The following transcript is intended to aid in your study. However, while we try to go through the transcript, our transcripts are primarily computer-generated and often contain errors. Please forgive the transcripts’ imperfections.
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[00:00:00] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Today we begin our study of the Book of Helaman. Now, this is a new kind of cool fact I just learned. It's considered an analystic or annual writing because almost every year is mentioned starting in the 40th year of the reign of the judges and ending in the 90th year. So we've got about 50 years we're going to cover 50 years might seem like a long time, but for many of us, it was just yesterday.
Am I right? Because time goes by so fast. Now, if you're fortunate enough to have a 50 year time span, and you can think back on all that has happened, it may be similar to the 50 years in Helaman chapters one through six. It is filled with both triumphs and tragedies. We have political intrigue, bounds of Roberts, rejection of the profits and pride and disbelief throughout the land.
Sound familiar? Maybe this is the reason that Mormon included the account of human, which is why I'm so excited to see what it can teach us. And if it can be applied to any of our situations, welcome to the Sunday on Monday study group, a desert bookshelf plus original brought to you by LDS living, where we take the come follow me lesson for the week.
And we really dig into the scriptures together. I'm your host, Tammy Uzelac Hall. Now, if you're new to our study group, Please follow the link in our description and it's going to explain how you can best use this podcast to enhance your come follow me study just like my friends. Okay. This is exciting.
Shout out because my guest today knows you shout out to Barbara Watson and the entire Cortez third ward. Hello friends. Okay. podcast is each week I'm joined by two of my friends. So it's a little bit different. And today we have an original. We love her. Tamu Smith. Hello Tamu. Tamu. What's happening? What's happening?
Well, we are excited to introduce you to our friend, Nichole Smith, who we met at a women's conference. Hello, Nichole.
[00:01:55] Nichole Smith: Hello. I'm so excited to be here.
[00:01:56] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Now, Nichole, where do you live?
[00:01:58] Nichole Smith: In Cortez, Colorado, um, down by the Four Corners.
[00:02:03] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Oh, nice. Have you been to the Four Corners? I haven't. It's on my bucket list.
[00:02:06] Nichole Smith: I have. And it's interesting that they have changed the monument because it was in the wrong location for many years.
[00:02:14] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Oh, I didn't know that.
[00:02:16] Nichole Smith: Yeah. It was like three feet or maybe six feet off in one direction. So they, they had to move it. Well, I'm glad I never went in the past. Yeah. So if you went in the past, you have to come again and get a new picture.
[00:02:28] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Okay. Well, I'm going to come down anyway. That is so much fun. In fact, we thought about going during COVID just putting the kids in the car and driving and we never did because that's how I roll. I have such grand ideas and little follow through. So, okay, we're doing it. That is going to be so much. Have you been down there Tamu?
[00:02:44] Tamu Smith: Wait, is that, uh, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico? Mm hmm. And Colorado. Yep. And Colorado. Yes, I have. I drove through Texas a couple of times.
[00:02:58] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Oh, see, there you go. I couldn't do it. All right. All right. I'll get down there. I'll get down there. Well, we are going to have a fun discussion. I'm really excited. And my favorite is that Tamu is in her car in Fresno, California, and we hope she doesn't fry to death.
[00:03:12] Tamu Smith: I'm actually in Dos Palos, girl, or Los Banos. I'm in Los Banos.
[00:03:17] Tammy Uzelac Hall: You're in Los Banos? I served my mission in Los Banos. You bet I did, sister. Oh, I know exactly. Shout out to all my friends in Los Banos. Let's say it correctly. Los Banos. Oh, I love it. I love it. I love it. Okay. Well, if you want to know more about my guests, go read their bios, which are in our show notes at ldsliving. com slash Sunday on Monday, and you can see pictures of them as well. So everyone grab your scriptures and something to mark your scriptures with. And let's dig in to Helaman chapters one through six. Okay. Right out of the gates. Ladies, tell me what the Holy Ghost taught you as you studied Helaman one through six.
[00:03:55] Tamu Smith: The Holy Ghost taught me so many things, but as I, as I studied Helaman, um, one through six, it just, it was just this constant reminder of, um, the state of not just America, but the world today. Gosh, it's just so much like, I, I think that sometimes we look at,
we look at people and see the surface and they're judged on the surface. And really, I should be looking for other believers. I should be looking more and, and, and we hear this like, you know, you know, the Lord looks on the heart and it just became very clear to me what that might look like.
[00:04:49] Tammy Uzelac Hall: I like that a lot. That's great insight for these chapters. What about you, Nichole?
[00:04:57] Nichole Smith: Well, two scriptures, um, came to my mind that just really spoke really strong to me. Um, in chapter six, kind of, you see them go through the pride cycle and, um, where the knee fights become hard hearted. and I'll just read the scriptures if that's okay.
But in Helaman chapter six, verse two, it says, for behold, there were many of the Nephites who had become hard hearted and impenitent and grossly wicked in so much that they did reject the word of God and the preaching and the prophesying which did come among them. Nevertheless, the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites.
Um, my husband and I, other than my mother. But are the only members still active. And so we feel super alone a lot in our beliefs. We want to love those that have left the church. We want to support them, but it does feel lonely. And it just reminds me in here, but the people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites.
So as we share the gospel and that we love others and they are converted to the faith, they become our family. And as my husband, once in a council meeting, had expressed his love to his council members, thank you for supporting him in becoming his family when his family has kind of deserted him. not physically, but just, you know, it's, it's a separation when church is everything to you.
It seems like there's more of a separation. So the, the Holy Ghost really taught me how important our church family is and what comfort they give us. In times when we really need it.
[00:06:56] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Absolutely. In fact, when you were reading that verse, verse three, I love how it ends because it made me think of you. And you just said as a family, and it made me think of Tamu's family.
It says, and they did fellowship one with another. And did rejoice one with another and did have great joy. I mean, is that the great, I can't think of a better scenario when you're with your family than to fellowship and rejoice and have joy. And that's what we all want, right? How fun if every Sunday was like that.
[00:07:24] Tamu Smith: Look, I think that in order to make church like that, you have to come to church like that. And, um, I think that sometimes, you know, I don't always go to church full, but when I go to church full, I plan on having extra to give to other people. And so I think that we, you find your people at, in your ward or at whatever church you go to.
If you're, um, exploring and listening to this, you find the people. That's are going to fill you. And, um, when you know your brothers and sisters, you know, when they are full and you know, when they need to be, you know, um, when they need to be hydrated, when they need to be, when they need to have a filling.
And, um, so you tried, I tried to take something every week to give, not just going to church full, But also knowing yourself well enough to know when you're not full and being able to express to your friends and, and your church family that you need filling, you know, you need something more and be, and them being able to help fulfill you.
[00:08:39] Nichole Smith: Well, I think that's the humility going with a humble heart, willing to allow somebody to fill you. Oftentimes we don't accept. We think we're okay. It's absolutely, you gotta be humble to accept that.
