More Like Nephi

This week’s scriptural reading assignment was to read 1 Nephi chapters 1-5 in the Book of Mormon.  As part of that assignment we are asked to read the scriptural chapters every day and then spend at least 20 minutes each day “Digging Deeper.”  Several supplemental reading, speeches, and audio clips are available for further study on the concept covered in these chapters.  We are also encouraged to learn new study techniques that help us to delve deeper into the meaning of the scriptures and help us to draw out the principles taught in them that can help us in our own lives.
Each week we will be discussing a new study skill method at our Thursday evening gathering.  This week’s study skill was Principles and Doctrine.  The basis of this study technique is to read the scriptures (or any other text) and then draw from them the core true principle or doctrine behind what you’ve read.  In order to stand as a principle, it must be a solid foundational principle that is true outside of the details of the context it is originally read within.  One way to thinks about this is to ask the question: What is the moral of the story?

Here is a quote I enjoyed from this week’s materials:

“Any time that you’re studying a scripture, you want to push yourself to where you can answer the question “so what” about the text that you’ve just read. Or as President Packer has suggested, the question could be “therefore what,” that is, because I’ve studied this passage, what will I now do. The thing that’s going to get you closest to coming up with an answer to the question “so what” or “therefore what” will be the stating of a principle.

“Here’s what Elder Scott says about principles “A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing and compelling circumstances. It is worth great effort to organize the truth we gather to simple statements of principle.” Elder Scott is suggesting that it’s worth taking the time in your scripture study to articulate, to state, principles out of your study. President Packer has said that a principle is an enduring truth, law or a rule you can adopt to guide you in making decisions.”
             -FDREL121  Study Skills, Principles and Doctrine

Now, I will share a few thoughts and insights I have had this week I have read and studied these scriptures.  First of all in chapter 1, Nephi is giving an overview of his writings and the records of his people and refers to the state of Jerusalem under the reign of Zedekiah, King of Judah.  Nephi, his father Lehi, and their family left Jerusalem after Lehi had a divine visitation and received direction directly from God.  This is where the record now known as the Book of Mormon begins.  Although I have read this chapter many times in the past, for the first time I cross-referenced this chapter to the corresponding chapters in the Old Testament.  These chapters are 2 Kings Chapter 24 & 25 which is the record of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, who has come in and besieged Jerusalem.  Once King Nebuchadnezzar has taken control of Jerusalem, he appoints his uncle, Zedekiah (who is only 21 years old – must have been a much younger brother of his father!), as King of Judah.  I found it enlightening to study more in-depth this transition where two volumes of scriptures meet - the Old Testament and the Book of Mormon.

Another insight I was able to take to heart this week is found in 1 Nephi Chapter 3.  In this chapter, Lehi has departed from Jerusalem with his family and they are travelling in the wilderness toward the Red Sea.  Lehi receives divine manifestation from the Lord that he needs to send his sons back to Jerusalem to obtain the scriptural records of the day in order to bring them along on their journey and have them to teach their family and future posterity the Word of God.  These records consist of brass plates that contain the teachings of Moses as well as the genealogy of their ancestors.  Lehi speaks to Nephi and his two older brothers, Laman and Lemuel, and tells them that he has received a commandment from God that they are to return to Jerusalem and obtain these records and bring them back.  These records are in the possession of Laban – a very wealthy and influential man in Jerusalem.  They then embark on a long difficult mission to obtain these records.  Laman and Lemuel go on this journey with many doubts on how they will accomplish this assignment and feel it may even be impossible. (1 Nephi 3:5)   Nephi goes on this journey with confidence, knowing that if this assignment is truly a commandment from the Lord then the Lord will assist them along the way.  (1 Nephi 3:7)  After their first attempt failed, all three of the brothers became discouraged. (1 Nephi 3:14)  Laman and Lemuel complained and were ready to give up and go back to their father empty handed.  Nephi, in contrast, is diligent and continues to persist in the effort.  He comes up with a second idea (1 Nephi 3:16-23) but unfortunately that attempt ends in failure as well.  Laman and Lemuel continue to complain, are fearful of their life, and are ready to give up.  Nephi on the other hand, is steadfast and resolute that if this is an assignment from the Lord then He will open a way for them to accomplish it.  Nephi makes another attempt to obtain the records from Laban relying solely on the direct guidance of the Spirit and this time he is successful in obtaining the records from Laban and the three brothers return to their father with the record of Moses.  Now they will have these records on their journey into the wilderness and their family will have them for generations in the future.

