I have been reading in Mosiah 23 - 24 about Alma, who was a priest in King Noah's court. He realized that the things Abinadi was teaching were correct, that they had become a wicked people and were not teaching the commandments. He realized his need to repent. I admire Alma and the people that followed him for several reasons.  I admire his courage to stand up to King Noah and plead for Abinadi, that the kind would let him go. I'm sure he knew he could be killed for doing such, but he also knew what was right and was willing to risk his life. I admire him that he was honest with himself and was willing and desirous to repent and turn his life around. I love that he was willing to teach others, again risking his life if they were caught. And then, after they find out that the king's armies are searching for them, they leave their homes and find a new place to live. They are happy and prosperous there, until an army of the Lamanites discovers them. It's a long story but they end up in bondage to the Lamanites, and one of the wicked priests of King Noah, who has joined with the Lamanites, is made ruler over them. He remembers Alma and so he persecutes him and his people and puts tasks upon them and task masters over them.  "And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God." And Amulon tells them they will be put to death if they are discovered praying, so they pray to Him in their hearts.  Now if this was me, I think I'd be thinking, "Wait a minute! I believed the words of Abinadi! I listened to Alma, was baptized, and left my home so I could follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. And NOW we're in BONDAGE and one of King Noah's wicked priests is a ruler over us! How is that fair!!!!! But they were much more faithful than I would have been. The Lord promised them He would lighten their burdens and He did. He strengthened them so that the burdens were not heavy to them, "and they did submit CHEERFULLY and with PATIENCE to all the will of the Lord." Eventually He does lead them out of bondage.  I want to become like they are. When hard things come into my life, instead of whining and complaining I want to submit cheerfully and with patience, trusting the Lord and His plan for me, knowing that He will strengthen me and eventually things will get better!

Alma 26

So, I was reading in Alma 26, and I realized that this chapter is basically just Ammon talking about his mission, and how grateful he was for that experience, and how amazing it was that he was able to help so many of the Lamanites come unto Christ.
When he started talking about the some of the people he helped to convert to the gospel, he said this: "They shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; neither shall they they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds withersoever the enemy listeth to carry them." 
I think that, even though I have grown up in the church, I still have the responsibility to become converted, and when I do, I can have this same confidence and assurance.

Also, Grandma and Grandpa, I was wondering if you two could share some missionary stories in the comments? I just thought of you guys and how you have served a mission, and I like to compare the scriptures with my life... that would just be really cool.

-McKenna

Today I was reading in Helman and I saw that I marked Helman 5:12 I remember trying to memorize that for our stake scripture and when I went back and kinda took it apart. I realized that I never  noticed something until reading that this morning. Helman says remember 2 times. I look at other scriptures and noticed that remember is said a lot. I think that when I read I shouldn't just read but read, mark and summarize.

Today I was looking through one if The Book of Mormon copies that I have to see all the verses that I highlighted and wrote little notes about and I found this one. It's in Mosiah chapter 1 verses 5 part of 6 and all of 7.
What I wrote as a note was to put your name where Mosiah is speaking to his sons. Also feel free to adjust other words to make it fit better. For we should "liken all scripture unto us."

5. I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things, which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of His mysteries, and have His commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief, and we should have been like unto our brethren, the Lamanites, who know nothing concerning these things, or even do not believe them, because of the traditions of their father's, which are not correct.
6. O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true...
7. And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby, and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises the Lord made unto our fathers.

Words

Words can build you up

Words can break you down

Start a fire in your heart or

Put it out

Let my words be life

Let my words be truth

I don't wanna say a word

Unless it points the world back to You

--Words by Hawk Nelson

The words we say are part of the tools of how people judge us. If you say kind words people will look up to you even if they don't act like it. Do kind things even when it is not popular. 

By the way, you should listen to the lyrics called word by Hawk Nelson. 

-Grace

Read Matthew 5:16

Imagine that the Lamb Christ is holding is you. How do you feel imagining that? 

  It makes me feel safe and loved. 