[00:08:53] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Yeah. And honestly, none of us are fine. No. Like ever at all. Ever. Yeah. Yeah, exactly. And so, cause when you were saying come to church full in my mind, I'm like, sometimes I come to church so empty to be filled, but then you're right.
There are some Sundays where I'm doing okay and I come full. And I could fill,
[00:09:13] Tamu Smith: you know, you know, the little penny jars outside of the, at the convenience stores where they're like, if you need it, take it. If you have it, leave it.
[00:09:20] Nichole Smith: Yeah.
[00:09:22] Tamu Smith: We should come to church.
[00:09:23] Nichole Smith: You're the penny jar,
[00:09:25] Tammy Uzelac Hall: the penny jars. Let's put penny jars in all the relief society rooms on the table with the doily with the nice tablecloth. Let's just start. Put a little penny jar. I think that is so great. What a great reminder that would be.
[00:09:38] Tamu Smith: Yeah. That would be awesome.
[00:09:39] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Yeah. What are you going to do today? Take or give? But either way we need it. Right.
[00:09:44] Tamu Smith: Yeah. That's fun. It doesn't matter what you do because it's, it's what's needed. You know? Oh, amen.
[00:09:52] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Wow. I love that discussion. Okay. So let's do this then. We're going to dig into Helaman chapters one through six and in the next segment we're going to do it with just one word. I can't wait to show you what that is.
Segment 2
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[00:10:11] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Let's turn to Helaman chapter one, verse one. That's where we are going to be, because I, I think this is really important to know this word and it starts out and it says, and now behold, Highlight the word behold right there in your scriptures. And I asked my guests as they went through all of Helaman one through six to highlight every time they saw the word behold.
What did you guys notice?
[00:10:35] Nichole Smith: Oh, it's everywhere. And right after it, it's almost like it's a statement to pay attention to. Yes.
[00:10:43] Tammy Uzelac Hall: You are exactly correct. Everyone, you need to know this about the word behold. This is such an important word in scripture. So in the Bible, it's everywhere. In Hebrew, it's the word hine in the old Testament.
And in Greek, it's the word idou. I D O U or maybe Idao. I don't know Greek. I'm sorry. That's my next language. I might try to do, but in the new Testament, that's what it is. And it means, so here's what it means. Hine and Idao means pay attention to what is about to follow, or this is very important. I love how my Hebrew teacher taught me.
She said, whenever you see behold in the old Testament, our languages, dude, you're not going to believe this. That's how I always remember it. Or a, whoa, This is crazy. Like, she's trying to think of all the ways teenagers say things to get attention. Like, holy cow. I mean, just whatever it is. I don't know.
You both have teenagers. What do your teenagers say to get your attention? Bruh. Bruh. Bruh. Like, we're girls. Totally. You could do that. Every behold is a bruh. That is so funny, Tamu.
[00:11:55] Nichole Smith: What about you, Nichole? Uh, my kids say, stop, mom. Stop. Stop.
[00:12:01] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Okay. That is so perfect. Knowing this, given the intended meaning of this word, then when you study your scriptures, it's important to ponder carefully when you see a behold, because what is it that the authors want you to know or understand?
So then I asked you guys. Here's what I want you to do. Just looking over Helaman one through six, give me some of the verses that have a behold that you highlighted and let's see if it's important enough to bruh or stop because there I have one that as I was reading, I remember thinking, I hope there's a behold coming up and then there was like it worked for me because the narrative was so cool.
Okay. I'll do mine first and then you guys do yours. So in Helaman chapter two, it's verses eight and nine, and we have verse eight and it says, and this is such a good story because. Helaman becomes a new appointed chief judge. He's going to fill the judgment seat and Kishkumen, who is part of the secret band, Gadianton Robbers wants to kill Helaman.
And so with this right here, and this is Helaman who's the son of Helaman, by the way. So Helaman is, he has basically, they want him destroyed. They want him killed. And one of Helaman's secret servants, Finds out about this plan. And so he then comes in and he kind of finds a way to get in with Kishkumen and his people.
And he knows what the object is and what the plan is. And so we go to verse eight. And when the servant of Helaman had known all the heart of Kishkaman and how it was that his object to murder, and also that it was the object of all those who belong to his band of murder and to rob and to gain power.
And this was their secret plan and their combination. The servant of Helaman said unto Kishkaman, let us go forth unto the judgment seat. Now, this did please Kishkumen exceedingly, for he did suppose that he should accomplish his design. But behold, the servant of Helaman, as they were going forth unto the judgment seat, did stab Kishkumen even to the heart that he fell dead without a groan.
And he ran and told Helaman all the things which he had seen and heard and done. I mean, that is such a perfectly placed behold. Like you are not going to believe this. I loved that behold. Okay. What's a behold you guys found?
[00:14:22] Tamu Smith: Well, now after you read yours first, mine seems whack. It was just like at the, at the end of, uh, I think it's chapter, it was chapter two, and so we talked about the Gadianton robbers, how they had overthrown the destruction of the Nephite people. And then. So you think that you're coming to an end of this? Like you think, Oh, the story ends and they're like, nah, behold, I do not mean the end of the book of human, but I mean, the end of the book of Nephi, which I have taken all the accounts in which I have written like, Oh, so to be continued, this war, this beef is going to keep happening.
Like this is a, this is going to be a long beat. Like it's not the end. This is just the end of this one. We're going to keep going. I was like, Oh, okay.
[00:15:17] Tammy Uzelac Hall: I think that is such a good behold. Part two. Yes. Okay. That's so good. Okay. Well, you just have to read the behold above it too, though. Cause how perfect is that connected?
Do verse 13.
[00:15:31] Tamu Smith: Verse 13 and behold, in the end of this book, ye shall see this Gadiatan did prove to overthrow yea almost the entire destruction of the people of Nephi. I love it. He gives me the end. It's like also the Nephite people are almost gone. It's like not right now though. Just keep reading.
[00:15:54] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Yeah. And I love, I was like, Oh, there will be more. That's the kind of book I can read because if anyone's the type of person that likes to read the end when they start the book. Right here. I think that's maybe how Mormon was right here. Just keep reading. But by the way, a long beach, we fight. Those are perfect beholds.
This is so fun. Nichole, what's your behold?
[00:16:18] Nichole Smith: Okay. Mine was in Helaman chapter five, verse 30 and it says, and it came to pass when they heard this voice. So this is with Nephi and Lehi. And this is when they are in the prison walls and the walls shook. And so I love this because it's for me, it's the Holy Ghost.
It's how he works with me. And for me, it's a physical representation of the Holy Ghost. So I guess I need to read 39 or 29 first. It says, and it came to pass that there came a voice as if it were above the cloud of darkness saying, repent ye, repent ye and seek no more to destroy my servants whom I have sent.
unto you to declare a good tiding. So this, the spirit is talking to the unbelievers at this time. And, and it says that it came to pass when they heard this voice and beheld that it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice. Voice of perfect mildness as if it had been a whisper and it did pierce even to the very soul.
