The Goods

Within 4 hours Nick should be here - Chicago weather permitting. Till then I am at work.

Last night was my third institute class. We talked about the large plates and the small plates that make up the Book of Mormon, which I was glad for cause it's kinda confusing. Visual aids were provided and it all makes since now! The large plates are what Lehi started writing and they documented government essentially... wars, deaths, stuff like that. Once Nephi took over, he was commanded to start a new set of plates called the small plates and he was to write about the dealings with God and the spiritual matters. So large plates - government, small plates - spiritual. The plates got abridged and we have the Book of Mormon.

After learning about the plates, we went on to talk about Lehi's vision of the tree of life found in 1 Nephi chapter 8.

Any human can relate to this story and picture. Lehi is seen in the bottom left corner sleeping. He had a dream and he saw a tree with fruit that was most desirable.  Leading up to the tree was a rod of iron on a narrow path. He also saw a great and spacious building, pictured on the right and there were people laughing and making fun of the people that were holding to the rod of iron. The path that leads to the tree is straight and narrow. It goes through dark clouds and rivers of filthy waters and sometimes you can't see where you are going, but as long as you hold to the rod, you will end up at the tree of life which is symbolic to God and Jesus.

That is the summed up version, but the whole story is pretty good. Good enough that in Jan, Feb and March of 2007, three different apostles taught of this story and it's lessons to the same group of people - students at BYU.  Sometimes we don't totally listen the first or even second time.

I am glad for Nick's visit. We will get to have our Christmas today! Finally! He said that I am going to love my presents and I have tried guessing, but he always says, no. He already knows what he is getting from me: Smartwool socks and underwear and a backcountry t-shirt.  He wanted it! We have plans to go speedskating, shopping at ikea, possibility hiking out and about depending on the coldness factor (today it's supposed to be 38 degrees which is pretty much summertime!) and to see friends. Oh! tonight we will be having my cheese and broccoli soup with ciabatta bread for dipping. Mmmm I can't wait for that.