Mosiah 2

      In this Chapter, King Benjamin brings all the people together so that he can speak to them.  King Benjamin is a very righteous King and because of that there was exceeding amounts of peace, joy, and prosperity in the land.  I loved this scripture:
6 And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his ^atent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them;
     In our home, we can't physically point our door towards the Temple, but we do the best we can.  We have pictures of Temples around the house and I try very hard each day to make my home a zion like place where the spirit can reside.  As I write this I am realizing I need to work a little bit harder though.  I need to play spiritual music, keep my house a little cleaner, and spend more quality time with my children.  Sometimes the last 2 things though just aren't very possible to happen in the same day.
     I want my children to feel safe in the walls of our home and to feel the spirit when they are home.  I want our home to feel like a Temple to my family.  I want my home to be a Christ centered place.  I am learning the best way I can create this in my home is if I ask for help from my Heavenly Father each day.  Also scripture study is a huge part of me creating zion and good nutrition and exercise.

Love,
    Becky joy

Suffering in Ignorance. Mosiah 1:3

3 And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the ^aplates of brass, saying: My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these^bplates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ^cignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God.

     Yesterday my husband and I celebrated 6 years of marriage together.  We were really married on the 2nd of May, but because of his work schedule we celebrated early.  
      We had such a fabulous day as a family.  We rented bikes here in Houston and rode bikes (with our kids strapped to our back) through bike trails on the bayou and through a couple parks.  I couldn't stop smiling, I loved this time with my family so much and I felt like a young girl again riding my bike with the breeze going through my hair.  It was wonderful.  
      At the end of the day we decided to eat out at a really nice steak place (which since we had our kids, we really should have just saved some money and ate at Mcdonalds because having kids in a restaurant is stressful!)   While we were eating we realized that I had locked the keys in the car.  We decided when we were done eating to walk the two miles with our kids to our apartment to get our second pair of keys.  
      While we were walking we came up to a lady who was dressed very inappropriately and she started to yell at us as we passed her, "Thank the Lord you don't have a car so that you can spend this time together as a family.  Your family is the most beautiful thing I ever seen, such a beautiful family!"  She looked right into my eyes and said, "you have a beautiful beautiful family. "
       I was so thankful for her.  She did make me realize this trek through the city next to busy roads, getting eaten by bugs, locked out of our car, was in fact a blessing.  We were spending quality time together as a family.  I prayed for the lady.  I prayed and thanked the Lord for her and I asked Him to bless her that she would remember us and want the beautiful thing she had seen and to seek it out and find it.  
     Today as I read my scriptures I came across this scripture I posted above.  This lady may not know how to have the light we have.  She may be suffering in ignorance.  I hope that she can find the truth (and if I would have been more prepared I would have shared my testimony with her, I was a little confused in the moment and it all happened so fast) so that she doesn't have to suffer anymore.  I hope that she can find Christ and be led to continual happiness.

Love,
     Becky joy

We know enough. Words of Mormon Chapter 1

4 And the things which are upon these plates ^apleasingme, because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ; and my fathers knowing that many of them have been fulfilled; yea, and I also know that as many things as have been^bprophesied concerning us down to this day have been fulfilled, and as many as go beyond this day must surely come to pass—

 7 And I do this for a ^awise ^bpurpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord ^cknoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he^dworketh in me to do according to his ^ewill.

Book of Mormon: Words of Mormon Chapter 1: 4,7

     The Lord sent us here without knowledge of who we are or where we came from.  He did this so could practice faith and grow.  The Lord is wise and He knows everything, He knows we needed this in order to become like Him and experience wonderful joy.  
     But, He has provided Prophets and scripture.  We don't know all the answers, but we know enough.  We know enough in order to be prepared.  We are blessed with a Prophet just for our day.

Love,
    Becky joy

Daily communion with God.

Book of Mormon: Jarom 1

 4 And there are many among us who have many^arevelations, for they are not all ^bstiffnecked. And as many as are not stiffnecked and have faith, have ^ccommunionwith the Holy Spirit, which maketh manifest unto the children of men, according to their faith.

