More Judah and Joseph

James Tissot-Joseph Converses with Judah His Brother

I can't believe the amount of rain in the last few days. Hopefully, my potatoes won't rot in the ground before I get them dug. It's pouring so hard I can't go for a walk this morning. Since the desert needs it so badly, I am grateful for the deluge. Flooding is always a worry at times like this, though. 


"For I command all men both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written. For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write; it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it. And it shall come to pass that the Hews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews. And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show into them that fight against  my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever." 2 Nephi 29:12-14

With this scripture we are taught that God has many children scattered around the world from the House of Israel. He loves them all and sends prophets to teach and write His word to them all. We are part of those children, children of the covenant. We are expected to learn His words and act according to their teachings.

"The word of the Lord came again unto me saying, moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, for Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, for Joseph, the stick of Ephraim , and for all the house of Israel his companions: and join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand." Ezekiel 37:15-17

I love the Bible, the stick of Judah, and all it teaches me about my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Likewise I live the Book of Mormon, the stick of Joseph, and all it teaches me about my most kind and loving friend, Jesus. As my grandmother has always want to asked every day of her life since she was nine, what would Jesus do? With these two resources, I can answer that question with true knowledge. The day I went home for lunch with Laura Lee Doyle, and her father asked me to learn more about the scriptures as a whole, was one of the most blessed days of my life. I'm so grateful that my parents allowed me to learn and be baptized at the tender age of 13. I'm grateful for the generous people, who must have often bit their lips at my lack of tact and misunderstanding of the commandments and who in spite of all this loved me through my yearly years as a Christian. I am grateful for faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. I'm grateful for the Holy Sacrament, which allows me to renew my baptismal covenants and recommit to take His name upon me each time I partake. I'm grateful for all the blessings I receive through Jesus Christ and my membership in His church. "I love to read the Holy Scriptures, and every time I do: I feel the Spirit start to grow within my heart, a testimony that it's true. Search, ponder, and pray are the things that I must do. The Spirit will guide and deep inside, I know the scriptures are true."