You know this week I have learned quite a valuable lesson. With a lot of things happening last week regarding tough situations getting tougher, I felt like 2 pence. Despite having experienced some rough spots, I was studying deeper into the Book of Mormon and found some great insights as to the example Nephi is to his brothers and how I can be that example for others too!

Nephi was a strong courageous man who had before the vision of the tree of life experienced some marvelous things in his life. However great a person is, there must be some trial of faith in a person’s life in order for the Lord to know that this person is wiling to believe, and that came in the form of Lehi’s vision and his revelations regarding the Promised Land and the coming forth of the Messiah. Nephi desires to know not only the vision given to his father regarding the tree of life, but it is assumed from the result and his testimony that he had a desire to know more! It is apparent that after all these things had been told to Nephi in his father’s tent that he Desired to know of the truthfulness of it because of how specific his question was!

In 1 Nephi 10:17-19 it reads:

“And it came to pass after I, Nephi, having heard all the words of my father, concerning the things which he saw in a vision, and also the things which he spake by the power of the Holy Ghost, which power he received by faith on the Son of God—and the Son of God was the Messiah who should come—I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men. For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him. For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round.”

I find his example of a desire to learn amazing, yet his testimony he bears in the Book of Mormon shows how much he already knows and where his standing is. Like the Father with the possessed child in Mark, Nephi asks his question with his statement of what he already knows. The Lord want’s us to remember what we already believe, and then to ask with a sincere heart and not to apologize for asking something too specific.

This week has been great and hopefully these pictures brighten your day!!!

Elder Bang