3 Nephi 14

As I continue to read about the be-attitudes, I reflect on my life, and I how I can be better now. IN verse 20 it states, "Wherefore, by their fruits ye shall know them." I feel I have met with several people who are struggling with their testimonies, because of things they have read concerning Joseph Smith. As I read The Book of Mormon, I feel power in each page, my life is changed for the better, and I am have felt the spirit guiding me to make right choices. Joseph Smith translated The Book of Mormon. I am sure he made mistakes in his life as he was only a man--not a God; however, I can't deny that he was a prophet of God, because of the fruits he was able to bring forth during his life. I can't deny what I feel when I read from The Book of Mormon. I know it to be true. I have no doubt that it is another testament of Jesus Christ. I have no doubt that the Lord himself guided the publication of this book. This whole thought goes along with several more scriptures in this chapter as well.

Verse 3: "And why beholdest thou the bean in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye."

I don't desire to know all of Joseph Smith's transgressions. Nor do I think, we can possible know them accurately. Without Joseph being able to testify against them on his behalf, I think we will never know the whole story. Although I believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, I also believe that he was a man, and being a man--he was prone to make a few mistakes. In saying this, I am not excusing him of evil; however, because of his "fruits", I believe that some of the "evil" that is being said, is fabricated by the devil. I truly believe that someone who was "evil" could not have translated The Book of Mormon; therefore, Joseph Smith was a prophet, and the evil that has been and will continue to be spoken of him is a misrepresentation of a prophet of God.

Verse 14: "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

I think we have to willing to seek and pray for answers in our day. As I study the scriptures, and as I pray, I know the Lord will guide me. There are many things that can pull me away from my testimony if I allow them to do so; however, I have no doubt that if I am doing my part--God will lead me through that narrow gate.

In our day, I see many who have fallen away, and who continue to fall away. I pray for the strength to continue on the path for I know Satan is aware and very real. I am at war with him, and I am determined to win.

Finally, on another thought, the Lord admonishes us to do his will and build our "testimonies" on his foundation. Those of us who "heareth" His sayings and "doeth" them, will be built on a firm foundation (verse 24-27). Sometimes it is difficult to follow the Lord's will, or to even accept His will in our lives. Some of these moments, can cause us great distress, and could be a reason or someone to fall away.

I will never profess to understand all that is God's will, but I will bear testimony that I know that He is overall, and if I trust in Him all will be right in my life. I may not like His will, but I know that all things will work out for my good. I know that I will become better as I trust in Him. Just recently, my little brother passed away. I wish it wasn't God's will to take him. I wish there was a different plan. However, I know that as I rely on my Father in heaven, all things will work together. This is called faith. I may not understand all things, but I know that with God--all things will be right. Right now my heart hurts, and I find myself battling depression--He never said these trials would be easy, but He did say He would help us through them. So, I trust. I pray. I ask for help. And I know someday--I will be on the other side of this pain, and because I trust in God and His will, I also know that I will see my brother again.

Amulek's Decision

AMULEK FOLLOWS GOD's WILL

Amulek is an example to me in The Book of Mormon. In Alma 10:11 we find that Amulek, in relating the ministerings of an angel to him regarding Alma, declares: "For behold, he hath blessed mine house, he hath blessed me, and my women, and my children, and my father and my kinsfolk; yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake." 

Then, in chapter 15 we find that after Amulek is rejected by the very people in whom Alma blessed. The scriptures state,  "Amulek, having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred." (Alma 15:16, 18)

As I put myself in Amulek's shoes, I cannot imagine the turmoil his soul must have gone through. He was the ultimate example of loving God more than man. After having been converted, his heart turned to God, and he was willing to give up everything in order to serve him. But "everything" was more than just gold and silver--"everything" also included his family. I think of my own family. I think of how much I love them, and my heart breaks for Amulek as I realize the magnitude of his decision. And although my heart breaks, I am also strengthened in my determination to put the things of God first, to do the will of the Lord over my own will, and to live a righteous life. 

This process of purifying my heart isn't something I can do alone. I am grateful to the scriptures for teaching me the pathway I should go. I pray that I will continue to be guided. I pray that Heavenly Father will help me to seek His will over my own. I think this is a huge challenge of my mortal experience--placing God's will above my own. I never intend on placing my will above God's. My heart desires to always do his will. However, as I have looked back on my life, I know there have been prideful moments in which I followed my own will. Thankfully, these moments haven't been moments of open rebellion against God for I didn't realize at the time what I was doing; however, as I grow in my understanding, I now see my prideful moments in my life. This life is a constant battle. A battle against Satan. I hope that I can follow the example of Amulek. It is the desire of my heart to always put the will of God first in my life--to purify my heart in Him, to be all that He REQUIRES.