Matthew 28:2

"And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it."
Matthew 28:2


What a great doorkeeper. :)  Sitting in church today the thing that I was thinking about is what it must have been like for the disciples... after Christ died, they must have wondered what was going on... why things were working out this way, and what they were supposed to do next.  Did they understand that Christ was going to be resurrected, and if so, did they believe it fully?  What amazing joy they must have felt when they saw him again, their friend that had died, and lived again... and all of us, who he lived and died for, join in that joy... death is not the end.  Christ overcame it.  Sin is not the end, because Christ suffered for us if we will just repent.  We have eternity... because Christ, who alone of all deserved eternal life through his own merits... suffered and died anyway, for us.  And then offered us the gift that we could never earn for ourselves.  Amazing... to think of eternity.  It changes everything.

Daniel 3:27

"And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them."
Daniel 3:27


God is very thorough. :)  Shadrach and the others were protected not only from dying in the flames, but from even the scent of fire on their clothes and in their hair.  there was no evidence that they had even passed through the furnace.  I think that the Lord does the same for us very often.  We go through trials that stretch the limits of who we are, and then come back in time for lunch. :)  I'm sure that the experience changed them, but God made sure that they suffered absolutely no harm.  I think that there are times when we need the smoke in our hair... to remind us that we don't want to jump back into the flames.  Some of us are that crazy. :)  But God has the power to protect us from anything. These men did what God told them even when the consequence was the fire, and God protected them... and he will protect us just as thoroughly as we do the same.

Doctrine and Covenants 117:4-7

"Let them repent of all their sins, and of all their covetous desires, before me, saith the Lord; for what is property unto me? saith the Lord.
Let the properties of Kirtland be turned out for debts, saith the Lord. Let them go, saith the Lord, and whatsoever remaineth, let it remain in your hands, saith the Lord.
For have I not the fowls of heaven, and also the fish of the sea, and the beasts of the mountains? Have I not made the earth? Do I not hold the destinies of all the armies of the nations of the earth?
Therefore, will I not make solitary places to bud and to blossom, and to bring forth in abundance? saith the Lord."
Doctrine and Covenants 117:4-7


The saints were sad when they had to leave Kirtland... they were giving up houses and land, and almost everything they owned.  They were being forced out because of what they believed... and it is hard just to be attacked for your beliefs, let alone have to give up everything that you own for them. :)  I think this happens to us today in some ways... we have to make sacrifices to do what the Lord asks of us.  Sometimes it isn't earthly possessions... but then, sometimes it is.  And whether it is a physical or a spiritual journey that we are asked to take, what we are asked to leave behind is difficult for us to relinquish.  God says here "Let them go" even though it was difficult for them, and he reminded them that he had the power to provide for them, wherever they went.  I think that we forget that ourselves sometimes... we work really hard to acquire something, and when we have it, it is hard for us to let go.  We forget that the Lord is in control, and has much more in store for us than the possessions or relationships that we have now.  God has everything... and even when we are sent into the "solitary places," he will help us to grow. :)

Matthew 5:46-47

"For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?"
Matthew 5:46-47


A little reminder from God that when he commanded us to love our neighbors, he didn't mean that we could pick and choose which ones to love.  He meant all of them... no matter their social or economic level, no matter their mistakes or sins, no matter their physical or mental health.  No matter what other labels are heaped up in their names... we need to love them... ALL of them.
Stephen Covey has a saying, "Seek first to understand, and then to be understood."  A pretty good saying, but I remember at one of my past companies a man who I heard in the hall, yelling at another: "Seek first to understand ME . . ."  It doesn't work that way.  We can't go around applying good lessons to other people and not to ourselves.  In fact, just the opposite is true... applying lessons to other people's lives is the same as judging them... which we can do, if we are ready to be judged in like manner by God.  Personally, I don't think I am ready for that.  When we love other people, we can't demand that they love us in return, and we can't demand that they live as we know that we, personally, should.  We have to love them as they are, to help them where we can, and to pray for them as fervently as we pray for ourselves.  God is the only one who can change someone's heart... and he uses much more delicate methods than the bricks we usually hurl.
Today, let's love even those that are the hardest to love... usually those are the ones most in need of it.

