1 Nephi 6

Chapter 6 is rather short, but in it Nephi describes his purpose of his writing. He wants us to be persuaded to turn to Heavenly Father (1 Nephi 6:4). For such a purpose, he will only write things that are pleasing unto God versus things that the world would have really enjoyed having written down (1 Nephi 6:5).

There is a quote from President Ezra Taft Benson explaining how the Book of Mormon actually accomplishes this purpose:

The Book of Mormon brings men to Christ. . . . It tells in a plain manner of Christ and His gospel. It testifies of His divinity and of the necessity for a Redeemer and the need of our putting trust in Him. It bears witness of the Fall and the Atonement and the first principles of the gospel, including our need of a broken heart and a contrite spirit and a spiritual rebirth. It proclaims we must endure to the end in righteousness and live the moral life of a Saint (“We Add Our Witness,” Ensign, Mar. 1989, 5).

If we want to know God, if we want to know more about ourselves and the world around us, studying this book is the way to go. Why would you not want to study this fabulous book?

In the August 2005 issue of the Ensign, President Gordon B. Hinckley challenged us all to read and reread the Book of Mormon in the article entitled "A Testimony Vibrant and True". He then concluded saying:

Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple program, regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.

Seriously, why would you not want to read this book?

1 Nephi 5

The scriptures are pretty special, as 1 Nephi 5 illustrates.

As soon as Lehi first received the scriptures, he gave a prayer of thanks and then studied them (1 Nephi 5:10). They gave an account of the creation of the world, a record of the Jews and prophecies of prophets (1 Nephi 5:11-13). They also contained a genealogy of his ancestors (1 Nephi 5:14). I'm sure that was wonderful to know your ancestors. For me, I always find it fascinating to hear about my own ancestors and what they did. It gives you a sense of connection with the past. It shows you where you came from.

Scriptures are something that you use to guide you in your daily life. It gives you guidance if you look for it. This particular chapter, for example, teaches me how I should be studying the scriptures and what I should be looking for.

I should begin with a prayer. A prayer of thanks for the blessing of having the word of the Lord accesible. I could then start studying from the beginning. But I could also study by subject: creation, history, prophecies, genealogy (some examples). As I finish my study, I should have the spirit with me at the point if not beforehand. Then I will have guidance for my own life and my family and would share my learning with others.

Nephi says:

And we had obtained the records which the Lord had commanded us, and searched them and found that they were desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the commandments of the Lord unto our children (1 Nephi 5:21).

The scriptures are always of great worth and desirable, because they inform you of what God wants His children to know and cause us to find happiness. Meaning, they present to us His commandments and His wisdom. You wouldn't want to raise children in an environment without every scrap of guidance that could lead them to happiness. It's a wonderful thing that Lehi's family, and my own, are each blessed with the scriptures.

In 1 Nephi 5:22, it reads:

Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise.

We travel in the wilderness everyday. That's a part of mortality. We try to work through hardships that we face in life. Carrying the scriptures with us, carrying the word of God with us in our hearts and in our homes, can help us on our way towards the land of promise, towards Eternal Life.

My Sister's English Teacher is an Alien

My sister was given an assignment in her English class to write a persuasive essay about why they should or should not have phones in class. He informed them they could create and use any facts they'd like to. My sister took it to heart. Her essay was the discussion around the dinner table the other day and so I wanted to read the entire thing. She hurried over to the computer and emailed me a copy. Hope you enjoy it just as much as the rest of us!

"Cell phones should not be allowed in class. They are disruptive, distracting, and the signal from so many cell phones would tell the hostile aliens where we are. No one wants to be captured by those little purple things that live on Venus. They cut people up, tinker with their organs, then put them back together however they want to. These aliens, unlike the mythical illegal immigrants from Mexico that try to steal over the border, mythical because it has never happened before because the United States’ security is awesome, are real. It can be proven by the United States through their top-secret facility, Area 51.

From "Stargate SG-1"

"The aliens know that the youth of today are obsessed with cell phones. They prefer children to adults, and so then they see a mass of cellular signals, especially around schools, they know it is children they have found. These aliens have such high technology they could hide anywhere, or be anyone. English teachers especially are likely to be aliens because they abhor the grammatically incorrect use of any language while texting. Aliens hope to ride our world of cell phone use, so they don’t have to worry about using languages incorrectly, and so people cannot communicate easily with one another when they come to invade our planet. While they might have superior technology, we are more intelligent, especially since the only place they tend to look for cell phone use is during school hours, in school classrooms.

