Religion 122H- Book of Mormon
Winter 2010
Clyde J. Williams
Joy Prior
Supplementary Reading
I read the first 201 pages of An Approach to the Book of Mormon by Hugh Nibley. On the first day of Class Professor Williams said that every time he reads the Book of Mormon he learns something new. I raised my eyebrows. How can someone learn something new every time they reread that short book. From what I remember in seminary scripture reading is like brushing my teeth, consistent and a little monotonous. After reading Hugh Nibley’s book I realized that unlike toothpaste my perception of the scriptures can change making my daily scripture study seem less monotonous. As I read An Approach to the Book of Mormon I appreciated Nephi’s hunting talents and Lehi’s involved life prior to wondering through the desert more. That is when I realized that, fortunately, unlike toothpaste my application of the scriptures can change.
Nephi learned to hunt in Jerusalem, and was able to use his talents for a practical purpose. There is more to Nephi hunting in the wilderness then him breaking his bow. As I read An Approach to the Book of Mormon by Hugh Nibley I learned how much hunting was involved while Lehi’s family wondered through the desert. The book mentioned that Nephi is the only member of his family and Ishmales family mentioned having a metal bow. Hugh Nibley emphasizes how his brothers had wooden bows, and their wooden bows had lost their spring. His point was to show how the entire family knew how to use a bow. I realized that Nephi is the only one who has a more expensive and longer lasting metal bow. Lamen, Lamuel, Sam, and all of Ishmales children could have forgotten their more expensive metal bows when they fled out into the wilderness, possibly they lost their metal bows on their excursion, or maybe Nephi was the only one who had a metal bow in the family because back in Jerusalem he enjoyed hunting so much that buying a metal bow was worth it for him. I prefer thinking that Nephi had a metal bow because he had a passion for hunting in Jerusalem. Hugh Nibley mentions how unique a hunter was to the Jewish culture, but that Nephi seems know not only how to hunt, but how to hunt well enough to provide for his entire extended family. Thinking about Nephi’s talents caused me to wonder about my own talents. What talents do I have that can help my family? I hope that God does not expect me to travel across the desert and feed my family with my archery skills, because I don’t know much about archery. I am not simply talking about talents that would help my family cross a literal desert though, because I don’t think God expects that of us (then again I doubt that Nephi ever expected God to send his family across the desert either). There has to be something that I can add to my family to help us make it through this life. Suddenly my “sweet skills” such as shooting pool, playing Nintendo, and winning at the board game Risk seemed meaningless compared to being able to talk my mom through downloading family pictures over the phone, typing for my dad when he has a business letter, cleaning my sister-in-laws house while she runs her five-year-old to Kindergarten, and even cooking something for my family besides a boxed cake appeared to be talents worth spending my time on. Nephi’s example of developing his talents to bless those around him helped me to realize that I want to develop talents that qualify me to help those around me.
An Approach to the Book of Mormon by Hugh Nibley emphasized that Lehi was an ambitious and hard working man before he began his journey into the wilderness. When I used to think of Lehi I imagined a wrinkled and hunched over man wrapped in stripped robes wondering through the desert with a knobby staff. Now, I don’t think that this description grasps the true character of Lehi. If I have ever wondered (which I doubt I have) about the life Lehi lived before “I Nephi…” I must not have wondered enough because in my mind he was locked into one age, the old and weathered age. Hugh Nibley points out that Lehi there is more to Lehi than just him being a father, and purposes that he was an educated traveling merchant. He supports this idea with support that it appears as if Lehi was familiar with the rout that his family was traveling on. Nibley mentions how nether Lamen or Lamuel complain of their father’s lack of direction. They complained rather about why they were leaving, and what they were leaving, but not once did they complain that their father was going to get them lost in the wilderness. If Lamen and Lamuel had faith in their fathers sense of direction that is saying something. Had Lehi traveled across the desert before? Did he have a map? Did they even have maps of the desert in those days? Or were there special markings throughout the desert that helped travels cross? How would Lehi know about the special desert markings? Well I guess I would have to know if there were special marking in the desert before I can ask how Lehi knew about them. So many questions about Lehi, and every time that I formed another question there seemed to be five hundred that branch of from it. I still don’t know much about Lehi besides the fact that there is more to him than just an oversized striped robe covering a wrinkled old face, but I bet that if I read the Book of Mormon I would learn something new about him.
