I always felt a kinship with the Book Of Mormon Prophet, Nephi.. When I read these scriptures this morning I felt I heard Nephi feeling sorry for himself, in verse 5, because he had just found out that his people would eventually be destroyed. In verse 6 he does something to get control of his thoughts.
1Nephi:
5And it came to pass that I was overcome because of my afflictions, for I considered that mine afflictions were great above all, because of the destuction of my people, for I had beheld their fall.
6And it came to pass that after I had received strength I spake unto my brethren…
Many years ago, when I first read the Book of Mormon for myself, I read these verses in 2Nephi Chapter 4 and instantly they became my favorite scripture and my own prayer. I felt that Nephi had eloquently put into words my own thoughts and feelings:
17Nevertheless, notwithstanding the great goodness of the Lord, in showing me his great and marvelous works, my heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities.
18I am encompassed about, because of the temptations and the sins which do so easily beset me.
19And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.
20My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.
21He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.
22He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.
23Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night-time.
24And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.
25And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them.
26O then, if I have seen so great things, if the Lord in his condescension unto the children of men hath visited men in so much mercy, why should my heart weep and my soul linger in the valley of sorrow, and my flesh waste away, and my strength slacken, because of mine afflictions?
27And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my cpeace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?
28Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.
29Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.
30Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
31O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?
32May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!
33O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way—but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.
34O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.
35Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. Yea, my God will give me, if I ask not amiss; therefore I will lift up my voice unto thee; yea, I will cry unto thee, my God, the rock of my righteousness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen.
So I was going to write my thoughts on this and I came across an article that said what I was thinking and then some. So…
Tomorrow, part 2 - the article
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