Thank you, Hank & John, for your wonderful podcast each week! Each one is excellent! Thanks to Tyler for his humble approach and practical helpful thoughts that apply the scriptures to life's journey.
Thanks to all three of you for the endless work you do to spread the Gospel! You mean so much to the Lord and this Church. Keep up the good work, it’s so refreshing to learn so much from your teachings but priceless to have the Spirit confirm its truthfulness.
What a wonderful lesson! My three favorite podcasters in one place! Thank you for sharing your wisdom and insight on the ways to be able to leave our “Bountifuls” and building “our ships”.
I love the story of nephi building a boat! It also adds so much love for president Nelson who tells a story of when he learned a life saving heart procedure in a similar way with the workmanship being new and unknown… and shown to him just like with nephi. It’s so cool!
I learned from Tyler how to draw a holy writ or book.. I've realized so simple. And also I couldn't forget how he did straight line and circle.. It's amazing🙂
Thank you for your message. I had a very rough life since my childhood because I lose my my mother when I was a child and my father 4 years later. I am still having a rough life, but I am trying to trust my Heavenly Father and my redeemer Jesus Christ. It is not easy, but I am trying.
Thanks guys, I totally agree that it was the difficulties in nephis travels that helped him to feel Gods love and power in his life...i had an experience once when driving to work where i saw in my minds eye all the difficult moments and afflictions, including drug addiction, psychosis, suicide attempts and abuse to name a few - i had experienced, i began to cry and felt so sorry for myself then asked God, why? What did i do wrong to have all these things and I heard this "I needed you to spend time in the darkness, so that you would be able to help others out of the dark when they dont/cant see their way" my heart was immediately soothed and my new tears were of worship to my God for trusting me enough to bless me with this life......thank you Tyler, Hank and John for helping me to learn more about the God I love with my all and all ❤
I do agree with them on some points about negativity in the church. But it's also important not to gaslight yourself In thinking you are the problem when you are just doing the best you can and it's others who are Judging you on what you can't control. For example, like if you have a physical illness that makes it. So you can't go to church every Sunday because of that others. Put you as an inactive even though you are doing your best just to survive.
Hello , thank you with all my heart for your time. You can't imagine how much this episode helped me. My husband told me to listen to them. I think it was for me. In December they fired me from my job after 24 years of working, half my life with a lot of sacrifices and I am faithful to my convert paying demos and I think the same thing happened to me as Lehi but Nephi was an example for me thanks for helping me to get out of this state of darkness and subject myself to an iron bar again you are heroes I watch all your podcasts thank you for showing them the light of our lord and redeemer Jesus Christ ❤
Another great episode. As I listened to this podcast I truly could feel the love of my Savior Jesus Christ. I loved the part about taking upon ourselves to act in faith and that we need to take the trials head on but also keep in mind that we are not alone. I also liked when Tyler said that we are not our own Savior and that's why we have our Savior in Jesus Christ.
Thanks so much for this wonderful discussion! This came up in my feed and I wanted to watch because Tyler Griffin was on the program. I watch anything with Tyler on. He is amazing and so talented at teaching the gospel. It felt like the time went by so quickly and I learned things that I had never considered before. Thank you all so much. 😊❤
Thank you so much for this class. I have learned a great deal, especially "there is no problem that cannot be made worse by murmuring about it" By Elder Holland.
The last few years I feel like I live in the land of Bountiful! How blessed we are to have so many wonderful, learned, intelligent disciples sharing their knowledge and testimonies of the restored gospel. I heard a quote from the Sunday School Presidency saying, never before in the history of the church have more people been immersed in the scriptures!
❤ after challenging beginning to the year (helping a Friend who is not well) my spiritual batteries were running on empty!!! Thanks to a precious friend for leading me to your podcast ❤❤❤
Absolutely loving this. You hit home on so many mortal feelings, how to be positive and seeing things as God sees them. Finding hope in what we know and what to try next. There’s always something to try for in God’s plan. Thank you :):):)
This is a great blessing for me. Listening to and following alongside helps my understanding of the visual imagery in a way that I would never have imagined. This testifies how much we are our brother’s keeper. Thank you for caring through sharing. Pat Washington
Hello Brother John Bytheway, thank you for baptizing my Family when you were assigned here in Baguio Mission. You were the one who baptized the Viloria Family way back 1980's
Nephi is a great example of “thinking Celestial”. He was able to keep a more positive outlook because he kept the end goal in mind. Even though it would be several centuries before Paul would declare that “all things work together for good for those who love God”, he KNEW the truth about his experiences. He trusted Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and lived up to their trust in him.
