Ether

The brother of Jared pled with the Lord to preserve the language of his worthy friends and family at the tower of Babel.The brother of Jared led his group to another land. This took great faith, trust and many lessons were learned.  The brother of Jared was not a perfect man, but he continued to try and do good.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that God loves those whom He chastens: “The Lord is truly there to chastise those whom He loves, including the spiritually preeminent. The Brother of Jared for too long had failed to pray (see Ether 2:14). Even the good can become careless without the Lord’s being there to chasten. Later, the chastened Brother of Jared saw Christ!

The Lord explained to the brother of Jared that blessings had come to his people as a result of prayers offered over a long time. Enduring obedience coupled with frequent and persistent prayers is powerful. 

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) similarly taught that we must put great effort into our prayers and that we must pray frequently:

“Do you get answers to your prayers? If not, perhaps you did not pay the price. Do you offer a few trite words and worn-out phrases, or do you talk intimately to the Lord? Do you pray occasionally when you should be praying regularly, often, constantly? Do you offer pennies to pay heavy debts when you should give dollars to erase that obligation?

Another great lesson learned was in how our Heavenly Father answers prayers.  He wants us to think for ourselves and find solutions for our problems, then take the solutions to Him for confirmation.  President Lee concluded: “This is the principle in action. If you want the blessing, don’t just kneel down and pray about it. Prepare yourselves in every conceivable way you can in order to make yourselves worthy to receive the blessing you seek”

 Such faith the brother of Jared had!  Ether 3:9 The Lord said, "never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast" And in Ether 3:10, the brother of Jared said, "Show thyself unto me" The trust that the brother of Jared had of our Lord is such a great example to me.  I am amazing at what I continue to learn as I study the scriptures daily.  I have read the Book of Mormon many times and still learn something more each time I read it.  

3 Nephi 23-30

One thing that I haven't been good at in my lifetime, that I realize is more and more important as I get older, is journal keeping.  In this block of scripture it is mentioned multiple times how important it is to keep records.  My sister Jeri Kay and her husband Steve gave me a journal when I got baptized.  I have written in it maybe 20 times, all posts from 8 years old to middle school age.  After I got married, I started scrapbooking, and that was my form of journaling. For a few years I kept a blog of our family going ons.  While all these things are something, I am realizing that importance of keeping a journal of my spiritual and more meaningful experiences, and those where lessons were learned and my faith was deepened. My dear friend Melissa is a great example of keeping a journal.  She faithfully writes every day and has got back time and time again to find answers to questions.  She has found answers to her prayers in her own past experiences.  This is something I am going to work on.  I love reading the words of my grandparents and parents, and know that my memories and experiences will be a great source of joy to my children and grandchildren.

27: 20 Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.

27: 21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;

Jesus so plainly tells us what we need to do, and he is our greatest example of how to act.  I have a simple faith and am grateful for that.  I am not one to question or research things out to prove them wrong.  I try my best to live worthy of the Spirit and trust in the Holy Ghost to confirm the truths of the gospel to me.  
 27:29 Therefore, ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for he that asketh, receiveth; and unto him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

I have put this scripture to the test many times, and have always received an answer.  It isn't always on my time schedule, or the answer I think I want, but in looking back at the more challenging times I can see the Lord's work in all things.

30: 1 Hearken, O ye Gentiles, and hear the words of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, which he hath commanded me that I should speak concerning you, for, behold he commandeth me that I should write, saying:

30: 2 Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people who are of the house of Israel.

I am grateful for this gospel.  I am grateful for the promises of the Savior and the love that He has for me.