Finished Jacob.  The Lord has once again pruned and nourished and harvested his vineyard.  He has caused "the good and the bad to be gathered; and the good will [he] preserve unto [himself], and the bad will [he] cast away into its own place.  And then cometh the season and the end; and [his] vineyard will [he] cause to be burned with fire."  (5:77) Thus it is prophesied by the prophet Zenos.  This chapter is a long one, and admittedly hard to get through, but i believe all of its lessons have a very real and acute application to every one of us.  Next time i study it, though, i'll probably draw a picture or make a time line.  :)

Jacob has to be one of my favorite prophets in the Book of Mormon.  In fact Jacob 4 is arguably my favorite chapter.  Today, however, I'd like to start with a beautiful verse in chapter 3.  It's funny that this verse is found here because most of the chapter is Jacob chastising his people for their sins.  Verse 2 says "O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever."  How do the eternal banquets of God taste to those who are pure in heart and of a firm mind?  I'm sure I've sampled a bit here and there, and those samples I've had have been sweet indeed, but I am reminded here of a quote from Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth and Jane speaking of how happy Jane is with her Mr. Bingley.  Jane tells Elizabeth that she hopes that she will find someone who will make Elizabeth just as happy as Mr. Bingley has made Jane.  Elizabeth responds, "If you were to give me forty such men, I could never be so happy as you.  Till I have your disposition, your goodness, I never can have your happiness."  I wonder how true this statement may be?
    For a minute I'm just going to quote Jacob:  'Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord.  How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways.  And no man knoweth all his ways save it be reveled unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God. (4:8)" "Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand.  For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works. (4:10)" "...the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not.  Wherefore it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls.  But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old. (4:13)"  One thing I have often been grateful for is my ability to be moved by a still small voice.  I've determined that I don't need thunderings, lightnings, burnings, or any other kinds of signs in order to have a spiritual knowledge and witness of God and his Son and their love for us and their plan for us.  I've always been able to follow the subtleties and these have given me great strength.  I do not pretend to understand God and who He is and what all of his plans are from the beginning, but I know he lives and I know he loves me and that he does all things for my good, thus, I feel no need to have a perfect understanding of all things, nor do I feel that I am capable of it.  The gaining of knowledge is an eternal process and if I maintain a firm mind I have full confidence that through the Milena I may yet gain a full understanding. 

Finally finished with 2nd Nephi!  I must say, though, as hard as the Isaiah chapters are, the end of 2 Nephi has some of the best verses in the Book of Mormon.  2 Ne 28:30 - "...I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have."  A little side note, here, the punctuation in the Book of Mormon is so unconventional.  Almost like English wasn't its original language... (a little sarcasm, there. ;) )  Back to the scripture:  this is such true doctrine.  It is totally obvious that this is the case, but it's put in a way that makes sure you won't misinterpret.  If you don't exercise your faith, you can, and most likely will, lose it.  The same principal applies when you study a foreign language or an instrument.  If you don't practice, you will lose the skill you have previously gained.  I know from experience. 
    The Lord is again explicit about the requirements for salvation.  He reiterates that we will be judged from the scriptures that he has given to us to study.  2 Ne 32:3 "...the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do."  and those words tell us "if ye shall press forward feasting upon the word of Christ and endure to the end, behold thus saith the Father:  Ye shall have eternal life."  The Lord teaches men to do good and to be good.  How hard is it, really?  

As I read the book of mormon i'm continually amazed at the way it makes me feel.  even when i'm not having "aha" moments i still feel at times that the truths it contains are not just educating me intellectually, but also spiritually.  many of the verses speak not only to my mind but to my soul.  while serving in brazil we had several trainings that stressed the importance of the book of mormon along with teaching true doctrine by the spirit.  it's because spirits communicate in ways that minds don't.  anyone who has had the feeling knows.  when you teach something true by the spirit and the other person feels that it's true, oftentimes it's because the spirit in them has been awakened to something they already knew, but the knowledge was dormant.
    2 Ne 26:15 "...and all those who have dwindled in unbelief shall not be forgotten."  The Lord talks much about his dealings with the righteous and the wicked and what will eventually come to pass on both their heads.  This phrase in verse 15 may be seen as one of hope or one of warning.  As Christ's atonement is sufficient for all of us perhaps here he is trying to say that even if you have turned away, the Lord will always try to help you turn back.  Another possible interpretation would be the 'you can run but you can't hide' concept.  many want nothing to do with God, even if they do know him to be real.  they're just hoping to be left alone to live their lives as they please.  perhaps here he is letting those people know that this may seem like an option, but it is only temporary.  you will eventually be judged for all that you do whether it be good or evil.
    2 Ne 27:23 - "For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith."  I do know the Lord to be unchangeable.  All things he is will never change:  He will always be honest, He will always love his children, He will always preach righteousness and condemn wickedness, etc. etc.  He does not change with the times, he does not adapt to modern thoughts, feelings, or political views.  The scriptures we have were written on metal plates so they would last for many generations.  The doctrines he has taught of obedience, sacrifice, love, and charity, are meant to endure forever.

