Prophetic Connections

This week in Book of Mormon we studied "The Book of Mormon," confusing I know. As we read chapters 1-6, Brother Griffin pointed out that they are a great example of how life is hard.  Mormon went through many trials in his life, and it was all so that he would be in the right time and place to prepare the plates.  In verse 2, it says "and about the time that Ammaron hid up the records unto the Lord, he came unto me, (I being about ten years of age, and I began to be learned somewhat after the manner of the learning of my people) and Ammaron said unto me; I perceive that thou art a sober child and art quick to observe.  Mormon was only ten years old when he was approached by the prophet.  We made ties to Mormon Jr. and Joseph Smith Jr.  They had very similar life experiences, something I had never previously noticed.  At a young age, they were both visited by a prophet and given the plates.  The similarities were so great, that they were both moved to different parts of the land.  Brother Griffin told us a great story about the family of Joseph Smith.   When Joseph was very young, his family lived in Virginia.  His parents owned a farm and over and over, they lost their crops and were unable to pay their bills. Eventually they had to move to New York and just so happened to live in Palmyra New York, right next to the hill where  the plates were buried.  God helps us in our lives, and sometimes when it feels like we are being punished, he is really just preparing us for something better in the future.