But behold, I was without hopes, for I knew the judgments of the Lord which should come upon them; for they repented not of their iniquities but did struggle for their lives without calling upon that Being who had created them.
In all struggles, large or small, I should call upon Him.
And there never had been so great wickedness among all the children of Lehi, nor even among all the house of Israel, according to the words of the Lord, as were among this people.
I should live ever according to the words of the Lord.
"Being a leader in the Church should never diminish our 'looking to God' time."
Behold, I had led them - notwithstanding their wickedness, I had led them many times to battle - and I had loved them according to the love of God which was in me with all my heart. And my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them. Nevertheless it was without faith because of the hardness of their hearts.
I should try to see the world through the eyes of God and feel the love He feels.
And it came to pass that in the three hundred and forty and fifth year the Nephites did begin to flee before the Lamanites. And they were pursued until they came even to the land of Jashon before it were possible to stop them in their retreat.
I should turn away from the voice that calls me to inner contention.
And it came to pass that my sorrow did return unto me again. And I saw that the day of grace was past with them, both temporally and spiritually, for I saw thousands of them hewn down in open rebellion against their God and heaped up as dung upon the face of the land. And thus three hundred and forty and four years had passed away.
As long as I don't harden my heart and shut Him out, His grace can still work in me to redeem me.
And it came to pass that the war began to be among them in the borders of Zarahemla by the waters of Sidon.
I should have my borders prepared against the attacks of the adversary.
Now the Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites were called Lamanites; and the two parties were Nephites and Lamanites.
Names have great power. I should be careful by what name I identify the people and things in my life.
And from that time forth they did have their goods and their substance no more common among them.
When I trust that He will provide for my needs, I will feel safe sharing my goods and substance.
Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations and your idolatries, and of your murders and your priestcrafts and your envyings and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people which are of the house of Israel.
When I choose His path, I don't have to be sad and alone.
Woe unto him that spurneth at the doings of the Lord. Yea, woe unto him that shall deny the Christ and his works.
I should do what He would do and become part of His doings.
And thrice they were cast into a furnace and received no harm.
When harm comes my way, I can, with His help, choose not to receive it.
And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire from whence they can no more return because of the justice of the Father.
Whatever my trouble or burden, He can help me recover and return from it.
Behold, I were about to write them all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbid it, saying: I will try the faith of my people.
I need to learn gospel truths for myself and thus have a testimony of them.
Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel with the statutes and judgments.
I should remember to folow His rules so that I can have happiness.
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house. And prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
I should ask for His help and notice how He answers and take that knowledge forward to the next asking.
And when Nephi had brought forth the records and laid them before him, and he cast his eyes upon them and saith:
I should look at the scriptures whenever I feel prompted.
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.
He will show me kindness by helping me feel peace whenever I ask for His help to feel it.
And I will cut off the cities of thy land and throw down all thy strong holds.
He is my only safe place of refuge.
"The Spirit of truth leads men to righteousness, but we must have a desire to seek truth and to take the time to form spiritual habits and respond to spiritual impressions if we are to keep our souls alive - and is not now the time to begin?
Verily I say unto you: Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have testified of me.
Any time I hear truth, it testifies of Him.
"You will never lose your courage unless you choose to."
And if I do, I am always free to change my mind any time I want.
And it came to pass that Jesus departed out of the midst of them and went a little way off from them and bowed himself to the earth, and he saith:
There is some spiritual work that I must do in solitude.
Therefore hold up your light, that it may shine unto the world. Behold, I am the light which ye shall hold up, that which ye have seen me do. Behold, ye see that I have prayed unto the Father, and ye all have witnessed.
He has paid the price for my sins, and I can choose to be free from my debt on His terms. Or pay the debt myself.
His price is to learn to live intentionally. Always using the space between emotion and action. And choosing an action that will actually get me what I want.
And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name which is right, believing that ye shall receive, and behold, it shall be given unto you.
I should believe that He can give it, believe that He will give it, then ask for what I want.
I once got a 98 on an English test. I asked for help to understand what I did wrong. It didn't change the grade, but by being willing to be helped, my knowledge was perfected in that thing. We are not perfect in performance, we are perfected in learning when we seek His help.
And it came to pass that when they had all been brought—?and Jesus stood in the midst—?he commanded the multitude that they should kneel down upon the ground.
My body's position can prepare my mind to receive instruction.
And then will I remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them.
He will whisper truth to my mind, and I should prepare myself to receive it by keeping a soft and open heart.
And behold, this is the land of your inheritance, and the Father hath given it unto you.
He wants me to be successful, and if I ask for His help, I will be granted the power I need.
because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
I always have a choice and should seek the path that promotes my long term happiness, rather than short term distraction.
"You will learn from your own experiences also, but you do not need to make every mistake yourselves."
This is why I should liken the scriptures unto myself.
That thou appear not unto men to fast but unto thy Father, which is in secret; and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
I should do things because they are right, and only mention them to others if the mentioning will bless them.
Agree with thine adversary quickly while thou art in the way with him, lest at any time he shall get thee and thou shalt be cast into prison.
I should be kind and avoid contention.
And the Lord said unto him: I give unto you power that ye shall baptize this people when I am again ascended into heaven.
When I am obedient to His laws and personal commandments, my reward is to receive power to bring more joy and happiness into my life.
And the earth did cleave together again, that it stood. And the mourning and the weeping and the wailing of the people which were spared alive did cease. And their mourning was turned into joy and their lamentations into the praise and the thanksgiving unto the Lord Jesus Christ their Redeemer.
My reward for enduring trials will be joy.
And many great destructions have I caused to come upon this land and upon this people because of their wickedness and their abominations.
Great destructions are avoidable if I choose to Hear Him.
"From trial comes a habit. From habit comes dependence. From dependence comes addiction."
I should avoid things that are bad for me in the trial phase.
And the earth was carried up upon the city of Moronihah, that in the place of the city thereof there became a great mountain.
The things I love will be replaced by other things. I should embrace these new things as I did the old.
And it came to pass in the thirty and first year that they were divided into tribes, every man according to his family, kindred, and friends. Nevertheless they had come to an agreement that they would not go to war one with another. But they were not united as to their laws and their manner of government, for they were established according to the minds of them which was their chiefs and their leaders. But they did establish very strict laws, that one tribe should not trespass against another, insomuch that in some degree they had peace in the land. Nevertheless their hearts were turned from the Lord their God; and they did stone the prophets and did cast them out from among them.
I can be peaceful in my differences from others.
Now they did not sin ignorantly; for they knew the will of God concerning them, for it had been taught unto them. Therefore they did willfully rebel against God.
I need to be on guard, because the adversary is relentless.
And it hath become expedient that I, according to the will of God - that the prayers of those which have gone hence, which were the holy ones, should be fulfilled according to their faith - should make a record of these things which have been done,
I should seek to know and do the will of God.
Now they had appointed unto themselves another leader, whose name was Zemnarihah. Therefore it was Zemnarihah that did cause that this siege should take place.
I should never let down my guard when defending against the multi-faceted attack fo the adversary.
