I Will Go and DO
I am a member of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints. We believe
in the bible to be the word of God. We also believe in the Book of Mormon to be
the word of God. It is a second testament of Jesus Christ our Savior. 37 years
ago I attended BYU-Utah but now I am 56 years old and have returned to the college
education system. I am attending BYU-Idaho the first year through the Pathway
program. It is 2 online college classes a semester with college credits for 3
semesters. The program introduces you into or back into college. It is also an affordable
option to college and I can stay here at home to complete the classes and work
towards a degree. One of the cool things
is that my husband is also in the program. We are each other’s cheer leaders.
One of my classes is a religion class. We
are studying the 1st half of the Book of Mormon. I have read the
Book of Mormon many times and have felt the truth and power of that book. Even
though I have read it many times their will be many things to discover, nuggets
to glean and truth to be learned as I study and discuss the things we are studying
and learning with others. Sharing with
my husband, with my family, with my friends, with my online classmates and with
the other students that gather each Thursday. As one of our assignments we are
to share and teach some nugget of learning that was of worth to us from this week’s
lesson. Many things were taught and all the truth is of worth but I will choose
something that touched me this time. Each time you read something you respond
to something different. Depending on what may be happening in your life or
where you are at spiritually.
We studied from 1 Nephi 1 – 5. One of my favorite scriptures is 1 Nephi 3:7 “I,
Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath
commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of
men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing
which he commandeth them. “
I started seminary which is a LDS gospel
learning class for 9th grade to 12th grade students
before I was baptized a member of the church. I joined the church not long
after I started class. This was the first scripture I ever memorized. I learned “I will go and do.” I realized I
wanted to do what the Lord commanded. As
I read, watched the videos, studied and listened to my classmates this week I
was touched by several things.
Lehi and his family escaped Jerusalem
because they were in danger because of Lehi’s prophesying to call the people of
Jerusalem to repent. God told them to leave. Nephi’s father, was told by God to
send his sons back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates, which was scripture. Two
of Lehi’s sons were murmuring and complaining and said it was a hard thing
required of them. Lehi told Nephi that
he was not requiring it but that God was.
Nephi was told he shall be favored of the Lord because he did not murmur
and that is when Nephi told his father that he would go and do as the Lord
commanded.
I crossed referenced that scripture with
other scriptures Philippians 4:13 “ I can do all things through Christ which
strengtheneth me” 1 Nephi 17:3 “And
thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be
that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and
strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which
he has commanded them…” 1 Nephi 17:50 “…If God had commanded me to do all
things I could do them… Doctrine and Covenants 5:34 “…I will provide
means whereby thou mayest accomplish the thing which I have commanded thee.”
It took Nephi and his brother’s 3 times
before successfully getting the brass plates from Laban. The man who had them
at the time. After the 1st
try was unsuccessful the young men were becoming exceedingly sorrowful. Laman
and Lemuel were ready to turn around and go back to their father in the
wilderness. Nephi refused and said in 1
Nephi 3:15 “…As the Lord liveth as we live, we will not go down unto our father
in the wilderness until we accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded
us.” Nephi refused to leave until he accomplished what God wanted him to do.
The question was asked in a media clip I listened to by Stan Kevett “how do we
handle our challenges?”
Not only our challenges but how do we
handle our day to day life? Do we go and do? Do we have faith that Our Father
in heaven and his Son Jesus Christ will be there for us in all aspects of our
life. Do we believe that the way will be open to accomplish the things which He
desires from us? I believe that it is possible. In fact I know it is. I have
accomplished difficult things in my life knowing the Savior was there helping
to open the way for me. I know that we
are a child of God and we are loved by him and our brother Jesus Christ. You and I can do all things through Christ who
will strengthen me and you.
