Steps to Righteous Parenting | Parenting the Way the Savior Would | How to Be More Patient

 A few weeks ago, I was invited to do an in-depth study on the talk, "Adorned with the Virtue of Temperance," By Elder Ulisses Soares in relation to parenting. I love how Elder Soares taught that “Temperance harmonizes and strengthens other Christlike attributes mentioned in this revelation: humility, faith, hope, charity, and the pure love that flows from Him.”

One of the new insights I got from studying Elder Soares’s talk the past few weeks is that temperance is not just about "stopping" a behavior; it is a proactive power. When you cultivate it, you gain a "serene strength" that allows you to remain calm, like when your children are struggling.

For me, I found that temperance comes in trying to live a Christlike life, so I have gathered here the righteous parenting principles that helped me parent the most, but the truest answer is any temperance we develop is a gift from God. 

You can see from how long my post is that becoming Christlike and righteous parenting are my two deepest desires, so I was grateful for the opportunity to study temperance.

1. Temperance and Humility

Elder Soares mentioned humility six times and charity seven times. He highlighted Doctrine and Covenants 12:8. It states, no one can assist in this work (including motherhood and fatherhood) unless they are "humble and full of love... being temperate in all things."

The Antidote to Pride:

• President Ezra Taft Benson: "The antidote for pride is humility—meekness, submissiveness" (“Beware of Pride,” April 1989 Gen Conf). In parenting, you could ask for help to recognize when pride is impacting your parenting.

• Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf : “So how do we conquer this sin of pride that is so prevalent and so damaging? How do we become more humble? It is almost impossible to be lifted up in pride when our hearts are filled with charity. “No one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love.” When we see the world around us through the lens of the pure love of Christ, we begin to understand humility.”

• When we are filled with humility and charity, we stop seeing a child’s tantrum or mistake as frustrating, and instead we see a child of God who needs our guidance in learning.

• Dallin H. Oaks BYU 2026: We all need helpers to teach us humility. President Ezra Taft Benson gave us a great teaching about humility. He did this as part of his memorable teachings about pride. “The antidote for pride,” he taught, “is humility—meekness, submissiveness.” “Humility responds to God’s will—to the fear of His judgments and to the needs of those around us.” “Let us choose to be humble,” he pleaded. I add, look to the needs of others and humility follows.
• President Spencer W. Kimball defined humility as “teachableness.” He explained: “Humility is teachableness—an ability to realize that all virtues and abilities are not concentrated in one’s self. … Humility is never accusing nor contentious. … Humility is repentant and seeks not to justify its follies. It is forgiving of others in the realization that there may be errors of the same kind or worse [that we ourselves commit]. … Humility makes no bid for popularity and notoriety; demands no honors.”

2. Temperance and Charity 

No one can assist in this work unless they are "humble and full of love... being temperate in all things." When a parent feels frustrated, they can pray for charity in that moment.

Elder Soares: “A serene strength arises in [disciples], and they become better capable of restraining anger, nurturing patience, and treating others with tolerance, respect, and dignity, even when the winds of adversity blow fiercely.”

When a challenging moment happened, I found that when I focused on how much I love that child and paused in humility to ask for the Lord’s guidance in the moment, I reacted much better than just trying to have self-control. For example, I was in a seminary devotional one time about the Savior’s atonement, and I was thinking about how much self-control He had to not be angry with those who were causing his suffering. I had the spiritual insight that it was His love for each individual that enabled Him to endure the pain with love to those who were causing the pain.

So praying for charity and remembering that the "suffering" or sacrifice in being patient is for the joy of seeing your children become disciples of Christ, changed my internal emotions and let me come up with a better reaction to a situation.

“As in all things, Jesus Christ is our ultimate exemplar, “who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross.” Think of that! In order for Him to endure the most excruciating experience ever endured on earth, our Savior focused on joy! And what was the joy that was set before Him? Surely it included the joy of cleansing, healing, and strengthening us.”

— President Russell M. Nelson, “Joy and Spiritual Survival,” October 2016 Gen Conf.

 

3. Temperance is a gift, not just something we develop

Nelson- Because the Savior, through His infinite Atonement, redeemed each of us from weakness, mistakes, and sin…you can rise above this world. As we strive to live the higher laws of Jesus Christ, our hearts and our very natures begin to change. The Savior lifts us above the pull of this fallen world by blessing us with greater charity, humility, generosity, kindness, self-discipline, peace, and rest.

