Contingency Plans

 

A God who placed a star in the heavens millennia before the birth of Jesus Christ also commanded Nephi to "to make these plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not.

But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen." (1 Nephi 9:5-6)

Nephi reiterates again in 1 Nephi 19:3, "I had made these plates by way of commandment . . . for other wise purposes, which purposes are known unto the Lord."

So Nephi wrote a second set of smaller plates not knowing why he should.

This same God who placed a star and commanded Nephi to make another set of plates also whispered to Mormon, the compiler of the gold plates, to add Nephi's unedited small plates to his (Mormon's) abridgment of the time of Lehi down to King Benjamin. "I [Mormon] shall take these plates, which contain these prophesyings and revelations, and put them with the remainder of my record, for they are choice unto me; and I know they will be choice unto my brethren. 

And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will." (Words of Mormon 1:6-7)

Mormon added Nephi's smaller plates to his abridgment, not knowing why he should.

Fast forward several thousand years to Martin Harris who lost 116 translated pages of Mormon's abridgment from Lehi down to King Benjamin. Satan assumed Joseph Smith would retranslate those 116 pages and he could bring forth the altered original to prove Joseph was a fraud. However, the Lord told Joseph to NOT retranslate. Instead He had made alternative plans for those lost pages -- not Mormon's point of view, but Nephi's according to his second set of smaller plates that covered the same time period of the lost pages.

The Lord knew Martin would lose those pages 2600 years before it happened, so he had Nephi make another set and then told Mormon to throw them on the gold plates.

That is a God we can trust.

This is a God of contingency plans.

This is a God of precision and details.

He has already placed "stars in a precise orbit" for my life making sure I'll have the blessings I need long before I even know of that need.

But most of all He is a God of love who wants to shower me with all the good things He has to offer.

May I be more like Nephi and Mormon in showing more obedience when I don't know or understand the whys.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

These are the days of

Hospital stays.

My niece Makayla has been at Primary Children's for over three weeks battling RSV. She spent a couple of days in the ICU, and just when it seems she's turned the corner and might be going home, something else comes up. We're praying she goes home before the 4 week mark.

And then my dad went in for a "routine" shoulder surgery (that's what my mom called it . . . so routine that none of us kids knew about it.) His heart rate dropped after being put under so the doctors backed off. They admitted him to ICU, waiting for his oxygen levels to stabilize. He's back home now but needs to see a cardiologist before attempting the shoulder surgery again. This is my dad who never gets sick, is the hardest worker I know, and who simply doesn't know how to be still. This photo was somewhat scary. He just looked so vulnerable. I'm not ready for him to get old. I can't imagine a world without a Sharman Seamons in it.

Why the Book of Mormon?

Why do I exercise?

Why do I wake up every day?

Why should I choose veggies over a cookie?

Why do I go to church?

Why do I pray?

Why do I reread books?

Lots of whys in our life. Take that last why. I have a read hundreds and hundreds of books in my life. I am part of a book club that has been meeting together for about 18 years, and when I recommend a book I read in my teens or early 20s, I always preface it with the fact that I really liked it then but it doesn't mean it will still resonate with me the same. So I read it again to see if it still holds that special place in my heart. Many times I come away with a different experience simply because I am different and at a different place in my life.

The scriptures are very much the same. They are not a one-time read. We are in a different space and time than other times we might have read them. They will resonant with us differently each time we study.

Why should I read the Book of Mormon again? I've read it many times in my life already.

One of the podcasts I listen to religiously every week is called Teaching Scripture. It turns out our Elder's Quorum president had a connection to Bryce Dunford, one of the hosts, and was able to bring him out to our stake for a Book of Mormon kickoff fireside and he shared the reasons we should read the book according to Nephi chapter 1.

Nephi gives us three reasons in the very first chapter of the book. Why is it probably the most read chapter in all of scripture? Probably because we never quite get why we are reading the book in the first place to continue to the finish line.

1 Nephi 1:11 -- "And they came down and went forth upon the face of the earth; and the first came and stood before my father [Lehi], and gave him a book, and bade him that he should read."

➞I've been given a book, the Book of Mormon, and bade that I should read it because . . .

1 Nephi 1:12 -- " And it came to pass that as he read, he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord."

➞It will fill me with God's spirit.

1 Nephi 1:14 -- "And it came to bass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things ..."

➞I will witness many great and marvelous things in my life.

1 Nephi 1:19 -- "...he testified that the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of the Messiah, also the redemption of the world."

