"Great and Terrible"

Last week, I took a walk around the neighborhood with my dear friend, Lou.  He was born in 1929 and over his lifetime, he has witnessed a lot of change in our world for good and bad.  As we walked, he expressed to me his fears of the future.  It's rare for me to hear Lou express anything that isn't positively upbeat and optimistic.... besides, I was surprised someone of his age worrying like he was because he won't have to live through much more.  But even though his years ahead are few, his children will still be here, and his children's children.  He asked, "Oh Alicia, what kind of world will they live in?"

I told Lou that the night before I had a similar conversation with my sisters-in-law.  Eight of us had gotten together for a girls night and the topic of the presidential election came up:  We all wondered and marveled together how America got to the place that it's in.  We discussed the possible changes we would face; the economy, religious freedom, parental rights, the persecutions that might come, the struggles and the hardships.  But the tone of the conversation shifted from the "terrible" and turned to the "great".  Soon, we began testifying of the miracles we would witness and have already witnessed, we began talking about the amazing youth who make daily deliberate choices to be true to the faith in the face of so much opposition.  We shared examples in the scriptures and personal testimony.

I put my arm around my friend and said, "Lou, your children will experience great things!  Joel said that it will be a 'great and terrible day'.  Sometimes, I think we forget the part that it will be great."  First Nephi 22:17 says that "the righteous need not fear".  I then shared with Lou the story from 2Kings chapter 16 about Elisha and the young servant completely encompassed by the Syrian army.  Lou had forgotten that story in the scriptures and he listened intently.  (It's not that he's never read it but that his memory is not well and sometimes he forgets me too.) I told him about the servant who was with Elisha when the Syrian army sought their lives... the young man opened the tent door and saw that they were surrounded on every side by their enemies and it filled him with terror. I told him how Elisha prayed that the young servant's eyes would be open.   When he looked out again, the veil was lifted from him and he saw hosts of angels (much more numerous than their enemy) standing in readiness to defend and protect Elisha and the young man.

I stopped and turned to Lou, placing my hand reassuringly on his shoulder, "I know that the darker the night gets, the brighter the stars shine.  We are going to see amazing things.  We are constantly, everyday, surrounded by angels.  We don't see them but they go before us and they have our back.  I know this!"  He was quiet and I could see tears well up in my friend's eyes, "Oh, thank you... I needed that.  Thank you for sharing that with me."  I hugged my friend and wished him a good night as he walked inside his home still thanking me, "Really, that makes me feel so much better.  Oh, how I needed that. Thank you again."

This morning in my scripture studies I was reminded of my walk with Lou and his concern for our country when I read, "We can behold the decrees of God concerning this land, that it is a land of promise; and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall serve God, or they shall be swept off when the fulness of his wrath shall come upon them. And the fulness of his wrath cometh upon them when they are ripened in iniquity." (Ether 2:9)

I recalled Mormon chapter 9 just a few pages earlier.  I love that chapter... because out of all the books of scriptures, out of all the numerous chapters written by ancient prophets, Mormon 9 is the one that mentions the word, "miracle" more than any other.  (14 times to be exact)

I love to hear Moroni's testimony.  If anyone knew what it was like to watch a nation fall apart, it was him.  But Moroni kept the faith and held fast in his testimony...  even when he stood alone.  Really, we have everything to hope for and look forward to.

"Behold, I will show unto you a God of miracles" - Moroni

-Alicia :)
Terror, Triumph, and a Wedding Feast

Two Sticks - Now One

I'm 153 pages away from reading the entire Old Testament.  This is not really that great of a feat since I've never done it before.  I've read the New Testament a couple of times but I've never been able to say that about the Old.  If another Christian from a different faith were to ask me if I've ever read the Bible all the way through, I'd be embarrased if I couldn't say that I have.  How would I reconcile with them our 8th article of faith.  I want to be able to honestly answer,"Yes, I've read the Bible - all of it, every last bit."  I started my goal to read the Old Testament all the way through probably around six years ago.  So it's taken some time.  I haven't been extremely dilligent but I've slowly pressed through.

Now I must admit that the King James Version isn't exactly a "page turner" the way the language is written can be a little hard to understand and can take some serious "chewing before swallowing."  But I have a little secret that has helped me through my study called biblegateway.com  There, I like to use the New International Version.  I match it up with my KJV, my footnotes, and the JST (Joseph Smith Translation) when needed.  It really makes the chapters much more clear and a ton easier to read.  Some of the versions on Bible Gateway can be pretty funny like the really modern language translation called "The Message."  As fun as that is, you won't find "Da Hawaiin Pidgin Bible" there... that's another website. ;)

I've read the Book of Mormon more than 20 times.  (What's interesting is how my testimony of the Bible has been strengthened through reading it.)  The Book of Mormon is just as it says on the cover, "Another Testament of Jesus Christ."  It is also a witness of the Bible.

Currently, I'm in the begining of Ezekiel.  Some of the most well-known verses are found in the center of chapter 36 where the Lord speaks of giving us a new heart and a new Spirit.  And then in chapter 37, where the word of the Lord comes to the prophet and commands him to "take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions: And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand.  And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?  Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand.  And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes."  Ezekiel 37:16-20

Under "Book of Mormon" on the "Gospel Topic Guide" it states:
The Book of Mormon is another witness of Jesus Christ and confirms the truths found in the Holy Bible. Far from undermining the Bible, the Book of Mormon supports its testimony of Jesus Christ. One passage says that the Book of Mormon “shall establish the truth” of the Bible “and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved” (1 Nephi 13:40).

I have witnessed this for myself.  The Book of Mormon makes the perfect mission companion to the Bible.  It doesn't undermine it in any way rather it supports and upholds it!!  Because of the miracles that have come into my life from daily personal scripture study, I can truly say that I don't just believe God speaks to prophets both ancient and modern, I can say I KNOW He does!  I know that Jesus is the Christ, my Redeemer and Savior.  I know He lives and I cannot deny it.  What a wonderful and glorious Gospel this is!

-Alicia