Book of Mormon [2 NEPHI 31-33] Insights with Maria Eckersley

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Welcome back, everyone.

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This is week 12 of Our Mothers Knew It.

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And honestly, sadly, our final week in the writings of Nephi.

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We've had 12 weeks, you guys, where he has been a part of the

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story in almost every single week.

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And what I love about this week's study is it's just three

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short chapters from 31 to 33.

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And this is his final message.

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After seeing a lifetime of discipleship.

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As we've read through these chapters now, we get to see what he says is the

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most important of all the things and it's Powerful you guys to me what I

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kept visualizing is that Nephi is almost stepped into the shoes of Lehi Where

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we began, you know early in January We started talking about Lehi's dream

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and now he had partaken of that fruit and stood under that tree and now is

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Beckoning everyone to come and then he warns people about the mists of darkness

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that might get in their way And he sees things like the great and spacious

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building and he also sees powerful tools like the iron rod and that straight

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and narrow Path that's Nephi this week.

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He's almost stepped right into his dad's shoes.

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He has spent his whole lifetime partaking of that fruit, and he knows exactly how

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good it is, and he will take as much energy as he can to get that message

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across to us, that this fruit is worth the journey, that the Lord who loves

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you has created guides and paths and roads for you to cling to, and if you

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just stay on that path, There's hope.

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In fact, his message is riddled with hope.

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He has hope, not just for his people, but for us.

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And it will just beam off the pages at you this week.

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What I love is I read a quote from President Nelson.

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He called Nephi a multifaceted genius.

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And I thought that was a perfect description for him.

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You know, he's, we've seen his whole arc.

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You saw him in his early years, you know, where he's got that Bear Gryllis mentality

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and like, he can just figure anything out if he has the Lord on his side.

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And I love that.

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Then he slowly grows up and has to establish a civilization and build a

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temple and you can almost see him maturing in his strength and in his spirituality.

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His obedience and his love of the Lord, I don't think has changed significantly.

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He's just maturing in his life and so it demonstrates itself differently.

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Now we're kind of at the end.

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It's been 55 years since Lehi left Jerusalem.

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So assuming Nephi was 15 or so when he left, you know, he's in his

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early 70s and He's got some miles behind him, and he's going to tell

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us his most important thoughts.

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And they center around the doctrine of Christ, what it offers, and why it's worth

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it, and what the promises really are.

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And it's riveting, you guys.

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I just think it's, it's powerful to hear someone that we have seen live

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the gospel, and now we can trust in his words about what is the most important.

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And it's, you're gonna love it.

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I promise you're gonna love it.

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Grab your scriptures, grab your notes.

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It's time to get started.

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Time to get into our seven sparks.

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So just like last week, we're going to do seven key sparks that

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I found in this week's study.

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Then we'll do five great questions to prompt good conversations, and

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then a second video of three object lessons to help you ignite some fires

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of excitement about these verses in your kids or your classes or whoever

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it is you happen to teach this week.

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So let's get started with our seven sparks.

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this first spark I call dual immersion because it kind of

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reminds me about learning languages.

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This idea of when you go to learn a language, like I went, when I signed

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up for Spanish class, you show up to class and they, the teacher who speaks

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fluently condescends a little bit.

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You know, they want you to love their language, but they know in

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order to get you to understand it, they have to speak slower.

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They have to speak about things you're interested in.

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They have to have a lot of visuals.

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Like they, they do things to help you.

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be welcomed and warmed as you learn their language.

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And then over the course of the semester, you start to grasp things.

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And by the end, hopefully, you can converse.

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I actually think that same thing happens with spiritual understanding.

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I think the Lord speaks an incredible language, and he wants us to learn it.

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But at the beginning, He condescends and he tries to help us.

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He tries to speak ours.

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You know, he, he chooses to speak ours.

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And Nephi teaches us a little bit about this.

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So if you look in 31 verse three, this is what he says For my soul,

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the delighteth in Plainness, for after this manner, that the Lord

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God work among the children of men.

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For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding for he speaketh

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unto men according to their language, unto their understanding.

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I don't think language in this case necessarily means

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English or Spanish or French.

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To me, language means.

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What do you speak?

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You know, when I think of Elder Uchtdorf, he speaks planes.

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When I think of Elder President Nelson, he speaks hearts and, you

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know, anything that has to do with the body, that's his language.

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For me as a graphic designer and as a mom of six kids, like, I speak

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fonts and I speak, you know, just the everyday occurrences of my life.

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He finds ways to help me understand things.

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in my language.

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So he'll teach me things as I'm driving on the road, or as I'm folding a load

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of laundry, or as I'm sending emails.

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He finds ways to condescend and teach me in a language that I understand.

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I also think he is masterful at teaching at my understanding level.

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I was teaching my YSAs about Revelation when we were talking about how earlier

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in my 20s, I actually had one of those pivotal experiences where I

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was, I needed Revelation desperately.

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And so I dropped my scriptures on my bed, hoping that Something would

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happen, you know, on the page.

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And I talked to you guys about this in the Doctrine and Covenants,

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but it's part of the reason I chose to continue dating Jason.

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Because what popped open was go to the Ohio where Jason was from.

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And that trick has never worked for me since.

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Like, that is not I don't think he wants me to stay at that level of revelation.

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He had other plans for me.

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He wanted me to come and speak his language.

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But at that time, when I was 19, 20 years old, that was my language

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and that was my understanding.

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And so he Came to my level, but he's not gonna leave me there.

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He's gonna coax me up That's what I kind of love about what you read in Doctrine

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and Covenants So when you add D& C 1 you get an additional understanding

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about this concept This is in verse 24 Behold I am God and have spoken it

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these commandments are of me and were given unto my servants in their weakness

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After the manner of their language that they might come to understanding

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His goal is not to keep us in our language, but to get us to love his.

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And the way he does that is to reach down and guide us at

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every step of that process.

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I think what's powerful is We adapt right and if I actually demonstrates

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how we adapt so if you look further in that chapter This is 13 and 14 says

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wherefore my beloved brethren I know that if you shall follow the Son with

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full purpose of heart acting no hypocrisy no deception before God, but with real

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intent repenting of your sins Witnessing to the Father that you're willing to take

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upon you the name of Christ by baptism.

