"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.
And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things."
1 Nephi 16:28-29
This idea of faith-based technology is super cool, and I totally wish I had a Liahona like this one that Lehi found outside his tent door (verse 10). It seems like things would be so much easier if we had a compass/communicator that pointed the way, and could clarify with direct messages. Seems like a very tactile connection to God, which could relieve a lot of uncertainty. Interestingly, Alma compares this same compass/device with the general personal experience of following the words of Christ, which in large part means reading and heeding the scriptures (Alma 37:38-45), saying that our task is just as easy.
Thinking about it, we are actually amazingly blessed to have the scriptures available to us in so many different forms, almost all of which can be easily carried with us, so Alma has a definite point in reminding us that reading the scriptures is easy. D&C 84:54-57 also explains that our minds are darkened if we don't follow through with reading the scriptures. So, perhaps my wishful thinking for a Liahona is just curiosity about something that I don't have, when the real issue is focusing on what I *do* have, and acting on it. Don't misunderstand--the Liahona is an incredibly cool idea. I still wish I had one, but I think that when we get our minds around the fact that our whole lives react according to our faith and diligence, then we realize that God works with us just as he worked with Lehi and his family, and we too need to heed his words carefully.
Today, let's take up the prophet's challenge to re-read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year, and if we have already started, let's continue and follow through. Let's not stop there, either. Prayer is in large part how we speak to God, and reading the scriptures is largely how he speaks to us. There is so much to be gained from reading them over and over until they are a part of us--filling our minds with good and not bad, and knowing them so well that the spirit can jump the words into our minds at the proper moments, and we have that advice from God available whenever we need it. Thus, instead of our minds being darkened, they are actually enlightened and we are incredibly blessed by following the words of Christ.
And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things."
1 Nephi 16:28-29
This idea of faith-based technology is super cool, and I totally wish I had a Liahona like this one that Lehi found outside his tent door (verse 10). It seems like things would be so much easier if we had a compass/communicator that pointed the way, and could clarify with direct messages. Seems like a very tactile connection to God, which could relieve a lot of uncertainty. Interestingly, Alma compares this same compass/device with the general personal experience of following the words of Christ, which in large part means reading and heeding the scriptures (Alma 37:38-45), saying that our task is just as easy.
Thinking about it, we are actually amazingly blessed to have the scriptures available to us in so many different forms, almost all of which can be easily carried with us, so Alma has a definite point in reminding us that reading the scriptures is easy. D&C 84:54-57 also explains that our minds are darkened if we don't follow through with reading the scriptures. So, perhaps my wishful thinking for a Liahona is just curiosity about something that I don't have, when the real issue is focusing on what I *do* have, and acting on it. Don't misunderstand--the Liahona is an incredibly cool idea. I still wish I had one, but I think that when we get our minds around the fact that our whole lives react according to our faith and diligence, then we realize that God works with us just as he worked with Lehi and his family, and we too need to heed his words carefully.
Today, let's take up the prophet's challenge to re-read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year, and if we have already started, let's continue and follow through. Let's not stop there, either. Prayer is in large part how we speak to God, and reading the scriptures is largely how he speaks to us. There is so much to be gained from reading them over and over until they are a part of us--filling our minds with good and not bad, and knowing them so well that the spirit can jump the words into our minds at the proper moments, and we have that advice from God available whenever we need it. Thus, instead of our minds being darkened, they are actually enlightened and we are incredibly blessed by following the words of Christ.
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