2024 January 8, Monday, Journal Entry

Nothing to report. It's cold outside.

Come Follow Me 

1 Nephi 1:1 I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.

"At the beginning of the Book of Mormon, Nephi states, “Having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days.” 

I think of the many trials that Nephi experienced, many of which are included in his writing. His trials help us understand that we all have our dark days... Despite these and many other trials during the course of his life, Nephi always recognized the goodness of God…

My dear brothers and sisters, how do we react to our afflictions? Do we murmur before the Lord because of them? Or, like Nephi...do we feel thankful in word, thought, and deed because we are more focused on our blessings than on our problems?"

Elder Moisés Villanueva Of the Sevent, October 2021

1 Nephi 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.

The ScripturePlus app has, so far, looked very good and very comprehensive in my efforts to study the Book of Mormon. It's early in the year but it looks good for future study. My main worry is what to do on Wednesday mornings when I have to be at the temple early. I will make it work. 

"If any one of us were asked what is most important in life, most of us would quickly respond, “Our families and the opportunities the gospel affords us to be celestial families—together forever.” Yet the pressures of everyday living frequently and subtly move us away from that pursuit which we so proudly proclaim. And in the process the priorities that should really matter most to us become captive to those things that, while seemingly important at the moment, have little or no relevance to our long-term goal. And in many cases, the temptations and pressures to pursue the less-important matters lead us down the wrong paths of life.

"Regardless of our age and stage in life, daily obedience to gospel principles is the only sure way to eternal happiness. President Ezra Taft Benson put it most poignantly when he said, “When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power.”

By Elder Donald L. Staheli Of the Seventy, April 1998