January 8, Elder Brown-Post your insights from your Book of Mormon reading or from our Book of Mormon class. Or comment on someone else's comment. Be sure to include the date and your name. Check this blog regularly.
Supreme Creator Alma 30: 44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; . . .all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.
First law of thermodynamics: A change in the internal energy of a closed thermodynamic system is equal to the difference between the heat supplied to the system and the amount of work done by the system on its surroundings. The first law observes that the internal energy obeys the principle of conservation of energy, which states that energy can be transformed (changed from one form to another), but cannot be created or destroyed.
Second law of thermodynamics: Heat cannot spontaneously flow from a colder location to a hotter location. The second law of thermodynamics is an expression of the universal principle of decay observable in nature. The second law is an observation of the fact that over time, differences in temperature, pressure, and chemical potential tend to even out in a physical system that is isolated from the outside world. Entropy is a measure of how much this process has progressed. The entropy of an isolated system which is not in equilibrium will tend to increase over time, approaching a maximum value at equilibrium.
Third law of thermodynamics: As a system approaches absolute zero, all processes cease and the entropy of the system approaches a minimum value. "the entropy (randomness) of all systems and of all states of a system is smallest at absolute zero," The law of negative entropy. Entropy is randomness. If matter is not random, it is either at absolute zero or some intelligence must have organized the random matter (entropy). Study of the Third Law of Thermodynamics mainly supports the implications of the first two laws. However, some questions do arise. The Third Law of Thermodynamics demonstrates another detectable, absolute, all-encompassing, important natural law. The Laws of Thermodynamics demonstrate very ordered rules of energy interactions, which the entire universe must obey. Why is the Third Law of Thermodynamics true? Why are there no exceptions in the entire universe? This law cannot be an accident, since none of the thermodynamic laws are random. In other words things don’t naturally go from a state of randomness (disorganization) to organization. Organization implies an Organizer. Design implies a Designer. If the laws are not random, then who created them?
Wesley Baugh My Mom handed me a fake hundred dollar bill and it said this on the back of it. Money will buy: a bed BUT NOT sleep. Books BUT NOT Brains. Food BUT NOT appetite. Finery BUT NOT beauty. A house BUT NOT a home. Medicine BUT NOT health. Luxuries BUT NOT culture. Amusement BUT NOT happiness. A crucifix BUT NOT a Savior. A church pew BUT NOT heaven. What Money can't buy, Jesus Christ can give freely without charge. Is He your Lord and Savior? If not, you can get a new lease on life right now. Confess to God that you have sinned and that you want to turn from your sins to receive Jesus as Lord of your life. Through that step of believing faith you can start life afresh with your sins forgiven and a new life in Christ.
I want to start off by saying thank you for all the comments that have been posted thus far. They are words of great worth to me. I feel that I'm in the midst of a very sharp group and I feel the strength and spirit of each of you and I'm genuinely excited for this semester. I read Alma Chap 30-34 and I had a lot of notes I jotted down. I want to share a couple today. We are to live holy lives if we are to qualify to live in a holy place. If we are to live with our Heavenly Father again we are to constantly nourish our testimony and be zealous in keeping the commandments of God. We must make our homes forts that repel evil and ALWAYS have our guard up. My other comment comes from reading Alma 32 verse 3. One who can be master over his appetite for the things of the world is given a gift from God that is of infinite worth, worth more than all the treasures on earth combined. The eternal perspective is magnified in the persons life and the want for impractical things cease. What takes root is the desire to give and bless the lives of others around you. You will have the great desire to give. Heavenly Father gives to us so freely let us give freely yet wisely.
I just want to thank everyone in the class for all your comments during class on Thursday. I felt the spirit so strong and I am excited for all the growth I know I will receive from being around all of you. I just wanted to share a few thoughts from my reading this past week. I was thinking about Korihor and some things that Sister Brown had pointed out about the way he talks. He is so good at making others doubt themselves by always putting them down. My husband and I have been struggling with someone who uses this tactic to try to get us (and others) to do what they want instead of what we know is best for us. It just solidified my answer that I received. I love reading the scriptures and I know that they will always help me learn and grow.
I want to say thank you all for participating today as I taught the lesson today in the second half of class. I truly feel like this will be a great semester for all of us as we keep our Heavenly Father's will as our number one priority. I appreciated those that got up and spoke on a seconds notice. I admire your courage and your willingness, it shows great faith to stand and speak in front of people. I truly appreciate it and have full confidence that we will grow immensely spiritually this semester. I appreciate the words of Elder and Sister Brown. The future wheel is a tool I will use to organize my forever running thoughts. I loved what Elder Brown said about our desires and that is what shapes our heart. The Chiasmus is something I have never heard of and that was highly interesting to see that used in The Book Of Mormon. I never knew that!! Knowledge is power and it enables us to better serve, love and understand our world and be an even better instrument in the Lord's hands.
Jamel you did a wonderful job teaching. It took great courage to volunteer as the first lead student. I too feel that we will all grow and learn from each other this semester.
I did not know this and the bow means rain bow:“The Lord hath set the bow in the cloud for a sign that while it shall be seen, seed time and harvest, summer and winter shall not fail; but when it shall disappear, woe to that generation, for behold the end cometh quickly” (Smith, Teachings, p. 305).
“I have asked of the Lord concerning His coming; and while asking the Lord, He gave a sign and said, ‘In the days of Noah I set a bow in the heavens as a sign and token that in any year that the bow should be seen the Lord would not come; but there should be seed time and harvest during that year: but whenever you see the bow withdrawn, it shall be a token that there shall be famine, pestilence, and great distress among the nations, and that the coming of the Messiah is not far distant’” (Smith, Teachings, pp. 340–41). I love how the Lord gives us signs. Like in the Book of Mormon there will be 3 days of darkness or when Christ is born there will be new star.
