Abiding Precepts – 1 Nephi 17

Read the full chapter here: 1 Nephi 17

Passage #1

. . . and notwithstanding we had suffered many afflictions and much difficulty, yea, even so much that we cannot write them all, we were exceedingly rejoiced when we came to the seashore . . .

1 Nephi 17:6

Precept #1

Even when things are rough find reasons to rejoice.

What personal challenge have you thanked God for while you were in the thick of things?

Passage #2

And I will also be your light in the wilderness . . .

1 Nephi 17:13

Precept #2

Let the Savior light your way.

Have you ever given the Lord complete control over a particular circumstance or goal in your life?

Passage #3

. . . and now when they saw that I began to be sorrowful they were glad in their hearts, insomuch that they did rejoice over me, saying: We knew that ye could not construct a ship, for we knew that ye were lacking in judgment; wherefore, thou canst not accomplish so great a work.

1 Nephi 17:19

Precept #3

Don’t think you understand what another person is thinking – least of all God.

Have you ever been led in the wrong direction because you assumed you knew what God was thinking instead of listening for an answer?

Passage #4

Yea, do ye suppose that they would have been led out of bondage, if the Lord had not commanded Moses that he should lead them out of bondage?

1 Nephi 17:24

Precept #4

Follow the prophet.

Can you remember a situation where following the prophet saved you a whole lot of grief? Or pulled you out of a bad situation getting worse?

Passage #5

Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God.

1 Nephi 17:35

Precept #5

Don’t think you’re more important than you are simply because you’re part of the “right” faith, family, or fortune. Value righteousness above all else.

What’s more important to you: Being part of the club or living like Jesus lived?

Bonus Passage

Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God.

1 Nephi 17:45

Bonus Precept

Be swift to remember the Lord and slow to break His commandments.

How does remembering Jesus help you make better decision? How does it help keep you from making poor ones?

Published by Russty

I remember my first truly sacred experience when I was 12 years old. The next was somewhere around 14. My teenage years after that - after beginning a life-long study of the LDS canon of scripture - was chalked full of sacred experience after sacred experience which have developed in me a love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and a devotion to His teachings as taught in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Because of those experiences as a young man I can say for sure that Jesus Christ lives today and is the Son of the Living God. He atoned for me and has "redeemed my soul from hell." It was in those years that I learned for myself that the Book of Mormon is the true word of God. That came to be a huge social battle for one young as I was growing up in the Bible belt. I spent those years trying to live my life in such a way that people would know that I was a follower of Christ only to find out after years of hanging out with my friends that none of them believed I was Christian. This was devestating to me, a young man simply trying to show a good example as a follower of Christ. I felt like I had failed. It was only after serving my two year mission for the LDS Church that I realized the reason for their opinion was simply because our definition of what it meant to be Christian was drastically different. For me it had been about following Christ and living His teachings. For them it was whether or not my beliefs fell within their narrowly defined window of what they believed about God and Jesus Christ. I realize now that I was doomed to fail from the beginning! It was in those years while I was trying to show people that I was a follower of Christ - facing opposition from friend, minister, and teacher alike - that I began studying the scriptures not just to understand His Gospel, but to come to understand answers to the challenges I was being presented with. In short I became as much of a Mormon apologist as a teenage boy with little education could ever become. But I at least had the scriptures and and the guidance of truly devoted and inspired friends and teachers - and that was all I needed. It is this pattern of questioning and searching for answers which has informed all of my scripture study and learning over the years of my life since then. My research and understanding of the Gospel, the Church, The Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith have all grown and expanded because of that constant and consistent devotion to studying. And they will all continue to do so - for the knowledge of God is infinite and there is no way in the life to learn it all. This blog is an outlet for all I have learned and considered over the years of my Gospel study. I have found - as many people who have come to know the teachings of Christ the way I have - that when the Word is a part of one's soul he or she cannot escape the desire to share It. So share it I do. There are imperfections and missing pieces in what I write, but all in all I truly feel the Lord has blessed me with the one thing I have desired more than almost anything else: a well rounded understanding of His doctrine and truth as He has given to us at this point. Please forgive my imperfections for this blog is as much about improving myself and my own knowledge and faith in God and Christ as it is for helping anyone else do the same.

Abiding Precepts, Russty's Daily Coat, The Book of Mormon

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