Day 30: Moroni

Amid boxes and random unorganized furniture, I sat down tonight with a blanket, ice cream, and popcorn, and I did it--I finished the Book of Mormon! Oh, it felt so good! I have gotten several messages from people today with the same kind of excitement and gratitude for the experience. Thank you to everyone who participated with me. I can tell you that with the events of this month, I never would have finished without such an amazing support group to push me through! I  have to apologize for days like today when I didn't get the daily reading posted until...uh, the day was nearly done...and my blogging was often late as well. But even though I wasn't the thorough and prompt leader I had hoped to be, the ultimate goal has been achieved. What a blessing and an accomplishment!

I decided at the beginning of this challenge to use a paperback copy of the Book of Mormon, rather than my personal copy that I've read and marked in for nearly ten years. As a result, I was able to see things freshly, without any previous notes or markings to influence my thoughts. It was wonderful! Reading Moroni tonight was a such a treat!

From these final chapters we learned how to lay hold upon every good thing. It is through faith in Jesus Christ (Moroni 7:22-25). I am learning every day what it means to have "real intent of heart" (Moroni 7:6, 9). I think that is the key--the heart. Throughout this month, I marked each time the scriptures mention something about the state of the heart. Here are just a few:

"...his heart did take courage..." (Alma 62:1)
";yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever." (Alma 37:36)
"...let thy heart be full of thanks unto God;" (Alma 37:37)
"...that a seed may be planted in your heart..." (Alam 32:28)
"..pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with his love..."(Moroni 7:48)
"...that the Holy Ghost may have place in their hearts..." (Moroni 7:32)
"...ponder it in your hearts..." (Moroni 10:3)

I have learned that hearts can be lowly, they can be stubborn, they can be hard; they can be led and broken and lifted up; they can be possessed by Satan, they can be lustful, they can be prideful; they can be soft, they can be purified, and they can be united as one. Most important, they must be sincere "with real intent, having faith in Christ."(Moroni 10:4)

I feel like I have had many opportunities writing on this blog to bear my testimony. But I realized yesterday, after reading Trisha's post, that I have not formally expressed my sincere love for the Savior and my Father in Heaven.

I know the joy that comes from true repentance. I know Heavenly Father prepares us, often without our knowledge of it, to meet the challenges and trials necessary for our growth and learning. I know that the blessings of the temple are real. I know that the blessings of sweet and simple obedience are real. I know that the atonement is real, and it works. I know that an understanding of the scriptures is vital, not only for our salvation, but for our happiness and our success in this life. I have had the great experience throughout my life to learn precept upon precept, line upon line, by small and simple means, that the Lord knows me, he loves me, and he is aware of me. I am so grateful for the Holy Ghost. I am so grateful for the scriptures--for all the prophets who, by their faith and works, made it possible for us to have them today. I am so grateful for my life and the people in it.

I love my Father in Heaven. I love the Savior, Jesus Christ. And more now than ever, I love the Book of Mormon! I am so grateful to have done this challenge and to have shared the experience with each of you. Now it is my prayer that I can always remember, and never forget, the important things I have learned.  Although this is the end of the challenge, it is not the end of studying and seeking the blessings of greater knowledge and wisdom. I want to have the kind of faith and hope and charity that will allow me to be numbered among those who were "partakers of the heavenly gift." My knowledge of the scriptures is growing, and with it I am gaining the desire to pray more often, to be more kind, to hear and feel the promptings of the Holy Ghost, and to follow them. I have felt the joy that the scriptures describe--it is a joy that can only come through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Ether 9 - 15

Hi, I'm Trisha.

Last week my husband, Joe, ran the Seattle 1/2 marathon. My two boys and I went down to the finish line to cheer for him. As we were down town among 30,000 of my closest friends, I kept thinking of Mormon and all of his chef captain's and all of their 10,000 that had fallen by the sword(Mormon 6). If I counted correctly, there were over two million people who had fallen. I was having a hard time comprehending five times as many people fighting and killing men, women, and children than the 30,000 at the marathon. I find myself thinking about what I have read and trying to connect it with what is going on in my life. This was one of the biggest connections I have had. Now I have a whole new attitude with the scripture that says "liken all scriptures unto yourselves".

Now, onto today's reading.
The first thing that stuck out for me was in chapter 9:19, the people were using animals to help themselves. I can hardly wait to get to heaven and find out what cureloms and comoms are.
The people of Ether are in the cycle. The people are righteous and the Lord blesses them. The people become rich and puffed up and forget the Lord their God. The Lord sends Prophets help them remember their God, but if they don't repent, the Lord humbles them by war, drought, or poisonous serpents.

In chapter 10 and 11 The kings are overthrown by their sons and the kings are put in prison. Prison is the wrong word, the scriptures use the word captivity. I never have understood how the king can beget son and daughter in captivity, but I guess it's not a prison like we know today, just being held away and not being able to lead the people. It's just as the prophets have told them, if they don't repent, the Lord will take His spirit away and wont bless them. No people can survive with out the Lord, so they will be utterly destroyed off the face of the earth.



Chapter 12 is all about Faith. I had some great seminary teachers growing up, they taught me about faith. I will always think of a row boat when I hear the word Faith. Faith is just one ore in the row boat. If you only have faith, but don't do anything with it, you are going to row in circles and get no where. Now, your other ore is work. If you have faith and works you will start to move forward and can accomplish anything. But, the trick is you need both at the same time or you will be rowing in circles.

I can see that the Lord will bless those who follow his commandments. I want to be on the Lords side and do all I can to return to His presences. I am greatful that Cortney started this journey for us to read the Book of Mormon in one month. I love the Book of Mormon. I know Jesus is our Savior. I know that we are lead by a true prophet today. I love my family. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.