When we feel overwhelmed, God can help us build vessels to carry us safely through deep waters, as He did for Noah, Nephi, and the brother of Jared. President Oaks identified four essential elements of those vessels: faith, humility, fellowship with other believers, and patience.
Multiply and Replenish
God wants His children to marry and raise children. When that is not possible, we can follow the example of Adam and Eve while they were still in the Garden of Eden: multiplying and replenishing the earth by tending the personal gardens in which God has placed us.
Creatures, Living Things, and Beasts
Three related Greek words appear in the book of Revelation: ktisma (creature), zóon (living thing), and thérion (wild beast). Recognizing the differences helps us understand the Lord's answers to Joseph Smith's questions in Doctrine and Covenants 77, and can help us better appreciate how God's love is manifest through His creations.
From on High: The Stabilizing Effect of Personal Revelation in a Turbulent World
The Lord said, "Ye are not sent forth to be taught, but to teach." He meant that we must keep the voices around us in perspective and anchor ourselves to truths we have learned directly from Him. As we are "taught of the Lord," our peace and confidence increases.
Gratitude and the Book of Ether
We learn the following from the book of Ether about gratitude: 1. Be grateful even in difficult circumstances. 2. Express gratitude promptly. 3. We make better decisions when we remember our blessings. 4. Remembering God's blessings gives us confidence.
Walk Humbly
The ancient prophet Micah counseled us to "walk humbly with God." The Jaredites taught their children to walk humbly as an expression of gratitude. The Spirit of the Lord can help us learn to walk more humbly.
Being Part of That Furious Wind
The Jaredite barges traveled across the ocean to their promised land because of a "furious wind" which "never did cease to blow towards the promised land." We can likewise serve as gusts of wind for others, helping them progress toward their promised land
Across the Great Deep
God led Jared and his family across the ocean in barges that they couldn't steer. He can also lead us through circumstances in our lives that are beyond our control. Like the Jaredites, we need to learn to trust Him to carry us "across the great deep."
“What Great Things”
Knowing what the Lord has done for prior generations can help us in 3 ways: 1. It provides a foundation for our faith. 2. It helps us recognize that apparently small miracles may be larger than we realize. 3. It keeps us humble and grateful.
The Book of Psalms and the Book of Mormon
The brass plates which Lehi and his family carried from Jerusalem contained a lot of content which overlaps with the Old Testament. Nephi describes three categories of writings, which correspond with three of the four groupings of books in the Old Testament: "The five books of Moses" - The Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy)"A record of... Continue Reading →