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Yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down to the water

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according to his word, behold, then shall you receive the Holy Ghost.

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Yea, then come at the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost, and then can

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you speak with the tongue of angels and shout praises to the Holy One of Israel.

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In 14, he re emphasizes this idea of you being able to speak with a new tongue.

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You'll speak with the tongue of angels.

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To me, this is just an imitation to To understand Revelation, to understand

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how God speaks and what He speaks, and to learn to speak His language.

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I just love it.

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There's a beautiful quote from Sherry Dew.

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I just pulled a segment of it into my notes, but it says, Because the

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Holy Ghost will show us everything we should do, it only makes sense

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to learn how He communicates, or to learn the language of Revelation.

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Our challenge is not getting the Lord to speak to us.

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Our challenge is understanding what He has to say.

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I think that's Nephi's imitation as well.

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He wants us to understand that the kind of God we worship is a God who

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condescends and will help you at your language and your understanding.

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If you speak Plains, he will speak to you.

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If you speak Lego, he will speak to you.

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Whatever your interests, he will find a way to come to you, and then

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he will invite you to his To use the Holy Ghost to understand him, to hear

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his words and his way of speaking and teaching and to ascend with him.

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Spark number two I call Clear Eyes, Full Hearts.

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Because I think it's all about Nephi's perspective on hope and

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seeing the future with bright eyes.

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Nephi's going to teach a lot about baptism because I think his hope

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is to get us to the point where we have that spirit with us always.

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That's what's allowed him to thrive on his, you know, covenant path

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throughout his life is that he's had the spirit to guide and direct him.

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And he wants that for us as well.

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So he knows that for us and for his people, the gateway to have the

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spirit with you is through baptism.

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It's an ordinance that has to occur.

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Those covenants need to take place in order for that

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gift to be available to you.

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So he's going to teach you about it.

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What I think is cool is he uses the Savior as an example.

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So he talks about.

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what will happen.

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He has this prophetic viewpoint, so he almost speaks as if this has already

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occurred, as if the baptism of the Savior isn't 500 plus years in the

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future, but rather has already happened.

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That's just how a prophet's brain works, but you can, you will read

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it in the verses and it will help you understand what I think Nephi

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is trying to get across to us.

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I think he wants us to have a forward focus.

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So let me get you into the verse.

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This is 6 and 7 of chapter 31.

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And now I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did

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fulfill all righteousness in being baptized by water, knowing ye not that

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he was holy, but notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men,

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that according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witness

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unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.

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He's using the Savior as a template to say this can't just

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be about a remission of sins.

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Amen.

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In my mind, sometimes I think we see baptism as this way to,

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like, wash away who we used to be.

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And really, I think what Nephi is demonstrating is that the Savior is

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teaching that this is something about promising who you will be in the future.

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This is all about a forward focus on who you will be, who you're willing to be.

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And he doesn't demand perfection from us, he just asks for an honest heart.

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So if you look in 13, Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if

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you shall follow the Son with a full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy,

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no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing

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unto the Father that you're willing to take upon you the name of Christ.

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What I think is so powerful is he gives you this gift,

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this gift of the Holy Ghost.

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When you're just willing, like you haven't proven anything yet.

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When you receive this opportunity to be baptized and then you receive

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the gift of the Holy Ghost, it's this automatic assumption that

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you're going to keep your promises.

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And I just love that piece of the story this week.

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It's his promise.

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the forwardness of it.

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So, again, if you look in 7, for example, it says the Savior is

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witnessing in this moment when he is baptized that he would be obedient to

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keep the commandments of the Father.

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Then in 10, he asks us if we'll be willing to keep the commandments

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of the Father, meaning like, will you make a promise right now about

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who you will be going forward?

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And I just think it's powerful that you get the gift.

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on that promise.

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But honestly, it's not that different than a lot of the other

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important relationships in our life.

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Right?

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Like, I was thinking back on our wedding day.

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This has been, you know, 25 years ago that Jason and I, when we approached

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that altar together in Salt Lake Temple, we, we basically did this, right?

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You were You're coming to that altar with full hearts, hoping and having the

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intent to be a perfect spouse, right?

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You love the other person and you want and hope to be exactly what they deserve.

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But you know, you're probably gonna fall short in some ways.

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You know that you're not gonna be able to do it perfectly.

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But what's powerful about those promises is that you give the

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gifts to each other anyway.

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You know, you give the gift of your life to the other person on that promise.

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Promise, and that I feel like is what the Savior offers us as well.

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It's the same thing I think that happens when you choose to have kids, because

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it's that same feeling of like, I'm, I'm heading into this with every hope that I

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can be a good mom with every intent to do this well, knowing I'm gonna fall short.

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I'm never gonna do it perfectly, but I'm I, what is amazing to me is that

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you get those blessings and that gift.

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with just your intent, without any proof behind it.

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I love the way it's phrased in verse 12.

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And also, the voice of the Son came unto me, saying, He that is baptized

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in my name, to him will the Father give the Holy Ghost like unto me.

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Wherefore, follow me.

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Do the things which ye have seen me do.

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What's powerful about the way the Savior does things is on that promise

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of us being willing and looking to our future with clear eyes, you know,

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full hearts, hoping to be the kind of person he wants us to become.

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In that covenant moment, he gives us this gift.

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And then he says, I know you're going to fall short.

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So follow me, follow my template, the life I led, the words of gospel

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that I've taught you, follow me.

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And then he gives the gift of the atonement of Jesus Christ.

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So that as we fall short, we have ways to come back.

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We have ways to, to really and truly become.

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what we intended all along.

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We just can't do it on our own.

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And I just think it's powerful how he empowers us in both ways.

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A lot of chapter 31 and 32 are focused on the doctrine of Christ.

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This step by step process that we can follow in order to come closer to him

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and eventually gain our salvation.

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But it seems like such a rote plan that sometimes we miss the majesty of it.

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And I think Nephi wants us to grasp how this works.