"Many people say there are no such things as aliens, especially aliens from Venus. It was those people who were taken first. As the aliens put their experiments back together, they install an alien self defense mechanism, ASDM for short. How it works is if the person with an ASDM is in the room when someone suggests that aliens are real, the mechanism kicks in and the person is tricked into disbelieving anything that is said. Those who say aliens aren’t from Venus, but from Mars, have a more complex ASDM installed in their brain. Those people were the people who already knew about the existence of aliens, and truly believed it and tried to do all they could in ridding the Earth of the aliens, but were unfortunately captured in battle. The original ASDM, which works for most people, wouldn’t work for them, so the aliens had to modify it. The newer ASDMs make it so human’s anger of aliens is directed at Mars instead of Venus.

"Since aliens are at war with humanity, it is important to know the telltale signs of an alien. First, aliens like to be English teacher, as sated before, so they can fix all the language issues. Not that all English teachers are aliens, only the majority of them are aliens. Second, aliens like their human impersonations to be male because they are the soldiers and the spies, while the females are the ones in charge and back on the ship and on Venus conducting the experiments on people. The aliens also like to have beards so they can more easily high the seam of their disguise under the beard. The biggest sign is when someone tells you they need to keep their phones on in case their young child needs to call them in case of an emergency, even though 9 out of 10 times the phone rings, it is a wrong number. That is a lie. Their cell phones aren’t cell phones because they loathe those ‘infernal contraptions’. Rather they are communicators used in speaking with the alien head quarters. Their ‘phones’ cannot receive wrong numbers because first, they aren’t cell phones, and second, they can only communicate to one place, alien HQ. When they say is it a wrong number, wait to see who gets asked to see him after class. Then notice, you will never see that student again. If you do, they usually come back with a cold, the side affect of the ASDM. What happens is that the alien receives instruction to get a child alone so they can beam him or her up and prepare them for dissection. If anyone has a male English teacher who has a beard and keeps their phones on for emergencies, run away screaming."

1 Nephi 4

In 1 Nephi 4, we are told of how Nephi actually acquires the plates of brass from Laban. The key to his success was his being "led by the spirit" (1 Nephi 4:6). It often takes a lot of courage and faith to act without knowing what exactly it is you are going to do or say.

It reminds me of the times when I've friends wondering about the gospel and when I begin to answer, I have no idea where exactly I'm going with the topic besides sharing what I know, sharing my testimony. I'd consider that being led by the spirit. There are also times when you have the idea of visiting someone, and you really are afraid to for one reason or another, thus you come across an excuse as to why you can't or shouldn't. But then when you do act, you realized that it was good. That it was worth it.


Elder John H. Groberg said:

“Be willing to take reasonable risks. We live in an age of reason, logic, facts, and figures. These can be useful if kept in subjection to faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. But if they ever take precedence over faith in Him, then they are not useful and can be very harmful. I have found in my life that most of the good decisions I have made may not have been made if they were based solely on logic or reason. . . . 

“. . . Nephi was determined to do what God wanted him to do even with logic to the contrary. The scriptures tell us in 1 Nephi 4:6 that he went forth not knowing beforehand what he should do but knowing he should obey God and get the plates. . . . 

“I suspect had he listened only to reason, Nephi and his brethren would still be waiting outside the walls of Jerusalem. I sometimes wonder if by our listening to reason and logic too much, and not trusting God enough, we may find ourselves waiting outside the walls of His holy city” (“Trust in the Lord” [CES fireside for young adults, May 1, 1994], 3, www.ldsces.org).

I think I should try to be better led by the spirit. That I should learn to act quickly to any sort of guidance from the spirit. Which means I really should become better at recognizing it.

To help with that, there is a quote from Elder Richard G. Scott saying:

“The bedrock of character is integrity. Worthy character will strengthen your capacity to respond obediently to the direction of the Spirit. Righteous character is what you are becoming. It is more important than what you own, what you have learned, or what goals you have accomplished. It allows you to be trusted. Righteous character provides the foundation of spiritual strength. It enables you in times of trial and testing to make difficult, extremely important decisions correctly even when they seem overpowering” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2003, 80; or Ensign, May 2003, 77).

