Mormon 2

This chapter is the beginning of the end. Mormon records:

"I saw the day of grace was passed with them, both temporally and spiritual" (15).

The Nephite people were mourning for the land abounded in thieves, robbers, murderers, magic art, and witchcraft (10). Mormon was hoping that such a cry was a cry of repentance. But it ended up being the "sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin" (13).

Mormon 1

In this reading, we begin the days of Mormon, the historian and prophet and warleader. He starts his own record with:

"And now I, Mormon, make a record of the things which I have both seen and heard, and call it the Book of Mormon" (1).

This amazing man. Every time I get to this point in the scriptures, I begin to cry. In about 322 AD, "the whole face of the land had become covered with buildings, and the people were as numerous almost, as it were the sand of the sea" (7). In in about 401 AD, all of the Nephite people are destroyed and hunted down, Mormon's son Moroni wandered the land by himself (Mormon 8).

80 years.

Then they were gone.

4 Nephi 1

True believers in Christ, and the true worshipers of Christ (36-37).

Elder Neal A. Maxwell spoke to the characteristics of the true believers:

• True believers are settled in their views of Christ
• True believers gladly perform their duties in the kingdom. 
• True believers are humble. 
• True believers are willing to do what Christ wants.
• True believers have a balanced contentment. 
• True believers truly pray.
• True believers have both right conduct and right reasons for that conduct. 
• True believers rejoice in the success of others.
• True believers remember that forgetting is part of forgiving.
• True believers are innocent as to sin, but not naive.
• True believers are happy (“True Believers").

Do we have such qualities? Are we working on developing them? We want to become true believers in Christ.

3 Nephi 30

Mormon, the historian and editor of the Book of Mormon, was commanded by the Lord to write unto us the following words:

"Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people who are of the house of Israel" (2).

We are to come unto Christ. We are to be baptized in His name so that we may receive a remission of our sins. We are to be filled with the Holy Ghost. When we do this we may be numbered among the people who are of the house of Israel and also partake of the covenants he made with them.

3 Nephi 29

The covenants which God made with the children of Israel, concerning their restoration to the lands of their inheritance, is already beginning to be fulfilled (1).


Elder Russell M. Nelson said:

"The covenant God made with Abraham and later reaffirmed with Isaac and Jacob is of transcendent significance. It contained several promises, including:

• Jesus the Christ would be born through Abraham’s lineage.

• Abraham’s posterity would be numerous, entitled to an eternal increase, and also entitled to bear the priesthood.

• Abraham would become a father of many nations.

• Certain lands would be inherited by his posterity.

• All nations of the earth would be blessed by his seed.

• And that covenant would be everlasting—even through 'a thousand generations.'

"Some of these promises have been fulfilled; others are still pending" ("Covenants").

How blessed we are to live in these days. How blessed we are that God remembers His covenant with His people.

 

3 Nephi 28

When Christ visited the Americas he called 12 Disciples to minister unto the people (18:36, 19:4). Christ asked his apostles and disciples throughout time what they desired (D&C 7:1; 2 Chronicles 1:7; 3 Nephi 28:1).

Nine of the Twelve said:

"We desire that after we have lived unto the age of man, that our ministry, wherein thou hast called us, may have an end, that we may speedily come unto thee in thy kingdom" (2).

The other three Nephites "desired that ye might bring the souls of men unto me, while the world shall stand" (9). It's what John the Beloved desired as well (3 Nephi 28:6; D&C 7:2).

They wanted to continue sharing the gospel to God's children.

Such a righteous desire!

3 Nephi 27

There's a lot I could talk about in this chapter, luckily there have been recent General Conference talks speaking on them.

After Christ visited the Americas, the people wondered what their church should be named. They came to be known as The Church of Christ (26:21; 27:3-11). Today, the church is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was named by Jesus Christ himself (D&C 115:4). There is a reason for that explained in Elder M. Russell Ballard's talk "The Importance of a Name."

3 Nephi 26

"And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them" (9).

We have been blessed with scriptures in these latter-days. We have the Holy Bible which contain the Old and New Testament. We have the Book of Mormon. We have the Doctrine and Covenants. We have the Pearl of Great Price. We have prophets today who have revelation from God concerning his people; we hear them in General Conference and occasionally Stake Conference. We have manuals and study helps to help us. We are blessed with a great deal of guidance from God.

