New Project

As I have finished the Book of Mormon and have read it 4 times this year so far, I decided to read the Doctrine and Covenants again.  It has been a while since I have read it and I thought it would be a good idea to read about some modern revelation.  As you know I am obsessed with Reading Charts so here is the one for Doctrine and Covenants.

Doctrine and Covenants Reading Chart

I will be studying along with the Doctrine and Covenants Church History Student Study Guide.  I don't think the posts will be every day, but I will try to keep you updated with where I am and some cool insights.

The development of the Doctrine and Covenants is evidence that the authorized scriptures of the Church (often called the “standard works” or the “scriptural canon”) are not to be considered complete. Many Christian churches teach that the Bible contains all of God’s word to man and that revelation has ceased. President Hugh B. Brown, then a counselor in the First Presidency, taught: “When Joseph came out of the woods where he had [the First Vision], he had learned at least four fundamental truths, and he announced them to the world: first, that the Father and the Son are separate and distinct individuals; second, that the canon of scripture is not complete; third, that man was actually created in the image of God; and fourth, that the channel of communication between earth and heaven is open, and revelation is continuous” (in Conference Report, Sept.–Oct. 1967, 120).

Today I read  the Introduction and Chapters 1-4.  I think my favorite was Chapter 4.  It reminds me of when I was on my mission and we would stand as a District or a Zone and recite it together.  The Spirit was SO POWERFUL.  It also brings joy to my heart because Benjamin my little peanut decided to go on a MISSION and started his papers yesterday.  He kept it a surprise from my mom and during a family council he read Chapter 4 and told her.  It's pretty cool that he decided to serve.  He has been on the fence about it for a very long time now and several times decided not to serve.  I am thankful that the Spirit testified that it is the right thing to do.  I can't wait for him to get his call and for him to have all the wonderful, amazing, difficult, trying, spiritual, and precious times I had while serving in Idaho.

Day 100

YOU DID IT!

Now what?

“There are three great reasons why Latter-day Saints should make the study of the Book of Mormon a lifetime pursuit.”  The Book of Mormon – • “is the keystone of our religion” • “was written for our day”• “helps us draw nearer to God”
~ President Ezra Taft Benson

So does it end here or will you read today? tomorrow?...

*It absolutely does not end today...I read everyday. I am actually looking forward to reading at my own pace and focusing on the things that are important to me at this present time.  It has been a wonderful experience to read and share a bit of my feelings.

Day 99

Read: Moroni 10

Mark: Moroni 10:3-5, 32

“To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves. The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall. If you have not got the testimony, live right and call upon the Lord and cease not till you obtain it…The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light. Each will have to be guided by the light within himself. If you do not have it, how can you stand?”
~ Elder Heber C. Kimball

Day 98

Read: Moroni 8-9

Mark: Moroni 9:20

“Our capacity to feel controls our behavior in many ways, and by inaction when our feelings prompt us to do good, we deaden that capacity to feel…A sex saturated society cannot feel the needs of its suffering members because instead of developing the love that looks outward, it turns man selfishly inward…we have ears, but cannot hear, not only the promptings of God but also the pleas of men…We shut out people, nature, and God.”
~ Elder Neal A. Maxwell

How do you respond to promptings or feelings that you should do something?

*I get confused a lot of the times if it's me or the Spirit. I usually act on those promptings.  At this time in my life I have a feeling that I need to move to Idaho or Utah.  It came out of the blue and it's all happening very fast.  I found jobs with my company and have applied.  I am moving forward as if it were inspiration, and if it's not meant to be it won't work out.  I have peace that whatever happens is the will of the Lord. I am also learning that the Spirit can't steer a parked car...I have to be moving forward for it to steer.

Day 97

Read: Moroni 5-7

Mark: Moroni 7:47-48

“The phrase ‘love of Christ’ might have meaning in three dimensions: (1) love for Christ; (2) love from Christ; (3) love like Christ….People who have charity have a love for the Savior, have received of his love, and love others as he does.”
~ Elder C. Max Caldwell

How often do you pray for charity? Why do you think you would be a better person if you were filled with charity?

*I don't usually pray for charity...I usually pray for strength and to be kind. I'm going to start praying for charity because I think if I did I would be kind and have strength and also many other things.  It would encompass all the things I need to be and how to behave.

