According to the faith and diligence we gave to it

Before lehis family began their long journey across the desert, god gave them the liahona, a mysterious compass that always pointed in the direction they should go.

When nephi breaks his bow, the entire family is upset because that was their livelihood. Even lehi, the patriarch and prophet of the family. Nephi, however, takes ownership and replaces his bow. Then,he ask his father where he should go find food. His father looks at the liahona and finds that there is writing that has changed.

Nephi makes these two conclusions about the liahona: "the pointers did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them" and "it had writing which did give us understanding concerning the wats of the lord and it was changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto them." later it also says that they were led into the more fertile parts of the land.

I imagine the compass only gave them direction for a few feet or maybe a few miles. Then it would probably change their course. I wonder if ther was ever a time that they were heading into a part that looked prosperous then suddenly have the liahona direct them into an area they looked barren. I'm sure laman and lemuel wouldve said it wants us to go there, but this way looks so much better. Who knows what lays down that better trail though, could be thieves, could be a longer stretch of desert, or could just be better blessings on the otther trail.

My wife has been having a hard time because the liahona (scriptures, prayer, etc) told her to persue school. She made a deal that she would continue school until we had another child. When we didn't get pregnant for several years after ben was born and discovered some medical problems we assumed we were done. She had her journey all laid out. She would graduate in may and continue on to get a phd in psych. It looked like such a great path.

One semester before she



We can do as lehi and most of his children did and complain, murmur, and hate the lord for leading us into a harder trail or we can follow nephi's example and go make our bow and find where the lord would have us go next.

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If Thou Believest, thou canst be healed

I've always been intrigued by the story of Zeezrom in the Book of Mormon; however, I've never seen the parallel that exists between the wicked, unrepentant citizens that he inspired and the penitent, humble Zeezrom in Alma chapter 15.

The chapter starts out with a sick Zeezrom. He's not sick because he caught the swine flu or any other physical ailment; he's sick because of his mental and emotional anguish. Here you have one of the most wicked men of the day. He's convincing everyone in the village that there is no Christ; therefore, you don't have to repent. The reason for this claim wasn't because he believed it, but he was a lawyer and was seeking for money and power. He contends with Alma and Amulek and as a lawyer convinces many, but he ultimately is convinced by Alma and Amulek that he is wrong. Despite all of his efforts to reverse what he had said, the people ultimately throw Alma and Amulek in prison, beat them, burn all of the scriptures, and throw their followers in the fire while forcing Alma and Amulek to watch.

Zeezrom leaves the city with the full knowledge of what he has done. He also believes that Alma and Amulek have been killed. This is the cause of his sickness. He sees no way for to repay for what he has done. Then, he hears that it's only 99% as bad as he thought because Alma and Amulek are still alive and in the very city where he is staying. Then, he sends for them. Now imagine this. You've just had a heated argument with these two missionaries. You left them in the hands of a murderous people who treated them harsh. And you've been the cause of great agony to these two men of God. Yet, he sends for them because he knows they are men of God. That takes some guts.

The scriptures say that Alma and Amulek went to him immediately, obeying him. I think that takes some guts as well. If this had been me, I'd be more likely to say, "I hope he never recovers from his illness. Let him rot. Do you know what I just went through because of him-not to mention those poor people who were burned alive. (Amulek may be able to add, "I lost my wife and children because of him" just speculation though)." Instead of saying this, they simply obey his message and go to him immediately.

Then, comes these important words, "Believest thou the power of Christ unto salvation." Finally, Zeezrom answers in the affirmative. Alma tells him, "If thou believest in the redemption of Christ, thou canst be healed." And so it is that Zeezrom was healed both physically and spiritually.

Mormon proceeds to contrast Zeezrom to his followers. "But...the people of Amoniah did not believe in the repentance of their sins."

For a wise purpose in him, which I know not

For the lord has commanded me to ... For a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not. But the lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. -1 nephi 9:6

The lord often answers our prayers by telling us to do something. Sometimes we are then told to do something else that either seems contradictory, redundant, or impossible to accomplish both commands. But as nephi says he will make it possible if we have faith and go and do what he says.

We may never find out why he told us to do something. Nephi never knew that a guy named Martin Harris would lose the manuscript. He only knew that he was told to make two plates even though his dad already had this record. It probably wasn't easy to find and refine gold as he was travelling (assuming that's when he wrote it) but aren't we glad he did write; otherwise we would only have the book of Mormon starting in mosiah 400 years after nephi wrote.

Obey god, even when you don't know why or if it's possible, he will prepare a way for you. As nephi says "and thus it is. Amen." that's how it is folks whether you like it or not.

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Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.

