Brother Hilton,
I hope that you are pleased with my Book of Mormon Project. I spent a lot of time on it, and by doing so I became closer to my Savior. I successfully posted 5 times a week for 8 weeks about both scriptural insights and tender mercies I noticed. Doing so helped me slow down in my scripture study and really recognize God's hand in my life.
I am very grateful for this assignment because this is the first spiritual "journal" I have ever kept, and I learned a lot from working on it. I decided to not share my blog with family and friends because I wanted to be able write for my own pleasure and benefit. I didn't want to have to worry about what other people thought of my blog and I knew that somethings were too sacred to share. I hope that someday my posterity will read through this blog and use it as a tool to get to know me. I really poured my heart and soul into this blog.
Thanks again for this assignment. It was really hard, but it caused me to grow.
-Danielle Jones
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Alma 1
Fun Fact about the Book of Alma:
Alma covers 1/3 of the Book of Mormon and only 40 years of history.
"They bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them." Alma 1:25
The righteous people were patient in their afflictions. This really stood out to me because patience is a very Christlike attribute. Fortunately, I have not had to endure much persecution, but if I had, then I know that my first instinct would be to fight back. I know that Christ would not fight back and that he would even love the people who were afflicting him. We can all learn a lesson in patience from both this verse and from Christ, who is the perfect example.
"And thus they did establish the affairs of the church; and thus they began to have continual peace again, notwithstanding all their persecutions." -Alma 1:28
Even though these people were being persecuted, they knew that the church was still the most important thing. They were able to have peace during their trials because they put their trust in God and established the church. I can have peace in my life if I focus on the gospel and on serving others.
Alma covers 1/3 of the Book of Mormon and only 40 years of history.
"They bore with patience the persecution which was heaped upon them." Alma 1:25
The righteous people were patient in their afflictions. This really stood out to me because patience is a very Christlike attribute. Fortunately, I have not had to endure much persecution, but if I had, then I know that my first instinct would be to fight back. I know that Christ would not fight back and that he would even love the people who were afflicting him. We can all learn a lesson in patience from both this verse and from Christ, who is the perfect example.
"And thus they did establish the affairs of the church; and thus they began to have continual peace again, notwithstanding all their persecutions." -Alma 1:28
Even though these people were being persecuted, they knew that the church was still the most important thing. They were able to have peace during their trials because they put their trust in God and established the church. I can have peace in my life if I focus on the gospel and on serving others.
Friday, November 14, 2014
Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy
I had an amazing, peaceful, spiritually uplifting experience while completing this challenge last Sunday. Growing up, my parents were very strict on what we could or could not do on Sunday. We never turned the TV on, cleaned our house, did homework, listened to music, or shopped at the store. When I was younger, I had a hard time understanding why my parents would require something that hard from me, but as I grew up, I began to become very grateful for the requirements set.
Unfortunately, as soon as I moved out, I began to slacken on my Sunday worship. For the first time I was so swamped with homework that I didn’t know how I could possibly finish without working on it on Sunday. Also, my roommates all love watching Netflix, listening to music, and throwing parties on Sunday. Our walls are thin, which made it nearly impossible to separate myself form the world.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I began robbing banks on Sunday or anything like that, but it just became easier to go along with the crowd, rather than constantly tell my roommates to remember that it was Sunday. I often did homework on Sunday, and would sometimes watch movies that I knew wouldn’t be very bad. Certainly a G or PG rated movie should be okay on Sunday right? Fortunately, I wasn’t the only roommate who was upset by this policy, and last Sunday we all contributed to a more uplifting atmosphere.
It was one of the most peaceful, uplifting days of my life. I spent all day studying my scriptures, reading my patriarchal blessing, writing letters to missionaries, playing the piano, and writing in my journal. It was so relaxing to put away all of my homework and worries and focus on what really matters. Believe me, it was hard! I had a ten page paper due on Tuesday and all I wanted was to work on it because so much depends on that paper! I believe that taking a day off from writing it helped me write a better paper in a shorter amount of time. I had the opportunity to go to a missionary fireside, and had a lot of important questions answered that had been really bothering me for a long time. I was so in tune with the spirit and I benefitted from acting upon it.
As it turns out, my parents were right! Keeping the Sabbath day holy will make such a difference in your life and Heavenly Father will bless you because of your obedience. From now on, I am going to try harder to finish all of my homework before Sunday, and to refrain from media and TV. I hope that if I ever get tempted to do otherwise that I will be able to remember the amazing experience I had last week. Heavenly Father blesses us when we keep his commandments.
