, and my heart doth magnify his holy name.

 14 And behold it shall come to pass that after the ^aMessiah hath risen from the dead, and hath manifested himself unto his people, unto as many as will believe on his name, behold, Jerusalem shall be ^bdestroyed again; for ^cwo unto them that fight against God and the people of his ^dchurch.

 

 

     Happy Easter Weekend!!  The Savior was crucified, but the great miracle is that He lives!  Because He lives my children and husband can also live again.  Because of the atonement my marriage can still go on today and on into the next life.  Because of Him, I am comforted through trial.  Because of Him I can find fulfillment and joy in this life.  I love Him.  He Lives!!

 

Watch this beautiful short video here:

Love,

    Becky joy

What if I told you that it's not just Abraham?

Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi Chapter 9

 1 And now, my beloved brethren, I have read these things that ye might know concerning the ^acovenants of the Lord that he has covenanted with all the house of Israel—

      Remember Abraham?  From Genesis and how the Lord promised him many great blessings if he kept Covenants (a covenant is a 2 way promise made between God and man) with the Lord??  Below are a bunch of scriptures from Genesis about the Covenant made with Abraham and if he would keep his Covenant  then God would bless him exceedingly!
     But you know what the best part is?  Read Genesis 12:3 below....all families are eligible to receive the same blessings promised to Abraham!!! When we are baptized and make Covenants with the Lord, we are adopted into the house of Israel and as we keep our covenants we are guiding ourselves into a position to receive myriads of blessings.

Old Testament: Genesis 12

 2 And I will make of thee a ^agreat ^bnation, and I will ^cbless thee, and make thy ^dname great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

 3 And I will ^abless them that bless thee, and ^bcurse him that^ccurseth thee: and in thee shall all ^dfamilies of the earth be^eblessed.

Genesis 15:5

 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and ^atell the ^bstars, if thou be able to ^cnumber them: and he said unto him, So shall thy ^dseed be.

Genesis 17

 1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord^aappeared to ^bAbram, and said unto him, I am the ^cAlmighty God; ^dwalk before me, and be thou ^eperfect.

 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be ^aAbraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

 6 And I will make thee exceeding ^afruitful, and I will make^bnations of thee, and ^ckings shall come out of thee.

 7 ^aAnd I will establish my ^bcovenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an ^ceverlasting covenant, to be a ^dGod unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.

 8 And I will ^agive unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the ^blandwherein thou art a ^cstranger, all the ^dland of ^eCanaan, for an everlasting ^fpossession; and I will be their ^gGod.

 9 ¶And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations.

     Some pretty great blessings promised in these scriptures, right?  I will take ALL please and be happy to have my children benefit from them as well!

Love,

      Becky joy

Read about how I spent Valentine's day here.

He cannot help until you ask.

Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi 7

 1 Yea, for thus saith the Lord: Have I put thee away, or have I cast thee off forever? For thus saith the Lord: Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement? To whom have I put thee away, or to which of my creditors have I sold you? Yea, to whom have I sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

 2 Wherefore, when I came, there was no man; when I called, yea, there was none to answer. O house of Israel, is my hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem, or have I no power to deliver? Behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make their rivers a wilderness and their fish to stink because the waters are dried up, and they die because of thirst.

     The other night my husband gave me a Priesthood blessing.  I love to receive them and often ask for them because I feel like as I hear the words from the Priesthood holder, he is speaking directly from my Father in Heaven.  Often the blessings will share talents I have been given, or blessings awaiting me in my future, they also often contain counsel.  I feel so much love from my Heavenly Father when I hear them.

     In the blessing it told me that Heavenly Father wants to help me, but can't unless I ask.  Now first of all I was confused by this and then I realized I have been stressed throughout my days trying to raise 2 kids and I never ask for help, I just feel stressed all day and overwhelmed.  

     So last night I fell to my knees and I have course started out saying some things that I was thankful for and then I just let it out.  I told the Lord that I NEEDED HELP and I think I must have listed 20 needs or more before I stopped.  Tears flooded from my eyes as I shared with the Lord how much I needed Him and I felt so loved during that time that I could be so vulnerable and He wanted to help me

     The best part about this was that today I felt His help.  I got through my day and STRESS FREE.  I love Him so much.  Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.

 7 For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded. Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

Love,

    Becky joy

And Lucifer became Satan

Moses 4:1-4

 1 And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.

-When Lucifer was presenting himself, he asked for honor and recognition.  He also said he would redeem all mankind which is impossible to do unless each individual loses the freedom to act as an agent for themselves and becomes more like an object to be acted on.

 2 But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.

-Now obviously Heavenly Father presented what he wanted the Chosen Redeemer's role to be and while Satan had his own plan and wanted his own glory, Jesus came forward and said "thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever."

     How beautiful that is.  Jesus Christ stood up, and agreed to be the Savior and Redeemer for mankind and lay down his life and he did not want any glory with it.  Of course Heavenly Father glorifies those who glorify Him, but Jesus did not care for glory. He cared to please His Father.  Truly truly beautiful.  

 3 Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;

-  The thing that sticks out to me so greatly in this scripture is when it says that the Lord gave us agency, which Satan tried to take away from us (and still does), and because of agency we are able also to receive greater power, the kind of power God has.  Without agency we wouldn't be able to act for ourselves (becoming like objects to be acted upon) and we wouldn't grow or receive added power. 

 4 And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice.

-Yes he became Satan and along with the 1/3rd of the hosts of heaven, he was cast down to this earth.