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What I thought was particularly interesting is that last step, you

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know, you know, from the articles of faith, those first four steps

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of faith and repentance and baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost.

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And then when Nephi adds is this understanding of enduring to the end.

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What I think is hard is, you know, Sometimes we lose

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sight of what that means.

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We think enduring to the end means you're just supposed to, like, tough

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it out until you die and then you have salvation, but I really don't

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think that was Nephi's intent.

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So we go on the verses, you can see this, it's in 15.

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And I heard a voice from the father saying, Yea, the words of

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my beloved are true and faithful.

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He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.

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First off, can we just talk about how incredible it is that you

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have the words of the Father here?

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It's almost like Nephi is conversant with the Son and the Father.

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Usually in Scripture, when you hear the Father's voice, it is

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simply to introduce his Son.

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You know, again, the sacred grove when he says, This is my beloved son, hear him.

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Or on the Mount of Transfiguration, like they are short, quick, quick

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introductions to the Savior.

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What's powerful to me about this particular one is he adds on that other

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sentence about enduring to the end.

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You will be saved if you endure to the end.

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Which means this can't just be about, you know, white knuckling

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your way through mortality.

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There, there has to be something more to it.

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In 16, it gets a little richer.

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He says, And now, my beloved brethren, I know by this that unless a man

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shall endure to the end and following the example of the Son, the Son of

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the living God, he cannot be saved.

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Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your

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Lord and your Redeemer should do.

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So I guess the question is, what does it mean to endure to the

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end from a God like perspective?

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It can't just be.

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Huffing it out.

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There must be more.

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So I started to dig and search and I couldn't believe how many conference talks

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there were about the doctrine of Christ.

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I guess that shouldn't surprise me.

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It's so central to the plan of salvation and for our whole purpose in mortality.

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But it is in hundreds of talks and I found so many.

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There's a bunch in the notes.

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But I really loved this one devotional I read from Elder Renlund

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from just a couple of years ago.

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This is September 2021 if you want to go find it.

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But he said this.

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We endure to the end by repeatedly and iteratively relying wholly upon

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the doctrine and merits of Christ.

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Repeatedly means that we cycle through the elements of the doctrine

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of Christ throughout our lives.

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Iteratively means that we change and improve with each cycle.

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Even though we cycle repeatedly, we're not spinning in circles like on a

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merry go round with no upward motion.

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If that were the case, the experience would be dizzying and unproductive.

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Instead, as we cycle through the elements of the doctrine of Christ,

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we arrive at a higher plane each time.

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This ascent provides new vistas and perspectives, and brings us closer

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to the Savior, and we eventually return to the presence of our Heavenly

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Father as an heir to all that He has.

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And then he used this awesome visual, I just taught my YSAs about this,

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but he talked about a mountain and that this idea of the doctrine

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of Christ is for us to progress.

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So we make our ascent up this mountain and each time we go around,

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we get a little bit higher and higher and we see new things and

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understand things deeper and have a.

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better connection and understanding of the language of God.

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That's the doctrine of Christ.

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It's supposed to be used over and over again.

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Sometimes this can get hard to teach the kids because they think, well,

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I only get baptized once, right?

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So how does this work?

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work and Elder Renlund talks about this as well that that covenant of baptism

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is renewed every time we partake of the sacrament where we're Invited to partake

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of those things remember our covenants and always have a spirit tree with us So you

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can see where that is part of our ascent We check in on Sundays as we partake of

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the sacrament and we work our way up.

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I did love the way he described Enduring, in the next section.

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He says, Enduring to the end is not a separate step in the doctrine of

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Christ, as though we complete the first four steps and then hunker

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down, grit our teeth, and wait to die.

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No, enduring to the end is actively and intentionally repeating the

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steps of the doctrine of Christ.

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Thus, the doctrine of Christ becomes central to the purpose of life.

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Don't you think that's a beautiful, clear doctrine?

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He wants us to ascend and so he invites us to endure, which means

Maria: 00:17:51

you cycle through over and over and over again, which I think helps you

Maria: 00:17:55

understand why a few times in this week's study, Nephi seems frustrated

Maria: 00:17:59

almost that people aren't getting it.

Maria: 00:18:02

You know, the same way what my boys tried to help me learn how

Maria: 00:18:05

to mountain bike this summer.

Maria: 00:18:06

I just don't love mountain biking.

Maria: 00:18:08

I've tried a couple times.

Maria: 00:18:09

It just doesn't work.

Maria: 00:18:10

I like to hike and I don't love mountain biking.

Maria: 00:18:12

And we went on these training loops and as soon as I finally

Maria: 00:18:15

finished this big training loop, I was like, oh good, are we done?

Maria: 00:18:18

And they're like, no, mom, this is, that's not the end.

Maria: 00:18:21

This was a training loop.

Maria: 00:18:22

So you're going to do this again and again and get stronger and better.

Maria: 00:18:25

And This time we worked on your steering, next time we're

Maria: 00:18:28

going to work on your brakes.

Maria: 00:18:29

I'm like, you know, like, I think that's Nephi in this week's study,

Maria: 00:18:33

because that's kind of what he says.

Maria: 00:18:34

So we look at 19 and 20.

Maria: 00:18:36

And now, my beloved brethren, after you've gotten into the straight and

Maria: 00:18:38

narrow path, I would ask if all is done.

Maria: 00:18:41

Behold, I say unto you, nay, for you have not come this far, save it were

Maria: 00:18:44

by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly on the

Maria: 00:18:48

merits of him who is mighty to save.

Maria: 00:18:51

Wherefore, you must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ,

Maria: 00:18:54

having a perfect brightness of hope.

Maria: 00:18:55

and a love of God and all men.

Maria: 00:18:57

Wherefore, if you shall press forward, feasting upon the words of Christ, and

Maria: 00:19:00

endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father, ye shall have eternal life.

Maria: 00:19:05

To press forward means we should expect opposition.

Maria: 00:19:09

To feast means that you're going to have the strength you need

Maria: 00:19:12

to continue on this journey.

Maria: 00:19:14

upward ascent.