Unfortunately, as soon as I moved out, I began to slacken on my Sunday worship. For the first time I was so swamped with homework that I didn’t know how I could possibly finish without working on it on Sunday. Also, my roommates all love watching Netflix, listening to music, and throwing parties on Sunday. Our walls are thin, which made it nearly impossible to separate myself form the world.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I began robbing banks on Sunday or anything like that, but it just became easier to go along with the crowd, rather than constantly tell my roommates to remember that it was Sunday. I often did homework on Sunday, and would sometimes watch movies that I knew wouldn’t be very bad. Certainly a G or PG rated movie should be okay on Sunday right? Fortunately, I wasn’t the only roommate who was upset by this policy, and last Sunday we all contributed to a more uplifting atmosphere.
It was one of the most peaceful, uplifting days of my life. I spent all day studying my scriptures, reading my patriarchal blessing, writing letters to missionaries, playing the piano, and writing in my journal. It was so relaxing to put away all of my homework and worries and focus on what really matters. Believe me, it was hard! I had a ten page paper due on Tuesday and all I wanted was to work on it because so much depends on that paper! I believe that taking a day off from writing it helped me write a better paper in a shorter amount of time. I had the opportunity to go to a missionary fireside, and had a lot of important questions answered that had been really bothering me for a long time. I was so in tune with the spirit and I benefitted from acting upon it.
As it turns out, my parents were right! Keeping the Sabbath day holy will make such a difference in your life and Heavenly Father will bless you because of your obedience. From now on, I am going to try harder to finish all of my homework before Sunday, and to refrain from media and TV. I hope that if I ever get tempted to do otherwise that I will be able to remember the amazing experience I had last week. Heavenly Father blesses us when we keep his commandments.
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Mosiah 24
"He did know the thoughts of their hearts" -Mosiah 24:12
Christ, aside from understanding everything we have ever or will ever go through, knows the thoughts of our hearts. He can hear our thoughts, and the Holy Ghost puts thoughts into our hearts. He always knows what we need before we ask for it, and he knows of our good intentions, even though sometimes those intentions don't work out the way we had hoped. Christ is always with us. Watching us. Guiding us. Helping us. We can pray at any time. Think about that. We can have a conversation with our Heavenly Father, who is the most powerful being in the entire universe, at any time. Even more amazing than that, he listens and responds back. I am so grateful that I have the knowledge of my Savior, Jesus Christ, and my Heavenly Father. I only hope that I express that gratitude enough.
"I will also ease the burdens which are put on your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs." Mosiah 24:14
The interesting thing about this line is that in the chapter heading it states that "the Lord makes their burdens seem light. This is the enabling power of the atonement which, as stated in class, is something we should all take the time to understand better. Sometimes Christ doesn't take the pain away. Instead, he helps us through the pain. You can do anything through Christ.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Mosiah 21-
"They did humble themselves even in the depths of humility" -Mosiah 21:13
Humility is a tricky thing. How humble exactly is being humbled to the depths of humility? How humble am I supposed to be, because it is easy to feel inferior to everyone else, but it is also easy to be very prideful and to feel like you are better than everyone else. I guess that the right amount of humility is to know that everything you have comes from God and that he even created your body and your spirit. We should be spending our lives in the service of others to show our gratitude for everything God has done for us. That's what humility is; knowing that God is everything.
"Now there was a great number of women, more than there was of men" -Mosiah 21: 17
This really has nothing to do with the scriptures, but I couldn't resist! This scripture perfectly describes freshman year. There are 2 girls for every boy in my ward, and any sort of social life is a real struggle. Now back to real scriptural insights!
"King Limhi and his people were desirous to be baptized; but there was none in the land that had authority from God...therefore they did not at that time for themselves into a church" -Mosiah 21:33-34
We should thank our Heavenly Father that we have the priesthood! I am so blessed to have a worthy father and brother than can give me blessings, as well as righteous home teachers, FHE brothers, and an amazing bishop. I am surrounded by the priesthood and that knowledge makes me so happy! I am so excited to someday marry someone with the priesthood who, just like my own father strives to use if often and is always worthy of it. I am so very blessed.
Humility is a tricky thing. How humble exactly is being humbled to the depths of humility? How humble am I supposed to be, because it is easy to feel inferior to everyone else, but it is also easy to be very prideful and to feel like you are better than everyone else. I guess that the right amount of humility is to know that everything you have comes from God and that he even created your body and your spirit. We should be spending our lives in the service of others to show our gratitude for everything God has done for us. That's what humility is; knowing that God is everything.