Bednar- In wanting to develop more faith, more charity, or whatever the attribute might be, we need to understand they are not traits that we develop. Those are spiritual gifts. If I understand anything about spiritual gifts, we can receive them only if God trusts us to be in the right place at the right time, having been influenced by Him. Sometimes we want to have those gifts so we can flaunt them or so other people will think highly of us. That simply cannot be the reason. The reason we desire spiritual gifts should be to allow God to use us, to help us be in the right place at the right time, and to be the conduit to bless other people. And that ever-increasing purity of motive can only come through the strengthening power and grace of the Savior’s Atonement. We cannot do that without Him.

This is a surrender of what we want, when we want it, and how we want it. And in that submissiveness, which is one of the elements of meekness, we express to Him, “Make of me what you will.” Then the experiences come that teach us the lessons but for which we would never volunteer.

Principles for Righteous Parenting

1. Righteous Parenting: You can’t do it all - "What to Start and Stop"

It is impossible to be a perfect parent all at once. To refine your temperance, you could follow President Nelson’s counsel to seek personal revelation during your weekly efforts. He invited us to, "Pray to know what to stop doing and what to start doing." — President Russell M. Nelson, “Think Celestial!” October 2023 Gen Conf.

2. Righteous Parenting: Teaching the Doctrine (the “Why”) is more effective than discussing the behavior.

True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior. --Boyd K. Packer, “Do Not Fear,” Gen. Conf., Apr 2004 - 

3. Righteous Parenting: Read from the Book of Mormon daily

Parts of this quote below have been quoted in General Conference at least 7 times which to me is a witness of how true it is. I first heard it when President Benson, quoted Pres. Marion G. Romney:

            I feel certain that if parents will read from the Book of Mormon regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein.  The spirit of contention will depart.  Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom.  Children will be more responsive and submissive to that counsel.  Righteousness will increase.  Faith, hope and charity-the pure love of Christ-will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy and happiness.

                                                            (Marion G. Romney, Gen. Conf. Apr. 1960 and 1980)

4. Righteous Parenting: taught in the Book of Mormon

One way we could improve our parenting is to read the Book of Mormon with a focus on “How could these verses apply to parenting? Here are three Book of Mormon teachings that impacted my parenting in a big way.

The first was when the Lord asked Nephi to build a boat. Nephi said that rather than building it after the manner of men, he went to the mount often and prayed to know how to build the boat. I think righteous parenting can be more challenging than building a boat, but the Lord can inspire us with what a particular child needs at a certain time.

1 Nephi 18 Nephi said:

1.      And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship.

2.      Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men. [This teaches we should seek parenting counsel in prayer, the scriptures, and General Conference as our primary parenting “podcasts.”]

3.      And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.” [I learned that if I pray oft, the Lord would show me how to parent a particular child in a better way.]

The second Book of Mormon story that impacted my parenting came from an example of President Oaks’ teaching on “Good verses better or best.” When Alma the Younger was serving as both the chief judge and the high priest over the church, the people of the church "began to wax proud" because of their great riches and fine apparel. Their pride was a major hindrance to the Church.

Alma felt the best way he could help was to make time to try the power of the word of God and bear "pure testimony." So, in Alma chapter 4, Alma gave up being chief judge, QUOTE “And this he did that he himself might go forth among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them.” So, I try to continually pray and humbly ask the Lord what I need to give up [start doing or stop doing] to make my family my highest priority."

The third parenting lesson from the Book of Mormon is that the Lord’s mercy and His justice are both manifestations of His love. Even when the Lord’s justice brought hard things, it was out of love to teach His children true principles.

One of the practical parenting ideas that helped me a lot was when my husband and I would talk beforehand and determine which circumstances needed rules and what natural consequences would best help them learn, i.e., have a script before hand, so I don’t stress in the moment deciding the best way to handle it. Some natural consequences were too long term, so they couldn’t learn in the moment from the consequence, so we had to figure out a semi-natural consequence.)

 

5. Righteous Parenting: Pray Always

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Nelson: It is mentally rigorous to strive to look unto Him in every thought.” By focusing our attention on Jesus Christ, all else around us—while still present—is viewed through our love for Him. Less important distractions fade.

