MaeLyn's Musings

Today was the final institute class for this school year. (Technically, it is called Adult Continuing Education, but it is a lot easier just to call it institute.) To round out the year, we spent the last half hour or so discussing what we have learned from the Book of Mormon this year, what made a difference to us, what we take with us going forward. Each week, I've come home and written about something that I learned from class that week. Here is a very brief outline of what I have learned (the dates are links to what I wrote for that week) : Sept 17, 2013 Purpose of the Book of Mormon - to convince the world that Jesus is the Christ. The Lord is merciful. When we are earnestly striving to be obedient in spite of the difficulties and trials, that is when God will endow us with power. That is when the miracles will come. Sept 24, 2013 Lehi's dream relates to the entire human family. Elder Neal A Maxwell : "So it is that the laughter of the world is me...

Several months ago, I read Lectures on Faith, and my understanding of what faith is deepened. I wrote about it here . In Institute this morning, as we were reading Ether and Moroni's words about faith in Ether 12, I had another one of those "ah-ha" moments. Someone in class said that there was a time in her life that she was waking up at 4:30am fully alert, and she was able to use that time to really study the scriptures, and so she had the Spirit with her throughout the day, guiding her and teaching her. Someone else commented that a returned missionary complained that after returning home, he didn't feel the Spirit as powerfully as he had when he was a missionary. It was brought up that maybe we don't need to feel the Spirit so strongly all the time. Sometimes the Lord trusts us to make good decisions without his guidance shouting in our ears. Sometimes the rewards for us are greater when we are walking on our own, in faith. There have been times in the ...

At Institute this week, we discussed the first few chapters of Ether - the whole bit about the tower of Babel, the languages being changed, and Jared and his brother and their families and friends leaving and traveling to a promised land. It's a fun bit. One thing that was brought out in class that I hadn't really contemplated before was the importance of working and doing our part. First of all, you have the tower, and God changing the languages of the people and scattering them all over the earth. Jared and his brother didn't just sit around and wait to see what was going to happen to them. In other words, they didn't wait to be acted upon, they took action themselves. First of all, they decided they didn't want to have their language changed so they went to the Lord in prayer to ask to be able to keep their language. They didn't just settle for that, either. They thought about who else they would like to be able to communicate with, and then prayed to the L...

At institute this morning someone mentioned that "how to be happy" (or variations on the theme) was one of the most searched for topics on Google. Curious about what kind of things would come up, I tried searching for "how to be happy" myself. As I finished typing this phrase into the search box, several suggestions popped up below the box: how to be happy alone, again, single, at work, in a relationship, with yourself, after a breakup, and everyday. The results that came up were interesting too. Amongst the 494,000,000 results, there were 12 step programs and 7 step programs, scientifically proven ways to be happy, 10 things not to do, 10 things to do, secrets, tips, and myths. There were blogs and articles, books, products, apps and games. Suggestions included everything from looking beyond imperfections, choosing to be happy, and being grateful, to spending time outside, improving your physical health (improving eating, sleeping, exercising habits), and spendin...

What might have been a day just like any other day ended suddenly when the sky darkened, like a thick blanket was tossed over the sun, blocking its light. The air felt thick and heavy, and the world suddenly became silent, as the animals and even the elements braced themselves for the tempest to come. With a crack of lightning and a resounding thunderous boom that shook the planet, the skies opened and down plummeted the deluge. Water poured down in torrents, quickly flooding the earth, followed by hurricane strength winds with a force that brought down buildings and trees. Fires begun by lightning and fanned by the torrential winds raged in spite of the rain, and entire cities were quickly engulfed. Some cities were swallowed up in gaping sink holes while others were buried as mountains drunkenly staggered over them. Ocean waves heaved out of their beds to drag towns and villages out to sea. After three hours of heaving and tossing, the land finally settles, the rain eases, the winds ...

