Monday, September 5, 2016

Guide Your Ship 1 Nephi 18:22

An image of a lighthouse coupled with a quote by President Thomas S. Monson: “The lighthouse of the Lord beckons to all.”
1 Nephi 18:22
Guide Your Ship

What
 22 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did guide the ship, that we sailed again towards the promised land.

Why
When we trust in the Lord's appointed leaders, we will be on the right path to the promised land/celestial Kingdom. The plan of salvation is to return to our Heavenly Father and our brother Jesus Christ and to live with our families forever.

The prayers of the righteous were answered when Nephi was able to guide the ship and follow the directions on their compass.

Pattern

Romans 2:19

    19 And art confident that thou thyself art guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
    63 Again, verily I say unto you, I will show unto you wisdom in me concerning all the churches, inasmuch as they are willing to be guided in a right and proper way for their salvation—
    2 But notwithstanding those things which are written, it always has been given to the elders of my church from the beginning, and ever shall be, to conduct all meetings as they are directed and guided by the Holy Spirit.

Doctrine and Covenants 45:57

    57 For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.
    13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

Christ
D&C 45:
55 And Satan shall be bound, that he shall have no place in the hearts of the children of men.
 56 And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins.
 57 For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the  fire, but shall abide the day.
 58 And the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance; and they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation.
 59 For the Lord shall be in their amidst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver.

Conference
4/16 Mary R. Durham (2nd C. Primary)
A Child's Guiding Gift

At times we may all feel as if we are drowning. Life can be heavy. We live in “a noisy and busy world. … If we are not careful, the things of this world can [drown] out the things of the Spirit.”1
How do we follow the example of this father and kick off some of the weight of the world we carry, so we can keep our children’s heads and our own worried minds above the water? How can we, as Paul counseled, “lay aside every weight”?2 How can we prepare our children for the day when they can no longer cling to us and our testimonies—when they are the ones swimming?
An answer comes when we recognize this divine source of strength. It is a source often underestimated, yet it can be used daily to lighten our load and guide our precious children. That source is the guiding gift of the Holy Ghost....
At age eight, children can experience baptism. They learn about and make a covenant with God. Those they love surround them as they are immersed and come out of the font with a feeling of great joy. Then they receive the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost, a gift that may guide them constantly as they live for that blessing.
Elder David A. Bednar said: “The simplicity of [confirmation] may cause us to overlook its significance. These four words—‘Receive the Holy Ghost’—are not a passive pronouncement; rather, they constitute a priesthood injunction—an authoritative admonition to act and not simply to be acted upon.”3
Children have a natural desire to do good and to be good. We can feel their innocence, their purity. They also have a great sensitivity to the still, small voice.
Apply
We all have storms in our lives. Some storms are totally overwhelming and some are ever tossing us until we find it hard to tell which way we are drifting. The trouble is that we never drift effortlessly to anywhere good. We will find ourselves going in circles or down in a bigger storm. It takes effort and faith to follow the compass of direction. We are given many guides by the Lord
D&C 1:
 37 Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.
 38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voiceof my servants, it is the same.


Just s Nephi guided the ship toward the promised land, we can be guided and guide our families and others we are called to guide. We can only be a true guide if we follow the the Holy Ghost as he guides us. Our called leaders are at the helm of the church. They have a compass to guide them in the work. We are blessed to know for ourselves which way to go. To be more like Christ is the ultimate goal. We can choose how we will navigate in stormy and calm seas. We will have them both in our lives and the Spirit will only guide us if we receive Him.
Hymn
83-Guide Us Oh Thou Great Jehovah
 57 For they that are wise and have received the atruth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their bguide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the cfire, but shall abide the day.
101- Guide Me To Thee

Children-
164- I will Follow God's Plan For Me
105- The Holy Ghost




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