Reading An Approach to the Book of Mormon answered many of my questions about Nephi, and Lehi- questions I did not know I had until I started reading the book. More important it confirmed to me that reading the Book of Mormon is not as monotonous as squeezing out a dab of toothpaste and brushing, because I have the power to change what I think about the Book of Mormon. While I am brushing I can not think to myself peppermint and change my bubblegum toothpaste to peppermint. When I read the Book of Mormon I can think to myself Lehi’s perspective and change my scripture reading to something different and unique.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Book of Mormon journal
Religion 122H- Book of Mormon
Winter 2010
Professor Williams
Joy Prior
“Now it came to pass that when Moroni had received this epistle he was more angry, because he knew that Ammoron had a perfect knowledge of his fraud, yea, he knew that Ammoron knew that it was not a just cause that had caused him to wage a war against the people of Nephi”
Alma 55:1
The other night while I was driving home I was thinking about how you can love someone and still be angry at them. I was thinking about emotions and feelings and wondering if there was a difference between the two. That Sunday there was a lesson on anger and a brief clarification on the difference between an emotion or expression and a feeling the inward development. I wanted to understand and clarify the two more so that I can learn how to better expresses my feelings and how to control my emotions. I came across Alma 55 the chapter is about how Moroni refuses to exchange prisoners with Ammoron, and I studied how Moroni balanced his feelings and emotions.
January 4, 2010
What I took away from this scripture is that Moroni knew what Ammoron was thinking, and understood his purpose. When I react to what is going on around me it is because I do not really understand some ones purpose. Before the break a nearby apartment stole my exercise ball, and I just never got around to stilling it back. When I saw them after the break and asked them were it was they all went kind-a awkward. Apparently they were kicking it around and it popped. It seems like a silly example, and that is because it is. The ball was not worth getting angry over, and a seemingly pointless object. I understood the principle that such meaningless objects are a waste of time to become upset over. This time though as I applied this scripture and thought about “WHY” they had popped my ball I developed a stronger control of my emotions. Unlike Ammoron who was trying to attack Moroni when they popped my exercise ball no one intended it to pop. Their purpose was not even against me. Understanding that helped me to obtain complete dominion over my emotions to the situation. Actually I think that it is kind-a funny, and we all can laugh about it.
January 5, 2010
While I was reading “An Approach to the Book of Mormon” by Hugh Nibley I came across the section about Zorum and Nephi making a promise. I related this to understanding what someone’s motives are, and how to better understand my own motivation when I make a promise. After realizing how deep Nephi was with his promise I realized that when I make a promise I need to keep my word, and I should trust others when they make promises as well.
January 7, 2010
I went to the temple today and I was thinking about motivation. I know that when you go to the temple you are suppose to feel better than you ever feel in your life, but I was so impeccant. It was difficult for me to even focus, and forget about feeling the sprit. This is when I started questioning my own motivation for being at the temple today. Why did I go? What motivated me to be there today? Why should I want to be there? How can I feel the spirit of service?
January 9, 2010
Today my friend and neighbor was talking to me about her roommates and how awful they are. I sat there listening and slightly trying to change the subject because I get along with her roommate quite well. This caused me to wonder why she was saying what she was say. This whole week I have felt more like a psychologist than anything, but more over it has made me realize that there is a complex set of reasons people might do something. The real way to get to the root of the problem is to just ask them why they did what they did, and have them explain it to you.
A friend was planning to do something with me this weekend, but she slept through her alarm. When I did not get a text from her I went out with a different group of friends and when I saw her again she apologized. It was at that moment when I asked my self “why should I take offense?” what is my motivation, and now that I understand her motivation how do I want to react. It was a conscious choice to not take offense, but I am glad that I did not because her friendship is much more valuable.
“But behold, the Nephites were not slow to remember the Lord their God in this their time of affliction,”
Alma 55:31
I chose this scripture because a few days ago I was not feeling like myself, and I don’t exactly know why. Oh, I know that it is fine to have some off days, but I want to know what I can do to make the off days not feel so off. Now that I have a little more homework behind me, and after a holiday from school I feel better. I guess what I am trying to say is that I want to be less slow to remember God. In all situations: happy ones, sad days, and especially during temptations. Last week I was just having an off week, but that was not the tragic part the tragic part was how slow it took me before I remembered how much God loves me. This week I want to remember God more.
