My Journey To Learning

Hi everyone!
     I decided to make some big decisions this year to help me stretch myself and to promote personal growth. Some of those choices have been to skydive, despite a huge fear of heights, and I did it!! Another big decision was to go back to school after a 28 year break. This decision was made only after much prayer, asking our Heavenly Father if now was the right time to embark on such a big commitment. My answer was a very clear YES!!
     Part of my schooling requires me to teach others....so this blog is my forum. Welcome to class everyone!
     Today I would like to discuss choices and where our choices can take us. Also, my material will be coming from 1 Nephi 1-5 of the Book of Mormon. What is the Book of Mormon you ask? Great question. Here are a couple of links you can go to to learn more about the Book of Mormon as well as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
 http://lds.org
  https://www.mormon.org/beliefs/book-of-mormon
Now back to Nephi. Nephi was an ancient prophet, called of God like Moses and Abraham. Nephi's family consisted of his father Lehi, who was also a prophet, his mother Sariah, and his older brothers; Laman, Lemuel, and Sam.
      Lehi was commanded to take his family and leave their homeland of Jerusalem. Many difficult choices and experiences lay ahead of them. This is where we come to choices. Laman and Lemuel did not want to be obedient to their father nor to their Heavenly Father. They made the choice to set their hearts on being disobedient and not seeking to know about God and His mysteries. They are described as having a "stiffneckedness" attitude. This term is not new in scripture. You can find this word in the Old Testament and in the New Testament of the Holy Bible as well as in the Book of Mormon. The topical guide has the synonyms; Hardheartedness, Rebellion, and Stubbornness listed under stiffneckedness. That helps you understand what Laman and Lemuel's attitudes were towards being obedient to God's commandments. In 1 Nephi 2:11-12 we read that Laman and Lemuel "did murmur in many things against their father because he was a visionary man" and "they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them." Continuing in verse 13 we read "they were like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of my father." We learn from these verses that Laman and Lemuel made the choices to be stubborn, reject prophecy, were complainers, and even were murderers in their hearts.
     In contrast, Nephi made the choice from the very beginning to turn to God. In 1 Nephi 2:16 Nephi is describing himself as "having great desires to know the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry into the Lord" and that the Lord "did soften my heart." Nephi "did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father" and"did not rebel against him like unto my brothers."
     So we see that Nephi had righteous desires, he prayed to God in faith, as well as with an attitude that submitted to the Lord's will and chose to be obedient to God's commandments.
     We may not be asked to leave our homes and countries like Nephi's family was, but each of us are given daily choices to choose what kind of people we will be. Are we willing to keep the commandments of God? Do we pray with faith? Do we listen for the answers that can bring us peace, clarity, and softened hearts? Our Heavenly Father loves each of us and desires to bless and help us, just as He always has with His children since the beginning of time. I have learned this past week to pray when I have difficulties and need guidance. Also, to have righteous desires and faith in the Lord that He will bless and help me in whatever it is He knows I need in my life.
     I invite everyone to read and study the story of Nephi, and his family, as they journeyed in the wilderness and look for lessons and examples from Nephi that can help you in your lives and decisions you need to make. I promise if you look with faith, you will receive.