Thus, I have to work on building a good character. I'd think that'd come naturally from my doing the best I can every day. It's harder than it looks. To do the absolute best I can. Every day. What's really nice is when I accomplish such a task. However, it's nice to know that when I'm not able to do my best that there is the Atonement that can help me become even better.

1 Nephi 3

The themes of 1 Nephi 3 seems to be obedience, faith and determination. Each are attributes we come to admire in other people and wish that we ourselves had at least the same measure.

Nephi's Courage

The Lord commanded Nephi to go and get the plates

From the wicked Laban inside the city gates.

Laman and Lemuel were both afraid to try.

Nephi was courageous. This was his reply:

Chorus:

"I will go; I will do

the thing the Lord commands.

I know the Lord provides a way;

he wants me to obey.

I will go; I will do

the thing the Lord commands.

I know the Lord provides a way;

he wants me to obey!"

The Lord commanded Nephi to go and build a boat.

Nephi's older brothers believed it would not float.

Laughing and mocking, they said he should not try.

Nephi was courageous. This was his reply:

Chorus

The Lord gives us commandments and asks us to obey.

Sometimes I am tempted to choose another way.

When I'm discouraged, and think I cannot try,

I will be courageous, and I will reply:

Chorus

When I was in primary at church, one of my absolute favorite songs was "Nephi's Courage". It was also my siblings favorite song. As a result, I believe we sang in for several months straight every Monday night for Family Home Evening. (My parents must have been really tired of it after the first month.) It's a song about Nephi and his determination to be obedient and faithful to God. We loved it so much because it was the classic Book of Mormon story. Much like the Bible stories of Noah or Moses, this was Nephi and we loved him. When the chorus came around, we'd practically shout it and give the words their extra emphasis, every phrase ending in an exclamation point. I believe we all still have it memorized. We were raised on this sort of thing. We knew that we would go and do the things the Lord commands. Just like Nephi (1 Nephi 3:7).

Even now, I really love this song and the lessons it still teaches me about obedience, fierce determination and faith.


While reading 1 Nephi 3:15-16, I asked myself if I personally have the faith and determination to face the obstacles in my life that sometimes might cause me to worry. I found comfort in President Henry B. Eyring words in which he said:

“Whoever we are, however difficult our circumstances, we can know that what our Father commands we do to qualify for the blessings of eternal life will not be beyond us. . . . 

“We may have to pray with faith to know what we are to do and we must pray with a determination to obey, but we can know what to do and be sure that the way has been prepared for us by the Lord” (“The Family” [CES fireside for young adults, Nov. 5, 1995], 1, www.ldsces.org).

Prayer. It truly is a miraculous thing. I just need to be able to have a small amount of faith to get on my knees and ask God to help. As I keep working at it, as I take a step with a little faith and determination, it will soon grow to greater faith and determination and help me accomplish that which needs to be done. I just have to act in obedience.

1 Nephi 2

There are a few things that my mom and dad, any parent really, tries to teach their children: being kind to others, sharing, being quickly obedient, etc. But when you think about God and realize the unimaginable love He has for us as our Heavenly Father, you come to understand that He really wishes just as much and more than any parent for us to learn to do the right thing.

He sets up rules, or commandments, to help guide us. He knows what will give us happiness and tries to guide us in that direction. It's much like having a mother who tells you not to put your hand on the stove. As a child you may wonder why. Putting your hand on the stove when your mother tells you not to could hurt, especially if it is on. However, sometimes you look at the stove and it doesn't say it's on nor is it red, so you think it's safe. But you could end of quickly discovering the hard way that the stove takes awhile to cool.

In 1 Nephi 2, it teaches that one of the qualities one should have is that of being obedient. Especially to the commandments. You want to be someone like Lehi (1 Nephi 2:3). Nephi was also told to keep the commandments, because then he would prosper (1 Nephi 2:20).

President Joseph F. Smith said on the subject:

“The man who stays with the kingdom of God, the man who is true to this people, the man who keeps himself pure and unspotted from the world, is the man that God will accept, that God will uphold, that he will sustain, and that will prosper in the land, whether he be in the enjoyment of his liberty or be confined in prison cells, it makes no difference where he is, he will come out all right” (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 257).