➞I will find Jesus in the book. That is the number one reason for reading the Book of Mormon, to find the Messiah who will come into my life and redeem my soul.

So why am I reading the Book of Mormon again?

Because ... 

I believe in a God and I need his spirit. That spirt makes me feel light and fills me with joy and peace. 

It clarifies doctrine not found in the Bible. At some point we all have to really think about the purpose of our life and the Book of Mormon gives us that direction.

It exposes Satan for who he really is and the tactics he uses.

I see my life in its pages.

But this year I am going to concentrate my efforts in finding Jesus on every page and in every story. Truthfully, I tend to get caught up in the narrative of the book and forget there's more to the book.

Jesus. Jesus is my reason for reading.

My life lately

I finished!

President Nelson issued a challenge to the women last fall to finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year and in your study to look of Christ in the Book of Mormon.

I knew this would be a bit of challenge for me because of the busyness of a new job and school and family life. And I found the way for me to accomplish this was to listen to it on my way to and from school.

Well, the end of the year came and went but I still plugged along. I may have been a month late but I conquered.

Every time I read that book, I discover new things and new insights. What I love about a quick read from start to finish is you get a better view of the story as a whole. The thesis statement of the Book of Mormon could be summed up in 1 Nephi 1:20

But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

Nephi is going to show up what this book can do for us in delivering us from our trials and heartaches and pains through Jesus Christ the Lord.

And the concluding statement that sums up this wonderful book is found in Moroni 10:32

Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

This is the final invitation to come and see what Christ can do for you.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

I'm back in school mode taking three classes. I remember my last quarter at Utah State. It was the spring of 1998 and I was so ready to be done with school. I made a list of all the assignments I had left to complete and dutifully checked them off one by one. That feeling of being able to fit the rest of my schooling onto one page was so liberating. I'm experiencing those same thoughts as I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I can fit all my assignments onto one page and THAT is such a great feeling. I love to learn but would rather do it at my pace and on my own timetable.

One class I'm required to take is a social justice class on diversity, and one of our assignments was to write a bio poem about ourselves. Introspection can be such a difficult thing to do. To sit and be still (1 Thess. 4:11) and really think about ourselves is not a comfortable task. As this blog title implies, I am not a human being but a human doer. Often at my book club I sit quietly while my friends talk about this show and that show and what should they watch next. When it comes to TV and movies I am really out of the loop. About the only thing I indulge in is a Utah Jazz game and a movie once in awhile. I've been trying yoga to help limber me up and that has been harder than I anticipated. Not the moves themselves but how slowly I'm supposed to move and how to really concentrate on my breathing. For a human doer, this has been a challenge. I hope that in all my doingness, that it's not about trivial things, but instead doing as Jesus did, going "about doing good" (Acts 10:38)

Melissa

Organized, diligent, confident

Daughter of God, Wife to Tyler, Mother to Kiersten, Erik, Nate, Ash, and Alex

Who loves traveling, gardening, and crunchy California rolls

Who's felt joy, uncertainty, and nervousness in the last couple of years

And who fears tight spaces, unemployment, and drowning

Who has accomplished 7 half marathons (with another scheduled for September), completed a college degree, and has been a consistent blogger for over 10 years

And hopes to one day visit New York City and Rome and continue schooling to get her reading endorsement

She resides among the salt of the earth in Lake Point, Utah

Leary

I found this exercise to be intriguing and had my second graders do something similar along with a self-portrait of themselves. So far this has been my favorite thing to hang in our hall.

Disturber and Annoyer

I was reading in 1 Nephi 15, and in verse 5 Nephi tells us he is overcome with great afflictions that were great above all.

I began to think about the trials and adversity he had to face. I followed the cross-references and read about Moses and Joseph Smith, both great men who were also beset with great afflictions and I began to wonder why hard things, bad things, happen to good people who are trying to do the Lord's work.

My answer came as I read in Joseph Smith History 1:20 where Joseph Smith says, "I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of [Satan's] kingdom; else why should the powers of darkness combine against me?"

It seemed to witness to me that those sincerely involved in the great work of bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man would not have a life of leisure and pleasure. 

As I took stock of my own life, it was those times where life was comfortable and easy that Satan no longer saw me as a great threat and could back off a little. But those times when life was hard and uncomfortable, where I had to really dig in my heals to not quit, to keep moving forward, those were the times I was more fully committed to the gospel. Those were the times I was completely participating in the game of saving souls.

