Although this was a short chapter with a lot of mention of the wars going on I was able to learn a lot from it. My favorite part was verse 8 which says, "and the people began to repent of their iniquity; and inasmuch as they did the Lord did have mercy on them."
I feel like the Lord is always extending His mercy towards us and I am constantly being reminded of it. It feels as if the Lord wants me to know that whenever I mess up I always have another chance. Jesus Christ is not one for second chances but infinite chances. We can always repent it if we repent and turn to him. To me that is a joyous truth to know that I can never mess up more than the Savior can save me.

Ether 12 is another popular chapter in the Book of Mormon and this time I wanted to learn something from what we normally learn about it from sunday school.
Moroni describes Ether as someone who could not be "restrained because of the Spirit of the Lord which was in him." When I read this I wanted to learn how I can be a man of that faith. I think though that we read things like this that are so powerful but fail to realize how simple it is for us to be like that. All it takes are simple daily choices to do what we know is true. As Richard G. Scott said,

"We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day."  


In verse 27 Moroni quotes the Savior, "...my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me." I love this because it gives me hope to know that I am included (as is everybody) in being able to receive the Saviors grace if I humble myself before him. How do we properly humble ourselves before the Savior though? That is a good question - if you know an answer leave a comment!

Finally I love how in verse 34 Moroni talks about charity again. He focuses on this topic a lot - and for good reasons. He says that if we don't have charity we won't inherit the kingdom of God.

For me I have a good example of charity in my life and oddly enough it comes from my sister and brother-in-law who are Atheists. Even though they don't believe in God the are great examples of the pure love of Christ or as they would probably call it, pure and selfless love.

My sister has been to many different countries over the past few years (mainly teaching english as a second language). It seems that wherever she goes she is volunteering and helping people out. She went to Ecuador and volunteered in orphanages there. She also worked on a dude ranch in Jackson and volunteered teaching english to hispanic immigrants. She has always been apart of different causes to help support human rights and stood up these people. It seems that these are little things, but my sister has made them all apart of her life.

Her husband (my brother-in-law) is the same way. It seems to me that his goal in life is to know every culture the best he can and share the greatness of these cultures with everybody. I love talking with him about the people of different cultures he works with and he talks about the great things about them.
I am finding it hard to put into words all the things that they do - but it is all very little things. I think that they personify what Richard G. Scott said,

"We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day."


I need to focus on being what I want to be - everyday. It is hard but with the Lord's help I can make it - day by day.

It has been a while since that I have posted and hopefully I will be able to keep posting daily. My goal is that as I post daily my scripture study will also be daily. Not only that but having this as a scripture journal I will be able to have a more in-depth scripture study.
One verse stuck out to me - a lot. It was verse 9. It says, "and there shall be a new heaven and a new earth." It made me think that even the earth shall be born again and become perfected. The Lord's goal is that all of his creations will become perfect even as He is. If I try and submit myself to His will I will be able to become new even as the Earth will.