January 18, 2010
After this passage it talks about how the Laminites tried to tempt the Nephites, and so the affliction that they seem to be talking about is the hardship that comes from temptation. What do I want in the moment compaired to what I want for eternity? I have always been a firm beliver that what I want is what God will give me. This scripture seemed to stick out to me, because I was wondering what my afflictions are.
January 19, 2010
Today while in Book of Mormon Professor Williams opened up the scriptures and started talking about Alma 37:36. The story connected to the scripture was about one of his students who was having trouble getting to sleep. As I read the scripture I noticed the line of logic. “Yea, and cry unto God for all they support; yea, let all they doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever though goest let it be in the lord; yea let all they thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of they heart be placed upon the Lord forever.” I noticed that the order seemed to go
1. Heart desires
2. Thoughts
3. Go some where
4. Do something
5. Pray for support
“Yea, and cry unto God for all they (5) support; yea, let all they (4) doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever though (3) goest let it be in the lord; yea let all they (2) thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of they (1)heart be placed upon the Lord forever.”
What really struck out to me was that you have to go some were before you can do something. This was interesting because I realized that if I am remembering God I will go to parties, hand out with friends, and “Go” to places that help me to remember my Lord.
January 20, 2010
I watched the begging of a really dumb movie, ok let us call the movie what it is. I watched the begging of a really wicked and mockery movie. Nothing that you don’t know already, but finally the group I was with decided that we should turn off the movie. I was embarrassed that I had not been stronger in saying that I would not watch it. Everyone knew that I did not want to watch the movie. I knew that I did not want to watch the movie, but I decided to “give it a chance” and if it was exactly what I was expecting we could turn it off. Well, looks like I need to work on this whole remembering God quickly, and not slowly more.
January 21, 2010
Ways to remember God: go to class, be a little more responsible. Today I slept through my eight o’clock Spanish class, and I was thinking about how I need to make sure to show that I really am committed to being here at BYU for an education. While I was thinking about this I imagined a family in some third world country living on pennies, but paying their tithing. Some how or another their few dollars made it into my scholarship fund, and that is why I have this amazing opportunity to be here today. This was really motivational to me, and it made me realize how much God wants me to remember him by remembering his children. Now when ever I think that this place is to hard I want to imagine that family again, and just like it did for me today I know that thinking about that will motivate me to remember God by being willing to make sacrifice for others.
“Bu behold. This was not the desire of Moroni; he did not delight in murder or bloodshed, but he delighted in the saving of his people from destruction; and for this cause he might not bring upon him injustice, he would not fall upon the Lamanites and destroy them in their drunkenness,”
Alma 55:19
I chose this scripture because I realized what type of things Moroni does and does not delight in. I was thinking about death and murder in the spiritual idea. There are not many opportunities I have to literally kill people, but I do have opportunities to tear people down and kill them in a spiritual scene. What I liked about this scripture is knowing that Moroni did not ‘delight’ in murder or bloodshed. Not only does the verse say what he does not like, but it says that he does ‘delight’ in saving his people from destruction. I strongly believe that you can never just take things out of your life, but that you have to fill them in with something. For example you can not simply not eat a piece of cake everyday, and consider yourself healthy. I believe that you have to eat a fruit or vegetable in place of the cake, and then you are achieving health. There has to be a replacement.
January 26, 2010
That is why I chose this scripture, because not only does it tell me what things Moroni took out of his life, but it tells me the things that he put into his life. This week I am going to work on having a missionary attitude by not delighting or more delicately tearing down those I am around, and replacing the times that I could be doing that with saving the people that I am around from destruction. This includes myself. I need to talk to myself positively and not kill my soul with down grading thoughts and ideas, but build myself up in the cause for righteousness.
January 27, 2010
I was trying to think about this scripture, but I kept on thinking about the fact that when there was an issue of who was going to be king, or the king’s-men and then the free men Moroni said that all of those who would not go to war would be killed. What is the difference? I think that it is because the people had a choose. Moroni gave all the people and choice and when there was no choice for them because they were drunk he considered it unholy. Which I guess that it was, to kill the Laminates I mean. This really makes me wonder when is the time and place for everything. How did I find that time and place. I am so confused. No. No I am not I just need to think about it. I am not talking about a time and place fore murder specifically, because really I can not think of anyone in my life who I would kill, and I don’t seem to be having that question pop up in my life. Should I kill this person now? Yes or no? I do have a lot of questions about timing though. When is it the right time to do something and when is it the wrong time. I think that it is the wrong time if there are no choices. Just as it was ok to kill the king’s-men because there was a choice. I should keep that attitude in my life and when I put my self or those I am with in a situations what have no choice I am not being just. God always gives us a choice. I have a car here at BYU, and often times I feel pressured to be the driver all of the time. I should remember that I always have a choice, and say no if I do not want to go out that night.
