#ComeFollowMe Thoughts, Half-Way Point

People Coming Up On NYC

Have Way Through the History - Already?

This year, we are studying the Book of Mormon in the “Come Follow Me” program. As I read Mosiah 6 (which is on the reading schedule for this week), I had a realization. Interestingly, what we are reading now is about the midpoint in the entire story, or history at least, of the Book of Mormon. It’s weird to think that when Mosiah took over with the plates, 470 or so years had passed since Lehi and his family came across the water. That’s like us today, looking back at the 1600s or so. That's a long time. Even with our modern way of finding any information we want on a device in our pockets, we don't relate very well to those living in the 1600s. I wonder how it felt for everyone gathered to hear King Benjamin’s speech, thinking back on their history. Mormon (who compiled the books from all the records kept over the centuries) didn’t start to write or compile the books we are reading now until about 350-330 CE or so. That means another 450 years had passed before Mormon started to write what we are reading in the Book of Mosiah. This might have been relatively early in Mormon’s writing or history compilation. He would’ve already written the Book of Lehi (that we no longer have - that was what was on the 116 lost page manuscript), so at this point, he knows the history well but still has much to compile.

The history in the Book of Mormon is long, but it doesn’t always feel that way—at least, it hasn’t to me. Sometimes, taking a step back and considering the entire history is good.

While reading this week, I had two other thoughts or topics cross my path . . .

First - All People in the Americas Were Brought by The Lord

While thinking about this long history or the long period the Book of Mormon covers, I thought back to something Lehi said about the people who will live in or who may come to the new land they are on. He said this at the very beginning of their history on this “promised land” as he blessed his children near the end of his life.

2 Nephi 1:6

“Wherefore, I, Lehi, prophesy according to the workings of the Spirit which is in me, that there shall none come into this land save they shall be brought by the hand of the Lord.”

This is an interesting concept and one to think about. Especially these days when many of our political leaders, newscasts, and even friends are stirring up fear about people migrating to or around this land of promise. If everyone in this land, however we define the land, were brought here by the hand of the Lord, what would that mean then or now? How should we think about our neighbors? If the land he made this prophecy about is the America's, should we think about or treat others differently? It seems that even the people here before Lehi and his family were brought by the Lord's hand. The Mayans and the Aztec culture were already here, along with many others. We know of a few others, the Jaradites and Mulekites as a few, but everyone else as well. There are cultures and people moving around this continent and coming here from other lands. Should we not be more welcoming, helpful, and loving toward this melting pot of people and cultures?

Second - Three Things to Help Both Mine and Your Scripture Study

A few weeks ago, I was listening to an old episode of “The Bible Binge” podcast, and they had a wonderful discussion about how they study the Bible. I consolidated a few ideas from that podcast.

Three things that will help your scripture study and your ability to understand what God wants you to know as you read them:

1. Bring your authentic self to the scriptures. You have to be sincere in your needs, questions, and understanding. Bring your full self to the Lord. He will meet you where you are and build on what you have learned.

2. Read them with humility. The sacrifice the Lord is looking for is a contrite heart and broken spirit. That means we know we need the Lord. We need the atonement, and we cannot do this without the grace of Jesus Christ. We need to ask for his help and direction. If we go at them looking for confirmation of what we think is true, that is the opposite of humility. Go to the Lord humbly, and he will send His Spirit to guide you.

3. Read and study in the church community, or your congregation, or at least in your family. One of the reasons Christ organized a church is that imperfect people with different backgrounds and experiences can help each other. We all have an extremely limited perspective and experience in this wide world. We need others who can see things we miss in the teachings. We need help finding parts of the story we cannot understand. Others need help from our perspective as well. We need each other as we study the word of God.