Music for Sunday

I'm at work on a Sunday. What can I do? This is a pretty nice station:

http://www.byuradio.org/streaming/

The First Book of Nephi Chapter 7

1 Nephi 7:1

Nephi and his brother were suppose to "raise up seed unto the Lord in the land of promise."

I live in the land of promise. I have children. Am I raising them up unto the Lord?

1 Nephi 7:4

Nephi and his brothers "did gain favor in the sight of Ishmael" before they "did speak unto him the words of the Lord."

1 Nephi 7:5

It was the Lord that "did soften the heart of Ishmael" and his family. This seems to be a gift from God. Is it gift from God is the same way that charity is a gift from God and has requirements? (See Moroni 7:48). Nephi's heart was softened by the Lord. What did he do? (See 1 Nephi 2:16).

• Although he was "exceedingly young" he was mature ("large in stature")
• He wanted "to know the mystries of God..." And by mystries I believe that he was after those things that would bring him to a knowledge of his Redeemer and the very points of His doctrine, that he might know how to come unto Him and be saved (see 1 Nephi 15:14).
• He prayed and he probably pray diligently for awhile (see 1 Nephi 2:19).

After this the Lord did "visit" him and "did soften" his "heart," and he "did believe all of the words " of his father the prophet (see 1 Nephi 2:16).

1 Nephi 7:6

Is this a case of "opposition in all things"? (See 2Nephi 2:11). Lehi's family has 2 sons that are obedient to their parents (see Exodus 20:12) and Ishmael's family has 2 sons and 2 daughters that rebel against him. Laman and Lemuel rebel against there father (see 1 Nephi 2:11-12) In there own eyes they are a "righteous people" (see 1 Nehi 17:22) just like those in Jerusalem who tried to slay their father Lehi (see 1 Nephi 1:20). In fact Nephi tells them that they are murders just before they try to kill him the second time (see (first) 1 Nephi 7:16 ; (second) 1 Nephi 17:44).

How could they be so wicked and not think of themselves as OK? Were they simply not "doers" but "hears only, deceiving their own selves? (See James 1:22).

How am I like them? Do I honor my parents? When I am angery to wish harm upon those with whom I am angery?

Did they "straightway forget what manner of men they were? (See James 1:23-24).

Do I straight was forget what manner of man I am when things are difficult or hard?

Laman and Lemuel has some real problems:

• They were hard in their hearts. See 1 Nephi 7:8.
  
• Blind in their minds. See 1 Nehi 7:8.
• They would not "hearken() unto the word of the Lord". See 1 Nephi 7:9.
• They did not know "the dealings of that God who had created them" (see 1 Nephi 2:12).
• They did not believe in God and the things He could do (see 1 Nephi 2:13 and 1 Nephi 15:8-9).
  
• Because their hearts were hard "did not look unto the Lord as they ought" (see 1 Nephi 15:3).

In what ways am I like Laman and Lemuel? Do I look to the Lord as I ought? Do I believe in Him and the things He can do? Do I "search the scriptures" (see John 5:39; Alma 33:2); ? Do I listen to the counsels of the modern prophets? Where am I blind in my mind and hard in my heart?

Do I forget what the Lord has done for me? Do I forget that He has delivered me? (See 1 Nephi 7:11).

Do I forget that He is able to do all things according to His will for me, if I exercise faith in Him? What must I do so that I can be faithful to Him? (See 1 Nephi 7:12).

Nephi was so forward looking. He look to the time when they would "obtain the land of promise." He trust that in some future time the verisity of the things the Lord had said would be verified. See 1 Nephi 7:13.

When Nephi was bound what did he do?

• He prayed (1 Nephi 7:17).
  
• He ask according to his faith in the Lord ( 1 Nephi 7:17).
• He ask to be delivered (1 Nephi 1:17).

When he did these things the Lord simply loosed the bands from his hands and feet (see 1 Nephi 7:18). It was nothing spectacular. It was some that was a "small and simple" thing (see Alma 37:6-7).

1 Nephi 7:20

How could they be so sorrowful here but later continue to try to kill there brother? (See 1 Nehi 17:48; 2 Nephi 5:1-4). They were sorrowful but they did not come unto Christ. (See 1 Nephi 15:3). Therefore when Nephi tried to speak the words of God to them they thought they were his words. They dispised God and His words because they did not humble themselves and come unto Him. (See 1 Nephi 15:3; 2 Nephi 4:13).

In their pride they did not want Nephi or God to rule over them (see 2 Nephi 5:3)

It is like President Benson said:

"The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means 'hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.' It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us.

"Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s. When we direct our pride toward God, it is in the spirit of 'my will and not thine be done.' As Paul said, they 'seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.' (Philip. 2:21.)"

(Ezra Taft Benson, “Beware of Pride,” Ensign, May 1989, 4).

Why did'nt Lehi go with his sons back to Jesusalem? Was it because the Jew were trying to kill him?

When I rebell against God it is most likely that my family will follow, just like the sons of Ishmael and their families (see 1 Nephi 7:6).

LDS Music

This is a site of LDS artist.

http://www.ldsmusicworld.com/

This is a site to download music.

http://www.ldsaudio.com/

World Wide Training

This is a wonderful broad cast.

You can get to it by selecting 'Gospel Library' and than 'Broadcasts'. Than select Worldwide Leadership Training: Supporting the Family

There is also a wonder PDF and audio.

A Wonderful Talk

This is a wonderful talk by Gene R. Cook

http://www.byui.edu/.../060315CookDevotional.htm

This is the audio of the talk

http://streaming.byui.edu/.../2006_03_14_Cook.wma

I have listened to this a talk a couple of times. It is excellent.