As a preteen, I haughtily quoted Nephi in an argument with my older brother. "The wicked taketh the truth to be hard." I don't remember him suddenly agreeing with me, but I did feel arrogant. Ever since, I've rushed through the obnoxious narrative to get to the good doctrine. Recently the Lord correlated Mormon 9:31 with Nephi for me. Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father, because of his imperfection, neither them who have written before him; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been. I realized that it isn't very impressive that I can find errors in a prophet. Now, I'm working on it.
Hello guys! Ialways great to hear your insights on Come follow me. Thank you for bringing Dr. Griffin. Dr. Griffin thank you for your service in my hometown Curitiba
My missionary sent me some info during her study that has been really interesting to learn. In the gospel library there is an 3 part article called "in search of Lehis trail". It is two scholars that search the land, book of mormon and with locals to follow lehis trail. It has great insight into why nephis bow could have broke, building the ship, so many really cool things to learn and think about😊 They did the research first and then went and traced lehis steps.
The observation that Laman and Lemuel (and the sons of Ishmael) grew more wicked is very key to understanding progression, faith, and human nature in general. When faced with challenges OR fortunes, people's character is revealed, and often, it gets bigger and louder. Nephi centered his focus on following the Lord, the bros focused on riches and social status. Their outcomes were decidedly different.
Problem - Broken bow. Results - Frustration, anger, doom, no way out. Solution - make a new bow and arrow. Results - Easy fix (I think, after prayer), on to the next "terrible" situation. How many of us have had problems that we thought were unsurmountable, only to be given an answer, perhaps through prayer, and our next thought is "That is so simple, why didn't I think of that sooner?"
While the physical and archeological evidence of the Book of Mormon does not have the capacity to provide any meaningful conversion, it can give significant assurance to those who already have a testimony. I am so grateful for both the quality and quantity of scholarship that has seemingly erupted over the last two decades. The spiritual significance of the Book of Mormon will always be the most profound and powerful witness of its veracity; nonetheless, scholarly witnesses cannot be easily dismissed; and while these voices will not convince anyone, they may give pause for some, even believers, to consider more seriously the book’s divine origin. And, though not necessary, it is reassuring to find that places like Nahom are real and to consider that there is no way Joseph could have known about them.
Actually, I believe that when they all start complaining while they are bringing. Ishmael's family to the wilderness? That Nephi does tell them that they can just go back if they want to and deal with whatever happens to Jerusalem. Through the events that happen, they decide to chill out and continue heading into the wilderness together. I am so grateful for this podcast and all that you are teaching me. It has created some wonderful conversations with my husband and my adult children. It has also helped me be a better teacher to my Valiant 10 class. 💛
As to the difference between how Nephi and Laman perceived their journey… Nephi saw it through the lens on this is happening FOR us and Laman through the lens of this is happening TO us. When we perceive our trials through the FOR me lens… it is easier to discover a loving God.
I think sometimes we are taken to the edge of the Red Sea in our trials. Then the miracle comes. There is no doubt it is the Lords doings that the path is made across the Red Sea (or our trials) so when future trials come we have past experiences that we can Trust in the Lord
Sorry guys I have so many comments here.. really it's fun for me because of those SHIPss.. and favoRITES😁.. and I noticed the thumbs up popped up on Tyler's window😀.. I love your sense of humor👍
If you are looking for guests, think about David Ridges who wrote "The Book of Mormon Made Easier". He is extremely knowledgeable. I've read most of his books and wish all the time that l could ask him questions. Love Bro. Griffin and his knowledge. He is very easy to understand. Thank heavens.
