And I beheld the Spirit of the Lord, that it was upon the Gentiles, and they did prosper and obtain the land for their inheritance; and I beheld that they were white, and exceedingly fair and beautiful, like unto my people before they were slain.
I get to choose who "my people" are.
And it came to pass that I beheld, after they had dwindled in unbelief they became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations.
By strengthening my belief every day, I can become more like Him
And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the people of my seed gathered together in multitudes against the seed of my brethren; and they were gathered together to battle.
I should try to really see the people I meet
And the angel spake unto me, saying: Behold the twelve disciples of the Lamb, who are chosen to minister unto thy seed.
I should listen carefully for His guidance
And it came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the great and spacious building was the pride of the world; and it fell, and the fall thereof was exceedingly great. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that shall fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
When He speaks, I will listen and do so that I can get the help I need.
And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.
How do I know God loves me?
What's the evidence?
Benevolent universe?
And it came to pass that I looked and beheld the great city of Jerusalem, and also other cities. And I beheld the city of Nazareth; and in the city of Nazareth I beheld a virgin, and she was exceedingly fair and white.
I should look and behold the things He is trying to show me.
And the Holy Ghost giveth authority that I should speak these things, and deny them not.
I should follow His promptings to speak what He would have me say.
I should be puzzled, not angry
And after this manner of language did my father prophesy and speak unto my brethren, and also many more things which I do not write in this book; for I have written as many of them as were expedient for me in mine other book.
I should write good ideas when they come
When I'm angry, I need to be kind to me.
I'll know I did it right when I can feel peace.
Yea, even he should go forth and cry in the wilderness: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, and make his paths straight; for there standeth one among you whom ye know not; and he is mightier than I, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose. And much spake my father concerning this thing.
I should listen to the things my Father tells me. I know I should seek peace in times of all trials.
But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.
If I seek and find His peace, I can accomplish all that I need to do, and all that He asks
Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not.
The writing I do every day is my path to peace.
Nevertheless, I have received a commandment of the Lord that I should make these plates, for the special purpose that there should be an account engraven of the ministry of my people.
My most important calling is to care for my people. He will give me the peace and power to do that if I ask.
Suffering is required to learn how to keep my power under control
My mortal body is subject to a lot of trials, but I can choose not to view them as trials, and to feel peace throughout.
I don't need to suffer to come closer to Him. I can choose to connect to Him by seeking to feel His peace in all circumstances.
Seeking His peace will also let me keep my power under control.
And after he had preached unto them, and also prophesied unto them of many things, he bade them to keep the commandments of the Lord; and he did cease speaking unto them.
I should feel His peace and be kind to myself and others
And after they had partaken of the fruit of the tree they did cast their eyes about as if they were ashamed.
I should seek to partake of His peace and goodness
And as I cast my eyes round about, that perhaps I might discover my family also, I beheld a river of water; and it ran along, and it was near the tree of which I was partaking the fruit.
I should make an effort to connect with my family
And it came to pass that we did come down unto the tent of our father. And after I and my brethren and all the house of Ishmael had come down unto the tent of my father, they did give thanks unto the Lord their God; and they did offer sacrifice and burnt offerings unto him.
I should remember to be grateful for the things I have
Now behold, I say unto you that if ye will return unto Jerusalem ye shall also perish with them. And now, if ye have choice, go up to the land, and remember the words which I speak unto you, that if ye go ye will also perish; for thus the Spirit of the Lord constraineth me that I should speak.
I should feel the Spirit and obey His promptings
And now I, Nephi, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, therefore I spake unto them, saying, yea, even unto Laman and unto Lemuel: Behold ye are mine elder brethren, and how is it that ye are so hard in your hearts, and so blind in your minds, that ye have need that I, your younger brother, should speak unto you, yea, and set an example for you?
I should be an example after His example
Wherefore, I shall give commandment unto my seed, that they shall not occupy these plates with things which are not of worth unto the children of men.
I am in charge of my spiritual existence, and I shall give command to myself to choose the peace that will bring me joy
Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world.
To be like Him, I need to find pleasing the things that are pleasing unto Him
And it mattereth not to me that I am particular to give a full account of all the things of my father, for they cannot be written upon these plates, for I desire the room that I may write of the things of God.
I should listen to Him and write down the things He tells me.
Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise.
I should set my eyes on HIm and follow to where He is
And thus my father, Lehi, did discover the genealogy of his fathers. And Laban also was a descendant of Joseph, wherefore he and his fathers had kept the records.
I should always remember what's most important
And they were also led out of captivity and out of the land of Egypt, by that same God who had preserved them.
I should seek His peace so that I can be led
And she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them. And after this manner of language did she speak.
I can know of a surety the power His peace can bring into my life
In peace, my mind does not jump from thought to thought. I can choose which thoughts to think about and which to reject.
A peaceful mind is like a calm sea. Restless thoughts, which are like high waves, prevent me from focusing or thinking clearly. Emotional control and clarity of thought are the blessings of peace
I learn the law of mercy, since I already know the law of justice
I am the salt of the earth, and, like salt, I can improve everything around me
And I also bade him that he should follow me.
I should think about what He would do, find His peace, and act accordingly.
"Theology may be argued over, but personal testimony, coupled with performance, cannot be refuted"I should bear my testimony in word and deed.
"We should love others as we love ourselves - holding back nothing."
Do I hold back nothing when it comes to loving myself?
Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief.
I should seek to know His righteous purposes. Before I seek, I need to find His peace
And after the angel had departed, Laman and Lemuel again began to murmur, saying: How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands? Behold, he is a mighty man, and he can command fifty, yea, even he can slay fifty; then why not us?
Asking how the Lord can do something isn't helpful. Asking how I can do something is. And the answer is always "by first connecting with His peace"