So if life seems hard know that Satan simply sees you as a disturber and annoyer of his kingdom and is working overtime to thwart you. Stay strong. I, for one, want to one day be able to have a membership along with Nephi, Moses, and Joseph Smith in the Disturber and Annoyer Club.

Our stake had a conference this week and President Child was very candid as he shared a point in his life where there really wasn't much left to live for after having a business deal go terribly wrong. With a small family and little hope in sight, he thought about a life insurance policy his family could cash in on should he step out of the picture.

This was shortly before the October 1999 general conference and an answer came so powerfully to him through the words of Elder Holland that testified of God's love and knowledge of him.

“Don’t give up, boy.
Don’t you quit.
You keep walking.
You keep trying.
There is help and happiness ahead . . .
You keep your chin up.
It will be all right in the end.
Trust God and believe in good things to come.”

And you know what, two weeks later things began to turn around for that man and his little family. My stake president is one of those might ones who holds a membership in the Disturber and Annoyer Club.

My way or the Lord's way

My favorite general conference talk was by Elder Nattress: "No Greater Joy Than to Know That They Know." I received a strong impression that we were to start reading the Book of Mormon as a family again, starting immediately. For the past three years we have been reading the book of scripture that the seminary students are reading and this year we were working our way through the New Testament.

The next morning "I Nephi" commenced.

Recently we read of Nephi breaking his bow. In 1 Nephi 16:18 it says nothing of breaking the arrows, just the bow. A few verses later, Nephi tell us of crafting a new bow AND new arrows. Now, why couldn't he have just made a new bow to go with the old arrows he still had?

We have a gentleman in our ward who has been shooting bows and arrows since he was very small. He commented one day in Sunday School that Joseph Smith, with his limited background, could not have known that bows and arrows go together. You break a bow, you make new arrows to go with that bow. What an interesting insight from an expert in the field.

I was also thinking about Nephi and his brothers having to return to Jerusalem to obtain the brass plates, or the scriptures.

The first attempt recorded in 1 Nephi 3:10-11 has Nephi and his brothers consulting with one another about what to do and then casting lots as to who was going to simply go ask for the plates.

Ya, that didn't work.

The second attempt in verse 22 has them trying to purchase the plates from Laban.

Yep. Didn't work.

At this point they are frustrated and angry and ready to give up. On their third attempt, Nephi heads into Jerusalem being "led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do."

Ding, ding, ding! This time he was successful. 

So what made all the difference?

The first couple of times, those brothers, Nephi included, tried to do things their own way, using their own wisdom and understanding, their own skills. Not until Nephi followed the Spirit were they successful.

Is there something you are badly in need of? Something you desperately desire? [Our little family understands a little about needing something desperately, like employment for instance  :)]

The Lord knew how to get those plates and he knows how to help us obtain what we righteously desire and are in need of. Listening and heeding the Spirit of God is the key.

I have a bishop who is so good at following the Spirit's direction. That is a gift I greatly desire and am working on.

These are the days of . . . 
*working my first full week -- I think that 6th grade class liked me.

*basketball tryouts -- Erik attempted again for the high school team and was cut again. What courage. I don't think I would have tried a third time.

*early morning math -- Ash was nominated to be a part of a special early morning math team with a competition coming up in February.

*fasting and prayer

*a great friend and visiting teacher who invited me to be a part of her sealing session -- I haven't done sealings since I got married and that was a special experience.

*making consecrated bread for the sacrament with my Laurels -- We are so close to completing Mel's personal progress for her.

What if Dr. Suess wrote the Book of Mormon?

Today's post is number 365, a full year's worth of blogging.

Today we also finished the Book of Mormon as a family for the 2nd time. I love that book more each time I finish it. It is certainly applicable to my life. Kiersten also finished it for the first time several weeks ago.

And it's dumping snow outside, the first snowfall of the year. What a magical kind of day.

So in commemoration of our second completion (which, by the way, didn't take us nearly 3 years to finish like the first go around, maybe more like 2), I offer the following question:

What If Dr. Suess Wrote the Book of Mormon?*

Nephi:
Of goodly parents I was born.
I've never drunk, I've never sworn.
This is Lehi, he's my dad.
Laman, Lemuel, they are bad.
And who is this? Why this is Sam. 

Sam:
Yes, this is Sam; Sam I am. 

Laman:
That Sam I am, that Sam I am. I do not like that Sam I am.

Sam:
In a tent, my father dwelt.

Laman:
And it's so hot, I think I'll melt.

