Day 5, 1 Nephi; 18-21

Day 5: 1 Nephi 18-21 -done.

What I read: 
Book of Mormon Chapter 7: http://youtu.be/NXH20HHuvIg

Book of Mormon Chapter 8: http://youtu.be/mVoQ8f8T9Ks

Request a FREE copy of the Book of Mormon: http://mormon.org/free-book-of-mormon/
How the Book of Mormon came about: http://youtu.be/FMQEb9A9L2g

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

                Nephi, finishes building the ship and sails to the promised land. Laman and Lemuel start partying and get angry with Nephi, they bind him with rope and they do so for 4 days. During those 4 days, they get lost because the compass (Liahona), stops working. They finally untie Nephi and the compass starts working, the storm that was setting them of course starts to work again. They arrive to the promised land (the Americas), and begin to farm the land and receive many blessings.

                Scriptures to Note:

1 Nephi 19:6; "...I do not write anything upon plates save it be that I think it be sacred. And now, if I do err, even did they err of old; not that I would excuse myself because of other men, but because of the weakness of the flesh, I would excuse myself".

                Nephi only wrote the most important parts of what he received either by way of the spirit or through other books. He mentions that he could have made an error, but if he did, he has done just as those of old (speaking of prophets before him). This shows that any scripture written by man, can have errors, especially if they were not instructed of God. For example the King James Version of the Bible was put together by a group of people who essentially voted in which books of scripture would be comprised as the "Bible" (Bible: A Collection of Books, not 1 Book!). If you look today, there are many different versions of the Bible, from different languages to different religions. I know that the King James Version (English) and "La Reina Valera" (Spanish) are very similar, but also have a lot of differences. Because they were translated by different people, and some words can carry with them different meanings. Thus the confusion of religion today, and the cause of so many different churches all proclaiming to teach from the Bible, using their translation and/or interpretation of the Holy Books.

                This is why the Book of Mormon is so important, to ensure that between the Bible and the Book of Mormon, we have the fullness. What the Bible lacks, the Book of Mormon picks up, and vice-versa. With only the Book of Mormon we do not have the complete Gospel of Jesus Christ, but with both the Bible and the Book of Mormon we have the information needed for salvation.

1 Nephi 9:9; "And the world, because of their iniquity, shall judge him to be a thing of naught; wherefore they scourge him, and he suffereth it; and they smite him, and he suffereth it. Yea, they spit upon him, and he suffereth it, because of his long suffering towards the children of men".

                I like how Nephi writes about Jesus Christ, and how the world rejected him. Jesus, all while being rejected and smitten, suffereth for the children of men.  That really shows the love Jesus Christ has for the world, it is something that many forget, including me. The world also judges things that are true to be "naught" (worthless or useless). For example; the Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith as a prophet of God, the restoration of the gospel and the church of Jesus Christ in these latter days.

                The world rejected Christ, so why wouldn't they reject His word? His prophet? or His church? They would, they did and they will continue to do so. The world can be seen throwing up their arms worshiping him (Matthew 6:5) and telling themselves that they "hold Jesus in their hearts" (Matthew 15:9), because after all, that is really all that you have to do to be saved, right? According to most people, by accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior and Redeemer you are saved. Wow, if it were only so easy... maybe Christ wouldn't have had to suffer on the cross either. But it wasn't easy for Him, and it won't be easy for you. It will however, through Christ, be possible! I am reminded of the words of Jesus, when he said:

                "Not everyone one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:21-23) Jesus professed that He would tell these people that He never knew them... those who work iniquity and just call out his name. Faith without works is dead.

1 Nephi 9:23; "And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning".

                This is something that many people use as a weapon to take down the Book or Mormon. They claim that Joseph Smith had to have run out of ideas, and therefore started stealing parts of the Bible. But we read here that Nephi included other prophets works in the Book of Mormon, for the profit of learning and teaching to his people. Because at the time of his writing, the Bible did not exist like we know it today. Also the books that later comprised the Bible would not be available to those in the Americas until hundreds of years later. Therefore Nephi used parts of the Bible to instruct his people in the New World. Honestly this, to me, gives more evidence to the veracity of the Book of Mormon, and shows the rest of the world, the importance that we also place on the Bible. Because we LOVE the Bible!

                But from this scripture we can also learn of the importance of studying the scriptures. So that we might know for ourselves the truth. That might be able to instruct ourselves and others in the ways of the Lord. The scriptures are there for us to use on a daily basis, and we should take advantage of the power that is within them. I can attest that I am not perfect and like many others, my scriptures sometimes accumulate dust. But they shouldn't, I am still repenting of that. But honestly, they contain so many wonderful things and if we heed to the knowledge in them and the counsel of God we can get answers to everything and always have the comfort we need.