ZION IS FLED

I think that should be our new family motto. I was preparing my temple prep lesson tonight and one of the scriptures I looked up was Moses 7:69. "And Enoch and all his people walked with God, and he dwelt in the midst of Zion; and it came to pass that Zion was not, for God received it up into his own bosom; and from thence went forth the saying, ZION IS FLED."

I suppose that's what we are trying to do every day - flee the world. How neat would it be to achieve that level of righteousness to where we no longer need to be on the earth. That should be our goal - to walk with God each day and be so good that He can dwell in the midst of us. Let me know when you reach that level, and make sure you let me know when you're about to be taken up so I can come with you.

Book of Mormon challenge

Okay Sara and Jarem,
Where art thou in terms of B of M chapters read? How did you do the little Arabic sign Daniel? Cute. Way to go Dan and Elizabeth - you're chewing up the chart. Someone get after Dan Urbina and Joseph. Love you all. Mom

pride

I was reading in Alma 4 today verse 9. I noticed that pride was increasing among the members of the church. It states that their pride exceeded the pride of those who did not belong to the church of God. That surprised me because I always thought that it would be non-LDS people who would persecute the LDS.

In all my years in the Church I haven't seen a lot of pride among the members. I don't see members persecuting people who are not members. Maybe I am unaware of it since I am a member. Maybe I don't know what it would be like to be a non-member living in Utah. Generally I experience more anger directed at Mormons than I do the other way around.

Themes

Look what Elder Oaks says in his April Ensign article on the Atonement and faith: "Remember that our Savior Jesus Christ always builds us up and never tears us down. We should apply the power of that example in the ways we use our time, including our recreation and our diversions. Consider the themes of the books, magazines, movies, television shows, and music we in the world have made popular by our patronage. Do the things portrayed in our chosen entertainment build up or tear down the children of God?"

Notice the word "themes" (that I bolded)? That applies directly to me and the movies I watch. In the past I have always justified watching edited movies (ANY edited movies) simply because they were edited. More and more I have realized that just because they are edited, that doesn't mean they are clean. Many of Hollywood's themes really do tear us down. I'm going to be more careful about the edited movies I choose to buy.

No, that post doesn't have anything to do with my scripture reading. I'm still trying to find something interesting to share. :)

I think we should adopt the practice of the system of the judges employed by the people of Mosiah in Mosiah 29:28,29. If the judges didn't judge according to the law they were to be judged by higher judges. If the higher judges were not making righteous judgments then a small number of lower judges would be gathered to judge the higher judges.

Even that system went by the way as the people became wicked. Oh well, the highest judge of all will step in eventually. It can't be soon enough for me.

How do you comment on this thing?

Since I can't figure out how to comment, I'll just post a post. :) Lizzie, I definitely think it has something to do with the fact that Satan wants to keep everyone miserable. He doesn't just want the Lamans and Lemuels to go to their own little corner of the earth (back to Jerusalem) and be miserable with a few people. He wants to take everyone down. I think it also might have something to do with that culture. If it's anything like today's culture in the Middle East, the fathers have a lot of control over their families. When dad says move, you move.

Question about the grumblers.

Seems like every time Lehi or Nephi would relay a message/assignment from the Lord, Laman and Lemuel would grumble and murmur.

1 Nephi 2: 12-13

Lehi says they have to leave Jerusalem or perish.  Laman and Lemuel start grumbling.  They don't want to go and they don't even believe that Jerusalem could be destroyed in the way their father is prophesying.  Nephi even says his older brothers are like the Jews who sought to kill Lehi!  Even so, guess who is present when they embark on their journey?

1 Nephi 3:5

Lehi tells Laman and Lemuel that they're going to have to go back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates.  They, of course, start to murmur and complain about what a hard thing that is to have to do.  Yet, in verse 9, they're taking off to Jerusalem with Nephi and Sam.

1 Nephi 4:4

So after they've failed twice to get the plates, Nephi begs Laman and Lemuel to stick around and try one more time.  He even reminds them of the Lord's omnipotence by teaching them from the Bible.  They become "wroth" and they "continue to murmur."  BUT . . . "nevertheless they did follow me up until we came without the walls of Jerusalem."

So my question is . . .

. . . what on earth would induce two such people to continue following along when they so obviously disbelieve and loath their father and brother and even the Lord?!  Wouldn't it be more likely that they would just refuse to leave Jerusalem with the rest of the family?  Or refuse to go back to Jerusalem to get the plates?  Or refuse to try, yet again, to get the plates from Laban?

Anyone?  Anyone?

Is it that Satan is determined to have his hecklers following after the faithful servant of the Lord, attempting to drag him down with their griping any chance they get?

I just don't get it.