Day 96

Read: Ether 14 – Moroni 4

Mark: Ether 15:19

“All beings who have bodies have power over those who have not. The devil has no power over us only as we permit him. The moment we revolt at anything which comes from God, the devil takes power.”
~ Joseph Smith

What things help you most to prevent Satan from having any power over you?

*GOING TO CHURCH!! Keeping the "flame"alive through meetings, scripture study and prayer.

Day 95

Read: Ether 11-13

Mark: Ether 12:27

“The Savior isn’t our last chance; He is our only chance. Our only chance to overcome self-doubt and catch a vision of who we may become. Our only chance to repent and have our sins washed clean. Our only chance to purify our hearts, subdue our weaknesses, and avoid the adversary. Our only chance to obtain redemption and exaltation. Our only chance to find peace and happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.”
~ Sister Sheri L. Dew

What weaknesses has the Lord helped you to overcome? What weaknesses do you still have that you want to be strengths?

*I am not comfortable sharing....I will keep this to myself, but please take the time and think for yourself what the Lord has helped you overcome.

Day 94

Read: Ether 8-10

Mark: Ether 8:26

"The Book of Mormon is Christ-centered. That is its essential feature, and that is the reason we are commanded to study it continually. We must use the Book of Mormon to bring us to Christ.”
~ Elder Dallin H. Oaks

How is your study of the Book of Mormon bringing you closer to the Savior?

*Well....everything testifies of Christ.  It also answers questions that the Bible does not have because it was translated so many times and things were picked to stay and go.  The Book of Mormon testifies of Christ, it's not only a history of people who lived in the Americas, but it's a history of the people who followed Christ and those who chose not too. It shows pretty plainly the consequences of not living the gospel.

Day 93

Read: Ether 4-7

Mark: Ether 6:9

“Sometimes ...we get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps through any other thing than prayer.”
~ President J. Reuben Clark, Jr.

“Music is one of the most forceful instruments for governing the mind and spirit of man.”
~ President Boyd K. Packer

In what ways do you use music in your personal worship? How do you use music to help others feel the Lord’s influence?

*Music often allows me to bare my testimony in ways my words won't.  I LOVE music!  It was always playing in my house when I was a child and to this day still is.  I grew up listening to church music and am so thankful for that.  There is such a spirit of peace when "good" clean music is on.  A couple of  months ago I started to only listen to church music when I was in my car and I had a different spirit with me than I do now after I started listening to other music...I need to start doing what I was doing.  I felt better.

Day 92

GET BACK ON SCHEDULE

Use your reading chart to find the chapters you still need to read to be caught up through: Ether 3 or If you’re up to date with your reading, take time to study: 3 Nephi 27

What did the Lord teach His disciples about the name of His church? What is the gospel, or good news, that He has given us. What things did Jesus say we must do in His church?

*I love how Christ tells his followers what to call His church.  Of course it should be named after him...it's His church.

Day 91

Read: Ether 1-3

Mark: Ether 3:4-5

“What ever Jesus lays his hand upon lives. If Jesus lays his hands upon a marriage, it lives. If he is allowed to lay his hands upon the family, it lives.”
~ President Howard W Hunter

Look at the symbolism in the account of the Savior touching the stones that lit the way for the Jaredites. What does this account teach you about the touch of the Savior’s hand? How have you felt the Lord’s hand in your life?

*This reminds me the story "The Touch of The Masters Hand". It's a story of a violin that started out beautiful and able to play sweet music.  Over time it was misused, the strings were broken, and the body dented.  The violin was at an auction and nobody wanted to pay even a dollar for it. They thought it was useless.  Then the master or creator of the violin came and polished the body, fixed the strings and made it beautiful again. It wasn't until he fixed it that it was able to play the music it was created for.  Then the crowd saw how beautiful and priceless it was.  When we are touched by our Masters hand we are able to become the beautiful spirit/person we were created to be.

Day 90

Read: Mormon 8-9

Mark: Mormon 9:11-12, 21

“The Lord will never forsake or abandon anyone. You may abandon him, but he will never abandon you. You never need to feel that you are alone.”
~ Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

Mormon’s ministry ends in these chapters. Pay attention to Moroni’s warnings for our day. Righteousness sometimes seems to bring loneliness? Why are we not really as alone as we sometimes feel? In chapter 9, look for reasons why you can rely on the Lord.

