Why do we Reject God's Servants?

 "And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain."

1 Nephi 1:20

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/1?id=p20&lang=eng#p20

Why do we get angry? Is it because of our pride? God showed Lehi that bad things were going to happen. Jerusalem would be destroyed. Being filled with God's love, Lehi warns the people. Tragically, they will not listen and seek to destroy God's messenger of mercy! Ironically, the one sent with a message of mercy is rejected by his own. I see here a type and a shadow. Jesus, the ultimate Messenger of Mercy was also rejected because of pride. He was mocked and scorned and crucified. The holy prophets prefigured Jesus. As He was rejected, they were rejected.

#prophets #pride

Write Down Your Experiences With God!

 "I, Nephi, do not make a full account of the things which my father hath written, for he hath written many things which he saw in visions and in dreams."

1 Nephi 1:16

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/1?id=p16&lang=eng#p16

The prophet Lehi kept a record of what he experienced with God and we should all do the same! When we intentionally write down our experiences with God, our eyes are opened and we see more clearly. Writing experiences down preserves them in our memory. How quickly we as humans forget! Do we remember what God has done for us, personally and specifically? Personally we I forget. But, in writing about my DAILY experiences with God, my eyes are opened. I can see that God is walking with me. If I do not write, I do not see! In the exercise of writing, we may recognize and acknowledge the goodness of God towards us. Write! 

God's Mercy

"Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!"

1 Nephi 1:14

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/1?id=p14&lang=eng#p14

The prophet Lehi's vision from good taught him that God is merciful to all who seek Him!

#bookofmormon

Love Demands Sharing

 "13 And he read, saying: Wo, wo, unto Jerusalem, for I have seen thine abominations! Yea, and many things did my father read concerning Jerusalem—that it should be destroyed, and the inhabitants thereof; many should perish by the sword, and many should be carried away captive into Babylon."

1 Nephi 1:13

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/1-ne/1?id=p13&lang=eng#p13

The prophet Lehi was filled with God's love for humanity, which led him to prayer, visions, and revelation. Good showed Lehi what would be! How could Lehi keep quiet? He had seen! He KNEW!

 Dear Mr. O.,

I thought of you again today as I considered with whom I should share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Lately, I have been feeling almost continuously prompted to share my witness of Jesus Christ. I attempted to share this witness years ago in your English class. (It seemed appropriate, as we were discussing life and philosophy, and what people believe.)

I know that Jesus is The Christ, the Living Son of the Living God (if you want to offer feedback about how I punctuated this sentence, by all means!). I say that I know. A prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ I think said it best, "and by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things," (Moroni 10:3-5, The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ).

My Testimony of Jesus

Jesus is the Son of God. I learned this by the power of the Holy Ghost when I was not seventeen years old.

Miracles and Belief (1 Nephi 3:31)

In The Book of Mormon, brothers  Laman and Lemuel are reproved by an angel when they are beating their younger brothers with a rod (see 1 Nephi 3, The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ). The angel then commands them to return to Jerusalem with the promise that their daunting foe, Laban will be delivered into their hands.

The light from the vision has hardly faded before Laman and Lemuel are complaining again! Laban "can command fifty, yea, he can slay fifty, then why not us?" they ask. 

Were visions so commonplace to them that seeing an angel was no big deal? The two doubting brothers do not comprehend God's power! 

Before we're too quick to judge, think about the miracles of the last few hundred years! (Penicillin, space flight, horseless carriages, just to name a few.) How quickly have we forgotten? How quickly do we forget the God who has created us? The smart phone I'm typing this on is a miracle, as is the very existence of life itself. How quickly we forget.