A long time ago, a God had a people who he loved very much. He gave them a good land to live in with good soil for their crops. He made the sun shine down on them and blessed them with rain so their crops would grow and they would have plenty of food to eat. He showed them where they could find pasture land for their herds and precious metals to shape into beautiful things. He helped them in battle when their enemies rose up against them, and they won their battles, even when they were outnumbered. And the people had peace and were happy. But in their happiness and peacefulness, the people forgot about their God. They forgot that it was their God who had given them the good soil and the rain and the food, and they did not share their food with those who were hungry. They forgot that their God had protected their herds and given them metals and made them rich, and they did not use their riches to help those who were in need. They forgot that their God had helped them win their battles...

When I was a child, I heard the words "take offense" and understood them as "take a fence", and I wondered why people would want to take a heavy fence and carry it around with them just because someone said something that they didn't like. After all, life is much simpler and easier without a fence strapped to our back! I'm older, and I realize the mistake of my youth, and yet I still appreciate that life is a lot easier without adding loads onto our backs, whether or not the person who said the words intended to hurt us or not. In institute this morning, we spent the majority of the time discussing chapters 60 and 61 of Alma. Chapter 60 is the one where Captain Moroni writes a harsh and condemning letter to Pahoran, accusing him of neglect, slothfulness, idleness, of sitting on his throne in a state of thoughtless stupor, and calling him a traitor to his country because Pahoran, as the chief judge and governor of the Nephites, had not sent the much...

At institute this morning we discussed the war chapters of the Book of Mormon. Here are a few of things I came away with. 1. Covenants. These are powerful and important things: The people of Zerahemnah would not make a covenant that they feared they would break, in spite of the fact that they were wicked, power-hungry Lamanites. (Alma 44:8) The Title of Liberty that Captain Moroni was a symbol of a covenant with God. The torn coat represented the coat of Joesph (who was sold into Egypt), and the promise that a remnant of Joseph's posterity would be saved. (Alma 46:23-27) A similar symbol today might be a picture of a temple in our home. The Nephites (and presumably other Jews as well) would tear or rend their garments as a token that if they broke the covenant that they were making, that God would rend (or destroy) them. (Alma 46:21) The Anti-Nephi-Lehies, or Ammonites, had made a covenant to never again shed blood. They had been willing to die rather than to break this cove...

In institute this morning we discussed Alma 1-7. Here are a few of the things we discussed, along with some of my own thoughts and connections. ______________________________________________________ Alma 5:14 - "And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?"  "Have you spiritually been born of God?"   Alma is referring to a spiritual conversion, a change of heart, repentance - or bringing our will into alignment with God's will. It is a change of our being in which we have no more desire to sin, but to do good continually. (See Mosiah 5:2 ) When we read about the apostate Nehor in chapter 1, we read verse 4 which says, "And he also testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; ...

In Institute this morning, the main topic of discussion was Alma the Younger's conversion. (See Mosiah 27 ) Some interesting points were brought up: 1. Alma had a great gift for speaking. He was "a man of many words, and did speak much flattery to the people." (v. 8) After his conversion, he was able to use this gift to do a lot of good, as he strove to repair the injuries he had done before. I didn't mention this in class, but this actually reminds me of a Veggie Tales movie: " Lord of the Beans ", where a boy is given a gift (a magic bean) and goes on a journey to discover what that gift is for, and how he can use it to bless others. 2. Frequently, wickedness arises among the "rising generation" because they aren't familiar with everything with which their parents are familiar. Alma's generation wasn't familiar with the words of King Benjamin because they had been too young at the time they were given. Our teacher mentioned how th...

This bright and clear morning, as we walked through 4 degree temperatures to school, we discovered a sewer drain that had no snow immediately around it, and steam was rising from it. Josh entertained me the rest of the way to school by telling me that this sewer is inhabited by an amphibious two-headed fire/water dragon. This dragon eats rats or mice - whatever it can catch and easily cook or boil for dinner. I think he said one head breathes fire, and the other water. He also informed me that in the Book of Mormon, where it says the Lamanites had their stuff stolen while they were asleep (I'm guessing he got this from Hel. 13:34 or Ether 14:1), their stuff was actually stolen by robber dragons. These robber dragons live in China and don't have wings, but they are very good at climbing. Apparently God transported some to America so that they could steal the Lamanite's stuff. Incidentally, in our family scripture reading yesterday we read Alma 43:44 where it says the Lam...

