I was reading in the early and middle chapters of 2nd Nephi. The idea of the gift of Agency kept coming to mind. Jacob Recounts the Jewish History, the coming of the Savior, the Last days, and preaches repentance to his people. As I read each chapter and pondered over the things that they said and the different circumstances of each group of people I realized that everything from the beginning of time was dependent on our agency. If we could not choose there would be none of this. There would be no need for a Savior. That is why they call agency a gift. That is why we should treat it like a gift. 

I think one of the best ways we can use our agency is to repent. Repentance is a sign of humility and love for the Savior. He chose to use his Agency to redeem the world. He chose to save us all. He didn't have to do it! Just as we do not have to obey, but when we do we will be blessed. We must show our true love and give our lives to the Savior. It boils down to many small decisions in a day and all we need do is choose the hard right rather than the easy wrong.

Estaba leyendo en los primeros y medianos capítulos de 2 Nefi. La idea del don de la Agencia seguía volviendo a la mente. Jacob cuenta la historia judía, la venida del Salvador, los últimos días, y predica el arrepentimiento a su pueblo. Al leer cada capítulo y reflexionar sobre las cosas que dijeron y las diferentes circunstancias de cada grupo de personas me di cuenta de que todo desde el principio del tiempo dependía de nuestra agencia. Si no pudiéramos elegir no habría nada de esto. No habría necesidad de un Salvador. Por eso llaman a la agencia un regalo. Es por eso que debemos tratarlo como un regalo.                                              Creo que una de las mejores maneras de usar nuestra agencia es arrepentirse. El arrepentimiento es un signo de humildad y amor por el Salvador. Eligió usar su Agencia para redimir al mundo. Él eligió salvarnos a todos. ¡No tenía que hacerlo! Así como no tenemos que obedecer, pero cuando lo hagamos seremos bendecidos. Debemos mostrar nuestro verdadero amor y entregar nuestras vidas al Salvador. Se reduce a muchas decisiones pequeñas en un día y todo lo que necesitamos hacer es elegir la derecha difícil en lugar de la mala fácil.

The joy of the Gospel, El gozo el evangelio

This week we have been reading in the last chapters of 1^st Nephi, I was especially struck by a verse in chapter 21. Verse 13 begins by saying, “Sing, O heavens: and be joyful, O earth: for the feet of those who are in the east shall be established: and break forth into singing, O mountains;” I have been watching people at my job this last week. As people walk in the front doors it is so interesting to me to see the emotions that you can see at a first glance. But rarely would I say that I say that I see someone walk in with a joyful expression. Maybe this is because few people are thrilled about going to the dentist or maybe because it is kind of weird and uncommon to walk around with a huge grin on your face greeting everyone in sight. (only missionaries are allowed to do that without it being “weird”) But I wish I could ask each of them what they are really feeling in their hearts and if they feel joy often. I think as we try to keep our covenants and we strive to remember our Savior always we can have joy in our hearts and in our continence more frequently. The verse I read earlier finishes by saying, “for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.” This is the reason we have to rejoice! All we have to do is remember him and what he did for us and I would bet that we could find more joy in our lives.

Esta semana hemos estado haciendo nuestro estudio en los últimos capítulos del primer Nefi. Me llamo mucho la atención un versículo en capitulo 21. El versículo 13 empieza diciendo, “Cantad, oh cielos, y alégrate, oh tierra, porque serán asentados los pies de los que están en el oriente!” En mi trabajo esta semana, he estado mirando a las personas que entran. Es extraordinariamente interesante que cada persona viene con una emoción diferente en su cara. Pero casi nunca vienen con una cara de gozo. Quizás es porque es un pocito raro caminar con una sonrisa grande saludando a todas las personas (solo los misioneros lo hacen eso sin ser raro) Pero me gustaría preguntar a cada persona que entra a mi trabajo y preguntarles lo que realmente están sintiendo en sus corazones. Yo creo que mientras estamos tratando a guardar nuestros convenios y recordamos el Salvador siempre, podemos tener gozo en nuestros corazones. El versículo que leí antes terminé diciendo, “pues el Señor ha consolado a su pueblo, y de sus afligidos tendrá misericordia.” ¡Esta es la razón que podemos regocijar! ¡Solo tenemos que recordar al Salvador y lo que El hico para nosotros y yo diría que podríamos encontrar más gozo!

