Sunday School 8 - 2 Nephi 6-10

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Brothers and sisters,

The word reconcile means to sit with. When we reconcile with God, it's because He has opened the debters book and shown us where we were great and where we were redeemed. He reconciles us, because we come to him to see how we can be better. There is a reason he is called the Redeemer. He sat with us once before and He awaits to sit with us again. All too often we worry is we will be welcomed home, if we are too far, if there is no love for us like the Shepherd to the lamb or the prodigal to their father. Know this, if you have a breath to breathe, you can be redeemed. You can reconcile. 

I heard a story once of a man who owned a puppy (thank you John Bytheway) and it was on a particular night that the puppy had soiled his bed and made a complete mess. The animal weekend for mercy at this late hour. At first the owner was angry but it quickly turned to compassion as he scooped the creature washed him and cleaned his place setting everything right. God knows we will mess up, mess up our relationships, careers, bodies, even our whole lives but he has a plan for us and it shows in his plan for us.

Ever heard of a fulcrum? A fulcrum is the balance point of a scale. What is it used for and how does it apply to our lives? Who is that balance? Do we remember? The Egyptians do. Our hearts are weighted daily between justice and mercy. When His anger is kindled, His arm is stretched out still. Justice and Mercy is combined in the Savior.

Now why do I point out checks and balances? When we repent, truly repent, we change the balance through the Mediator or rather, He changes it.

In stories, drama, and movies monsters take what people love. Take any monster, Cookie Monster, Darth Vader, Darksied, Thanos, Saramon, the Witch from the Wardrobe, these monsters take something precious. We in this life face a harsher monster, death and hell. They aim to chain us away from joy, destroy our faith and quench our hope. How wonderful that we had a Savior who was there for us in the beginning. It's been the plan from the beginning.

Does the King carry you or his Queen (the church) carry you? 2 Nephi 6:7 says And [King of Israel] shall be thy nursing [father], and his [queen, the church] thy nursing [mother.] As much as we are like the child who runs from our King and reject our Queen, we need to come to a realization that these two have strived to bring us home to a loving Father. However like a six-year-old in a store we keep running in a multiplicity of directions trying to find something better then heaven ignoring the admonision to follow the guidance of our King and Queen. At times we need to be carried when we are wounded but when we can be lead by the hand, oh the great tender mercy and marvel we experience, no matter the trial. We need to follow the Lord.

I also learned this week, the  term "Put on strength" means clothe with strength. It's Greek. Jesus shows us in so many ways how He wishes to clothe us daily.  He clothes us with the Atonement. He endows us. He sheltered us and hedges our path. All of this is to clothe us with experience and power.

I listened to a book on Audible one and the story went where the protagonist after some time could see his stats like a role-playing or video game.  I, being a gamer, thought that was a cool concept and wondered if the Lord had given me a "character sheet" . It didn't take long to realize that the Patriarchitcal blessing is a glimpse of that untapped potential. While we may feel like we cannot see or hear what we are meant to be the blessing has layers like the poetry of Isaiah.  At times we race through the blessing and think that it is drab and plain, but it's through simple things that great thing are revealed and accomplished.

The prophets have asked us to be a peculiar people. Peculiar means purchased. We are purchased with a redemption. Weth money we could never fathom. The Savior has given everything by the Spirit to make sure your gift of everlasting life comes with no hang ups. All He asks is for obedience; to bridal the intense desire to wonder away from the Iron Rod, to sin or to transgress.

The world is full of lights to blind us and sounds to deafen us. How important is it to choose what we watch with intent or listen with a harkening ear. We choose our path and when we pray or fast or bear our soul in testimony, we are showing that we want a path full of Christ's light and the words of living prophets. The word of God means something to us. Isaiah, Jacob and Nephi understood that. We can come to that too.

I also learned this week that Holiness means set a part. When we are ordained and set apart, we are put on a path that is meant to enrich and enlighten us, and not us only but those who we are meant to be associated with in our callings and priesthood. I know from experience that at times we do not feel we are in the right place but be not discouraged. The scriptures tell us not to council the Maker but to be the clay that the maker is using and be the vessel that He needs us to become because he knows our potential and is looking to get us to our completed state accomplishing everything He set our for us to do. We have a work and though we may only get it a step at a time on this path called life, let us not forget that Israel means Let God Prevail, and the Children of Israel allowed the prophet to lead them through the Red Sea, not knowing where they should go but knowing that the Lord lead tgem with fire and smoke, one step at a time.

This week we also learned the difference between the fall of man vs. fall of me. I don't blame Adam for what I have done. I do not look at Eve with disgust. That is reserved for the man in the mirror. Because of our first parents we get to experience love, hate, bitter, sweet, sorrow and joy. What we need to do from tge hard experiences is get up, rise up, and if we cannot ask for help, from the Savior, from a friend, a minister, spouse, parent etc. Sin and temptations is hard but is can be quenched. After the darkness comes the rising sun. We need to look forward to the Son rising in our dark times. Chaos can be calmed but you need to reach out for it when it threatens to swallow us. 

All of heaven watch the children of this seal, the seal of the latter days. The marvel at our strength ond tinacity to spread good. The word of God is so quickly available and it's understanding so plain and simple. Bear your testimony brothers and sisters, please.

I learn about God in my sorrow. What creates compassion in us is our ability to morn with those that morn. The Lord has made the test just right for each of us and insi doing so we found joy from our sorrow, strength in our weakness. We are encourage to build and edtify. Our ancestors did it crossing the Missouri and Red Sea and we can too. Heavenly Father loves us and that love shows through His son who is aquatinted with grief. Again, tell your family how much you have learned in your journals and family home evenings. Smile to show how blessed you are. Trials will come but your Savior will bear you up. That is my testimony in the Redeemer's name, even Jesus Christ, Amen