Thursday 25th September 2008
Read 1 Nephi 10-14
Points that I found interest in was:
1. The angel in chapter 11 who was speaking with Nephi. I like the way he teaches Nephi. I think it is a great pattern for me to learn how to teach my children (and others when needed). He brings Nephi to a place (top of the mountain) and starts asking questions of Nephi (what desirest thou etc etc). Nephi gives the answer, that he desires to know and see and understand the interpretation of what his father has just taught him about the vision of the tree of life. The angel then does not just lay it before him and say… this means this and that means that. But he shows Nephi to some visions and from Nephi opening his own eyes and thinking and pondering, he understands the interpretation of his father’s vision. I think that is a great tool of teaching, guiding the student to a certain place (ie scriptures, prophets’ talks etc the list goes on) and then asking questions, and letting them search themselves. Awsome stuff.
2. The end of chapter 11 when the angel talks about the crucifiction and then the house of Israel gathering to fight against the apostles of the Lamb of God. And the last verse describing how the world and all those who fight against the Lamb of God will fall like the great and spacious building. This impresses me so much to always be on the side of the Apostles of the Lamb of God, for if I am in contradiction to them for whatever issue, then great shall be my fall.
3. Chapter 12 vs 17-18. Describes the mists of darkness and the filthy waters. And I never took notice before of the gulf between the rod and the great and spacious building which is described by the angel as being “the word of the justice of the Eternal God”. This says to me that those who are in opposition to God’s law are totally separate from the tree, it is black and white the decisions they are making. So once again it is emphasized to me that I must be on the side of the rod, taking hold of it, else I am in opposition to God.
4. Chapter 13 describing the great and abominable church of the Devil. In vs 5 it describes how this church with the Devil at it’s head “slayeth the saints of God, yeah, and tortureth them and bindeth them down, and yoketh them with a yoke of iron”. Now Look at the footnote for “yoke”, it says, spiritual bondage. How can the church of the devil bring the ‘Saints’ of God under spiritual bondage. Now look at what the yoke is made of?? Iron… ie: the iron rod. If saints fall into spiritual bondage (or let go of the IRON rod), then they have only themselves to blame. I think the only role the church of the Devil plays in this is the temptations placed before the saints of God. We are spiritually bound by the justice of the Word of God (iron rod) when we sin.
|