Something I learned from these scriptures is that it is important to be firm and resolute when pursuing a goal or a mission that is consistent with God’s will for us, has great purpose, or divine direction.   This might be the decision to get married, to pursue an education, or embark on a move to a new location. However, the greater lesson I learned from this is that even more importantly there will be many obstacles along the way, there will be many failures along the way, and there will be doubt and sorrow along the way.  What distinguishes those that are successful like Nephi as opposed to Laman and Lemuel is that they like Nephi do not get sidetracked by failure and obstacles.  They are able to maintain their faith, remember their purpose on embarking on the journey, and seek divine guidance and strength along the way in order to accomplish the goals or task at hand.

I know I have at times been more like Laman and Lemuel and found it easier to give up, doubt my purpose, or succumb to fears.  I continue to improve myself and strive to be more like Nephi and strengthen my faith, not get sidetracked by obstacles and failures, and continually seek divine guidance along the way.

Putting It All Together

The last two weeks I have embarked upon a new educational journey.  I have started the Pathway Program.  This is a unique online educational program sponsored by BYU Idaho. As part of this program I will be taking one religion course and one academic course each semester for three semesters in the coming year – September to July.  Along with the two online courses each semester, I am also required to attend a local student gathering every Thursday night during the semester to review and discuss the weekly lesson materials.  A senior missionary couple facilitate these gatherings and once the students are oriented, the class discussions are led by a different student each week – referred to as the Lead Student. Once I successfully complete these three semesters, I will have the option to matriculate into the BYU Idaho online degree programs.  This one year program is the only gateway to this distance learning opportunity to ensure the students are committed and prepared.  It gives the students a foundation and solid start with group support for the first year before continuing into an online degree program on their own.

When I first heard of this program I thought it was primarily for those who had not had the opportunity to finish college and needed a second chance.  I thought because I already had a bachelor’s degree it wouldn’t be for me.  I went to an informational meeting out of curiosity and also out of duty as a member of my ward’s Relief Society Presidency.  While there, I found out it is so much more than that and can meet the needs of a whole variety of types of people that want to continue their education.

It has always been a goal of mine to continue my education.  I thought I would do this through a master’s degree program someday in the future.  As the years have passed I have not found the right opportunity, university, finances, and timing to pursue that goal.  When I attended the informational meeting for the Pathway Program, I immediately knew this was the right opportunity for me.  The flexibility and affordability were just what I needed.  I came to the realization that I didn’t need a master’s degree but that I just wanted to round out my education into some new areas of study.  Through the Pathway Program I can do this either by taking selected courses or by pursuing a second bachelor’s degree with or without a minor.  I am also excited to take courses in an environment where individuals’ religious beliefs are celebrated and acknowledged as a core aspect of each person.  It is also an environment where students are encouraged to seek guidance and assistance from a higher power in order to become the best they can be.

So for this first semester – Fall 2015 – I am taking one religion course and one academic course.  The religion course is FDREL121 – The Book of Mormon Part 1.  In this course, we will be studying the first half of the Book of Mormon and in the process learning how to study the scriptures in a deeper way both for better understanding and for better guidance in our lives.  The academic course is GS120 Life Skills.  I assumed ahead of time that I might be a bit bored with this class.  Certainly as a college-educated middle age adult with many years of employment experience and life experience as a wife and mother, I certainly had plenty of life skills.  However, in just two weeks I have been pleasantly surprised to find this course to be both fascinating and challenging.

One of the weekly assignment for the religion course I am taking is called “Putting It All Together.”  We have learned this last week about BYU Idaho’s Learning Model which consists of three steps: Prepare, Teach One Another, and Ponder/Prove.  Their learning model is based on the idea that we learn the most ourselves when we teach others.  This weekly assignment, Putting It All Together, is due at the end of the week after we have prepared, after we have attended our Thursday night gathering and discussed the concepts with other students, and after we have pondered the concepts.  At that point, we are asked to “teach others” by sharing with others what we have learned that week through either a blog, written essays, podcasts, or other similar methods.  I have chosen to use this blog to share what I have learned.