"Now there was a great number of women, more than there was of men" -Mosiah 21: 17
This really has nothing to do with the scriptures, but I couldn't resist! This scripture perfectly describes freshman year. There are 2 girls for every boy in my ward, and any sort of social life is a real struggle. Now back to real scriptural insights!
"King Limhi and his people were desirous to be baptized; but there was none in the land that had authority from God...therefore they did not at that time for themselves into a church" -Mosiah 21:33-34
We should thank our Heavenly Father that we have the priesthood! I am so blessed to have a worthy father and brother than can give me blessings, as well as righteous home teachers, FHE brothers, and an amazing bishop. I am surrounded by the priesthood and that knowledge makes me so happy! I am so excited to someday marry someone with the priesthood who, just like my own father strives to use if often and is always worthy of it. I am so very blessed.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Mosiah 16 and the mission decision
"If Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection" -Mosiah 16:7
One of the things that I love about this gospel is that death really has no sting. It is hard to see people die because we miss them. We love them. But we know that we will see them again and we know that they are in a better place now than they were in before they died. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that he takes us home with him.
I also just want to record where in chapter 15 it says Christ "shall see his seed" three times. We have all been taught that when Christ performed the atonement that he saw all of us individually, but this is the first scripture I have found that states it. Christ saw me. He felt what I feel. He experienced what I have experienced. I am never alone because Christ is always there for me.
Last weekend I made the decision to not serve a mission. I went to a fireside called "to go or not to go" where four sisters spoke of their mission decisions. One sister in particular felt that she was not supposed to go and even though she wanted to, she knew that it wasn't right for her. Since then, she has become an RA, and an EFY councilor. She has had so many missionary experiences without leaving home.
I really think that is what I am supposed to do with my life. I am not to serve a full time mission but I am expected to still be a missionary and to still share the gospel. I have my whole life to bring others unto Christ!
This is what I feel strongly about doing and I hope that I will continue to receive a confirmation about my decision. I know that God's time is not my time and that I still have many years to serve him. I know that if I do not serve a mission that something even better will come along and I can't wait to find out that that might be! I have my whole life ahead of me and there are so many hundreds of opportunities waiting for me!
One of the things that I love about this gospel is that death really has no sting. It is hard to see people die because we miss them. We love them. But we know that we will see them again and we know that they are in a better place now than they were in before they died. Our Heavenly Father loves us so much that he takes us home with him.
I also just want to record where in chapter 15 it says Christ "shall see his seed" three times. We have all been taught that when Christ performed the atonement that he saw all of us individually, but this is the first scripture I have found that states it. Christ saw me. He felt what I feel. He experienced what I have experienced. I am never alone because Christ is always there for me.
Last weekend I made the decision to not serve a mission. I went to a fireside called "to go or not to go" where four sisters spoke of their mission decisions. One sister in particular felt that she was not supposed to go and even though she wanted to, she knew that it wasn't right for her. Since then, she has become an RA, and an EFY councilor. She has had so many missionary experiences without leaving home.
I really think that is what I am supposed to do with my life. I am not to serve a full time mission but I am expected to still be a missionary and to still share the gospel. I have my whole life to bring others unto Christ!
This is what I feel strongly about doing and I hope that I will continue to receive a confirmation about my decision. I know that God's time is not my time and that I still have many years to serve him. I know that if I do not serve a mission that something even better will come along and I can't wait to find out that that might be! I have my whole life ahead of me and there are so many hundreds of opportunities waiting for me!
Monday, November 10, 2014
Tender Mercies: Temple Edition
I really do love to see the temple. I had a wonderful experience there this morning. It is very sacred, so I am not going to share, but I testify that if you go to the temple often, then the Lord will bless you.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Tender Mercies
It's been a while since I just posted about tender mercies. I have been so focused on my study of the Book of Mormon.
I just want to share a quick story of an answer I got from Heavenly Father. This past fast Sunday I was fasting to know what classes I should take for the upcoming semester. I really thought I had the schedule I wanted but I still had a few questions. I wanted to make sure it was the schedule God wanted for me. I was debating on whether or not I should take the second half of the Book of Mormon with the teacher I have now or if I should take the Teachings of the Living Prophets. I had pretty much made up my mind because I loved my Book of Mormon teacher for this semester. (Brother Hilton, if you ever read this just know that your class made a huge difference in my life and in my scripture study habits.)
