Tree of Life: River of Water

Today I'm going to expand on the river of water.

1 Nephi 8

Vs. 13 - River of Water

- water is filthy and the depths of hell
- it ran near the tree but not to it, I saw the significance of this because no unclean thing can be in Heavenly Father's presence

"Be clean - in language, in thought, in body, in dress." - Pres Gordon B. Hinckley (2007 Apr Conference, I Am Clean)

"Our behavior in public must be above reproach. Our behavior in private is even more important. It must clear the standard set by the Lord." - Pres Gordon B. Hinckley (2002 Apr Conference, Personal Worthiness to Exercise the Priesthood)

"We cannot indulge in sin, let alone try to cover our sins. We cannot partake of the vanity of unrighteous ambition. . . If we do any of these things, the powers of heaven are withdrawn. The Spirit of the Lord is grieved. The very virtue of our priesthood is nullified. Its authority lost." - Pres Gordon B. Hinckley (2002 Apr Conference, Personal Worthiness to Exercise the Priesthood)

- I may not hold the priesthood, but access to it may be denied if I am not worthy

•  Col 1:10

- I need to always strive to be clean and worthy, teach my children the importance of living a worthy life

"Imagine, the consoling, liberating, exalting feeling that will come to you when you see the reality of the Atonement and the practical, everyday value of it to you individually." - Elder Boyd K. Packer (1997 Apr Conference, Washed Clean)

- The atonement is there for us to be made clean and pure

- 3rd Article of Faith: We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.

Tree of Life: Fruit

I love that I can find related topics through lds.org to help me learn and understand what I'm studying in the scriptures. Today I'm going to share about the Fruit from the Tree of Life.

1 Nephi 8

vs. 10-12 - Fruit

- this represents Eternal Life; the Plan of Salvation
- eternal life will be sweet with the ones we love
- in order to have eternal life we must partake of the fruit which is faith in Christ
- we need to keep the commandments

"However, conversion and baptism alone are not sufficient to one's assurance of eternal life. To receive exaltation in the kingdom of God, a person must abide the fullness of celestial law." - Elder Delbert L. Stapley (1973, Oct Conference, The Path to Eternal Life)

"Your eternal destiny will not be the result of chance but of choice. It is never to late to begin to choose eternal life." - Elder Randall K. Bennett (2011 Oct Conference, Choose Eternal Life)

• John 3:36 
• 1 John 5:11-12

"God's way provides man a divine way of life. The Lord promised his children salvation in the kingdom of God if they would live and follow his ways. It is important to know that man can become Godlike through the thoughts and ways of the Lord." - Elder Bernard P. Brockbank (1973 Oct Conference, God's Way to Eternal Life)

Tree of Life: Large and Spacious Building

It's been awhile since I last posted, but does not mean I haven't forgotten about what I'm studying. Life was pretty hectic during the holidays. Well anyway, time to catch up on what I have learned.

1 Nephi 8

Vs. 9 - Large and Spacious Building

• In the verse it is referred to as a field, but in the footnotes you go to 1 Nephi 12:16-18 and it is now a building, I think that they can be interchangeable
• It represents the pride of the world

"Trying to please others before pleasing God is inverting the first and second great commandments. And yet, we have all made that mistake because of the fear of men. . . This peer pressure tries to change a person's attitudes, if not behavior, by making one feel guilty for giving offense." - Elder Lynn G Robbins (201 Oct Conference, Which Way Do You Face?)

• Which way do you face?
• Do you have your heart set on things of the world or of God?

"In reality these stories are not of the crowds but individuals among those crowds. . . I think each one of us understands what it means to partake of the fulfilling fruit of the tree of life within sight and sound of those who mock and what it means to exert every courageous effort to pay them no heed." - Elder Dennis Neuenschwander (2008 Apr Conference, One Among the Crowd)

• Jeremiah 7:24

"Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance. . .Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core, is still missing. The central feature of pride is enmity - enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen." - Pres Ezra Taft Benson (1989 Apr Conference, Beware of Pride)

- I was never aware that pride was such a complex sin. It really does make you think, "Am I sinning? Do I recognize the signs of this sin?"

