Day 2: 1 Nephi 6-10

Welcome to Day 2 of our epic journey!

                                                     

Today, Lehi's sons return to Jerusalem to invite Ishmael and his lovely daughters to join their wilderness adventure! (Interesting, there is no murmuring THIS time. Haha) 

At one point, the journey gets quite challenging and Laman and Lemuel don't take Nephi's chastisement too well. 

Tied up, and fearing for his life, Nephi pleads with the Lord."Give me strength that I may burst these bands." 

Elder Bednar comments on this prayer:

“Do you know what I likely would have prayed for if I had been tied up by my brothers? My prayer would have included a request for something bad to happen to my brothers and ended with the phrase ‘wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren’ or, in other words, ‘Please get me out of this mess, now!’ It is especially interesting to me that Nephi did not pray, as I probably would have prayed, to have his circumstances changed. Rather, he prayed for the strength to change his circumstances. And may I suggest that he prayed in this manner precisely because he knew and understood and had experienced the enabling power of the Atonement of the Savior. …

“Brothers and sisters, the implication of this episode for each of us is quite straightforward. As you and I come to understand and employ the enabling power of the Atonement in our personal lives, we will pray and seek for strength to change our circumstances rather than praying for our circumstances to be changed. We will become agents who ‘act’ rather than objects that are ‘acted upon’ (2 Nephi 2:14)”

          
Today we also read of Lehi's incredible dream, loaded with powerful symbolism. (More on the interpretation tomorrow. The videos at the end of today's blog also expound on the dream.)

              

This cartoon of Lehi's dream, drawn by my father, made quite an impression on me as a child. I'll never forget the visual message: Cling to that iron rod with all your heart, might, mind, strength, teeth and toes!! Take NO HEED of those laughing and pointing from the large and spacious building. If anything, cling tighter. 

John Bytheway once joked that the people were all hanging out the windows pointing and laughing because there was nothing good going on INSIDE the building. Haha! 

I love Nephi's simple but powerful words: "We heeded them NOT."

Let's be among "those who are not of the world" and let's partake of the "fruit of the tree" to "fill [our] souls with exceedingly great joy!"



Time to READ and cling to that ROD! 

This short video clip will help set the tone for our study session today:

 

• Opening Song "The Iron Rod":

• Open study session with prayer
• Scripture Study: 1 Nephi 6-10
• Study Guide: (here)
• Scripture to Mark and Ponder: 
  1 Nephi 7:12 "Yea, and how is it that ye have forgotten that the Lord is able to do all things according to his will, for the children of men, if it so be that they exercise faith in him? Wherefore, let us be faithful to him."

1 Nephi 10:19 "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 to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round."

                             

“Families who prayerfully prepare and consistently hold Home Evenings, and who work together during the week to apply the lessons in their lives, will be blessed. There will be better feelings between husband and wife, between parents and children, and among children. In such homes, the Spirit of the Lord will be made manifest.” – Pres David O. McKay

Children's video on today's reading:

• Complete study session with prayer and record thoughts and impressions in your journal.  

Supplemental videos:

Day 1: 1 Nephi 1-5

Welcome to Day 1 of our 80 Day Challenge!! 

The epic adventure begins...

Today we are introduced to lovable, large-in-stature Nephi, born of goodly parents whom he honored and obeyed - even when his father Lehi dragged his family into the wilderness to "dwell in a tent." We learn so many beautiful lessons from Nephi in these chapters. He's not perfect, he has his doubts and things are difficult for him, but this is how he handles it:

"...I did cry unto the Lord and behold he did visit me and soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore I did not rebel against him like my brothers." (1 Nephi 2:16) 

He was human, but humble and obedient and turned to God for answers - so the Lord was able to work with him! That's reassuring, as we can all be a powerful instrument in the Lord's hands despite our weaknesses if we are humble and willing.

I'm inspired by Nephi's words when he fearfully approached Laban's house for the second time: "And I was lead by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." (1 Nephi 4:6) How often do we go forward in faith, not having a clue HOW things work out, but feeling the Spirit guiding us to "go and do" certain things?

Nephi was obedient, by nature. He did not seek to be the exception to the commandment, "Thou shalt not kill," but was told by the Spirit THREE TIMES to slay Laban. He was obedient to the Lord's commandments and didn't want to break them. If we are praying and hoping to BE an exception to a commandment, we may be off track.
                    

I am SOOO looking forward to the next 80 days together! If life gets CRAZY and you fall behind, just listen to the audio of the reading assignment, but keep plugging away! There are "make-up days" here and there, so it's very doable! "...he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." (1 Nephi 3:7) Haha.

Some families are tackling the 80 Day Challenge together. Wonderful! I post children's videos on the blog as well, although grown ups enjoy them too. :) You will not always have time to do everything on the blog. The important thing is to read or listen to the reading assignments, and supplement with things on the blog as time permits.