I, I love that. Like you can't deny the Holy Ghost. If you feel it, you can't deny it. That behold is so powerful for me.
[00:17:47] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Oh, that's beautiful. I didn't even notice that one. I missed that one. And now I'm so glad you pointed out. 'cause I'd be sad if I had missed that. Look at that. Be behold. Stop bra. You're not going to believe this, a still voice of perfect mildness as if it had been a whisper.
I like how you just said it perfectly teaches us about the Holy Ghost and how the Holy Ghost works. I want to know if either one of you ever had an experience with the Holy Ghost like this, where it was a voice of mildness. Or a whisper and it pierced you to the very soul.
[00:18:20] Nichole Smith: I have. Um, when I was a seminary teacher, I was an early morning seminary teacher and I had a few girls that were challenging that were just naughty that, you know, like to say really abrasive words and when they had a chance to speak.
And at the time I'm like, I, I, I could have been offended because I felt like they were offending the spirit, but I felt the spirit come to me in a whisper. Um, just love them. If you love them, they're going to stop saying it the way they say it. And so, you know, like you have that mom look like me, come on, you know, really here, is that appropriate?
And so, and that's kind of how I would do it. Like really, really, that's how you're choosing to strive that, uh, the scriptures. Um, and then the spirit just told me just smile and love them and show that you care what they have to say. And when I put importance on what they had to say. After I listened to the Holy Ghost because of the Holy Ghost said like stop don't do that.
Don't look give them that look And I just simply love them. The whole class changed.
[00:19:37] Tamu Smith: Wow. That's it right there. Wow. Um, I've, I've had it happen a couple of times that are just so memorable that you cannot deny it, like it's nothing but, you know, the Holy Ghost and nothing but the spirit trying to get me to mark this moment.
And to, you know, be able to go back and process it and savor it because it was that real for me. And one of those times was when I got confirmation that I should join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints.
[00:20:21] Tammy Uzelac Hall: I love that story so much too, because you were young, which is proof that you can feel that spirit at any age.
[00:20:29] Tamu Smith: I mean, absolutely. We belong to a church that a 14 year old boy, you know, went in and had this conversation. He prayed about it and received this, not just received a confirmation, but received a witness. And so, um, I think it, it definitely can happen when you're young.
[00:20:50] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Yeah. Perfect. Ladies. Thank you. I appreciate you sharing both of those experiences and especially your beholds.
This is such a fun thing to do. Anyone who's teaching gospel doctrine, you could just spend the whole time doing beholds and that's it. And letting people testify and learn why these verses are so important. Let's go back to heal them in chapter one, verse one. Where we started with the behold, because it's going to help us understand what we're going to talk about in the next segment.
So Tamu, will you please read Helaman chapter one, verse one.
[00:21:20] Tamu Smith: And now behold, it came to pass in the commencement of the 40th year of the reign of judges over the people of Nephi. There began to be a serious difficulty among the people of Nephites.
[00:21:33] Tammy Uzelac Hall: That's what we're to learn. Behold, there's a serious difficulty among the people of the Nephites, and we're going to find out what that serious difficulty was in the next segment.
Segment 3
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[00:21:53] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Now, there are two major things that were the causes of serious difficulty, but I want to know from you, as you were reading this, what would you say is the overwhelming message that caused so much difficulty? And it's a new form of difficulty that we've yet to see in scripture. What is it?
[00:22:11] Nichole Smith: The secret combination of evil, Satan's design coming out, manifesting it.
Um, into an amazing, loving group of people who just want to follow Christ.
[00:22:26] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Tell me, as you were reading about these secret combinations, what stood out to you? If you were to describe it to your child, how would you describe a secret combination based on Helaman one through six?
[00:22:37] Nichole Smith: Well, I just, I love that scripture that we, uh, verse 11 and he went unto those that sent him and they all entered into a covenant.
Yea, swearing by their everlasting maker, which disturbs me to no end, by the way. Oh, tell me why.
[00:22:56] Tammy Uzelac Hall: So we're, we're in Helaman chapter one, verse 11. Mark that.
[00:22:59] Nichole Smith: Tell me why. They're everlasting maker, somebody that created them and is so full of love and compassion and wants them back home. And they're swearing by the evil design to kill, kill, murder Pahoran.
Like how dare they, how dare they swear upon their maker. I feel like this is Satan and Helaman wants us to know all about Satan so he can no longer be secret. He is like, you need to know him. You need to understand his designs. You need to understand these secret. You don't need to know the secret combinations, right?
But you need to know that they're out there because for so long, the righteous people didn't know that they were, they existed, that they were to kill in secret. And I believe when it's a secret is made clear, there's no power to that secret.
[00:23:58] Tamu Smith: Ooh, absolutely. And I would just say, Tammy, you know, the word secret combination.
Is being used, but this is not a new design because we know that in even in chapters five or six where he talks about this is the same person that did this with even the Garden of Eden. This is the same. Yeah. This is the same person that, and he goes through this whole thing to even point out this is the person that created this combination.
This is the person that put this on your heart. And so knowing when, when something is on your heart, that is not right, that you feel like you cannot share with everyone. That is a secret combination. That is the beginning of it. That's where it starts. Something that makes you feel like you have to keep it private.
Something that makes you feel like you cannot share it with the masses. That's the, that's the secret combination. Something that you are in cahoots with somebody to bring, even if it's not destruction, but disharmony to someone. Because even those who were not in harmony with Christ, he was not willing to bring disharmony to.
[00:25:19] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Let's go into Helaman six. Tamu. I'm so glad you brought that up. Let's read a few verses that describe this in Helaman chapter six, verse 21 and 22. Nichole, will you read those for us?
[00:25:30] Nichole Smith: But behold, Satan did stir up the hearts of the more part of the Nephites in so much that they did unite with those bands of robbers and did enter into their covenants and their oaths.
That they would protect and preserve one another in whatsoever difficult circumstances. They should be placed, that they should not suffer their murders and their plundering and their stealings, and it came to pass that they did have their signs, yay. Their secret signs and their secret words and this, that they might distinguish a brother who had entered into the covenant.
That whatsoever wickedness his brother should do, he should not be injured by his brother, nor by those who did belong to this band who had taken this oath.
[00:26:24] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Okay. Talk to me about all of the words you see in verse 21 that are words that our father uses. We have covenant, oath, sign. Does that just blow your mind that Satan's using the exact same wording?
[00:26:41] Tamu Smith: Not really.
[00:26:42] Nichole Smith: Yeah. It doesn't blow my mind. Tell me about that. I think Satan uses the terminology that we are familiar with and he, it's the little twist that he puts on it. He, it's the part truth with lies. So the part truth is the words that we recognize that we associate with our heavenly father and then the oath or the truth or the covenant, whatever is evil.
[00:27:12] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Absolutely.
[00:27:14] Tamu Smith: Satan is our brother. He knows the language of our father. He knows the language of, you know, he knows our foundational language. And so of course he's going to use that language.