That night while I was reading my patriarchal blessing I noticed a line that says I will gain wisdom from the teachings of the living prophets. Holy cow. The answer was word for word the name of the class and right then I received a confirmation that this is what God wants me to take. I can't wait to see what next semester brings, and I am so glad that I have the schedule that God wants me to have!
I just want to share a quick story of an answer I got from Heavenly Father. This past fast Sunday I was fasting to know what classes I should take for the upcoming semester. I really thought I had the schedule I wanted but I still had a few questions. I wanted to make sure it was the schedule God wanted for me. I was debating on whether or not I should take the second half of the Book of Mormon with the teacher I have now or if I should take the Teachings of the Living Prophets. I had pretty much made up my mind because I loved my Book of Mormon teacher for this semester. (Brother Hilton, if you ever read this just know that your class made a huge difference in my life and in my scripture study habits.)
That night while I was reading my patriarchal blessing I noticed a line that says I will gain wisdom from the teachings of the living prophets. Holy cow. The answer was word for word the name of the class and right then I received a confirmation that this is what God wants me to take. I can't wait to see what next semester brings, and I am so glad that I have the schedule that God wants me to have!
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Mosiah 15-17
"These are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these are they that have died before Christ came, in their ignorance, not having salvation declared unto them...and they have a part in the first resurrection." -Mosiah 15:24
When I was younger, I had this idea in my mind that it would be better to not learn of the gospel, and just receive it in heaven. How silly I was! Why would you want to miss out on growing up with the gospel and knowing God's plan for you while on earth? Why would you want to miss out on the knowledge of eternal families? I am grateful that I have been placed in such a desirable situation her on earth where I have always had the opportunity to learn of Christ and follow him.
Verse 26 teaches us that there is a difference between those who died without the knowledge of Christ and those who willfully rebelled against him. I love that Christ has a specific plan for all of us,and that he is merciful.
In chapter 17, Abinadi chooses to die rather than deny God, and God lets this happen. Why doesn't God, with his all mighty powers choose to save his prophet? I can't find any credible accounts to back my opinion up, but I believe that Abinadi died to teach us a lesson. God has a plan for all of us and that doesn't always mean that the righteous will live forever. Joseph Smith was martyred, along with Hyrum, and Jesus Christ himself died for us. The fact that God led Abinadi die doesn't mean that there isn't a God. Rather, it confirms that God works in mysterious ways. Maybe Abinadi was needed more in heaven. Maybe if he hadn't have died, than Alma wouldn't have accepted the gospel. For whatever reason, Abinadi was ready to see God again. This lesson teaches us that physical death is not so bad when you have the atonement on your side. I can do everything through Christ, who strengthens me.
When I was younger, I had this idea in my mind that it would be better to not learn of the gospel, and just receive it in heaven. How silly I was! Why would you want to miss out on growing up with the gospel and knowing God's plan for you while on earth? Why would you want to miss out on the knowledge of eternal families? I am grateful that I have been placed in such a desirable situation her on earth where I have always had the opportunity to learn of Christ and follow him.
Verse 26 teaches us that there is a difference between those who died without the knowledge of Christ and those who willfully rebelled against him. I love that Christ has a specific plan for all of us,and that he is merciful.
In chapter 17, Abinadi chooses to die rather than deny God, and God lets this happen. Why doesn't God, with his all mighty powers choose to save his prophet? I can't find any credible accounts to back my opinion up, but I believe that Abinadi died to teach us a lesson. God has a plan for all of us and that doesn't always mean that the righteous will live forever. Joseph Smith was martyred, along with Hyrum, and Jesus Christ himself died for us. The fact that God led Abinadi die doesn't mean that there isn't a God. Rather, it confirms that God works in mysterious ways. Maybe Abinadi was needed more in heaven. Maybe if he hadn't have died, than Alma wouldn't have accepted the gospel. For whatever reason, Abinadi was ready to see God again. This lesson teaches us that physical death is not so bad when you have the atonement on your side. I can do everything through Christ, who strengthens me.
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Mosiah 13-14
"I read unto you the remainder of the commandments of God, for I perceive that they are not written in your hearts" -Mosiah 13:11
Are the commandments written on our hearts? We all know the commandments, and can probably list off most of them. We follow them because that is what we have been taught to do, but are they actually written upon our hearts? I interpret this line as, do we have a testimony that the commandments are true? Do we keep the commandments based on obedience, or because we know in our hearts that by keeping the commandments we are following God's plan and becoming closer and more like him? The best way to gain a testimony of the commandments is to live them. Just like Brad Wilcox says in his talk "My Grace is Sufficient," by practicing living the commandments, we are coming closer to Christ and learning heaven.
