John > Recent Status Updates

Enjoying the book for the most part. But not feeling connected to many of the characters - for example I actively dislike Mal and it seems based on the plot I should be rooting for him. Also does not feel like there is much build up in the plot. Things have happened without much foreshadowing or setup like Alina jumping into a leadership role that doesn't feel like it fits.

I had completely forgotten I had this book until I noticed it on the shelf today. Relevant to the current Come, Follow Me study so we'll see if I can get it read this week.

After destruction of Jerusalem, Lehi "immediately acts to recalibrate his family's understanding & expectations with regard to their place in the covenant." Nephites driven out multiple times. Zion is not dependent on place - change focus from promised place to promised people. We follow the same covenant path that Nephi outlined for his people. Make our knowledge of Christ & his atonement personal & experiential.

Notes
Context of 2nd Nephi: Jerusalem has been destroyed. Nephi's writings are all about the covenant.

Christians of Joseph's time saw old covenant (emphasizing obedience to the law) vs new covenant (emphasis on grace) as very distinct. The Book of Mormon collapsed these into one everlasting covenant.

"The stronger my faith, the less I need to think about how I ought to feel and what I ought to do, and the more I will just see, feel, and act as Christ would."

"The book of Alma is a demanding book. If you don't feel challenged by it—challenged to change your priorities, your everyday practices, and your worldly preoccupations—you probably have not understood it."

"Faith evaluates not by thinking about things or forming judgments about things but by actively responding to them."

"If I had faith in Christ...I would see this immediately; I wouldn't need to think about it"

I have been considering a trip to Canada so picked this up to learn more about the Canadian national park system.

The author was my mission companion so this is a fun read.

It is clearly self published - I've noticed formatting and spelling issues - but I'm enjoying the story so far.

Already enjoying this one more than the last book (Mosiah).

There are certainly insights here, but I feel like they are a lot more opaque than what I got from the first two books I read in the series, and harder to personalize in a meaningful way. If this were my introduction to the series I'm not sure I would feel a desire to continue reading. We'll see if anything changes with the last two chapters.

Powerful discussion about "being in the middle". Like Jarom's people, we perhaps live in the middle of a dispensation. There isn't a revelation in our scriptures that is less than 100 years old. We look forward to the 2nd coming of Christ, but there is much left to do. Like Jarom's people, we must live as if Christ were already here. If we do we can be strengthened through Christ and be blessed with many revelations.

Just as impactful on the 2nd read as on the first. So much to think about.

Reading for a second time.