One of the things that attracts me to Mormonism is that it is a practical and rational religion that helps members bring out the best in themselves and others. My problems is that I have difficulty expressing my thoughts and feelings. This article, from Richard Bushman says how I feel much better than I can. Bushman, a life-long Mormon who is currently a patriarch is a well-respected historian and scholar. He received his A.B., A.M. and Ph.D. degree in history of American civilization from Harvard University in 1961 and taught at several universities before joining the faculty at Columbia University in 1989. He is a well-respected scholar with impeccable credentials and author of several books. (Google his name for more information.) From one of his articles concerning his Mormon faith he said: I don’t think you can build a life on a few intellectual reasons. My real reasons for believing all these years are more abstract and more powerful. The fact is that I find goodness in my Latter-day Saint life than I find nowhere else. When my mind is filled with scripture, when I speak to the Lord in prayer, when I comport myself in the way of Jesus, I am the man I want to be. I feel wisdom, concentration, compassion, and comprehension to a degree beyond anything I have known as a scholar or a teacher. I do everything better under the influences that radiate from the Latter-day Saint religion. I am a better father and husband, I give more to my children, I connect with the poor and needy, I counsel my students more truly, I am more unselfish. Moreover, I like what the religion does for my fellow Saints, both longtime members and new converts. It welds us together into a community of mutual trust and aid. Latter-day Saints, in my experience, are people of goodwill. They give to each other and to worthy works of every kind. We care for each other the way Jesus said we should. These experiences in my own congregation have persuaded me that nothing is more likely to improve the world than conversion to the beliefs I have treasured all my life. As a scholar, I know full well the doubts of agnostics. I know that the scientific worldview, now dominant among intellectuals, appears to exclude traditional belief. I have dealt with the arguments against belief all my life. But over against these, I place my own intimate experience of goodness among the Latter-day Saints. I do not see how, as a rational man, I can give up what I have known directly and powerfully for the messages of doubt coming from distant authorities in the reals of science and philosophy. I feel like the disciples who were asked by Jesus in a crucial moment, “Will ye also go away?” and they replied, “To whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” (John 6:67-68)
Once I asked a doctor that was donating blood, what is the greatest thing you have learned as a doctor? She responded, "How little we know as human beings... Every thing is endless." I was reminded that we are eternal beings and that our knowledge only will grow and grow and the only way we can break the limits of the natural man is to become completely converted to the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Then our knowledge will continue to grow and our understanding of all things will be expanded an infinite amount until all things are before us.
Elder Brown In our Book of Mormon class last Thursday, we spent very little time on Alma’s blessing for his son, Shiblon (Alma 37). As a returned missionary, I have always liked this chapter. It is so practical and applicable to today’s returning missionaries. I guess Shiblon faced similar challenges.Read it through carefully. The advice is so good.
Last Thursday we talked about Corianton and Isabel and then put their situation into a modern context with Cory and Izy as young adults in the church who are dating each other. They become increasingly physically affectionate until they end up in bed with each other. We then did a “Futures Wheel” examining what the possible consequences of their actions are. We all could see that extramarital sex can have very serious, far-reaching, negative and tragic consequences. Yet, in spite of these serious negative consequences, way too many of our young people in the church make the tragic decision to behave promiscuously. Please think and pray about this question and respond in this blog: What can people do to avoid getting involved in this tragic behavior?
I have been a young women's leader for eight years and there is one thing I always tell my girls. Decide now what you want and where you are going and what is going to lead you there. If it is about drinking or doing drugs decide now if you will or not. When the circumstance arises you will not have to stop and think about it, letting in negative influences. This goes with dating too. Decide what you want, where you want to get married and make sure your actions are going to take you there. Before you even leave the house decide how far you will go. By deciding first you give the devil no power to come into your mind while you are sitting there trying to decide. I know that there is peer-pressure involved, but deciding first can greatly decrease the chances of something happening you may regret later. I also had a bishop who would tell our youth that they can do whatever they want on a date as long as it is leading you to the temple. If holding hands is still keeping you on your path to the temple then it is okay to hold hands. If one goodnight kiss keeps you on the path to the temple it is okay.
We will all be "punished" for our disbelief or lack of faith but Korihor was wicked and rebellious and suffered and died because he allied himself with Satan. Zacharias learned and grew and repented. Perhaps, if we lack faith, we are to that extent, lacking power from God. And lacking power from God is a form of punishment.
I remember a long time ago when I was still a beehive in young women's having a lesson about sexual purity, my leader gave us three little rules to keep us from going too far. They are: only two kisses, no longer than two seconds, and keep two feet on the floor. I know this isn't a guarantee but its something that helped me during my dating years.
That is some good advice. I only dated non Mormon woman in my life and you have to be very careful not going too far. Setting some boundaries and telling them is essential.
After a very long day I just decided to sit down and read Alma chapter 44. Moroni declares a number of truths that have helped me personally in my life. Verse 4 tells us that as long as we have faith in God we will be preserved and protected from danger, physically and spiritually. Our days are numbered before the Lord and as long as we are living and keeping the commandments we will prosper in the land. We are to put on the whole armor of God to overcome the constant temptations that Satan puts into our paths.
Yesterday during class I was thinking about the timing of my injury and it is strange how my hip never bothered me a day in my life until two weeks into my mission. Also I did tons of sports in high school and it never bothered me. I was thinking about Ether 12:6 “ 6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that afaith is things which are bhoped for and cnot seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no dwitness until after the etrial of your faith.” Ether 12:6. I was thinking about the part I underline and my faith has grown and this scripture meant a lot to me too “ 12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon thearock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your bfoundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty cstorm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall. Helman 5:12. I know the reason why my hip started to hurt me on my mission now. I had to have my foundation on Christ strengthened so then I can weather out the storm. Then after that I will receive witness of my faith. I have noticed through this great trail that the only thing getting me through this is Christ and I need to continually do the works to increase even more.
Helman 5:24 is a verse that helps me to keep my life in perspective. After Nephi and Lehi preached the gospel and were put into priosn after following the Lords will for them they were encircled by fire and protected by Heavenly Father. This example in the scriptures is important to me because I can recount many times in my life when I have been encircled by Heavenly Father in different ways. Through good examples, specific blessings and experiences that helped my heart take courage, just as Neph and Lehi felt after they realized they ere being protected and in the process teaching people who witnessed that God was in charge.