Are we taking advantage of them?

3 Nephi 25

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord;

"And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse" (5-6).

3 Nephi 24

Dallin H. Oaks said: "Some people say, 'I can’t afford to pay tithing.' Those who place their faith in the Lord’s promises say, 'I can’t afford not to pay tithing'" ("Tithing").

Tithing blesses your lives. Malachi has said:

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

If we pay tithing, the windows of heaven will be opened unto us. Blessing will be poured on us, so much that we won't have room to receive it. These blessings are both temporal and spiritual. Who doesn't want that?

 

3 Nephi 23

For the past 6 months I've been reading a chapter a day from the Book of Mormon. I read it. Then I mark it up. Then I figure out what really stood out to me that I wish to share. Then I share it here on my blog. One a day. It causes me to be really studious. It causes me to really search the scriptures. It causes me to study. It causes me to ponder. It causes me to look up words of our prophets and apostles and other church leaders. It causes me to be more obedient. It causes me to be more aware of God's hand in my life.  There are so many blessing from being obedient to Jesus Christ's commandment:

"And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah. 

"And whosoever will hearken unto my words and repenteth and is baptized, the same shall be saved. Search the prophets, for many there be that testify of these things" (1, 5).

3 Nephi 22

In today's world, life is rather frightening. There's disasters all over the world both of natural causes and human choices. How do we raise children in this day and age? Well, yesterday I mentioned the post I made about "Raising our Children in Zion", but when I read this chapter I learned something else:

"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children" (13).

3 Nephi 21

This chapter is a really good one speaking of the remnant of Jacob, the house of Israel, and the repentant Gentiles all helping and teaching each other. Building Zion, the New Jerusalem, together.

In this chapter, it mentions the word "commence" five times in relation to the work the Father will do. Which actually is commencing at this moment. It's called building the kingdom of God. There is so much to do for such a work.

Preaching the word of God. Repenting and calling for repentance. Making covenants and keeping them. Gathering of people. Working together.

Creating Zion.

I mentioned in a previous blog post entitled "Raising our Children in Zion" about suggestions to build Zion with accompanying quotes from scriptures, and prophets and apostles.

Basically, follow the commandments. Love God. Love your neighbor as thyself.

3 Nephi 20

"And he commanded them that they should not cease to pray in their hearts" (1).


I've mentioned this a lot recently. I just want to make sure you know.

Pray.

It blessed your lives in enormous ways.

Ways I can't really express.

3 Nephi 19

Prayer. I don't think we realize how important it is.
I really don't.

In the last few chapters, when Jesus is among the Lamanites and Nephites, he teaches them many things. But I get a sense that the people learned a great deal more through Christ's prayers to the Father.

3 Nephi 18

"Pray in your families unto the Father, always in my name, that your wives and your children may be blessed." (21).

President Gordon B. Hinckley said:

“I feel satisfied that there is no adequate substitute for the morning and evening practice of kneeling together—father, mother, and children. This, more than soft carpets, more than lovely draperies, more than cleverly balanced color schemes, is the thing that will make for better and more beautiful homes” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1963, 127).

This semester, my roommates and I gather together in the living room before one of us goes to bed. We gather together, we chat, we catch up on each others lives, because life can be hectic for college students, everyone going every which way. But we take a moment to gather together and talk. Inviting any visiters to join us. Then we kneel down, and we say apartment prayer. We ask each other if there is anything we want to pray about whether a missionary, injuries, gratitude for the blessings we have, help on a test, etc. As we ask each other and pray for each other, we become aware of each other's needs and concerns and we can be inspired on how exactly to help each other in these areas.

This is how it can be used in families. Except family relationships are so much stronger than simply roommates. Take advantage of it. Use it as an opportunity to know each others concerns or interests. Use it as an opportunity to grow closer together as a family and closer to God.

Prayer is a marvelous thing. Always. Have it with your family. Have it with your roommates. Have it with your friends. Its been a blessing in my life.

3 Nephi 17

"Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again." (3).

Elder Neal A. Maxwell said: “See how the Master focuses on the family—on pondering, praying, preparing together! It should not surprise us, if we routinize our religion and do not assign the highest priority to the kingdom, that our hearts and minds will quite naturally drift to other things” (Wherefore, Ye Must Press Forward [1977], 30–31).

