Alma 38:15

"And may the Lord bless your soul, and receive you at the last day into his kingdom, to sit down in peace.  Now go my son, and teach the word unto this people.  Be sober.  My son, farewell."
Alma 38:15


I think that sitting down in peace sounds like a really remarkable reward.  I don't think that we often experience that kind of perfect peace that God offers.  This world is too hectic and stressful for that.  Whenever we sit down we think that we should be doing something else... peace is rarely the point of the exercise. :)  And, you know... it isn't all bad.  We do have to do some work, and some studying, in order to pass the test of this life.  But peace is important... inner and outer... and within relationships, communities, and family groups.  I think that is one of the reasons that God gave us the Sabbath... it is supposed to be our full day of peace in the midst of chaos.  It doesn't always turn out that way, but I think that one of the reasons it is there.  Other than the sabbath, God also gives us peace at times, calm in the middle of the storm... a change to rally and regroup in order to rejoin the battle that life can be sometimes.  Anyway, today... let's take some time for peace.  It isn't wasted time; it is the taste we all need of heaven in the middle of our day on earth.

Matthew 9:27-29

"And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.
And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this?  They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you."
Matthew 9:27-29


This seems to be the story of life to me... because we're all blind.  Because of the veil, because of our short-sightedness, because we let the darkness in... and we stumble through life, following who we will.  Hopefully Christ, because he is one of the very few who can truly see.  But, blind as we are, if we ask for sight, the Lord is willing to give it.  And, in everything, gives us as much as our faith is able to handle.  We get small miracles sometimes because that is the only size that we have faith in... but as we continue to ask for and receive sight... we see more and more clearly, and our minds and imaginations can grasp just a glimpse of what God sees.  Huge miracles happen everyday.  It is just up to us to believe in them, and work towards them.  The scriptures teach us nothing if they don't teach us about the power of the individual to change the world, and make a difference... but each and every person who made that kind of a difference had to believe in it first.  These two blind men... it was hard for them to follow Christ because they couldn't see where he was going.  But they persisted, despite the hardship, and continued to believe that their effort was worthwhile.  And in the end, they achieved their heart's desire.  That *is* the story of life... and can be part of each of our stories if we do as they did and follow Christ despite our blindness, plead with him for our heart's desire, and have faith in extra-large miracles. :)

Doctrine and Covenants 1:10

"Unto the day when the Lord shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work, and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man."
Doctrine and Covenants 1:10


This is kind of scary. :)  I don't think that I particularly want to get all of the things that I have given to others.  It kind of makes you ponder your life a little more carefully when you know that everything that you send out will really and truly come back to you.  The way we act around other people every day is a measure of our judgement... and if we want to have a spectacular judgement, all we have to do is be spectacularly cool to everyone around us. :)  Something to work on today. :)  And, you know... all the time.  I cringe to think of some of the rotten things that I have said and done... if God said those things to me, I don't think I could deal with it.  So, I need to be nicer.  And I need to remember, before I act, that everything that I send out is going to come right back to me.  Perhaps you will join me in a renewed effort to be pleasant. :)

1 Timothy 1:6

"From which some having turned aside unto vain jangling;"
1 Timothy 1:6


This is talking about people turning away from charity and faith and a good conscience, and who now are vain janglers. :)  I wonder if this happens to us, that we stop being able to carry a tune at some point... we leave the purity of the music behind, and all we have left is discordant jangling.  And, when that happens, do we notice, or do we just keep jangling, thinking that what we are producing is still pure music to gladden the heart?  Today, are our lives creating something beautiful, or just jangling? :)  Let's tune in to God and find out.

3 Nephi 30:2

"Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people who are of the house of Israel."
3 Nephi 30:2


You know, it is cool to me that God asks us to repent.  He could just sit up there and let us end up wherever we wanted, and he knows that even the lower kingdoms are still going to be nice places to live... but for us, he wants more.  He wants us to succeed more than we want to succeed.  He wants us to rise beyond all of our mistakes and weaknesses, and become perfect... not a crazy dream, but an attainable goal, because God made it possible for us.  Because of him, we can become better than we ever dreamed of becoming... because of him the sins in our pasts and even in our presents *don't* chain us to a less-than-perfect future.  No matter what the score has been up to this point, we can still get an A out of life... still succeed, still grasp the ideal.  And God wants us to... so no matter how dark it seems, or how unlikely it is that we will change for the better... we can, and will, if we let God into our lives.  Our income and social status don't confine us.  Our past doesn't define who we are.  We are children of God, and he loves us and is working every second to save us from ourselves, and bring us home.  Let's accept his help and believe in him, even when we can't believe in ourselves.  Let's retain a little bit of hope, and move forward. :)

Hebrews 11:32-34

"And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:
Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens."
Hebrews 11:32-34