Helaman 5:18 is a great verse that reminds me of my mission. I was very, very shy previous to my mission and it made things difficult at the beginning of my mission. This scripture reminds me that as you rely on Christ and do all that you can he will make your weaknesses strengths. I truly became mighty in speaking by the spirit and even the pain of the trials I was given seem to have a very little effect on me, as compared to if I didn't listen and rely on the spirit to guide and comfort me. The trials would have easily overcome me. I instead leaned unto the Lord and life became joyful and not fearful. I have been obsessed on getting back to how I felt and acted on my mission. But I have been released and the mantle has been placed off me. I'm learning new things now and the as I have studied this verse and have let fear be cast from my life, I have never been happier as a father and husband.
Jamel, Most of us can remember the growth experiences we had while serving as missionaries. I don't think the "mantle has been placed off [you]" so much as other mantle's have been added to your missionary character development. The mantle of father and husband, as you mentioned, is the greatest mantle of all.
Shayna Reed 2-14-13 Today in class we spoke about the parallels of the times in 3rd Nephi and latter day times. There were similarities like natural disasters and Satan leading an open rebellion which almost identically correlate. The part that touched my heart the most was seeing that every single chapter heading from 1-8 all had something, big or small. It enlightened me and made me realize that these scriptures that we possess are really for us, and not even are they for us, they are directly for our time. The traditions of our fathers still reflect on all of us today.
I love the grace of Christ because it gives me confidence that anything is possible through him. When I was 16 years old I knew very little about the church even when I was baptized when I was 8 years old. Anyways when I was 16 years old missionaries would come over and read the Book Of Mormon with my family. I barley understood what was going on in what we were reading and I struggled even reading it out loud. Little after the missionaries left I started to read the Scriptures every day because I knew it was a commandment of God. When I was reading every night I barley understood it and I struggled. I felt very dumb because I could not understand it. So I prayed many times to the Lord to help me comprehend the scriptures because I Love him with all my heart. I know through his grace he has helped me understand the scriptures and I grew a testimony of them. Now when I look back I realized that the Holy Ghost lead me to do this “And if men come unto me I will show unto them theiraweakness. I bgive unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my cgrace is sufficient for all men that dhumble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make eweak things become strong unto them.” Ether 12:27.
This is from a Column by Larry Elder called Dads Matter. I cut out the political junk but the rest is pretty good. "...there is an 800-pound politically incorect elephant in the room.
Most gun murders in America are committed by people of color, with the victims almost always people of color. Whites have the same access to firearms, listen to hte same "urban" music and play the same violent video games. Why, then , do the murders disproportionatelly involve racial minorities, principally blacks and Hispanics, usually young men in urban settings, many with gang ties?
Obama in chicago finally talked about the lack of fathers and the impact this has on crime..."for a lot of young boys and young men in particualar, they don't see an example of fathers or grandfathers, uncles, who are in a position to support families and be held up in respect. And so that means that this is not just a gun issue; it's also an issue of the kinds of communities that we're building. When a child opens fire on another child, there is a hole in that childs heart that government can't fill. Only community and parents and teachers and clergy can fill that hole."
…Columnist Walter Williams said that census data from 1890 to 1940 show that blacks were slightly more likely than whites to marry, and therefore their children were also more likely to be in a two parent household. During the Great depression, "going on the dole" was considered shameful, and only done as a dire necessity of last resort after first seeking help from friends, family, churches and charities.
But by the '60s, government workers went door-to-door in urban communities and elsewhere urging unmarried mothers to sign up for benefits, thus "marrying" the government. Almost 75% of today's black children are born out of wedlock, as 53 % of Hispanics and 29% of non-Hispanic whites. As recently as 1963--five decades ago-- those numbers for blacks were 23.6%. As for whites at that time, fewer that 3% were born outside of wedlock.
By 1965--just two years later-- out-of-wedlock births by black women had increased to 28%. By 1970, it had jumped to 38%. In the '80s it rose to 50%, and by the '90s, the out-of-wedlock birthrate exceeded 70%.
What to do?
We know that government welfare damages individual initiative and personal responsibility. After the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, the welfare rolls declined by half! The needy can and should be helped at the state and local level, ideally by nonprofits, religious institutions, self-help organizations and mentors
A counselor recently wrote me… She argued that if woman demanded more of themselves, men would get the message-- and they would be forced to behave more responsibly. To do otherwise, she says, is to behave selfishly-- for responsible parenting requires selflessness.
"No one is putting a gun to women's heads and making them have intercourse with unworthy men prior to marriage. It is done willingly, it leads to a life from hell and harms everyone involved… "The term 'father" used to be considered synonymous with the man who in this order, a) courted a woman, b) married a woman, c) impregnated a woman, d) stayed around for the next 20 years paying the bills, playing catch, disciplining the kids and loving the mom. Now mere siring or donating sperm to the creation of a kid is called "fathering", when it’s barely more than breeding. It cheapens the meaning of the word father.
"now picture this: if all woman, black or white or whatever race, said to black men, "no marriage, sex, children, or home cooked food without toil and solid achievment first," do you really think any lowered bars that had been established would have stopped black men from achieving the finances and success required for romance? I dont. They'd be working hard, wanting to get the top score, and wanting to outshine others."
As a country becomes wickeder the government also becomes bigger. You see this all throughout the scriptures. The founding Fathers said there would be no need of government if all men were angles. If you look at the Law of Consecration and if everybody followed it and lived the two great commandments then there would be no need for government. Obviously we are not all perfect so we need some government. As we become more and more sinful the government has to keep a functional society so it restricts or tries to fix the nation through government programs. The Church is rapidly growing all throughout the world and the opposition is too. Even in our own country we can start seeing the divide.
The first place that we are going to fix anything is within our own homes. We must realize this and raise our children in love and righteousness. in the last days the Constitution will hang by a thread, but the other part to that is that it will hang, and the priesthood of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints will hold it up. It is my personal opinion that this will be achieved in the way that we raise our families. If we believe that the government is too big and that we are becoming a more wicked society. We should realize that more laws are only going treat the symptoms and not the disease. the disease is in our families. Once we fix that we will fix the symptoms. We know that it will get more and more wicked until Christ comes again. But that isn't an excuse to give up.
