Gods Dealings with His People - What I learned from the Book of Mormon

This is what we learn from 1 Nephi:

God speaks to us. (1 Nephi 1:6, 1 Nephi 2:1, 1 Nephi 11:11)
God answers our prayers.
God has visited his children in visions and dreams.  (1 Nephi 1:8, 1 Nephi 2:2)
God teaches man His mysteries.  (1 Nephi 10:19)
God is merciful and saves those who come unto Him.  (1 Nephi 1:14)
God makes the faithful mighty unto deliverance.  (1 Nephi 1:20)
God sends tender mercies to those He has chosen because of their faith.
God blesses those who obey his commands.  They will prosper and be guided to "promised lands."  (1 Nephi 2:20; 1 Nephi 4:14)
God curses those who rebel.  They have no power over the righteous.  (1 Nephi 2:23)
The Lord prepares a way for man to accomplish His commands.  (1 Nephi 3:7; 1 Nephi 9:6)
The Lord chooses leaders/rulers.  (1 Nephi 3:29)
He leads us by the spirit.  (1 Nephi 4:6)
He slays the wicked to bring fort his righteous purposes. (... 1 Nephi 11:36)
He gives us strength.  (1 Nephi 4:31)
Those who diligently seek God are given a gift of the power of the Holy Ghost, to see, hear and know.  (1 Nephi 10:17)
He prepared a way for all men if they repent and come unto Him. (1 Nephi 10:18)
He heals us and casts out evil spirits. (1 Nephi 11:31)
All nations, kindreds, tongues and people will be destroyed who fight against the 12 Apostles of God. (1 Nephi 11:36)
God chooses Apostles to minister and judge man.  (1 Nephi 12:8)
God makes covenants with His people and fulfills them.  (1 Nephi 13:23, 1 Nephi 14:17)
God brings forth the gospel that is plain and precious.  (1 Nephi 13:34)
God manifests himself and ministers unto man.  (1 Nephi 13:35)
He has man keep records to establish truth.  (1 Nephi 13:40)
The power of the Lamb of God descends upon the saints of the church and covenant people, armed with righteousness and power of God in great glory. The wrath of God is poured out upon the great and abominable church with wars, etc. (1 Nephi 14:14-15)
God chastens his people.  (1 Nephi 16:25)
God delivers his people from destruction.  (1 Nephi 17:14)
God goes before his people, leads them, does all things for them which are expedient to receive.  (1 Nephi 17:30)
He suffers wickedness at times that he may show forth His power.  (1 Nephi 18:11)
Gods judgments come upon men unless they repent.  (1 Nephi 18:15)
God blesses the righteous in abundance.  (1 Nephi 18:24)
He has loving kindness and long-suffering towards the children of men.  (1 Nephi 19:9)
God visits His people...either by his voice or by tempests, etc.  (1 Nephi 19:11)
God refines man.  (1 Nephi 20:10)
God does not forget man.  He hath engraven them upon the palms of His hands.  (1 Nephi 21:16)
God sets his standard to man.  He brings about his covenants and gospel.  (1 Nephi 21:22)
God gathers his children, numbereth his sheep, feeds them and in Him they find pasture.  (1 Nephi 22:25)
Those who repent dwell safely in God. (1 Nephi 22:28)
God is merciful and warns man.  (2 Nephi 1:3)

The Future Is As Bright As Your Faith - Tender Mercy

I have been weighed down and discourage and alarmed and sickened by the evil and wickedness that prevails in this world.  It is heart wrenching to hear how even young kids (10-13 yr olds) are ruining their LIVES by getting addicted to pornography.

It is so hard to think about and to know that it is out there and our children have to interact and socialize with these types of people and temptations that are FAR too easy to find and access that were not there 20 years ago.

As I have been spiritually depressed and worried I came across a talk by our dear prophet President Monson called, "Be of Good Cheer" April 2009.  I know that this talk was just what I needed to hear.  "Our future is as bright as our faith."

And then again, tonight as I was reading scriptures with the family we were in Alma 13:28-29 where Alma plainly teaches a process to follow that helps us overcome the temptations of the world.  It is to:
1. Be humble
2.  Watch and pray continually for strength
3.  Follow the whisperings of the Holy Ghost.
If we will do these things, we will become humble, meek (teachable), submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering.  Having faith in the Lord, Hope that ye shall receive eternal life and a love of God always in your hearts.

After family scripture study I was reading in my own personal scripture study Moroni 9.  Moroni's father wrote him an epistle where he describes the wickedness of the Nephites, which exceeds that of even the Lamanites, and it sounds exactly like the evilness of our day today.  It is horrible times for them as well and Mormon's advice to his son Moroni is:

"My son, be faithful in Christ, and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing of his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever.  And may the grace of God the Father ... and our Lord Jesus Christ.... be and abide with you forever.  Amen."  Moroni 9:25-26