Doctrine and Covenants 98:34

"And if any nation, tongue, or people should proclaim war against them, they should first lift a standard of peace unto that people, nation, or tongue."
Doctrine and Covenants 98:34


This would be hard... not only for a community struggling to become a Zion people, but even just for an individual.  When someone attacks you, in whatever way, it is difficult to not get defensive, to calm down, and to offer a peaceful response.  It also, to me, seems like one of the pinnacles of self-knowledge and free will... to choose peace while others wage war.  I want to be able to do that, to be like that.  Perhaps that is one of the things that we are here to learn... to not just respond to others' attacks, whether emotional, mental, or physical... but to choose our actions based on what is right, not on what someone else did.  No matter how large an attack, we still don't have to retaliate.  It is doubly hard when we are the ones who have attacked, and we have to apologize and reorganize our hearts and minds to deal with things calmly.  Peace is worth it though... worth vulnerability and occasional abject humiliation.  Perhaps in time we will learn to be more peaceful people, and to maintain relationships without the thrill of the landmines that we have planted everywhere.  As a community, perhaps we will eventually attain the peace that we seek... if we can learn these same lessons as a society.

Romans 8:6

"For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace."
Romans 8:6

Sometimes I think that we get to thinking that our perspective is the only one there is, and that it can't be changed.  We see life one way, and think that that is the way that it is.  We could be despairing or angry, and that feeling and way of seeing takes us completely... we get to a point where we can't see anything else.  We may even do that when things are going great.  We feel wonderful and on top of the world, and we can't remember what it felt like to be sad or lonely or angry.  Hopefully, as we experience more ups and downs in life, we learn that the bad times never last forever, and the good times make it all worth it.  More importantly, and I think this verse alludes to this, we learn that where our minds are is a choice.  We don't get tossed with the tide and come up spluttering with no control over what we feel.  We control whether we are carnally or spiritually minded... whether we are thinking short-term or long-term, and what occupies us.  Again, it is easy to believe that the way we feel and think now is the only possible way... but everything can be looked at from another perspective, and we all have the ability to see different facets of reality.  Sometimes we want to believe that emotion rules us, because that somehow makes us less responsible for our actions... but it doesn't.  We choose our actions, even when we are feeling things very strongly.  And, ultimately, our choice is life and peace, or death.

Zechariah 6:8

"Then cried he upon me, and spake unto me, saying, Behold, these that go toward the north country have quieted my spirit in the north country."
Zechariah 6:8


The north country again... wow.  There are so many references to the north country in scriptures about the last days that I can't help but wonder what they are talking about. :)  This verse is with others and seems almost like Zechariah's version of the four horsemen of the apocalypse... but maybe it is totally different.  Cool, though, that the North seems to be doing fine, while God's spirit isn't quieted in any other direction.  You have to wonder. :)  Anyway, another good thought-provoking scripture... and an opportunity to read more about the last days if you are so inclined.  Zechariah is a good source. :)

Isaiah 43:2

"When thou passeth through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee."
Isaiah 43:2


This is cool.  The Lord watches over us wherever we go, whatever we do.  It helps to remember that, especially when things are stressful.  This morning was rather stressful for me, and to de-stress, my brother and I went to the zoo and to see an IMAX show.  The IMAX show was about Kilimanjaro, and a group of people climbing it... from rain forest to glacier.  Amazing... and I know you don't want the history of my life, I just mention that because it was so awe-inspiring. The glorious creations of God. :)  It also was nice to get another perspective, watching the animals, and seeing some incredible scenes of Africa, after a morning of traffic and stress. :)  I think that God provides that as well... part of not overflowing us. :)  Reading the scriptures can help us get perspective about the things that are happening in our lives, and how unimportant the problems are compared with eternity, and the things that really matter.  Something good to remember today. :)

3 Nephi 6:14

"And thus there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord."
3 Nephi 6:14


