Flooding My Life with the Book of Mormon 2.0

1 Nephi 8:28 And after they had tasted of the fruit they were ashamed, because of those that were scoffing at them; and they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost. Peer pressure can be totally destructive to our spiritual health. Satan knows how our pride works, and he uses others to wound our pride. It is not easy to remain steadfast in the face of criticism and mocking. Humility and meekness are the antidotes to the poison of pride and humiliation. We must fear God more than we fear man. 

1 Nephi 8:27 And [the great and spacious building] was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit. A ploy of Satan is to make me feel foolish and to doubt myself and my judgment when I choose righteously. If he can get me to doubt and wonder if I am doing the right thing, I will pause, and in that moment, he will pounce. He will play on my FOMO and tempt me to wonder if I am missing something pleasant or important. He wants me to compare the value of God's blessings with the luxuries of the world. He is banking on the natural man overcoming the child of Christ just long enough to distract me, turn my head, and eventually turn my heart from God. He is very seductive and clever. He doesn't need me to jump into his lap; he just needs to catch my attention. 

1 Nephi 8:24 And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree. The way to God requires effort and exertion and is always forward, never backward or sideways. Don't confuse effort, however, with self-aggrandizement. Keeping with Lehi's allegory, I do not build the path, forge the iron rod, plant and grow the tree, or produce the fruit. God does these things for me. They are gifts.  He requires my effort, however. He does not pluck me out of my comfortable easy chair, drop me at the base of the tree, and force-feed me the fruit. I must choose His gifts through my diligent actions.  Nor does He require me to walk the path perfectly from beginning to end. When I stray, He has provided a Savior to rescue me, dust me off, clean me up, and set me in the rig...