James 1:26

"If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain."
James 1:26


Earlier in this chapter they use an analogy of hearing the word and not acting on it... saying that it is like someone going to look at himself in the mirror, and then as soon as he walks away, forgetting who he is.  Then we get down to this verse and it talks about deceiving your own heart... I think this is really interesting.  One summer I went to visit a friend in Oregon and while there we ran into a woman who had fallen away from the church.  We went to lunch with her, and listened to her talk about her mission... she was fervent and believing.  She had a testimony of the gospel, and believed in what she had done on her mission.  Afterward, we went to her house where she lit up a cigarette and proceeded to tell us that she felt it was the right thing for her to be out of the church, contradicting almost everything that she had talked about when she was talking about her mission.  She was, and is, a good person, but my friend and I got in the car to drive back and my friend looked over at me and asked me please to never let her become like that.  If I ever saw her life contradicting her beliefs so intensely, I should remind her of what we had seen that day.
Unfortunately, when that time came, she didn't remember the incident at all.  It is amazing how far removed from ourselves we can become when we let go of the Spirit, whose mission is to remind us and teach us.  We forget the things that are most important.  Simple things, like which way it is to happiness, or how to speak kindly to other people (bridling our tongues).  We do deceive our own hearts, incredibly, when we walk away from the mirror and forget who we are: Children of God, created in his image, and made to become like he is.  Prayer and scripture study help us to remember who we are and who God is, and our relationship with one another... attending church helps us to remember as well.  And we need all of the reminders that we can get.  I never want to forget who I am... so I need to keep looking in the mirror.  Today, let's be careful not to deceive ourselves.

Philippians 2:14-15

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world."
Philippians 2:14-15


We would definitely shine as lights in the world if we did things without murmurings and disputings.  Wow.  I don't know if I have ever done *anything* without murmuring and disputing. :)  I like that it says we would be blameless and harmless... I think those are two very good things to strive for, to me especially the harmless part.  I want to make this world better, not worse... not harm anyone's life.  I don't think that I am very good at that, but perhaps working on murmuring and disputing will help. :)  I'm sure that it is part of becoming a Zion people... and if we really get to the point where we don't murmur or dispute, then we will be great examples to other people and help to build Zion. Shining as lights... I like that part too.  I think I have some work to do today. :)

John 17:15-17

"I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth."
John 17:15-17


We need to be in the world, so that we can learn all that we have to learn and become all that we can become... but we can shun the evil that is all around us.  The core of our being is not rooted in this world, but in God... and in a very real way we have the power to transcend this world and walk through its traps and snares, keeping ourselves intact.  I like how it talks about being sanctified by truth... I have been thinking about truth, and how it and light interact. :)  I think that we are drawn to truth, and when we have it as a shield, there is no way for the lies of the world to deceive us, to draw us into believing that we are less than we are, or that we should settle for something incomplete.  Light allows us to see through the darkness and shadow, and truth allows us to see all of the twists and deceptions that are in front of us.  I like that God works to show us what is really there, and have us make our own choice... allows us our freedom.  After seeing the deception, we can cloak ourselves in it again, should we choose to... but light and truth are waiting there for us, and offer us other choices, and better paths.

Psalms 18:28

"For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness."
Psalms 18:28


A good thing to remember today... no matter how dark things get, God is always there to add light and show things as they really are.  The path may seem utterly baffling to us, but God is there to guide our steps.

Doctrine and Covenants 125:3

"Let them build up a city unto my name upon the land opposite the city of Nauvoo, and let the name of Zarahemla be named upon it."
Doctrine and Covenants 125:3


It's kind of cool when the Lord asks us to build something... a temple, a building, a city... those things are tangible, and we can tell immediately whether we did it or not.  In the Doctrine and Covenants encyclopedia it says "This settlement was founded by the Saints in 1839, on the uplands about a mile west of the Mississippi River, near Montrose and opposite Nauvoo, Ill." ... then when the saints went west, the city was lost.  I wonder if we have to build it again, or if it was just a commandment for that time. :)  Building Zion is not as tangible, because even if it is a place, eventually, it is also a complete way of life... we have to learn to live in peace, with love... and none of us are used to that.  We're surrounded by so many things that detract from the ideal that must be realized... and we have to learn to let go of all of those things and find a good and peaceful way.  It's a tall order. :)  But just like a tangible request, the Lord prepares a way for us to accomplish what he asks.  The path to Zion is there to be found... it isn't just a dream.  Maybe someday we can live in Zarahemla while we are building Zion. :)

