Lesson 7 3 Nephi 12-17

This week was a great week of read in 3 Nephi. We had a amazing gathering on Thursday night. We had our lead student show us some wonder video presentations for LDS.org to help bring the spirit to our meeting. Our Directed Study was great. My assignment was to suppose someone who is not a member of Church asks you what John 10:16 means. Using what you learn from 3 Nephi 15–16, what you would say to that person. Include in your paragraph your testimony of how you know the Book of Mormon is true. After I read the scriptures, I prayed silently to receive some revelation of the meaning. I presented that I would answer to anyone that asked that I believe that both John and 3 Nephi have similar messages. Heavenly Father knew how important was that everyone get the message that we all need to be of the same fold and have the same Shepard. The fold is symbolic of our church wards today where we are always accepting new people into them including members, converts, and investigators. Our folds need to be and are ever growing with our acceptance of people seeking to worship Heavenly Father, who is our Shepard. I would share my story of conversion to the Gospel. I love new converts because when I converted I was so full of the Spirit that I wanted to share my joy with anyone that would listen. As a new convert, I had an obvious glow or brightness due to my new found testimony of the Gospel. As I remember being a newly baptized member of the Church, I shared with vigor my love for things I knew to be true. This new vigor seemed to be to much for my non-member family to grasp and i was accused of pushing my religion on them. That caused me to reflect and come to the realization that I was not "pushing" my religion but rather I was sharing with vigor the new love that I had found. It was just this afternoon that I was able to have a discussion about my experience in class with my wife, Cyndi. Cyndi shared with me that she felt that Heaven Father was telling us two things with these missionary scriptures. First, She says Heavenly Father was saying that their are other "sheep" outside our fold that need to be brought to the the fold because we are of one fold. Secondly, that Heavenly Father gave this counsel to people on different continents and that the message was the same. Cyndi and I discussed the great love and wisdom of Heaven Father; to know these two books would be used to show his message is the same and he shared throughout the world that we are of one fold and one Shepard.

Lesson 5 toughest Week in Pathways

Hi, Everyone! What a crazy week for me as I read in Helaman 12, I was reminded of how men fall pry to Satan in the pride cycle. In verse 4 it says O how foolish, and how vain, and how evil, and devilish, and how quick to do iniquity, and how slow to do good, are the children of men; yea, how quick to hearken unto the words of the evil one, and to set their hearts upon the vain things of the world! I really felt Satan working hard this week to stop the great things we are trying to accomplish in the Pathways program. I had a hard week studying in both my classes this week, I felt very much like giving up because I was not understanding all my studies. I did press forward studying and prayed to be able to attend my Thursday gathering. At the weekly gathering I receive strength from my classmates to keep striving to complete this program even when things get tough. I learned right at the beginning of our gathering that some of my classmates also had a bad week and decided to drop out of the program. The news that some dropped out was crushing to me because of one gentleman who had help me keep focused to finish last semester. I shared with the class that its crazy how Satan attacks us like he attacked Lamanites and the Nephites. When Satan sees that we are making progress to keep our lives, our hearts, and minds toward the things of God. Satan steps up his evil game to tear at the good works and have us focus on the vain things of the world. I hope and pray I have a better week with the next lesson and I am stepping up my game to beat Satan at his.

Lesson 3 The War Chapters

Hi, Everyone! What a week some much reading in the Book of Mormon Alma chapters 45 thru 63. I was told told these are the "War Chapters" and I was lied too. As I tried to read and study prayerfully this week I was taken up by these scriptures. I was amazed at how Captain Moroni and Helaman lead their armies with faith and love. I imagined myself serving as a warrior with both these men thought of the great honor it would have been. I saw a lot of symbolism of how we can use these scriptures to learn of adversity and how to over come it, in our lives today. In Alma 45, Alma prophesies of the destruction of the Nephites to his son, Helaman, asking him if he believes the things he taught. Alma also asks Helaman if he will keep the commandments of the Lord. These are important questions because Alma blesses Helaman that he shall prosper from the Lord for his obedience. I also enjoyed Alma 56-58, In these chapters Helaman raises his own army of two thousand stripling warriors who battle with strength and courage. Helaman inspires and is inspired himself by his warriors faith and loyalty to the Lord and their families. My favorite song in the children's hymn book is 172 "We'll bring the world his Truth". If you listen to this song, I hope it touches you the way it touches my heart. Til next time, Bye.

Week 2 lesson 1

This week was great! We studied in Alma 30-35, I enjoyed discussing in my group meeting on Thursday the insights I got from my reading this week. As a group we did a directed study of Alma 34: 20-28, we learned about the importance of praying. In those scriptures, we learn from Amulek that we need to pray with purpose in the name of Jesus Christ or the Holy One. As we pray we should pray for all things both for ourselves and others. The reason we should pray for others that I learned is so we can have charity in our hearts. I learn by having charity in our hearts and praying for others shows Heavenly Father that we are not selfish. We learned that our prays will not be in vain if we pray that way. It shaping up to be a wonderful semester of learning. I will to have more updates soon.

New Semester

Hi, Everyone! We started our new semester in the Pathways program. We are studying Alma 30 to Moroni 7 throughout the next 12 weeks. I will keep you updated on my progress, this should be a fun and enlightening semester!

Lesson Week 11

I am so grateful for the lesson this week. It seems to me that Heavenly Father had this lesson ready for when I need it. I will share an on going tragedy going on in my families life. On Monday morning I received a text at work that knock me to my knees. It was discovered that one of my old scouts that I taught in Las Vegas committed suicide. As the week and information has progressed I studied my lessons and all the talks and reading has help me to deal with this. 

The lessons being focused on family, our responsibilities as priesthood holders and parents. Some of the lesson material caused me to tear up as I read. I am actively trying to give help and comfort to his family as well as my own family because of how closely we knew them. Depression is a very powerful and silent killer in our society. These lessons this week have strengthened me to handle some questions that I had. I hope and pray you all are safe and your families are well. 

 

What a Week 09 lesson

What a great week of reading. This week we read in Enos thru Mosiah 3. My personal favorite was in Omni 1:2 Wherefore, in my days, I would that ye should know that I fought much with the sword to preserve my people, the Nephites, from falling into the hands of their enemies, the Lamanites. But behold, I of myself am a wicked man, and I have not kept the statutes and the commandments of the Lord as I ought to have done. I love this because he talks about how he is a wicked man, yet he knows the importance of records enough to keep passing them to his people.
We also did some great digging deeper study. One of the lesson was of a rugby player named Sid Going who change the game of rugby because of his faith. Sid chose to serve his mission and possibly miss out on getting to play professional rugby for the New Zealand. Sid did go to serve his mission and return to play rugby. Not only did he play very well but he refused to play or practice on Sunday. The example he set caused games and practices to rescheduled. I was able to share this story with my sons who also play rugby and show it as an example of faith and honor.