Attitude of Gratitude

• The longer that we procrastinate our repentance, the harder it is to hear the truth.  1 Nephi 16:2 states the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.  It is not that we don't understand the truth, it is just that we don't have enough motivation (or any at all) to adhere to it. We know we should change but if we are too prideful/stubborn then we'll just try to ignore it so we don't have that nagging feeling that we need to make changes in our lives. 
• Tonight during scripture reading, my daughter read that scripture about learning line upon line, precept upon precept.  That made me think of the scriptures in 1 Nephi 16: 8-11 where after Lehi did bring his family out of Jerusalem and into the wilderness, the Lord then gave Lehi new instructions and the Liahona to guide them to where the promised land was.  As we follow and finish what the Lord commands us we can progress and follow new commandments.  He always provides ways to do what He asks of us.
• As He directs us through our life, the Lord's ways can help us grow the most and find the  most of what we are in need of. 1 Nephi 16:16 And we did follow the directions of the ball, which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness.
• When facing trials, we have two choices.  We can be like Ishmael's daughters (1 Nephi 16:20) and complain OR we can be like Nephi (1 Nephi 16:23) who armed himself with tools to get the job done and turned to the Lord for directions on where to use them. The point?  Murmuring/complaining never got anyone anywhere.  Action is needed! [This is a pattern as I will show in later verses]
• 1 Nephi 16: 29 -- ...And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.  In my family I see this as we live the small things the Lord asks us to do.  By always reading our scriptures as a family, doing family prayer at night and attending church every Sunday, our daughter has learned and reminds us (if we don't do it) that we need to do it.  It is part of our routine.  If we haven't taught her anything, at least she knows that she needs the scriptures, prayer and church attendance in her life and that it is important.
• I am seeing the pattern again in 1 Nephi 16: 32 of:
• Following His commandments
• Being blessed with the means to accomplish those commandments
• Remembering the Lord and seeing His hand in our lives bc of those blessings
• Thanking the Lord for what He has done for us.
• (1 Nephi 16:35) Sometimes our old ways may entice us bc they are easier even if we know it will tear us down. (1 Nephi 16:37-38) We must realize that these thoughts are from the adversary and not of God. (1 Nephi 16: 39) As we hearken to the voice of the Lord thru General Conference, if we repent and act upon His words, he will bless us. 
• The Lord gives us promises if we follow His commandments.  1 Nephi 17:3 --
• ...And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the things which he has commanded them...
• The story of Nephi arming himself with a new bow and arrow and then asking his father Lehi to ask the Lord where he should hunt to obtain food so they won't perish -- this reiterates how we should arm ourselves with the tools we need and then turn to the Lord as to how or where to use them in order to accomplish what is asked of us.  Again -- ACTION!  We must first have action on our part to show the Lord that we really mean to do what He asks of us.  And then turn to Him and ask where are we needed to the most to accomplish our task as hand. (1 Nephi 17:9)