Maria: 00:19:15

He will give you almost like the goos I would drink or choke down when

Maria: 00:19:19

I was doing my marathon training.

Maria: 00:19:21

He promises that he will have words that you can feast on to give you

Maria: 00:19:25

the spiritual strength and stamina you need to keep working your way up.

Maria: 00:19:30

And then he promises that there will be an end.

Maria: 00:19:32

But I don't think the end is, I don't think that's what he

Maria: 00:19:35

means by endure to the end.

Maria: 00:19:36

I think it means you stick with this ascent until you are as he is.

Maria: 00:19:41

And whether that happens in this life or the next one, I mean, I think there's

Maria: 00:19:46

progress that will be made in both places.

Maria: 00:19:48

And so he, he invites you to keep this pattern always.

Maria: 00:19:52

Cycling up a little bit higher each time and watch the views change as you ascend.

Maria: 00:19:59

Much like we saw in the dream, Nephi is going to describe this course that he's

Maria: 00:20:03

sending us on as straight and narrow.

Maria: 00:20:06

And you have to kind of wonder at times why that is.

Maria: 00:20:09

Why is it that God creates a, such a narrow opening to

Maria: 00:20:14

enter this covenant path?

Maria: 00:20:16

And I think from some outside perspectives, it can seem almost

Maria: 00:20:20

unkind that if a loving God was in fact loving, he would make that opening

Maria: 00:20:24

as wide as he possibly could so that as many people who wanted to come to

Maria: 00:20:29

know him, but I really think it has something to do with the posture of God.

Maria: 00:20:34

I think when you're in that posture of humility, to the point where you will

Maria: 00:20:39

make these covenants with God and you will set down the old you and pick up

Maria: 00:20:44

this new hopeful future, that puts you in the right posture to be the kind

Maria: 00:20:48

of person who will grip the iron rod.

Maria: 00:20:51

I think if we didn't have to, you know, If we didn't have to humble ourselves

Maria: 00:20:54

in that way, then we wouldn't veer off.

Maria: 00:20:56

In fact, I was watching a show recently where there was this girl

Maria: 00:20:59

who really wanted to get into Harvard Law, and she was so frustrated

Maria: 00:21:01

because she couldn't pass the bar.

Maria: 00:21:02

And so she almost wished that Harvard would somehow open or change their

Maria: 00:21:07

policies in order to allow her to come in without passing the bar.

Maria: 00:21:11

But the problem with that theory, Plays out really quickly, right?

Maria: 00:21:14

If she can't pass the bar, then chances are her being able to pass the classes

Maria: 00:21:17

there Wouldn't work out for her, right?

Maria: 00:21:20

Look, those, those restrictions are in place so that it is fair and so it

Maria: 00:21:24

prepares you for all that is coming next.

Maria: 00:21:28

The alternative is they let everybody in and they change their standards,

Maria: 00:21:31

but then the value of the degree itself is diminished, right?

Maria: 00:21:35

The promise of what it offers is lower and cheapened if there are no

Maria: 00:21:41

restrictions and no if it's not hard.

Maria: 00:21:45

I just think there's something about it being hard.

Maria: 00:21:48

I love the way the Savior demonstrates this with the rich young ruler.

Maria: 00:21:51

So remember when we studied last year, this is back in Matthew 20.

Maria: 00:21:55

And the rich young ruler has lived a good life.

Maria: 00:21:56

In fact, he comes kind of declaring those good choices he's made all of his life.

Maria: 00:22:01

And what the Savior asks him to do is set all that down and follow him.

Maria: 00:22:04

So this is Matthew 10.

Maria: 00:22:05

21 and 22.

Maria: 00:22:07

Then Jesus, beholding him, loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest,

Maria: 00:22:12

go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt

Maria: 00:22:16

have treasure in heaven, and come and take up the cross and follow me.

Maria: 00:22:20

And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved, for

Maria: 00:22:23

he had great possessions.

Maria: 00:22:25

I think one of the ways this may have been hard for the Savior to see is because the

Maria: 00:22:32

treasures of heaven don't necessarily mean you have to wait until heaven to get them.

Maria: 00:22:37

I think you could ask any one of his apostles who did choose to follow him.

Maria: 00:22:41

What are the treasures you received in this life because you chose to

Maria: 00:22:45

follow Him and take up the cross?

Maria: 00:22:46

Because you chose to set down that boat full of fish and follow the Savior?

Maria: 00:22:50

What treasures of heaven did you see in this life?

Maria: 00:22:54

And if you ask someone like Peter, I think he would say remarkable things.

Maria: 00:22:58

He saw the daughter of Jairus stand, he saw loaves and fish that

Maria: 00:23:05

could have had one person turn into enough to feed thousands of people.

Maria: 00:23:08

He felt water firm under his feet.

Maria: 00:23:11

I mean, those are treasures in heaven that are here.

Maria: 00:23:16

Sometimes I think when I struggle to humble myself, it's because I

Maria: 00:23:21

think those promises are afar off.

Maria: 00:23:24

And so I make compromises.

Maria: 00:23:26

And I think what our prophet has taught us and what we hear.

Maria: 00:23:29

Often, from leaders, is that those treasures of heaven, although there are

Maria: 00:23:34

bounteous blessings there that we can't even fathom, I think a lot of those

Maria: 00:23:38

treasures funnel into our lives right now.

Maria: 00:23:41

As we choose obedience, as we choose humility, as we choose to get on this

Maria: 00:23:45

covenant path and stay there, the treasures of heaven start seeping through.

Maria: 00:23:50

The windows of heaven open and blessings pour out.

Maria: 00:23:53

I think you see that throughout scripture.

Maria: 00:23:56

In chapter 2, Nephi offers us the ultimate how to article.

Maria: 00:24:00

You know, like every magazine you ever read, like how to do

Maria: 00:24:02

something in seven steps, or how to accomplish something simple.

Maria: 00:24:05

He's going to tell you how to do all things.

Maria: 00:24:08

That's his guidance.

Maria: 00:24:09

Remember, he's at the end of his life, and he knows, from first hand

Maria: 00:24:13

experience, how to accomplish hard things.