Lemuel:
Our father's brain is out of whack. 

Laman:
Yeah, it's too hot. I'm going back.

Lehi:
Then go and get the plates my dear.

Laman:
On second thought, I'm staying here.

Nephi:
You said you'd leave and go away.
Now all you want to do is stay? 

Lemuel:
That Nephi always gets his way.

Laman:
Here we are in this damp cave.

Sam:
We would not be here if you'd behave.

Nephi:
I will go and I will do.
There's the angel, that's my cue.
Laban's had too much to drink.
Now he'll lose his head, I think.

Nephi:
Look what I found, a brother from the quorum.

Sam:
We will take him home, we will call him Zoram.

Laman:
Our gold and silver we have spent.
I do not like it in this tent.

Lemuel:
I cannot read the Liahona.
I must have drunk too much Corona.

Laman:
We hate it here, we have no lives.

Lehi:
Then go back to the city and get some wives.

Lehi:
A tree, a tree, I see a tree!!
The fruit is white, the fruit is free!
A floating building, could it be?
Why do they laugh and stare at me?
Laman, Lemuel, come and see! 

Laman:
We will not eat your precious fruit.

Lemuel:
We will not wear a tie and suit.

Laman:
We will not help you build your boat.

Lemuel:
We do not think that it will float.

Laman:
No, not this boat.
It will not float.
Not even in a shallow moat.
I do not care what Nephi wrote.

Lemuel:
We will not eat your fruit I say.

Laman:
We will not eat it on a tray.

Lemuel:
And we won't eat it in a tent.
Not even if your clothes you rent.

Laman:
We'd rather have a can of spam.

L&L:
We will not eat it, Sam I am.

Sam:
You do not like it, so you say.
Try it, try it, and you may.
Try it and you may I say.

Laman:
Sam, if you will let us be, we will try it, you will see.

L&L: Say, we like this fruit of life.
Sorry that we caused such strife.
You've saved us from an awful jam.
Thank you, thank you, Sam I am!

*This little poem was in my files from many years ago. I certainly am not taking credit but I'm really not sure who to attribute it to.

Consistency is the key

Our stake president issued a challenge at our previous stake conference to read The Book of Mormon by November. And then a couple of weeks later the talks in sacrament meeting were on The Book of Mormon. 

Our little family is reading The Book of Mormon for the second time and I'm hoping that we can finish by November. I think we can do it.

For me it all started 6 1/2  years ago when we moved to Stansbury Park. Our magazines hadn't quite caught up to us yet when President Hinckley issued the challenge to read The Book of Mormon by the end of the year. So I didn't even know about this challenge until September, and by that time I was a little discouraged that we would be getting a late start. I even contemplated NOT doing the challenge, but after much thinking I KNEW that this is what my little family needed. I began our family scripture readying knowing that we would not finish by the end of the year. And three years later we finished. It was such a good feeling to know we had been obedient to a commandment.

Since then we have continued to read the scriptures. We aren't perfect. Weekends and summers are very difficult for us to find a good time to consistently read. But I know we have been blessed for our efforts.

Tyler and I escaped to St. George several weeks ago to take in the home show. It seems silly since we've already built, but it was fun to get decorating ideas. Although I found myself several times saying, "What a great idea! We'll have to remember that for the next house we build." Just to clarify . . . that will never happen.

We decided to leave the three oldest at home since they had school and activities that weekend. A bonus was their aunt and uncle live next door and would be around if problems did arise.

That Monday morning following our get-away weekend, I got the kids up to read scriptures and had them turn to the chapter we were on. Nate piped up and told me that they had already read that chapter. He told me how they had gotten up Friday morning and read scriptures by themselves before heading off to school.

I have been blessed with amazingly good kids, but I know it's the consistency in reading scriptures that has blessed us. That habit has been instilled in them. I love The Book of Mormon. This past year in reading I have learned so much as I have read with different eyes. When you realize that 532 pages cover 1000 years of history, you then know that everything contained within those pages is critical to our day.

Closer to Christ - Days 87-90

DAY 87

Scripture study: Ether 13-15

Mark and ponder: Ether 12:27

Scripture thought of the day: Moroni 10:32

Thought of the day: "Hopefully, we're making some progress in our own individual lives. I hope that every person can feel he or she is a little better today than they were yesterday, a little kinder, a little more gracious, a little more generous, a little more honest in purpose and word an deed, a little stronger for the right, a little stronger to resist the wrong."

