The Brilliant Light of the Son

Yes, from time to time our lives may seem to be touched by, or even wrapped in, darkness. Sometimes the night that surrounds us will appear oppressive, disheartening, and frightening.
My heart grieves for the many sorrows some of you face, for the painful loneliness and wearisome fears you may be experiencing.
Nevertheless, I bear witness that our living hope is in Christ Jesus! He is the true, pure, and powerful entrance to divine enlightenment.
I testify that with Christ, darkness cannot succeed. Darkness will not gain victory over the light of Christ.
I bear witness that darkness cannot stand before the brilliant light of the Son of the living God!
The Hope of God’s Light, By President Dieter F UchtDorf

They Shall Prosper

 ...keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; ... And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever.
2 Nephi 1: 9

Scripture Highlights from my Youth; Second Nephi

RE: This weekend I asked my kids to bring me a Book of Mormon.  They brought me the Book of Mormon I owned in my youth.  The passages in the scriptures that I highlighted are very telling it is like reading a journal.

2 Nephi 1: 9
[9] ...keep his commandments, they shall prosper upon the face of this land; ... And if it so be that they shall keep his commandments they shall be blessed upon the face of this land, and there shall be none to molest them, nor to take away the land of their inheritance; and they shall dwell safely forever.

i.e. If I keep the commandments the Lord will protect me.

2 Nephi 1:10
[10] ...I say, if the day shall come that they will reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their God, behold, the judgments of him that is just shall rest upon them.

i.e. About my father

2 Nephi 1:17
[17] My heart hath been weighed down with sorrow from time to time, for I have feared, lest for the hardness of your hearts the Lord your God should come out in the fulness of his wrath upon you, that ye be cut off and destroyed forever;

i.e. About my father

2 Nephi `: 19-20

[19] ... for his ways are righteousness forever.

[20] And he hath said that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence.

i.e. If I keep the commandments I will prosper, but my father who does not keep the commandments will not prosper.

2 Nephi 1 :23 - 24

[23] Awake, my sons; put on the armor of righteousness. Shake off the chains with which ye are bound, and come forth out of obscurity, and arise from the dust.

[24] Rebel no more against your brother, ... and who hath been an instrument in the hands of God...

i.e. I viewed my self as being like Nephi, in going against the bad things in my family.  

2 Nephi 1:27

[27] ... the Spirit of the Lord which was in him, which opened his mouth to utterance that he could not shut it.

i.e. About me witnessing against my father

2 Nephi 1:31

[31] Wherefore, because thou hast been faithful thy seed shall be blessed

i.e. About my children.

2 Nephi 2:2

[2] ... and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.

i.e. I will grow from my afflictions.

2 Nephi 2:5

[5] And men are instructed sufficiently that they know good from evil. And the law is given unto men. And by the law no flesh is justified;

i.e. My father knows better and he is not justified.

2 Nephi 2 :6

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

i.e. The Lord is full of grace and truth.

2 Nephi 2: 9-10

[9] Wherefore, he is the first-fruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved.

[10] And because of the intercession for all, all men come unto God; wherefore, they stand in the presence of him to be judged of him according to the truth and holiness which is in him. Wherefore, the ends of the law which the Holy One hath given, unto the inflicting of the punishment which is affixed, which punishment that is affixed is in opposition to that of the happiness which is affixed, to answer the ends of the atonement --

i.e. My understanding of the atonement.  I will be saved because of the truth and holiness in me.  God will make intercession for me.  My father will also be judged based on his nature.

2 Nephi 2:13

[13] And if ye shall say there is no law, ye shall also say there is no sin. If ye shall say there is no sin, ye shall also say there is no righteousness. And if there be no righteousness there be no happiness. And if there be no righteousness nor happiness there be no punishment nor misery. And if these things are not there is no God. And if there is no God we are not, neither the earth; for there could have been no creation of things, neither to act nor to be acted upon; wherefore, all things must have vanished away.

[14] And now, my sons, I speak unto you these things for your profit and learning; for there is a God, and he hath created all things, both the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are, both things to act and things to be acted upon.

i.e. There is a God

2 Nephi 2: 16-29

[16] Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.

[17] And I, Lehi, according to the things which I have read, must needs suppose that an angel of God, according to that which is written, had fallen from heaven; wherefore, he became a devil, having sought that which was evil before God.

[18] And because he had fallen from heaven, and had become miserable forever, he sought also the misery of all mankind. Wherefore, he said unto Eve, yea, even that old serpent, who is the devil, who is the father of all lies, wherefore he said: Partake of the forbidden fruit, and ye shall not die, but ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.

[19] And after Adam and Eve had partaken of the forbidden fruit they were driven out of the garden of Eden, to till the earth.

[20] And they have brought forth children; yea, even the family of all the earth.

[21] And the days of the children of men were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents.

[22] And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end.

