Season 2 Episode 9 Notes – Melanie Stroud

Episode 9

February 17–23

“We Rejoice in Christ”

Also, someone said I’ve gotten too silly lately. Silly is my language. There are lots of podcasts that aren’t silly at all. That don’t have tangents at all. This one isn’t that. And it’s not going to change. And I’m so happy these days and I’m not going to apologize for it. I’m silly

Same person said, “while we are happy you have found love again, we’re not sure you have share so many details.” Well, lady. Here’s the thing. I have thousands of people that have been listening since Decemeber 31st 2019 that write that they feel we are best friends. All the time, best friends. And you share your joys with your best friends. They’ve been with me since the day of my divorce. They’ve sat with all my sad and hard and I’m going to share my happy and joys too. This is my podcast and it’s about my life. It’s not sponsored by the church, its just one girls opinions. I keep trying to stress that. And something cool – when I said I had met someone (which was like combined total of maybe 25 seconds) I had multiple people write me telling me that they had been praying that I would find someone good. Can you believe that? Strangers praying for me and for my love life even. People are so good and thoughtful and kind. Thanks for your love and prayers.

And .. I’m engaged! Celebrate!!

Engraving on metal plates is not easy, and space on Nephi’s small plates was limited. So why would Nephi go to the tedious effort of copying a large amount of Isaiah’s writings into his record? He did it “that whoso … shall see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice” (2 Nephi 11:8). In a sense, the invitation to read Isaiah’s writings is an invitation to rejoice. You can take delight, as Nephi did, in Isaiah’s prophecies about the gathering of Israel, the coming of the Messiah, and the millennial peace promised to the righteous. You can rejoice that even in a day of “trouble, and darkness,” you “have seen a great light” (2 Nephi 18:22; 19:2). You can rejoice that you can “draw water out of the wells of salvation” (2 Nephi 22:3). In other words, you can “rejoice in Christ” (2 Nephi 25:26).

Boyd K Packer explains in a talk titled, The Things of my soul, When you start reading the book of mormon, it’s fairly easy… “Then, just as you settle in to move comfortably along, you will meet a barrier. The style of the language changes to Old Testament prophecy style. For, interspersed in the narrative, are chapters reciting the prophecies of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. They loom as a barrier, like a roadblock or a checkpoint beyond which the casual reader, one with idle curiosity, generally will not go.

You, too, may be tempted to stop there, but do not do it! Do not stop reading! Move forward through those difficult-to-understand chapters of Old Testament prophecy, even if you understand very little of it. Move on, if all you do is skim and merely glean an impression here and there. Move on, if all you do is look at the words. Soon you will emerge from those difficult chapters to the easier New Testament style which is characteristic of the rest of the Book of Mormon.

Because you are forewarned about that barrier, you will be able to surmount it and finish reading the book.

He’s an apostle. So it’s ok.

if all you do is skim and merely glean an impression here and there. Its our goal.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1986/04/the-things-of-my-soul?lang=eng

2 Nephi 11–25

How can I better understand the teachings of Isaiah?

Nephi acknowledged that for some, “the words of Isaiah are not plain” (2 Nephi 25:4).

This can certainly be true for those who aren’t familiar with ancient Jewish culture and geography like Nephi was..

stop here and read that! 25:4

“for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy…… ” and at the end of the verse he says, “for behold, my soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn.”

What the heck? Not plain, but plain.

Key: they are plain unto those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. (Those who are reading to feel the direction of the Lord in your life. Not for those trying to go down some deep doctrinal history road. It isn’t necessary for you to get what Nephi wanted you to get)

But Nephi also gave counsel to help us find meaning in Isaiah’s writings:

“Liken his words unto” yourself

In (2 Nephi 11:2). We read, “2 Nephi 11:2

Book of Mormon

2 And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him.

Love it. He says, I love Isaiah because he saw Christ. (Knew him! Just like I do… and I want to share that love)

Many of Isaiah’s teachings have multiple possible meanings and applications. For example, his writings about the scattering and gathering of Israel might prompt you to think about your need to be “gathered” back to the Savior.

Easy – I don’t need to know who Irael is or where they are getting gathered to etc. – just apply it to my life! Christ wants to gather me too!

Seek to be “filled with the spirit of prophecy” (2 Nephi 25:4).

The best way to understand Isaiah’s prophecies is to seek inspiration from the Spirit. Pray for spiritual guidance. You may not understand everything all at once, but the Spirit can help you learn what you need to know for your life today.