Maria: 00:24:16

That's what I liked about these verses.

Maria: 00:24:18

I felt like I Nephi's life and see how he has lived this way.

Maria: 00:24:22

From the beginning.

Maria: 00:24:24

So this is chapter 32 verse 3 and 5 says angels speak by the power of the Holy

Maria: 00:24:28

Ghost Wherefore they speak the words of Christ Wherefore I say unto you feast

Maria: 00:24:32

upon the words of Christ for behold the words of Christ will tell you all

Maria: 00:24:35

Things that you should do and then five For behold, again I say unto you that

Maria: 00:24:39

if you will enter in by the way and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show

Maria: 00:24:43

unto you all things that ye should do.

Maria: 00:24:45

I think we've heard the same message spoken by our prophet.

Maria: 00:24:48

You know, he teaches us that we can look to the Savior's life and teachings

Maria: 00:24:51

for any question that we might have.

Maria: 00:24:54

I also loved this quote.

Maria: 00:24:55

He said, My brothers and sisters, I plead with you to make time for the Lord.

Maria: 00:24:57

Make your own spiritual foundation firm and able to stand the test of

Maria: 00:25:01

time by doing those things that allow the Holy Ghost to be with you always.

Maria: 00:25:05

Never underestimate the profound truth that the Spirit speaketh of things as

Maria: 00:25:08

they are and as they really will be.

Maria: 00:25:11

It show unto you all things that you should do.

Maria: 00:25:15

So I guess my question is, where did you see this in Nephi's life?

Maria: 00:25:18

I mean, don't you think at every step he's lived this for us?

Maria: 00:25:22

It's how he was able to know on those streets of Jerusalem how he was

Maria: 00:25:27

supposed to follow that prompting.

Maria: 00:25:28

Remember he felt compelled to slay Laban and that went against

Maria: 00:25:31

everything he knew so far.

Maria: 00:25:33

And he found himself struggling and the spirit helped him know

Maria: 00:25:36

all things that he should do.

Maria: 00:25:39

We also saw the spirit prompt him with the bow, like what he could do,

Maria: 00:25:43

what tools were at his disposal that he could use to solve his problems.

Maria: 00:25:47

You see it when he goes to make tools, right?

Maria: 00:25:49

He seeks help from the spirit to know where to find ore, and how to build

Maria: 00:25:54

things, and how to deal with his brothers who are fighting against him.

Maria: 00:25:57

He has minute by minute instruction from the Lord.

Maria: 00:26:01

And I don't think it means he hears the voice of the Spirit all the time.

Maria: 00:26:05

I think it means he's just in that zone.

Maria: 00:26:06

When you have the Spirit with you always, and you live worthy of it,

Maria: 00:26:10

You are guided, not even knowing it's the Spirit prompting you.

Maria: 00:26:13

We're going to see that later in the Book of Mormon, where you will hear

Maria: 00:26:16

people actually speak it that way, saying they had no idea that the Spirit

Maria: 00:26:20

was working on them that whole time.

Maria: 00:26:21

That's Nephi.

Maria: 00:26:22

He just has, he lives in that current.

Maria: 00:26:25

The visual that always helps me understand this is when you think of

Maria: 00:26:28

like a swimming pool, that it's, When you're in the pool, and you're warm,

Maria: 00:26:32

and you're having a great time, you don't even realize how comfortable you

Maria: 00:26:35

are until you get out of the water, and then you feel that first shock of

Maria: 00:26:39

cold on you, even if it's not windy.

Maria: 00:26:41

Like, just stepping out of the water, you realize how cold it is out there,

Maria: 00:26:45

and you immediately want to get back in.

Maria: 00:26:46

For me, that's how the spirit works.

Maria: 00:26:48

I think most of the time, I'm not even aware of how warm my life is

Maria: 00:26:52

because the spirit is all around me and working on me all the time.

Maria: 00:26:57

It's not until I step into some other place or I step away from where he can

Maria: 00:27:02

guide me that I feel that immediate chill.

Maria: 00:27:05

And to me, I think it's this divine gift to urge you to get back in the water.

Maria: 00:27:09

Step away from whatever media it is that caused that cold.

Maria: 00:27:12

Step away from whatever person it is that caused that chill

Maria: 00:27:15

and come back to what is.

Maria: 00:27:17

Warm come back to where you have comfort and security.

Maria: 00:27:21

I think we saw that throughout Nephi's life He wants us to feel that peace

Maria: 00:27:25

and assurance that comes by being in these waters And so he encourages you to

Maria: 00:27:29

find a way to get there and stay there Baptism is your gateway and then living

Maria: 00:27:35

worthy by following these doctrines of Christ is how you keep the Spirit with

Maria: 00:27:38

you always One of the reasons I think Nephi teaches us that the words of Christ

Maria: 00:27:44

can tell us all things that you should do is because when you pair the words

Maria: 00:27:48

of Christ with the promptings of the Holy Ghost, you have actionable items.

Maria: 00:27:53

You know, like if I take the words of Christ that I find in scripture or

Maria: 00:27:56

in prophetic direction or even in my own journals or revelations that I've

Maria: 00:27:59

received, When I have the Holy Ghost with me, He teaches me how to use those things.

Maria: 00:28:04

So I can read Isaiah's words or I can listen to a Maxwell talk and I

Maria: 00:28:08

can know how I can act in my life.

Maria: 00:28:10

That's what the Holy Ghost offers.

Maria: 00:28:12

So Nephi wants us to have that with us all the time.

Maria: 00:28:15

The problem is you can't Command that to happen, even if you live worthy of

Maria: 00:28:19

it, you can't demand that the spirit show up for you in certain ways.

Maria: 00:28:22

You have to invite.

Maria: 00:28:23

And one of the most powerful ways to invite the Holy Ghost is through prayer.

Maria: 00:28:27

So Nephi teaches us about prayer.

Maria: 00:28:29

This is in 32 verses 8 and 9.

Maria: 00:28:32

He says, And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that you ponder still in

Maria: 00:28:34

your hearts and agree with me that I must speak concerning this thing.