[00:27:28] Nichole Smith: Well, and a covenant is what binds us to our heavenly father, right? So if we make a covenant with Satan, we're binding ourselves to Satan.
[00:27:36] Tamu Smith: There it is. They covenants bind us to one another. It binds us to one another.
[00:27:44] Tammy Uzelac Hall: And it found them to each other. Just in that verse 22. Ooh. Now look at this. Okay. Having this whole discussion about secret combinations and how awful and horrible they are. Turn back with me now. Look how cool this is. This connection.
Turn with me to Alma chapter 37. Okay. We're going to go to Alma 37. Alma 37 is when Alma, the younger gives his son Helaman, the scriptures or the plates, and he tells him to take care of these plates or this record, and he talks to him about how the record is for a wise purpose. And we had a really great discussion with HB and Jen back in episode 31 about how to Alma, the younger told his son, make sure that the scriptures retain their brightness.
Make sure that you take care of them. And we have the scripture by small and simple things shall great things be brought to pass. It was such a good discussion. Okay. If that's ringing a bell. In this same chapter, Alma also gives Helaman some very important instructions regarding the 24 plates that were found, which are the Jaredite records.
Look at this Alma chapter 37 verse 21. We're going to read what he tells his son, Tammu, can you read verse 21?
[00:28:55] Tamu Smith: Yes. And now I speak unto you concerning these 24 plates that you keep down, that the mysteries of the works of darkness and their secret works. Or, the secret works of those people who have been destroyed, may be made manifest unto these people.
Yea, all their murders, and robbings, and their plundering and all the wickedness and abominations may be made manifest unto this people, yea, and that ye preserve these interpretors
[00:29:29] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Now, on the same page, look at verse 27 and we're going to read and look over these verses right here in verse 27. It says, and now my son, I command you that you retain all their oaths and their covenants and their agreements in their secret abominations, yay, and all their signs and their wonders. And you shall keep from this people that they know them not.
Less per adventure. They should fall into darkness and be destroyed. And if you bracket off 27, all the way through 32, he's going to be told, do not include the secret combinations and the secret works in the Jaredite plates. And I'm fascinated that it's don't include it. That's that instruction has been handed down, handed down regarding the Jaredite plates.
But then when you get to Helaman, which are not Jaredite plates and Tamu, you brought this up, Satan, this has always existed. So they're not pattering their behavior after anything they were taught or that they read because they were told not to put that in the plates. And yet Satan's like, that doesn't matter because I'm still doing it.
And he said, like you said to him, he's always done it. And now we have go back to Helaman chapter six, verse 30. And here is why he's able to do it. Helaman chapter six, verse 30. And Nichole, can you please read this for us?
[00:30:52] Nichole Smith: And behold, it is he who is the author of all sin and behold, he doth carry it on his works of darkness and secret murder and doth hand down their plots and their oaths and their, their covenants and their plans of awful wickedness from generation to generation. according as he can get hold upon the hearts of the Children of men.
[00:31:16] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Thank you. Highlight author of all sin. That struck me. Satan is the author of all sin, but he is not the finisher of our faith. Amen. And I think it Yes. Thank you. Give me an amen. Tamu. Amen. He is not the finisher of our faith. No. And as hard as they tried to keep all of this from the people, he still found a way.
And here he is doing his damage, wreaking havoc among the people. And so my question to you is this, if Satan is the author of sin and he's going to do the same thing he's always done. How can we actively keep from reading his novels? What are some things we can do because he is, he is writing furiously right now.
What are some active things we can do?
[00:32:07] Tamu Smith: Well, I think that, um, one of the things that we can do is to know who our father is because when you know who your father is, you have elements and aspects of who you are. What's in your DNA? Satan is my brother. Satan is not my father. And I can choose to be like my, my brother, we still have the same DNA kind of, but my father's DNA in me is stronger than what Satan's is. You know, my, my genetics, my epigenetics is, I have an inclination to be more like my father than like my sibling.
[00:32:47] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Like Nichole said, the everlasting maker, who is your, knowing who your everlasting maker really is. I love how it came back to that. Yeah. That's excellent. Tamu.
[00:32:59] Nichole Smith: Yeah. You know, I think we need to remember that when we take the sacrament every single week, um, if we remember all the promises come back to us and remembering like it, it talks about in the scriptures when it refers to like Moses or Isaiah, you know, all the past prophets, all the, we need to remember what they went through.
So we know that we can make it through. Like I, I need to know that there's somebody that made it through this life so that I can too.
[00:33:34] Tamu Smith: Yes.
[00:33:35] Nichole Smith: Like I, they made it through the heart, right? Like I want to know that there's a lot of cancer free patients out there so I can be one of them too. Tell me why. Why'd you say that?
It just came out. I don't know. Um, what, with my bout of breast cancer, this is my third, third thing, third experience with cancer. And, um, I have a nine year old little boy. I want to be here. Um, I have only gone five years each time without having cancer. And like, I need to know that I can beat this so that I can hold grandbabies.
I can look into my husband's eyes when, when we see our children have the success in their lives and we can share in those moments. And like my nine year old goes on his mission and serves and comes back and has a family of his own. Like I need to know that people have made it to give me hope.
[00:34:44] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Thank you. I appreciate you sharing that. And you're right. I think that's why so often in our stories they do bring up, remember this, remember Moses and all the past prophets, they've done it. They did it. We can do it. I think that's powerful, Nichole. Thank you.
[00:35:06] Tamu Smith: Are you going through cancer right now, Nichole?
[00:35:08] Nichole Smith: Um, I just had breast cancer surgeries. And so I will start radiation. I'll start all the, all the stuff that comes after it. But they successfully removed, um, the cancer and right as of today, you know, I'm healthy. So, I'm excited. Five years ago, I had appendicill cancer, which was cancer in my appendix. And I didn't realize that, um, it was a ticking time bomb in my body.
And if my appendix ruptured, I had three to five days to live. I didn't know that until they removed it, until they found the cancer in it. And then before that, I had skin cancer all over my face.
[00:35:53] Tamu Smith: God is good to you. God is good.
[00:35:56] Nichole Smith: He is so good. Yes, you're right, Tamu.
[00:36:00] Tamu Smith: That is good to you, and I, thank you for sharing that, I didn't know that. And so, wow, you are blessed.
[00:36:09] Nichole Smith: I am so blessed. I know that Heavenly Father is aware of me. He is aware of my children, my family. He's aware of everyone. When someone thinks that God is not there, I want to remind them that even when you feel like you don't feel Him, He is there.
He is holding you. He is taking you through this, um, and he is so aware of you that he's putting individuals into your life to make things easier. We just need to be humble and be able to accept the help offered to us. That is one of the greatest things that I have learned is to not be prideful and to accept help when, when I think I know, well, I know I can push through it, right?
I know that I could get up and make my family dinner, but I'm going to be in pain. And I know I shouldn't be on my feet right now. And when the ladies show up with a meal, be gracious and love them and allow them to serve you and allow them to love your children and to take them. And to hold them when you can't.