You might also find it helpful to refer to the study helps in the scriptures, including the footnotes, chapter headings, Guide to the Scriptures, and so on.

Go back to President Nelson’s comments from conference…. Study the first vision and the events of the r…

!!!! Cant believe what happened!

Do what you’re asked and he will bless you and answer your prayers He will direct your steps at every step!!

Led me to Doctrine and Covenants 25 answered all my prayers. Specifically – AMAZING!!

Talk called spiritual treasures in October 2019 (Nelson – women’s session)

Told us to do a few things: did you miss this one?

What I can tell you is that accessing the power of God in your life requires the same things that the Lord instructed Emma and each of you to do.

So, I invite you to study prayerfully section 25 of the Doctrine and Covenants and discover what the Holy Ghost will teach you. Your personal spiritual endeavor will bring you joy as you gain, understand, and use the power with which you have been endowed.

Later he says,

I entreat you to study prayerfully all the truths you can find about priesthood power. You might begin with Doctrine and Covenants sections 84 and 107. Those sections will lead you to other passages. The scriptures and teachings by modern prophets, seers, and revelators are filled with these truths. As your understanding increases and as you exercise faith in the Lord and His priesthood power, your ability to draw upon this spiritual treasure that the Lord has made available will increase.

(I didn’t say any of this part in the podcast, but I’m leaving it for you guys)

Wanted to back out of the temple tonight but the prophet said this,

And then the scriptures said this, “

Doctrine and Covenants 109:22

Doctrine and Covenants

22 And we ask thee, Holy Father, that thy servants may go forth from this house armed with thy power, and that thy name may be upon them, and thy glory be round about them, and thine angels have charge over them;”

What I was looking for was this:

You may wish to begin your preparation by reading afresh Joseph Smith’s account of the First Vision as recorded in the Pearl of Great Price. Our course of study for next year in Come, Follow Me is the Book of Mormon. You may wish to ponder important questions such as, “How would my life be different if my knowledge gained from the Book of Mormon were suddenly taken away?” or “How have the events that followed the First Vision made a difference for me and my loved ones?” Also, with the Book of Mormon videos now becoming available, you may wish to incorporate them in your individual and family study.

Select your own questions. Design your own plan. Immerse yourself in the glorious light of the Restoration. As you do, general conference next April will be not only memorable; it will be unforgettable.

You had six months to lose the weight and now you only have 46 days left. But its a whole 46 days. You can do it.

Make a plan with your family. Immerse yourself in the restoration. Listen to the saints, watch the videos, listen the podcasts put out by the church about the restoration. I’ll try to find all of that stuff and link it – just click on episode resources.

2 Nephi 11:2–8; 25:19–29

“The right way is to believe in Christ.”

Nephi both introduced and concluded his quotation of Isaiah by expressing his testimony of Jesus Christ (see 2 Nephi 11:2–8; 25:19–29). What impresses you about his testimony? As you study this week, think about Nephi’s desires to “persuade [his] children … to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God” (2 Nephi 25:23), and note passages that persuade you to believe in and follow Jesus Christ.

Introduces Isaiahs ….

2 Nephi 11:2–8

Book of Mormon

4 Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ;

5 And also my soul delighteth in the covenants of the Lord which he hath made to our fathers; yea, my soul delighteth in his grace, and in his justice, and power, and mercy in the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death.

6 And my soul delighteth in proving unto my people that save Christ should come all men must perish.

7 For if there be no Christ there be no God; and if there be no God we are not, for there could have been no creation. But there is a God, and he is Christ, and he cometh in the fulness of his own time.

8 And now I write some of the words of Isaiah, that whoso of my people shall see these words may lift up their hearts and rejoice for all men. Now these are the words, and ye may liken them unto you and unto all men.

And he concludes:

2 Nephi 25:19–29

Book of Mormon

20 And now, my brethren, I have spoken plainly that ye cannot err. And as the Lord God liveth that brought Israel up out of the land of Egypt, and gave unto Moses power that he should heal the nations after they had been bitten by the poisonous serpents, if they would cast their eyes unto the serpent which he did raise up before them, and also gave him power that he should smite the rock and the water should come forth; yea, behold I say unto you, that as these things are true, and as the Lord God liveth, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ, of which I have spoken, whereby man can be saved.

21 Wherefore, for this cause hath the Lord God promised unto me that these things which I write shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to generation, that the promise may be fulfilled unto Joseph, that his seed should never perish as long as the earth should stand.

