Scripture Thought 12/14/2008
I love this verse. Nephi who has sought for understanding, receives it. Not by vision, not by angels, nothing to note as what we could cal miraculous. He received it by the Holy Spirit.
I guess I should restate that. Receiving something from the Holy Spirit is miraculous. The key word is received. I have a feeling the spirit is always there, but we are not willing to receive it. So often I hear people saying, there is no way I could receive answers like that, because I am not like Nephi, I am not like a General Authority, I am not a Bishop or Stake President. Are you really saying, I am more like Laman and Lemuel? How many of us say we are like Sam?
I think we need to restate that thought. It may be true that we don't have the same calling as the above mentioned individuals. However, we all have the opportunity to receive the Holy Spirit just like they do. They learn line upon line just like we do. So what is the difference? Is it that they believed, inquired and prepared themselves to receive. Then when it came, they did receive it.
Now this is why I refer you to Sam. Sam did not have the same callings a Nephi, this is true. In this same verse, after Nephi has received his witness, he goes to his older brother, who he probably admired, looked up to, and respected, Sam. He tells him what he has experienced and what he believes. In simple words, Sam believes him.
Sam received the same witness. We don't have a lot of detail about Sam receiving his witness, just that he received it. He had to do the same thing as Nephi. He has to believe, have faith he would receive, prepare himself, and receive. He was not given the same calling, but he was given the same witness.
We too, can receive.
I guess I should restate that. Receiving something from the Holy Spirit is miraculous. The key word is received. I have a feeling the spirit is always there, but we are not willing to receive it. So often I hear people saying, there is no way I could receive answers like that, because I am not like Nephi, I am not like a General Authority, I am not a Bishop or Stake President. Are you really saying, I am more like Laman and Lemuel? How many of us say we are like Sam?
I think we need to restate that thought. It may be true that we don't have the same calling as the above mentioned individuals. However, we all have the opportunity to receive the Holy Spirit just like they do. They learn line upon line just like we do. So what is the difference? Is it that they believed, inquired and prepared themselves to receive. Then when it came, they did receive it.
Now this is why I refer you to Sam. Sam did not have the same callings a Nephi, this is true. In this same verse, after Nephi has received his witness, he goes to his older brother, who he probably admired, looked up to, and respected, Sam. He tells him what he has experienced and what he believes. In simple words, Sam believes him.
Sam received the same witness. We don't have a lot of detail about Sam receiving his witness, just that he received it. He had to do the same thing as Nephi. He has to believe, have faith he would receive, prepare himself, and receive. He was not given the same calling, but he was given the same witness.
We too, can receive.
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