Holland-RootsTech “I thought I prayed all the time, more or less. But the lesson was, ‘Pray more than you pray.’ However much you’ve prayed, pray more. And in however many places you’ve prayed, pray in more places. However many times during the day you pray, pray more times in the day. And it started to give meaning to me, an overwhelming meaning to me that … it was quite literal when God had said, ‘pray always.’”

Nelson- Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost. I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation.

_________________________________    

 

Elder Soares: “As the Apostle Paul taught, they know that they can do all things through Christ, who strengthens them.” 

Proven Strategies on How to be a Better Parent - One of our Highest Responsibilities

 Think about how the world provides unlimited ways we can spend our time. But our relationship to God and the time we spend for our families are really our highest priorities. My prayer today is that Spirit of the Lord can be with each of us, so He can teach us how the Lord can help us with this.

When President Hickley was the prophet, they did a First Presidency letter teaching us that even though other activities might be good, we need to be more intentional on making time to help our families live the gospel.

They said: We call upon parents to devote their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their children in gospel principles. We counsel parents and children to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities. However worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace our divinely-appointed duties.

So if we want to find lasting joy, the Lord is asking for our Best efforts, highest priority, and not permitting other things to displace the duties of families.

In our recent General Conference, our prophet, President Dallin H. Oaks talked about how

family-centered the gospel of Jesus Christ is. His talk is filled with counsel and the teachings that Jesus Christ is giving to us as parents, grandparents, aunts/uncles, and other family members. We live in the information age with more parenting advice, blogs, and podcasts than you could absorb in a year. Instead, ask yourself, what steps can I take to get my parenting advice from the Savior?

 President Dallin H. Oaks, The Family-Centered Gospel of Jesus Christ

As the Lord teaches us in Isaiah,

Seek ye the Lord For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways.

For example, one of the concerns that President Oaks mentioned is that in today’s society, parents have less influence on their children: QUOTE:

In today’s urban society, few members experience consistent family-centered activities. Urban living and modern transportation, organized entertainment, and high-speed communication have made it easy for youth to treat their homes as boardinghouses, where there is far less parental direction of their activities.

As parental influences diminish, Latter-day Saints still have a God-given responsibility to teach their children.

I have a personal testimony that Heavenly Father is anxious to send promptings on how we spend our time or how to help a child who is struggling because the Lord’s ways are higher. Here is one example of how God’s ways are higher than man’s ways.

One way the Lord helps us become better parents is through the counsel we receive in General Conference. I invite each of us to prayerfully study Pres. Oaks recent talk. For example, he taught:

Parents, single or married—and others, like grandparents, who fill that role for children—are the master teachers. The family circle is the ideal place to demonstrate and learn eternal values, and other essential lessons of life.

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, is our ultimate role model. We will be blessed if we model our lives after His teachings and self-sacrifice. Following Christ and giving ourselves in service to one another is the best remedy for the selfishness and individualism that now seem to be so common.

Some may say, “But we have no time for any of that.” To find time to do what is truly worthwhile, many parents will find that they can turn their family on if they all turn their technologies off. And parents, remember, what those children really want for dinner is time with you.

President Oaks continues: Great blessings come to families if they pray together, kneeling night and morning to offer thanks for blessings and to pray over common concerns. Families are also blessed as they worship together in Church services and in other devotional settings. Family bonds are also strengthened by family stories, creating family traditions, and sharing sacred experiences.

For most years, my New Year’s goals revolved around being a better parent. There is a magic bullet for this.

Two of the biggest challenges parents face in raising children is first knowing how to effectively teach our children, including having our children follow our counsel, and second is helping our children treat each other with more kindness. One of my favorite parenting quotes that solves these 2 challenges isn’t found on a typical parenting blog. Rather, parts of it have been quoted in General Conference at least 7 times which to me is a witness of how true it is. It promises us that if we read the Book of Mormon, there will be less contention and our children will listen to our counsel.

I first heard it in 1986 when our prophet, President Benson, quoted Pres. Marion G. Romney
who said:

            I counsel you to make reading in the Book of Mormon a few minutes each day a lifelong practice....I feel certain that if parents will read from the Book of Mormon regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein.  The spirit of contention will depart.  Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom.  Children will be more responsive and submissive to that counsel.  Righteousness will increase.  Faith, hope and charity-the pure love of Christ-will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy and happiness.

