BOM Reading pgs 98-112

Brothers and Sisters,

I know 2 Nephi is sometimes a hard book to get through especially, with families of small children like we currently have! However, I appreciate the writings in these chapters because the study of it helps us gain greater understanding of the basic doctrines of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I loved reading and pondering the prophecies from Nephi, Jacob, and Isaiah as they gave prophecy of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in our day, the scattering and gathering of God’s covenant people, the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, and the Millennium.

In 2 Nephi 30:9–10, Nephi prophesies of a time when “the Lord God shall cause a great division among the people, and the wicked will he destroy; and he will spare his people.” So the question we need to ask ourselves is what must we do in order to be on the Lord’s side of this great division that is occurring?  The answer I believe is simple in thought (remember our thoughts proceed action so this is a good place to start! 😉) but, sometimes more difficult in action. In order to be numbered among the Lord’s people, we simply need to separate ourselves from worldly ways now! 

So, how do we do this? Elder Neil L. Andersen stated: "Overcoming the world is not one defining moment in a lifetime, but a lifetime of moments that define an eternity. "Elder Larry W. Gibbons of the Seventy said: “In this day of moral relativism we must be prepared to take a stand and say, ‘This is right, and this is wrong.’ We cannot follow the crowd! We can be in the world, go to school, go to work, join worthwhile community organizations, and so forth. But we must hold to the Lord’s standards."

Life is a journey with a beginning and an end. We are striving to live celestial lives here in mortality and I have learned that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Brothers and sisters, walk and stay on the straight and narrow path. In fact, stay in the middle of the straight and narrow path! Don’t drift; don’t wander; don’t dabble; be careful! I know that if we keep the commandments and endure to the end we will receive eternal life and I know that is the greatest gift God has to offer us. He loves us and He wants us to return home to Him after we have completed that which is needed for us to become more like Him. If you are attending church regularly to partake of the sacrament and renewing your baptismal covenants each week then, you are becoming more like Christ. Next step is to help others come unto Christ while striving to live life to be able to enjoy the blessings of the temple.

Wherever we are in our journey, we can take inventory, assess, and make necessary corrective actions to ensure we are on the Lord’s side when he surely comes again. What are some thoughts or suggestions you have that can help ensure we are on the Lord’s side of this great division of good and evil that is occurring? 

Sincerely, 

The Mathis Family

 

George A. Mathis, Jr. - Stake Clerk

Orlando Florida Hunters Creek Stake