Every Day Conversion

As I continue to prepare for Conference, I asked the question, "What can I learn about receiving revelation from Joseph Smith's experience?"  As I read through Joseph Smith History, I applied the keys to revelation that I had previously discovered in 1 Nephi 11 to Joseph's experience to see if I could identify those same keys...and I did.  But I ALSO found that I needed to update one of the keys that I had previously identified.  In this episode I share that update and my "framework for revelation" that I have seen in every single instance of someone receiving revelation, as well as the times that I have received revelation in my own life.  Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom44 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

Sometimes when you ask Heavenly Father a question in prayer, the answer comes almost instantly.  This morning was one of those times.  I asked what He wanted me to know prior to General Conference and I got a somewhat unexpected answer. It was clear to me that it was, indeed, the answer to my prayer and that I needed to act on it.  In this episode I share with you my answer...and encourage you to ask that same questions yourself in these days leading up to the April 2020 General Conference.  (and if you're listening to this AFTER the April Conference, you can STILL ask the question, and I'll bet Heavenly Father will answer you as well!) Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom43 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

Have you read President Nelson's article in the April 2020 Ensign?  It is available now on the Church's website and it is amazing.  In today's episode, in preparation for the upcoming General Conference, I read this article and it was eye-opening and confirmed again to me that we are truly led by a prophet of God.  Listen to the parts that stuck out to me in this episode, and then go to the show notes to get a link to read the entire article.  Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom42 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

Words of Mormon is a very unique addition to the Book of Mormon.  Essentially, it's an insight into WHY everything before it was included in the Book of Mormon.   It also reminded me of the logistical miracle that IS the Book of Mormon.  I go into this in depth in the episode, but just think of everything that had to work just right in order for us to have the Book of Mormon today.  It's amazing!  Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom41 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

Today's episode covers the remainder of the book of Enos, as well as the books of Jarom and Omni.  One of the most profound things I learned as I read these books was how the different groups in the Book of Mormon intersect and interacted with each other.  It really is interesting!  Also - I had the thought that our allegiance needs to be to the truth, not necessarily to the Church (meaning the people, cultures and practices of individuals). I explain more of what I mean in the episode.  Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom40 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said once, "Salvation is not a cheap experience." And if anyone exemplifies that sentiment, it is Enos and his determination to pray all day and all night to receive a remission of his sins.  In today's episode I share more of Elder Holland's quote, as well as looking at Enos' life - who he was and what he did that allowed him to have the marvelous spiritual experience that he had.  I also share a truth about prayer that I don't think we talk about enough.  Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom39 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

As I finished my study of Jacob 5 today, I noticed a few things that I had not noticed before.  Things specifically about the Restoration of the Gospel and how involved the Lord is in His work in our day.  I also appreciated reading what Jacob felt was most important about Zenos' allegory in Jacob 6.  Listen to today's episode to hear more of what I learned.  Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom38 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

What is the key ingredient to bringing forth good fruit?  As I studied the beginning of Jacob 5 today, I had some insights that I had never had before regarding this question.  I've always only associated the type of ground or soil with being the determining factor in bringing forth good fruit, but my studies today turned that on it's head!  We talk about that, as well as some thoughts I've had in the past week with regards to COVID-19 and how it's changed my view of the Restoration of the Gospel and the blessings associated with it.  Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom37 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

Nephi warns about esteeming things of value as naught in 2 Nephi 33... ...which got me to thinking about how we are invited to do things or make changes today by our leaders.  They are often quiet and subtle invitations, rather than a loud, booming "Thus saith the Lord!" So are we listening to those invitations? Do we even hear them when they come?  This is what we discuss in today's episode.  Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom36 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

I was led to ask a sobering question during my study this morning... "Where do I shut the Lord out of my life?"  That is a sobering question.  And it came from reading Nephi's pleading in 2 Nephi 32 for us to pray always, before we do ANYTHING! Listen to this episode to learn more about what led me to ask this questions of myself.  Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom35 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

My study of 2 Nephi 30 provided some wonderful insights with regards to covenants and promises.  But, the BIGGER insight was an insight about how Satan gains and maintains his power and leverage in our personal lives.  Once you understand how he derives his power over us, the Gospel plan makes more sense and you realize why Christ asks us to do what He does and how quickly we can limit Satan's power in our day to day lives.  Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom34 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