Maria: 00:28:38

For if you would hearken unto the spirit which teacheth a man to pray,

Maria: 00:28:41

ye would know that ye must pray.

Maria: 00:28:42

For the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth

Maria: 00:28:45

him that he must not pray.

Maria: 00:28:47

But behold, I say unto you that you must pray always, and think not.

Maria: 00:28:50

that ye must not perform anything unto the Lord, save in the first

Maria: 00:28:53

place you shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that

Maria: 00:28:56

he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance

Maria: 00:28:59

may be for the welfare of thy soul.

Maria: 00:29:02

What I like about these writings, and this might just be my interpretation

Maria: 00:29:05

of them, I feel like Nephi is trying to help us understand that sometimes

Maria: 00:29:08

you're not going to have a clear prompting about what you're going to do.

Maria: 00:29:12

What the Lord promises is he can consecrate all your performances.

Maria: 00:29:16

Towards your good even if it's not to the good of the people you were hoping

Maria: 00:29:20

to perform for he can consecrate it to your good That's a pretty remarkable

Maria: 00:29:25

promise It takes a lot of the pressure off because I feel like we're in this

Maria: 00:29:28

situation all the time He's saying I don't want you just to pray at certain times

Maria: 00:29:32

of day or in certain locations I want you to pray always about anything that

Maria: 00:29:35

you're performing and then trust that he can make it work together for your good.

Maria: 00:29:40

So, for example, when it comes to my YSA class, I pray always.

Maria: 00:29:44

I am really diligent with my prayers because I can't do it without prayer.

Maria: 00:29:48

I need to know what action items he wants me to do.

Maria: 00:29:51

When I read whatever chunk of scripture that we're covering that week, or when

Maria: 00:29:55

I listen to whatever conference talk we're discussing, I need to know how

Maria: 00:29:58

to take those things and act on them.

Maria: 00:30:00

And better yet, how to help them act on them.

Maria: 00:30:03

And I need the Holy Ghost to help me know how to do that.

Maria: 00:30:05

So I pray.

Maria: 00:30:06

Always meaning I pray while I'm studying.

Maria: 00:30:09

I pray the minute I sit in the car you guys because as soon as I get in the car

Maria: 00:30:13

to go to class, I know I'm out of time.

Maria: 00:30:15

Like there's no other time I can prepare.

Maria: 00:30:17

I can't put anything else in my lesson.

Maria: 00:30:18

As soon as I put my hands on the wheel, it's like, Okay, you know, those are the

Maria: 00:30:22

moments when I pray, Heavenly Father, I need you to touch these stones.

Maria: 00:30:25

The same way the brother of Jared created the best he could his

Maria: 00:30:29

16 molten stones, and then he invited the Lord to make them glow.

Maria: 00:30:34

That's kind of what I do every week when I grab hold of the steering wheel.

Maria: 00:30:37

I'm like, I need you to touch these stones.

Maria: 00:30:39

I've done everything I can do in the time I had and the energy

Maria: 00:30:43

I had to Please touch these.

Maria: 00:30:45

Don't then I pray when I get to class, right?

Maria: 00:30:48

Not audibly necessarily, but as they're coming in, I am praying for help to

Maria: 00:30:52

remember names, to remember details about their lives, to pay attention to

Maria: 00:30:56

their comments, to know who needs help.

Maria: 00:30:58

And you know, like I'm praying constantly to, to get guidance on how to help them.

Maria: 00:31:04

And then honestly, one of my favorite prayers comes after class.

Maria: 00:31:06

It's usually the next morning I go for a walk or a hike, and I think back on

Maria: 00:31:11

everything I just taught and I ask.

Maria: 00:31:14

What I did wrong and honestly, usually there's something there's something I

Maria: 00:31:17

could have said better or done better.

Maria: 00:31:19

It's not like a, I don't feel like he's coming down on me.

Maria: 00:31:21

I feel like it's a way to hone my skills.

Maria: 00:31:23

He wants me to be a stronger teacher for this group of kids.

Maria: 00:31:27

And so he's giving me guidance and I get correction.

Maria: 00:31:30

And for me, that's what praying always means.

Maria: 00:31:34

It doesn't mean you're praying all the time.

Maria: 00:31:35

Non stopping constantly.

Maria: 00:31:37

It means whatever performance he's asking of you, whether it be a calling

Maria: 00:31:40

or a relationship in your life that he wants you to work on, or whatever

Maria: 00:31:44

thing he wants you to perform.

Maria: 00:31:46

He's asking you to pray always throughout that process.

Maria: 00:31:49

And when you don't have clear direction from the Spirit, like,

Maria: 00:31:51

most of the time, I don't have clear direction on what I'm supposed to do.

Maria: 00:31:55

I just have to move forward in faith.

Maria: 00:31:56

And the promise is, if I do that with an open, honest heart, he will consecrate my

Maria: 00:32:00

efforts, he will consecrate my efforts.

Maria: 00:32:02

For at least my gain.

Maria: 00:32:04

I'll become a better teacher.

Maria: 00:32:06

I'll be more humble.

Maria: 00:32:06

I'll learn more the next week and things will get better.

Maria: 00:32:09

That's his promise.

Maria: 00:32:11

I love the way President Nelson said this.

Maria: 00:32:13

He said, Prayer begins with individual initiative.

Maria: 00:32:16

Behold, saith the Lord, I stand at the door and knock.

Maria: 00:32:19

If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come to him

Maria: 00:32:22

and sup with him and he with me.

Maria: 00:32:24

That door is open when we pray to our Heavenly Father

Maria: 00:32:27

in the name of Jesus Christ.

Maria: 00:32:29

If you seek more of him in your life, open the door.

Maria: 00:32:33

Find ways to pray more intently.

Maria: 00:32:36

Have your heart open and soft.

Maria: 00:32:38

Pray always and he will come in and step with you.

Maria: 00:32:42

Spark number seven is one of my favorites.

Maria: 00:32:44

I call this one look up.

Maria: 00:32:46

And it's a reminder I have to give myself all the time.

Maria: 00:32:49

Because I have a tendency to measure my worth by looking out.