This is very well said and the article you posted was highly interesting and very depressing because it is true, sadly. We must never give up as men with the priesthood. We must shine and always continue to shine in this dark world. I love it when you said " We should realize that more laws are only going to treat the symptoms and not the disease." I don't remember who said it but they said that the success of a nation starts within the home. Satan has been relentlessly at war with the family unit and wants to do all he can to destroy it and sadly he is doing a good job. I agree that we must NEVER give up and I have seen as i have never given up on the faith and testimony I have, the things of the world have lost its pizazz and have become just tasteless and a waste of time. When we have helped our selves and have strength to help others we will blessed immensely. We can't just sit by and watch the world collapse and hide ourselves in our homes and live the gospel in our homes. We must always share it and be active in making a difference in the world around us. I must admit, I could do A LOT more in the cause of preaching the gospel. I just wish I could do SO much more and bless thousands of lives. But as Alma I believe has said, "I sin in my wish." I should be thankful for the missionary moments I have been given and know that my testimony can hopefully reach the hearts of these people and bless their families for generations, reaching into the eternities. I know that was a little long winded but I just loved the great wisdom I learn from you all!
I truly have been pondering deeply about using our time wisely. I already know we must put the Lord's will first before anything else and that is always going to be right and true. We are preparing now to meet God, we must live each day as if it is our last. that has helped me be more productive in everything i do.
It is crazy that the spirit world is here on earth. Also if you had enough faith like the brother of Ether and have the vial taken off of you then we could see all those sprits on earth. That would be crazy!!!!
These verses are a huge testimony to me. 16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one astick, and bwriteupon it, For cJudah, and for the children of Israel hiscompanions: then take another stick, and dwrite upon it, ForeJoseph, the fstick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel hiscompanions: 17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shallbecome aone in thine hand. 18 ¶And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee,saying, Wilt thou not shew us awhat thou meanest by these? 19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will takethe stick of aJoseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and thetribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even withthe stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall beone in mine hand. 20 ¶And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine handbefore their eyes. The Sticks in these verses many scripture and the one referring to Judah is the Bible. Also the other stick referring to Joseph means the Book of Mormon.
Those scriptures truly had a lot of my investigators confounded on my mission. I have been really pondering John 17. These verses have truly filled my heart with light as I read them slowly and ponder them. The Lord prays not only for the apostles but for all those that truly are his disciples. How can we fail if our Lord and Savior has prayed for US. These scriptures give so much comfort and light in a world that is so dark and rebellious.
I just feel pressed to say that it is essential to know who we are and what we are here upon the earth to do. There will be many things that will try to win our attention and loyalty. We must only have complete loyalty to our Lord and Savior and do all he has commanded us to do and whatever we are commanding to do.
"We read that as a result of wars, famines, pestilences, and destructions, the people began to repent of their iniquity." (Book Of Mormon Student Manual p.375) I was reading Jacob chapter 5 and how God use these things to help Israel repent. If you really think about it though it is better for people to go through a little bit of hard times and repent then continually fall into sin.
I completely agree Wes. I love the account in 3 Nephi chap 11 and the chapters following that speak of the people seeing the great changes that had been brought about. Many were humbled and listened to Jesus and what he had to say. There were so many years of righteousness after the savior"s visit to the Americas. There is much good that can come about through trials and tribulations.
I loved the last priesthood session we had. One of the things I leaned was that people back in the past had to go looking for trouble. Now trouble comes to us and that is so true.
Week 1 Alma 30-35: Some of my favorite part from these reading was about Alma 32 about faith. In verse 6 it says "for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them" and in 8 it says "I behold that ye are lowly in heart." Because of this he (Alma the younger) was able to teach them about faith. In Moroni 7:43 it say "he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart." As I understand in order for us to have more faith, we must be meek and lowly of heart. As our humility grows before God then our faith will be able to be increased. Now that they were taught faith Amulek was about to teach them about repentance in Alma 34. In this was see the same patten as is writing in A of F 4: "first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance." I like to add that Peter said "add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge." I believe that God is a God of order and that there is a order of operation to fulfill His purposes. If we want to have knowledge we therefore must be meek, humble, and lowly of heart, have faith, repent and be virtuous; by the doing so the Holy Ghost will be our companion and he will teach us all things. Doc & Cov 121:45-46
Week 2 Alma 36-42: 36:18, 19: “I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God” This is truly one of the most beautiful stories I know. I know this is true from my own life. The Lord doth immediately bless us. He has the power to forgive and heal. It is truly this simple. Little wonder we are asked to always remember Him. 37:33, 41: In verse 33 by one verse o f scripture we find such rich, clear, precise, and simple doctrine. I am amazed how the Book of Mormon can silence so much confusion in one verse. The book is truly is a blessing for our day when so many are calling good evil and evil good. Verse 41 is another reminder the need of consistency and diligence in our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We must not forget to be aware of the small miracles that are done by Jesus power and light everyday of our lives. 38:12: “That ye may be filled with love.” To truly have love we must love virtue. Doc & Cov 88:40. 41:10 I love this verse “Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.” Again how grateful I am for the simple truths of the Book of Mormon. 42:24 This scripture help me understand the role of Justice and Mercy. Again the need for meekness and humility or at least those are the words that I think of by being penitent.
Supreme Creator
ReplyDeleteAlma 30: 44 But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; . . .all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.
First law of thermodynamics: A change in the internal energy of a closed thermodynamic system is equal to the difference between the heat supplied to the system and the amount of work done by the system on its surroundings. The first law observes that the internal energy obeys the principle of conservation of energy, which states that energy can be transformed (changed from one form to another), but cannot be created or destroyed.
Second law of thermodynamics: Heat cannot spontaneously flow from a colder location to a hotter location. The second law of thermodynamics is an expression of the universal principle of decay observable in nature. The second law is an observation of the fact that over time, differences in temperature, pressure, and chemical potential tend to even out in a physical system that is isolated from the outside world. Entropy is a measure of how much this process has progressed. The entropy of an isolated system which is not in equilibrium will tend to increase over time, approaching a maximum value at equilibrium.