Job 38:34-35

"Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?"
Job 38:34-35


The lesson for today is that God is wiser than we are. :)  This selection is from a whole chapter where the Lord asks Job if he can do a lot of things, which God can do... and these are some of the very least of them. :)  Can you imagine just talking to a cloud and asking it to rain... and not only rain but absolutely flood so that you will be covered with water?  ... Not that that would be particularly wise, unless you have a boat.  But just these things, some of the smallest in the chapter, are mind-boggling to us.  controlling the weather by talking to the clouds and the lightning. :)  Very cool things.  Hopefully we'll learn some of this stuff someday. :)  Anyway, the lesson... God is wiser than we are.  Let's remember that, and consult him as we go throughout our day. :)

Psalms 40:12-13

"For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me."
Psalms 40:12-13


It seems like we remember the Lord more often when nothing is going right... when we can't even look up.  When only he can get us out of a jam, then we ask him to. :)  And he rescues us, time and time again, when we need rescuing.  Possibly, just possibly, we should keep looking to him after we are out of imminent danger... when things seem to be going right, or when they are only off by a hair. :)  Then, we might be able to avoid these last-ditch efforts at attracting God's notice.  Maybe our lives will avoid this level of desperation if we trust God to help us out even when things are okay.  We need help, even then.  It's scary, but often after God has rescued us, we stop reading our scriptures or praying or attending church... some of the most basic things that we can do to build our relationships with God.  We stop thinking that we need him, and immediately start getting farther away.  Are we ashamed that we needed him?  Do we suddenly think that God's intervention was just coincidence?  Perhaps.  Today... remember that God is there for you every moment of your lives.  You can ask him the smallest question without fearing to offend him.  Let's trust him today, and try to avoid falling into the pit instead of asking him to pull us out tomorrow. :)

2 Nephi 14:1

"And in that day, seven women shall take hold of one man, saying: We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach."
2 Nephi 14:1


Interesting.  My question is, what reproach are they talking about?  Being unmarried?  There are other possibilities, but that is probably the strongest one.  The other interesting thing here is the hint of plural marriage.  I did a report in college on the wives of Brigham Young, and in very many instances, Brigham Young married women who were poor and unable to care for themselves so that they could live under his roof and be provided for.  It seemed to be a solely economic relationship in those cases.  Which helped a lot of widows out, as well as sisters or family members of previous wives who were also taken in.  In this scripture the women are begging for the opportunity to be called by a man's name for some reason... and not for economic reasons, because they say they will provide for themselves.  Is it to let everyone know that they are following the Lord?  And if so, what reproach are they afraid of, God's, or other people's?  It seems like a very unromantic proposal. :)

Acts 5:19-20

"But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,
Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."
Acts 5:19-20


Doesn't the Lord do this for all of us at times?  Whether the prison is physical, as here, or spiritual, he frees us and charges us to build Zion.  We don't have time to be suffering for our mistakes, or sulking in a prison of our own making... we need to be out there helping others to succeed, and lifting their heads to see the world around them, and all the good they can do.  Sometimes we are guilt-ridden and when the Lord opens the doors we think we should stay put and suffer anyway. :)  ... but that is just some kind of backwards pride, thinking that Christ's atonement wasn't good enough for us or something.  When God opens the doors, we should leap out, and start doing some good. :)  Maybe it will keep us occupied enough that we don't get ourselves thrown back in. :)

Psalms 3:3

"But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head."
Psalms 3:3


I like the "lifter up of mine head" part. :)  It reminds me of this specific instance in my life where we were doing an exercise... supposed to talk to someone while looking at the floor... so this boy and I talked to each other's shoes for a while, and after about 3 minutes, he reached over and lifted my chin up to look at him. :)  We were friends for years. :)  Just a small thing, but it stands out in my mind.  I think that God does that for us all the time.  We aren't usually instructed to look at the floor... we usually do it out of sorrow or despair... or lack of self-worth.  And he raises our eyes to see more than we have been seeing, and to smile at us and show us that he cares.