Faith is an amazing thing.  It can do miraculous things, including holding off invading aliens. :)  Very cool.  Sincerely though, I think it is interesting that it says that time would fail me to tell all of these things... because it would.  There is so much evidence of faith, and of God's hand in our lives, and in the lives of all people, that it is just overwhelming to think of telling it all.  Isn't it just pure insanity to seek for a sign or proof of God's presence when signs and evidences are absolutely everywhere around us?  We want more faith-building stories when we haven't really read the ones that we have, and we want more miracles when our lives are filled with them.  Instead of waiting for more, let's go out and make them happen.  Let's do some of the things that it says here... let's build some righteousness.  Let's obtain promises. Let's be made strong out of our weaknesses.  If we need some more evidence, let's make some happen.  And, you know, it never hurts to be ready for those alien armies. :)

Daniel 3:9

"They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever."
Daniel 3:9


Isn't it interesting how many books and movies are based on the idea of immortality?  here in Nebuchadnezzar's court it was one of the respectful things you said to the king, because immortality was so highly valued as a concept.  Today as well... I will spare you the list, but I could name you a minimum of 20 books that toy with the subject, and almost as many movies.  Several books that claim, whether accurately or inaccurately, to have hints about what is beyond the grave have been selling well for years.  I think it is a human obsession.  ... and the cool thing about it is that it is a reality.  We are all immortal.  Eternal beings with similarly staggering potential.  And unlike many of the stories, there is no price to pay for immortality.  It is ours, and has been ours, always.  Some part of us has always existed, and will always exist.  Even if we turn out rotten, we still have our immortality. :)  I think the challenge is to think like an immortal being.  We have become acclimated to the temporary nature of the world we live in, and we have a hard time getting our minds to reach beyond the limited scope that we have been taught.  The question is not where do we want to be a week from now, a month from now... a year, five years, ten years from now... it is where we want to be for all eternity.  We're going to live forever... what do we want to do with that?  Where do we want to be?  Who do we want to spend eternity with?  Christ overcame physical death for us, so we'll even have our bodies back.  I'm not sure if there are racquetball courts in heaven, but I hope there are. :)  The intriguing thing is that Christ also overcame spiritual death, which is separation from God (since he is the source of life, being separated from him is like death.  The closest analogy I can think of is breaking up with someone that you love more than breathing.).  And because Christ overcame that death as well, we not only get to be immortal, but we also have the opportunity to return to God's presence, talk to him, and learn what it is like to be him. :)  That's probably another human obsession.  :)  And, we can do all of it.  I think that is amazing.  Live forever. :)

Helaman 5:34

"And it came to pass that the Lamanites could not flee because of the cloud of darkness which did overshadow them; yea, and also they were immovable because of the fear which did come upon them."
Helaman 5:34


This is part of a very interesting story about prophets being thrown in jail and the amazing conversion of the prisoners.  I think this verse is something that we all go through at some point in our lives... we can't see well enough to run in the darkness, and we're too scared to move anyway.  whether they are physical, mental, or spiritual, the darkness and fear are palpable, and difficult to encounter.  It's hard to think or communicate, and frightening to attempt almost anything in the darkness.  Happily, darkness and fear are never a permanent state.  In this chapter, the prisoners ask a pertinent question: "what shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us?"  And the answer is there for us as well, when we are able to ask the question.  There is no darkness so deep that God's light cannot penetrate... no soul so lost that God cannot find... no situation so hopeless that God cannot save. :)  So, today... in whatever personal darknesses we find yourself in, let's remember that they will pass... and if we have a chance, let's ask God what we can do to help ourselves get out from under the cloud. :)

Doctrine and Covenants 12:5

"Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you."
Doctrine and Covenants 12:5


God answers our questions, and gives us what we desire.  I know that it doesn't always seem that simple, but that is probably because we aren't overly patient, and sometimes God gives us the information that we wanted in a form that we weren't expecting, and we fail to recognize it, or change our minds about wanting it. :)  When we actually take the time to look for God's hand in our lives, we see it everywhere... and there is absolutely no reason not to reach for our dreams, because God is right there, assisting us in reaching them.  So, today... let's be bold enough to ask, brave enough to knock, and wise enough to ask for things that won't harm us.