Well, let's hop to it!! Thrilled to have you on board and excited for the spiritual strength and power we are about to generate as we feast on the word of God together! :)

Heidi Jarvis

We will begin each study session with a song and prayer to invite the spirit.

• Opening Song: "I Will Go and Do What the Lord Hath Commanded"

• Open Study Session with Prayer
• Scripture Study: 1 Nephi 1-5
• Study Guide: (here)

• Scripture to Mark and Ponder: 1 Nephi 3:7
• Children's Videos:

                               

1 Nephi 2:16 "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord, and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like my brothers."

“It is the right and privilege of every man, every women, and every child who has reached the years of accountability to enjoy the spirit of revelation, and to be possessed of the spirit of inspiration in the discharge of their duties as member of the Church.” – 
Pres. Joseph Smith

• Record thoughts and impressions in your journal.

• Close with prayer and have a beautiful day! 

Supplemental video: Discussions on the Book of Mormon 1 Nephi 1-2

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY!!!

On your marks...get set...

BOOK OF MORMON 80 DAY CHALLENGE 
READING ASSIGNMENTS:

Day 0: Introductory Pages to the Book of Mormon
Day 1: 1 Nephi 1-5
Day 2: 1 Nephi 6-10
Day 3: 1 Nephi 11-13
Day 4: 1 Nephi 14-15
Day 5: 1 Nephi 16-17
Day 6: 1 Nephi 18-19
Day 7: 1 Nephi 20-22
Day 8: **MAKE UP DAY**
Day 9: 2 Nephi 1-2
Day 10: 2 Nephi 3-4
Day 11: 2 Nephi 5-7
Day 12: 2 Nephi 8-9
Day 13: 2 Nephi 10-12
Day 14: 2 Nephi 13-17
Day 15: 2 Nephi 18-21
Day 16: 2 Nephi 22-26
Day 17: **MAKE-UP DAY**
Day 18: 2 Nephi 27-31
Day 19: 2 Nephi 32-33; Jacob 1-2
Day 20: Jacob 3-6
Day 21: Jacob 7, Enos: Jarom; Omni
Day 22: Words of Mormon: Mosiah 1-2
Day 23: Mosiah 3-6
Day 24: Mosiah 7-10
Day 25 **MAKE-UP DAY**
Day 26: Mosiah 11-14
Day 27: Mosiah 15-19
Day 28: Mosiah 20-23
Day 29: Mosiah 24-26
Day 30: Mosiah 27-29, Alma 1
Day 31: Alma 2-4
Day 32: Alma 5-6
Day 33: Alma 7-8
Day 34: **MAKE-UP DAY**
Day 35: Alma 9-10
Day 36: Alma 11-12
Day 37: Alma 13-14
Day 38: Alma 15-17
Day 39: Alma 18-20
Day 40: Alma 21-24
Day 41: Alma 25-28
Day 42: Alma 29-31
Day 43: Alma 32-34
Day 44: Alma 35-37
Day 45: **MAKE-UP DAY**
Day 46: Alma 38-41
Day 46: Alma 38-41
Day 47: Alma 42-44
Day 48: Alma 45-46
Day 49: Alma 47-49
Day 50: Alma 50-51
Day 51: Alma 52-55
Day 52: Alma 56-57
Day 53: **MAKE-UP DAY**
Day 54: Alma 58-61
Day 55:Alma 62-Helaman 1
Day 56: Helaman 2-5
Day 57: Helaman 6-8
Day 58: Helaman 9-12
Day 59: Helaman 13-15
Day 60 **MAKE-UP DAY**
Day 61: Helaman 16; 3 Nephi 1-3
Day 62:3 Nephi 4-7
Day 63: 3 Nephi 8-11
Day 64: 3 Nephi 12-15
Day 65: 3 Nephi 16-19
Day 66: 3 Nephi 20-23
Day 67:**MAKE-UP DAY**
Day 68: 3 Nephi 24-30
Day 69: 4 Nephi-Mormon 2
Day 70: Mormon 3-6
Day 71: Mormon 7-8
Day 72: Mormon 9-Ether 2
Day 73: **MAKE-UP DAY**
Day 74: Ether 3-5
Day 75: Ether 6-9
Day 76: Ether 10-12
Day 77: Ether 13-15
Day 78: Moroni 1-6
Day 79: Moroni 7-8
Day 80: Moroni 9-10

Prepare for Our Epic Adventure!!

Watch this short  video clip to get psyched for our epic adventure! Then watch the video explaining the divine purposes of the Book of Mormon!   

                    

The Divine Purposes of the Book of Mormon Part One: 

“There is a book we need to study daily, both as individuals and as a family, namely the Book of Mormon. I love that book...let us continually reread the Book of Mormon so that we might more fully come to Christ, be committed to Him, centered in Him, and consumed in Him….The moment you begin a serious study of the Book of Mormon, you will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the straight and narrow path…When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance.” – President Ezra Taft Benson