Always Remember Him

This week Ethan and I read 2 Nephi 13-20. One of my favorite things about the Book of Mormon is that the main purpose is to bring us closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ. The Church is named "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints", so it would only make sense that HE was the one at the center of our testimonies, hearts and everyday lives. We have been told many times that the Book of Mormon is the "KEYSTONE" of our religion. A "keystone" meaning that it holds the whole arch (the gospel) together at the very top. And Jesus Christ is our foundation. It would only make sense then that they "keystone" (Book of Mormon) of our religion is only able to stand because of the "foundation" (Jesus Christ)... which is why I think it is so neat that the Book of Mormon is yet "Another Testament of Jesus Christ", helping us to more fully draw ourselves closer to Him.

In 1 Nephi 19:18 it says, "And I, Nephi, have written these things unto my people, that perhaps I might persuade them that they would remember the Lord their redeemer".

Nephi's who purpose in spending so much time engraving on the plates was to persuade us to remember the Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ. In fact, EVERYTHING Nephi did was based on inviting others to come unto Christ. As missionaries we recite "our purpose" a LOT which is "To invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel through Faith in Jesus Christ, and His Atonement, Repentence, Baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end". We are all disciples of Christ, meaning that we don't need a name tag on us to be able to have this be our purpose as well in our everyday lives.

I would challenge us all to try to be a little more like Nephi who knew what his purpose was and everything in his life revolved around that. Think of what your purpose is and what your motivation is behind the things you do. Try to let our Savior, Jesus Christ, be at the very center of all that you are doing daily. I have a firm testimony of the Book of Mormon and know that it is true. I know that when we put Christ at the center of our lives that we will be happier than we could have ever imagined!

What are our Desires?

So Allie and I have been reading in 1 Nephi and we have been sharing together what we learn and now we were invited to share with anyone who comes to read this what we have learned also! Even if very few people or maybe none at all come to read this it is going to be a good way for Allie and me to use this as some sort of journal for our scripture notes.

I was thinking of a few chapters, specifically 11-13. A quick summary for anyone who might be wondering whats in those chapters. An angel appears to Nephi and he is asked what he desires. He then states that he desires to see the things that his father had seen. Just think about that answer! I don't think that was a half hearted answer. It wasn't Nephi saying, "Sure, I guess it'd be cool to see what my dad saw." He was sure of what he wanted. He was so sure and pure enough to not only have an angel appear to him, but also to show him his exact desire.

Maybe we should stop for a second and ask ourselves what our real desires are. What would you say to an angel standing before you? (Keep in mind he probably knows your answer before you say it... so no lying.)

Desire is a great thing. I am not to the point that Nephi is at, but I do have faith that one day I can get there. Alma teaches us that if you don't believe then desire is enough for now. Start trying and doing good things and you will grow and seeds of belief and faith will start to sprout in your heart and you will grow! That's the hope and good news that keeps me trying. I know that it is truly because of the Atonement that we can keep trying and can become a little better every day. We can all start by feeding our desires and doing good things to make them better!

Obedience brings MIRACLES!

For one of our classes, Ethan and I are going to be doing weekly "scripture shares". We will post the link to the blog each week on Facebook and you will be able to come here to read what new principles we are learning and how our testimonies are being strengthened. Feel free to share with anyone of your friends as well! We hope that as we are learning and growing spiritually in this study of the Book of Mormon that all of you, as our close friends will also have your own personal testimonies of the Book of Mormon strengthened too.

The scripture I wanted to share this week is in 1 Nephi 2:3. And it says "And it came to pass that he was obedient unto the word of the Lord, wherefore he did as the Lord commanded him". This is such a simple yet profound scripture. Lehi was asked to take his family into the wilderness!! To leave everything he was comfortable with in his home and go to the wilderness with his family. And he did it acting in complete and total obedience. He didn't complain or ask why or why couldn't someone else do it... He just went and acted in faith.

Obedience is KEY. And I really do believe that obedience takes a lot of faith. Reading this chapter, and especially this verse, I came to recognize (once again) the importance of being obedient and how miracles truly to occur from being obedient.

I saw this on my mission multiple times. I tried so hard to be obedient and do what the Lord asked of us as missionaries. And because of that I saw MANY MANY miracles on my mission. As I read this verse though I thought about how true it is that obedience and miracles don't only apply to missions and missionaries, but to all of us right now. Being obedient will help us in school, work, doing the laundry, cleaning the house, chasing after kids, etc. We have been asked to do lots of things by general authorities... even just in this past conference. I think we can all do a little bit better at being "obedient unto the word of the Lord" by listening to those talks and applying them in our own personal lives... just as Lehi did.

So my challenge to all of us is to try to listen to at least one conference talk this week and then make a goal and habit out of it! Listen to the words of living Prophets and Apostles who are telling us what the word of the Lord is... and then go out and DO IT. I can promise us all that as we are obedient to the word of the Lord in the best ways we can be that we will find true miracles in our everyday lives. And I share that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.