1 Nephi 1- 2 Nephi 1

I have a confession! I am not the best with words, both in writing at speaking.  I have always admired (and dare I say a tid bit envied those who could speak and write so eloquently and convey their thoughts perfectly).  This blog alone for me is a bit challenging in itself. Don't get me wrong I know ya'll know that I can talk, but I am talking about when it comes to things deep in my heart and being able to put that onto paper or out to an audience.  So with that I wanted to start my post (with a little cheating, by stealing a couple scriptures from Uncle John's first couple chapters), with my experience reading today!

In 2 Ne 3:17 it says "....Yet I will not loose his tongue, that he may speak much, for I will not make him mighty in speaking".

This scripture is speaking of Moses! So this taught me that even the greatest of prophets had weaknesses like me and you! Then I read the next scripture 2 Ne 3:21 "...and the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith".  What I realized from these scriptures is that the Lord more than anything needs people who have Faith in Jesus Christ, than He does anything else! If our faith is strong and our hearts are pure then the Lord can make anything powerful including our weaknesses and the simplest of things.

Having good desires, followed by faith (action word) in the Lord leads to all eternal happiness and joy during this life! The more I read the scriptures, the more this rings true to me.  Here are some scriptures I found that prove my point. Red= Faith  Blue= Blessings as a result of faith

~1 Ne 1:20 "...But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."

~1 Ne 2:4 " And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness."
(Although the word faith is not physically in this scripture, Lehi had so much faith in the Lord that he sacrificed all he had, and as a result in the end obtained a promised land!)

~And we see that lack of faith we loose out on knowledge and blessings:
1 Ne 2:12 "And thus Laman and Lemuel, being the eldest, did murmur against their father. And they did murmur because they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them."
~1Ne 2:16 &19 "16 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers.
"19 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart."
When we seek things in faith the Lord delivers!

~1 Ne:3:31 "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?"
Faith leads to obedience and when faith and obedience are not self-initiated we more easily forget spiritual moments just like Laman and Lemuel do so many times. Murmuring is a great way to drown out faith. I realize the more I read the scriptures the more I and others are like Laman and Lemuel, but we can separate ourselves from them with the desire to be more like Christ and having the faith to do those things we know will lead us back to our Father in Heaven.

~1Ne 4:6 "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do."
Only great faith allows us to blindly step into the dark, relying on the Spirit for our light!

~1Ne 7:12 "Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him."

~1Ne 1:17 "But it came to pass that I prayed unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, according to my faith which is in thee, wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound."
Faith can even lead to physical strength as demonstrated in this scripture! 

~1 Ne 10:17 "And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might , as well in times of hold as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men." 

~1Ne 15:8 "And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?" 
Sometimes answers to our prayers requires the simplest of faith....just asking!!! How many times to we forget or even let our pride get in the way of inquiring of the Lord?
1Ne 15:11 "Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you."
There are many other scriptures that demonstrate how faith in Jesus Christ leads to, power (spiritually,emotionally, physically and mentally), strength (spiritual and temporal), peace, knowledge, joy, love, and to all things pertaining to our happiness now and in the life to come! 

I am grateful for this chance to be reading the scriptures with so many of my family members! I know that by filling so much of our time with reading the scriptures that it will lead us to have greater faith and thus find greater happiness in our lives now! Thanks again for participating! I look forward to your insight on the the scriptures as we read!


BECCA