"Behold I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth and all things that in them are. 3 Nephi 9: 15

About 341 years after the birth of Christ, at the time of the Crucifixion of Christ tempests, earthquakes, fires, and whirlwinds occurred here in America. For the space of three days darkness, in which no light could be seen, neither fire, or candles, or torches covered the land and there was a great morning, howling and weeping.-- and repenting.  After three days a voice was heard, "Wo, wo, wo unto this people: wo unto the inhabitants of the whole earth except they repent." Many more things did the voice tell them. "O all ye that are spared because ye are more righteous than they, (that were destroyed.) will ye not return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?" ...
"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. I came unto my own, and my own received me not. and the scriptures concerning my coming are glorified." 3 Nephi 9: 1,13, 15.

It is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, ... whereon if men build they cannot fall. Helaman 5:12

And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ , the son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall shall send forth his mighty winds, his shafts in the mighty whirlwind, yea when all his hail and his mighty storms shall beat upon you, it shall  have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which you are built, which is is a sure foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall. Helaman 5:12. So I guess what that mean is that if we fall, we fall because we slipped off that rock.  

And they gave thanks to God yea, all their men and all their women and all their children that could speak lifted their voices in the praise of their God."

I am feeling extremely grateful this morning for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I know that without his atonement and without his mediation on my behalf I would not be strong and withstand the temptations that come before me. It took a bit of searching to find exactly what I'm feeling but Mosiah 24:21 comes the closest. So Amulon persecuted Alma and his people. They called upon God in mighty prayer and he prepared a way for them to escape.
 "Yea, and in the valley of Alma they poured out their thanks to God because he had been merciful unto them, and eased their burdens, and had delivered them out of bondage: for they were in bondage and none could deliver them except it were the Lord  their God . And they gave thanks to God yea, all their men and all their women and all their children that could speak lifted their voices in the praise of their God."   
Oh, I know the troubles are not over but like the people of Alma I know that none could deliver me except through the mercies and atonement of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

  

Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:5

"The gate of Heaven is open to all, even to those who believe on the name of Jesus Christ who is the Son of God." (Helaman 3: 28) I notice that the word gate is singular here. There is only one gate by which we can enter Heaven and that is of course by baptism and baptism comes only through Jesus Christ. John tell us that except a man be born of water and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. John 3:5  The Book of Helaman goes on to tell us that" whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God." and that in the end it will land our souls at the right hand of God in the Kingdom of Heaven.

It is so simple, even a child can understand. "Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." John 14:6

It is so simple, even a child can understand. "Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." John 14:6 And "Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."  Oh there are many, many other scriptures and writings that point to, elaborate on or say the same thing but it all comes down to that. Jesus is the way and be baptized.  

thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from his sins. Luke 1:21

And she shall bring forth a son and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from his sins. Luke 1:21- The name Jesus means help or Savior. That is his purpose -- to save his people and all people from sin. He is our savior, our redeemer our all.  

And the Lord provided for them.... that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ

As I continue reading in Alma about their missionary efforts, Alma prays mighty unto the Lord for the Zoramites. He is grieved because of their pride and that they are puffed up even to greatness with the vain things of the world. He prays for comfort that he might have strength and be patience with them. He says."Behold, O Lord their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethern; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethern, again unto thee. ... And the Lord provided for them.... that they should suffer no manner of afflictions, save it were swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Now this was according to the prayer of Alma and this because he prayed in faith." Alma 31:35 and 38.

Bear with patience thine afflictions and I will give you success.

When I first started this blog I only gave pure scriptures but in time I began giving my thoughts and feelings on the scriptures. At first the scriptures I gave really were my favorites up to that point in time. As time progressed I changed the way I read the scriptures. The change was subtle in appearance in a much as I still tried to do daily scripture readings, but internally or personally there was a big change in quality in stead of quantity. I was working at the time and I decided that since I was often too tired to concentrate on the words much less the message I would read at night only if my mind was not foggy with sleepiness. I set my two alarms on my cell phone to wake me in the morning. One of them I set a half hour earlier than usual. If I awoke fresh and alert I read my scriptures. If it had been a late night and I was still groggy when the first alarm went off I waited for the second alarm and would wait until evening to read.

Not only would I not read unless I was able to pay attention I would read what I wanted to. I would not necessarily follow any set lesson plan, but would choose a topic of interest. If that choice led me off the topic then so much the better. My scripture reading has taken on an entire different outlook and meaning. This is private time with the Lord and I value it highly.

This morning is one of those mornings when I have been led off the subject. It is exactly the scripture I need at this time an speaks that quite peace to my heart. I share it with you in hopes that it might speak to you as well.

These are the words of Ammond to his brethern in the mission field."Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst the Laminites and bear with patience thine afflictions and I will give you success." Alma 26: 27

The Spirit of Christ is given to every man that he may know good from evil. ... But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil ... is of the devil.  Moroni 7:16 - 17 both gives us great hope and also condemns us to that great pit. The choice is ours and yet we are enticed constantly that the things of the devil are all right. If we are to judge if a thing is right or wrong by how it makes us feel the devil can certainly duplicate that. Strong drink, drugs, improper sexual activity, anger, or even abusing another can give us euphoric feelings and numb our feelings of remorse. How can this be wrong we say when it feels so good. Sometimes when inappropriate behavior occurs at a young age it is difficult to break those chains and come unto Christ and be clean. Sometimes we know it's wrong but we do it anyway. The innocent child born with a drug addiction, or abused at a very young age feels safer with Satan than with Christ. How then are we to judge that individual? Can we judge them? How then are they to be saved? 

I know that God granteth unto men according to their desire.Alma 29:4 so when I make bad choices I am punishing myself.

For I know that he (God) granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction. Alma 29:4  So if these rules, or laws are unalterable-- actually irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of the world, we are told, then when I make bad choices I am punishing  myself.