                                                            (Marion G. Romney, Gen. Conf. Apr. 1960 and 1980)

So your magic bullet for parenting is read the Book of Mormon.

Multiple recent prophets have made great promises that come from reading the B of M daily.

Another way we could improve our parenting is to read the Book of Mormon with a focus on “How could these verses apply to parenting? Let me share two examples that impacted my parenting.

The first was when the Lord asked Nephi to build a boat. Nephi said that rather than building it after the manner of men, he went to the mount often and prayed to know how to build the boat. I think righteous parenting can be more challenging than building a boat, but the Lord can inspire us on what a particular child needs at a certain time.

1 Nephi 18 Nephi said “And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship. Now I, Nephi, did not wok the timbers after the manner which was learned by men. And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.” I learned that if I pray oft, the Lord would show me how to parent in a better way.

The second Book of Mormon story that impacted my parenting came from an example of

“Good verses better or best.” When Alma the Younger was serving as both the chief judge and the high priest over the church, the people of the church "began to wax proud" because of their great riches and fine apparel. Their pride was a major hindrance to the Church. Alma felt the best way he could help was to make more time to try the power of the word of God and bear "pure testimony."

So in Alma chapter 4  Alma gave up being chief judge, QUOTE “And this he did that he himself might go forth among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them.” So, I try to continually pray and humbly ask the Lord what I need to give up to make my family my highest priority.

As President Oaks said, “Some may say, “But we have no time for things like family prayer & scriptures or other things the Lord might prompt us to do, but I learned that when I prayed often to know where to spend my time, I would get quiet promptings that became a great blessing to my family.

Pres. Nelson said a similar thing several times: He said If we will truly receive the Holy Ghost and learn to discern and understand His promptings, we will be guided in matters large & small.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2018/04/revelation-for-the-church-revelation-for-our-lives?lang=eng

In this last conference, Sister Browning taught how parents could use primary songs to teach our children the doctrine of Jesus Christ. ?

President Dallin H. Oaks once taught that “the singing of hymns is one of the best ways to learn the doctrine of the restored gospel.” Those words are true for all of us but are especially so for children. Primary music is one of God’s most tender tools for planting the seeds of testimony in the hearts of the Savior’s youngest disciples. Parents,

A prophet of the Lord, President Russell M. Nelson, taught: “[Music] can exert a continuing influence for good well beyond times when children are small. … [It] has [the] power to provide spiritual nourishment. It has healing power. It has [the] power to facilitate worship; it allows us to contemplate the [Savior’s] Atonement and the Restoration of the gospel with its saving principles and exalting ordinances. Music provides power for us to express prayerful thoughts and bear testimony of sacred truths.”

Some of us make the time to create playlists of music we enjoy. Could we strengthen our family’s testimonies by creating Playlists so they learn the newer primary songs that so beautifully teach the doctrine of Jesus Christ: Like the beautiful song, “Gethsemane” or these lyrics from ” I Will Walk With Jesus,”

I will trust in Jesus. I will hear His call.

He will never leave me, even when I fall.

Jesus gives me power, lifts and comforts me,

Helping me to live and grow eternally.

Chorus: As I walk with Jesus to my home above,

He will bless me with His Spirit and fill me with His love,

Change my heart forever and help me clearly see.

I will walk with Jesus, and He will walk with me.

Parenting in today’s world feels a lot like trying to build a boat for the first time, but I have seen many times in my personal life and bear witness that the Lord is anxious to open the windows of heaven and pour down blessings on our families when we make time to prayerfully ask for His help.

I am especially grateful for a testimony the through the atonement of our Savior we can receive the strength and help to do things beyond our own ability. “I feel my Savior’s love, and I am grateful that His gentleness enfolds me.”

What Can I do to Increase My Spirituality?

 I often ask myself and ask in my prayers, "What can I do to increase my spirituality?" so I can receive more help from my Heavenly Father in my daily life. Over the years, I find that the things I need to work on can be grouped into the following categories. These ideas have come from the teachings of living apostles and prophets, so I have included their teachings below.