January 28, 2010
I am going to the temple today with my mother, and I want to be thinking of Moroni when I go in there. He was such a courageous man, and I want to emulate his courage in my own life. This verse has caused me to question what is courage? I know that unlike the Hollywood movies I see courage is more than rushing into a burring building, with five guns, screaming and yelling, and saving everyone, killing all the bad guys, and all of that jazz. There is more to courage than that and I want to figure out what it is. I think that Courageous people stand up for Christ, because that is what Moroni was doing. He was standing up for Christ, and giving people options, which the more agency we give other people the more free they are so I think that is Christ like. Any way my point being that courage is important, and I want to understand it. There is more to courage than killing someone, which is what Moroni demonstrates. Sometime the most courageous thing to do is not to kill. So while I am at the temple I will be thinking about a definition of courage.
January 31, 2010
The BYU against Utah state game was last night, and it was a little crazy. I was really embarrassed for the row of fans in front of my group, because they just seemed so… well not how I would expect them to be acting. While we were there they seemed to be there to boo the Utah players more than to cheer the BYU players, and it all seemed wrong. Yes I wanted BYU to win, and I am really glad that we did, but really? Was all of this worth it. I realized that part of not delighting in another person’s blood shed is not celebrating every mistake that the Utah players did, and really trying to cheer for the good plays that BYU players do. I am not limiting this view to simply BYU and Utah games, because really Utah players are not of the devil, good heavens who really thinks that! They are talented and exegetic players, and they deserve a little respect. I was very impressed with the row that I was sitting with and I was thankful that they were my friends, because yah all of them know so much about the basketball players, and they could tell me every member of the team, what their position was, and their strengths and weaknesses. The people I sat with were not dumb when it came to the game of Basketball, but they were not there to delight in the “blood shed” of the Utah players. Instead they were there to see a good game, and to cheer their winning team. Please don’t take from this that I think Utah players are all like the wicked killing Lamintes, but what I want you to understand is that I think cheering is good if you remember that you are congratulating a job well done and not wishing death upon the opposing team.
“Behold, ye have breathed out many threatening against me and my people; but behold, we fear not your threatening.”
Alma 54:19
I chose this scripture because today in Book of Mormon class we were talking about how much the Devil and his workers try and get at us all of the time. This verse struck out to me while we were reading because all though the Devil is threatening me everyday and trying to tear me down I will not fear, because I know that God’s team (if we can call them teams) is going to come out on top. If I make my will fall into place with God’s will then I will be able to combated against the adversary, and I will not fear his threats against my soul. More importantly this verse says “we” and “my people” that means that I am not alone in this battle. There are millions, actually numerous hosts of Heaven supporting me, and we all want to make it to heaven. I have to remember that I am part of that support system, and that I am helping others come unto heaven.
February 1, 2010
Today I wrote a thank you letter to my roommate. I know that she has been having a hard time lately, and I just have not seen her around a lot. Ok, I am serious I think that I can count the number of times I have seen her this semester on one hand. So I wrote her a note to tell her thank you for being such a great roommate, and I hope that she knows that I love her. Not that I need to see her around more or anything like that or that I want to make her feel guilty for not being at our apartment, because really we do a lot of homework, and I hope that she is enjoying herself were ever she is. I wanted her to know that I consider her a very vital and important part of our apartment, and that I love her. That is all.
February 2, 2010
I wrote three thank you letters to scholarship donnars. I tried very hard to make them heartfelt, and to let the people I was writing to know that I am thankful for their contribution. While I was writing the letters, it was for a club I am a member of, I realized how important it is to do the little things. The things that bind us with good people that we don’t even know. This made me realize how significant it is to be unified with good things, and more importantly for this situation to support good things. The people donating the money had no idea who I was, and yet they still made a generous contribution. Why? I wondered. I think that it is because they believe in this idea that there is a unity with people that we can not see. Just like there is a unity that I can share with people who lived with me in the pre-earth life, and even though some actions (such as paying a donation) that I do I never see the people I bless it does not mean that they are ungrateful. There are so many people who put me into the position that I am today, and I should show more gratitude to build that unity with them.