13:23 I have often thought that the second spindle on the Liahona was God’s way of inviting Lehi and his family to “study it out in their minds” the way they should go, rather than the Lord simply “giving it into them” as described in D&C 9:7-9.
The Book of Mormon was written for our day indeed family discords were the order of the day. The only way out is to follow and keep the covenants we have made with the Lord. Nephi is the great and best example.
In my experience, when people get together to nurture their murmurs, their feelings get harder and therefore their problems get bigger. Not to mention, murmuring perpetuates victimhood and eliminates personal responsibility.
Hank, John or Dr Greene at about the 5min mark. Dr Greene says that Nephi is writing the small plates 30-40 years after the events happened. I’d never heard that before is there a scriptural or scholarly reference supporting this? No doubts I just love having references to back up new facts when I learn them. Thank you all so much for the show, your wonderful insights & disseminating your knowledge to others!
President Nelson said this in his conference talk, “Overcoming the World”. The problems don’t stop but it’s easier to navigate through them because of the power we receive from being covenant keeping people. “They have not yet discovered that making and keeping covenants actually makes life easier! Each person who makes covenants in baptismal fonts and in temples-and keeps them-has increased access to the power of Jesus Christ. Please ponder that stunning truth! The reward for keeping covenants with God is heavenly power-power that strengthens us to withstand our trials, temptations, and heartaches better. This power eases our way. Those who live the higher laws of Jesus Christ have access to His higher power. Thus, covenant keepers are entitled to a special kind of rest that comes to them through their covenantal relationship with God.”
How often are we led in a circuitous route because of the lack of faith of others in our family? If we had been alone we might have gotten there a lot faster or if we'd had better support from members of our family? But that's really not the point is it? It's about how we develop those relationships along the way and getting there eventually with patience and love.
As you speak of Lehi's murmuring, please read 2 Nephi 3:1.... to understand a little better of Lehi's murmuring. I'm not saying you are being hard on Lehi, but with understanding of his heart aching for his wife and newborn child, it might soften one's own thoughts and heart at a prophet murmuring! What prophet is perfect?❤😢 I love how your lessons give us a chance to reach for higher understanding!
Could having two spindles also have something to do with letting them know that their faith was not where it needed to be so the 2 spindles pointed in different directions. However when they were in tune, the spindles pointed in the exact same direction? Just a thought.
My favorite on this subject of “proof” Elder Neal A Maxwell: It is my opinion that all scriptures, including the Book of Mormon, will remain in the realm of faith. Science will not be able to prove or disprove holy writ. However, enough plausible evidence will come forth to prevent scoffers from having a field day, but not enough to remove the requirement of faith. (Precious Things, 4)
I find it interesting that Nephi had a "steel" bow. Steel is a lot different from iron. It is even today a difficult thing to make. It has to be flexible. Any occlusion will cause weakness and a stress concentration that will cause a failure by fatigue. The fact that he is flexing it says that he is stressing the metal in the elastic range which is a property of a highly refined combination of iron and carbon and then to be forged and heated and cooled and tempered. This could be another rabbit trail for me to follow. There are some lessons in here.
Looking to the Savior for help reminded me of the meme where all the hiking tents are set up and all one guy is just laying on the ground wrapped up in his tent that is not set up because he didn’t want to ask for help. The caption reads: Learn to ask people for help.
It is possible that Nephi's brothers were using his bow to get food. Whichever sibling has the nicest things, you'll find the other siblings very interested in trying out those things. Lol. This could possibly be the reason why Nephi clarified that he was the one who broke his bow.
@9:45 Tyler says: “It’s important that we don’t teach these principles in a way that creates this feeling of exclusion that you don’t have access to certain blessings because you may not be married.” This is one of the things that he and his cohost on his own podcast on scripture central do a lot. They are so concerned with not offending anyone, or in his words, not “creating this feeling of exclusion”, that they fail to teach the principles accurately and boldly. The fact is that marriage is *required* for exaltation which is the greatest gift of God. The fact is that a married person does have access to blessings that an unmarried person does not have access to. It is also true that God will ensure that every faithful person eventually receives all the opportunities required for their salvation and exaltation. But it is just cruel to “not teach these principles” accurately. It is cruel and foolish to teach people that they should expect the same blessings as a married person when they cannot receive them unless they are married.