2 Peter 2:19

"While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought into bondage."
2 Peter 2:19


The scriptures relate sin and slavery to one another frequently, and I think that it is interesting, since we so often look at obedience to God as limiting, or as bondage.  Interesting to think about... that obedience brings freedom and rebellion brings slavery. :)  I think it is kind of like taking a class.  You enroll in American Literature 101 and find it stifling.  You hate the books that you are assigned to read and hate attending class and listening to the boring lectures.  You have freedom... you can skip class, read comic books instead of the assigned reading, and eat pizza with your friends when the rest of the class is having a study group.  Absolute freedom... except, if you are an English major, all that freedom has gotten you into a lot of trouble.  To have the freedom to graduate, you have to pass the class.  You have the freedom to choose a different major... but eventually, to graduate, you will have to attend classes, participate in discussions, and pass classes.  To have the freedom of taking graduate courses, you first have to get an undergraduate degree.  To learn Shakespeare, you have to actually read it.  If you reject all of your options in college, pretty soon you have limited choices.  If you've always wanted to be a professor, you probably won't enjoy your options at this point.  It's like slavery... you are tied to a future that you don't want.  And the only way back to your ideal future is to re-enroll and take the classes.
When we are dead-set on hating college, then this scenario seems desperate and hopeless... but what we sometimes fail to realize is that we also have the freedom to choose to love the journey.  The classes can be intriguing, despite the instructor.  You can find joy in what you are studying, and learning can be exciting... and when you do pass the classes and get the degree, then there are so many more possibilities open to you than there were before.  You have gained freedom that you never would have had otherwise... freedom to be what you have always dreamed of being.  Life is like that... and although I know that we don't all want to be English professors, what we DO want to be can be found through God.  He can make us more than we could ever be otherwise... and he teaches us more and more, and with every lesson, we gain new freedoms... new possibilities.  When we reject God, or reject learning the lessons that he offers us, then we are effectively limiting our choices.... limiting who we can become and what we can do with our lives... and eternities.  When we are in the middle of a desert we have freedom to walk in any direction at all... but if we don't walk towards the oasis, then eventually we will run out of choices.  God is that oasis... water to soothe our parched throats, and to fill us to overflowing so that we can complete our journey.  Let us remember today where freedom lies, and not go wandering out in the desert just because the oasis is so limiting.

Revelation 3:8

"I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name."
Revelation 3:8


God sets before us an open door... we don't even have to open it. :)  We just have to walk through it.  Walking through a door means leaving behind some things on the other side... but it also means an entrance, a beginning... and just because the other side is unknown, sometimes we are scared to walk through, to commit... to take that step through the doorway.  God is faithful, and the doorway leads where we need to go... so no matter how scary, the doorway is the way to our dreams. :)  Let's go. :)

Isaiah 62:12

"And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called Sought out, A city not forsaken."
Isaiah 62:12


Literal or symbolic, or both... this is good stuff. :)  I think all of us want to be sought out and not forsaken. :)  One of the themes that I see throughout the scriptures is the idea of being chosen... a chosen people, a chosen person.  I think we all want to be significant in the great scheme of things... not necessarily capital-letter Powerful or Rich or Famous... but significant.  And I think that this scripture is about that.  We set ourselves apart when we are committed to the Lord's cause... which, really, is just to show other people how important *they* are, and help them to be happy. :)  Our fidelity to the Lord makes us significant... and powerful incidentally, since when we have established that link with God consistently, then we can draw upon his power to do whatever we need to do.  And, maintaining that link with God is what guarantees that we will always be sought out and not forsaken.  We could never be alone or unnoticed when God is there with us.  Today, let's work on our link with God, strengthening it and not letting anything threaten to sever it.

1 Corinthians 2:9-10

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
1 Corinthians 2:9-10


I like "the deep things of God" in this scripture... sounds quite intriguing. :)  And I like the fact that the first verse explains that something is indescribable... but then lets us know that God can express it, and communicate it to us... and that he does.  There are some indescribable things in this life, too overwhelming to be expressed in words... but the Spirit can communicate them.  There are moments in our lives where we are just blown away with beauty.  Filled to overflowing with the wonder of God's creation or the wonder of life and joy... and unless you are there with someone, there is no way to describe it or share it with anyone, because no words fit... they aren't big enough, or delicate enough, to do the job.  But God always always understands, and can even communicate that feeling with your inadequate words if you ask.  And finally, the first verse.  The things that God has prepared for us are beyond description.  Those moments of indescribable joy that we have in this life are just a taste of what is in store... if we can only keep to the path and not wander out in the trackless waste after things that won't bring us joy.