DAY 88

Scripture study: Moroni 1-6

Mark and ponder: Moroni 4:3, 5:2

Scripture thought of the day: Moroni 6:4, 6

Thought of the day: "Few ordinances or performances in the Church act as a greater incentive to personal righteousness than partaking of the sacrament. Those who partake of the sacramental emblems - having a comprehension of the covenant involved - are making for themselves a course which will result in obedience, holiness, and sanctification." -Bruce R. McConkie

DAY 89

Scripture study: Moroni 7-9

Mark and ponder: Moroni 8:24-26

Scripture thought of the day: Matthew 7:7-8

Thought of the day: "While it is a simple thing in a life of faith, I have truly, truly learned the importance of always praying. When one prays from the heart, it increases the faithful heart. And when one has a faithful heart, a deeper love grows. When love grows, it leads to the ability to treat those around us kindly. Praying unceasingly will bring about a better life as a member of the church. -Hitoshi Kashikura

DAY 90

Scripture study: Moroni 10

Mark and ponder: Moroni 10:3-5

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 11:13

Thought of the day: "Without reservation, I promise that is you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your hearts an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord. There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God." -Gordon B. Hinckley

Closer to Christ - Days 80 - 86

DAY 80

Scripture study: Mormon 2-4

Mark and ponder: Mormon 4:5

Scripture thought of the day: Matthew 6:33

Thought of the day: "There must be purpose in our lives. We are here to accomplish something to bless society with our talents and our learning. There can fun, yes. But there must be recognition of the fact that life is serious, that the risks are great, but that we can overcome them if we discipline ourselves and seek the unfailing strength of the Lord." -Gordon B. Hinckley

DAY 81

Scripture study: Mormon 5-7

Mark and ponder: Ether 12:27

Scripture thought of the day: Moroni 7:5

Thought of the day: "You are good. But it is not enough to just be good. You must be good for something. You must contrib8te good to the world. The world must be a better place for your presence. And the good that is in you must be spread to others." -Gordon B. Hinckley

DAY 82

Scripture study: Mormon 8-9

Mark and ponder: Mormon 9:21, 27-28

Scripture thought of the day: Matthew 17:20

Thought of the day: "The faithful will exercise faith and pray always for all who are within the reach of the Lord. The good desire good to all." -Brigham Young

DAY 83

Scripture study: Ether 1-3

Mark and ponder: Ether 3:14-16

Scripture though of the day: Ether 12:6

Thought of the day: "Are you full of faith? You can tell whether I am or not by looking at me. You can tell whether the brethren who have been speaking to you are full of faith in the gospel by the look of their countenances. You can see if there is not a word spoken." -Brigham Young

DAY 84

Scripture study: Ether 4-7

Mark and ponder: Ether 5:3-4

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 17

Thought of the day: "For their testimonies [the Three Witnesses] shall rise up to condemn the unbelieving and rebellious before the judgment seat of Christ, yea there are or will be 10,000 times 10,000 other witnesses to testify with equal surety of the truth of the Book of Mormon." -Bruce R. McConkie

DAY 85

Scripture study: Ether 8-10

Mark and ponder: Ether 8:18-24; 9:16-20, 26-35

Scripture thought of the day: Moroni 7:5, 12

Thought of the day: "This scripture should alert us to what is ahead unless we repent, because there is no question that as people of the free world, we are increasingly upholding many of the vils of the adversary today. By court edict godless conspirators can run for government office, teach in our schools, hold office in labor unions, work in our defense plants, serve in our merchant marines, etc. As a nation, we are helping to underwrite many evil revolutionaries in our country." -Ezra Taft Benson

DAY 86

Scripture study: Ether 11-12

Mark and ponder: Ether 12:6-18

Scripture thought of the day: Alma 32:27

Thought of the day: "It is faith tht is the converter. It is faith that is the teacher. This precious and marvelous gift of faith, this gift from God our Eternal Father is the strength of this work and the quiet vibrancy of its message. Faith underlies it all. Faith is the substance of it all. Whether it be going into the mission field, living the Word of Wisdom, paying one's tithing, it is all the same. It is the faith within us that is evidenced in all we do." -Gordon B. Hinckley

Closer to Christ - Days 73-79

DAY 73

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 11-13

DAY 74

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 14-16

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 14:24-27

Scripture thought of the day: 3 Nephi 15:9

Thought of the day: "With gospel perspective, we can know that when we endure to the very end, we are actually enduring to the very beginning. Thus, rather than viewing this virtue as delivering us expiring in exhaustion to a finish line, we are brought intact and victorious to a starting line." -Neal A. Maxwell