So, of course, I am actually really grateful for the commandments and what it has to offer us. Even if I don't always understand all the why's and how's of things, I really enjoy them. It may sound mighty odd to a great many people, but I really am thankful for rules that give me freedom. Like, going back to the stove, I'm grateful for the rules set down by my mother so I wouldn't have to experience the pain or the permeant scarring of burning my hand on the stove.

Lehi and Nephi also gave us examples of giving thanks and asking for knowledge in prayer (1 Nephi 2:7, 16, 19). Prayer is an important part in our lives. It helps us strengthen a relationship with our Father in Heaven. In the Bible Dictionary, under "Prayer", it says:

As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7:7–11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings.

There is a great talk given by J. Devn Cornish entitled "The Privilege of Prayer" which was given in the last General Conference. I really loved it. It reminded me about the importance prayer has in my life.  Prayer is something that I can use at any time and in any place. It builds my personal relationship with my Heavenly Father. He knows me perfectly, but I'm trying my best to know him better too.  He can help through any struggle, great or small. I can pray about something totally insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but I know that he hears and listens to me. How wondrous that is.

Elder M. Russell Ballard has also given counsel on prayer:

“I often hear people say ‘I told the Lord’ this or ‘I told the Lord’ that. Be careful not to ‘tell’ Him but, rather, to humbly seek and ask your Heavenly Father for guidance and direction. Prayer should be yearning and filled with gratitude” (“Be Strong in the Lord, and in the Power of His Might” [CES fireside for young adults, Mar. 3, 2002], 3, www.ldsces.org).

I'm so grateful for the guidance and comfort given me. The Book of Mormon certainly helps me build my own character, my determination to do my absolute best, as well as my love of life.

1 Nephi 1

In keeping with my goal, I thought that I would start today rather than putting off things for tomorrow. I thought that maybe you'd like to read along, or have quick access to the chapter I'm on. Thus, here is the link to 1 Nephi 1.

I feel that 1 Nephi 1:1 is the most read scripture of The Book of Mormon by people who have good intentions of reading the entire book. When you think about that fact, when you realize that this entire book was organized by God through His people, you face a question: Why would God want this verse to be the first?

It begins by introducing a family. Nephi and his parents. It shows he was taught in the learning of his father. That he has seen afflictions, or hardships, in his life. But Nephi goes on to say that he was still extremely blessed, even if life was hard at some points. So he creates a record, or keeps a journal, to help us understand God and Nephi's personal relation with Him. Nephi wants us to know both of His goodness and the purposes of God we may not understand (or the mysteries of God).
This first verse truly also begins to explain what the purpose of the LDS church is:

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized by God to assist in His work to bring to pass the salvation and exaltation of His children. . . .

In fulfilling its purpose to help individuals and families qualify for exaltation, the Church focuses on divinely appointed responsibilities. These include helping members live the gospel of Jesus Christ, gathering Israel through missionary work, caring for the poor and needy, and enabling the salvation of the dead by building temples and performing vicarious ordinances. 

So Nephi had parents. And guess what? I have parents too! Families are important. At Mormon.org it says:

The Family is Central to God's Plan“No other success can compensate for failure in the home.” –David O. McKay 

It's no stretch to say that a person has a serious advantage in life if they come from a loving, supportive home. Many people still succeed though they come from less-than-ideal family situations, but having our basic needs met, knowing that our parents love us and learning life lessons at home make all the challenges of day-to-day living that much easier to face. Likely, as an adult you want a happy home for your family. 

This is no coincidence. God organizes us into families so that we can grow up in happiness and safety, and so that we can learn to love others selflessly—the key to true joy. Within the family is the best place to learn to love others the way Heavenly Father loves each one of us. 

God's Church exists to help families gain eternal blessings. We believe the greatest blessing He gives us is the ability to return to live with Him in heaven with our families. We follow our Heavenly Father's will because that is how we earn this blessing.

So families are important. But realizing your challenges and still realizing how blessed you are is also a fantastic skill to have. I just really love this verse. I also really love the last verse just as much.