We are to prepare to hear from God. We are to prepare for every Sunday worship. We aren't supposed to think that the Sabbath will prepare us for the week, but rather we are to focus on what we can do to prepare to learn for the next week.

We are to say our prayers before studying the scriptures. We are to have prayer before a lot of different studying or meeting events. We are preparing ourselves to hear from God. And we can do it with family.

3 Nephi 16

"And blessed are the Gentiles, because of their belief in me, in and of the Holy Ghost, which witnesses unto them of me and of the Father" (3 Nephi 16:6).

He lives. Jesus the Christ, our Savior, lives.

Boy and Girl enjoyed the beauty of spring break

BJ and I at the steps of the Salt Lake Temple

BJ and I left pretty late on the very last day of the semester. We arrived rather early in the morning. His family was kind enough to have a spare bedroom for me to stay in. The next day was Sunday, so we all went to church. It also happened to be Easter Sunday. It was awesome. I know I use that word a lot, but it really was. It was great. That night was dinner with the family. It was really great to have family around. It was interesting meeting up with them again as BJ and I were much more serious than we were at the beginning of the Winter Semester.

The next day we explored the new City Creek mall in Salt Lake City as I needed to go shopping anyways for clothes. BJ was kind enough to be dragged along and enjoyed it. One funny moment that reminded me a lot of what my dad would do: We were walking around the mall. We looked up at the ceiling or lack thereof, then BJ halts in his tracks, points up and says Look at that! I was thinking that it was something really unusual and rare, so did everyone around us. But it turned out to be the fascination he had with the fact that the ceiling was retractable. It really, really reminded me of something my dad would do. I love BJ. He's amazing you know. That even when I ask him to go shopping with me he enjoys it by finding things he enjoys. He makes me smile so much.

3 Nephi 15

"There shall be one fold, and one shepherd" (3 Nephi 15:17).

Elder Neal A. Maxwell said:

“Jesus is so personal in His shepherding and tutoring! . . .
“. . . Jesus knows and cares for each individual; He watches carefully over the seemingly smallest of things” (That Ye May Believe [1992], 204–5).

He knows us. Our Savior knows us. He knows us individually. We can turn to him for comfort, strength, guidance. We can count on him. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses. He knows our hearts. He knows how much we are trying to follow him. If we remember that He knows us and loves us, why would we not want to turn to him? Especially when he gives us blessings.

Finally, Together

BJ, his roommates and I bowling

It was time for me to return to Idaho for school. I had a friend coming out to California for a visit, so we drove back to Utah together on December 31st. On New Year's Day, BJ came and picked me up and I had Sunday dinner with him and his siblings. This was the second time I spent with them. The last time I saw them was back in July went I first met them. But that was at the beginning of this long period of time apart and this was after that break was over. And we still really liked each other. So it put a new spin on things. But they're such a great family and so welcoming. It was fabulous.

3 Nephi 14

Do unto others what you would have done unto you.

It's as simple as that.

Together, for a time

BJ came out right before Thanksgiving. I have to say, I was really worried that for some reason I wouldn't recognize him, because I fail at recognizing people out of context. Seeing him in California was certainly going to be out of context for me. Luckily enough, when I saw him at the train station, it wasn't a problem. I knew him immediately.

We and my parents then explored Old Town Sacramento, ate late lunch and just wandered around. It was a lot of fun. Ironically, it was rather dreary outside and we Californians were a little chilled, but BJ seemed to hold up! Then home we went. He met the family.

My youngest brother took an immediate shine to BJ. One of my other brothers had just left on his mission the month prior. As a result, he was missing Ben and was really grateful to have BJ. I was just glad that he didn't say anything too embarrassing to BJ. I'm the eldest in my family, and none of my other siblings has yet to seriously date someone. Let alone had this individual come out to California to visit. I was worried that my family in general was going to be really odd. I didn't know how they were going to react. They were awesome though. I'm so blessed to have them as my family.

3 Nephi 13

“Loving service anonymously given may be unknown to man—but the gift and the giver are known to God.”

~Thomas S. Monson, "'Anonymous'"

I love serving others. I really do. It makes me feel so joyful and grateful when I'm able to show my love through service. It makes the day so blessed and bright, even on a gloomy day. If you are bored one day or have a moment of "freedom," do some service for someone. Make cookies and randomly give them to your next door neighbor. Invite someone over for dinner. Or make the dinner and bring it to them! There's a lot to do. You can just google ideas and you'll have more than enough. But one motto you should really apply is:

Good Thought? Do it!