Moroni 6:4

"And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith."
Moroni 6:4


It's interesting how we see church as a burden sometimes, when really it is a gift, only to help us to remember and to stay in the right way.  I know that I have had times where I sat in Sacrament Meeting and thought I was being tortured. :)  Sincerely though, we need the help that church offers.  It is too easy for us, individually, to forget all the things that are important.  We start taking God for granted, not *needing* him in our daily walk... we slack on our prayers, we stop reading our scriptures... and when the good things start going, bad things slink in to take their places.  When we have someone around to help us remember, then things are easier, even though it is still in our individual lives that we have to maintain our contact with God.  And somehow, just being in a roomful of people that believe... it can uplift our spirits just to join with them, if we let it. :)  I think the difference comes depending upon whether we feel inclusion or exclusion... and that is up to us, and how we identify ourselves.  Are we a stranger at church, thinking that everyone else is there to judge and condemn?  Are we there to judge and condemn, and think of everyone else as sinners?  Or, finally, are we one among many... all with faults and limitations... there to help each other and build each other up?  To remind each other, gently, of what is important, as your best friends will always do?  Today, be watchful unto prayer, my dearest friends... as I will be.  Remember Christ, and the infinite opportunities and love that he offers all of us.

Isaiah 11:6

"The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them."
Isaiah 11:6


My sister had a baby yesterday. :)  Children are an amazing thing... and although sometimes we worry about the pain that they will experience in this world, there are also a lot of very exceptionally good things to look forward to, as the above scripture indicates. :)  Even the animals won't be hurting each other.  We've adjusted so much to the way things are in this world that I wonder if it will be as easy for us to shed animosity and mistrust as it will be for the leopard to become a vegetarian. :)  As we work on making ourselves a Zion people, we will come closer and closer to this day, where hatred and fear are far away, and peace permeates everything.  Something worthwhile to pass on to the next generation... hope.

Job 33:27-28

"He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not;
He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light."
Job 33:27-28


God is so incredibly good to us.  God loves us so much that he watches closely to see if any of us realize that sin isn't taking us where we want to go... and is ready to snatch us back at the first admission.  I think it is also interesting to note that the hypothetical man in this story found sin to be unprofitable, as it always, always is.  Sometimes we engage in or commit sin in order to fill the holes in ourselves, sometimes we do it to get ahead, or to avoid pain or embarrassment... sometimes we have other motivations... but in truth, sin does none of these things for us.  Sin might temporarily help you to forget a hole in your life, but in the end it only makes the holes wider and deeper.  Sin might get you ahead temporarily, but in the end you will be very much behind.  It enhances pain, makes embarrassment more likely, and fulfils no legitimate need.  Like smoking perhaps, it offers a temporary benefit while eating away at you, causing you incredible pain in the end.  Today, let's examine the consequences of sin and truly see the unprofitableness (is that a word?) thereof. :)  God offers us real solutions rather than false and temporary ones... and he has a solution, even to our most pressing and painful problems.  Let's pray to find it... and avoid the pit.  It sounds scary. :)

Deuteronomy 30:19

"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:"
Deuteronomy 30:19


At times in our lives our choices seem unlimited... we are hopeful and filled with dreams and possibilities.  Other times we think our choices to be restricted, we lose hope and find dead ends all around us.  Today I see hope and choices... and thinking about this scripture, I think that they have always been there, only sometimes I choose not to see them.  I've heard people talk about hope as though it were a thing for the young... by that theory, when you grow up you lose those "illusions" of youth, and face reality... which is, seemingly, less hopeful and more restricted in terms of choices.  I know that it can feel that way at times, but it certainly is not truth.  Truth is in the scripture above.  We have life and death before us.  Blessing and cursing... hope and despair.  And every day we choose...  one or the other.  One direction opens our eyes and leads us to more choices and greater possibilities, and the other closes our eyes and hides choices and possibilities.  But no matter what, while we are here in this test, each direction is open to us, and the simplest things can turn us around.
The scary thing is that sometimes we start to believe that there are no other choices, that we have chosen our way into a black hole, and there will never be, and can never be, a way out.  Sometimes our minds are so set on death, we fail to see life.  We can start believing that we live in a Greek Tragedy when in fact we are destined for greater and happier things.  Today, wherever we are... let's open our eyes and see the life and the blessings set before us.  Feel the light of hope.  It is there, waiting for us to discern it.