1. Focus on Jesus Christ
2. Prayer
• Focused, vocal prayer
• Spiritually plan my day
3. Scripture study
• Daily Read from the Book of Mormon
• Pray before reading
• Ponder and listen after
4. Temple covenants
5. Repentance & humility
6. Recognize and Record impressions
• Ask each day, “Have I seen the Hand of the Lord today?”
• Ask more – listen longer, His ways are higher

President Nelson, "Let God Prevail," Oct. 2020, “The only way to survive spiritually is to be determined to let God prevail in our lives, to learn to hear His voice and to use our energy to help gather Israel.”

President Russell M. Nelson, "Spiritual Treasures," Oct. 2019 Examine your life meticulously and regularly. As you do so, the Holy Ghost will prompt you about what is no longer needful, what is no longer worthy of your time and energy.

1. Focus on Jesus Christ

a.       Read and underline every verse cited about Jesus Christ

Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into our Lives - President Russell M. Nelson’s Challenge

Earlier this year, I asked the young adults of the Church to consecrate a portion of their time each week to study everything Jesus said and did as recorded in the standard works. I invited them to let the scriptural citations about Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide become their personal core curriculum. I gave that challenge because I had already accepted it myself. I read and underlined every verse cited about Jesus Christ, as listed under the main heading and the 57 subtitles in the Topical Guide. When I finished that exciting exercise, my wife asked me what impact it had on me. I told her, “I am a different man!” I felt a renewed devotion to Him as I read again in the Book of Mormon the Savior’s own statement about His mission in mortality.

2. Prayer

a.      Focused, vocal prayer

Elder Jeffery R. Holland, To “Hear Him” Is the Essence of the Restoration, Nov. 2020  

I Hear Him through Determined Prayer. 

There is a great lesson in [Joseph’s prayer] about muscular, urgent, determined prayer to fight through, whether it is the adversary’s opposition, the cares of the day, or the distractions of our mind. We have many things that can keep us from having that divine experience. And we, like Joseph, will have to exert all our power to have the magnificent experience that God wants us to have.

 

I Hear Him by Making Quality Time to Pray Vocally.

As Joseph did, I believe it is important for us to pray out loud. It is basic to what God intends for us in our communication with Him. He invites a conversation, if you will, and wants so much to “hear us.” We should make every effort to let Him hear us—literally.

 

The scriptures occasionally talk about the Lord speaking, and they sometimes describe His voice. Sometimes it is a soft voice. Sometimes it is a loud voice. But it is always a penetrating voice. It is always a voice that captivates and engages the whole soul. For me, to say out loud the words of my prayer is to make it crisp and almost visible. Prayer takes on a meaning and a life that is not quite the same when I am just thinking words or mumbling a bit. When we communicate clearly to Him, we can expect to “hear Him” more clearly in return.

 

If you wait until midnight, when you are exhausted, and then say your prayers, it might be only a half-hearted effort before you tumble into bed. Consider moving that prayer up to earlier in the evening, when you are alert and attentive and can make it more powerful. Prayer time ought to be quality time, not just time that happens to be left over when everything else is done—the last gasp of the day, so to speak.

 b.     Spiritually plan my day

3. Scripture study

a.      Daily Read from the Book of Mormon 

 Pray before reading

b.     Ponder and listen after

Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, Nov. 2010 Our humility and our faith that invite spiritual gifts are increased by our reading, studying, and pondering the scriptures. We have all heard those words. Yet we may read a few lines or pages of scripture every day and hope that will be enough. But reading, studying, and pondering are not the same. We read words and we may get ideas. We study and we may discover patterns and connections in scripture. But when we ponder, we invite revelation by the Spirit. Pondering, to me, is the thinking and the praying I do after reading and studying in the scriptures carefully.

 

4. Temple covenants

5. Repentance & humility

Elder Neil L. Anderson, The Gift of Forgiveness, Liahona, Feb. 2021

In prayer we review the happenings of the day, asking,

• “Where did I see the Lord’s hand in my life?
• How did my actions reveal honesty and unselfishness?
• What more could I have done?
• What thoughts and emotions do I need to control?
• How could I have better followed the example of the Savior?
• How could I have been more kind, more loving, more forgiving, and more merciful toward others?
• In what ways was I less than my Heavenly Father would want me to be?”

In prayer we review the happenings of the day… Then we pause and listen. Our personal prayers open the window to personal revelation from our Heavenly Father.