I am often told that my church, which I believe receives direction from God, asks a lot from its members. For example, we are asked to pay ten percent of our income as tithing. We are asked to attend three hours of church each Sunday. We are asked to not go shopping on Sundays. We are asked to not consume alcohol, coffee, tea, or tobacco. Some things may even seem very trivial. For example, we have been instructed to refrain from getting tatoos and excessive earings (women may have one pair; men none).

While these may seem trivial with apparently no logic or reason to the commandments, an example from exodus illustrates why the lord may ask such trivial things. The isrealites had just left Egypt only to discover that they have no food. They complain to moses who in turn complains to the lord. The lord responds with the following:

Exodus 16 Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.
When some of the people fail to follow the the commandment and gather more food than their family can eat, they discover that the food spoils and gets worms. This wasn't stated in the commandment. He does not tell them that if they gather more than they are told to that it will spoil. They are only told what to do not why.

So it is with us. Most of these commandments come with blessings, but most do not explain the consequence or the reason associated with not keeping the commandment. Some members have tried applying their own reason. That's why you have some members who say caffeine is against the word of wisdom-coffee and tea both have caffeine so caffeine must be harmful. But that is not the lord has said. What the lord says is do this so that I can see if you will walk in my laws or not. He didn't tell Abraham that he wouldn't make him sacrifice his son until after he knew that Abraham would keep his commandments to the end no matter how hard or how trivial.




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Doors Unopened

Standing in a room full of doors
Each one changing my direction
There is no returning once entered
Doors Doors Doors all unopened

A friend visited me in my room full of doors
We once stood in this room together
He told me of exciting things beyond the door
Doors Doors Doors all unopened

Then another friend appeared
He told me of exciting things beyond his door
There is no returning once entered
Doors Doors Doors all unopened

I yearned to follow them both
Into their doors of adventure, weath, fame
There is no returning once entered
Doors Doors Doors all unopened

Years have passed in my room full of doors
I see my friends no more beyond their doors
There is no returning once entered
Doors Doors Doors all unopened

Standing in a room full of doors
Each one changing my direction
There is no returning once not entered
Doors Doors Doors all unopened

Mark of the beast

Just been reading revelations. I've heard a lot of speculations about the following verse "no man might buy or sell save he that had the mark or the name of the beast or the number of his name...which is 666"

I've heard assumptions like a barcode that is to be implanted in your forehead. I want to add my own theory tonight. I think the number is your credit score.

If you don't have any credit you literally can't buy or sell anything these days. Although the number is figurative, isn't an ok score 600 at least based off of some indexes. As for the forehead thing, what happens when you get in debt, have crappy credit, or have no credit especially in a down economy? You constantly worry about how you are going to provide for yourself and (supposing you haven't succomed to the selfishness of our nation) your family. That number is burned into your forehead as you contemplate how to improve the score or how to keep the score up.



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The parable of the Hammer and the Pencil

It's not a poem, but I just thought of a short little parable that can go with Romans 9:20 (there's a counterpart in Isaiah, but I didn't look it up).

There once was a carpenter that was building a house. He loved his hammer. It was strong, durable, and helped him in so many ways. One day, the hammer was heard to boast, "I am the practically the only tool the carpenter needs. All those other tools are nothing compared to me. Although, I wish some of those tools would help out a little. I have to do all of the work. "

Suddenly the builder placed the hammer back in the toolbox. "What are you doing?" the hammer cried out. "We're not done with this house yet. You can't put me away.

"I am giving you a rest," the carpenter said compassionately, "I need a different tool. Now let me consider for a moment." At that, the carpenter closed the toolbox.

"But I'm the only tool capable of doing all the jobs. Why did he put me away." The hammer continued to moan to himself.

While the hammer was moaning to himself, he didn't notice a tiny pencil was also moaning to herself quietly. "I'm so useless. Why does the carpenter even keep me in this toolbox with so many wonderful tools. There's the saw, with his giant teeth for cutting. There's that new electric drill, with all of that power. Even the nails, which are smaller, are useful when used together. And of course there's the hammer; he can do anything."

With a flash of light, the toolbox lid flung open. "Let me see, where are you?" the carpenter said as he searched inside the toolbox. "Ah, there you are," he said as he pulled out the tiny pencil.

"What are you doing?" the pencil nervously asked. "I can't help you. I'm not good at anything."

"Oh, yes you are. Just watch." At that the carpenter pulled out the measuring tape and closed.

"Hey, what about me," the hammer said as the lid closed. But the carpenter didn't respond.

The carpenter set a board on top of a pile of wood. Then, he extended the measuring tape, which seemed to wink knowingly at the pencil. "Yes, I think that will be perfect," the carpenter said. And he used the pencil to draw a line on the board.

Roamsn 9:20 "Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, 'why has thou made me thus?"