2 Corinthians 7:10

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."
2 Corinthians 7:10


This is interesting to me.  I think that, unfortunately, we too often are sad because of the wrong things.  We're sad because God doesn't see things our way, or sad because we can't find our way out of a situation in the direction that we choose... and although the emotion is legitimate, it doesn't accomplish anything... that is my interpretation of "worketh death" ... when we are sad about things that we can't affect in any way, then we are just getting closer to death, sad instead of happy... accomplishing absolutely nothing.  On the other side, when we are sad about things that we can do something about, sometimes our sadness inspires us to that action... and we change directions and go where the Lord beckons, or we repent of our sins, or we start to see things God's way.  Then, instead of walking down a dead-end hallway hoping that the wall will miraculously open up, we are headed in a direction where we can actually go somewhere and accomplish something.  It's much better than banging our head against a wall that will not open, or being depressed because God wants us to go somewhere else or do something else.  God's will is as likely to bend as the wall is to open. :)  Today, instead of sitting in our little dead-end hallway, being sad and waiting for death... let's head in a different direction.  God will accept us, even if we tried that hallway first, and wanted it more... if we only turn around and see what he has to offer, and follow him. :)

3 Nephi 20:8

"And he said unto them: He that eateth this bread eateth of my body to his soul; and he that drinketh of this wine drinketh of my blood to his soul; and his soul shall never hunger nor thirst, but shall be filled."
3 Nephi 20:8


The symbolism seems a little scary here, but I suppose it is appropriate in a lot of ways... we have to take Christ to ourselves... perhaps even become part of each other in a way, as is symbolized here, in order to partake of the atonement, giving up our own sins and accepting His sinless sacrifice.  I especially like the part about being filled.  So often we feel gaps in our lives, perhaps where someone used to be, or something... but often, there seem to be holes that we can never quite fill.  Even our favorite addictions and sins don't quite smooth things over.  And that is because Christ is the only one that can fill in those parts of ourselves where he is missing... You can't fill the hole with anything else, because there will still be a lack... uneven sides and jagged edges sticking out.  We hunger for something... yearn for something beyond our reach.  And we grasp at whatever comes along, trying to fill the need... and unfortunately sometimes we find it doubtful that God can fill it because of the depth or the nature of the need... but Christ can fill any hole, and it is his missing presence in our lives that created the hole in the first place. :)  Today, let's look to him for the answers; I promise, he has them.

2 Corinthians 5:7

"(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)"
2 Corinthians 5:7


It is interesting that our strongest power isn't something that we can see or touch or taste... but it is more real than they all.  The things that we see are often not real (the movie A Beautiful Mind) and our senses can play tricks on us in many ways... one, just by insisting that they are the primary aspect of our lives, and need to be lived for.  But faith is deeper and stronger than that, much less shallow, and binds us to the things that we love and believe in and live for much more strongly than we could ever be bound by lighter senses.  When we walk by faith, we know that we are going the right way. :)  When we merely see the way, we don't know for sure... the path might be obscured, or there might be a fork in the road.  Faith doesn't play such tricks. :)  Let's trust in faith today, and not let lighter things bother us. :)

Doctrine and Covenants 45:55

"And Satan shall be bound, that he shall have no place in the hearts of the children of men."
Doctrine and Covenants 45:55


Can you imagine what the world would be like if Satan were bound? :)  I don't think it would automatically make everything perfect, but it certainly would help. :)  I suppose the question is, how will he be bound?  Will he be bound because we as a Zion community have become so righteous that no-one will listen to his whisperings anymore?  If so, I think that we have our work cut out for us.  The first thing that we have to do, to be members of this community, is to make sure that Satan has no place in *our* hearts.  This is difficult, because so often we can't let go of those last souvenirs of hell.  We keep our favorite sins aside, thinking we will work on those after all else, or we maintain our favorite addiction, thinking just the one can't hurt. :)  But, in the end, all the souvenirs of Hell have to go... or we will never be able to live happily in Heaven.

