Mormon 8: 3, 5, 22, 16; 9: 36; 8: 35, 9: 30

What made it possible for you not to feel lonely? How have you found hope in Jesus Christ and how is your hope in Jesus Christ helping you to stay true to your mission even when you are alone?

"3 And my father also was killed by them, and I even remain alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people. But behold, they are gone, and I fulfil the commandment of my father. And whether they will slay me, I know not.

5 Behold, my father hath made this record, and he hath written the intent thereof. And behold, I would write it also if I had room upon the plates, but I have not; and ore I have none, for I am alone. My father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have not friends nor whither to go; and how long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not." (Mormon 8: 3, 5)

"22 For the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all his promises shall be fulfilled." (Mormon 8: 22)

"16 And blessed be he that shall bring this thing to light; for it shall be brought out of darkness unto light, according to the word of God; yea, it shall be brought out of the earth, and it shall shine forth out of darkness, and come unto the knowledge of the people; and it shall be done by the power of God." (Mormon 8: 16)

"36 And behold, these things which we have desired concerning our brethren, yea, even their restoration to the knowledge of Christ, are according to the prayers of all the saints who have dwelt in the land." (Mormon 9: 36)

 

"35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing." (Mormon 8: 35)

"30 Behold, I speak unto you as though I spake from the dead; for I know that ye shall have my words." (Mormon 9: 30)

And here's the introductory commentary for this week's reading assignment entitled: "November 4–10: “I Speak unto You as If Ye Were Present” Mormon 7–9 : 

"Moroni knew what it felt like to be alone in a wicked world—especially after his father died in battle and the Nephites were destroyed. “I even remain alone,” he wrote. “I have not friends nor whither to go” (Mormon 8:3, 5). Things may have seemed hopeless, but Moroni found hope in Jesus Christ and his testimony that “the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on” (Mormon 8:22). And Moroni knew that a key part of those eternal purposes would be the Book of Mormon—the record he was now diligently completing, the record that would one day bring many people “to the knowledge of Christ” (Mormon 8:16; 9:36). Moroni’s faith in these promises made it possible for him to declare to the future readers of this book, “I speak unto you as if ye were present,” and “I know that ye shall have my words” (Mormon 8:35; 9:30). Now we do have his words, and the Lord’s work is rolling forth, in part because Mormon and Moroni stayed true to their mission, even when they were alone."

Indeed it's possible for us not to feel lonely even when we are alone because we choose what we feel. And when we look to God when we are alone, we definitely won't feel lonely. One way of looking to God is learning of Him as we His word. 

Just as Mormon and Moroni, we can find hope in Jesus Christ and stay true to our mission even when we are alone. "Be of good cheer. I have overcome the world, " the Lord said. The Lord indeed has overcome the world through His Atonement. So, whatever circumstance we find ourselves in, we know that there is always hope. We know that our effort in doing what we can to fulfill our life's mission will not be wasted. Even though we may not see the result within our entire lifetime, we know the result will come. 

Mormon 5: 8-24; 6: 16-22

 What do you feel inspired to do because you've felt Jesus Christ reaching out to you with open arms even when you sin?

"8 And now behold, I, Mormon, do not desire to harrow up the souls of men in casting before them such an awful scene of blood and carnage as was laid before mine eyes; but I, knowing that these things must surely be made known, and that all things which are hid must be revealed upon the house-tops—

9 And also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles, who the Lord hath said should scatter this people, and this people should be counted as naught among them—therefore I write a small abridgment, daring not to give a full account of the things which I have seen, because of the commandment which I have received, and also that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of this people.

10 And now behold, this I speak unto their seed, and also to the Gentiles who have care for the house of Israel, that realize and know from whence their blessings come.

11 For I know that such will sorrow for the calamity of the house of Israel; yea, they will sorrow for the destruction of this people; they will sorrow that this people had not repented that they might have been clasped in the arms of Jesus.

12 Now these things are written unto the remnant of the house of Jacob; and they are written after this manner, because it is known of God that wickedness will not bring them forth unto them; and they are to be hid up unto the Lord that they may come forth in his own due time.

13 And this is the commandment which I have received; and behold, they shall come forth according to the commandment of the Lord, when he shall see fit, in his wisdom.

14 And behold, they shall go unto the unbelieving of the Jews; and for this intent shall they go—that they may be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; that the Father may bring about, through his most Beloved, his great and eternal purpose, in restoring the Jews, or all the house of Israel, to the land of their inheritance, which the Lord their God hath given them, unto the fulfilling of his covenant;

15 And also that the seed of this people may more fully believe his gospel, which shall go forth unto them from the Gentiles; for this people shall be scattered, and shall become a dark, a filthy, and a loathsome people, beyond the description of that which ever hath been amongst us, yea, even that which hath been among the Lamanites, and this because of their unbelief and idolatry.