Third law of thermodynamics: As a system approaches absolute zero, all processes cease and the entropy of the system approaches a minimum value.
"the entropy (randomness) of all systems and of all states of a system is smallest at absolute zero,"
The law of negative entropy. Entropy is randomness. If matter is not random, it is either at absolute zero or some intelligence must have organized the random matter (entropy). Study of the Third Law of Thermodynamics mainly supports the implications of the first two laws. However, some questions do arise. The Third Law of Thermodynamics demonstrates another detectable, absolute, all-encompassing, important natural law. The Laws of Thermodynamics demonstrate very ordered rules of energy interactions, which the entire universe must obey. Why is the Third Law of Thermodynamics true? Why are there no exceptions in the entire universe? This law cannot be an accident, since none of the thermodynamic laws are random. In other words things don’t naturally go from a state of randomness (disorganization) to organization. Organization implies an Organizer. Design implies a Designer. If the laws are not random, then who created them?
Wesley Baugh
ReplyDeleteMy Mom handed me a fake hundred dollar bill and it said this on the back of it.
Money will buy: a bed BUT NOT sleep. Books BUT NOT Brains. Food BUT NOT appetite. Finery BUT NOT beauty. A house BUT NOT a home. Medicine BUT NOT health. Luxuries BUT NOT culture. Amusement BUT NOT happiness. A crucifix BUT NOT a Savior. A church pew BUT NOT heaven. What Money can't buy, Jesus Christ can give freely without charge. Is He your Lord and Savior? If not, you can get a new lease on life right now. Confess to God that you have sinned and that you want to turn from your sins to receive Jesus as Lord of your life. Through that step of believing faith you can start life afresh with your sins forgiven and a new life in Christ.
Wes,
DeleteYour mother has the right perspective. It's so easy to get side-tracked chasing after things that don't really matter.
I want to start off by saying thank you for all the comments that have been posted thus far. They are words of great worth to me. I feel that I'm in the midst of a very sharp group and I feel the strength and spirit of each of you and I'm genuinely excited for this semester. I read Alma Chap 30-34 and I had a lot of notes I jotted down. I want to share a couple today. We are to live holy lives if we are to qualify to live in a holy place. If we are to live with our Heavenly Father again we are to constantly nourish our testimony and be zealous in keeping the commandments of God. We must make our homes forts that repel evil and ALWAYS have our guard up. My other comment comes from reading Alma 32 verse 3. One who can be master over his appetite for the things of the world is given a gift from God that is of infinite worth, worth more than all the treasures on earth combined. The eternal perspective is magnified in the persons life and the want for impractical things cease. What takes root is the desire to give and bless the lives of others around you. You will have the great desire to give. Heavenly Father gives to us so freely let us give freely yet wisely.
ReplyDeleteI just want to thank everyone in the class for all your comments during class on Thursday. I felt the spirit so strong and I am excited for all the growth I know I will receive from being around all of you. I just wanted to share a few thoughts from my reading this past week. I was thinking about Korihor and some things that Sister Brown had pointed out about the way he talks. He is so good at making others doubt themselves by always putting them down. My husband and I have been struggling with someone who uses this tactic to try to get us (and others) to do what they want instead of what we know is best for us. It just solidified my answer that I received. I love reading the scriptures and I know that they will always help me learn and grow.
ReplyDeleteI want to say thank you all for participating today as I taught the lesson today in the second half of class. I truly feel like this will be a great semester for all of us as we keep our Heavenly Father's will as our number one priority. I appreciated those that got up and spoke on a seconds notice. I admire your courage and your willingness, it shows great faith to stand and speak in front of people. I truly appreciate it and have full confidence that we will grow immensely spiritually this semester. I appreciate the words of Elder and Sister Brown. The future wheel is a tool I will use to organize my forever running thoughts. I loved what Elder Brown said about our desires and that is what shapes our heart. The Chiasmus is something I have never heard of and that was highly interesting to see that used in The Book Of Mormon. I never knew that!! Knowledge is power and it enables us to better serve, love and understand our world and be an even better instrument in the Lord's hands.
ReplyDeleteJamel you did a wonderful job teaching. It took great courage to volunteer as the first lead student. I too feel that we will all grow and learn from each other this semester.
DeleteI did not know this and the bow means rain bow:“The Lord hath set the bow in the cloud for a sign that while it shall be seen, seed time and harvest, summer and winter shall not fail; but when it shall disappear, woe to that generation, for behold the end cometh quickly” (Smith, Teachings, p. 305).
ReplyDelete“I have asked of the Lord concerning His coming; and while asking the Lord, He gave a sign and said, ‘In the days of Noah I set a bow in the heavens as a sign and token that in any year that the bow should be seen the Lord would not come; but there should be seed time and harvest during that year: but whenever you see the bow withdrawn, it shall be a token that there shall be famine, pestilence, and great distress among the nations, and that the coming of the Messiah is not far distant’” (Smith, Teachings, pp. 340–41). I love how the Lord gives us signs. Like in the Book of Mormon there will be 3 days of darkness or when Christ is born there will be new star.
One of the things that attracts me to Mormonism is that it is a practical and rational religion that helps members bring out the best in themselves and others. My problems is that I have difficulty expressing my thoughts and feelings. This article, from Richard Bushman says how I feel much better than I can. Bushman, a life-long Mormon who is currently a patriarch is a well-respected historian and scholar. He received his A.B., A.M. and Ph.D. degree in history of American civilization from Harvard University in 1961 and taught at several universities before joining the faculty at Columbia University in 1989. He is a well-respected scholar with impeccable credentials and author of several books. (Google his name for more information.)
