Repent

In John 8, Jesus shows a few different thing about sin and repentance. First wi the woman taken in adultery, he shows that we can't judge other's sins, no matter how serious they are. He also demonstrated how willing He is to forgive when we have a broken heart and contrite spirit. 

Later on, Jesus shows the Pharisees that  they don't know God, that they are servants of sin: 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

Nephi builds a ship

One interesting thing about 1 Nephi is the just apposition between Nephi being shown what to do and Nephi figuring things out on His own. The Liahona gave lots of directions, when they were righteous. But it didn't tell them where to find tools. Instead, Nephi knew in order to be a god steward, there were a few things he would need to do on his own first before asking the Lord. For example, he made a new bow. He asked the Lord where to find ore (I wonder if he looked in his own first). The spirit of the Lord was present and powerful when it needed to be, but it wasn't there and strong so often that they did every little thing according to it. The Lord trusted them to make their own decisions and to use their muscles or their best judgment figure things out. 

By this shall men know

John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

This is how people we going to know that I am a real disciple of Christ: if and how I show love. Am I truly a disciple of Christ? Do I really want to follow Him and be like Him? 

He loves me. Am I perfect? Do I deserve His love? No. Not really. But He loves me always. That is how I should love others. 

1 John 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

How I can improve my prayers

I sang "Prayer Is the Soul's Sincere Desire" for my scriptures study this morning. That hymn is so good, all seven verses. The references it gave led to 3 Nephi 13:5-18, which include the Lord's Prayer. From it I learn this:

"Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." 

This makes me feel that I need to have more sacred reverence and respect for God and His will when I pray. I also need to realize that He knows of what I need before I ask Him, which means I should ask Him more fervently what I should pray about and for. Pray to Him as though He really is all-knowing and omniscient and the Potter and I just the clay. 

"Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." What this means is that once we have forgiven others, we can then ask for forgiveness for ourselves. So maybe the first step in this part of prayer is to work on figuring out who we need to forgive and doing it. 

Then we ask for help with things we are tempted with. And we do this by recognizing that He has all power and will receive all glory from everything good. 

Keep the commandments and exhort others to do the same

There is a major theme in 1 Nephi about keeping the commandments and how doing so will only bring blessings. Blessings like prosperity, things working out, etc. 

Also there is a verse that talks about inviting others to keep them too: 

1 Nephi 17:15 "Wherefore, I, Nephi, did strive to keep the commandments of the Lord, and I did exhort my brethren to faithfulness and diligence."

The footnotes are especially insightful. They talk about exhorting wth diligence and authority. That idea reminds me of what my stake president, President Cutler, says to his high councilman, that they should not be embarrassed to teach others and train them in the way of the gospel. To teach without reservation.

Right now Jessie and Mark are having a hard time. I wonder how we can help them and if we can use this verse. Look up the footnotes! 

Repentance and what the Atonement can do for you.

It's really beautiful all the immense changes that Alma the Younger and his peeps the sons of Mosiah went through and how they changed, how they were changed by the power of the Atonement. Heavenly Father and Jesus are so amazing! The Atonement changed them from being destructive, selfish, ignorant, unkind to the following:

preaching Jesus and explaining the scriptures to all who wanted to listen
teaching with long-suffering (they were kind to the people who didn't want to listen and were mean to them, and they were patient with the ones who took a while to latch on)
publishing peace
comforting people
confirming their faith, their actions showed what they felt and believed to be true.
eager to encourage others to keep the commandments and repent and change and come to a knowledge of their Redeemer

This says to me that they were kind, they didn't force people to listen or change, they went to those who were ready, and they were kind to those who weren't.

Personal Goals

Joseph and I set family goals this year:
1. Save 10% of all income
2. Budget better; spend differently
2. Set monthly goals (e.g. missionary work). Pray for divine guidance in your goal setting!
3. Pray more often and fervently, as a couple and a family


But I want to have my personal goals, too. So here they are:

1. Read scriptures every morning. Wake up at 6:30 am to study.
2. Send 4 articles to publishers this semester
3. Use kind words and kind thoughts. Preach Jesus by the words I use, especially the words I use about others.
4. Weekly plan for meals.
5. Wash the dishes better.
6. Get counseling to enjoy the moment better.
7. Especially after I graduate: keep setting goals; learning goals, too. Learn new things and continue to progress. Don't fall in a stagnant rut when I have little to measure my progression by. Even journal about my progress, often! At least twice a year. Talk about what I have learned and how I have changed. (See: https://www.lds.org/ensign/2015/12/young-adults/navigating-the-currents-of-life?cid=HP_MO_1-11-2016_dPFD_fENSN_xLIDyL2-4_&lang=eng)