February 3, 2010
What is fear? Is it the lack of action, or is it the lack of direction? Is a lack of anything, or is it something different than that.? Is it the presence of darkness, or is the lack of light? I say that I am afraid of a lot of things. I am afraid to talk to that cute boy in my class. I am afraid of what my grade will be in civilizations. I am afraid of my Spanish midterm. I guess there are lots of things to be afraid of, but at that point should I be afraid of waking up in the morning? Because there are risks. Does my level of fear depend on what I think that I am risking. I guess that is so, because when I feel like I am risking something valuable I am afraid. I think that is why people who are with God do not fear, they don’t see the risk in what they are doing, because there is none. With God all things are possible, so what is the risk? I use the atonement and I have lost nothing, in fact I gain exaltation. Wow! I guess there really is no reason to fear, because when I am with God there is no risk.
February 5, 2010
Today I took the Book of Mormon test, and I realized that I had nothing to fear. There is no risk when it comes to taking a test. Really there is a vain little risk, but not a real risk. There is nothing that I should fear, especially if I prepare for it. I studied and re-read all of my scriptures. I thought about all of the scripture verses, and I thought about applying them to the world that I live in. I thought about people walking down the street asking me questions about my religion, and I thought about me prepared to answer them. There is real risk in that situation. The risk that I don’t speak with the power of God, the risk that I can lead someone astray, and the risk that I am not educated on the atonement to build my own faith. There is real risk in that. After I studied I went and took the test. I got an amazing score, but yes, I am very pleased with my score, but I think that is secondary to not being afraid to being able to weaken the risk of apathy. Of not understanding the Holy Ghost, because I studied I lessoned that risk. That was a real successful achievement.
Summary of the four week experience
The whole experience taught me a lot about the purpose of pondering one scripture. I often take a verse and say to myself this is the principle behind this scripture, and then I leave it to that one principle and that is all. After thinking about one verse for an entire week I started to draw different and more thoughtful connections to the scripture. Not only did I feel like I understood that scripture better, but I under stood how the principle that I associated with that principle connects with other values. I chose this section because I wanted to understand Moroni better, and I wanted to see how he handled difficult situations. I realized that he stuck to what he knew, and what he believed. I also realized that Moroni surrounded himself with people who were just as firm in the faith as he was, and that he did support people that he thought would pull him away from Christ. I really appreciated this perspective, and I enjoyed the application journal.
I remembered and focused on applying my scripture at least 5 days out of the week and give my self 25 points.
Winter 2010
Professor Williams
Joy Prior
“Now it came to pass that when Moroni had received this epistle he was more angry, because he knew that Ammoron had a perfect knowledge of his fraud, yea, he knew that Ammoron knew that it was not a just cause that had caused him to wage a war against the people of Nephi”
Alma 55:1
The other night while I was driving home I was thinking about how you can love someone and still be angry at them. I was thinking about emotions and feelings and wondering if there was a difference between the two. That Sunday there was a lesson on anger and a brief clarification on the difference between an emotion or expression and a feeling the inward development. I wanted to understand and clarify the two more so that I can learn how to better expresses my feelings and how to control my emotions. I came across Alma 55 the chapter is about how Moroni refuses to exchange prisoners with Ammoron, and I studied how Moroni balanced his feelings and emotions.
January 4, 2010
What I took away from this scripture is that Moroni knew what Ammoron was thinking, and understood his purpose. When I react to what is going on around me it is because I do not really understand some ones purpose. Before the break a nearby apartment stole my exercise ball, and I just never got around to stilling it back. When I saw them after the break and asked them were it was they all went kind-a awkward. Apparently they were kicking it around and it popped. It seems like a silly example, and that is because it is. The ball was not worth getting angry over, and a seemingly pointless object. I understood the principle that such meaningless objects are a waste of time to become upset over. This time though as I applied this scripture and thought about “WHY” they had popped my ball I developed a stronger control of my emotions. Unlike Ammoron who was trying to attack Moroni when they popped my exercise ball no one intended it to pop. Their purpose was not even against me. Understanding that helped me to obtain complete dominion over my emotions to the situation. Actually I think that it is kind-a funny, and we all can laugh about it.
January 5, 2010
While I was reading “An Approach to the Book of Mormon” by Hugh Nibley I came across the section about Zorum and Nephi making a promise. I related this to understanding what someone’s motives are, and how to better understand my own motivation when I make a promise. After realizing how deep Nephi was with his promise I realized that when I make a promise I need to keep my word, and I should trust others when they make promises as well.
