Jarom

I realized that when Jarom was talking about constantly needing to teach the people, and remind the
people and exhort the people, because of the hardness of their hearts, that that is us. That's why we
go to church and conferences and, I think, probably the reason we have organized religion. Because
we constantly needed to be reminded and exhorted or we go astray. It made me feel both humble and
more grateful for church. :)

Enos 1

It strikes me that what sunk into his heart was his father speaking of eternal life and the joy of the
saints. I am impressed that when I am teaching my children, the joy part is something I need to focus
on more. How much Heavenly Father loves us and how happy we will be enjoying eternal life with Him
and with our family. That's an important part of the gospel, and I think Omar is right, that my family, and
by extension me, focus too much on the consequences and negative side. And I know with Helaman,
especially, he responds way better to promise of reward than threat of punishment.

It is an amazing thing that are sins can all be taken away, and we can be completely clean, despite
ourselves. How grateful I am for the atoning sacrifice of the Savior. My Savior. I'm so grateful to be able
to repent and have my guilt swept away. It is so amazing! I'm so grateful to know how it is done, I'm so
grateful for my Savior.

Jacob 7

This is interesting. It's interesting that Sherem didn't attack Christ, he flattered people away from him.
And also it's interesting that he wasn't satisfied leading people away, he wanted to get to Jacob, who
was the leader of the Church, and confront him. My Book of Mormon teacher told us that this chapter is
to understand that how people will try to be anti-Christs in the last day, and how to deal with them, and
I can certainly see that to be true in the first few verses.

Jacob says they mourn out their days. That sounds like how Omar would describe life. And yet both are
not shaken by it. That's a lot of faith.

Jacob 6

As I read this, I started feeling guilty about my lack of labor in the vineyard. But then the Lord gently, and
mercifully, reminded me that my most important labor in the vineyard right now is being a mom. I'm
laboring to gather my boys, and help raise them to be men to labor in the vineyard. I'm grateful for the

kind reminder about the important sacredness of the work I have chosen for my life. And I really love my
boys. I can hear them playing in their room as I type this, and it makes my heart smile. I am so blessed!

Jacob 5

My brain feels too fried to follow this today. I'm not sure why. Maybe later... One thing I did get as I
read a little is how complicated and how hard the master worked to save the tree. He didn't just try
one thing, and give up when that didn't work. I need to be a parent more like that. I expect immediate
changes when I nourish the tree a little, and then get mad when that doesn't work. I need to pray harder
and be more patient and try more things and never give up. Why am I such a grouchy mom! I'm sorry...

Jacob 4

It is a beautiful thing that the Nephite prophets worked so hard to do something as difficult as engrave
on the plates because they wanted their children to know of Christ. There is no work that is too hard for
that purpose.

I've been feeling my weaknesses strongly this morning, and sorrowing in them. I feel like I should be
better, and that is true. I work towards that end, not always as hard or diligently as I should, but I am
trying to be better. Sometimes, though, I let Satan use my weaknesses to discourage me, like the stress I
was feeling this morning as I lay awake in bed worrying. But Jacob says that God gives us weaknesses so
we are humbled and can depend on Him. And then when we do manage to accomplish something good,
they help us remember that it is only through Him. I know I need that reminder, and so, as sorrowful as
my heart is this morning, I am also grateful for my weaknesses, and pray that they will teach me to rely
on Him; to listen harder to His promptings, to turn more often to Him, to keep a prayer always in my
heart, and to not be a lazy and slothful servant. I'm so grateful that as I learn and have so much need to
repent that he is loving and merciful, or I would be lost!

Jacob 3

Even in Nephite times the family was so important to God's plan, and He so fierceley protected it. It's
interesting that whatever else they did wrong, the Lamenites were more righteous because of how they
treated their families. I need to remember my children, and how I have grieved their hearts, and repent
and do better.

Jacob 2

It strikes me again the pride is in the comparison. It isn't bad to be happy to be smart, it's bad to be
happier to be smarter than others, or think you are better because of it. So then, is it bad to want a nice
house, and nice things, or is it bad to want nicer things than others? It didn't seem to be a sin for the
Nephites to look for the gold, only to be proud and unkind once they found it. He even said the Lord
blessed them in their desire to find it, which means it couldn't be bad, because he doesn't bless us in
unrighteous desires, right?

Then Jacob tells us to be familiar and free with our substance that they might be rich like unto you. Is it
my pride then, that thinks people should be rewarded according to their labors? I guess not necessarily.
It might have to do with giving people an opportunity to work, and paying them generously, giving good
gifts, helping those who can't help themselves. I guess the answer is, as always, you just have to follow
the Spirit in everything you do!

Okay, so I keep reading and he says it's not okay to want to be rich to want a nice house. If I've found a
perfect faith in Christ I would only want more money to be able to do more good with it. I can see that is
true, because the more I do to be close to the Lord in a day, the less I care about a nice house and a new
car, etc. I can more honestly say I'd rather have my husband home than be rich, and that I don't care.
But the less righteously I am living in general, the more those things start to matter.

I'm also stuck with Jacob's talk about all flesh being the same before God. I can be so unkind, and
judgmental to His children. Yet I am no better than any of they, really. And it is an abomination to God,
which as a parent I can truly understand. I pray for a kinder heart today!

I wonder if the whoredoms were a greater wickedness that the Lamenites because of the gravity of
sexual sin, or because they knew better, or because they were destroying their families, the very basic
government and glory of God.

Jacob 1

I love again the explanation Jacob gives for their work. Their testimony of Christ is beautiful and
powerful, and they know so surely that they work diligently trying to bring all men to him. What a live
well lived! I'm also impressed today by how seriously they took their calling as leaders in the Church.
What a responsibility that must be! As a mother, that is how I must feel about my own family. I must
teach them with all diligence and answer their own sins on my head where I have failed. I think that is
partly why women do not hold the priesthood... we have a different set of important responsibilities
that would suffer if we had to take on those responsibilities as well. Like when women go to work....

2 Nephi 33

It is amazing that Nephi believe what he wrote was so weak, and yet it was truly so powerful. He must
have been an amazing speaker to feel that this was so nothing in comparison. Perhaps it was because he
could see the Spirit having an effect has he spoke, and you don't get that when you are writing...

I love that he prayed that many if not all of us will be saved. That is a lot of faith and a lot of love. But
I am certain that is what God intends, what He will make possible. I want to do more to help that be
possible for those around me. I need to be in a spiritually stronger place so I can help lift those around
me to Him. I love Him so much, and I want to help Him find His children. I know that is what He wants,
too. So if I listen harder, and pray with more faith, He will show me how.