". . . But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." 1 Nephi 1:20

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described the “tender mercies of the Lord”:

“I testify that the tender mercies of the Lord are real and that they do not occur randomly or merely by coincidence. Often the Lord’s timing of His tender mercies helps us to both discern and acknowledge them. 

“. . . The Lord’s tender mercies are the very personal and individualized blessings, strength, protection, assurances, guidance, loving-kindness, consolation, support, and spiritual gifts which we receive from and because of and through the Lord Jesus Christ. Truly the Lord suits ‘his mercies according to the conditions of the children of men’ (D&C 46:15). 

“. . . One of the ways whereby the Savior comes to each of us is through His abundant and tender mercies. For instance, as you and I face challenges and tests in our lives, the gift of faith and an appropriate sense of personal confidence that reaches beyond our own capacity are two examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. Repentance and forgiveness of sins and peace of conscience are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord. And the persistence and the fortitude that enable us to press forward with cheerfulness through physical limitations and spiritual difficulties are examples of the tender mercies of the Lord” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2005, 105; or Ensign, May 2005, 99–100).

I love the tender mercies of the Lord. They happen all the time. You've just got to look for them.

239 Days from Today

The Book of Mormon contains 239 chapters.
If I begin to reread The Book of Mormon once again and I read one chapter a day for the next 239 days, I'll finish Thursday, July 3, 2012.
So I have a goal. A chapter a day.
But I also want to make sure that I incorporate it into my personal life. I don't want to read a chapter in a hurry and then totally not remember what is was I read a moment ago, or even a day ago. I want to be able to take out as much as I possibly can in relation to my own life. Thus, I have a plan as to how to be kept accountable.
Each day I'm going to require myself to type up a blog post. A blog post about that chapter. A post of the chapter in relation to my own life.
I'm actually terribly excited for this.

(Though, life will probably get a little crazy. So completing it by July may be a little intense. At the latest, I'll have it done in a year from today.)


Recently, MormonMessages came out with a YouTube video about The Book of Mormon. I think it would be a good introduction to everyone.

Modesto North Stake Relief Society Conference

"Be still, and know that I am God"

Psalms 46:10

Be Still, My Soul
by Katharina von Schlegel


Be still, my soul: The Lord is on thy side;
With patience bear thy cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In ev'ry change he faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: Thy best, thy heav'nly Friend
Thru thorny ways leads to a joyful end.

Be still, my soul: Thy God doth undertake
To guide the future as he has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: The waves and winds still know
His voice who ruled them while he dwelt below.

Be still, my soul: The hour is hast'ning on
When we shall be forever with the Lord,
When disappointment, grief, and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love's purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: When change and tears are past,
All safe and blessed we shall meet at last.

Saturday was the Modesto North Stake Relief Society Conference. It was so inspiring. I love going to this meeting. It's one of my favorite meetings all year. I get to be spiritually fed. I'm able to see and visit with ladies I haven't seen in ages. I really just love this meeting.

The emphasis was learning to take the time to be still and refocusing on Christ.

It really was a terrific meeting. We were reminded at how we are women of great worth. That we make a difference. That every thing we do, whether large or small, makes a difference. We are each individually special to Heavenly Father. He loves each of us. We have to have our moment of stillness so we can focus "hands and eyes" on the Spirit. These moments of stillness result in a strengthening of our faith and helping in making our burdens lighter.  I love these moments of stillness.

After the meeting we all got together for lunch. I loved the food! and the socializing of course. But they even gave us the recipes of the foods we ate. Which was really clever and really great of them. I thought that I'd reproduce them on here so that you can use it if you'd like! (Because it was really delicious.)

I know that I'm funny by taking a picture... but it was GOOD!

