inquire of the Lord

"...inquire of the Lord whither the armies of the Nephites should go to defend themselves against the Lamanites."

Do I turn to the Lord for guidance in defeating evil?

"Sift you as wheat"

Wheat is harvested by rigorously shaking it in a large sieve. Said to Peter by Christ in Gethsemane. 

Ponder "Shaken " testimony. Peter was to go through many trials and would be shaken.

Testimony vs conversion.

"...thou shalt thrice deny that thou knoweth me" to Peter.  Christ phrased it as a commandment.  " Thou shalt"....to ponder.

"Invest time in learning about saviour and Jesus Christ" Pres Nelson 

45 years from first reading B of M

I went to the temple tonight. As I read about Abish in the Book of Mormon, I had a feeling I have not had in a long time. I do not know if it was the fact that I was reading a physical Book of Mormon, which I had not done in a long time( I read or listen to it on my cell) or if it was the story of Abish that gave me the feeling.

 It spoke of her excitement to spread the gospel and have as many people as possible see the king and his wife and all the court having fainted by being overwhelmed by the Spirit that Ammon introduced them to. She was brought to tears. It was the feeling I had when I first read the Book of Mormon almost 45 years ago.

Do not give up on miracles during parenting

Never Give Up on the Miracle  My dear friends, my dear brothers and sisters, building faith in a child is somewhat like helping a flower grow. You cannot tug on the stem to make it taller. You cannot pry open the bud to get it to blossom sooner. And you cannot neglect the flower and expect it to grow or flourish spontaneously. What you can and must do for the rising generation is provide rich, nourishing soil with access to flowing heavenly water. Remove weeds and anything that would block heavenly sunlight. Create the best possible conditions for growth. Patiently allow the rising generation to make inspired choices, and let God work His miracle. The result will be more beautiful and more stunning and more joyful than anything you could accomplish just by yourself.

Parenting-He magnifies small and simple things

Another strength you have, as a parent, is the opportunity for daily, ongoing influence. Peers, teachers, and media influencers come and go. But you can be the most constant, steady influence in your child’s life. Your efforts may seem small compared to the loud voices your children hear in the world. At times it may feel that you’re not accomplishing much. But remember that “by small means the Lord can bring about great things.” One home evening, one gospel conversation, or one good example may not change your child’s life in a moment, any more than one drop of rain causes a plant immediately to grow. But the consistency of small and simple things, day after day, nourishes your children much better than an occasional flood. That is the Lord’s way. He speaks to you and your child with a still, small voice, not a voice of thunder. He healed Naaman not through “some great thing” but through the simple, repeated act of washing. The children of Israel enjoyed the feast of quail in the wilderness, but what kept them alive was the small and simple miracle of manna—their daily bread. Brothers and sisters, daily bread is best prepared and served at home. Faith and testimony are best fostered in normal and natural ways, one bite at a time, in small and simple moments, in the constant flow of daily living. Every moment is a teaching moment. Every word and action can be a guide for making choices. You may not see the immediate effects of your efforts. But don’t give up. “All things must come to pass in their time,” the Lord said. “Wherefore, be not weary in well-doing, for [you] are laying the foundation of a great work.” What work could be greater than helping God’s precious children learn who they really are and build their faith in Jesus Christ, His gospel, and His Church? Jesus Christ will bless and magnify your consistent efforts.

Elder Uchtdorf, April 2023

1 Peter 3:15 "...give every man an answer...with hope and fear"