The Power of One

One Chapter Testimony!

Isn't she amazing! Thank Heaven she said "YES"!! Extra credit if you know the temple in the background. Too late, it's London. God is Good!

The Power of One is demonstrated in many areas in my life and I've been blessed tremendously by the Power of One (Jen).

Of the many areas of my life where God has shown me the Power of One the first Chapter in the Book of Mormon is one that stands out. When I read the first chapter I feel the power of scriptures. I feel the boldness of the scriptures. How they declare from the very start that God is real, He loves us, and has sent (sends) His Son, and His mercies and tenderness will deliver us! Indeed you may gain a powerful witness by just one chapter?

1 Nephi is is stuffed full of unique doctrine and precepts that are only found in the Church of Jesus Christ!

verse 5: Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went forth prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, [Lehi prayed as he went forth. He prayed walking, and working and moving about. His thoughts and heart were thinking about prayer. Prayer was a part of him] in behalf of his people.

verse 6: And it came to pass as he prayed [prayer is a form of work. It’s effort. With that effort in the moment of prayer God answered his prayer. God will also then answer our prayers in the moment thereof] unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly. [Sometimes the "Cup" our Father in Heaven gives us to drink is not easy. This life is not easy!]

verse 7: And it came to pass that he returned to his own house [this all happened while he ‘went about’ with a prayer in his heart? No wonder the Lord tells us to pray always.] at Jerusalem; and he cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with the Spirit and the things which he had seen.

verse 8 And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God [here in the very first chapter of the Book of Mormon we learn that man can approach God and that He lives. Most church's believe that we can NOT approach God and receive such answers. If we are looking to know more about God and grow, this makes it easier to believe in the message of Jospeh Smith as a 14 year old boy and the first vision] sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God.

verse 9: And it came to pass that he saw One [we learn that Jesus is separate from God. This is very unique to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are one in spirit, but not one in body] descending out of the midst of heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noon-day.

verse 10: And he also saw twelve others [12 apostles] following him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament. [Why are the apostles so important? Why are they so fundamental to write about directly after the Savior? Are they only important to saints during the time of Christ? Why not now too? - of course they are important now!]

verse 11: And they came down and went forth upon the face of the earth; and the first came and stood before my father, and gave unto him a book, [there must be something with books and learning about Him through them. Why didn’t God just tell or show Lehi everything? Josiah also learned the power of scripture. Many rewards from heaven are predicated upon our actions. The action of reading the scriptures, the book, must be an important action to the Lord and one which has some very powerful and special blessings associated with it] and bade him that he should read.

verse 12: And it came to pass that as he read, he was filled [again blessings come as we act] with the Spirit of the Lord.

verse 14: And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee [God’s message from the Book of Mormon is one of hope and love. He will hear and bless every human soul who comes unto Him.]. that they shall perish!

verse 16: And now I, Nephi, do not make a full account of the things which my father hath written, for he hath written many things which he saw in visions and in dreams; and he also hath written many things which he prophesied and spake unto his children, [it’s families that matter and parents are the key to raising children unto the Lord.] of which I shall not make a full account.

verse 19: And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, [the scriptures and particularly the Book of Mormon lay out plainly that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and it’s only through Him we can be saved] and also the redemption of the world.

verse 20: And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. 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. [Nephi gives his thesis that God will deliver. That He is the great Jehovah. The great deliverer of mercy and love.]

Again, this is only the first chapter! Book of Mormon is so powerful and filled with so much testimony of God and Christ’s love for all. The Power of One is evident in many areas of the Gospel. May we too be to others the Power of One and allow God to be the greatest influencer in our life. For He alone is the ultimate example of the Power of One.