*I can't imagine what it must have been like to be Moroni.  He was all alone. His father, his people and his friends died.  I am sure if he had a family they also died.  He was truly alone on this earth.  This was all because he was living the way the Lord wanted him too.  He was following the gospel and because he followed Christ he wasn't really alone.  He had the Spirit, the Savior and our Heavenly Father on his side.  It can and is tough to be in the world and not of it, but if we remember that we are never truly alone when we have the Savior.

Day 89

Read: Mormon 5-7

Mark: Mormon 6:16-20

“The tragedy of the Book of Mormon is not what became of the Nephites but what the Nephites became.”
~ Hugh Nibley

What led to the fall of the Nephites? What things do you do each day to stay strong?

*The Nephites fell because the became wicked.  They fell away from the teaching of Christ and valued riches and themselves more than they valued the gospel.  I know that the Church today is the latter day church  modeled after the church during the Nephites.  They had opportunities to attend meetings and learn from prophets, they chose not to.  They also chose to kill the prophets.  If I continue to live my life according to the gospel, I will be strong.  I have to watch myself everyday.

Day 88

Read: Mormon 2-4

Mark: Mormon 2:12-13

“Full repentance involves a 180-degree turn, and without looking back! …In ritual regret, we mourn our mistakes but without mending them. There can be no real repentance without personal suffering and the passage of sufficient time for the needed cleansing and turning…Chastening is often needed until the turning is really under way!”
~ Elder Neal A. Maxwell

We can be sorry for the wrong reasons (like when we’re caught or punished). What can help you be sorry for the right reason?

*The only thing that can help with that is Godly Sorrow.  There is an awaking that has to take place, if that doesn't happen there is no true repentance.  You have to want to be sorry, you have to want to change.

Day 86

Read: 3 Nephi 27-28

Mark: 3 Nephi 27:19-20

“The most important of all the commandments of God is the one that you’re having the most difficulty keeping…Today is the day for you to work…until you’ve been able to conquer that weakness. Then you start on the next one that’s most difficult for you to keep. That’s the way to sanctify yourselves by keeping the commandments of God.”
~ President Harold B. Lee

What commandments are most difficult for you? What are you doing to be more obedient? Who can help you?

*I am not comfortable answering all of these questions.  I do know that the Lord and our Father in Heaven is the only way I will be able to conquer my difficulties.  I am able to get help from my parents and from my bishop. 

Day 87

Read: 3 Nephi 29 – Mormon 1

Mark: Mormon 1:13-15

“[President Brigham Young said] ‘I want you to teach the people – and I want you to follow this counsel yourself – that they must labor and so live as to obtain the Holy Spirit, for without this you cannot build up the kingdom; without the spirit of God you are in danger of walking in the dark.’”
~ President Wilford Woodruff

As a young man Mormon enjoyed the blessings of the Lord despite living in a wicked society. How can you keep the Spirit with you regardless of conditions in the world?

*It's all about living in the world but not being of the world.  In most cases as children we have no choice where we will live, we may have a difficult family life, or live in a dangerous place.  If we strive to keep the Spirit with us by doing the things we are taught, the Spirit will lead and guide us.

Day 85

GET BACK ON SCHEDULE

Use your reading chart to find the chapters you still need to read to be caught up through: 3 Nephi 26 or
If you’re up to date with your reading, take time to study: 3 Nephi 11

What did the Nephites do to finally understand the voice they heard? What were the first things the Savior taught? What did Jesus say was his doctrine?

*What are your thoughts. As usual I used this time to work on my lesson.

Day 84

Read: 3 Nephi 22-26

Mark: 3 Nephi 24:7-10

“I can’t list all the ways that blessings will come from obedience to this principle [of tithing], but I testify many will come in spiritual ways that go well beyond economics… I express my deepest gratitude for every blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ, especially that greatest of all gifts, the exemplary life and atoning death of God’s Only Begotten Son. I know I can never repay heaven for any of this benevolence, but there are many ways I need to try to show my thankfulness. One of those ways is in the payment of tithes and freewill offerings.”
~ Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

What blessings do you receive from paying tithing?

*I know this sounds weird, but I don't feel so anxious about money when I pay my tithing.  I know that I will be taken care of if I pay my tithing.  I have not always paid a full tithe, but I have such a testimony today of being an honest tithe payer. I love being able to enter into the temple, and I love being able to breath, especially during these tough economic times.