DAY 75

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 17-19

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 18:19-21

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 63:64

Thought of the day: "The trouble with most of our prayers is that we give them as if we were picking up the telephone and ordering groceries - we place our order and hang up. We need to meditate, contemplate, think of what we are praying about and for and then speak to the Lor as one man speaketh to another. 'Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord' (Isaiah 1:18). That is the invitation. Believe in the power of prayer - it is real, it is wonderful, it is tremendous." -Gordon B. Hinckley

DAY 76

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 20-22

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 20:8-9

Scripture thought of the day: JST, John 6:54

Thought of the day: "The sacrament and the partaking of those emblems is the very heart of our Sabbath worship. It includes a renewal of covenants with God. It caries with it a promise of His Holy Spirit to be with us. As we partake of the sacrament we can all stand on a level lane before the Lord. Each is accountable for what he does as he renews his covenants with the Lord in that magnificent and beautiful and simple ordinance of the gospel which carries with it such tremendous meaning." -Gordon B. Hinckley

DAY 77

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 23-26

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 23:81

Scripture thought of the day: Deuteronomy 17:19

Thought of the day: "Let us establish in our lives the habit of reading those things which will strengthen our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world." -Gordon B. Hinckley

DAY 78

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 27-30

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 27:13-14, 20

Scripture thought of the day: Hebrews 11:16

Thought of the day: "The test of the church is the kind of me it produces." -David O. McKay

DAY 79

Scripture study: 4 Nephi, Mormon 1

Mark and ponder: 4 Nephi 1:12

Scripture thought of the day: Alma 17:3

Thought of the day: "Is it too much to ask of anyone, any member of this church, that you actually fast for two meals a month? It will only bless our lives if we do so. I am satisified that if every man, woman, and child in the United States of America were to observe this great and marvelous practice, which costs no one anythin, not a thing, that it would take care of all the welfare problems of this nation. The Lord's way is a simple way that takes nothing from us, adds to our humility, to our spirit of worship, to our physical well being, and takes care of those in need and distress." -Gordon B. Hinckley

Closer to Christ - Days 66-72

DAY 66

Scripture study: Helaman 11-12

Mark and ponder: Helaman 12:23-24

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 95:1

Thought of the day: "The process of perfection includes challenges to overcome and steps to repentance that may be very painful. There is a proper place for chastisement in the molding of character, for we know that "whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth." -Russell M. Nelson

DAY 67

Scripture study: Helaman 13-14

Mark and ponder: Helaman 13:11, 14:8

Scripture thought of the day: Alma 34:33

Thought of the day: "Repentance through faith in the Lord's Atonement is the vital, lifelong process - not an isolated event - of coming unto Christ and being sanctified in Him." -George F. Hilton

DAY 68

Scripture study: Helaman 15-16

Mark and ponder: Helaman 15:8-9

Scripture thought of the day: 1 Nephi 26:8

Thought of the day: "Even yesterday's spiritual experience . . . does not guarantee us against tomorrow's relapse. Persisitence thus matters greatly." -Neal A. Maxwell

DAY 69

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 1-3

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 1:18-19

Scripture thought of the day: 3 Nephi 1:14

Thought of the day: "There is one supreme fact in the universe. It eclipses all other truths, all thought, all being, all emotion. God lives." -Utah Senator Jake Garn

DAY 70

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 4

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 4:10

Scripture thought of the day: 3 Nephi 4:8

Thought of the day: "When it comes to prayer, let's have no more empty statements and insincere but polite phrases. Be honest. If you're mad, say so. If you're confused, say so. And don't think anything is too small for the Savior's loving attention." -Cheiko N. Okazaki

DAY 71

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 5-7

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 5:13

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 127:4

Thought of the day: "Having daily access to the Spirit . . . is better than periodic miracles." -Neal A. Maxwell

DAY 72

Scripture study: 3 Nephi 8-10

Mark and ponder: 3 Nephi 9:14-15

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 76:5-7

Thought of the day: "We may never understand nor comprehend in mortality how he accomplished what he did, but we must not fail to understand why he did what he did." -Ezra Taft Benson

Closer to Christ - Days 59-65

DAY 59

Scripture study: Alma 54-56

Mark and ponder: Exodus 19:5-6

Scripture thought of the day: Jeremiah 50:5

Thought of the day: "In our utter desolation, what could we women do but pray? Prayer was our only source of comfort; our Heavenly Father our only helper. None but he could save and deliver us." -Amanda Barnes Smith, Haun's Mill, Missouri, October 1838