     One day it hit me, I talk with God all day long.  How is this so? Prayer on my part.  Seriously I pray all day long.  I start to feel stressed as a Mom, I say a prayer.  I am driving, and I pray for safety.   My husband leaves for work, and I say a prayer for him. 

     And the coolest thing is that prayer is not just a one way thing.  The Lord talks back to me through the Holy Ghost all day long.  Seriously he guides me all day long and I mostly need him throughout my day as a Mother.  Because let's face it, being a Mom is a hard job 

      One day I was feeling a little overwhelmed trying to get my daughter to eat.  We had just gotten back from a wellness appointment and they said she was underweight and needed to eat more.  This was frustrating to me because it is so hard for me to get her to eat more than 2 bites at meals.  She would tell me she was hungry, I would make her something to eat, and put her and the food at the table.  We were on different eating schedules most the time.  I am not sure exactly how that happens, but it often does.  Then a few minutes later she was running around the house playing and didn't touch her food.  I would try and get her to sit and eat it and she rarely would.

     Then I prayed about it, almost immediately the thought came to me, "eat all your meals at the table as a family".  That was the Holy Ghost.  As I pray all day long, He helps me all day long.

Love,

    Becky joy

Enos Chapter 1

Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

     The scriptures are often compared to food or nourishment for the Soul/Spirit.  As I read the book of Enos, I feel as though it is so rich in nourishment.  There are so many great things found in this small Book and Chapter, it is kind of hard to know what to focus on.
     But I suppose there was a part that stuck out to me and it was from these few versus found in the chapter:

      Enos is Lehi's grandson.  He is Jacob's son.  Now I am not entirely sure to what extent Enos was a sinner, but he talks about remembering his father teaching him about joy from following Christ and he yearns for it as an older man.  He gets down on his knees one day while hunting and begins to pray all day and all night long.  

      During his prayer he hears a voice:

5 And there came a ^avoice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are ^bforgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.

 6 And I, Enos, knew that God ^acould not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.

 7 And I said: Lord, how is it done?

 8 And he said unto me: ^aBecause of thy ^bfaith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee ^cwhole.

     I love these scriptures.  The Savior is so good.  Sometimes when I feel like I haven't been the best person, I begin to pray and I feel His love.  I have never seen Him in person and I have never talked to Him in person (at least in this life), but for some reason when I reach out toward Him, He reaches back.  

Love,

      Becky joy

     We are moving forward in our lives and I have to tell you this is a leap of faith on my part.  My husband got into grad school in  North Dakota!!  I told my husband that I needed to learn for myself that this was where we needed to be and I went to the temple 3 times searching for answers.  The third time I went I felt so much peace about North Dakota and I know that is where the Lord wants us.  We will be missionaries there.

       So we packed everything up and we moved to Houston, Tx for a summer job and we are off to North Dakota in the fall.  Wish us luck!

#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

Rest from the world. 2 Nephi 24

 

 12 ^aHow art thou fallen from heaven, O ^bLucifer, son of the morning! Art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!

 13 For thou hast said in thy heart: ^aI will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north;

14 ^aI will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.

 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the ^apit.

 16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and shall consider thee, and shall say: Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms?

 17 And made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof, and opened not the house of his prisoners?

 

     Chapter 23 of 2 Nephi talks about what will happen to the wicked when the Savior Jesus Christ comes again.  Then the next chapter, 24, talks about what will happen with the righteous in that day.  It speaks of peace and rest flooding the earth for the people who overcame the world. 

     Something I found especially interesting though, was when the Lord speaks to Lucifer/ Satan.  How Satan wishes to be exalted and to have all power, yet in that day Satan will be cast in the pit of Hell and the people who see him will see a weak man. 

     I think it is important to note that Satan IS A WEAK MAN, and the only power he has is the power we give him when we follow him. Satan only has power when people listen and act for Him.  God has power no matter what.  In that day though, he will have no power because all those who handed him power, by handing over their agency to him, will be destroyed, and he will be nothing.

     Why do we have to wait for destruction?  Choose today. And how do we do that:

D&C 10:5-

  5 ^aPray always, that you may come off ^bconqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may ^cescape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.

 

Love,

    Becky joy

This is how I have the power to get my dishes done.