[00:37:25] Tamu Smith: Amen. It just hearing you and knowing what you've gone through, it, um, brings to mind that a spiritual that an old spiritual that, um, was sung in my foundational faith, my foundational, um, family. And the lyrics to that is I, I ain't in no ways tired because I don't believe that he brought me this far to leave me.
Amen. And so he did not bring you through all of that to leave you.
[00:37:59] Nichole Smith: That's a great reminder.
[00:38:00] Tamu Smith: And whoever it's going through, whatever y'all are going through, he's not bringing you this far to leave you ever. That's a beautiful reminder. Thank you for sharing.
[00:38:11] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Absolutely. In fact, It, that what you shared, that is what covenants is about.
That is what binding us to each other is about. That is even going back to this idea, what it means to be with each other and I'm going to the verse that you shared at the very beginning. That is what it means to have fellowship with one another, to rejoice and have joy. Great joy. I feel like Nichole, you are God's remember for all of us.
[00:38:42] Tamu Smith: Oh, remember, remember.
[00:38:44] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Well, in fact, we're going to talk about that in the next segment. So thanks for bringing that up, Tammy. Let's do that next. Ah.
Segment 4
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[00:39:00] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Oh my gosh. Well, Tamu perfectly set us up for what we're going to talk about next, because here's the second thing that made a serious difficulty among the people. Let's turn to Helaman chapter three, verse one, I'm going to give you a couple of verses that'll set this up and we're going to find out the antidote to this horrible thing.
So here we go. Helaman chapter three, verse one in the very middle of this verse, it says it came to pass in the 40 and third year of the reign of the judges. There was no contention among the people of Nephi, save it were. A little pride. I like that. Just a little bit of pride. Not a lot. A little bit of pride is okay.
Maybe. No, I don't know. Let's find out what happens though. We go from a little bit of pride. Now turn the page to Helman chapter three, verse 36. Nine years of time goes by. And then in verse 36, we're going to highlight, and it came to pass in the 52nd year ended in peace. Also save it worthy, exceedingly great pride, which had gotten into the hearts of the people.
So we go from a little pride to an exceedingly great amount of pride in just eight years. Now, ladies, we know the answer. Talk to me about pride. What did you notice about pride in these chapters and where does it sit? Why is it caused? Why would pride be a serious difficulty?
[00:40:17] Tamu Smith: What is it in the, um, the Bible Pride comes before the fall.
Ooh. Yeah.
[00:40:25] Tammy Uzelac Hall: You, you know, there's countless talks on pride. You can go through here and highlight every time you see pride. We've brought up the pride cycle. We know pride is bad. I think the power in Heman is that the antidote to pride is found in Healon chapter five. Let's go there and we have a hebrewism.
How much do I love this? Okay, so here is a Hebrewism, something Joseph Smith would never have known. And here it is. So in Helaman chapter five, one of the Hebraisms is called theme words and Hebrew writing uses a theme word to emphasize a main theme or passage by repeating the same word over and over and over again.
If you start in Helaman chapter five and you read verses five all the way to 14, ladies, what word is repeated over and over and over again? Remember, There it is. Grab a highlighter and highlight it in verse five, in verse six. You see it a lot in verse six. You're gonna see it a lot in verse nine. Then in verse 10, then in verse 12, and again in verse 14, and right here, this, there's a message that's being repeated to us, which is there's a lot of pride, but I want you to remember, in fact, let's read some of these s.
First of all, it's heal him in talking to his sons. Lehi and Nephi, and he's telling them why they got their name. Helaman chapter five, verse six,
[00:41:49] Nichole Smith: Nichole, will you read that for us? Behold, my sons, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God. And I would that ye should declare unto the people, these words, behold, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem.
And this I have done that when you remember your names. Ye may remember them, and when ye remember them, ye remember their works. And when ye remember their works, ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good.
[00:42:26] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Why did you smile when I had you read that verse?
[00:42:29] Nichole Smith: Um, because my mom named me. after, a soap opera . She was wicked and mean. She just thought she was really beautiful. And that's where my name came from. She was not good. So I'm like, thanks mom.
[00:42:47] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Okay. That's pretty funny. Oh my gosh. I love that. So they remember your name. I love how it ends that they were good. It's as opposed to evil for Nichole's name that she was named after.
Let's read another. Remember, Tamu, will you read for us Helaman chapter five, verse nine.
[00:43:04] Tamu Smith: Oh, remember my sons, the words which King Benjamin spake unto his people, yea, remember that there is no other way nor means whereby man can be saved only through the untowing blood of Jesus Christ who shall come to redeem the world..
[00:43:26] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Uh, why'd you grab your heart?
[00:43:28] Nichole Smith: Because it's only through the atoning blood can we be saved. I mean like we talked about if we don't remember our Savior Jesus Christ what do we do in here? Like we're just lost and walking around and I think of. Friends and family that, um, are not remembering the atoning blood of our savior and that he came to redeem us from our sins, that we can all be together.
It makes me sad, but it makes me so happy that I am remembering.
[00:44:06] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Tamu, with you, with your children, is there something you say often to them that repeated that you want them to remember when it comes to church stuff or anything?
[00:44:16] Tamu Smith: Well, my grandmother would always say in this even my grandmother had a severe stroke in 97. I was an adult. But, um, when we would leave and go places, she would say, remember to remember. And that meant remember who you are and what you stand for. Like, it just, we all knew that. And after she had her stroke, she would say, remember to remember all the time. And that is something that I say to my kids because, uh, and, and it, for her, it was, you teach a child in the way they show bone, when they are grown, they will not depart far from it, you know, and if they do depart far from it, they will return.
So she's reminding us, remember who you are and remember what I taught you. And so, um, and that is what I try to teach my kids to remember, to remember.
[00:45:08] Tammy Uzelac Hall: I wrote that to the outside of my scriptures. Isn't that awesome? Your grandmother is so wise because these verses, what is going on is they're rehearsing what their father Helaman had said to them.
Isn't that awesome? That Helaman had said to Lehi and Nephi their whole life. Remember all the ways to remember, remember, remember, remember, including this. Remember in verse 12, Tamu, will you read verse 12 for us?
[00:45:31] Tamu Smith: And now my sons remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our redeemer who is Christ.
The sun of God that you must build your foundation that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the world wind, yea, when all his hell and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless woe because of the rock upon which ye are built.
Which is a sure foundation. A foundation where on its men build, they cannot fall.
[00:46:15] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Okay. I can't think of a better verse to put next to it. Remember to remember because not only remember who you are, what you stand for, but to remember. What your foundation is built on. There's a strong connection there.
Absolutely. Talk to me about that. tamu, I love how your voice got animated when you read that.
[00:46:35] Tamu Smith: Because I can, I, because I feel this, I feel this, I feel this. Like I remember my foundation is Jesus Christ. And, um, my grandmother was saying, remember to remember long before I knew what, you Uh, Latter day Saint was, long before I knew anything about a Book of Mormon.
