This week for my religion class the assigned reading was Enos - Mosiah 3. These are some of my favorite chapters. I am inspired by Enos's sincerity as he pleads for forgiveness. I enjoy reading the counsel from Jarom, Omni and Mormon. I love the first few chapters of Mosiah. I had a seminary teacher who talked about how when it came time for general conference he would make tents in his living room facing the television so that they could listen to the prophet like the people had listened to King Benjamin as he stood on the tower. This was a very vivid memory for me. I remember it even now, twenty one years later. I think about it every conference. I love to listen to the prophet and general authorities speak. I believe that they are true messengers from Heavenly Father and that they are His mouth here on earth that can speak the things He would have us know. They give us guidance to help us navigate the perils of this world. I am so grateful for the scriptures and for a living prophet. I am grateful to know that Heavenly Father still speaks to His children today. If we listen to the counsel given to us in the scriptures and by the prophet and to the promptings given to us by the Holy Ghost, I know we can return to live with our Heavenly Father again.

I found this week's assigned reading to be very thought provoking The assignment was 2 Nephi 28-33. I really enjoyed discussing 2 Nephi 28:19-22. It is talking about Satan and all the ways he tries to entice us to follow him. The lead student gave us the definition of pernicious. Pernicious means "having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way." That is definitely the way Satan works. He is not going to just get someone to rob a bank but he can slowly get us to stop saying our prayers or going to church. This leaves the door open to start doing things we would have never considered doing before and then it becomes a downward spiral. Eventually we could get to the point where we really would rob a bank or at least steal. In verse 21 it says that "the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them carefully down to hell." I think it is interesting that he leads us carefully down to hell. There is a quote that I find very profound. It says,"The devil does not come dressed in a red cape and pointy horns. He comes as everything you've ever wished for. Pray for wisdom and discernment." In the "Digging Deeper" videos, there was one called "Feast Upon The Words of Christ". It talked about a quote from Pres. Benson that pointed out one of the purposes of The Book of Mormon is to expose the enemies of Christ. Here are some examples of Satan's lies: There is no God. God is no longer a God of Miracles. Eat, drink and be merry. He teacheth a man not to pray. He stirs the children of me to anger against that which is good. With everything going on in the world, the only way to survive is to cling to the gospel and to the teachings of Christ. We must rely on the Spirit to guide us and direct us through the figurative darkness. We must have faith and trust in our Prophet. He will not, he cannot, lead us astray. If we will do these things then we will receive the promise found in 2 Nephi 31:20. "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." This has always been my favorite scripture because I feel like it sums up all the teachings of the gospel and the plan of salvation in one verse. I want to live my life so that I can return and live with my family and my Heavenly Father again. That is all that really matters in the end!