[23] And they would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin.

[24] But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things.

[25] Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

[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 are redeemed 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.

i.e. I chose eternal life not eternal death.

2 Nephi 3:4-5

[4] For behold, thou art the fruit of my loins; and I am a descendant of Joseph who was carried captive into Egypt. And great were the covenants of the Lord which he made unto Joseph.

[5] Wherefore, Joseph truly saw our day. And he obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the fruit of his loins the Lord God would raise up a righteous branch unto the house of Israel; 

i.e. I felt this was about me.

2 Nephi 3: 12-13

[12] Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord.

[13] And out of weakness he shall be made strong, 

i.e. I saw this as speaking about me being able to bring forth peace and knowledge of the Lord.  Though I was weak then the Lord will make me strong.

2 Nephi 3:24

[24] with exceeding faith, to work mighty wonders, and do that thing which is great in the sight of God.

i.e. I felt that faith would help me overcome my father.

2 Nephi 4: 19-24

[19] And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted.

[20] My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep.

[21] He hath filled me with his love, even unto the consuming of my flesh.

[22] He hath confounded mine enemies, unto the causing of them to quake before me.

[23] Behold, he hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the nighttime.

[24] And by day have I waxed bold in mighty prayer before him; yea, my voice have I sent up on high; and angels came down and ministered unto me.

i.e. About the day I told my father to stop.  I focused mostly on verse 21 and the last part of 24 talking about me feeling the Lords love and talking about angels ministering unto me.  Specifically I felt that my Grandmother came and ministered unto me.  The Visions in the night time in verse 23 were visions of my Grandmother.

2 Nephi 4:28-33

[28] Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.
[29] Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions.
[30] Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
[31] O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?
[32] May the gates of hell be shut continually before me, because that my heart is broken and my spirit is contrite! O Lord, wilt thou not shut the gates of thy righteousness before me, that I may walk in the path of the low valley, that I may be strict in the plain road!
[33] O Lord, wilt thou encircle me around in the robe of thy righteousness! O Lord, wilt thou make a way for mine escape before mine enemies! Wilt thou make my path straight before me! Wilt thou not place a stumbling block in my way -- but that thou wouldst clear my way before me, and hedge not up my way, but the ways of mine enemy.

i.e. I can not read this without crying.  I felt this prayer so strongly.  I wanted desperatly to break free from my enemy my father, and from my afflictions.  I wanted the Lord to make a way for me to escape.   And I felt the part about my heart being broken and my spirit being contrite to be correct.

2 Nephi 4:35

[35] Yea, I know that God will give liberally to him that asketh. 

i.e. Again I wanted to pray my way out of captivity with the help of the Lord.

2 Nephi 6: 13-14

[13] ... and the people of the Lord shall not be ashamed. For the people of the Lord are they who wait for him; for they still wait for the coming of the Messiah.
[14] And behold, according to the words of the prophet, the Messiah will set himself again the second time to recover them; wherefore, he will manifest himself unto them in power and great glory, unto the destruction of their enemies, when that day cometh when they shall believe in him; and none will he destroy that believe in him.

i.e. About the Lord saving me.

2 Nephi 7: 7-9

[7] For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded. Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
[8] And the Lord is near, and he justifieth me. Who will contend with me? Let us stand together. Who is mine adversary? Let him come near me, and I will smite him with the strength of my mouth.
[9] For the Lord God will help me. And all they who shall condemn me, behold, all they shall wax old as a garment, and the moth shall eat them up.

i.e. For the Lord God will help me, therefore shall I not be confounded. Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. And the Lord is near, and he justifieth me. Who will contend with me? Let us stand together. Who is mine adversary? Let him come near me, and I will smite him with the strength of my mouth. For the Lord God will help me. And all they who shall condemn me, behold, all they shall wax old as a garment, and the moth shall eat them up.

2 Nephi 7:11

[11] Behold all ye that kindle fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks, walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks which ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand -- ye shall lie down in sorrow.

i.e. About my father

2 Nephi 8: 6

[6] Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment; and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner. But my salvation shall be forever, and my righteousness shall not be abolished.

i.e. The Lord is stronger then my father.  This life is short. Eternal Salvation shall be forever.

2 Nephi 11:4

[4] Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; for, for this end hath the law of Moses been given; and all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him.

i.e. My soul delights in Christ.

2 Nephi 25: 25-26

[25] ...made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments.

[26] And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

i.e. I am made alive in Christ because of my faith.  I rejoice in Christ.

2 Nephi 28: 30

[30] For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.

i.e. I am blessed because I hearken unto the Lord.  I will learn wisdom, and the Lord will give me more.  But wisdom is taken from my father.

Scripture Highlights from my Youth; First Nephi

This weekend I asked my kids to bring me a Book of Mormon.  They brought me the Book of Mormon I owned in my youth.  The passages in the scriptures that I highlighted are very telling it is like reading a journal.