D&C 29:38

  38 And, behold, there is a place prepared for them from the beginning, which place is hell.

But why were they sent to this earth when there is a place prepared for them, aka..hell.

D&C 29: 39

 39 And it must needs be that the devil should tempt the children of men, or they could not be agents unto themselves; for if they never should have bitter they could not know the sweet—

-They were sent here so we could be tempted and have choices, and so that we could know joy.  

Love,

   Becky joy

Search, Ponder,and Pray

Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi Chapter 4

 15 And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children.

     With both of my pregnancies, one of my favorite things to do was sing to my baby, and one of my favorite songs to sing to them was a song I learned in Primary called "Search, Ponder, and Pray."

The words go:  "I love to read the Holy Scriptures, and every time I do, I feel the spirit start to grow within my heart, a testimony that is true, Search, Ponder and Pray, are things that I must do.  The spirit will guide and deep inside, I know the scriptures are true." 

    The spirit is real, each time I Search, Ponder, and Pray I truly feel my spirit growing as the Holy Ghost testifies to me that the words are true.

Love,
     Becky joy

 

My first pregnancy with my Daughter Sage in 2011

My second pregnancy with my son Reuben. 2014

JOY.

Book of Mormon: 2 Nephi Chapter 2



25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

     Men are, that they might have joy.   I love this statement.  But, why does joy exist, where does it come from?

11 For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.


16 Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.

     I often think about "The Plan", ya know, before we came to this earth and when our Heavenly Father brought us all together for a big meeting telling us about leaving him, going to earth, getting bodies, being tested and such (found in Genesis in the Old Testament).  I think about Lucifer and how he has a plan too (different from Heavenly Fathers) and his plan about taking away Agency (agency is acting for ourselves).   
      Why would not having agency have been so bad, after all sometimes I wish I could make choices for the people I love because let's face it, I will choose better than they will for themselves (Like I totally want to choose who my daughter and son are going to marry). ;)  
      And just like I would choose right the first time for others, hehehe,  wouldn't it be better for God to make all of our choices for us and not give us a choice to do wrong???
      Well apparently if we didn't have Agency, there would be ....NO JOY.    Just as the Savior said to His Father in Heaven what Lucifer couldn't (which turned Him into Satan), "Thy Will Be Done".  I will choose (because I can choose, yay!)  His will as well.  I am thankful for having a very wise Father in Heaven who's plan includes JOY.

Love,
      Becky joy 

And speaking of joy, this little fellow brings me so much of it! #reubenhinckley

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.

Sustaining The Prophet; Book of Mormon; 1 Nephi 2:12-16

     Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints means that I sustain President Thomas S. Monson.   He is the Prophet called by God for these Latter Days just as Moses was a Prophet in his day.  

     The other day while getting my hair-cut from a friend of mine who is also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, asked me what I thought if all the sudden the Church asked us to do something strange (I am omitting further details and just calling the request strange).  I just replied with, "I hope that doesn't happen, that would be hard."

    Then she said, "but what if President Thomas S. Monson said he was told by God to bring this strange request into the church, what would you do?"

     I answered, "I would do it but it would be hard."

     Now I really hope that this strange thing never happens but because I know the Prophet Thomas S. Monson is Jesus Christ's true Prophet, I would know it was right.   I love it how Nephi in 1 Nephi chapter 2 responds to the strange request he was given:

1 Nephi 2:12-16

 12 And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew notthe dealings of that God who had created them.

 13 Neither did they believe that Jerusalem, that great city, could be destroyed according to the words of the prophets. And they were like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of my father.

 14 And it came to pass that my father did speak unto them in thevalley of Lemuel, with power, being filled with the Spirit, until their frames did shake before him. And he did confound them, that they durst not utter against him; wherefore, they did as he commanded them.

 15 And my father dwelt in a tent.

 16 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers.

     Laman and Lemuel when asked to move to the wilderness by their father (aka Prophet of God) they complained and didn't want to.  As Nephi explained, it was because they never knew their God who created them.  They just thought it was strange and silly and that was that.

     Nephi also had a hard time with the strange request to leave his home and move to the wilderness but he responded differently.  Instead of complaining he prayed to be able to know for himself and by the spirit he was comforted and knew he that his father (aka- the Prophet) was right.  

     This is a really good way to approach this situation.  If the Prophet ever asked something strange and possibly to a lot of people he already does, then ask God yourself.  Get down on your knees and ask.  Then the Lord will you know that it is not strange anymore and peace will flood through you.  I know this is true, I have felt it for myself.

Love,

     Becky joy

Book of Mormon 3 Nephi Chapter 15

 3 Nephi 15: 6 And blessed are the Gentiles, because of their belief in me, in and of the Holy Ghost, which witnesses unto them of me and of the Father.

     I read chapters 14 and 15 today and I am kind of having a hard time knowing what to say.  I have read through the chapters a couple times and I realized I love this verse.  I have never seen the Savior (in this life at least) but I know He is real.  I don't need to see Him to know He is real, I have felt he is real because the Holy Ghost has testified of this to me as I have patterned my life after the Saviors.  I have felt my Savior's love and I have been healed through His atonement. 
    I remember the night I learned for myself that the Savior truly was more than a fairy tale.  I was reading my scriptures and the Holy Ghost flooded through me so strongly, I knew after that night that the Book of Mormon and all of it's Prophets were true men that once walked the earth and kept the records and the Savior and Heavenly Father were just as real as I was sitting in that room that night.  The Holy Ghost is amazing and brings such a warm feeling spreading peace.

Love,
    Becky joy