DAY 60

Scripture study: Alma 57-58

Mark and ponder: Alma 57:21, 58:40

Scripture thought of the day: Psalms 62:6-8

Thought of the day: "Gospel hope is not a vague, wishful desire, but a powerful expectation, a conviction, that Jesus Christ will save us. This hope in the Lord Jesus Christ includes the expection of a glorious resurrection, indeed, hope that all of God's promises will be fulfilled in our behalf." -Lili de Hoyos Anderson

DAY 61

Scripture study: Alma 59-60

Mark and ponder: Alma 60:36

Scripture thought of the day: Joshua 24:15

Thought of the day: "In his wisdom, Captain Moroni didn't just look for weaknesses to shore up. He also focused on strengths in the Nephi defense so that if the attach from the enemy got too fierce, there would be safe places. As part of our ongoing effort to fortify our marriage, my husband and I also look for our strong places. They are easier to find through prayer. In prayer I have found that Heavenly Father loves us even more than we ourselves do and truly wants our relationships to succeed." -Michelle H. Bagley

DAY 62

Scripture study: Alma 61-63

Mark and ponder: Alma 62:49

Scripture thought of the day: Psalms 45:1-2

Thought of the day: "Captain Moroni in the Book of Mormon put honor and humility in perspective . . . The scriptures teach us that honor includes such things as faith and trust in the Lord, payment of tithes and offerings, fear of the Lord, humility, and obedience." -Robert D. Hales

DAY 63

Scripture study: Helaman 1-4

Mark and ponder: Helaman 3:29-30

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 38:9

Thought of the day: "The spirit of God never generates contention. It never generates the feelings of distinctions between people which lead to strife. It leads to personal peace and feelings of union with others. It unifies the soul. A unified family, a unified Church, and a world at peace depends on unified souls." -Henry B. Eyring

DAY 64

Scripture study: Helaman 5-8

Mark and ponder: Helaman 5:12, 8:14-15

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 81:5-6

Thought of the day: "Climbing the gospel ladder toward exaltation will require more than a casual commitment to the gospel, more than a few visits to church on Sunday, more than a passing familiarity with the scriptures as we endure faithfully to the end." -David Sorenson

DAY 65

Scripture study: Helaman 9-10

Mark and ponder: Helaman 10:4-5

Scripture thought of the day: 1 John 1:8-9

Thought of the day: "But in coming here [to earth], we forgot all, that our agency might be free indeed, to choose good or evil that we might merit the reward of our own choice and conduct. But by the power of the Spirit, in the redemption of Christ, through obedience, we often catch a spark from the awakened memories of th immortal soul, which lights up our whole being as with the glory of our former home." -Joseph F. Smith

Closer to Christ - Days 52-58

DAY 52

Scripture study: Alma 37-38

Mark and ponder: Alma 37:35-37

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 88:118

Thought of the day: "Yes, the scriptures do give us counsel and prepare us in all things. They are pertinent to the situations we find ourselves in daily: how to meet temptation . . . how to handle hurt feelings, maintain family stability, be a good neighbor, and manage one's finances; the list extends as far as study and human need will take us." -Thomas E. Hays

DAY 53

Scripture study: Alma 39-41

Mark and ponder: James 1:12-16

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 63:47

Thought of the day: "By obedience to the laws of the gospel, you can lift yourselves above the quagmire of sin that surrounds us in this world. In addition to helping you to become better servants of the Lord, obedience to these laws will help you to be better in everything you undertake in life . . . because you will know that your life is acceptable to your Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ." -Joseph B. Wirthlin

DAY 54

Scripture study: Alma 42-43

Mark and ponder: Alma 42:27-28

Scripture thought of the day: 2 Nephi 2:28

Thought of the day: "Sometimes . . . a person . . . is almost overwhelmed and wonders, 'Can the Lord ever forgive me? Can I ever forgive myself? but when one reaches the depths of despondency and feels the helplessness of this position, and when he cries out to God for mercy in helplessness but in faith, there comes a still, small, but penetrating voice whispering to his soul, 'Thy sins are forgiven thee.'" -Spencer W. Kimball

