Murmuring

Hear no evil!

See no evil!
Speak no evil!
The other night while we were doing our scripture study we read about Nephi and how he was so good at not murmuring.

1 Nephi chapter 3: 5-6

5. And now, behold thy brothers murmur, saying it is a hard thing which I have required of them; but behold I have not required it of them, but it is a commandment from the Lord.

6. Therefore go, my son, and thou shalt be favored of the Lord, because thou hast not murmured.

As we read this to the kids a thought came into my mind that we needed a little family challenge. I have recently heard that there is a group of people doing a no complaining challenge. You cannot complain for a certain amount of days or you are a loser (I cannot remember what happens if you do complain). Anyhow, in my family we are doing the no murmuring challenge. We explained to the kids what murmuring meant. No whining, complaining, or otherwise negative talk. Charles asked me if I thought all complaining is considered murmuring. I thought about it and I do not think you can complain without complaining against God. He certainly hears us when we do. As a parent how sad is it to hear your kids complain about their life, no matter how small or big they are. We all have troubles large and small but I believe they can be made smaller by complaining less and being grateful more. Complaining is, "of the dark side". You complain because you are afraid, fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, and hate leads to the Dark side! I also recently read about how the adversary cannot read our thoughts, but he can hear us if we speak out loud. If we are always murmuring about things - he will know where to attack. I do not want to give him any power over me!

So our challenge is for 7 days, no complaining or negative speaking in any way. At the end of the 7 days if we all can do it we are going to have a happy party and enjoy our new found skill. They also say after 7 days you can form a habit - that is my goal. Nix the complaining all together - increase the gratitude. I also think you cannot murmur and have faith at the same time. You cannot serve two masters. Nephi was loved by God because he was always grateful and he always praised God even in times of great affliction, he was a great man of faith. His brothers Laman and Lemuel saw angels and miracles just as Nephi did but they were whiners. Always murmuring, always complaining, always lacking in faith and abudant in doubt. I am going to give it a good old Nephi try and replace my murmuring with gratitude and replace my fears with greater faith. : )

Another thing I noticed while reading the scriptures was that it was murmuring that would cause the Liahona to stop working for them. If they murmured and lost faith they would lose the use of the compass which pointed them to the promised land. How often is that true for us? How often do we lose our heading to "the promised land" because of our lack of faith and constant complaining about the journey there? We are sent here to be happy. Though the journey may be rough at times I think we can make it more pleasant and find more joy in the journey. We can see the beauty of the rose, and not be deterred from its beauty by the thorns that lead up to its beautiful petals. : )

I know I probably picked some of the silliest 7 days to give this no complaining thing a go. I should be giving birth anyday now. If I can make it through child birth without complaint then I will know that I am the master of my mind and my body. Wish me luck on that!! Where there's a "WILL" there's a way! Come on Will! I am ready!

Lots of Love to you all!

Love, ME