Last night, the cold front moved in. We woke to a couple inches of snow on the ground and a few trillion more tiny snowflakes steadily falling. The world is white, and COLD! The electronic sign in front of the boys' school said it was 9 degrees when I dropped them off at school this morning. Brrrrr! Luckily, we all had coats, hats, scarves and mittens to help us keep warm. This morning, I was thinking some more about Zeniff and his people in the Book of Mormon. I realized that I still have some questions that weren't answered during Institute yesterday (because there wasn't a good opportunity to ask). I don't know if anyone can give a decisive answer on them until we have opportunity to talk to the people involved themselves, but I though I'd put them out here in case any of my readers have any ideas about them. 1. Why would a righteous king pass the kingdom on to a wicked son? Zeniff was a righteous guy. Under his leadership, the Nephites fought their battles ...

In institute this morning we discussed more of the book of Mosiah, particularly chapters 7-17. These chapters mostly talk about the people of Zeniff, who went back to the land of Nephi to live in the land they had first settled, which had been taken over by Lamanites. Much of our class time was used in making sure we understood when and where the various events here took place. In summary: This is the institute picture... Click on it to see it larger. My numbering isn't quite the same as theirs, since I include Amulon's group, and my list is in chronological order. 1. In approximately 200 B.C., Zeniff is a spy for a group of Nephites who journey from Zarahemla to the land of Nephi. Zeniff sees good among the people and doesn't want to destroy them, but the leader of this expedition is bloodthirsty and commands that Zeniff be slain. Family members fight, most of their army is destroyed, they return to Zarahemla. (Omni 1:27-28; Mosiah 9:1-2) 2. Zeniff really, really w...

In years past, during the month of November, our family has had a poster board on which we have written things for which we are grateful. Usually the Book of Mormon is on that list. Last night as I was laying awake, waiting for sleep, I started contemplating the reasons why I am grateful for the Book of Mormon. 1. The Book of Mormon teaches of Jesus Christ. Nephi said, "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." ( 2 Nephi 25:26 ) Hardly a page in the Book of Mormon doesn't contain some reference to Jesus Christ, or something which can teach us about him. The Book of Mormon is full of teachings about who he is, his ministry, his atonement, his love, his tender mercies. Some people may not believe that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (or Mormons) are Christian becau...

In institute this morning we discussed Jacob 6-Enos. Here are some of the things we discussed. The Allegory of the Olive Tree ( Jacob 5 ) Symbolism (v. where first appears) Tame Olive Tree = the house of Israel (v. 3) Vineyard = the world (v.3) decay = apostasy (v.3) master/Lord of the vineyard = God (either the Father or the Son) (v.4) Pruning and digging = the Lord's work and care for his people (v.4) branches = groups of people (v.4) main top = leadership (v.6) servants = prophets, the Savior, others are perhaps missionaries and members (v.7, 70) wild olive tree = Gentiles (v.7) cast into the fire = judgement (v.7) grafting = spiritual rebirth, (also a means of scattering and gathering Israel) (v.8) root = covenants, source of strength (v.8) fruit = lives and works of men (v.8) loftiness = pride (v.48) Olive trees take at least five years to bear fruit, and live about 500 years. They are the longest living fruit-bearing tree. There are seven sections to...

In institute this morning, we studied 2 Nephi 31-Jacob 4. Here is some of what I got out of the lesson: "For my soul delighteth in plainness ; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding ; for he speaketh unto men according to their language , unto their understanding ." ( 2 Nephi 31:3) People learn differently. Some (like me) are visual learners, others learn by hearing or doing. The Lord understands this, and speaks to each of us, through his Spirit, in a way that we will understand best. "Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ . Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." ( 2 Nephi 32...