DAY 55

Scripture study: Alma 44-45

Mark and ponder: Alma 44:4

Scripture thought of the day: Joel 2:32

Thought of the day: "It is my constant prayer to God that He will have mercy upon us and preserve us from the great enemy who knows he has only a short time in which to work. I have been made to tremble and quake before the Lord and to call upon him with all my heart almost day and night . . . Maybe it is through suffering that we are to be made perfect. At least it has the effect of drawing us nearer to the Lord, which is a blessing." -Mary Fielding Smith

DAY 56

Scripture study: Alma 46-47

Mark and ponder: Alma 46:12-14

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 109:54

Thought of the day: "You are like titles of liberty as you strive to protect your families from such intruders as selfishness, harshness, anger, and strife. Your banner stands for peace and love and service to your families. You don't have to be Captain Moroni to make a difference. Our Father in Heaven needs you to be who you are, in your family. You are very important . . . We call upon you to take a stand for kindness and goodness and service to those you love most, our families." -Sharon G. Larsen

DAY 57

Scripture study: Alma 48-50

Mark and ponder: Alma 48: 11-13, 17

Scripture thought of the day: 3 Nephi 27:27

Thought of the day: "The power of one person is apparent throughout the scriptures as we see the influence of . . . Mormon and Moroni . . . often alone, standing as one, even as each of us on occasion must stand alone in a sometimes hostile world. Yet as these valiant servants of the Lord were not entirely alone, neither will we be, if we are worthy of His companionship and the companionship of the Holy Spirit." -Wm. Rolfe Kerr

DAY 58

Scripture study: Alma 54-56

Mark and ponder: Exodus 19:5-6

Scripture thought of the day: Jeremiah 50:5

Thought of the day: "President Joseph F. Smith and his counselors promised church members that is they would gather their children around them once a week and instruct them in the gospel, those children in such homes would not go astray. It is time for us to think of turning the hearts of parents to children now while living . . ." -Harold B. Lee

Closer to Christ - Days 45-51

DAY 45

Scripture study: Alma 20-21

Mark and ponder: Alma 21:16

Scripture thought of the day: 1 Nephi 4:6

Thought of the day: "God does not send thunder if a still, small voice is enough." -Neal A. Maxwell

DAY 46

Scripture study: Alma 22-23

Mark and ponder: Alma 23:6

Scripture thought of the day: Alma 17:2-3

Thought of the day: "Our temporal bodies would soon become emaciated, if we fed them only once a week, or twice, as some of us are in the habit of feeding our spiritual and religious bodies." -Joseph F. Smith

Day 47

Scripture study: Alma 24-25

Mark and ponder: Alma 24:19

Scripture thought of day: Alma 52:20

Thought of the day: "The summer patriot and the sunshine saint retreat when the battle wages fiercely around them; theirs is not the conqueror's crown." -Bruce R. McConkie

DAY 48

Scripture study: Alma 26-28

Mark and ponder: Alma 26:5-6, 22

Scripture thought of the day: Mosiah 2:17

Thought of the day: "Your call to serve is not from human beings. It is a trust from God . . . Whatever name it has, every call is an opportunity to watch over and strengthen the children of our Heavenly Father. The Savior's work is to bring to pass immortality and eternal life. He called us to serve others so that we could strengthen our own faith as well as theirs. He knows that by serving Him we will come to know Him." -Henry B. Eyring

DAY 49

Scripture study: Alma 29-31

Mark and ponder: Alma 29:9

Scripture thought of the day: Hebrews 13:14

Thought of the day: "I pray that you . . . will not only be worthy to receive ministering angels, but that you  . . . will become a ministering angel in the lives of of others as you exercise faith in working mighty miracles, thereby becoming a great benefit to your fellow beings." -Spencer J. Condie

DAY 50

Scripture study: Alma 32-34

Mark and ponder: D&C 18:10-11, 15-16

Scripture thought of the day: D&C 8:2

Thought of the day: "It is the right and priviledge of every man, every woman, and every child who has reached the years of accountability, to enjoy the spirit of revelation, and be possessed of the spirit of inspiration in the discharge of their duties to members of the church." - Joseph Smith

DAY 51

Scripture study: Alma 35-36

Mark and ponder: Ephesians 6:13-18

Scripture thought of the day: Hebrews 11:1, 6

Thought of the day: "A key promise of the Father is the gift of the Holy Ghost, whose purpose is to lead us along the strait and narrow path helping each person develop unshakeable faith in Jesus Christ and His Atonement. If one makes and keeps gospel covenants, he or she will yield to the enticings of the Holy Spirit and become a Christ-centered person." -Merrill J. Bateman