• Romans 12:16

The Tree of Life - Dark and Dreary Waste

Today as I was listening to the Book of Mormon it came to the chapter of Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life. As the chapter finished I decided that I would study this chapter a little bit more in depth. There is so much to learn from this one little chapter, so I'm going to start with the Dark and Dreary Waste. The following are my thoughts and quotes that I found that helped me to understand this section better.

1 Nephi 8

Vs 7: Dark and Dreary Waste

• sometimes we wander aimlessly in our trials b/c we are confused
• we feel lost

"It seems that down through the ages people have wandered to and fro in the earth, and many never find their way out of the wilderness in which they are lost. The dictionary describes wilderness as an empty or pathless area or region, a pathless waste of any kind, a confusing multitude or mass. And thus those who aimlessly wander through life, confused and uncertain, waste the precious time that they have been given to prove themselves in this important stage of their existence." - Elder N. Eldon Tanner (1974 Oct Conference, Why Is My Boy Wandering?

- there are many things that will cause us to be confused 

"Let us diligently strive to understand the wonderful things of God. The jewels of the gospel of Jesus Christ are within our reach. But we must seek - ask and strive for - and live the principles of truth." - Elder Royden G. Derrick (1984 Oct Conference, By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them)

- What are you doing to not feel lost?

- Are you asking for help?

" How stimulating and edifying to approach Him in prayer each morning and evening and feel His nearness and His love as we acknowledge His hand, and in our need, seek His help." - Elder Rex C Reeves (1982 Oct Conference, Look to God)

Article of Faith 10

I was in charge of our Family Home Evening lesson last night and it was on the 10th Article of Faith. As I had mentioned before we learning about the Articles of Faith. Well I created a lesson outline for it so that I could effectively teach it. It is a pretty involved one. I wanted to share my outline with you. Remember this how I taught my lesson and you are welcome to alter sections to your families needs. I created this lesson into 2 parts because the article of faith itself has 2 parts.

Article of Faith 10

10 We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

What 5 things are listed in this Article of Faith?
1. Literal gathering of Israel
2. Restoration of the 10 tribes
3. Zion will be built upon the American continent
4. Christ will reign personally upon on the Earth
5. Earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory

Part 1

for this part of the lesson create a puzzle with 12 pieces that says 12 Tribes6 of Israel

Literal Gathering if Israel
Give short background into the Israelites coming into bondage in Egypt.

What is the gathering of Israel

- To bring together the people of Zion
- There was a first gathering of Israel (read Exodus 12:31)
- Read paragraph from Gathering Scattered Israel: Then and Now, July 1998 Ensign.

After generations of servitude, the Israelites were miraculously delivered by Moses. Their migration from Egypt back to the land of Canaan took place over a 40-year period of travail in the wilderness. The exodus from Egypt and subsequent settlement of the promised land was the first gathering of the people now called Israel. Moses sought not only to restore them to their land but also to recommit them to their faith in God.

- After the first gathering God gave the people of Moses a commandment and a promise (read Deut 4:23, 27 {commandment}; Deut 30:3 {promise}) Also read another paragraph from Gathering Scattered Israel

The Lord informed the people through Moses that if they turned away from his commandments he would “scatter [them] … from the one end of the earth even unto the other” (Deut. 28:64). But he also promised that he would eventually “gather [them] from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered [them]” (Deut. 30:3).

- The second gathering is happening right now

Restoration of the 10 Tribes

How will the restoration go about to gather the tribes?

- Read 3 Ne 21:4, 9 & 26
- Read paragraph from Gathering Scattered Israel

The resurrected Savior outlined to the Nephites a sequence of events that would be a prologue to the gathering of Israel. First, the Gentiles would be established “in this land, and be set up as a free people”; then the gospel would be restored as a “marvelous work among them” and the converts from among the Gentiles would see that the “gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people.” The Lord says, “Verily … at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, even the tribes which have been lost” (see 3 Ne. 21:4, 9, 26).