I am once again struggling to get through 2nd Nephi.  It's still hard to motivate myself to read and then to blog.  I have been successful, but I wish I were a little more gung ho about the whole thing!  Right now my kitchen and bathroom need to be cleaned so bad and Jillian's diaper needs to be changed, so you can see these are all things keeping me from my goal.  :)  So once again i'll keep this short. 
    2 Ne 25:22 - "the nations who shall possess them (the scriptures) shall be judged of them according to the words which are written."  Just more proof that we are responsible to know the scriptures when we have access to them.  As Elder Holland said, we cannot leave the church without going over around or under the book of mormon.

"For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still." This is a recurring theme on these last few pages.  Its meaning seems a little ambiguous, but whatever your interpretation I find hope in knowing that God does not forget His people.  Whether His hand reaches out in anger or in consolation or in aide, He is continually watching us. 
    Short post today, but short posts make light reading!  :)

Delving further into 2nd Nephi there are many references to the atonement satisfying "the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them." (9:26) Also in chapter 10 verse 21 we read "But great are the promises of the Lord unto them who are upon the isles of the sea."  As the Lord knows each of us, even if we have never even heard of Him, he has a plan wherein the atonement is as far-reaching as possible to His children who don't willfully rebel against him.  Even so, in 10:2 Jacob tells us "...it has been shown unto me that many of our children shall perish in the flesh because of unbelief, nevertheless, God will be merciful unto many; and our children shall be restored, that they may come to that which will give them the true knowledge of their Redeemer." 
    To me the hope in this verse comes in the phrase "that they may come to that."  I am a firm believer that the experiences we have are for our good.  I believe that many of our trials are tailor-made for each of us so that we may grow and develop and reach our full potential.  The problem comes in not garnishing the intended lesson.  Anyway from this verse it seems to me that eventually all of us will have the experiences we need to be able to come unto Christ; however, i don't know that all will take advantage of those experiences.

"For the Lord God will help me..." "And the Lord is near, and he justifieth me..."  "yeah, I am he that comforteth you." "the Lord thy God pleadeth the cause of his people; behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, the dregs of the cup of my fury; thou shalt no more drink it again.  But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee..." (2 Ne 7 verses 7 and 8, and chapter 8 verses 3, 12, 22, and 23).
    These phrases all have a similar theme that reminds me of an idea i often shared on my mission.  I'm not sure how factual this is but it goes something like this:  Two men were discussing a war, one is rumored to be Abraham Lincoln.  The other man asked Mr. Lincoln "Do you think you are right in this war?  Do you think the Lord is on your side?"  Mr. Lincoln responded, "It is not important to me that the Lord is on my side, I am determined to be on the side of the Lord."
    My prayer is that I will always be on the Lord's side fighting His fight.  My own agenda should always be second to His cause.

Thankfully as far as my goal is going i'm getting everything read on the right day, but my posts are lagging a day behind.  I will try to fix this soon!
    The beginning of 2nd Nephi has Lehi blessing his posterity.  In chapter 2 we are told many things concerning the plan and the fall of Adam and Eve.  We learn that "...he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon." (2:14) and that "...the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself." (2:16)  so we learn of our agency, and then Lehi teaches why we need our agency: "And the days of the children of men were prolonged... that they might repent while in the flesh..." (2:21)
    Many ask why the fall was necessary - why couldn't Adam and Eve just have had children in the garden?  why did they have to partake of the fruit?  I believe much of this is answered in verses 22 and 23: "And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained int he garden of Eden.  And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.
    And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin."
    I really don't know how to paraphrase into anything that makes more sense than that.  I, at least, have my questions addressed within those two verses. 

I finished up first Nephi where the main theme toward the end seems to be how the Lord will lead the righteous to the promised land.  He has promised to preserve it for the righteous' sake and none other will find it except if the Lord leads them there. 
    Some of my favorite verses come from Nephi quoting Isaiah.  In chapter 20 verse 10 (compared to Isaiah's ch 48) the Lord says "For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."  Nothing brings me more comfort in times of affliction than the Lord's reference to the refiner's fire.  At the end of this post I will give the reason in a short little story, but first I want to quote my other favorite verse from 21:16 - "Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me."  How does the Lord remember each one of us always?  Well not only is He a God, but the Lord Jesus Christ has special reminders of us daily - He kept them with Him even through the resurrection when His body was to be restored to a perfect state:  those nail prints in his palms.  I truly know He remembers us always and His love is continually turned toward us to be received as long as we turn toward Him.
    Now one of my favorite stories as quoted from one of the first pages of the book In Quiet Desperation.

The Refiner's Fire
    Some time ago, a few women met in a certain city to study the scriptures.  While reading Malachi 3, they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: 
    "And he shall sit a s a refiner and purifier of silver" (Malachi 3:3).
    One woman proposed to visit a silversmith and report to them on what he said about the subject.  She went accordingly, and without telling the object of her errand, begged the silversmith to tell her about the process of refining silver.  After he had fully described it to her, she asked, "But sir, do you sit while the work of refining is going on?"
    "Oh, yes, madam," replied the silversmith.  "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."
      The woman at once saw the beauty and comfort in the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."  God sees it needful to put his children into a furnace.  His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and his wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for us.  Our trials do not come at random, and he will not let us be tested beyond what we can endure. 
    Before she left, the woman asked one final question.  "When do you know the process is complete?"
    "Why, that is quite simple," replied the silversmith.  "When I can see my own image in the silver, the refining process is finished." 

    Author Unknown