I love the insight @ 39:19are we in A Covental relationshipb with God? Or a "transactional" relationship where we get upset when we don't get what we want?
It was interesting that you gave Tyler's bio and that he had several degrees. I guess he didn't go to BYU because it seems his engineering degrees were less valuable because you never said where he received his education.
Consider the following… The Liahona had two pointers. If each pointer was affected individually and respectively by the faith and righteousness of Lehi and his wife Sariah. Then they would have to be united in cause and spirit for the two pointers to both point in the same direction. This would not only tell us the true direction because of the “two witnesses". It would also emphasize the need for one heart, one mind, one spirit of eternal companionships. One pointer was not more important that the other. I do not believe that the pointers were labeled. It was just a true indicator of Celestial type unity. The writing that appeared on it came as extra information and guidance for Lehi & Sariah to use to guide the family. It was a tool for Lehi and Sariah to use together. And only together. Side by side.
I found this entire discussion so depressing I actually skipped church today. I just couldn't take any more of the "it's all wonderful when you're going through hell" stuff. I get that this whole earthly experience in LDS doctrine is supposed to be about being tested and tried and winning through to victory, having grown in faith and our relationship and trust in God. Have heard it probably 1,000s of times, 10,000s of times, maybe even a million times during my now rather long life in the church. But what I also know is that almost invariably, the people doing the exhorting in the LDS church have something some of us don't, and that's power. They have power over their circumstances and quite often over the people around them. They are the decision-makers and power holders. Most of the time, they are men, and men are the ruling class throughout history. They wield the decision-making power, often the legal power -- quite frequently literally the power of physical possession, and in the church, the priesthood power and the respect, authority, reverence, and obedience of everyone pretty much without questioning that goes with that. Women and children don't have and have not had any of this throughout history. So the perspectives of men and women are often very different, something that upsets a lot of people to hear but remains true. In addition, despite some very significant trials, sometimes catastrophic trials, without exception every single speaker in the church I have EVER heard speak on trials, from a lowly congregation member to an apostle or prophet, has the support of a loving spouse, loving family, and at least says they have the support of the church community and loving friends, most often also church members because that's really where church members draw their close friends. In fact, it's constantly impressed upon us how we must always focus on how blessed we are to have that loving family, loving friends, and loving church community. But there are some of us who do not have that. Abusive families are not loving and supportive, even those that are active LDS. Especially those that are LDS because they add the extra dimension of religious abuse on top of all the other abuse, and then you are reabused by clueless church members. Abusive LDS families don't magically morph into loving, supportive families just because you faithfully follow the gospel for decades. Usually, they get worse. If you stand up to the abuse, report it, testify about it in court, leave the abusive situation, etc., guess what? Your loving LDS family and congregation abandons you. Often, they actively turn on you. Quite a few of them get incredibly hostile. I'm sure you'd be surprised how nasty they will get and how much they will actively try to push you out of the church and make your life miserable. Your kids', as well. This is particularly true if you have reported an abuser who holds a prominent position in the church or is very popular in the local ward or stake because he's a charismatic, charming narcissist. Bishopric member, bishop, stake president, high councilor, scout master of 30 years, good ol' boy born and raised in a small community, etc. You find yourself going to church where you are denied basic church services, like having ministering brothers and sisters and having access to priesthood blessings, called names, shunned, sent nasty texts or emails, you discover that church members have been telling community members that you are a liar or perhaps saying thing like you're a drug addict -- anything to discredit you. If you make a comment in church, other church members attack you, you're no longer invited to social functions, etc. No one will stop any of this behavior, even if you report it to church leaders. They refuse to believe it's happening because those sweet, kind Mormons don't act that way. Well, yes, they do. I've lived it. It's so incredibly easy for people who've never truly lost all their support to talk kind of impatiently and condescendingly about why can't people just endure through any trial and trust in God, who will make things better. Well, because it's been going on for decades now. And God doesn't make it better. The abuse has