"...These scriptures, which ye had not with you, the Father commanded that I should give unto you; for it was wisdom in him that they should be given unto future generations."It touches me to think of the centuries full of effort and sacrifice that have gone into the scriptures that I hold in my hands today. When I really stop and think about it, I am in awe that the people in the time they were written didn't benefit from them as we do now. They didn't have printing presses to churn out pages. Therefore, so very many people were not able to hold these wonderful words and read them for themselves. I am certainly grateful for all those who wrote things down for "future generations" because I just don't know what I would do without them.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
"Future Generations"--That's us!
In 3 Nephi 26:2, Christ says:
Monday, November 25, 2013
3 Nephi 24--Fuller's Soap
3 Nephi 24 is to be compared to Malachi 3. It is part of the words Jesus commanded the people of Nephi to write down when he appeared to them. The beginning of the chapter speaks of the Second Coming and verse 2 caught my eye. It says:
After researching a bit online, I found a pretty good definition: A fuller was someone who cleaned and thickened (to make it "full") freshly-woven cloth. The process involved cleaning, bleaching, wetting and beating the fibers to a consistent and desirable condition. Fuller's earth was a type of clay that was used to scour and cleanse the cloth. Fuller's soap was an alkali made from plant ashes which was also used to clean and full new cloth.
I thought that was very interesting.
"But who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fuller's soap."I think we all understand what a refiner's fire does. It is very hot and it purifies gold and silver. OK that's pretty straight forward. But what is fuller's soap?
After researching a bit online, I found a pretty good definition: A fuller was someone who cleaned and thickened (to make it "full") freshly-woven cloth. The process involved cleaning, bleaching, wetting and beating the fibers to a consistent and desirable condition. Fuller's earth was a type of clay that was used to scour and cleanse the cloth. Fuller's soap was an alkali made from plant ashes which was also used to clean and full new cloth.
I thought that was very interesting.
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Everyone Makes Mistakes
Sometimes I feel like I can't get anything right around my house. I move from room to room trying to straighten up and motivate that room's occupant. My voice starts out loving and reasonable. My requests get ignored. There is soon yelling on both sides and the room and it's occupant are left with a feeling of chaos even though the floor is now a little easier to navigate and the drawers are slightly more accessible.
Yesterday after three rooms and three similar results, I felt very disheartened. I wish I could say I took a deep breath, put myself in Time Out, and went to rally my spirits with a little bit of scripture reading but I didn't. In fact, by lights out I was feeling so contentious I couldn't listen to the boys' prayers because sometimes Isaac gives me a hard time when I say it's his turn and I honestly couldn't take any more. I left the room with, "Goodnight. I hope you guys choose to say your prayers."
This morning I read 3 Nephi 23 and all that truly stood out to me was that Nephi made a mistake. Jesus asks him why he didn't write about the many saints that arose from the dead and appeared unto many. Nephi looks and realizes that it never did get recorded. Jesus asks him to do so. The End. No fussing. No yelling. I wish I could be more like the Savior. However, today instead of resolving to do better like I normally would. I'm just sitting here thankful for proof that everybody makes mistakes.
Yesterday after three rooms and three similar results, I felt very disheartened. I wish I could say I took a deep breath, put myself in Time Out, and went to rally my spirits with a little bit of scripture reading but I didn't. In fact, by lights out I was feeling so contentious I couldn't listen to the boys' prayers because sometimes Isaac gives me a hard time when I say it's his turn and I honestly couldn't take any more. I left the room with, "Goodnight. I hope you guys choose to say your prayers."
This morning I read 3 Nephi 23 and all that truly stood out to me was that Nephi made a mistake. Jesus asks him why he didn't write about the many saints that arose from the dead and appeared unto many. Nephi looks and realizes that it never did get recorded. Jesus asks him to do so. The End. No fussing. No yelling. I wish I could be more like the Savior. However, today instead of resolving to do better like I normally would. I'm just sitting here thankful for proof that everybody makes mistakes.
Monday, November 4, 2013
3 Nephi 22--My Kindness Shalt Not Depart
3 Nephi 22 is a "Compare to Isaiah" chapter. This one is Isaiah 54. These chapters can be somewhat confusing, but this one I actually got. I know the spirit helped, and I'm sure it didn't hurt that I read it soon after an awesome Relief Society lesson on missionary work because that is what this chapter is about: "enlarging the place of thy tent" or expanding the stakes of Zion.
My favorite verse in this chapter is verse 10 which reads:
In the middle of verse 14 it says:
My favorite verse in this chapter is verse 10 which reads:
"For the mountains shall depart and the hills be removed, but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee."It can be applied to all of life's trials, especially those which seem to shake our whole world, and yet we can still find peace in Him.
In the middle of verse 14 it says:
"...thou shalt be far from oppression for thou shalt not fear..."It really has made me think of how the two relate...Fear and Oppression. Yep, definitely food for thought.
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