This week I have been reading in Mosiah.  This is one of my favorite scriptures:

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God.  For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

I know that this is true!! As we strive to keep the commandments of God and follow our Savior we are happy and we are blessed, both temporally and spiritually. That doesn't mean that we will not have any trials or difficulties, but it does mean that our Savior will be there to help and comfort us and He will give us the strength to get through whatever it is. One of my favorite sayings is:

"Sometimes our Savior calms the storm, and sometimes

He lets the storm rage and He calms His child."

And as we are faithful and obedient to the end we will be able to dwell with our Heavenly Father, our Savior, and our family "in a state of never-ending happiness".  I love my Father, my Savior, AND MY FAMILY!!! I want to be with all of you for eternity.  Heaven won't be heaven for me without ALL OF YOU!  Love you all!

Lehi's vision and my reading schedule

Today i read about Lehi's vision in 1 Nephi chapter 8 verses 3-35.This is very important to me,because it is teaching me that it is not good to listen to those who mock us.  Our family tries to  read in The book of Mormon 4 pages a day. I also read by myself 1 chapter each day.I love to read the book of Mormon so much and as i read the book of Mormon i feel the holy ghost. I have striven to read every day.                                                                                                                                      -Esther

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren [and sisters], I beseech of you in words of soberness that ye would repent and come with full purpose of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you.  And while his arm of mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts" (Jacob 6:5).
The word cleave means: to adhere firmly and closely or loyally and unwaveringly. So our Savior is cleaving unto us. He will stick to us loyally and always! And we need to stick to him loyally and always! No matter what! Even when we are trying to be good and do good bad things happens. And we all make mistakes and need to repent, every day. But if we cleave unto Him, He will always be there to help us, strengthen us, and love us!!! And, by sticking with Him, our hearts will not become hardened!

I was reading in Alma, and one of the chapters (I can't remember which) was Alma talking to the people. The scriptures were really meaningful to me, and so I started replacing any time he referred  to the people with my name, and it was really cool. It helped me learn that I can relate the scriptures to me, and that it helped me set some goals. I am definitely going to continue relating scriptures to my life in different ways. 
-McKenna

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE

When I look up to the Heavens I think of what Jesus created for him.

 What I learned is nothing in impossible.


If you have faith in him, nothing can stop you.

The Prince of Peace is always there for you.

- Grace

Charity

The pure Christlike love is Charity and in Moroni 7:45 it says "And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and enviethnot, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things."  When we learn the pure love of Christ we can do it to others .
-Grace

Be thou like unto Moroni

"Yea verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever, yea, the devil would never ave power over the hearts of the children of men."
~Alma 48:17

I read that verse and thought, What was Moroni like? And in a few of the verses before 17 it talked about Moroni and what he was like. I also used some of the context to figure out what he was like.

MORONI
Strong
Mighty
Perfect Understanding
Did not delight in the shedding of blood
Joyed in liberty and freedom
Heart swelled in thanksgiving to God for the many privileges and blessings bestowed upon him
Labor exceedingly for welfare and safety of others/Hardworking
Wise
Firm faith in Christ
Taught the word of God
In tune with the spirit
Trusted in the Lord
Kept the commandments of God
Persevering
Diligent
God fearing

Be thou like unto Moroni.

Verses.
Alma 48:7
Alma 48:8
Alma 48:11-13
Alma 48:17
Alma 49:5
Alma 49:15
Alma 49:27
Alma 50:1
Alma 51:14
Alma 60:28

I am so excited to be able to share our experiences as we follow the counsel of President Monson to study the Book of Mormon every day! I love the Book of Mormon and I know that it IS another testament of Jesus Christ and as we study it daily we will come to know Him better and I know our lives will be better. It doesn't mean we won't have problems, but we will be able to handle them better and we will be happier!  Love you all! and looking forward to reading your posts! I plan to post every Sunday, but wanted to let you know how excited I am!

Monday, January 1, 2018

I'm super excited to be a part of this blog! Thank you to Grandma, and anyone else who helped put this together, to give us this awesome opportunity! I can't wait to get started! I love quotes, so here's one about scripture study I thought I'd share:

-McKenna♡