16 For behold, the Spirit of the Lord hath already ceased to strive with their fathers; and they are without Christ and God in the world; and they are driven about as chaff before the wind.

17 They were once a delightsome people, and they had Christ for their shepherd; yea, they were led even by God the Father.

18 But now, behold, they are led about by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer her; and even as she is, so are they.

19 And behold, the Lord hath reserved their blessings, which they might have received in the land, for the Gentiles who shall possess the land.

20 But behold, it shall come to pass that they shall be driven and scattered by the Gentiles; and after they have been driven and scattered by the Gentiles, behold, then will the Lord remember the covenant which he made unto Abraham and unto all the house of Israel.

21 And also the Lord will remember the prayers of the righteous, which have been put up unto him for them.

22 And then, O ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before the power of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways?

23 Know ye not that ye are in the hands of God? Know ye not that he hath all power, and at his great command the earth shall be rolled together as a scroll?

24 Therefore, repent ye, and humble yourselves before him, lest he shall come out in justice against you—lest a remnant of the seed of Jacob shall go forth among you as a lion, and tear you in pieces, and there is none to deliver." (Mormon 5: 8-24)

"16 And my soul was rent with anguish, because of the slain of my people, and I cried:

17 O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you!

18 Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss.

19 O ye fair sons and daughters, ye fathers and mothers, ye husbands and wives, ye fair ones, how is it that ye could have fallen!

20 But behold, ye are gone, and my sorrows cannot bring your return.

21 And the day soon cometh that your mortal must put on immortality, and these bodies which are now moldering in corruption must soon become incorruptible bodies; and then ye must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, to be judged according to your works; and if it so be that ye are righteous, then are ye blessed with your fathers who have gone before you.

22 O that ye had repented before this great destruction had come upon you. But behold, ye are gone, and the Father, yea, the Eternal Father of heaven, knoweth your state; and he doeth with you according to his justice and mercy." (Mormon 6: 16-22)

And here's the commentary entitled: "Jesus Christ stands with open arms to receive me. : 

"If you ever feel discouraged about your own sins, Mormon’s description of the Savior standing “with open arms to receive you” could provide reassurance. As you read Mormon 5:8–24 and 6:16–22, what do you learn about Heavenly Father’s and Jesus’s feelings toward you, even when you sin? How have you felt Jesus Christ reaching out to you with open arms? What do you feel inspired to do as a result?

See also “Come unto Jesus,” Hymns, no. 117."

Even when I sin, my Heavenly Father's, and Jesus Christ's love for me remains. They reach out to me continually with open arms. I have felt this especially when I had difficult questions. My Bishop did take the time to listen to me. My Relief Society President did say I can call her. They did make me feel the Lord is aware of what I'm going through and wanted to help me. 

Mormon 3: 3, 9; 2: 26; Doctrine and Covenants 59: 21

 

What are the blessings you are receiving because of acknowledging God's influence in your life?

"3 And I did cry unto this people, but it was in vain; and they did not realize that it was the Lord that had spared them, and granted unto them a chance for repentance. And behold they did harden their hearts against the Lord their God.

9 And now, because of this great thing which my people, the Nephites, had done, they began to boast in their own strength, and began to swear before the heavens that they would avenge themselves of the blood of their brethren who had been slain by their enemies." (Mormon 3: 3, 9)

"26 And it came to pass that when they had fled we did pursue them with our armies, and did meet them again, and did beat them; nevertheless the strength of the Lord was not with us; yea, we were left to ourselves, that the Spirit of the Lord did not abide in us; therefore we had become weak like unto our brethren." (Mormon 2: 26)

"21 And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments." (Doctrine and Covenants 59: 21)

And here's the commentary entitled: “They did not realize that it was the Lord that had spared them.” : 

"Mormon observed that the Nephites did not acknowledge the ways that the Lord had blessed them. As you read Mormon 3:3, 9, you might ponder how you are acknowledging God’s influence in your life. What blessings come when you acknowledge His influence? What are the consequences of not acknowledging Him? (see Mormon 2:26; Doctrine and Covenants 59:21).

See also Henry B. Eyring, “O Remember, Remember,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 66–69." 

As I acknowledge God's influence in my life, I'm able to receive more blessings. The blessings that come which I do appreciate a lot among many others include: being able to know exactly what to do to rise above my challenges as the Spirit of the Lord inspires me, being able to look at the bright side of things, being grateful for everything more than ever before, and finding joy in whatever circumstance I find myself in.