Philippians 1:27

"Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel."
Philippians 1:27


The things that I find interesting here, are first... that distance doesn't seem to matter so much when you are united, and the whole idea of being "one mind" in the first place.  Last week I went to see a movie called "A Beautiful Mind," which I think is now my favorite movie. :)  Anyway, probably because I saw that movie recently, this scripture makes me think about being of one mind... and that it doesn't just apply to us as a community, trying to unite and work towards the same ideals and goals... it also applies within ourselves.  We don't always have a united purpose even inside our own heads sometimes.  We all have things that fight for our attention that we need to ignore.  We all have things that seem like reality to us, but which really are distracting us from what is real.  Anyway, I just thought that was interesting... that we need to strive for oneness within ourselves primarily... and once we have all the shards of ourselves fused together, then we can probably think about uniting with others. :)

1 Nephi 22:22

"And the righteous need not fear, for they are those who shall not be confounded. . ."
1 Nephi 22:22


I've never put just part of a verse in here before, but the statement that begins in the second part of this verse continues into a really long verse... and really, the only thing is has in common with this part is that this is talking about the people that won't be confounded, and the next verse and 1/2 talk about the people who will.  I was just thinking about the word itself... confounded.  It means, basically, to be confused or perplexed.  I think that it is a remarkable blessing to NOT be confused or perplexed... and something to work towards. :)  One more reason to be righteous. :)

Doctrine and Covenants 62:1

"Behold and hearken, O ye elders of my church, saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, your advocate, who knoweth the weakness of man and how to succor them who are tempted."
Doctrine and Covenants 62:1


I think this is interesting because so often I think I see God as too far off to really understand my life and the challenges thereof.  If I am tempted, that is the last time that I want to call upon God, thinking that he *won't* understand, and that all I will get is anger or intolerance.  Except, when you think it out like that, those might be things that you would expect from yourself or the similarly excessively flawed people around you... but it isn't what we should expect from God.  Christ lived his life here, and knows what it is like... and as if that weren't enough, he also suffered for each of our sins.  He knows *precisely* what we are each going through, and unlike ourselves, he knows what to do about it.  He knows how to help us when we are tempted, and what to do about our weaknesses.  There *is* a balm in Gilead. :)  God can heal us of our infirmities of body, of mind, and of soul... and if you are like me, you will need all three quite often. :)  God isn't a fair-weather friend.  he is one of the very few who will be there whether you are lost or found, stormy or calm... alive or dead. :)  I don't think that you can get more consistent than that.  So, today... even if there is no one or nowhere else to turn (and unfortunately that is what it takes for us to choose God sometimes), God will still, and always, be there.

Revelation 20:12

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things that were written in the books, according to their works."
Revelation 20:12


I think that most of you know that I like the analogy of our lives as a story... this is interesting because it talks about the book of life... that we are literally writing a book as we live, and all of the things that we do go into this book, and that is how we are judged after death.  We control the plot, and most of the ending.  We might not control the setting or the other characters, but we certainly control our actions and interactions as we write our lives.  Somehow when you step back and look at our whole lives compressed into a book like that, our day to day stressors seem incredibly trivial.  The bad day or the depressing turn of events isn't anything compared to the epic saga of life itself... of the underlying themes of man and his own nature... and taking a stand in the universal struggles of good and evil. :)  As an aside, I think that is why we need good fiction in our lives.  Because it reminds us that most of what we deal with on a daily basis ISN'T the reality.  It is the bigger questions... the nature of man, the forces of good... the path of the hero... it is those things that matter, and not merely what time you need to get up in the morning or remembering to brush your teeth.  Obviously, we still need to brush our teeth... but hopefully, after that, we can go out today and make our story great.

Alma 38:10

"And now, as ye have begun to teach the word even so I would that ye should continue to teach; and I would that ye would be diligent and temperate in all things."
Alma 38:10


In all things... wow.  That would take some consistency. :)  God likes us to finish what we start, and not get distracted in the middle and wander off.  And he likes us to keep a cool head so that, no matter what situation we find ourselves in, we can still make good choices.  Maybe we should all remember that on this twelfth day of the new year... keep those resolutions. :)  And, even if they weren't resolutions... let's be faithful to God.  No matter how crazy and mixed up this life seems to be... or how crazy and mixed up we as individuals are... God is still faithful, and will help us through whatever comes.

Doctrine and Covenants 37:4

"Behold, here is wisdom, and let every man choose for himself until I come.  Even so.  Amen."
Doctrine and Covenants 37:4


I don't think that I always realize what an incredible blessing our ability to choose is.  In thinking about it, it seems almost impossible that a being with limitless power would choose not to impose his will when he could, as  easily as blinking, control our every action, and even our every thought.  Perhaps it surprises me because I see that kind of restraint rarely in human nature... or maybe because I see it rarely in myself. :)  It also amazes me because sometimes I get frustrated with myself and want more and more structure... John Donne and "Batter my heart" comes to mind.  I often wish that God would just take over for a while and make me be a good person, since I can't always manage it alone.  Today, though, I am grateful for my freedom to choose.  Grateful beyond words for the patience that our father has with us, letting us figure things out slowly... in our small and crippled way, and respecting our independence enough to let us find our own way, or discover our need for help on our own.  Perhaps God does this because he doesn't want slaves or robots... he wants some equals to talk to.  I hope one day I can grow up to be one of them.