And of course she read the Book of Mormon and, and eventually, you know, she acknowledged that the Book of Mormon was the true word of God. But just being able to, I can, I, I can see her telling us to remember, to remember because, you know, Christ is the rock, He's our foundation. He's our foundation. And so, um, and, and, and I, I always love this scripture because it does.
I do think I was born and raised in the church of God in Christ. And, um, there is a, and I, I relate my spirituality. If there were no music. And, uh, worship, I don't know that I would be Christian, like, I just, I would not, I would not, because I know Christ through the word of, through song. And that then drove me to want to know more about Christ through, you know, scripture.
There is another old spiritual. I go to the rock for my foundation. I go to the rock that the builder created. I go to the mountain. The mountain sets me free.
[00:48:09] Tammy Uzelac Hall: I'm going to amen that amen. So good. That might be my new theme for the year. Remember to remember, but to remember, Oh, I want my kids to know that.
That is awesome. And then verse 14, I love how it ends. And they did remember his words. There it is. They did remember his words. And I feel like we needed these verses before we can go into this next amazing story, because I think it's their ability to remember their foundation that they were able to get through this next experience.
And we'll share that story with you in the next segment.
Segment 5
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[00:48:54] Tammy Uzelac Hall: I think that Helaman chapter five might be the greatest story of scripture. We often forget it or we don't get this far in the Book of Mormon sometimes to actually read this. I think everyone should start with Helaman maybe when they read the Book of Mormon because this story is so awesome. Tammy, why do you love this story?
Why did we have to have Remember to Remember before we could tell the story?
[00:49:14] Tamu Smith: Look, because they about to go through some stuff. Okay. And because they remembered, they had no fear. They did not fear men.
[00:49:25] Tammy Uzelac Hall: All right, then Tamu, let's talk about the stuff that they went through because this is crazy. So we're going to read a couple of verses.
Here's what's going on in Helaman chapter five, verse 18. It says it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi did preach unto the Lamanites. With such great power and authority for they had power and authority given unto them that they might speak. And they also had what they should speak given unto them. So much power and authority.
Look at verse 19. You guys scan your eyes. How many people were baptized? How many Lamanites were baptized? 8, 000. 8, 000. What? Yeah. 8, 000 Lamanites are baptized because of the power and authority that Lehi and Nephi had and the words that they spoke to these people. So they are baptized. Well, as you can imagine in verse 21, they're taken by an army of Lamanites and they're cast into prison because those who don't believe are not having it.
No way. We're not, you're baptizing this many people. So they're cast into prison. I love how verse 21 tells us they're actually cast into the same prison that Ammon was cast into clear back in Mosiah chapter seven with King Lamoni. So cool. It wants us to know that. So here they are. They're in this prison and they're there for many days without any food.
And then they come forth out of the prison with the goal in mind that those who are taking them out of the prison are going to kill them. And so at this point, then Nephi and Lehi become encircled about, it says as if by fire. So because they are encircled, because they have so much power and authority, you could walk into the room and you would feel the power and authority around them.
[00:50:57] Tamu Smith: And you could feel the spirit of, of like, it could be fire animosity, it could be fire holy ghost.
[00:51:03] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Fire. Holy ghost. You have felt that Tamu when you have been in the presence of apostles of the three of us here. You've had that experience, right? I have. As if by fire. Has that, have you felt that with those men?
[00:51:18] Tamu Smith: I have that. Actually, I was in, I was in a room. Years ago. And this is when I was like, they have this same, cause I grew up in a place where I could feel that spirit of fire and it was encouraged to feel the spirit of fire. Um, and my uncle would speak and I would feel it. I was in a room with elder hate and he had been just speaking casually.
And then he started to bear his testimony. And that was the first time that I felt in this faith space, what I felt in my foundational faith space. And it was, it just all came together for me and it all made to me. Because I think sometimes when you leave a faith and you join the LDS Church, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, there are times where you have buyer's remorse.
If you leave a faith where they think, You know, you're used to singing a certain type of way, or you're used to praising and worshiping a certain type of way, then you question, did I feel what I felt? Was that real when I felt it? And for me, that was my full circle moment. And since then, I've had other opportunities where I've, I've been in spaces where I've bore witness that this is fire.
This is the fire of, uh, this is a fake fire and it was powerful and it was real. And it just, I, it's not something that I will ever deny. I can never deny it. And my foundational faith, we call it, this person is anointed and, um, to be anointed means that you, you know, you have, you have the spirit with you and it.
Speaks through you and it comforts you. And I, I have definitely felt that with a lot of our, our apostles and other, and even other leaders.
[00:53:17] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Awesome. Oh my gosh, you just perfectly described. I believe you. I don't even know what as if by fire means, but what you just said, I absolutely believe that, that that is what's going on in this situation, that Lehi and Nephi are encircled as if by fire, so much so that not a single Lamanite can touch them.
It tells us in these verses of scripture, they, they could not lay a A hand upon them in verse 25. They saw that the Lamanites durst not lay their hands upon them, neither durst they come near unto them, but stood as if they were struck dumb with amazement. And so nothing can happen. And I like how we, I and Nephi then speak to them in verse 26 and say, fear not for behold, it is God that has shown unto you this marvelous thing.
And Tamu, you just testified of that it is God that has shown into this marvelous thing. And, and says, and which you cannot slay us with. Yeah, you can't touch us with your hands. And when they had said this, the earth shook exceedingly. The walls of the prison did shake as if they were about to tumble to the earth, but behold.
I like that. But behold, they did not fall, bro. The walls didn't fall. And again, dude, behold, they that were in the prison were Lamanites and Nephites who were dissenters who were, that means they were once believers. They have since left the church that we, I love how earlier in Alma we designed the word dissenter and it means who once was a friend.
And so these people know what's going on. They're having this experience and then a dark cloud comes over them and then they hear this voice and you beautifully taught us this Nichole behold in verse 30 behold, it was a still voice if of perfect mildness as if it had been a whisper and it did pierce them to the very soul.
And then the earth shook exceedingly. The walls of the prison trembled. They had this cloud of darkness overshadow them. And then they hear a voice say to them in verse 32, repent ye, repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand and seek no more to destroy my servants. And it came to pass that the earth shook again and the walls trembled.
And again, a third time the voice came, don't you love that three times? That's how the spirit works. Three times, three promptings. Three. After that, if you don't listen, forget about it. So a third time we have this experience and then I love this part of the story. Verse 35, Nichole, will you please read verses 35 and 36 for us?
[00:55:43] Nichole Smith: Now there was one among them who was a Nephite by birth, who had once belonged to the church of God, but had dissented from them. And it came to pass that he turned him about and behold, he saw through a cloud of darkness, the faces of Nephi and Lehi. And behold, they did shine exceedingly, even as the faces of angels.
And he beheld, that they did lift their eyes to heaven, and they were in the attitude, as if talking or lifting their voices to some being, whom they beheld.
