Midwest Mormon in the Mid-East

We are only 57 pages into the Book of Mormon and we have our third eye witness of Christ. Lehi has seen him, Nephi has seen him and now we learn that Nephi's younger brother Jacob saw him while a youth. 2nd Nephi 2: [4] (Lehi addresses Jacob) And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh; for the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. ***

I just love those witnesses of Christ. God provides us with soooo many witness of his Son, Jesus Christ.

I also liked this statement from Lehi to Jacob. 2nd Nephi 2: [2] Nevertheless, Jacob, my first-born in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.***

I hope God is doing that for me, "consecrating my afflictions for my gain." Today during the morning commute my daughter and I were listening to a tape of Motown classics and as "Only the Strong Survive" I reached over and took her hand and said with a laugh, "They're playing our song." She agreed. The Lord is certainly busy applying the refiner's fire in my life.

Lehi's overview of the spiritual history of the America seems to ring loud and true in the wake of recent developments of the past few years.

2nd Nephi 1:10-12…behold, I say, if the day shall come that they will reject the Holy One of Israel, the true Messiah, their Redeemer and their God, behold, the judgments of him that is just shall rest upon them.

[11] Yea, he will bring other nations unto them, and he will give unto them power, and he will take away from them the lands of their possessions, and he will cause them to be scattered and smitten.


[12] Yea, as one generation passeth to another there shall be bloodsheds, and great visitations among them; wherefore, my sons, I would that ye would remember; yea, I would that ye would hearken unto my words.

I am only 50 years old yet in my short lifetime America has been involved in the Korean Conflict, the "Cold War", Vietnam, the Gulf War, the current occupations of Afghanistan and Iraq, 9/11 and now Hurricane Katrina. It was been a lifetime of wars, rumors of wars, threats of war, terrorism and earthquakes and other natural disasters of vast proportions. Maybe that is why President Hinckley is challenging us to read the Book of Mormon.