Scripture Thought
1 Nephi 6:3-6
As I sit here reading my own personal scripture journal I wonder if Nephi did the same thing. Did he take a scroll and jot down his feelings, thoughts, and pondering as he read the brass plates? Did he listen to his father's prophecies and then scribble down the impressions he had? I wonder. Is this book the result of those writings? As he started compiling his writings, did he separate temporal things from spiritual things? I don't know, but I like to think he did. I know that I have learned a great deal as I have come back and re-read my thoughts, applied them later, and then tried to share them in a way that is applicable to my life now and the lives of others.
I think about Nephi's intent. He was not trying to force others to think the way he did. He did not want to change them. He realized that he could not convert other with his words. His intent was to persuade others to think for themselves, to investigate and then find for themselves if the truths he discussed were of value or not. His hope was that they would receive.
As he pondered what he had recorded, he chose to isolate those things that he felt were important or pleasing to God. He did not say things that were pleasing to man. The things he said were not easy to accomplish, not even for himself. They were things that he knew needed to be done, that he aspired to get done, and things that he hoped others would do the same with.
I don't know that my words will be of benefit to anyone. I don't think that they will change the world. I just know that they help me. They help me focus. Like Nephi, I know they are not easy to accomplish, but they help me set goals to do better. I would hope that they would help you as well. I would hope that you may find the time do write your thoughts, feelings, and pondering to help you.
As I sit here reading my own personal scripture journal I wonder if Nephi did the same thing. Did he take a scroll and jot down his feelings, thoughts, and pondering as he read the brass plates? Did he listen to his father's prophecies and then scribble down the impressions he had? I wonder. Is this book the result of those writings? As he started compiling his writings, did he separate temporal things from spiritual things? I don't know, but I like to think he did. I know that I have learned a great deal as I have come back and re-read my thoughts, applied them later, and then tried to share them in a way that is applicable to my life now and the lives of others.
I think about Nephi's intent. He was not trying to force others to think the way he did. He did not want to change them. He realized that he could not convert other with his words. His intent was to persuade others to think for themselves, to investigate and then find for themselves if the truths he discussed were of value or not. His hope was that they would receive.
As he pondered what he had recorded, he chose to isolate those things that he felt were important or pleasing to God. He did not say things that were pleasing to man. The things he said were not easy to accomplish, not even for himself. They were things that he knew needed to be done, that he aspired to get done, and things that he hoped others would do the same with.
I don't know that my words will be of benefit to anyone. I don't think that they will change the world. I just know that they help me. They help me focus. Like Nephi, I know they are not easy to accomplish, but they help me set goals to do better. I would hope that they would help you as well. I would hope that you may find the time do write your thoughts, feelings, and pondering to help you.
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