The 2nd journey back to Jerusalem

The 2nd journey back to Jerusalem is to go back and entreat Ishmael and his family to go with Lehi and his family. It seems like Lehi and Ishmael had a pervious relationship and that Lehi trusted Ishmael. It seems probable that in the perilous circumstances of the impending destruction of Jerusalem Ishmael had believed the prophecies of Lehi. He was a man of faith. It took courage for him to leave Jerusalem with his family. Notice that this time of going back to Jerusalem, at least a 3 days journey, Laman and Lemuel don’t object. There are girls involved! Even though it is undoubtably a great sacrifice, Ishmael goes with the brothers because the Lord has softened his heart. Seeking our own personal testimony is important.

Personal application: How has the Lord softened my heart? Do I allow him to soften my heart? When have I sought my own personal testimony?

Unfortunately, Laman and Lemuel think that they can now seize the opportunity to stay in Jerusalem and not follow their father into the wilderness. They seem to be very influential because they convince some of Ishmael’s family to rebel as well. Nephi tries to convince them of the error of their ways with faith-filled words. He uses the expression, “how is it ye have forgotten”, three times. He reminds them of God’s miracles in their behalf. They had seen an angel. God had delivered them out of the hands of Laban. God is able to do all things for us if we will but have faith.

Remember, remember, remember!

Remember, remember, remember! President Spencer W. Kimball, prophet from 1973 to 1985, famously said that “remember” was the most important word in the dictionary, spiritually.

The oldest continually practiced religious holiday celcbrated today is the Jewish Passover. All of the Jewish holidays are to help the Jews remember God’s hand in their lives. I’ve just been reading in the book of Esther. The Jews were commanded to keep the feast of Purim from the time of their deliverance from destruction by the wicked Haman”s plan to the present day.

Esther 9:27 The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;

28 And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.

God is very invested in having us remember Him! He sets up beautiful ways for us to remember Him.

Personal application: When my faith dims, it’s important to remember all God has done for me. Remembering is the beginning of gratitude. The Sacrament was instituted by the Savior himself to remember his atoning sacrifice for us. I can find ways to remember by writing my experiences down.

Nephi’s prayer–According to my faith and forgiveness

Laman and Lemuel nefariously plot to tie Nephi up and leave him in the wilderness to be devoured by wild animals. Through Nephi’s faith the Lord gives him strength to break the bonds with which he is tied, but still his brothers are determined to show no mercy. When will they ever learn?! Finally, after the pleadings of some of the women, their hearts are softened and they let Nephi loose and even beg for his forgiveness. Without hesitation, Nephi forgives them, but, more importantly, tells them to seek God’s forgiveness

Personal application–In the most difficult of experiences Nephi is able to call upon God and exercise his faith. Can I do this as well? Heavenly Father is always aware of each of us and we can pray in faith.

My personal experience in seeking my own testimony

Many years ago when I was just a young mother with 2 small children, I had an amazing Spiritual Living teacher in Relief Society. Back then Relief Society was once a week. Each week had a different subject. The first week of the month was Spiritual Living. The 2nd week was Homemaking. The 3rd week was Social Relations and the 4th week was Cultural Refinement. The Spiritual Living teaching was Kathy Davis, our bishop’s wife. Harold B. Lee had recently been ordained as the new Prophet and President of the Church. She encouraged us to fast so that we could gain our own personal testimony that he was called of God. She said she had fasted and prayed about it and received an answer. I decided to do as she suggested. I fasted and prayed about it and didn’t receive any kind of answer. I told her about my experience and she suggested that I read something about his life or some of his talks and fast and pray again. I did that and didn’t receive any answer. I tried a third time and didn’t receive any answer. By that time, I became discouraged. I thought that something was the matter with me that God wasn’t answering my prayer. Interestingly, through that entire experience, I never doubted that he was the prophet, but I wanted my own confirmation as my teacher suggested.

Several months later we were out of the military and David was attending BYU. President Lee was coming to speak at the first devotional of the year. I was determined to go with my 2 little girls. Holly was 3 and Julienne 20 months. I had to park quite a distance from the Marriott Center and pull my little girls across campus. When we got to the Marriott Center the only seats were several rows up. We climbed those stairs and took our seat. We all watched for the prophet to enter through one of the portals. As was the custom, whoever saw the prophet first would start singing “We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet.” Then the whole audience would look for him and join the singing. The song would swell through the Marriott Center. When I caught sight of President Lee, he was dressed in a white suit and he seemed to glow. It was at that moment that the Spirit bore witness to me that he was a prophet. My fasting and prayers were rewarded, not on my timetable but on the Lord’s. Now, as I think back on this experience, maybe President Lee wasn’t really wearing a white suit, but God made him appear as if he was in white. This makes the experience all the more special.