January 7, 2010
I went to the temple today and I was thinking about motivation. I know that when you go to the temple you are suppose to feel better than you ever feel in your life, but I was so impeccant. It was difficult for me to even focus, and forget about feeling the sprit. This is when I started questioning my own motivation for being at the temple today. Why did I go? What motivated me to be there today? Why should I want to be there? How can I feel the spirit of service?
January 9, 2010
Today my friend and neighbor was talking to me about her roommates and how awful they are. I sat there listening and slightly trying to change the subject because I get along with her roommate quite well. This caused me to wonder why she was saying what she was say. This whole week I have felt more like a psychologist than anything, but more over it has made me realize that there is a complex set of reasons people might do something. The real way to get to the root of the problem is to just ask them why they did what they did, and have them explain it to you.
A friend was planning to do something with me this weekend, but she slept through her alarm. When I did not get a text from her I went out with a different group of friends and when I saw her again she apologized. It was at that moment when I asked my self “why should I take offense?” what is my motivation, and now that I understand her motivation how do I want to react. It was a conscious choice to not take offense, but I am glad that I did not because her friendship is much more valuable.
“But behold, the Nephites were not slow to remember the Lord their God in this their time of affliction,”
Alma 55:31
I chose this scripture because a few days ago I was not feeling like myself, and I don’t exactly know why. Oh, I know that it is fine to have some off days, but I want to know what I can do to make the off days not feel so off. Now that I have a little more homework behind me, and after a holiday from school I feel better. I guess what I am trying to say is that I want to be less slow to remember God. In all situations: happy ones, sad days, and especially during temptations. Last week I was just having an off week, but that was not the tragic part the tragic part was how slow it took me before I remembered how much God loves me. This week I want to remember God more.
January 18, 2010
After this passage it talks about how the Laminites tried to tempt the Nephites, and so the affliction that they seem to be talking about is the hardship that comes from temptation. What do I want in the moment compaired to what I want for eternity? I have always been a firm beliver that what I want is what God will give me. This scripture seemed to stick out to me, because I was wondering what my afflictions are.
January 19, 2010
Today while in Book of Mormon Professor Williams opened up the scriptures and started talking about Alma 37:36. The story connected to the scripture was about one of his students who was having trouble getting to sleep. As I read the scripture I noticed the line of logic. “Yea, and cry unto God for all they support; yea, let all they doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever though goest let it be in the lord; yea let all they thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of they heart be placed upon the Lord forever.” I noticed that the order seemed to go
1. Heart desires
2. Thoughts
3. Go some where
4. Do something
5. Pray for support
“Yea, and cry unto God for all they (5) support; yea, let all they (4) doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever though (3) goest let it be in the lord; yea let all they (2) thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of they (1)heart be placed upon the Lord forever.”
What really struck out to me was that you have to go some were before you can do something. This was interesting because I realized that if I am remembering God I will go to parties, hand out with friends, and “Go” to places that help me to remember my Lord.
January 20, 2010
I watched the begging of a really dumb movie, ok let us call the movie what it is. I watched the begging of a really wicked and mockery movie. Nothing that you don’t know already, but finally the group I was with decided that we should turn off the movie. I was embarrassed that I had not been stronger in saying that I would not watch it. Everyone knew that I did not want to watch the movie. I knew that I did not want to watch the movie, but I decided to “give it a chance” and if it was exactly what I was expecting we could turn it off. Well, looks like I need to work on this whole remembering God quickly, and not slowly more.
January 21, 2010
Ways to remember God: go to class, be a little more responsible. Today I slept through my eight o’clock Spanish class, and I was thinking about how I need to make sure to show that I really am committed to being here at BYU for an education. While I was thinking about this I imagined a family in some third world country living on pennies, but paying their tithing. Some how or another their few dollars made it into my scholarship fund, and that is why I have this amazing opportunity to be here today. This was really motivational to me, and it made me realize how much God wants me to remember him by remembering his children. Now when ever I think that this place is to hard I want to imagine that family again, and just like it did for me today I know that thinking about that will motivate me to remember God by being willing to make sacrifice for others.
