day 80 and 3

Day 83:

-Read: 3 Nephi 20-21

-Mark: 3 Nephi 21:6-7

“Every person who embraces the gospel becomes of the house of Israel…The great majority of those who become members of the Church are literal descendants of Abraham through Ephraim, son of Joseph. Those who are not literal descendants of Abraham and Israel must become such, and when they are baptized and confirmed they are grafted into the tree and are entitled to all the rights and privileges as heirs.”

~ President Joseph Fielding Smith

Something to think about: What blessings are promised to you because you are of the house of Israel?

I'll admit; today was a hard one for me....I don't really know what to say on it. Do your Genealogy? ...Haha :) But I guess I need to learn more about what it all means.

82.

Day 82:

-Read: 3 Nephi 17-19

-Mark: 3 Nephi 18:6-7, 11

"We are commanded to repent of our sins and to come to the Lord with a broken heart and a contrite spirit and partake of the sacrament in compliance with its covenants. When we renew our baptismal covenants in this way, the Lord renews the cleansing effect of our baptism. In this way we are made clean and can always have His Spirit to be with us. The importance of this is evident in the Lord's commandment that we partake of the sacrament each week."

~Elder Dallin H. Oaks

Something to think about: How can taking the sacrament each week help you to be just as clean as when you were baptized?

When we take the sacrament, just like Elder Oaks suggests, we are renewing our covenants with the Lord. In a way, it's a promise to do better. It's part of the repentance process. When you partake of the sacrament each week, it really is a blessing. Never take that gift for granted.

DAY 81

Day 81:

-Read: 3 Nephi 13-16

-Mark: 3 Nephi 15:21, 24

“Aren’t we rather prone to see the limitations and weaknesses of our neighbors? Yet that is contrary to the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ…If we have the spirit of fault finding…that never comes as the result of the companionship of the Spirit of our Heavenly Father and is always harmful.”

~ President George Albert Smith

Something to think about: The Savior gave teachings to the Nephites similar to the Sermon

on the Mount. He warned not to judge. What helps you to always look for the best in others and not be critical?

I liked how in the reading in chapter 13 it talks about not praying and doing the right things just to be recognized. That isn't why we should be going to church, paying tithing, reading scriptures, fasting, etc. It's not about who sees us, but rather the heart with which we do all of those things. It's about developing our relationship with God......praying "in secret" and just talking to Him, not making a show of it for everyone else to be like, "Oh! (S)he's such an awesome and spiritual person...." blah blah blah.

Anyway. Just keep in mind the intent you should be doing all of these things.

Day 80 ~ "I Love to See the Temple!"

Day 80:

-Read: 3 Nephi 11-12

-Mark: 3 Nephi 11:10-11

"Look to the temple of the Lord as the great symbol of your membership...As we attend the temple, we learn more richly and deeply the purpose of life and the significance of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us make the temple, with temple worship and temple covenants and temple marriage, our ultimate earthly goal and the supreme mortal experience."

~President Howard W. Hunter

Something to think about: The Nephites were gathered at the temple when the Savior visited them. How are you preparing to go to the temple?

The Prophet not only tells us of the importance of the temple, but the scriptures testify of it as well!! From today's reading, here is what I found:

In chapter 11, verse 1 it says, "And now it came to pass that there were a great multitude gathered together, of the people of Nephi, round about the temple.." This is a great example, showing that we need to attend the temple! They did it then....we need to do it now :)

In verse 2 it states, "And they were also conversing about this Jesus Christ, of whom the sigh had been given concerning his death." We need to talk about and learn of Christ, for he is the example we need to be following each day of our lives.

Then in verse 5 it says, "And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came." We need to seek/look for guidance and the answers to our questions and prayers. If we take the time to listen or "open [our] ears to hear it," the Lord will guide us and bless us.

The temple is a beautiful and wonderful place. I always feel my cup has been filled when I leave there. I don't see why it's so hard for us to want to attend and to find the time, especially when it's such a happy place, where we can feel the love of our Savior, and see His work progressing. That is something we should always want.

Make going to the temple a priority! Don't take your worthiness for granted. There are many people who are unable to attend (either they aren't worthy or don't know of the gospel) and that is just a disrespect to them in a way. But mostly, it's a disrespect to God. He has provided His house for us to go and come closer to Him. Also, we pay tithing which helps build them! They aren't being built just for looks. Go inside, feel for yourself... :)

Day 79 ~ U-Turn

Day 79:

-Read: 3 Nephi 9-10

-Mark: 3 Nephi 9:13-15

"An atonement was made. Ever and always it offers amnesty from transgression and from death if we will but repent. Repentance is the escape clause in it all. Repentance is the key with which we can unlock the prison from inside. We hold that key within our hands.....Humbly I lay claim upon the atonement of Christ. I find no shame in kneeling down in worship of our Father and His Son."

~President Boyd K. Packer

Something to think about: What can the Lord do for you when you repent?

The Atonement and Repentance are truly beautiful if you think about it. Christ will forgive and forget all of our wrongdoings if we will repent and try to become better. He won't hold anything against us! If only it were that easy for us to do to others in this life.

I took a few minutes to think up some things that go hand-in-hand with what the repentance process should be:

R-Renewal of our covenants

E-Error (correcting them)

P-Penitence

E-Edified

N-Not repeating action(s)

T-Tribulation

A-Asking forgiveness

N-kNeeling down in humble prayer

C-Coming closer to Christ

E-at Ease

Try to live each day so that you can do/feel each one of these. I promise you'll be happier if you stop and fix yourself and whatever problem(s) you might be having. Become At One with God.

The church is true.