Scripture Thought
1 Nephi 5:20-21
In the last few verses we read about what Lehi did once he had his hands on the record. He studied, searched, prayed, received the spirit of prophecy, and then he started teaching his children. Let's think about this again. If you were handed what we refer to as the standard works, Bible (old and new testament), the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. We might want to throw in a couple piles of conference reports since Adam. OK, you get the picture, how long would it take you to search them? How long would it take you to teach them to your children? How long were they in the wilderness?
The point I am trying to make is that it is not this short one chapter process. It did not happen over night. Even though reading it this way makes it seem that way. Nephi did not change over night. He listened to his father's teaching and prophesying. He RECEIVED the spirit of prophecy. He let it work in his life. He listened to it. Then he found the desire within to make changes in his life.
Again, this was not over night. We see in these verses that he did the same as his father. He studied, sought further light and knowledge, prayed about it, talked about it, and continued making adjustments in his life. The question is, have we received it? Have we done the same thing Nephi did? Do we regard the scriptures in the same way? Do we talk about, really try to understand them, or are we like Laman and Lemuel who give up before trying and convince ourselves that we will never be able to understand them? Choose ye this day. Start making adjustments. Find your own personal witness.
In the last few verses we read about what Lehi did once he had his hands on the record. He studied, searched, prayed, received the spirit of prophecy, and then he started teaching his children. Let's think about this again. If you were handed what we refer to as the standard works, Bible (old and new testament), the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. We might want to throw in a couple piles of conference reports since Adam. OK, you get the picture, how long would it take you to search them? How long would it take you to teach them to your children? How long were they in the wilderness?
The point I am trying to make is that it is not this short one chapter process. It did not happen over night. Even though reading it this way makes it seem that way. Nephi did not change over night. He listened to his father's teaching and prophesying. He RECEIVED the spirit of prophecy. He let it work in his life. He listened to it. Then he found the desire within to make changes in his life.
Again, this was not over night. We see in these verses that he did the same as his father. He studied, sought further light and knowledge, prayed about it, talked about it, and continued making adjustments in his life. The question is, have we received it? Have we done the same thing Nephi did? Do we regard the scriptures in the same way? Do we talk about, really try to understand them, or are we like Laman and Lemuel who give up before trying and convince ourselves that we will never be able to understand them? Choose ye this day. Start making adjustments. Find your own personal witness.
Comments