As I have started to share this blog with others, there have been many who have asked why I decided to start a blog. I usually answer that it is something I have wanted to do for a while, which while true, is not really a reason.
Today I want to share my motivations for starting this blog by way of sharing my favorite chapter of the Book of Mormon.
There are many parts of the Book of Mormon I love. It is full of profound truths and inspiring stories.
Over time my list of favorite chapters and verses in the Book of Mormon has changed and evolved. But I find that my favorite chapter has not changed in a long time.
My favorite chapter of the Book of Mormon is Jacob chapter 4. In this chapter, Jacob tells us why he is creating the record we know as the book of Jacob.
I recently reread Jacob 4 and I came to realize my reasons for wanting to create this blog are the same reasons Jacob labored to create his record. I will share 5 of these reasons here.
1. That my children and brethren might know concerning me and my testimony
Now behold, it came to pass that I, Jacob, having ministered much unto my people in word, (and I cannot write but a little of my words, because of the difficulty of engraving our words upon plates) and we know that the things which we write upon plates must remain; But whatsoever things we write upon anything save it be upon plates must perish and vanish away; but we can write a few words upon plates, which will give our children, and also our beloved brethren, a small degree of knowledge concerning us, or concerning their fathers—Now in this thing we do rejoice; and we labor diligently to engraven these words upon plates, hoping that our beloved brethren and our children will receive them with thankful hearts, and look upon them that they may learn with joy and not with sorrow, neither with contempt, concerning their first parents.
The primary reason I am creating this blog is for my children and my family.
I love to learn. I love to read and discover new ways of viewing and understanding things. And when I learn something new I want to share it with those I care about.
My wife and I believe in trying to find teaching moments to share what we believe with our children and loved ones. Often, the best times to discuss and teach truths with children is in the little everyday moments we share. Times like driving the car or cooking together. I have had many experiences with my children in those moments and I hope to have many more.
While I believe in the power of finding those teaching moments, I also want to share my thoughts and beliefs with my children and loved ones in a more permanent fashion. My hope is that this blog will become that kind of more permanent record.
My other goal is to share the lessons and stories that have impacted and helped me the most. I hope these stories will lift and encourage you in your attempts to live the gospel.
2. That they may know that we knew of Christ
For, for this intent have we written these things, that they may know that we knew of Christ, and we had a hope of his glory many hundred years before his coming; and not only we ourselves had a hope of his glory, but also all the holy prophets which were before us.
Behold, they believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name, and also we worship the Father in his name. And for this intent we keep the law of Moses, it pointing our souls to him; and for this cause it is sanctified unto us for righteousness, even as it was accounted unto Abraham in the wilderness to be obedient unto the commands of God in offering up his son Isaac, which is a similitude of God and his Only Begotten Son.
There are many truths and insights I have learned that have fundamentally changed me as a person. Truths that have helped me to gain a greater understanding of the gospel. Insights that have encouraged me when I have been discouraged.
I want to do what I can to share these insights with others, in the hope that it can help all of us draw nearer to Jesus Christ.
It is important that we understand that Christ is the focus of everything in the gospel. He is the focus of everything in the scriptures. He is the focus of everything in the church. He is the focus of everything we are taught by both ancient and modern prophets. The goal of all of these things is to point our souls to Jesus Christ.
When we do our best to live the gospel it is counted unto us for righteousness. As we worship Jesus Christ we gradually become like Him. That is why we worship, so we can become like Him.
3. That their faith can become unshaken
Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.
As we are faithful and obedient to the teachings of the gospel, each of us can obtain our own witness its truth through the Holy Ghost.
While our faith may start as a small seed of hope, it can grow into an unshakable foundation. This is the surest foundation upon which we can build the rest of our lives.
How do we nurture our faith into this foundation? We search the teachings of the prophets and seek the spirit of revelation through the Holy Ghost. When we do this, He will lead us and give us unshakable faith.
To start building this faith we must plant the seed and trust in the Lord by taking the first steps on the gospel path.
4. That we might know of His grace
Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we may know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.
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Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works. Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him through the atonement of Christ, his Only Begotten Son, and ye may obtain a resurrection, according to the power of the resurrection which is in Christ, and be presented as the first-fruits of Christ unto God, having faith, and obtained a good hope of glory in him before he manifesteth himself in the flesh. And now, beloved, marvel not that I tell you these things; for why not speak of the atonement of Christ, and attain to a perfect knowledge of him, as to attain to the knowledge of a resurrection and the world to come?
Living the gospel will challenge each and every one of us. We each have our own weaknesses and challenges. At times we may wonder why we have been given the challenges we have in our lives. We may ask what is the the purpose of our weaknesses.
Jacob teaches us that we are given weaknesses so we can learn to rely on the Savior Jesus Christ and His grace.
It is through the Atonement that each of us can be forgiven and redeemed from our sins and weaknesses. The Atonement gives us the opportunity to practice being like Jesus.
When we practice we will make mistakes, but the more we practice the more we improve. The more we practice being like Jesus, the more like Him we will become.
He is our Lord and our Savior. I know that because of His grace and the Atonement we have the opportunity to become like our Heavenly Father.
5. That we might seek the guidance of the Spirit
Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old.
When we work to follow the Savior, we can seek His guidance through the Holy Ghost.
The Spirit will always teach us the truth. The Spirit will always teach us plainly. The Spirit will teach us all things that we need to do.
The things we learn in primary are the small and simple things of the gospel. As we strive to do the small things consistently, great things will be brought to pass in our lives. The Holy Ghost will help us know the small things that will help us draw nearer to Jesus Christ.
Conclusion
In our efforts to live, learn, and teach the gospel, we should first and foremost seek the companionship of the Spirit. This goal should govern our choices and guide our thoughts and actions. We should seek after whatever invites the influence of the Spirit and reject whatever drives that influence away—for we know that if we can be worthy of the presence of the Holy Ghost, we can also be worthy to live in the presence of Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.
So, why am I writing this blog? I am writing it to share my testimony of the gospel with my children, with my friends, and with you. I am writing to share insights and lessons that have strengthened me in my efforts to follow Jesus Christ. It is my hope that they will strengthen you in your efforts to follow Jesus Christ.
I believe that as we lift and help each other, we can all become more like our Savior. I hope you will join me on this journey and that we can lift and encourage each other on the way.