ReplyDeleteFrom one of his articles concerning his Mormon faith he said:
I don’t think you can build a life on a few intellectual reasons. My real reasons for believing all these years are more abstract and more powerful. The fact is that I find goodness in my Latter-day Saint life than I find nowhere else. When my mind is filled with scripture, when I speak to the Lord in prayer, when I comport myself in the way of Jesus, I am the man I want to be. I feel wisdom, concentration, compassion, and comprehension to a degree beyond anything I have known as a scholar or a teacher. I do everything better under the influences that radiate from the Latter-day Saint religion. I am a better father and husband, I give more to my children, I connect with the poor and needy, I counsel my students more truly, I am more unselfish. Moreover, I like what the religion does for my fellow Saints, both longtime members and new converts. It welds us together into a community of mutual trust and aid. Latter-day Saints, in my experience, are people of goodwill. They give to each other and to worthy works of every kind. We care for each other the way Jesus said we should. These experiences in my own congregation have persuaded me that nothing is more likely to improve the world than conversion to the beliefs I have treasured all my life.
As a scholar, I know full well the doubts of agnostics. I know that the scientific worldview, now dominant among intellectuals, appears to exclude traditional belief. I have dealt with the arguments against belief all my life. But over against these, I place my own intimate experience of goodness among the Latter-day Saints. I do not see how, as a rational man, I can give up what I have known directly and powerfully for the messages of doubt coming from distant authorities in the reals of science and philosophy. I feel like the disciples who were asked by Jesus in a crucial moment, “Will ye also go away?” and they replied, “To whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” (John 6:67-68)
Once I asked a doctor that was donating blood, what is the greatest thing you have learned as a doctor? She responded, "How little we know as human beings... Every thing is endless." I was reminded that we are eternal beings and that our knowledge only will grow and grow and the only way we can break the limits of the natural man is to become completely converted to the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Then our knowledge will continue to grow and our understanding of all things will be expanded an infinite amount until all things are before us.
DeleteElder Brown
ReplyDeleteIn our Book of Mormon class last Thursday, we spent very little time on Alma’s blessing for his son, Shiblon (Alma 37). As a returned missionary, I have always liked this chapter. It is so practical and applicable to today’s returning missionaries. I guess Shiblon faced similar challenges.Read it through carefully. The advice is so good.
From Elder Brown:
ReplyDeleteLast Thursday we talked about Corianton and Isabel and then put their situation into a modern context with Cory and Izy as young adults in the church who are dating each other. They become increasingly physically affectionate until they end up in bed with each other. We then did a “Futures Wheel” examining what the possible consequences of their actions are. We all could see that extramarital sex can have very serious, far-reaching, negative and tragic consequences. Yet, in spite of these serious negative consequences, way too many of our young people in the church make the tragic decision to behave promiscuously. Please think and pray about this question and respond in this blog: What can people do to avoid getting involved in this tragic behavior?
I have been a young women's leader for eight years and there is one thing I always tell my girls. Decide now what you want and where you are going and what is going to lead you there. If it is about drinking or doing drugs decide now if you will or not. When the circumstance arises you will not have to stop and think about it, letting in negative influences. This goes with dating too. Decide what you want, where you want to get married and make sure your actions are going to take you there. Before you even leave the house decide how far you will go. By deciding first you give the devil no power to come into your mind while you are sitting there trying to decide. I know that there is peer-pressure involved, but deciding first can greatly decrease the chances of something happening you may regret later.
DeleteI also had a bishop who would tell our youth that they can do whatever they want on a date as long as it is leading you to the temple. If holding hands is still keeping you on your path to the temple then it is okay to hold hands. If one goodnight kiss keeps you on the path to the temple it is okay.
I was able to make a connection between Korihor and Zacharias (Luke 1:18-20). They were both punished for their disbelief.
ReplyDeleteFrom Elder Brown:
DeleteWe will all be "punished" for our disbelief or lack of faith but Korihor was wicked and rebellious and suffered and died because he allied himself with Satan. Zacharias learned and grew and repented. Perhaps, if we lack faith, we are to that extent, lacking power from God. And lacking power from God is a form of punishment.
I remember a long time ago when I was still a beehive in young women's having a lesson about sexual purity, my leader gave us three little rules to keep us from going too far. They are: only two kisses, no longer than two seconds, and keep two feet on the floor. I know this isn't a guarantee but its something that helped me during my dating years.
ReplyDeleteThat is some good advice. I only dated non Mormon woman in my life and you have to be very careful not going too far. Setting some boundaries and telling them is essential.
DeleteAfter a very long day I just decided to sit down and read Alma chapter 44. Moroni declares a number of truths that have helped me personally in my life. Verse 4 tells us that as long as we have faith in God we will be preserved and protected from danger, physically and spiritually. Our days are numbered before the Lord and as long as we are living and keeping the commandments we will prosper in the land. We are to put on the whole armor of God to overcome the constant temptations that Satan puts into our paths.
ReplyDeleteYesterday during class I was thinking about the timing of my injury and it is strange how my hip never bothered me a day in my life until two weeks into my mission. Also I did tons of sports in high school and it never bothered me. I was thinking about Ether 12:6 “ 6 And now, I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that afaith is things which are bhoped for and cnot seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no dwitness until after the etrial of your faith.” Ether 12:6. I was thinking about the part I underline and my faith has grown and this scripture meant a lot to me too “ 12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon thearock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your bfoundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty cstorm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall. Helman 5:12. I know the reason why my hip started to hurt me on my mission now. I had to have my foundation on Christ strengthened so then I can weather out the storm. Then after that I will receive witness of my faith. I have noticed through this great trail that the only thing getting me through this is Christ and I need to continually do the works to increase even more.
ReplyDeleteHelman 5:24 is a verse that helps me to keep my life in perspective. After Nephi and Lehi preached the gospel and were put into priosn after following the Lords will for them they were encircled by fire and protected by Heavenly Father. This example in the scriptures is important to me because I can recount many times in my life when I have been encircled by Heavenly Father in different ways. Through good examples, specific blessings and experiences that helped my heart take courage, just as Neph and Lehi felt after they realized they ere being protected and in the process teaching people who witnessed that God was in charge.
