Scripture Squiggle: 1 Nephi 2:15

"And my father dwelt in a tent."

Okay, I have to admit that I really chose this scripture because I spent last week at Girls' Camp. The scripture has been on my mind, though, and I have been pondering the different things we can learn from it. The verse becomes more powerful when we read it in context with verse 4:

"And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness. And he left his house, and the land of his inheritance, and his gold, and his silver, and his precious things, and took nothing with him, save it were his family, and provisions, and tents, and departed into the wilderness."

So it doesn't sound like Lehi, or his family, was used to roughing it. They had a house as well as riches and precious things--likely luxury items--that they left behind. Yet in Nephi's simple observation, we see that Lehi was willing to give all of that up to fulfill the commandments of the Lord. Which leads me to ask: what am I willing to give up for the Lord? Could I leave behind my house and the comforts it yields? What about money--I don't have much, but would I be willing to part with what I have? Or my precious things--computers, cars, cell phones, ovens, electricity? Or maybe the Lord has things of a different nature in mind. Maybe my time--time I spend with my family or relaxing by myself?

The only way to find out what sacrifice the Lord requires of us is to ask Him. And when we receive the answer, we need to remember that the Lord will not ask us to give him more than we are able to give.

Not-so-Fictional Story: Moroni 8:16

As I pondered what to write in relation to Tuesday's scripture, I really struggled to come up with an appropriate story. My original plan was to direct my readers to a story I heard as a child that illustrated the Savior's love for us, but I didn't feel right about this option. This morning I visited a blog put together by a friend of mine from college. She and her husband were unable to have children of their own, so they chose to adopt. They currently have two beautiful boys and are looking to adopt a third child. Reading through their adoption story, I found tears in my eyes--I'm not one to break down and cry very easily--as I considered the sacrifice of a birth mother who gives her child up for adoption. The love these mothers have for their children is greater than the fear and sorrow they must face when they hand their babies over to a new family. They realize that their sacrifice will bring a chance for a better future, not just for their children, but for the families that are formed through their loss. How like the Lord's love for us! Our Heavenly Father ached for His First Born Son as he suffered in Gethsemane and then upon the cross. But Father knew that through Jesus' sacrifice, each of us gained a chance for a better life and an eternal family. So He gave up His son.