Girl went home, but technology is a wonderful blessing

I was back home in California. I'd go to a movie with my institute friends and I'd talk about BJ so much that a few of my friends thought I was a tad ridiculous. BJ and I would chat on Facebook all the time. These really long messages when we weren't online at the same time or we'd be typing away if we were both online. My sister would ask me to do something with her and I'd say, "Just a minute." A minute, 30, then an hour or two would go by, then I could go with her. Or I'd keep her up talking about him.

3 Nephi 12

In 3 Nephi 12, the introduction reads:

"Jesus calls and commissions the Twelve—He delivers to the Nephites a discourse similar to the Sermon on the Mount—He speaks the Beatitudes—His teachings transcend and take precedence over the law of Moses—Men are commanded to be perfect even as he and his Father are perfect—Compare Matthew 5. About A.D. 34."

Once upon a time, a girl met a boy

BJ with the Home Evening Group at Applebee's.

I first saw him on a Monday night in my Home Evening group. None of my other roommates could make it. Luckily I knew one of my new FHE sisters because she had been my visiting teacher the semester before. For the activity we played "Just Dance" on the Wii. Just so you know, I have a very hard time playing that game in front of people I don't know well. So I was this seemingly quiet person. For those of you who know me well, I am generally kind've crazy. But I was acting like the shiest person alive. He sat on the other side of the room. He seemed a bit more reserved too, but he was really handsome. I was slightly interested in him. You know how it is. You see someone and you want to get to know that individual better. He just looked like a great guy to know. But I kept forgetting his name. I couldn't tell if it was PJ, BJ, TJ, or what his name was. I figured that I was going to have a chance to get to know him throughout the semester. I was certainly interested though.

3 Nephi 11

Jesus Christ, our Savior, lives. We have prophets on the earth today that testify of this:

"We bear testimony, as His duly ordained Apostles—that Jesus is the Living Christ, the immortal Son of God. He is the great King Immanuel, who stands today on the right hand of His Father. He is the light, the life, and the hope of the world. His way is the path that leads to happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come. God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son" ( "The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles").

I bear my testimony that as we repent, as we are made clean through our Savior, as we are obedient, we can return to our Heavenly Father and inherit the kingdom of God.

As Article of Faith 1:3 says: "We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel."

Our Savior lives. His Atonement is accessible to everyone and is for everyone. He loves you. He loves me. He loves all of his people. The Savior lives. I know it. and you can as well. Pray. Read the scriptures. Know Him. He loves you. He lives. I know it.

Making Decisions

This last weekend was stake conference as I mentioned in my post "Your Next Best 2 Years." A member of my stake presidency gave us stages of life we go through. They remind me of Erik Erikson's stages, but definitely different.

From Birth to 8 years old is the Dispensation of Unaccountability.
From 8 to 15 years old is the Dispensation of Development.
From 15 to 35 years old is the Dispensation of Decisions.
From 35 years when their kids are grown up is the Dispensation of Establishment.
From that time to death is the Dispensation to Give Back.

Currently, the majority of the people in my stake are in the 15-35 year range. Each of us making decisions. Some are those are huge decisions like deciding a major, a career, where to live, whom to marry for eternity, etc. It can be extremely stressful to make such a decision that would change your life forever. How do you make such an important decision?

3 Nephi 10

We should follow the and be obedient to the prophets we are blessed to have in these latter days.

M. Russell Ballard said: “It is no small thing, my brothers and sisters, to have a prophet of God in our midst. Great and wonderful are the blessings that come into our lives as we listen to the word of the Lord given to us through him. . . . When we hear the counsel of the Lord expressed through the words of the President of the Church, our response should be positive and prompt. History shows that there is safety, peace, prosperity, and happiness in responding to prophetic counsel” ("'His Word Ye Shall Receive'").

We can be safe, comforted and find peace. We can have prosperity and happiness when we are obedient. So listen to the prophets and be obedient. You will be blessed in every aspect of your life whether it be home life, school, work, friends, dating, etc. You will be blessed.

Your Next Best 2 Years

This last weekend was a great one with stake conference. I had so many moments and inspiration that it'll take a few posts to organize it all. I'll begin with the topic: Your Next Best 2 Years.