Joel 2:13 -- On God's Mercy and Kindness

"And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."
Joel 2:13


I really like that it says that God "repenteth him of the evil."  I don't really think he necessarily wanted bad to happen to us in the first place, but like a parent, sometimes he has to allow it to happen and let us learn from it.  As we learn to rend our hearts in order to change them, rather than just getting upset and tearing our clothes or our hair, changing our hearts will actually make a difference.  And the *second* that God sees that we've learned the lesson or that we want to repent, or even when we just turn around and try to go back towards him, he is instantly there, helping us and guiding us.  Today, let's change our hearts and trust God's mercy and kindness.

Doctrine and Covenants 82:14

"For Zion must increase in beauty, and in holiness; her borders must be enlarged; her stakes must be strengthened; yea, verily I say unto you, Zion must arise and put on her beautiful garments."
Doctrine and Covenants 82:14


Continuing with our beauty theme... :)  I like the whole idea of this... as we become a Zion people, our goal is to become more beautiful. :)  I think that is one of the greatest things that I have heard lately.  We don't have to take an aggressive or a defensive position... we merely have to take a position of beauty. :)  And, isn't that the way that God works with us?  The attraction of the gospel, in the end, is not one of fear or power... it is our attraction to the beauty of the gospel as a whole, to the pure, glorious, magnificence of it all that brings us to desire to belong to it.  And so, as we become Zion... a perfect community, one of our primary goals is to become more beautiful individually, and together.  What will make us more beautiful today?  What will help us to have more beautiful relationships?  And once we start thinking of beauty, we can never settle for "good enough" or "agreeing to disagree" :)  To be truly beautiful, we have to transcend our limitations and our fears, both individually, and with one another.  Today, let's work on beauty. :)

Psalms 149:4

"For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation."
Psalms 149:4


My favorite book is Till We Have Faces by C. S. Lewis, and this scripture reminds me of that book.  God will beautify the meek... that is such an interesting line.  And it isn't just physical beauty, though that could be part of it, but it is the kind of beauty that soaks in and then radiates out to everyone you know and see.  Christ had beauty like that.  In Isaiah 53 it says he had "no beauty that we should desire him," probably speaking of Christ's physical beauty, but those who could perceive it saw that his beauty was so much deeper and more real than any physical beauty could be.  Exactly the opposite of those he called "whited sepulchres" which were beautiful outside but had rottenness inside (Matthew 23).  I think the essence of the scripture is that God loves us, and no matter how ugly we are, he takes pleasure in us, and will help us to all be beautiful.  ... just like my favorite book, although I think God's message probably takes precedence. :)

Philemon 1:22

"But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you."
Philemon 1:22


This seems to me to be related to faith.  If you pray for something to happen, then you should also prepare for it.  Here, the people prayed for Paul to come, and along with their prayers Paul told them to prepare a place for him to stay. :) I think that we, or at least I, pray for things but don’t prepare adequately for them.  Perhaps part of faith is making sure there is a place in your life for the blessings that you ask for. :)

John 21:25

"And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written."
John 21:25


I think that it is cool that Jesus accomplished so much in his life.  I'm sure the books of his life would be much more interesting than the books of my life. :)  And I'm really not certain that mine would take up more than half a shelf, tops.  The other cool thing about this scripture is that it gives us a sense of the overwhelming abundance of information that there is, not only about Christ's early life, but about the entire gospel... all of God's works.  I know that some people believe that all truth about God is contained in the Bible... I just don't understand how it could be.  One book, no matter how instructive or applicable, couldn't contain God.  He would be busting the seams, pouring out into everything around him... God isn't just in a book.  The evidence of God is in the world all around us, in the air we breathe... in the magnificent beauty of God's creations, including people.  The Bible is amazing... but so is the information that we get from God each and every day. :) Today, let's think outside the book. :)

Luke 18:29-30

"And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake,
Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting."
Luke 18:29-30


I think it is interesting that we are promised blessings in *this* life as well as the life afterward.  Our lives aren't supposed to be stark and empty, waiting only for a heavenly reward.  We do have to give up things, but God never leaves us without a reason to hope, or to enjoy our lives.  He takes care of us, as we look to him. :)

Genesis 8:13

"And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry."
Genesis 8:13


First days seem to be fortuitous.  God said "let there be light" on the first day, and I can't even imagine the rejoicing that accompanied Noah's discovery above.  They had a new beginning, a promise that they would soon end their endless days of floating around. :)  Even for us, who aren't in quite the same situation, new light and new land signify a lot.  We too need a little bit of hope, some additional light, and a respite from our endless floating. :)  Today holds that promise.  We've ended a chapter of our lives, and today we turn the page and start another.  What will happen to the hero of our story in this chapter remains to be seen... but because of the nature of stories, there is sure to be high adventure, impossible challenges, and in the end, certain victory.  Today... this month, this year... let's resolve to enjoy the story, and be the heroes we were always meant to be. :)