Faith is one of the first principles of the Gospel, and it is indispensable to our salvation.  But, the Lord frequently proves things to His children as well.  2 Nephi 29 is a great example of that.  The Lord clearly proves through multiple arguments that not only did He cause the Book of Mormon to be written, but that it is well within His ability and right to speak to whomever and whenever He so chooses.  In today's episode we look into those arguments more closely.  Get everything we talk about in today's episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom33 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

Brigham Young is quoted as saying, “The worst fear that I have about [members of this Church] is that they will get rich in this country, forget God and his people, wax fat, and kick themselves out of the Church and go to hell." Nephi seems to concur and think that "carnal security" and thinking that "all is well" is one of the biggest challenges that members of the Church will face.  He mentions this specific issue TWICE in 2 Nephi 28.  In this episode we'll talk about this warning, the other tactics Satan uses as well as Nephi's warning about not dismissing ongoing revelation.  Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom32 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

Two themes really stuck out to me as I studied 2 Nephi 26 and 27.  The first was the prophecies regarding the coming forth of the Book of Mormon.  The second was a reminder that God has not ceased to talk to man...and while the prophet today may not say "thus saith the Lord" or translate a new record from ancient sources...he COULD.  Those keys and responsibilities are still here with us in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints...and should the Lord require those things, President Nelson (or any other prophet) stand ready to fulfill them.  That's pretty cool...and we talk about that in today's episode.  Get everything we talk about in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom31 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

There are some chapters in the Book of Mormon that seem to be pivotal chapters.  Chapters that are quoted more often than others.  Chapters that, when someone mentions them, we say "Ohhh, that's a great chapter!" Chapters that we seem go to, in order to answer questions and strengthen our testimonies.  In today's episode, I share why I think those chapters are so universally cherished by members past and present.  Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom30 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

I had a massive realization as I studied this morning... And the realization became even MORE significant to me as I recorded this episode.  You cannot have physical freedom without first internalizing and accepting spiritual freedom through the atonement.  It's a pattern that is repeated throughout the scriptures over and over again!  Listen to today's episode for a few examples and how I came to this realization.  Get all the resources mentioned in today's episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom29 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

In this episode we review 2 Nephi 11-15 and there is a LOT to review.  We talk about the three witnesses present at the beginning of the Book of Mormon and the importance of being worthy to attend (and actually attending) the temple. I share a new insight to the allegory of Israel being a vineyard and the Lord being the owner of the vineyard.  And we look at the interesting phrase found in Chapter 15 that really exemplifies the way the Lord uses punishments and chastisement to invite us to repent and return to him.  Get everything we talk about in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom28 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

In 2 Nephi 10, Jacob focuses heavily on the fulfilling of His promises and the gathering of Israel.  In connection with those events, Jacob quotes many of the promises and prophecies of the Lord regarding the promise land.  We dig into the words of Jacob about the gathering, as well as a few things that President Nelson has said in the past few years about the gather of Israel to get an idea of the magnitude of what the gathering of Israel will entail.  Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom27 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

As I finished my study of 2 Nephi 9, I had an interesting observation. I realized that just because the Book of Mormon says over and over that the "wicked take the truth to be hard", that doesn't mean that only the wicked are corrected or chastised by the Lord.  We are ALL corrected and chastised...the difference is how we respond to that chastisement.  In today's episode we'll talk about that distinction and what we need to do to respond to correction from the Lord.  Get all the resources mentioned in this episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom26 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support

As Jacob begins his discourse in 2 Nephi 9, he teaches almost exclusively the Plan of Salvation.  But as I started reading it, there was one theme within the Plan of Salvation that I kept coming back to.  It's exactly what the Savior says in Matthew 11 - "Come unto me." And exactly what he says in 3 Nephi 10 - "How oft would I have gathered you." And in 2 Nephi 7 - "when I called...there was none to answer." Christ is always bidding us to come unto him. He's made His decision, He wants to save us.  Now the decision is ours...will we let him?  Get all the resources mentioned in today's episode at https://www.everydayconversion.com/bom25 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/everydayconversion/support