Chicken Tortellini Soup

64 oz low salt chicken broth

Rotisserie chicken meat (or 3 chicken breasts)

3 carrots cut at angle

3 celery stocks cut at angle

one onion finely chopped

frozen cheese tortellini

bay leaf, bullion, salt, pepper

Broccoli Salad

4 cups broccoli

2 cups cauliflower

1/2 cups roasted almonds

1/4 cup chopped red onions

1 cup Marie's Coleslaw dressing

1/4 cup honey

1/2 cup bacon cooked chopped

1 cup crasians

Poppy Seed Salad

2 bunches of spinach

1 head of iceberg lettuce

1 sliced carrot or onion

5 tomatoes or mushrooms

1/2 cup grated Swiss cheese

1 cup cottage cheese

1/2 cup bacon bits

grilled chicken (optional)

Dressing: 3/4 T poppy seeds, 1/3 cup white vinegar, 1/3 cup sugar, 3/4 cup of vegetable oil, 3/4 T dried onions, 3/4 tsp of salt, 1/3 tsp prepared mustard

Sweet Grapes

Cream: 8 oz sour cream and 6 oz soft cream cheese

Then mix with: 4 lbs grapes (wash, take of stems, dry)

Spread into a 9x13 pan, sprinkle brown sugar and chopped pecans on top before serving. Serve at room temperature.

Potato Rolls

1 pk yeast

1 c mashed potatoes

3 1/2 c warm water

1 c butter

1 T salt

1 cup sugar

12 c flour

Mix all but flour, add 4 c flour, mix well. Let rise 1 hour, add 8 cups flour until stiff dough. Knead 10 minutes, let rise until double, work down twice, roll into balls, put on pan and let rise about 20 minutes. Bake at 375º about 20 mins.

Caramel-Glazed Apple Cake

1 c brown sugar

1 c granulated sugar

1 1/2 c vegetable oil

3 eggs

5 apples, cored, peeled

1 1/4 c chopped nuts

3 c flour

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt

2 1/4 tsp vanilla

Butter and flour a 9x13 pan. Beat both sugars and oil. Add eggs one at a time, beating well, mix dry ingredients; gradually add to egg mixture, mixing just until blended. Stir in apples, pecans and vanilla; pour into pan.

Bake 325º for 50 to 75 min. Let cool in the pan.

Caramel glaze: 4 T butter, 1/4 c sugar, 1/4 c brown sugar, pinch of salt, 1/2 cup heavy cream, cook 2 min stirring constantly. Poke holes in the cake, pour on warm glaze.

White Grape Punch

Lots of crushed ice, 1 frozen white grape concentrate, 1 liter of ginger ale, few fresh or frozen raspberries for color

It was a fabulous event. It always is. I'm so grateful I was able to attend.

Friendship Basket Investment

I've decided I want to invest in a basket. I want something like a picnic basket or an Easter basket. I'm sure that they actually have official names. But I'm going to call the two different types of baskets picnic or Easter baskets. However, I'd like to have more of a combination of baskets.

Picnic Basket

In my head a picnic basket looks like the picture on the right. Meaning it's deep. It has two handles. It has two lids. Simple.

Though I'd like something more like the Easter basket. Easter baskets are a bit more open and round. Yet, it's not very deep. Usually. I think.

I've wavering between having a basket with a cover or not. If the picnic basket was a bit more round... well. I'd probably choose that kind of basket.

Though you are probably now wondering why I am even considering in investing in a baket of any sort. I've decided I want a basket so I can entitle it my "Friendship Basket." There are a number of things I would do with such a basket.

First, it would have a pretty little cloth in it. Girly-ish of course. Both to cover the bottom as well as to cover the contents of the basket itself. As its contents it would have a copy of The Book of Mormon. Then I could pass it out when I felt like it. I'd have my own copy of the scriptures in there. I'd also have the most recent General Conference issue of the Ensign. Of course, I'd also have the most recent Ensign issue. I'd also like to have a few pens. And a few blank 4x6 index cards, cause then I could use them as cards for whatever purpose. It could also hold cookies, or little loafs of breads, or some other little treat that I could give to others.

Easter Basket

I'd use this basket for when I would go out to visit people, whether people I don't know well just yet or people who I am already fast friends with. Meaning, I'd definitely use it for visiting teaching. And for visiting my own visiting teachers. and my friends. and people I want to get to know. and people who are feeling down. or sick.

When I consider who I want to use this basket for, then came my thoughts of what I could contant in it. Because what is better to give a person and share your love for that person than an expression of said love with some sort of baked good, a note, and some spiritual nourishment! As well as whatever help I could do at the moment I stop by besides a smile.

Which is why I'd call the basket my Friendship Basket. and why I'm considering investing in one. Sadly, not until I get back up to school, because transporting such a basket would be a bit of a hassel. So I have a few more months to consider such an investment. Though I think it'll be worth it.