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1 Nephi 22: 4-9

"And behold, there are many who are already lost from the knowledge of those who are at Jerusalem. Yea, the more part of all the tribes have been led away; and they are scattered to and fro upon the isles of the sea; and whither they are none of us knoweth, save that we know that they have been led away."

Nephi is continuing to tell his brothers things that were revealed to him.  It would be so easy to think Nephi a bit crazy at this point - he had no proof for the things he was saying.  The only proof he had was the verification given by the Holy Spirit.  

"And since they have been led away, these things have been prophesied concerning them, and also concerning all those who shall hereafter be scattered and be confounded, because of the Holy One of Israel; for against him will they harden their hearts; wherefore, they shall be scattered among all nations and shall be hated of all men.

It seems that every verse in every book of scripture is saying this one message - it's about the heart.  It's all about the state of the heart.  It's all about my motives, not my actions.  What matters is whether I close/harden my heart or open/soften my heart.  A closed heart keeps me from God.  An open heart connects me with Him instantly.  This is why healing from our past experiences and seeing things through the eyes of truth (things as they really are, rather than the emotional filter we all have), and allowing those scales of darkness to fall, little by little from our eyes is so very, very important.  The false beliefs I hold within me keep me from opening my heart.  They make me feel afraid, judged, judgmental, angry, hurt, and a hundred other negative emotions.  When I feel those things I feel like I need to protect myself and close my heart to keep myself safe. 

"Nevertheless, after they shall be nursed by the Gentiles, and the Lord has lifted up his hand upon the Gentiles and set them up for a standard, and their children have been carried in their arms, and their daughters have been carried upon their shoulders, behold these things of which are spoken are temporal; for thus are the covenants of the Lord with our fathers; and it meaneth us in the days to come, and also all our brethren who are of the house of Israel.  And it meaneth that the time cometh that after all the house of Israel have been scattered and confounded, that the Lord God will raise up a mighty nation among the Gentiles, yea, even upon the face of this land; and by them shall our seed be scattered.  And after our seed is scattered the Lord God will proceed to do a marvelous work among the Gentiles, which shall be of great worth unto our seed; wherefore, it is likened unto their being nourished by the Gentiles and being carried in their arms and upon their shoulders.  And it shall also be of worth unto the Gentiles; and not only unto the Gentiles but unto all the house of Israel, unto the making known of the covenants of the Father of heaven unto Abraham, saying: In thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed."

Once again all thigns are both temporal and spiritual in nature.  Being led away is a physical, temporal thing for the House of Israel, and they have and will yet come through many hardships to be once again gathered.  It is also spiritual in nature.  The hearts have been led away as well, and hardened against the Holy One of Israel.  I have seen this in many of my Jewish friends...they carry on the physical traditions, observing Shabbat, but they have given up on God and the idea that He is personally invested in the day to day and individual lives of His children.  They do not see that it is their hardened hearts that make Him seem so distant and unknown.  

I see this in my own life.  I see the days where I feel distant and feel far from God...those are the days that I have not bothered to return and report.  Those are the days I've closed my heart, I've hardened it out of false beliefs or out of fear or some other silly thing that doesn't really matter.  If I would but open my heart, I would see miracles.  

It is hard, isn't it?  To open my heart when I don't want to do it.  How does a person develop the desire when there is no desire?  On those days when I want to run away from myself and from anyone who can see me (most especially God), how do I find the desire to open up?  I suppose it simply comes from asking.  Praying to desire to have the desire.  Praying to desire to desire to open up. 
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