While studying the Book of Mormon this week, I came across the scripture Mosiah 7:33 which says, “But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.” I love the implication that this scripture has for my life and the life of all the children of God. If we but follow the counsel of this scripture, we too can be delivered from “bondage”. Our loads can be lightened as we turn our hearts and will to the Lord. He doesn’t want any of us to suffer and he provides every opportunity for us to be able to carry our burdens with ease, all he asks is that we follow Him. Though this does not mean that he will remove our burdens completely, it does mean that he creates a way for us to be able to overcome trials and ease our loads. I also came to a more complete realization that this does not mean he will ease our burdens or deliver us how we would like Him to, but rather, it will be done according to His will. The Lord knows what is best for us, and because of that He will fulfill this as He sees it fit. 

Throughout my studies of the Book of Mormon this past week, I came across an often-quoted scripture in Mosiah 2:17 which says, “And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God.” As I read this this time around, I was struck by the power of that message. It is one of the simplest messages and most fundamental principles that Christ taught. Over and over we are taught to love and serve our neighbor, reach out to those that need our hand, comfort, and so on. Though this principle is so often talked about, I find myself often overlooking it. Sometimes I think I’m doing good because I am praying, studying the scriptures, keeping the commandments, and so on, but I forget to reach out to those around me. There are so many who struggle and are in need of heavens aid, which comes through His hands, us. Furthermore, as it states in this scripture, in serving others we are serving God. How amazing that we have the opportunity to do so! Let us all strive to serve our God a little more by reaching out in service to His children. 

During my study of The Book of Mormon this past week, I came across the scripture 2 Nephi 31:10, which says, “…Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father?” I’ve read this scripture many times, but I had never taken the time to think about it. This time as I pondered it’s meaning, I was reminded of a simple principle. I was reminded that if we do follow Christ we are also following our Heavenly Father. The Son can do nothing save what he sees the Father do. If we look to Christ as our exemplar, and heed His counsel to follow Him, we can find the same peace and joy that He did and does today. In addition to this, we must be willing to follow any commandments our Heavenly Father gives us. If we do not then we are not truly following the Savior and becoming as He is. I am grateful that we do have a Redeemer whose example is perfect and can help guide us to change our hearts and minds to align with the will of the Father.

In my studies of the Book of Mormon this past week I noticed a phrase that is used frequently in 2 Nephi 19, along with several other chapters. This phrase is, “…For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.” This phrase gives hope for all of us as children of God. It has given me so much hope and strength to face my own weaknesses. Even though we may turn from God and His Son, and though they do not condone sin, they will never turn away from us. In fact, as it says, “his hand is stretched out still”. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are always extending their hands to us and all we need to do is reach up and take them. No matter how far we have strayed from Him, our Savior, and Him, our God, we can always come back. No matter what sins we have committed we can change and return. God is loving and merciful and so is our Savior.  Christ has made it possible through His atoning sacrifice to be saved be saved from our sins. His hand is continually extended in times of heartache and in times of when we feel Godly sorrow for sins. He wants to comfort us and He wants to heal us. He will not leave us, especially in the darkest of times. When hope seems lost and strength has fled, His light will bring back hope and His stretched out hand can provide the strength needed to push forward. I am so grateful for all of this and I know it to be true. 

This past week as a part of my study of the Book of Mormon I read Jacob 5, which we also discussed more in depth during class. As my professor went into more detail about the meaning and symbolism of the olives trees and Lord of the vineyard, I was specifically enlightened about the meaning behind the plucking out of the wild branches. One person in my class mentioned that it was like the Mormon message “The Will of God” and for us to be able to produce the best “fruit” we must allow the Lord (God) to cut us down. While the wild branches remained on the tree they rapidly consumed all the good and produced nothing but bad fruit. The only way that they could be saved and once again produce good fruit was to remove all the bad branches. Just as in this story, we must let God and our Savior cut out the “bad branches”, so that we can be saved and flourish with “good fruit”. If we do not, the “bad branches” (whether they be sins, lost opportunities, or any sort of trial) will consume us and overtake the “good branches” to the point where we will, in turn, produce nothing but “bad fruit”. I am grateful to know though, that the reason God cuts us down is out of pure love and that the end reward is always so much greater than we could have ever imagined. I am also grateful that our Savior has provided a way for other things such as sin to be removed from our lives. The removal or prevention of “bad branches” is how we will be able to feel the joy of our good fruits and be enabled to extend them to others.

In my Book of Mormon class this week my teacher taught about 2 Nephi 2. The one thing that really stuck out to me was in verses 5-6. He mentioned that we are not justified through the law which is given unto us by God; we are justified to live with our Father in Heaven through the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ. Without His sacrifice, we cannot be redeemed. This lesson caused me to pause and think about the real importance of Christ. I have felt His mercy in my life on many occasions, but this time I felt how important and necessary He is in each moment of our lives. He is the bread of life. We MUST come unto Him always. He is the way, the truth, and the life. I am so grateful to know that I do have a redeemer and because of Him I can live with my Heavenly Father and family forever in pure joy.  I know that if we strive to keep the law that through Christ we can be justified to live in eternal glory and exaltation.

In my study of the Book of Mormon this past week, I ran across a scripture in 1 Nephi 9:6 which says, “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.” The power of that passage really struck me. It strengthened my testimony that God really is all knowing and all powerful!  He knows each one of us individually and on a very personal level. He truly does have all power and will bring to pass His work. There has never been a time in the history of mankind or in life eternal that God has ceased to do this. Though we may not always understand why we are commanded to do something or why we must endure a trial, God does. There is nothing he does not understand, so we must trust in Him. He will never lead us astray. I am so grateful for this truth and my knowledge of it. I am also grateful that He sent a Son that has descended below all to save us. Heavenly Father truly does have all wisdom and if we listen to and obey Him, we will gain the same understanding and wisdom line upon line.