never stopped, no one in the church is ever willing to come forward and say "yes, it's going on" because church members "don't take sides," no one is sorry or repentant, the only thing that's supposed to happen is you are supposed to shut up about the abuse, keep on sending kids to visits with an abusive father, and pretend that abusive father is a great dad, which is what everyone at church insists despite any and all evidence to the contrary. Most will take incredible steps to avoid hearing any evidence. Church members do actually take sides -- they take the abusers sides by refusing to support the victims and refusing to believe abuse is happening and by making your life hell if you report abuse. This is why so many people abused by church members leave the church. Church members annihilate them. Even Joseph Smith, with all he went through, and Christ, with all he went through, both retained loving, supportive families and friends who were with them to the bitter end. They were both incredibly lucky. In addition, they both had hugely visible, tangible, miraculous demonstrations that they were unique and chosen and special and loved and supported. Not many abuse victims get that. None that I'm aware of ever have. Grow up in an abusive home in thd LDS church, have an abusive husband, have an abusive family member, or multiple abusive family members, report that abuse, escape, divorce the abuser, testify in court to what you've witnessed or endured or your kids have, and your LDS family and friends are gone, and quite a few of them are now your enemies for life. The "Oh, this scripture example or pioneer example or G.A.s story was so hard, what do you have to whine about, stop whining" thing is really out of place and pretty ignorant when it comes to the experiences of abuse survivors within the LDS church. Because no one is helping them, defending them, rescuing them. Not the church, not their families, not their friends, not their ward members, not the church leaders, not Heavenly Father or Christ. They are pretty much on their own. With a whole bunch of "what's your problem; just endure to the end in this great, wonderful LDS community" thrown at them and a whole lot of blame, shame, and judgment. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not a great, wonderful community for abuse survivors. And a lot of what you talk about rings utterly hollow for survivors.
I’m pretty sure you don’t want a comment back and I’m wasting my time but I am so sorry for your experience and the responses you have had to endure. I don’t have to say that those who treat you that way are wrong but I just did. I have seen abuse hidden in families because of men with importance both in and out of the Church and like the prophet said in his talk about abuse, it is NEVER okay at any time, in any way. If you had listened to the final episode of the New Testament though, you would know that God WILL wipe away EVERY TEAR. He will make everything just and fair and if you listen to the last few minutes of last week’s episode and hear the quote by Elder Uctdorf, he promises that we will be completely, COMPLETELY satisfied with God’s judgement at the end. God does know all that you are going through and sometimes the timing for Him to come out in judgement against the wicked is not right. So exercise patience. He may know that there is a day coming when that terrible ex husband of yours may repent and He will give him time for that. Or He may know that you will come to peace here and be able to lay your anguish at the feet of His Son and He will patiently wait for that. Forget everyone else and heal yourself through the atonement of Jesus Christ for He knows EXACTLY what you have, are and will feel(ing). Give it over to Him and feel peace and be free.❤
Yes, there are those people (men and women) who are so charming so charismatic and plausible that they fool almost everyone, and it is very hard for us to admit that we have been taken in by those people. They leave a trail of pain and emotional destruction in their path. Perhaps that is why we are so resistant to accepting proof from the victims. It is reprehensible. We have no right to judge you for trying to escape this destructive situation. Have you talked to a medical professional about this? One who doesn't have a dog in the fight, or his or her own judgement to question. If they are well trained they are very familiar with this type of individual and can understand your pain, and help you get through this. As I am sure you have learned by now, you can't fix your husband or the gullible people who have been blinded by his outward charm. But, yes, Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are aware of your very real trails. They can help you find the care you need and deserve to heal. I pray you will get the help and support you (and everyone in this same situation) need getting out of this kind of trap.
Jerky is raw meat…just sayin’. Raw meat in a nice sunny desert will become jerky pretty quickly. I actually see it as an evidence of the veracity of the Book of Mormon - indigenous North American tribes were making and sharing pemmican (jerky mixed with fruit) to the Lewis and Clark expedition in the early 1800s.
Not found in the Book of Mormon "And when Lehi walked to the door of his tent, there on the shore, was a ship of curious workmanship". Just not found. I've looked. :)