22 Wherefore, these things shall go from generation to generation as long as the earth shall stand; and they shall go according to the will and pleasure of God; and the nations who shall possess them shall be judged of them according to the words which are written.

23 For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.

……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.

28 And now behold, my people, ye are a stiffnecked people; wherefore, I have spoken plainly unto you, that ye cannot misunderstand. And the words which I have spoken shall stand as a testimony against you; for they are sufficient to teach any man the right way; for the right way is to believe in Christ and deny him not; for by denying him ye also deny the prophets and the law.

29 And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out.

I’m not going to go through Isaiah with you or for you. Because we just learned that what we get out of Isaiah it what the lords wants to teach you PLAINLY. So say a prayer and read it. Do what Packer said and skim it.

“if all you do is skim and merely glean an impression here and there.”

It’s like a treasure hunt. See what he teaches you. It’s fun. Write it down.

2 Nephi 12–13

The proud and worldly will be humbled.

Nephi had foreseen that pride would cause the downfall of his people (see 1 Nephi 12:19). So it’s not surprising that Nephi would share with his people Isaiah’s repeated warnings against pride. In chapters 12 and 13, look for words that Isaiah used to describe pridefulness, such as lofty and haughty. Then you might try paraphrasing these warnings in your own words, as if you were writing a message to yourself to warn about pride.

See also “Chapter 18: Beware of Pride” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson [2014], 229–40).

2 Nephi 12:

7 Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots.

8 Their land is also full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.

Do we love our stuff? I love my stuff. I don’t want to lose my alimony and my ability to live off idolitry. Not right.

It’s up to you to take a hard look at how you spend your money. Not my place to judge.

Remember my friend who was redoing her backyard and her and her husband were arguing over a lazy river? What’s your lazy river? It may be a pair of shoes… who knows. Oh ya, god knows.

9 And the mean man boweth not down, and the great man humbleth himself not, therefore, forgive him not.

I don’t like mean people. Especially mean girls.

: lacking distinction 2

: lacking in mental discrimination : DULL

: of poor, shabby, or inferior quality or status

: worthy of little regard : CONTEMPTIBLE —

: lacking dignity or honor

: characterized by petty selfishness or malice

ntonyms for mean

kid you really don’t like to the party? Yes

woman in the ward who complains about everything to the party? Yes

hold the door open the door

Smile at the stranger? Just be kind?

11 And it shall come to pass that the lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.

12 For the day of the Lord of Hosts soon cometh upon all nations, yea, upon every one; yea, upon the proud and lofty, and upon every one who is lifted up, and he shall be brought low

Lesson refers to a talk called beware of Pride by press benson and I want to share a quick thing from Jen Hatmaker and then I;ll be done.

Read from Out of the Spin Cycle pg 120-121 Jen hatmaker

(Link her book)

Vivienne !

Beware of Pride – benson

Another major portion of this very prevalent sin of pride is enmity toward our fellowmen. We are tempted daily to elevate ourselves above others and diminish them. (See Hel. 6:17; D&C 58:41.)

The proud make every man their adversary by pitting their intellects, opinions, works, wealth, talents, or any other worldly measuring device against others. In the words of C. S. Lewis: “Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. … It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone.” (Mere Christianity, New York: Macmillan, 1952, pp. 109–10.)

Some prideful people are not so concerned as to whether their wages meet their needs as they are that their wages are more than someone else’s. Their reward is being a cut above the rest. This is the enmity of pride.

When pride has a hold on our hearts, we lose our independence of the world and deliver our freedoms to the bondage of men’s judgment. The world shouts louder than the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. The reasoning of men overrides the revelations of God, and the proud let go of the iron rod. (See 1 Ne. 8:19–28; 11:25; 15:23–24.)⁹

We have to be aware of anything that makes us want to let go of the iron rod

That’s why that talk was in here. That’s why I’m doing this podcast. That’s why I’m still an active member of the church.

NOT because I don’t have pride. I have a lot of pride. But yesterday when all that pride was rearing it’s head, I hit my knees and then grabbed onto that rod and the Lord taught me everything I needed to do.

Just stay.

I’ve decided to write. Grateful for my son Chandler

I’m grateful for my daughter Courtney who hasn’t let go.

Grateful for a heavenly father who loved me enough to orchestrate every piece of the restoration so I could have this gift to help me feel my savior’s love every single day. It’s so beautiful. Don’t let go.

Ventures