Week 2

This week has been a busy one, classes are getting more challenging and sometimes it is hard for me to keep up with the work that I have to do. However, I got up early on Thursday morning to go to the temple, and that time that I had while there to ponder and recharge was time well spent and much needed. It was while I was in the temple that I read one of my favorite scriptures, 2 Nephi 2:11-13, specifically verse 13 which says, "And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away."

This made me realize that although life is going to be hard, there will be sadness and hard times. However, it is because of these hard times that the happiness and blessings of the Lord will appear so much more strongly. While reading further, I noticed a correlation to these verses in verse 25 that I hadn't before. Verse 25 says, "Adam fell that men might be, and men are, that they might have joy." Adam's fall itself was a thing that had to happen, and even though it was painful for Adam, because of it his life as well as the lives of everyone who came after him was greatly enriched. 

This led me to think about the principle of gratitude, and how I thought a this means we should not just be grateful for the blessings in our lives, but for the trials and hard things as well. It is because of those things that we are able to better appreciate and love the happy and beautiful moments in our lives. While no one necessarily likes being sad and tested, it is ultimately for our benefit; the Lord would not purposefully make us miserable if it did not mean a more glorious future coming ahead.

Week 1

This week I was reading in the beginning of 1 Nephi, and a certain piece of the well known story stuck with me. In chapter 2 verses 2-3 it says, 

"And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in his dream, that he should depart into the wilderness. And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him." 

These two verses haven't had this effect on me before, but this time I was really struck by the unfailing obedience of Lehi. He had a comfortable home, land, and familiar surroundings in Jerusalem, but he gave it all up in a moment because the Lord asked him to. It doesn't mention fear, but I would think that Lehi would have been, if not scared, apprehensive about what laid ahead, but that didn't stop him. 

I think that these words had this effect on me because of my recent decision to start my mission papers. After graduating high school, I had been filled with a lot of doubt and fear about going on a mission. I didn't know if it was right, or what I really should be doing with my life. But it was after really reading these verses that I felt a confirmation that a mission is what I need to do next with my life. I can't let fear get in the way of what the Lord wants for me, and all the strengthening experiences that are ahead of me. I really related to Lehi, I might not have had the Lord come to me in a dream, commanding me to do this, but I have felt the promptings and assurance that it is the right thing to do. 

This doctrine of obedience is one that I found to be especially encouraging, especially in this time of my life. Knowing what I know about Lehi's journey through the wilderness, it was not easy or comfortable, but it led to more blessings for his future family than he could have imagined. Sometimes, obedience is hard, it won't always be easy or fair. However, the Lord will bless us for what we do in obedience, which is worth every hardship we might endure.