I have a brother currently serving a mission. I have many friends currently serving missions. Many are coming home this year while many others have just left. I have many more friends who have returned from missions, and I'm engaged to one of them. When the topic of "The Next Best 2 Years" was discussed, I really listened to the words he had to say as well as what I can do.

I've never served a mission. When I was a child I wanted to because my mother served. Then for a long time I didn't. However, last year I was listening to a devotional or a CES fireside, or something, and I felt that I should begin preparing. I was turning 21 in a year and a half. For young women, 21 is the minimum age to serve a mission. I learned that preparing for marriage and preparing for the mission are the same thing. If I had neared by 21st birthday with no one in my life, then I was going to serve. If there was someone, then I wasn't. Elder Richard G. Scott quoted council from the First Presidency:

"'Worthy single women ages twenty-one and older … may be recommended to serve full-time missions. … These sisters can make a valuable contribution … , but they should not be pressured to serve. Bishops should not recommend them for missionary service if it will interfere with imminent marriage prospects'” ("Now Is the Time to Serve a Mission").

Funnily enough, once I made this decision and moved forward, I met my fiancé. But that's a different story.

3 Nephi 9

President Ezra Taft Benson said: “Day by day [Latter-day Saints] move closer to the Lord, little realizing they are building a godlike life. They live quiet lives of goodness, service, and commitment. They are like the Lamanites, who the Lord said ‘were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.’ (3 Ne. 9:20; italics added)” (“A Mighty Change of Heart").

How do we build a godlike life? Ezra Taft Benson said that we are to have faith. We are to have virtue. We are to add knowledge to our faith and virtue. We are to be temperate. We are to be kind. We are to be charitable ("Godly Characteristics of the Master").

3 Nephi 8

When Christ was crucified, there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in the land, along with many other disasters caused by a great and terrible tempest, terrible thunder that shook the whole earth, sharp lightenings, cities catching on fire, sinking into the sea, turned into a mountain, people being taken by whirlwinds and the whole earth's surface changed (5-19). It lasted for three hours. Then there was total darkness upon the land. There was no light. They couldn't light candles, torches, or even campfires. There was no any light seen, no fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, moon, nor stars. Those that hadn't died in this destruction could feel the vapor of darkness. It lasted for three days (19-23). Now the people mourned saying if only they had repented beforehand and not have killed and stoned the prophets then their brethren, their mothers, daughters, and children would have been spared. (24-25)

3 Nephi 7

It was recorded "that the thirty and first year did pass away, and there were but few who were converted unto the Lord; but as many as were converted did truly signify unto the people that they had been visited by the power and Spirit of God, which was in Jesus Christ, in whom they believed" (21).

We too need to be converted, and truly converted to where we signify unto the people the truthfulness of the gospel. But how to be become truly conversion. Elder Richard G. Scott said:

“Stated simply, true conversion is the fruit of faith, repentance, and consistent obedience. Faith comes by hearing the word of God [see Romans 10:17] and responding to it. You will receive from the Holy Ghost a confirming witness of things you accept on faith by willingly doing them [see Ether 12:6]. You will be led to repent of errors resulting from wrong things done or right things not done. As a consequence, your capacity to consistently obey will be strengthened. This cycle of faith, repentance, and consistent obedience will lead you to greater conversion with its attendant blessings” ("Full Conversion Brings Happiness").

To be converted we would no longer desire to do any evil. We would be faithful, immediately repentant and consistently obedient. Doing these over and over again will lead to greater and greater conversion. Such conversion will bring wonderful blessings. Why wouldn't you wish to be truly converted?

My Brother's Shared Life Lessons

I've asked my brother, an Elder serving in South Carolina, to share the life lessons he's learned on his mission so far. I've already posted a few responses from other Elders and Sisters serving missions previously, but I'll be continuing to do this every time I receive a response from those currently serving or those who have returned. But this is what my brother shared with me:

I have a testimony that the best things in life comes as a result of enduring the hardest things. 

If you seek for temporal happiness, you'll find it, but down the road you'll come to realize you could have had something better. Seek for the relations that lead to eternal happiness through trials and tribulations and patience. 

When you're having a hard time appreciating somebody, pray to God and ask him to show you why He loves that person so you can love them in the same way. 

