1 Nephi 6:1-6 Pleasing unto God

I'm such a perfectionist.  I wrote this some time ago but didn't post it because it wasn't "perfect."  It was too short, too obvious, not good enough.  But something I read today by Darlene Schacht reminds me that God doesn't require us to be perfect. "Our God is a god of second chances, forgiveness and grace."

In this brief chapter, Nephi delineates what he will and will not include in his record. He will not include the genealogy or "account" of his father, since that is included elsewhere.

What he does include is a powerful witness of the love and power of God.

Knowing the plates are small, Nephi only wants to include "the things of God" that he may persuade men to "come unto God."  He knows that the things he writes will not be pleasing to the world, but they will be pleasing to God.

I first heard "I Want to be a Window to His Love" by Julie de Azevedo in college and immediately fell in love with it.  The first verse begin,

I want to be a window to His love
So when you look at me you will see Him
I want to be so pure and clear
That you won’t even know I’m here
‘Cause His love will shine brightly through me

You can listen to it and read the rest of the lyrics here:

I think that's what Nephi wanted, to be a window to God's love.

If the way I live my live is my record, how well am I filling it?  If my life is sacred and has value, am I filling it with that which is pleasing to God?  Is my life a testimony of what I say I believe, and is it leading my family and others to God?

1 Nephi 1:18-20

After experiencing these divine manifestations, Lehi went forth to call his people to repentance.  He "truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations," and also prophesied of the "coming of a Messiah and also the redemption of the world."  Because of Heavenly Father's infinite love for His people, he greatly desired their return to Him, their repentance, their healing.  He respected their agency while still holding them accountable for their lives, their choices and actions.  He treats all His children with this same respect.

This reminds me of hymn 240,  "Know This, That Every Soul Is Free"

1. Know this, that ev’ry soul is free
To choose his life and what he’ll be;
For this eternal truth is giv’n:
That God will force no man to heav’n.

2. He’ll call, persuade, direct aright,
And bless with wisdom, love, and light,
In nameless ways be good and kind,
But never force the human mind.  

 If my goal in this life is to become more like my Savior, who is in the express image of His Father, then I need to treat my spouse and my children with respect, with goodness and kindness, as well as all the rest of Heavenly Father's children.

Today's question.  How do I think of the people in my life?  How do I treat them?  Am I respecting their agency?  What area do I most to need to improve so I will be loving, correcting and respecting with Christ-like love?

D&C 121:41-46, 2 Nephi 10:23-24, Helaman 14:30-31