Columns, Conference

Living After the Way of Happiness

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In Stake Conference this last Sunday, the Stake President talked about living after the way of happiness. He said that the formula could be found in 2nd Nephi 5.

This is my interpretation of what he taught based on the notes I took. The overall team is. That despite trials, if we are prepared and have the right perspective and attitude, we can and are meant to have joy and happiness in our lives.

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  1. Pray regularly and sincerely
    • In verse 1 Nephi did cry much unto the Lord.
    •  Nephi was greatly concerned about his murmuring brothers prayed for guidance.
    • As we pray regularly and sincerely we too can receive answers to help us in our lives.
  2. Be grateful for his answers
    • In verse 5 the Lord gives Nephi an answer to his prayers
    • Nephi was directed by the Lord to leave his brothers and did so despite the challenge taking such an action likely presented.
    • As we should also show our gratitude for answers to our prayers by doing what the Lord asks of us.
  3. Prioritize your family
    • In verse 6 Nephi takes his family with him.
    • The Family is central to Plan of Salvation. Quality and quantity both matter.
    • In verse 8 they call themselves the people of Nephi, much like how we have last names to identify what family we are a part of.
  4. Live simply
    • In verse 7 they only had what they could take with them.
    • When we focus on the material things we need, and not on acquiring as much as we can, our wants are minimized and we learn to be happy with what we have.
    • Constantly wanting more, leaves you feeling empty, but being happy with what you have, helps you to be happy.
  5. Keep the commandments
    • In verse 10, they observed the commandments of the Lord according to the Law of Moses.
    • The commandments are meant to keep us free from sin so that we are free from the negative consequences that follow.
    • It’s much easier to be happy when we are not burdened with negative consequences from our poor choices.
  6. Be industrious and work.
    • In verses 11, 15, 16 and 17 they did sow seed, raise animals, and build things
    • When we work and produce it brings a feeling of self-worth.
    • When we are lazy and rely on others it’s harder to see our worth, and can produce feelings of entitlement to the things we have not worked for.
  7. Search the scriptures learning of the Word of God
    • In verse 12 Nephi had the records on the plates of brass.
    • These records were their scriptures that they could use to study the Words of God.
  8. Follow the Spirit and the Prophet
    • Verse 12 also mentions the Liahona
    • It gave them guidance, just as the spirit can help and guide us in our lives.
    • They had also followed Lehi who was a Prophet and now followed Nephi as their Prophet.
  9. Protect ourselves and our families spiritually and physically
    • In verse 14 Nephi uses the Sword of Laban as a temple to create more
    • When we are prepared to protect ourselves, we are not fearful of our enemies.
    • Most importantly we need to put on the Armor of God so that we are not fearful of Satan and his followers.
  10. Attend the temple regularly
    • In verse 16 Nephi builds a temple.
    • Temples are the house of God where we can have the feelings of the spirit unrestrained.
    • They provide refuge from the world and help to strengthen us spiritually.
  11. Be good citizens
    • In verse 18 Nephi leads his people per their wishes
    • We should also seek after honest and wise men to lead our governments
    • As our governments are more righteous, we will have less conflict within our societies.
  12. Be good church members
    • Throughout this chapter, the people of Nephi followed Nephi and his appointed Priests and Teachers.
    • If they had not they would not have “lived after the manner of happiness” as mentioned in verse 27.
    • In fact, based on verse 34, they likely would have been destroyed had they not followed his counsel.
    • We too will prosper and grow spiritually as we strive to be good members of our congregations.

 

Book of Mormon, Columns

The Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ

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At the last General Conference, a talk was given by Elder LeGrand R. Curtis Jr. about the Book of Mormon. This talk inspired me to make a list of significant chapters and verses in the Book of Mormon that testifies of Jesus Christ. This is certainly not a complete list as Jesus is referred to nearly four-thousand times throughout the Book of Mormon.

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  1. Starting at the Title Page it says “And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God”.
  2. 2nd Nephi 2:6: “redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.”
  3. On to 2nd Nephi 25:19: talking about the birth of Christ it says “his name shall be Jesus Christ, the Son of God”.
  4. 2nd Nephi 31 tells of being baptism in Christ’s name: “witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism”
  5. Into Mosiah 3:8,12, “and he shall be called Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and his mother shall be called Mary… For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.”
  6. Then in chapter 16 verse 8: “there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ”
  7. Then verse 13: “remember that only in and through Christ ye can be saved”
  8. Now onto chapter 18: “may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world”
  9. Alma 5:48 states: “I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth.”
  10. Alma Chapter 34 shows the testimony of Amulek, especially verse 8: “I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people and that he shall atone for the sins of the world”
  11. Helaman 5:9: “remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved, only through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, who shall come; yea, remember that he cometh to redeem the world.”
  12. We certainly cannot forget about 3rd Nephi 9:15 when Jesus speaks to his disciples in North America: “Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.”
  13. Jesus’s speech continues on through 3rd Nephi 11 when Jesus appears in the flesh: “Arise and come forth unto me, that ye may thrust your hands into my side, and also that ye may feel the prints of the nails in my hands and in my feet, that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and have been slain for the sins of the world.”
  14. in 3rd Nephi 27:3-7 we learn that Jesus’s church is called after his name: “whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day. Therefore, whatsoever ye shall do, ye shall do it in my name; therefore ye shall call the church in my name, and ye shall call upon the Father in my name that he will bless the church for my sake.”
  15. I’ll round this out with Mormon 7:5 tells us to believe in Christ: “Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God”

And remember, Jesus is the Mark.