Dearest family,
Happy 2011! I hope you all are looking forward to this new year, thinking and planning for all the wonderful changes this year can bring if we let it... Let us all look inward and reflect on the little 'weapons' we can bury (see Alma 24:17-19)-- let us not 'procrastinate the day of [our] repentance'-- all those little things which are keeping us from a full and joyful relationship with the Lord, lets get rid of them and determine that each day we are going to be closer to the Lord than the day before. After all, there is no standstill in our testimonies. They are always either increasing or decreasing... What are you doing TODAY to increase your testimony?
I have had some really wonderful personal studies in the last week-- one of which was when I was reading in the begininng of the Book of Mormon. In 1 Nephi 9, Nephi is telling about the second record he is beginning to keep because he has been commanded of the Lord to do so. We know that the 116 pages of the translated manuscript of the Book of Mormon that was lost was the Book of Lehi and contained more of a secular history of Lehi's family and journeyings in the wilderness. The book of 1 Nephi contains more of a record of the spiritual things, because that's what the Lord told Nephi to do. Heavenly Father, 2,400 years before part of the manuscript was lost, prepared a way for us to still have the doctrine and knowledge we would need to learn, understand, and apply the doctrine of Christ in our lives. One day we will receive the Book of Lehi when we are obedient enough for it-- until then, we have what we need because the Lord prepared a way for us to have it. Amazing.
When studying the story of Korihor and Alma, I was struck by the evidence Alma offers Korihor in Alma 30:44 as to the reality of God when Korihor asks Alma for a sign that God exists. Alma points out that the scriptures, prophets, the earth and all things in it, the planets all witness that there is a supreme creator. God gives us evidence everywhere as to his divinity and omnipotence, but if we don't have faith to begin with, we will explain it away and consider it to be a things of naught-- just like Korihor did. It wasn't until Korihor was stuck dumb that he realized he had been deceived by the devil who pretended to be an angel of light. Korihor was deceived, and so he preached things he knew to be wrong until he believed them... but when he realized his error and was struck dumb, do you think the adversary whose bidding he was doing stood by him? No! He was 'trodden down even until he was dead'... The devil will not support those who follow him. What a powerful example of why we want to be on the Lord's side!
Family, the gospel is true. We have this knowledge and so we are charged with the responsibility to sound the trumpets and declare it to all our friends and neighbors. We will be blessed for all the missionary moments we take advantage of, and held accountable for all those we ignore. Homework assignment-- Study Abinadi's words in Mosiah 15-17. He sets forth the doctrine so clearly of the Atonement, the resurrection, and being on the Lord's side-- go be a missionary and you will be on the Lord's side!
I love you!
Love, Sister Chelsea LeSueur
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