ReplyDeleteHelaman 5:18 is a great verse that reminds me of my mission. I was very, very shy previous to my mission and it made things difficult at the beginning of my mission. This scripture reminds me that as you rely on Christ and do all that you can he will make your weaknesses strengths. I truly became mighty in speaking by the spirit and even the pain of the trials I was given seem to have a very little effect on me, as compared to if I didn't listen and rely on the spirit to guide and comfort me. The trials would have easily overcome me. I instead leaned unto the Lord and life became joyful and not fearful. I have been obsessed on getting back to how I felt and acted on my mission. But I have been released and the mantle has been placed off me. I'm learning new things now and the as I have studied this verse and have let fear be cast from my life, I have never been happier as a father and husband.
ReplyDeleteJamel, Most of us can remember the growth experiences we had while serving as missionaries. I don't think the "mantle has been placed off [you]" so much as other mantle's have been added to your missionary character development. The mantle of father and husband, as you mentioned, is the greatest mantle of all.
DeleteThis is what i needed to hear... Thank you.
DeleteShayna Reed 2-14-13
ReplyDeleteToday in class we spoke about the parallels of the times in 3rd Nephi and latter day times. There were similarities like natural disasters and Satan leading an open rebellion which almost identically correlate. The part that touched my heart the most was seeing that every single chapter heading from 1-8 all had something, big or small. It enlightened me and made me realize that these scriptures that we possess are really for us, and not even are they for us, they are directly for our time. The traditions of our fathers still reflect on all of us today.
I love the grace of Christ because it gives me confidence that anything is possible through him. When I was 16 years old I knew very little about the church even when I was baptized when I was 8 years old. Anyways when I was 16 years old missionaries would come over and read the Book Of Mormon with my family. I barley understood what was going on in what we were reading and I struggled even reading it out loud. Little after the missionaries left I started to read the Scriptures every day because I knew it was a commandment of God. When I was reading every night I barley understood it and I struggled. I felt very dumb because I could not understand it. So I prayed many times to the Lord to help me comprehend the scriptures because I Love him with all my heart. I know through his grace he has helped me understand the scriptures and I grew a testimony of them. Now when I look back I realized that the Holy Ghost lead me to do this “And if men come unto me I will show unto them theiraweakness. I bgive unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my cgrace is sufficient for all men that dhumble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make eweak things become strong unto them.” Ether 12:27.
ReplyDeleteThis is from a Column by Larry Elder called Dads Matter. I cut out the political junk but the rest is pretty good.
ReplyDelete"...there is an 800-pound politically incorect elephant in the room.
Most gun murders in America are committed by people of color, with the victims almost always people of color. Whites have the same access to firearms, listen to hte same "urban" music and play the same violent video games. Why, then , do the murders disproportionatelly involve racial minorities, principally blacks and Hispanics, usually young men in urban settings, many with gang ties?
Obama in chicago finally talked about the lack of fathers and the impact this has on crime..."for a lot of young boys and young men in particualar, they don't see an example of fathers or grandfathers, uncles, who are in a position to support families and be held up in respect. And so that means that this is not just a gun issue; it's also an issue of the kinds of communities that we're building. When a child opens fire on another child, there is a hole in that childs heart that government can't fill. Only community and parents and teachers and clergy can fill that hole."
…Columnist Walter Williams said that census data from 1890 to 1940 show that blacks were slightly more likely than whites to marry, and therefore their children were also more likely to be in a two parent household. During the Great depression, "going on the dole" was considered shameful, and only done as a dire necessity of last resort after first seeking help from friends, family, churches and charities.
But by the '60s, government workers went door-to-door in urban communities and elsewhere urging unmarried mothers to sign up for benefits, thus "marrying" the government. Almost 75% of today's black children are born out of wedlock, as 53 % of Hispanics and 29% of non-Hispanic whites. As recently as 1963--five decades ago-- those numbers for blacks were 23.6%. As for whites at that time, fewer that 3% were born outside of wedlock.
By 1965--just two years later-- out-of-wedlock births by black women had increased to 28%. By 1970, it had jumped to 38%. In the '80s it rose to 50%, and by the '90s, the out-of-wedlock birthrate exceeded 70%.
What to do?
We know that government welfare damages individual initiative and personal responsibility. After the Welfare Reform Act of 1996, the welfare rolls declined by half! The needy can and should be helped at the state and local level, ideally by nonprofits, religious institutions, self-help organizations and mentors
A counselor recently wrote me… She argued that if woman demanded more of themselves, men would get the message-- and they would be forced to behave more responsibly. To do otherwise, she says, is to behave selfishly-- for responsible parenting requires selflessness.
"No one is putting a gun to women's heads and making them have intercourse with unworthy men prior to marriage. It is done willingly, it leads to a life from hell and harms everyone involved… "The term 'father" used to be considered synonymous with the man who in this order, a) courted a woman, b) married a woman, c) impregnated a woman, d) stayed around for the next 20 years paying the bills, playing catch, disciplining the kids and loving the mom. Now mere siring or donating sperm to the creation of a kid is called "fathering", when it’s barely more than breeding. It cheapens the meaning of the word father.
"now picture this: if all woman, black or white or whatever race, said to black men, "no marriage, sex, children, or home cooked food without toil and solid achievment first," do you really think any lowered bars that had been established would have stopped black men from achieving the finances and success required for romance? I dont. They'd be working hard, wanting to get the top score, and wanting to outshine others."
No romance without finance--because dads matter.
Great article, Chad. Thanks for submitting it.
DeleteElder Brown
As a country becomes wickeder the government also becomes bigger. You see this all throughout the scriptures. The founding Fathers said there would be no need of government if all men were angles. If you look at the Law of Consecration and if everybody followed it and lived the two great commandments then there would be no need for government. Obviously we are not all perfect so we need some government. As we become more and more sinful the government has to keep a functional society so it restricts or tries to fix the nation through government programs. The Church is rapidly growing all throughout the world and the opposition is too. Even in our own country we can start seeing the divide.
