STARTING OUT--1 Nephi

The Book of Mormon is getting a lot of press lately, thanks to Broadway and the media.  We could say, those of us who love and revere this scripture, that the attention is not all that good.  But if it's true that "even bad publicity is good publicity," maybe it isn't all that bad.  Now that The Book of Mormon has been brought to the New York stage, join me in taking time to do what its true author, the prophet Mormon, called on us to do:  Read it with real intent.  Ponder and reflect on its words with an honest heart.  Ask sincere questions, and listen in faith for answers.    

Today I am beginning another read-through of the Book of Mormon, a quick one this time, with a goal to be completed (hopefully in the company of my two teenagers) before school starts again in August.   Please join us as we wonder, ponder, and marvel over the Book of Mormon.






Before reading, some business:  The Schedule

Though far from being the most beautifully designed chart available, I'm fond of this.  I drew it up at the beginning of the summer, starting from where I was reading at the time, and aiming finish by early July (to earn an Honor Bee, if you know what that is).  Then, to encourage and accompany my children in their goal, I planned to start over, keeping up the pace so we could finish together on the same day in August.  

If you're interested in something more tidy, here are sites where you can create a schedule:  http://www.ldsscripturetools.com/ or http://www.bookofmormoncalculator.com/book-of-mormon-calculator.php.  There are others--just google it.  

(The intrepid who examine and decipher this schedule above will recognize that I'm already a day behind.  This being my first blog, I've spent more time than I wanted to learning how--and have much yet to learn.  Will catch up tomorrow.)

And now we begin:

1 Nephi 1-3

Knowledge of the Goodness of God

The most important thing to know about reading The Book of Mormon is evident right in the first sentence, when Nephi, the first record-keeper and writer, says he has been "born of goodly parents," and despite many afflictions, has been "favored of the Lord in all [his] days" with a "knowledge of the goodness of God."  When you read, find that place in your own heart--the place of grateful remembrance of God's goodness to you--and it will make all the difference in how you understand this book.  If you don't know how to find it, say a simple prayer and ask God to help you.  If you don't believe in God right now, open your mind to the possibility that He exists and is aware of you.  If you're willing to do even just this much, you will come understand what Broadway can't tell you about the Book of Mormon.   

Choose Deliverance in Christ

"I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."  1 Nephi 1:20  

The last word of 1 Nephi, chapter 1, is deliverance.  How many times a day do we cry out for it?  In everything from annoyance to tragedy, we seek deliverance.  This book is composed of one story of deliverance  after another.  Here in chapter 1 it's Lehi, a Jew in Jerusalem around 600 B.C., who heard prophets calling him and his people to repentance, warning of destruction if they would not.  In praying to God "with all his heart" for his people's deliverance and that of his beautiful city, he was surprised by a vision, seeing among other things, "a pillar of fire" that "dwelt on a rock before him."  (Is that how one becomes worthy of visions?--not condemning, but rather caring with all one's heart for others, as Lehi did?)

Lehi was not to have that particular prayer answered.  Having been called to prophesy along with others, and finding the Jerusalemites of the time not only unwilling to listen or change, but quite willing to silence him by taking his life, the deliverance they might have chosen was reserved for him and his family (and others who were willing to receive it, as we will later read).  Lehi gathered his wife and sons and set forth into the desert, taking nothing but provisions and leaving behind considerable wealth, trusting, faithful, obedient, toward an unknown but promised land.  

The media world I live in today does not admire people like Lehi very much, but there are still many people like him, who know how to act on faith.  Thank you, Lehi, for this first Book of Mormon example of faith.  Care for others, speak the truth in love, know God, and choose to obey Him at any cost.  He will deliver.

My friend Kathryn has these words emblazoned on her kitchen wall:  "Choose to be chosen."  More on this tomorrow.