“Bu behold. This was not the desire of Moroni; he did not delight in murder or bloodshed, but he delighted in the saving of his people from destruction; and for this cause he might not bring upon him injustice, he would not fall upon the Lamanites and destroy them in their drunkenness,”
Alma 55:19
I chose this scripture because I realized what type of things Moroni does and does not delight in. I was thinking about death and murder in the spiritual idea. There are not many opportunities I have to literally kill people, but I do have opportunities to tear people down and kill them in a spiritual scene. What I liked about this scripture is knowing that Moroni did not ‘delight’ in murder or bloodshed. Not only does the verse say what he does not like, but it says that he does ‘delight’ in saving his people from destruction. I strongly believe that you can never just take things out of your life, but that you have to fill them in with something. For example you can not simply not eat a piece of cake everyday, and consider yourself healthy. I believe that you have to eat a fruit or vegetable in place of the cake, and then you are achieving health. There has to be a replacement.
January 26, 2010
That is why I chose this scripture, because not only does it tell me what things Moroni took out of his life, but it tells me the things that he put into his life. This week I am going to work on having a missionary attitude by not delighting or more delicately tearing down those I am around, and replacing the times that I could be doing that with saving the people that I am around from destruction. This includes myself. I need to talk to myself positively and not kill my soul with down grading thoughts and ideas, but build myself up in the cause for righteousness.
January 27, 2010
I was trying to think about this scripture, but I kept on thinking about the fact that when there was an issue of who was going to be king, or the king’s-men and then the free men Moroni said that all of those who would not go to war would be killed. What is the difference? I think that it is because the people had a choose. Moroni gave all the people and choice and when there was no choice for them because they were drunk he considered it unholy. Which I guess that it was, to kill the Laminates I mean. This really makes me wonder when is the time and place for everything. How did I find that time and place. I am so confused. No. No I am not I just need to think about it. I am not talking about a time and place fore murder specifically, because really I can not think of anyone in my life who I would kill, and I don’t seem to be having that question pop up in my life. Should I kill this person now? Yes or no? I do have a lot of questions about timing though. When is it the right time to do something and when is it the wrong time. I think that it is the wrong time if there are no choices. Just as it was ok to kill the king’s-men because there was a choice. I should keep that attitude in my life and when I put my self or those I am with in a situations what have no choice I am not being just. God always gives us a choice. I have a car here at BYU, and often times I feel pressured to be the driver all of the time. I should remember that I always have a choice, and say no if I do not want to go out that night.
January 28, 2010
I am going to the temple today with my mother, and I want to be thinking of Moroni when I go in there. He was such a courageous man, and I want to emulate his courage in my own life. This verse has caused me to question what is courage? I know that unlike the Hollywood movies I see courage is more than rushing into a burring building, with five guns, screaming and yelling, and saving everyone, killing all the bad guys, and all of that jazz. There is more to courage than that and I want to figure out what it is. I think that Courageous people stand up for Christ, because that is what Moroni was doing. He was standing up for Christ, and giving people options, which the more agency we give other people the more free they are so I think that is Christ like. Any way my point being that courage is important, and I want to understand it. There is more to courage than killing someone, which is what Moroni demonstrates. Sometime the most courageous thing to do is not to kill. So while I am at the temple I will be thinking about a definition of courage.
January 31, 2010
The BYU against Utah state game was last night, and it was a little crazy. I was really embarrassed for the row of fans in front of my group, because they just seemed so… well not how I would expect them to be acting. While we were there they seemed to be there to boo the Utah players more than to cheer the BYU players, and it all seemed wrong. Yes I wanted BYU to win, and I am really glad that we did, but really? Was all of this worth it. I realized that part of not delighting in another person’s blood shed is not celebrating every mistake that the Utah players did, and really trying to cheer for the good plays that BYU players do. I am not limiting this view to simply BYU and Utah games, because really Utah players are not of the devil, good heavens who really thinks that! They are talented and exegetic players, and they deserve a little respect. I was very impressed with the row that I was sitting with and I was thankful that they were my friends, because yah all of them know so much about the basketball players, and they could tell me every member of the team, what their position was, and their strengths and weaknesses. The people I sat with were not dumb when it came to the game of Basketball, but they were not there to delight in the “blood shed” of the Utah players. Instead they were there to see a good game, and to cheer their winning team. Please don’t take from this that I think Utah players are all like the wicked killing Lamintes, but what I want you to understand is that I think cheering is good if you remember that you are congratulating a job well done and not wishing death upon the opposing team.
“Behold, ye have breathed out many threatening against me and my people; but behold, we fear not your threatening.”