[00:56:19] Tammy Uzelac Hall: And in 37, this man. Says to the multitude, the Nephites and the Lamanites, look, you're not going to believe this. Look in verse 37 and they beheld the faces of Nephi and Lehi.
And they said unto the man, behold, I love it, dude, what do these things mean? And who are they talking to? And then verse 39 tells us it was a man by the name of Aminadab who was a once a believer. And then he talked to them about, and he talked to him how they converse with the angels of God. Amen. Um, this story, okay, it's as awesome as it is, and it's so powerful and you can continue to read.
We're not going to tell you how it ends. I want you to go and read the story, but here's what I want us to know about the story. Because listen, angels will come and they'll minister unto the people. The people repent. Many people are then baptized. It's such a good story, but it's not an isolated story. We read this and we think, oh, it, It can only happen to apostles and prophets.
It can only happen to really, really righteous people. The story's about us and being encircled with fire. I have to show you this. Okay. There's a picture I want to show you and I can't wait. So in the Book of Mormon art catalog, a woman painted her interpretation of this story of Lehi and Nephi, and I just want both of you to give me an audible reaction to it.
Okay. I'm so excited.
[00:57:44] Tamu Smith: That's me as a kid.
[00:57:46] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Talk to me. okay, describe what you guys see for those who are listening. What is it a picture of?
[00:57:51] Nichole Smith: A beautiful girl holding a flame of fire and circled about, I don't know what it's circled about. She's circled around, but, or that's around her.
[00:58:04] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Oh, you can see zoom in.
[00:58:07] Nichole Smith: Oh, like evil,
[00:58:09] Tammy Uzelac Hall: evil
[00:58:10] Nichole Smith: hands.
Um, but she's got a smile on her face. She is not fear. She has no fear.
[00:58:19] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Tamu, why is this you?
[00:58:23] Tamu Smith: See, and I, I don't necessarily see it as the, the thing around her is being evil. I see it as the world, that's the world that we live in. That's the world that I live in today. And I think that For me and, and just even going back to them being the encirclement of fire.
Right. Yep. Um, what happens if you're standing near a fire, you feel the heat before you get there. Yeah. Before you get there, you, before you stick your hand, if you get a campfire going before someone sticks their hand in, they feel the heat on the outskirts of it, and the closer you get to the fire, it gets hotter and hotter.
And, um, but also fire provides light. And so for me, it was just making a decision very early on in my life that I would put my hand in the hand of the Lord. And that I would have that light with me always. And so seeing her staying, I'm about to get emotional. Seeing her there with that fire is seeing myself there with Christ and that light.
And this is really one of the first, um, images, I will say.
And a public space in the church that makes that is representative of me. Like, I think we see images a lot of white people or, you know, other people, but. This makes me feel like there is definitely room in this and my father's church for me because my that I resonate with this image so well.
[01:00:21] Tammy Uzelac Hall: The title of this painting is called His Light.
It's by a woman by the name of Eleanor Perkey. She painted it in 2023. And it's, it's her interpretation of Helaman chapter five, we are going to put a link in our show notes. I recommend everyone go and look at this. I want to own this. I want this in my house because what I love about it is that it doesn't take a lot of light.
Sometimes we get caught up in the idea that we don't have enough light or that we need more or, you know, to be encircled about by light. And she's just holding this beautiful little flame, like you said, Tamu, in her hand. And it's enough. It is enough to dispel the darkness that that is the message of this whole story is that, yeah, we have these two men and they're in prison and they dispel the darkness.
The darkness does leave. And they have this incredible experience where the spirit speaks to everybody there, but it can be done by every single one of us.
[01:01:19] Tamu Smith: And if you, if you, for anybody who goes and looks at this image, I want you to know that the light is not just enough for her, but it's enough for us because the light shining, the light that she's holding to this image.
the darkness is dispelling the darkness for her. But as you look at her, you're seeing that you look at her eyes and she has the light shining in her eyes. And that's also helping to reflect and dispel the darkness for other people. So our light, no matter how small we feel like it is, it is dispelling darkness for other people.
And I even like, you know, we drove to California. There's the caravan of us. Um, and my daughter and I stopped someplace in like the desert part of California and we went into this gas station where gas is a million dollars. A gallon. Nobody ever stops there. There's a gas station and just a restaurant and nothing else.
We walked in and there was a man working there and he says to my daughter, um, cause I went in and I bought what I was buying and then I went to the restroom. And when I came out, she was talking to him and he said, is this your mother? And she said, yes. And he said, you guys have. A beautiful light. You have a beautiful light.
You, you have, you, there's something about you. And, um, and of course she's a return missionary. I was like, baby, we do not have time for this. I am so sorry. You like, like. He said, we have a light and he wants to know what it is. And she was like, I just want to, I wanted to teach him the, the, I wanted to give him the discussions.
And I was like, I know God, God knows too. So God is going to take care of that.
[01:03:17] Nichole Smith: Can I add something to this? Um, as far as in the very, the one of the scriptures that you first talked about when we were talking about the 8, 000 of the Lamanites that were baptized and they, the power and authority that they had. I think that power and authority is obviously the priesthood, right, when it comes to authority.
But I also believe that the, um, the power is the light that we are talking about. And I, I, I associated the light. As the Holy Ghost, as the third member of the Godhead. And in order for us to feel it and to radiate it, it has to come from a higher source. And so I, when I see that, the young beautiful girl holding the light and it's coming, shining through her eyes, I feel like that's the Holy Ghost coming out and manifesting the truthfulness to everyone that is able to look at her.
Like, and Tamu, with you and your daughter and the light that that gentleman saw in you. It's because we're worthy of the Holy Ghost, that we have repented, and that it stays within us. And that's the power and authority that we hold as members of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Um, to share with others. And I think as a covenant woman, um, that power or that light shines brighter than, than we even know.
That's why we don't see it all the time is because as we keep covenants with our heavenly father and that binds us all together. That light shines so bright and so powerful that 8,000, could be baptized could that that's that's what we're talking about here. It's not. That's what made the walls tremble and shake.
And that's who's speaking three times. And he's patient enough to speak three times. I don't like to get to three when I'm out with my kids, if I'm like one, two, you better not let me get to three because I'm not as patient as the Holy Ghost.
[01:05:22] Tamu Smith: That's good. Yeah. That's so good. Oh my gosh. Yesterday at my cousin's service, I came to California for a homegoing celebration, a life celebration.
And, um, the pastor that was preaching a young guy, he was, uh, he played football with my cousin, they call him pastor smoke because he would smoke you on the football field and, um, but they, so that's his nickname. And so now he's known as pastor smoke and. He tells this story about the power of the coffee bean and this parable of, you know, uh, a person took three pots, same size pot, started the water at the same time, full pot water.
And then once you put an egg and then once you put some carrots and then once you put a coffee, some coffee beans. She boiled it for an hour, and at the end of that hour, the carrots were strong and stout, and at the end, they were soft and mushy. The same amount of heat, the same thing. The egg was soft on the inside, hard on the outside, but now the egg was soft.