Our repentance, followed by forgiveness from the Savior of the world, is the foundation of our prayers and efforts to return to our heavenly home.

With faith in Jesus Christ, we openly acknowledge to our Heavenly Father

• our mistakes,
• oversights,
• and unthoughtful actions toward others.

We humbly ask for forgiveness, listen to the quiet impressions of the Spirit, and promise our Heavenly Father that we will be more attentive to those things we can improve. We confess our sins and we forsake them (see Doctrine and Covenants 58:43). We restore that which we can restore to those we have hurt or offended. It may be an apology to a spouse or a child, a message to a friend or coworker, or a resolve to follow a neglected spiritual impression.

Repentance becomes a continual thought, a constant effort.

President Russell M. Nelson has said:

“Nothing is more liberating, more ennobling, or more crucial to our individual progression than is a regular, daily focus on repentance. …

“… Experience the strengthening power of daily repentance—of doing and being a little better each day.”

 

6. Recognize and Record impressions

a.      How to #HearHim

President Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives, Apr. 2018 Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation.” Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work.

 

President Nelson, Hear Him, Apr. 2020

I promise that as you increase your time in temple and family history work, you will increase and improve your ability to hear Him.

 

Elder Jeffery R. Holland, To “Hear Him” Is the Essence of the Restoration, Nov. 2020  

 I Hear Him by Trusting My Feelings

Another way I “hear Him” is to trust what I feel. I often get asked, “How do I know that what I am feeling is coming from the Lord?” We don’t always get a written, certified statement issued in response to our prayers, but if your searching is honorable and true and clean and noble, trust the feelings that come. I encourage people to act on those feelings and to believe that their instincts can be founded on truth. At that point you do not have to ask, “Did it come from Him?” He will make sure that it doesn’t come from an evil source.

 

God wants us to be like Him. We mature, and with effort we become more like God. We think more of His thoughts and feel more of His feelings. We are one with Him, and our impressions ought to be indistinguishable from His promptings. That unity is one of the things the Savior prayed for. By striving to live as one with Him, you will be more like God and you will “hear Him” and trust Him, even as you trust your own feelings when praying to Him.

 

b.     Ask each day, “Have I seen the Hand of the Lord today?”

c.      Ask more – listen longer, His ways are higher

Book of Mormon Theme: 1 Nephi- The Lord will help us accomplish what is necessary

Once in a while for my gospel study time, I enjoy going through my Book of Mormon from the beginning and reading just the passages I underlined. As I did that this week, the following theme was very apparent throughout 1 Nephi, – the Lord will “prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which He commandeth them.”

Many of us are familiar when Nephi says it in 1 Nephi 3:7, but the same wording is used in other places as well.

In Chapter 1, Nephi himself explains that he is going to show us this principle.

1 Nephi 1: 20 But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

Examples of This Wording

• ·         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.
• ·         1 Nephi 5:8: And she [Sariah] spake, saying: I know of a surety that the Lord has given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them.
• ·         1 Nephi 9:5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these [2^nd] plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I now not. But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works.
• ·         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.

Examples of How the Lord Prepares a Way

·         Sending promptings is one way the Lord helps us accomplish things:

 After they give their best efforts to get the plates but nothing works, Nephi makes a third attempt. This time he says:

1 Nephi 4:6-7: I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.  Nevertheless I went forth...

·         Strengthening us to endure is sometimes the way the Lord “prepares a way...”:

1 Nephi 17:2-3 And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, ...our women were strong, yea , even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.

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; wherefore he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.

·         We have to be given power from the Lord:

      1 Nephi 4:31 ...having received much strength from the Lord, therefore I did seize upon the servant of Laban...

1 Nephi 7:17 ...I prayed unto the Lord...wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.

·         The Lord prepares us for an unseen future event:

1 Nephi 9:5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these [2^nd] plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I now not. But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works.

·         The Lord provides miracles:

1 Nephi 16:16 And we did follow the directions of the ball, which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness.

1 Nephi 16:29 And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.

·         The Lord shows us from time to time how to do something we can’t accomplish on our own:

1 Nephi 18:1 And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship.

1 Nephi 18:2 I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men.

1 Nephi 18:3 And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.

How to Come Unto Christ – The Final Plea of Book of Mormon Prophets

In my recent reading, I was noticing that the final plea of many Book of Mormon prophets were all about the invitation to Come Unto Christ !