Maria: 00:32:53

You know, I, I hope for feedback or responses from people and then I can know

Maria: 00:32:57

that what I'm doing is worth my time.

Maria: 00:33:00

And what I get reminded of all the time by the spirit is that I need

Maria: 00:33:03

to look, I need to get reassurance from the only good source.

Maria: 00:33:07

Everything else is just Extra.

Maria: 00:33:09

And I need to look up.

Maria: 00:33:11

Nephi teaches this same lesson.

Maria: 00:33:12

Because when he gets to chapter 33, he's going to set down teaching us about

Maria: 00:33:16

the doctrine of Christ and teaching us about having the Spirit with us always.

Maria: 00:33:19

And he's going to focus on just his own testimony.

Maria: 00:33:22

But where he begins is his Worries.

Maria: 00:33:25

Like he starts in one speaking about where he's worried.

Maria: 00:33:27

It says, And now I, Nephi, cannot write all things which were taught

Maria: 00:33:30

among my people, neither am I mighty in writing like unto speaking.

Maria: 00:33:34

For when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost, the power

Maria: 00:33:36

of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.

Maria: 00:33:40

This might be me just reading.

Maria: 00:33:41

projecting onto Nephi, but I feel this all the time.

Maria: 00:33:44

Like if you asked me to pick whether I speak in front of a group of people

Maria: 00:33:48

and teach this lesson or speak in front of a camera, 10 times out of 10,

Maria: 00:33:52

I pick the people because it's just hard not to be able to have physical

Maria: 00:33:57

evidence that you're doing a good job.

Maria: 00:33:58

Nephi's in that spot where he is writing words that he

Maria: 00:34:01

won't get to see people read.

Maria: 00:34:03

He won't get to see, I mean, I guess maybe he has in vision to some degree,

Maria: 00:34:06

but he doesn't get to see how this works.

Maria: 00:34:08

And in his mind, all he can see are his weaknesses.

Maria: 00:34:12

And I feel that all the time.

Maria: 00:34:14

I, you just don't have feedback.

Maria: 00:34:15

And so it's hard and you, you worry about your weaknesses all the time.

Maria: 00:34:19

What I think is so powerful is Nephi doesn't just, he doesn't

Maria: 00:34:22

get stuck there like I do.

Maria: 00:34:24

Instead, he gives you this gateway.

Maria: 00:34:27

He says, if there's not physical evidence to prove that what you're

Maria: 00:34:30

doing is pleasing to God, go through this mental checklist.

Maria: 00:34:34

At least that's how I read it.

Maria: 00:34:35

So if you look in three and four, he walks you through his checklist.

Maria: 00:34:39

But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it of great

Maria: 00:34:43

worth, and especially unto my people.

Maria: 00:34:45

For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my

Maria: 00:34:48

pillow by night, because of them.

Maria: 00:34:50

And I cry unto my God in faith, and I know he will hear my cry.

Maria: 00:34:53

And then this is his checklist.

Maria: 00:34:55

I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people

Maria: 00:34:59

and the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them.

Maria: 00:35:03

For it persuaded them to do good.

Maria: 00:35:05

It maketh known unto them of their fathers.

Maria: 00:35:07

It speaketh of Jesus and persuaded them to believe in him and to endure

Maria: 00:35:11

to the end, which is life eternal.

Maria: 00:35:13

For me, this is how Nephi looks up.

Maria: 00:35:16

Even though he can't see the faces of those who will read these words

Maria: 00:35:19

the way he could if he was giving a sermon, he can go through this list.

Maria: 00:35:23

Do I love the people that God asked me to love?

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You know, I, for me, that's his first indicator, because he talks about crying

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over them at night and praying about them.

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He loves the people God asked him to love.

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Does he pray for guidance and live worthy enough to receive it?

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If he does, then he can feel assured that he's on the right track.

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Did his eyes, his ideas persuade others to do good?

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The reason I like this phrasing is, even if his, his doctrines and his teaching

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don't persuade people to get into the waters of baptism, if he doesn't persuade

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people to make covenants, Did they at least persuade them to be good, to choose

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good, and to believe that there is good?

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If so, then he can feel reassured.

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He can look up to know that God is pleased with his efforts.

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I also love a few others.

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He also says, or the way I read that verse, did my message persuade others

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to believe in covenant promises?

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He hopes always to remind his people about their connection to Abraham.

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These, these fathers that have had these incredible promises made by God,

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that they are a part of that line.

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If he makes sure that his words do those things, then he

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can feel assurance from God.

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Another one is, Did I speak the words of Jesus and persuade

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others to believe in him?

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I think this is why every lesson that we teach, whether in our

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home or at church or anywhere, is supposed to be focused on the Savior.

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Because even if you give the lesson terribly, if it falls flat, if you

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helped people understand Jesus Christ and his character, and they learned

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to trust him more because of what you taught, then God, I think, is pleased.

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It doesn't matter how Weak you feel in the moment, that pleases God.

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And then the last one, did my testimony encourage others to endure to the end?

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I think that's Nephi in spades, right?

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Every moment of the last 12 weeks of study, we have seen him endure hard

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things, good things, rely on the spirit to know how to navigate his life.

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If our lessons reflect that, Do we help people know that it's worth it to endure?

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That the promises of God are real and they are worth it?

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If we did, then we can feel assured in those promises.

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That's why I love how things wrap up.

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I can feel the rest that Nephi feels if I've gone through that mental checklist.

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This is in verse 10.

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And now my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken

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unto these words and believe in Christ.

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And if you believe not in these words,

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That's the sound of a teacher who has looked up for reassurance.

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He's no longer feeding on the feedback that he could get in a room he's trusting.

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He's closing up this book saying, I've done what I needed to do.

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I know God is pleased.

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And I think that's the feeling that all teachers hope for.

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Time to get into the question side of week 12, you guys.

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All right, here are my five questions to consider.

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The first one comes from 19.

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This is where Nephi has just taught us about the importance of baptism and

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getting on this straight and narrow path.

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And he's right at the beginning of the path.