Withstanding the heat became hard, but the coffee bean maintained its size. It maintained its hardness, but what it was able to do was it was able to change the water around it. It was able to change the environment around it. And I think that is what followers of Christ should be doing. Those of us who have the light, we should be changing the environment around us.
You know, the heat of society, the things that we're going through should not, they're gonna, there's gonna be some change. There's change to the coffee bean. It lost some of its color, but it did not change the, it did not change the core of the coffee bean. The coffee bean was able to change the environment.
[01:07:29] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Wow. I like that. I'm writing that down because that's exactly what Nephi and Lehi did in this experience. That is exactly what that sweet little girl in the painting is doing to her environment is changing it. And then it bids me to ask myself that question. Am I changing my environment? Like, what am I doing?
I mean, look how much the environment changed. Verse 45, we'll end with this. Tamu, will you read verse 45 for us?
[01:07:55] Tamu Smith: I sure will. And behold, the Holy Spirit of God did come down from heaven and did enter into their heart. And they were filled as if with fire and they could speak forth marvelous words.
[01:08:09] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Awesome. That is so cool. Wow. What a great discussion for this. Am I changing my environment? So cool. Thank you. Okay. So in the next segment, then. We taught you one word that's important, which is behold, and we're going to teach you one more phrase that you're going to want to notice as you read Helaman chapters one through six.
Segment 6
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[01:08:38] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Let's turn to Helaman chapter three. We're going to look at verses 24 through 29, and I'm going to have you highlight a phrase that you have to know in the scriptures. It is so important when you're reading the book of Mormon. Okay. Helaman chapter three verses 24 through 29 has a really great story.
It's giving us some information that they want us to know. And so we're going to start and we'll each take a verse. We'll go Nichole, Tamu, and then me. Here we go.
[01:09:06] Nichole Smith: And it came to pass that in this same year, there was exceedingly great prosperity in the church in so much that there were thousands who did join themselves unto the church and were baptized unto repentance.
[01:09:21] Tamu Smith: And so great was the prosperity of the church. And so many of the blessings which were poured out upon the people, that even the high priest and the teachers were themselves astonished beyond measure.
[01:09:34] Tammy Uzelac Hall: And it came to pass that the work of the Lord did prosper unto the baptizing and uniting to the church of God, many souls, yea, even tens of thousands.
[01:09:44] Nichole Smith: Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will. In sincerity of their hearts, call upon His holy name.
[01:09:52] Tamu Smith: Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God.
[01:10:03] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Yea, we see. That whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil and lead the man of Christ in a straight and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery, which is prepared to engulf the wicked.
Okay. The phrase you want to mark is thus we see. Anytime you see, thus we see, or we see that is to then note in your brain to the reader that we are about to read a very important lesson in the book of Mormon. I wrote to the outside Mormon's revival sermon because I can just imagine him going and thus we see.
And thus we see, and he uses this often throughout the book of Helaman. You're going to also find this. You can cross reference in first Nephi chapter 16 verse 29, Nephi uses, and thus we see to teach us an important lesson. And next week. We're going to see another. And thus we see let's turn to Helaman chapter six, because there are three more.
And thus we see. So we're going to end this whole discussion of Helaman chapter one through six with this very important lesson from these chapters. Here we go. Helaman chapter six verses 34 through 36 highlight the, and thus we seize. And we're going to read these verses. So Nichole, will you please read verse 34?
I will read verse 35 and Tammu verse 36.
[01:11:25] Nichole Smith: And thus we see that the Nephites did begin to dwindle in unbelief and grow in wickedness and abominations while the Lamanites began to grow exceedingly in the knowledge of their God. Yea, they did begin to keep his statues and commandments and to walk in truth and uprightness before him.
[01:11:45] Tammy Uzelac Hall: And thus we see that the Spirit of the Lord began to withdraw from the Nephites because of the wickedness and the hardness of their hearts.
[01:11:53] Tamu Smith: And thus we see that the Lord began to pour out his spirit upon the Lamanites because of their easiness and willingness to believe in his words.
[01:12:04] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Thank you. All right.
So we just studied Helaman one through six and we read the, and thus we seize. I just want to know, What's your overall, and thus we see from our discussion today?
[01:12:16] Nichole Smith: My overall is that we could easily fall into this if we are not careful and if we don't choose to remember. And if we, this is truth and thus we see, I think that is truth.
And it's the Holy Ghost manifesting it to us. If we're not careful, we need to be saying, Heavenly Father, let the Holy Ghost tell me wherein I'm ripening in wickedness.
[01:12:48] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Amen. I like that a lot. That's a great and thus we see. What's your and thus we see Tammu, what's your important lesson?
[01:12:56] Tamu Smith: Sometimes we look at people and we, or we look at communities and we think that they have it all together.
I think looking at like nobody would have looked at the Nephites and thought one of these days they're gonna they're going down and the Lamanites are going to be here and I think it just is one of those the first shall be last and the last shall be first. The, and thus we see that the Lord began to pour his spirit upon the Lamanites because of their easiness and willingness to believe in his words.
And I think that we, you know, you just cannot judge a book by its cover. You really have to go deeper. And, um, really start to read the words on the page. And I think that, like I said, at the very beginning, at the top of this show, we, we look at people and we make judgments based on appearances, but really we should be looking on, on the heart.
[01:13:51] Tammy Uzelac Hall: That's my end. That's we see. Going back to Helaman three verse 27. And thus we see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will in the sincerity of their hearts call upon the Holy name. And that can be anyone. And then circling to that whole idea. And thus we see it doesn't take much to change your environment.
I love that story. The smallest little coffee bean made a huge difference. So great discussion, ladies. Thank you. That's it. It's the end.
[01:14:18] Nichole Smith: Great. Thank you so much.
[01:14:20] Tamu Smith: Thank you.
[01:14:23] Tammy Uzelac Hall: Well, what was your, and thus we see, I would love to know what important lesson you learned as you studied Helaman chapters one through six.
Now, if you haven't joined our group on Facebook or Instagram, go and do it. It's so much fun. You can ask questions throughout the week. You can even post things throughout the week that you're learning. And then at the end of the week, we will ask a question or we'll post what was your, and thus we see moment.
We'll From reading these chapters, you can get to both our Facebook and Instagram by going to the show notes for this episode at LDS living. com slash Sunday on Monday. And it's not a bad idea to go there anyway, because it's where we have links to all the references as well as a transcript of this whole discussion.
So go check it out. The Sunday on Monday study group is a desert bookshelf plus original brought to you by LDS living. It's written and hosted by me, Tammy Uzelac Hall. And today our incredible study group participants were Nichole Smith and Tamu Smith. And you can find more information about my friends at LDS living.
com slash Sunday on Monday. Our podcast is produced by Cole Wissinger and me. It is edited and mixed by Cole Wissinger and our executive producer is Erin Hallstrom. Thanks for being here. We'll see you next week. And please remember. that your everlasting maker loves you because you are his favorite.