I'm back! I have been trying to get people to help with this blog. Since I started it my goal was that it would also provide others and opportunity to testify and share what they are learning in their study of the scriptures. Yesterday, Sister Gessel provided the first of what will hopefully be several posts from people besides myself.

At the beginning of the Book of Mormon Nephi promises his reader "I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance." (1 Nephi 1:20) In different times the Lord's people have found themselves in captivity. This captivity may come as a result of their own poor choices or through the choices of others.

In the Book of Mormon Limhi's people were held captive in part as a result of their own poor choices. After supporting the wicked King Noah they found themselves conquered by the Lamanites. Mormon testified that "there was no way they could deliver themselves"(Mosiah 21:5) The people of Alma were also in captivity and again Mormon wrote, "For behold, I will show unto you that they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God" (Mosiah 23:23) Both of these people were delivered from their challenges through the power of God.

When we sin it has been compared to being in captivity. (See: Acts 8:23; 2 Nephi 1:13) Someone once taught me that one reason that sin is considered captivity is that sin is addicting. Beyond that,

as we sin our choices become limited. However, if we are willing to repent and turn to Christ he will help deliver us. Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught, "True repentance blesses our lives with the effects of the Atonement: we feel God’s forgiveness and His peace, and our guilt and sorrow are lifted away; we enjoy the influence of the Spirit in greater abundance; and we are better prepared to live with our Heavenly Father." (Point of Safe Return) I promise that we can be liberated from sin if we are willing to put forth our effort to come unto Christ.