Mark 10:27

"And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible."
Mark 10:27


I've probably said this before, but I think we give up too quickly.  God tells us that he never gives us any task in life without also providing a way to accomplish it.  The task is before us then, and whatever it takes, that is what we will be able to do.  God makes us better than we could ever be alone... more thoughtful, more humble, more confident, more powerful.  When we hit obstacles in our path that daunt us, we need to remember that God is there, working with us, and helping us to grow and stretch to meet the challenge.  And we have to be a little creative too... God might not make us strong enough to pick up the obstacle and move it out of the way, but if not that, then something else.  perhaps we'll bore a tunnel right through... or somehow find a way to climb over.  Don't ever give up, thinking that the way is impossibly barred.  God always knows a way through.

Proverbs 19:2

"Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth."
Proverbs 19:2


Think before you walk. :)  Really, I think that is the sum of the message here.  But, getting knowledge is good... and then it is always better if we apply it to the daily walk of our lives.  Sometimes, because we neglect to think first, and gather the appropriate knowledge, we walk right into snares and traps, or endanger the lives of other people.  Even conversationally, we walk into arguments or misunderstandings because we neglected to think ahead and measure the consequences.  So, today... let's think before we walk. :)  But let's walk anyway... not think ourselves into inaction or anything. :)

John 14:23

"Jesus answered and said unto him, if a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."
John 14:23


This is cool because it illustrates, from both God's side and our side, that Love requires action.   If we love God, we will want to be with him forever, and so we'll do what it takes to be there, which is to follow his words.  And since God loves us, he wants to be with us as well, and when we are open and allow him to enter our lives, he is there with us.  I think that too often we profess love when we aren't willing to take action... aren't willing to do the work to make the relationship work; or perhaps we profess love, but don't act on it because there is something else that we love more.  I'm sure that our professions of love are sincere, but they will never take us any nearer our ideal or the object of our affections as long as they are mere passive proclamations.   When we truly learn to love God, we won't let anything stand in the way of being with him.

3 Nephi 12:23-24

"Therefore, if ye shall come unto me, or shall desire to come unto me, and rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee--
Go thy way unto thy brother, and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I will receive you."
3 Nephi 12:23-24


There are a couple of things in here that I want to talk about.  The first is that we have to be first reconciled to our brothers... :)  It reminds me of Cain and Abel.  Hopefully our interpersonal sparring is nothing near that serious, but however our jealousies and disagreements affect our lives, they get in the way of our relationship with God.  We can't give God the attention that he deserves when we're occupied with jockeying for position and worrying about who is right.  ... really, when there are things wrong in our relationships, there is always a part of us that is occupied with the conflict.  Building walls, or bombs, or whatever it is, prevents us from meeting God with a clear mind, and we find ourselves with a limited ability to listen or understand. 
The second thing that I wanted to talk about is coming to God with full purpose of heart.  Part of this is removing those distracting things, like conflict with other people... but I think it goes beyond that.  I think that we have to get to the point where all of our ideals point to God.  We can't be hoping for something else, or thinking of God as one of many hypothetical options.  When we come to God it has to be with our whole heart, with loyalty and fidelity... a commitment to see it through.  If we don't do this, then it's just like any other love triangle.  It starts with being pulled apart inside, and ends in pain and pointless tragedy.  We cannot serve two masters. :)  So, since the other still has some pull, and perhaps we have some issues with our brother... today, let's work to resolve all of our loyalty issues, and clear our communication channels, so that when we come unto God again, there is nothing to hinder or prevent us from reaching our goal.

Micah 2:10

"Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction."
Micah 2:10


Sometimes I think that we find things in life that we want to be our "rest" ... we want that to be where we stop and take up roots, or where we settle, or we want this person or this career to be the "one" that we stay with...
But God has other dreams and plans for us, and our ideal isn't always his.  Often we have to let go of the rest that we have dreamed for ourselves because it really is polluted, or destructive... or maybe just impossible because God has something better in store.  Rest assured that it will be something better... even if better is unimaginable right now. :)  God will never let us down in that regard.  The message is clear though... until the end of your life, never stop searching, because there is always more.  We can't stop and become complacent because there are always things that the Lord would have us do, and Zion to build.