Inspriation from Nephi

Last night I was reading my Spanish scriptures and I came across some cool lines in 1 Nephi 18. I don't know how many times I have read this particular chapter or verses of scripture. But it testifies to me that God speaks to us through scripture in the moments we need them in our lives.

In chapter 18, Nephi has finished building the ship and they all load up to head to the promised land. At this point they are all one big happy family and "they did worship the Lord" (v. 1).

As Nephi continues, he said, "And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work" (v.1). These words struck me because all too often I think all the "answers" should be given to me. But that is not how it is. He will show us from time to time, because he knows we are capable ourselves to make decisions in between so that we might build our faith. And sometimes taking that leap is quite the challenge.

The last time I was in Lake Powell we found some small cliff to jump off, and I not wanting to be left out hopped out of the boat to climb up on the rocks. (This is the part where I interject and tell you how much I don't like heights...) From the boat, it didn't look so far. But as I stood there and looked down it looked like a million foot drop. Everyone else around me was jumping in and I was standing there thinking about it.

In my mind I had to envision what I saw from the boat. It really wasn't that high. Smaller than some others people had jumped off that day. Then I had to close my eyes and just jump. Oh, what a rush went through my body as I fell toward the water; the flush of water that overcame me; and the glorious breath of air I took in when I came to the surface.

Faith is like that moment for me on top of that rock. From a distance it's not so bad, then when we are actually looking the decision in the face, it's seems bigger than what we can handle. In this moment, there are two choices: One, walk down the rock and away from the faith building experience, or two, conquer your fears and jump.

If you take the challenge, it gives you an opportunity to "build... after the manner which the Lord has shown unto [you]; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men" (v.2). You have been given the tools to face every challenge that will be put in your path in this life. The Lord will not test you above that which you can bear.

Elder Jeffery R. Holland said, "But once there has been genuine illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don’t give up when the pressure mounts. You can find an apartment. You can win over your mother-in-law. You can sell your harmonica and therein fund one more meal. It’s been done before. Don’t give in. Certainly don’t give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. He wants everyone to be miserable like unto himself. Face your doubts. Master your fears. “Cast not away therefore your confidence.”
Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you."

If it was right the first time, it will be right again. I jumped off those rocks many more times, eventually climbing to higher rocks. Face your doubts. Master your fears. The only way is to take the tools the Lord has given you and use them when He is giving you to opportunity to make decisions on your own.

The next verse that struck me was 3. In the gospel we are given a combination of principles to help us in our journey. This is one of those:

"And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft (the temple), and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things."

A-Go to the temple + B-Pray oft = C-You will be shown great things

The scriptures are full of A+B=C equations, combinations of principles that will lead you to a conclusion/blessing. In this one, the Lord promises to show great things to those who visit His house and pray oft.

Today, I experienced one of those great things. This girl went to the Jordan River Temple by herself to do baptisms for the dead and got in with our group. When I saw her, I knew there was something different about her. She was a very cute girl who looked like she needed a friend.

As we were waiting in the chapel, I almost went in with another group for confirmations and ended up leaving so another girl could go in. When I went back to the chapel, I sat on the same bench as this girl. At first I thought to myself that she had come to the temple to enjoy the solace on her own. Then something pushed me to say hello. When I did, her face lit up.

What ensued was a beautiful conversation. While she did not share her whole life's story, I could tell that life had not be easy for her. She came to Utah as an answer to her prayers, and she will move to the Ogden area in the next few months as another answer to her prayers.

Had I made other decisions I had thought about making today, had I not asked for guidance to be in the right places, I would not have met this amazing girl. He showed me amazing things through this young woman. All because I went to the temple and asked to be in the right place when I needed to be.

"If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now... Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold before you."