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He says this interesting phrase, You have not come thus far, save it were

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by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly on the

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merits of him who is mighty to save.

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My question is, how is unshaken faith?

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possible this early on the path.

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You know, they've just gone through the process of baptism and receiving

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the gift of the Holy Ghost.

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And he says something like unshaken faith.

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And I don't think it means unshakable, meaning it can never shake, but

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it does seem like he's saying that what they've accomplished

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so far required unshaken faith.

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And I'm wondering how that's possible.

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So tell me your thoughts.

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Second one.

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This comes from second Nephi 31 20.

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Uh, this is when Nephi is inviting us to press forward with a

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steadfastness in Christ, having this faith perfect brightness of

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hope and love of God and all men.

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It's almost like you can hear faith, hope, and charity in that one verse.

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And I really love the perspective on hope that Elder Maxwell offers.

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So he says this, that hope is much more than wishful musing.

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It stiffens, not slackens, the spiritual spine.

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Hope is serene, not giddy, eager without being naive, and pleasantly

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steady without being smug.

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And I guess I'd love to hear your thoughts about where you see this Right?

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Hope in Nephi's life.

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We're at the end of his story.

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And I would love for us to look back at the last 12 weeks and tell me

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where you see this kind of bright hope, that steady assured hope.

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Third question.

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This comes from second Nephi 32 three.

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This is when Nephi was teaching us to feast upon the words of Christ 500 plus

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years before Christ will ever offer words.

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And so I think it's kind of an interesting situation where he's asking them to

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seek the resources they currently have to study the words of Christ.

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We often thinking, think of feasting as a metaphor for like taking

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in as much as you possibly can.

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When you hear people use this scripture in conference or in other talks,

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they often talk about it like you need to consume scriptures the way

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you would consume food at a feast.

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But I think there might be more to that metaphor than just what we consume.

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I started thinking about feasts, especially in Jewish traditions,

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and what feasts look like.

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And I guess my question to you is, are there other ways that

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feasting applies to His word, rather than just what we consume?

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Think about things like how their feasts were held at regular intervals that

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were determined by the law, by God.

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They have big preparations.

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A lot of times their feast days involved a journey of some kind.

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These feasts were providing a way for them to step away from work and

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connect with family and friends.

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Even outsiders are Gathered in, all of that is wrapped

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up in feasting and lots more.

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So, think about that metaphor in a new way and see what comes to the surface for you.

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Okay, fourth question.

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This is in 2 Nephi 33, verse 6.

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He says, I glory in plainness, I glory in truth, I glory in my Jesus.

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For he hath redeemed my soul from hell.

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I think it's interesting that we often speak about being his

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children, or his brothers and sisters, or his covenant people,

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but I'm curious how he is also ours.

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Nephi describes him as my Jesus and redeeming my soul from hell.

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And there's something about that relationship that seems

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so intimate and so close.

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So how, I know we are his, but how is he also ours?

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Okay, fifth question.

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Second Nephi 33 15.

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This is when Nephi is speaking about seeing us at the judgment day.

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So remember he gives his testimony, teaches all that he can, and then

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basically says, I'll see you on judgment day where you will know

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that my words are true because you'll hear it from Christ himself.

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And he kind of bids us farewell, either a farewell like I can't wait

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to see you or an everlasting farewell if you reject the words of Christ.

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And then there's this interesting phrase at the very end.

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It says, For thus hath the Lord commanded me and I must obey.

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Earlier in his life, Nephi said things like, I will go and do the

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things which the Lord hath commanded me, for I know the Lord giveth no

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commandment unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them

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to do the thing he has commanded, however it's phrased in the scripture.

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Before he says, he will do things because the Lord commanded them.

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Now I think it's really interesting that at the end of his life,

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after decades of discipleship and diligence, he says he must obey.

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And I'm curious why.

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Do you think this is more the role of a prophet?

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Do you think this is more about a change in his spiritual maturity?

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Why was he willing to do what God commanded him in

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the past, and now he must do?

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What made the difference in Nephi?

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I don't know the answer, but I'd love to hear your thoughts.

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Before we head into the object lessons, I want to leave you with one last thought.

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Like I told you, I read the Bible.

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I don't know if it's dozens.

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Many, many talks about the doctrine of Christ this week.

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One of my favorites came from Elder Ashton.

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This is back in 2016, and I just really love the way he helped me understand

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the link between the doctrine of Christ and the atonement of Christ.

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That the atonement creates the conditions, and that the doctrine

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of Christ is a tool that we use.

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These are his words.

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The Atonement of Christ creates conditions upon which we may rely on the merits and

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mercy and grace of the Holy Messiah, be perfected in Christ, and obtain every

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good thing, and gain eternal life.

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The Doctrine of Christ, on the other hand, is the means of The only means by

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which we can obtain all the blessings made available to us through Jesus Atonement.

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It is the doctrine of Christ that allows us to access the spiritual power that

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will lift us from our current spiritual state to a state where we become, where

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we can become perfected like the Savior.

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Of this process of rebirth, Elder D.

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Todd Christofferson has taught, being born again, unlike our physical birth,

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is more of a process than an event.

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And engaging in that process is the central purpose in mortality.

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What I loved about that perspective is I think that's what Nephi shows.

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Throughout his life.

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That's been the purpose of his life.

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You can almost see Nephi from the very beginning Making that steady ascent living

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that doctrine of Christ iteratively and repeatedly until he gets all the way up

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to the place where he is in these chapters where he is Assured of his place with God.

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He is confident in Christ He speaks God's language and he

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he tries to teach it to us.

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I just You I think he's like this North Star that all of us can follow.

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No matter where we are on the planet, we can look to Nephi and follow his guidance.

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There's beautiful confidence in it.

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What I love is Nephi is pulling for us to, this is one of my favorite

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verses in all this week's study.

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It's in 33 verse 12.

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This is Nephi speaking, and I pray, the Father, in the name of Christ, that

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many of us, if not all, may be saved in his kingdom at that great and last day.

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He is pulling for us, he's praying for us, and if someone like Nephi is on

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our team, I feel like we can feel a lot of confidence following his guidance.