1 Nephi 1: 14
[14] Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth, and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!

i.e. God will not allow me to perish.

1 Nephi 1:19
[19] And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of the Messiah, and also the redemption of the world.

i.e. I may be mocked for saying what is true.

1 Nephi 2: 19 - 20

[19] And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Blessed art thou, Nephi, because of thy faith, for thou hast sought me diligently, with lowliness of heart.

[20] And inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper, and shall be led to a land of promise; yea, even a land which I have prepared for you; yea, a land which is choice above all other lands.

i.e.  I am blessed because of my faith, and for seeking the Lord with lowliness of heart.  If I keep the commandments I will prosper and I will be lead to a place where I will be safe.

1 Nephi 3:6

[6] Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast not murmured.

i.e. I am favored of the Lord.

1 Nephi 3:19-20

[19] And behold, it is wisdom in God that we should obtain these records, that we may preserve unto our children the language of our fathers;
[20] And also that we may preserve unto them the words which have been spoken by the mouth of all the holy prophets, which have been delivered unto them by the Spirit and power of God, since the world began, even down unto this present time.

i.e. Scriptures preserved for me

1 Nephi 3:29
[29] And it came to pass as they smote us with a rod, behold, an angel of the Lord came and stood before them, and he spake unto them, saying: Why do ye smite your younger brother with a rod? Know ye not that the Lord hath chosen him to be a ruler over you, and this because of your iniquities? Behold ye shall go up to Jerusalem again, and the Lord will deliver Laban into your hands.

i.e. I may feel smitten by my family now, but that does not determine how things will end up in the end.

1 Nephi 4:13
[13] Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief.

i.e. It is better to expose my father rather then allow him to continue to abuse.

1 Nephi 4: 14
[14] Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise.

i.e. I and my family will prosper.

1 Nephi 9:6
[6] But the Lord knoweth all things from the beginning; wherefore, he prepareth a way to accomplish all his works among the children of men; for behold, he hath all power unto the fulfilling of all his words. And thus it is. Amen.

i.e. The Lord will prepare a way for me to do good.

1 Nephi 14:2
[3] they shall be numbered among the house of Israel; and they shall be a blessed people upon the promised land forever; they shall be no more brought down into captivity; and the house of Israel shall no more be confounded.

i.e. I will escape captivity and no longer be confounded, I will be blessed.

1 Nephi 15: 33-36
[33] Wherefore, if they should die in their wickedness they must be cast off also, as to the things which are spiritual, which are pertaining to righteousness; wherefore, they must be brought to stand before God, to be judged of their works; and if their works have been filthiness they must needs be filthy; and if they be filthy it must needs be that they cannot dwell in the kingdom of God; if so, the kingdom of God must be filthy also.
[34] But behold, I say unto you, the kingdom of God is not filthy, and there cannot any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God; wherefore there must needs be a place of filthiness prepared for that which is filthy.
[35] And there is a place prepared, yea, even that awful hell of which I have spoken, and the devil is the preparator of it; wherefore the final state of the souls of men is to dwell in the kingdom of God, or to be cast out because of that justice of which I have spoken.
[36] Wherefore, the wicked are rejected from the righteous, and also from that tree of life, whose fruit is most precious and most desirable above all other fruits; yea, and it is the greatest of all the gifts of God. And thus I spake unto my brethren. Amen.

i.e. About my father.

1 Nephi 20 :10
[10] For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

i.e. About me.

1 Nephi 10:11
[11]  for I will not suffer my name to be polluted, and I will not give my glory unto another.

i.e. The Lord will not suffer my father polluting his name.

1 Nephi 10:14
[14] All ye, assemble yourselves, and hear; who among them hath declared these things unto them? The Lord hath loved him; yea, and he will fulfill his word which he hath declared by them; and he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall come upon the Chaldeans.

i.e. The Lord loves me and his arm will come upon my enemy.

1 Nephi 22:20
[20] And the Lord will surely prepare a way for his people, unto the fulfilling of the words of Moses, which he spake, saying: A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

i.e. The Lord will prepare a way for me.

The 5 Browns' sisters speak at victims of violent crimes conference

"Secrets and silence only help the abuser," Desirae Brown told a session of the Annual Crime Victims Conference. "So talking about it, bringing awareness to the problem, we hope will change this."

"So many people don't even understand the problem, Desirae Brown said. "They don't understand how rampant it is and they really don't know how to help, what signs they should look for, how to reach out to a victim."

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865554783/The-5-Browns-sisters-speak-at-victims-of-violent-crimes-conference.html?pg=all

The 5 Browns sisters say they've 'done something to make the world safer'

There's tremendous pressure in the home to keep things quiet and so I think a victim needs that distance of time and sometimes physical distance to be able to come to terms with what happened.

–Deondra Brown

Videos on the 5 Browns

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