2 Nephi 2:6–8, 26-30 : Lehi’s Final Plea

6 Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth.

7 Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered.

8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.

26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they reredeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.

28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit;

29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom.

30 I have spoken these few words unto you all, my sons, in the last days of my probation; and I have chosen the good part, according to the words of the prophet. And I have none other object save it be the everlasting welfare of your souls. Amen.

2 Nephi 33:4, 10-11: Nephi’s Final Plea

4 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it persuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life eternal.

10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.

11 And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.

Omni 1:25–26: Amaleki’s Final Plea

25 And it came to pass that I began to be old; and, having no seed, and knowing king ^aBenjamin to be a just man before the Lord, wherefore, I shall ^bdeliver up ^cthese plates unto him, exhorting all men to come unto God, the Holy One of Israel, and believe in prophesying, and in revelations, and in the ministering of angels, and in the gift of speaking with tongues, and in the gift of interpreting languages, and in all things which are good; for there is nothing which is good save it comes from the Lord: and that which is evil cometh from the devil.

26 And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and praying, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved.

Mormon 7:5–9 : Moroni’s first final plea

5 Know ye that ye must come to the ^aknowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up.

6 And he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead, whereby man must be raised to stand before his judgment-seat.

7 And he hath brought to pass the redemption of the world, whereby he that is found guiltless before him at the judgment day hath it given unto him to dwell in the presence of God in his kingdom, to sing ceaseless praises with the ^echoirs above, unto the Father, and unto the Son, and unto the Holy Ghost, which are ^fone God, in a state of ^ghappiness which hath no end.

8 Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you.

9 For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them.

Moroni 10:30, 32-33 : Moroni’s second final plea

30 And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift, and touch not the evil gift, nor the unclean thing.

32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

33 And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

34 And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God.

Book of Mormon Themes: The Lord Will Prepare a Way for Us to Overcome our Trials

Once in a while for my gospel study time, I enjoy going through my Book of Mormon from the beginning and reading just the passages I underlined. As I did that this week, the following theme was very apparent throughout 1 Nephi, – the Lord will “prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which He commandeth them.” Many of us are familiar when Nephi says it in 1 Nephi 3:7, but the same wording is used in other places as well.

In Chapter 1, Nephi himself explains that he is going to show us this principle.

1 Nephi 1: 20 But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

Examples of This Wording

·         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.

·       

            1 Nephi 5:8: And she [Sariah] spake, saying: I know of a surety that the Lord has given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them.

· 

         1 Nephi 9:5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these [2^nd] plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I now not. But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works.

·         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 17:13  And I will also be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you, if it so be that ye shall keep my commandments; wherefore, inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall be led towards the promised land; and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led.

     
      1 Nephi 17:19: And thus my brethren did complain against me…we knew that ye were lacking in judgment; wherefore, thou canst not accomplish so great a work.

Examples of How the Lord Prepares a Way

· 

        Sending promptings is one way the Lord helps us accomplish things:

 After they give their best efforts to get the plates but nothing works, Nephi makes a third attempt. This time he says:

1 Nephi 4:6-7: I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.  Nevertheless I went forth...

·         Strengthening us to endure is sometimes the way the Lord “prepares a way...”:

1 Nephi 17:2-3 And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, ...our women were strong, yea , even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.

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; wherefore he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness.

·         We have to be given power from the Lord:

       1 Nephi 4:31 ...having received much strength from the Lord, therefore I did seize upon the servant of Laban...

1 Nephi 7:17 ...I prayed unto the Lord...wilt thou deliver me from the hands of my brethren; yea, even give me strength that I may burst these bands with which I am bound.

·         The Lord prepares us for an unseen future event:

1 Nephi 9:5 Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these [2^nd] plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I now not. But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works.

·         The Lord provides miracles:

1 Nephi 16:16 And we did follow the directions of the ball, which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness.

1 Nephi 16:29 And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.

·

         The Lord shows us from time to time how to do something we can’t accomplish on our own:

1 Nephi 18:1 And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship.

1 Nephi 18:2 I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men.

1 Nephi 18:3 And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.

I love this related video by Elder Gary Stevenson:

No Blessings Denied the Faithful