Alma 54:19
I chose this scripture because today in Book of Mormon class we were talking about how much the Devil and his workers try and get at us all of the time. This verse struck out to me while we were reading because all though the Devil is threatening me everyday and trying to tear me down I will not fear, because I know that God’s team (if we can call them teams) is going to come out on top. If I make my will fall into place with God’s will then I will be able to combated against the adversary, and I will not fear his threats against my soul. More importantly this verse says “we” and “my people” that means that I am not alone in this battle. There are millions, actually numerous hosts of Heaven supporting me, and we all want to make it to heaven. I have to remember that I am part of that support system, and that I am helping others come unto heaven.
February 1, 2010
Today I wrote a thank you letter to my roommate. I know that she has been having a hard time lately, and I just have not seen her around a lot. Ok, I am serious I think that I can count the number of times I have seen her this semester on one hand. So I wrote her a note to tell her thank you for being such a great roommate, and I hope that she knows that I love her. Not that I need to see her around more or anything like that or that I want to make her feel guilty for not being at our apartment, because really we do a lot of homework, and I hope that she is enjoying herself were ever she is. I wanted her to know that I consider her a very vital and important part of our apartment, and that I love her. That is all.
February 2, 2010
I wrote three thank you letters to scholarship donnars. I tried very hard to make them heartfelt, and to let the people I was writing to know that I am thankful for their contribution. While I was writing the letters, it was for a club I am a member of, I realized how important it is to do the little things. The things that bind us with good people that we don’t even know. This made me realize how significant it is to be unified with good things, and more importantly for this situation to support good things. The people donating the money had no idea who I was, and yet they still made a generous contribution. Why? I wondered. I think that it is because they believe in this idea that there is a unity with people that we can not see. Just like there is a unity that I can share with people who lived with me in the pre-earth life, and even though some actions (such as paying a donation) that I do I never see the people I bless it does not mean that they are ungrateful. There are so many people who put me into the position that I am today, and I should show more gratitude to build that unity with them.
February 3, 2010
What is fear? Is it the lack of action, or is it the lack of direction? Is a lack of anything, or is it something different than that.? Is it the presence of darkness, or is the lack of light? I say that I am afraid of a lot of things. I am afraid to talk to that cute boy in my class. I am afraid of what my grade will be in civilizations. I am afraid of my Spanish midterm. I guess there are lots of things to be afraid of, but at that point should I be afraid of waking up in the morning? Because there are risks. Does my level of fear depend on what I think that I am risking. I guess that is so, because when I feel like I am risking something valuable I am afraid. I think that is why people who are with God do not fear, they don’t see the risk in what they are doing, because there is none. With God all things are possible, so what is the risk? I use the atonement and I have lost nothing, in fact I gain exaltation. Wow! I guess there really is no reason to fear, because when I am with God there is no risk.
February 5, 2010
Today I took the Book of Mormon test, and I realized that I had nothing to fear. There is no risk when it comes to taking a test. Really there is a vain little risk, but not a real risk. There is nothing that I should fear, especially if I prepare for it. I studied and re-read all of my scriptures. I thought about all of the scripture verses, and I thought about applying them to the world that I live in. I thought about people walking down the street asking me questions about my religion, and I thought about me prepared to answer them. There is real risk in that situation. The risk that I don’t speak with the power of God, the risk that I can lead someone astray, and the risk that I am not educated on the atonement to build my own faith. There is real risk in that. After I studied I went and took the test. I got an amazing score, but yes, I am very pleased with my score, but I think that is secondary to not being afraid to being able to weaken the risk of apathy. Of not understanding the Holy Ghost, because I studied I lessoned that risk. That was a real successful achievement.
Summary of the four week experience
The whole experience taught me a lot about the purpose of pondering one scripture. I often take a verse and say to myself this is the principle behind this scripture, and then I leave it to that one principle and that is all. After thinking about one verse for an entire week I started to draw different and more thoughtful connections to the scripture. Not only did I feel like I understood that scripture better, but I under stood how the principle that I associated with that principle connects with other values. I chose this section because I wanted to understand Moroni better, and I wanted to see how he handled difficult situations. I realized that he stuck to what he knew, and what he believed. I also realized that Moroni surrounded himself with people who were just as firm in the faith as he was, and that he did support people that he thought would pull him away from Christ. I really appreciated this perspective, and I enjoyed the application journal.
I remembered and focused on applying my scripture at least 5 days out of the week and give my self 25 points.
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