DeleteThe first place that we are going to fix anything is within our own homes. We must realize this and raise our children in love and righteousness. in the last days the Constitution will hang by a thread, but the other part to that is that it will hang, and the priesthood of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints will hold it up. It is my personal opinion that this will be achieved in the way that we raise our families. If we believe that the government is too big and that we are becoming a more wicked society. We should realize that more laws are only going treat the symptoms and not the disease. the disease is in our families. Once we fix that we will fix the symptoms. We know that it will get more and more wicked until Christ comes again. But that isn't an excuse to give up.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about not giving up. All we need to do is listen to Prophets and God and we will be all right.
DeleteThis is very well said and the article you posted was highly interesting and very depressing because it is true, sadly. We must never give up as men with the priesthood. We must shine and always continue to shine in this dark world. I love it when you said " We should realize that more laws are only going to treat the symptoms and not the disease." I don't remember who said it but they said that the success of a nation starts within the home. Satan has been relentlessly at war with the family unit and wants to do all he can to destroy it and sadly he is doing a good job. I agree that we must NEVER give up and I have seen as i have never given up on the faith and testimony I have, the things of the world have lost its pizazz and have become just tasteless and a waste of time. When we have helped our selves and have strength to help others we will blessed immensely. We can't just sit by and watch the world collapse and hide ourselves in our homes and live the gospel in our homes. We must always share it and be active in making a difference in the world around us. I must admit, I could do A LOT more in the cause of preaching the gospel. I just wish I could do SO much more and bless thousands of lives. But as Alma I believe has said, "I sin in my wish." I should be thankful for the missionary moments I have been given and know that my testimony can hopefully reach the hearts of these people and bless their families for generations, reaching into the eternities. I know that was a little long winded but I just loved the great wisdom I learn from you all!
DeleteI watched A Man for All Seasons yesterday and there were many good quotes in there. I highly recommended it.
ReplyDeleteI truly have been pondering deeply about using our time wisely. I already know we must put the Lord's will first before anything else and that is always going to be right and true. We are preparing now to meet God, we must live each day as if it is our last. that has helped me be more productive in everything i do.
ReplyDeleteIt is crazy that the spirit world is here on earth. Also if you had enough faith like the brother of Ether and have the vial taken off of you then we could see all those sprits on earth. That would be crazy!!!!
ReplyDeleteThese verses are a huge testimony to me.
ReplyDelete16 Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one astick, and bwriteupon it, For cJudah, and for the children of Israel hiscompanions: then take another stick, and dwrite upon it, ForeJoseph, the fstick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel hiscompanions:
17 And join them one to another into one stick; and they shallbecome aone in thine hand.
18 ¶And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee,saying, Wilt thou not shew us awhat thou meanest by these?
19 Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will takethe stick of aJoseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and thetribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even withthe stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall beone in mine hand.
20 ¶And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine handbefore their eyes.
The Sticks in these verses many scripture and the one referring to Judah is the Bible. Also the other stick referring to Joseph means the Book of Mormon.
Those scriptures truly had a lot of my investigators confounded on my mission. I have been really pondering John 17. These verses have truly filled my heart with light as I read them slowly and ponder them. The Lord prays not only for the apostles but for all those that truly are his disciples. How can we fail if our Lord and Savior has prayed for US. These scriptures give so much comfort and light in a world that is so dark and rebellious.
ReplyDeleteI just feel pressed to say that it is essential to know who we are and what we are here upon the earth to do. There will be many things that will try to win our attention and loyalty. We must only have complete loyalty to our Lord and Savior and do all he has commanded us to do and whatever we are commanding to do.
ReplyDelete"We read that as a result of wars, famines, pestilences, and destructions, the people began to repent of their iniquity." (Book Of Mormon Student Manual p.375) I was reading Jacob chapter 5 and how God use these things to help Israel repent. If you really think about it though it is better for people to go through a little bit of hard times and repent then continually fall into sin.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree Wes. I love the account in 3 Nephi chap 11 and the chapters following that speak of the people seeing the great changes that had been brought about. Many were humbled and listened to Jesus and what he had to say. There were so many years of righteousness after the savior"s visit to the Americas. There is much good that can come about through trials and tribulations.
ReplyDeleteI loved the last priesthood session we had. One of the things I leaned was that people back in the past had to go looking for trouble. Now trouble comes to us and that is so true.
ReplyDeleteWeek 1 Alma 30-35:
ReplyDeleteSome of my favorite part from these reading was about Alma 32 about faith. In verse 6 it says "for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them" and in 8 it says "I behold that ye are lowly in heart." Because of this he (Alma the younger) was able to teach them about faith. In Moroni 7:43 it say "he cannot have faith and hope, save he shall be meek, and lowly of heart." As I understand in order for us to have more faith, we must be meek and lowly of heart. As our humility grows before God then our faith will be able to be increased. Now that they were taught faith Amulek was about to teach them about repentance in Alma 34. In this was see the same patten as is writing in A of F 4: "first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance." I like to add that Peter said "add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge." I believe that God is a God of order and that there is a order of operation to fulfill His purposes. If we want to have knowledge we therefore must be meek, humble, and lowly of heart, have faith, repent and be virtuous; by the doing so the Holy Ghost will be our companion and he will teach us all things. Doc & Cov 121:45-46
Week 2 Alma 36-42:
ReplyDelete36:18, 19: “I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God” This is truly one of the most beautiful stories I know. I know this is true from my own life. The Lord doth immediately bless us. He has the power to forgive and heal. It is truly this simple. Little wonder we are asked to always remember Him. 37:33, 41: In verse 33 by one verse o f scripture we find such rich, clear, precise, and simple doctrine. I am amazed how the Book of Mormon can silence so much confusion in one verse. The book is truly is a blessing for our day when so many are calling good evil and evil good. Verse 41 is another reminder the need of consistency and diligence in our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We must not forget to be aware of the small miracles that are done by Jesus power and light everyday of our lives. 38:12: “That ye may be filled with love.” To truly have love we must love virtue. Doc & Cov 88:40. 41:10 I love this verse “Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.” Again how grateful I am for the simple truths of the Book of Mormon. 42:24 This scripture help me understand the role of Justice and Mercy. Again the need for meekness and humility or at least those are the words that I think of by being penitent.