A full understanding of the Gospel includes wisdom and knowledge of all things, both spiritual, such as the Nature of God, and physical, such as sciences. Prioritize God's commandments above all else, he will guide thee to come to a knowledge of all things. 

We need more Faith. President Holm, my brother's mission president, said, "Most people expect to fail but hope to surprise themselves and win." We need to have that faith or expectation to achieve what we set our minds up to accomplish.

I hope that we can each incorporate them into our own lives and become better as a result. Don't forget to write your friends and acquaintances on missions. They'd love it, and you can take is as an opportunity to grow and to become better friends.

3 Nephi 6

We choose how we act. We have agency. In 3 Nephi 6, there were people who were lifted up in pride while others were exceedingly humble; "some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God" (13). We really do choose how we act. How we respond.

Elder Marvin J. Ashton said:

“Certainly one of our God-given privileges is the right to choose what our attitude will be in any given set of circumstances. We can let the events that surround us determine our actions—or we can personally take charge and rule our lives, using as guidelines the principles of pure religion. Pure religion is learning the gospel of Jesus Christ and then putting it into action. Nothing will ever be of real benefit to us until it is incorporated into our own lives” ("Pure Religion").

We live in a world that can be a pretty negative place. Do we choose to be pessimistic or optimistic? We have control over what we feel and over our attitudes. No one can take that away from you. Even if people doing horrible things to you, you can choose to be forgiving. Even if someone is doing great things for you, you can choose to dislike them. Nobody makes you feel anything. You have control over your own emotions, unless you choose to give that control to somebody else.

3 Nephi 5

The Nephite people "did forsake all their sins, and their abominations, and their whoredoms, and did serve God with all diligence day and night" (3). When we have faith and repent we do good things. John H. Groberg said: "With faith in Him, our lives become focused on doing things of eternal value" ("The Lord's Wind").

3 Nephi 4

What if your life was a musical? We'd all be very talented at singing. But could you imagine how fun that'd be? Well, the righteous people all gathered together and fought for their lives and freedoms against the Gadianton robbers. They were able to succeed even though they were outnumbered because of God. The scriptures then say:

"And it came to pass that they did break forth, all as one, in singing, and praising their God for the great thing which he had done for them, in preserving them from falling into the hands of their enemies.
"Yea, they did cry: Hosanna to the Most High God. And they did cry: Blessed be the name of the Lord God Almighty, the Most High God" (3 Nephi 4:31-32).

We, too, have songs that we sing to praise God and remember him. The hymn book is just for that reason. There's so many others outside of that as well. But one that I found really touching is:

Raising our Children in Zion

If you could create the most perfect community to raise your children in, what qualities and values would such a community have?

Zion refers to a couple of different things. Mostly it's the "pure in heart" or where the pure in heart reside. "Therefore, verily, thus saith the Lord, let Zion rejoice, for this is Zion—the pure in heart; therefore, let Zion rejoice, while all the wicked shall mourn" (Doctrine and Covenants 97:21).

The Lord calls his people Zion "because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them” (Moses 7:18).

Remember the City of Enoch? In Genesis it reads:"And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him" (Genesis 5:24).

3 Nephi 3

How do we prepare spiritually and physically for peace, for Christ's coming, for an eternal family? Are we doing that today? Are we preparing ourselves so that we remain strong?

Dallin H. Oaks said:

“What if the day of His coming were tomorrow? If we knew that we would meet the Lord tomorrow—through our premature death or His unexpected coming—what would we do today? What confessions would we make? What practices would we discontinue? What accounts would we settle? What forgivenesses would we extend? What testimonies would we bear? 

“If we would do those things then, why not now? Why not seek peace while peace can be obtained? If our lamps of preparation are drawn down, let us start immediately to replenish them. 

“We need to make both temporal and spiritual preparation for the events prophesied at the time of the Second Coming. And the preparation most likely to be neglected is the one less visible and more difficult—the spiritual. . . . 

“Are we following the Lord’s command, ‘Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly’? (D&C 87:8). What are those ‘holy places’? Surely they include the temple and its covenants faithfully kept. Surely they include a home where children are treasured and parents are respected. Surely the holy places include our posts of duty assigned by priesthood authority, including missions and callings faithfully fulfilled in branches, wards, and stakes” ("Preparation for the Second Coming").

We must do our best to stand firm. We must be obedient to the counsels of our church leaders. We must do our best to prepare ourselves, our families, and our communities.