Day 83

Read: 3 Nephi 20-21

Mark: 3 Nephi 21:6-7

“Every person who embraces the gospel becomes of the house of Israel…The great majority of those who become members of the Church are literal descendants of Abraham through Ephraim, son of Joseph. Those who are not literal descendants of Abraham and Israel must become such, and when they are baptized and confirmed they are grafted into the tree and are entitled to all the rights and privileges as heirs.”
~ President Joseph Fielding Smith

What blessings are promised to you because you are of the house of Israel?

*I am doing research on this because I want to get the correct answer. I know the blessings,but I want to be positive.

Day 82

Read: 3 Nephi 17-19

Mark: 3 Nephi 18:6-7, 11

“We are commanded to repent of our sins and to come to the Lord with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and partake of the sacrament in compliance with its covenants. When we renew our baptismal covenants in this way, the Lord renews the cleansing effect of our baptism. In this way we are made clean and can always have His Spirit to be with us. The importance of this is evident in the Lord’s commandment that we partake of the sacrament each week.”

~ Elder Dallin H. Oaks

How can taking the sacrament each week help you to be just as clean as when you were baptized?

*Well if we take the sacrament with a pure heart and good intention then we are renewing our covenants we made at baptism.  The Lord in turn renews the cleansing effects when we were baptized.

Day 81

Read: 3 Nephi 13-16

Mark: 3 Nephi 15:21, 24

“Aren’t we rather prone to see the limitations and weaknesses of our neighbors? Yet that is contrary to the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ…If we have the spirit of fault finding…that never comes as the result of the companionship of the Spirit of our Heavenly Father and is always harmful.”
~ President George Albert Smith

The Savior gave teachings to the Nephites similar to the Sermon on the Mount. He warned not to judge. What helps you to always look for the best in others and not be critical?

*I have a difficult time not being critical especially with myself.  I am harder on myself than anybody else is on me. I am also critical of other people.  I tend to believe that if I can do something they should be able to also.  That is not Christlike and I know it.  People have their own trials and their own abilities.  There are many things I succeed in, but just as many that I don't.  I am trying to be more forgiving and less critical by praying for it and by reading the scriptures.  I also try to see people as Heavenly Father sees them and not as the world sees them.

Day 80

Read: 3 Nephi 11-12

Mark: 3 Nephi 11:10-11

“Look to the temple of the Lord as the great symbol of your membership…As we attend the temple, we learn more richly and deeply the purpose of life and the significance of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us make the temple, with temple worship and temple covenants and temple marriage, our ultimate earthly goal and the supreme mortal experience.”

~ President Howard W. Hunter

The Nephites were gathered at the temple when the Savior visited them. How are you preparing to go to the temple?

*When I attend the temple I am usually coming from work, my mind is chaos. I start with a prayer and put on church music and think of the things I am thankful for and for the things I am about to partake in. Usually by the time I arrive I am in a peaceful mood and ready to do temple work.

Day 79

Read: 3 Nephi 9-10

Mark: 3 Nephi 9:13-15

“An atonement was made. Ever and always it offers amnesty from transgression and from death if we will but repent. Repentance is the escape clause in it all. Repentance is the key with which we can unlock the prison from inside. We hold that key within our hands… Humbly I lay claim upon the atonement of Christ. I find no shame in kneeling down in worship of our Father and His Son.”

~ President Boyd K. Packer

What can the Lord do for you when you repent?

*There are so many answers to this question...I think the most important is that He has made it so our sin is no more, like it never happened.  We are clean and whole again. This is a very tender subject for me and I don't want to go into much detail, so I will just end with I know that the atonement of Jesus Christ is real and that His sacrifice was for me and for you.  Through it I am able to return to live with my Father in Heaven again. I love the Savior and am so thankful HE did for me what I could not do for myself.

Day 78

GET BACK ON SCHEDULE

Use your reading chart to find the chapters you still need to read to be caught up through: 3 Nephi 8 or
If you’re up to date with your reading, take time to study: Helaman 13

What did Samuel the Lamanite preach to the wicked Nephites before the Savior came? What are modern prophets teaching us as we prepare for Christ’s second coming?

*Lesson prep time...what are your thoughts?