- How will they be gathered? Who will gather them?
- How will they know what tribe they belong to? (parents and older siblings talk about your patriarchal blessing, which tells of what tribe you belong to)
- Where will they be gathered to?

Zion (New Jerusalem) will be Built Upon the American Continent

display a picture of a temple

Where will Zion be built?

- Refer back to 3 Ne 21:4 - - - "they should be established in this land . . ."
- Where is "this land"?
- What will it be called? (read 3 Ne 21:23)
- Why is important?

Part 2

Christ will Reign Personally Upon the Earth

use second coming picture

What needs to happen before Christ can come back?

- Reference to Elder Oaks talk Preparation for the Second Coming; he says,

Biblical and modern prophecies give many signs of the Second Coming. These include:

 

           1. The fulness of the gospel restored and preached in all the world for a witness to all nations.

           2. False Christs and false prophets, deceiving many.

           3. Wars and rumors of wars, with nation rising against nation

           4. Earthquakes in divers places.

           5. Famine and pestilence.
           6. An overflowing scourge, a desolating sickness covering the land.
           7. Iniquity abounding.
           8. The whole earth in commotion.
           9. Men’s hearts failing them.

- Gathering of the faithful

What will Christ do when he comes back?

- Once all of the things listed above have happened Christ "will return to the earth in power and great glory to reign personally during a millennium of righteousness and peace." (Elder Oaks, Preparation for the Second Coming)

What do you think the world will become like?

Earth will be Renewed and Receive its Paradisiacal Glory

How will the Earth be renewed?

- D&C 101:25; 1 Ne 22:15
- Explain that the first cleansing was by water, with Noah and the flood. Second cleansing is by fire by fire.

What does Paradisiacal mean?

- definition: a place of ideal beauty or loveliness; a state of delight
- What will the earth look like in a paradisiacal state?

Family Home Evening - The Articles of Faith

I've neglected this blog. But I hope that I can get back into writing my thoughts and ideas on here again. I gotta make it a habit.

Well for the last 8 weeks or so we have been studying The Articles of Faith for our Family Home Evening lessons. So far it been great! It's fun to learn more about the church with the built in gospel topics through the articles of faith. We all have been able to find study helps through lds.org to create a lesson and use the primary songs for the articles of faith. My son is learning them and we hope that he can pass them off later this year.

Daughters in My Kingdom

I've recently started reading the new book that came out about the Relief Society called Daughters in My Kingdom, and love what I have read so far. We had a Relief Society dinner a few weeks ago that was centered around it and it was very inspiring. The book has been on my night stand next to my scriptures for awhile now and I felt like it's time to read it.

{source LDS online store}

As I was reading I highlighted some quotes that have struck me and thought that I would share them on here as I read each chapter.

Chapter 1

- He (Christ) invited them (Mary and Martha) to become His disciples and partake of salvation, "that good part" that would never be taken from them. {scripture reference Luke 10:38-42} pg. 4

- His (Apostle Paul) description of a righteous widow identified characteristics of many women in the early Church: "Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work." {scripture reference 1 Timothy 5:10, Apostle Paul} pg. 4-5

- Paul also counseled Titus to encourage older women to serve and teach young women about their eternal role as wives and mothers, "that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children." {scripture reference Titus 2:4} pg. 5

- The Prophet Joseph Smith declared, "The Church was never perfectly organized until the women were thus organized."

- President Joseph F. Smith, the sixth President of the Church, said, "This organization is divinely made, divinely authorized, divinely instituted, divinely ordained of God to minister for the salvation of the souls of women and of men."

- Sister Julie B. Beck, the fifteenth Relief Society general president, taught: "Through Relief Society we practice being disciples of Christ. We learn what He would have us learn, we do what He would have us do, and we become what He would have us become." {reference Nov 2007 Ensign}

I hope that these have touched you as they have me.