Are the commandments written on our hearts? We all know the commandments, and can probably list off most of them. We follow them because that is what we have been taught to do, but are they actually written upon our hearts? I interpret this line as, do we have a testimony that the commandments are true? Do we keep the commandments based on obedience, or because we know in our hearts that by keeping the commandments we are following God's plan and becoming closer and more like him? The best way to gain a testimony of the commandments is to live them. Just like Brad Wilcox says in his talk "My Grace is Sufficient," by practicing living the commandments, we are coming closer to Christ and learning heaven.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Mosiah 10-11
"They were a wild, and ferocious, and a blood thirsty people, believing in the traditions of their fathers...that they were wronged while in the land of their first inheritance, after they had crossed the sea, and all this because that Nephi was more faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord-therefore he was favored of the Lord, for the Lord heard his prayers and answered them, and he took the lead of their journey in the wilderness." -Mosiah 10: 12-13
I think the lesson we are to learn here is to not hold grudges. I myself have a problem with this, and there are several people I used to be very close to that I haven't spoken to in over a year. Christ commanded that we love one another and that we forgive one another. I have forgiven these people, but part of me still resents them. Maybe I haven't fully forgiven yet.
The important things is that we do not hold grudges to the extent that the Lamanites held grudges. They hated the Nephites based on the fact that their fathers hated the Nephites and that their father's fathers hated the Nephites. I'm sure their parents taught them to hate the Nephites and that they never thought about them in any other way. They "knew nothing of the Lord" (11), so they did not know how these grudges were tearing them apart.
I just want to say how interesting it is that there is a Lamanite king in the promised land named Noah. Is this evidence that these people originated in the old world, or is it evidence that these people had the brass plates, which surely contained the record of Noah? Either way, this is a confirming fact that the Book of Mormon is true and correct.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Mosiah 8-10
"No man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in then, the same is called seer." -Mosiah 8:13
I have the name Joseph Smith written next to this verse because Joseph had the power to translate. I had the opportunity to go on a three week church history tour this summer where we spent the entire time learning about Joseph Smith. He is one of my favorite people. Joseph was so kind and faithful and strong. One thing I especially love about Joseph is how well he treated Emma. I want so badly to marry someone who treats me that well.
That's what I love about this church and about the priesthood. This gospel takes ordinary people and shapes them into people who change the world. It is the most amazing thing!
I have the name Joseph Smith written next to this verse because Joseph had the power to translate. I had the opportunity to go on a three week church history tour this summer where we spent the entire time learning about Joseph Smith. He is one of my favorite people. Joseph was so kind and faithful and strong. One thing I especially love about Joseph is how well he treated Emma. I want so badly to marry someone who treats me that well.
That's what I love about this church and about the priesthood. This gospel takes ordinary people and shapes them into people who change the world. It is the most amazing thing!
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Mosiah 3-5
"His blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned." -Mosiah 3:11
This verse reveals a lot about Christ's character. Christ atoned for the sins of everyone. That's right. Every person who has ever lived upon the earth has the chance to use the atonement. Christ atoned for us all even though he knew that most of us would never even hear of his name while on this earth. He atoned for us all even though he knew that a great number of us would choose to not use the atonement and would choose captivity and death. He even atoned for these people out of complete love and out of the hope that they would someday choose to use his gift.
"Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend." - Mosiah 4:9
Many of us have the desire to learn everything there is to learn about the universe, but that is not God's plan for us. It is frustrating to not understand everything, but we need to trust God because he knows what is best for us. This scripture says that men don't understand the mysteries of God, but someday we will become Gods and Goddesses, and then I believe that God will tell us everything we wish to know.
This verse reveals a lot about Christ's character. Christ atoned for the sins of everyone. That's right. Every person who has ever lived upon the earth has the chance to use the atonement. Christ atoned for us all even though he knew that most of us would never even hear of his name while on this earth. He atoned for us all even though he knew that a great number of us would choose to not use the atonement and would choose captivity and death. He even atoned for these people out of complete love and out of the hope that they would someday choose to use his gift.
"Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend." - Mosiah 4:9
Many of us have the desire to learn everything there is to learn about the universe, but that is not God's plan for us. It is frustrating to not understand everything, but we need to trust God because he knows what is best for us. This scripture says that men don't understand the mysteries of God, but someday we will become Gods and Goddesses, and then I believe that God will tell us everything we wish to know.
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