Interesting how intertwined equality and the church are. When there is no equality, the church starts to break apart. Inequality doesn't seem like that big of a deal at first... especially to us, because we live in a very unequal society. For instance, 20 percent of the people hold more than 80 percent of the material wealth. If we are trying to build Zion, with no poor, that is a big challenge right there. :) We're used to inequity, so it is easy for it to creep in in other ways as well. Anything that isn't familiar to us, we question. Styles of clothing, speech patterns... whatever it is. Or we start thinking that this or that person is more important because of a title, or something else. Easy to do. I wonder if, since a few of the Lamanites were able to keep the church intact, if their dedication to equality had something to do with that. It doesn't say so explicitly, but it is an interesting thought. It seems like a hard thing to achieve equality. The City of Enoch probably had to work on it for quite a while. We have to unlearn ways of thinking and behaving and learn something better. I can't imagine it not being worth the effort though. :) I think it would be wonderful to be able to converse without labels and judgments and politics in the way... to realize without question that we are all valuable, and to treat each other that way. :)

Doctrine and Covenants 101:22-23

"Behold, it is my will, that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel, should gather together, and stand in holy places;
And prepare for the revelation which is to come, when the veil of the covering of my temple, in my tabernacle, which hideth the earth, shall be taken off, and all flesh shall see me together."
Doctrine and Covenants 101:22-23


I wonder how we can prepare for the revelation to come.  Talking about veils and revelation, it gives me this mental picture of a magician, whipping away the cloth to show what amazing magic is underneath... although this is no illusion.  It is interesting how the Lord talks of the veil hiding the earth... and about it being taken off and then all flesh shall see him together.  Instead of the Lord coming here, as the wording of many other scriptures seems to indicate, this verse's wording seems more like the Lord has been there all along, but that we haven't been able to see him... which makes me wonder what else we can't see, and what exactly the veil is. :)  Is it mental, physical, spiritual... all three?  As for the first question... how can we prepare... I think that some of the ways are the typical things... prayer, scripture study, church and temple attendance...  Probably most of the things are typical actually... the Lord doesn't have any confidential requirements of us.  He tells us clearly, and repeatedly, what we need to do in order to grow and learn and draw closer to him.  Because they are repeated often sometimes we desensitize ourselves to the messages, but they are still real and good things to do.  If we communicate with God regularly and learn more of him, then we will be more prepared for what will happen... in our lives, and in the history of the earth.  We can also keep our minds open, so that even when God surprises us, we can recognize his hand, and accept his work.

Helaman 3:15

"But behold, there are many books and many records of every kind, and they have been kept chiefly by the Nephites."
Helaman 3:15


Wouldn't it be cool to read other things about the Nephites?  I wonder if they had fiction. :)  The interesting thing is to see when (and if) all of these other records come to light.  It would be interesting to see what would happen if there was more evidence.  It probably wouldn't change much, as far as people believing or not believing... I think that if you want to deny it, you will find a way to do so, no matter how much evidence there is, and I believe that the evidence is abundant right now. :)  However, it might inspire more people to investigate who don't really know much about the gospel... and it would be amazing to read some of the records, if someone could translate them, of course. :)  I think the whole concept of people speaking to you from the past is compelling... and that is much of the scriptures.  People writing things down so that those after could know what they knew and understand their experiences in a way.  We can even do it ourselves... think about who you would like to be when you die, and imagine what that person could teach you or instruct you to do. :)  Anyway, interesting ideas... and I hope we get access to all of those records someday.

Alma 32:21

"And now as I said concerning faith--faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true."
Alma 32:21


This is interesting, because I was asking myself just yesterday (in an email... I write emails and never send them to anyone. Someday, they will lock me up for things like that...) about idealism... whether you should go for the sure thing, or wait for the remarkable thing... whether you go for the higher-paying secure job, or take the lower-paying chance to break into what you really love. Things like that. And I think that, as little children on earth, we probably have a really mixed up sense of what security and surety are. We have to live our dreams, and embrace hope... we have to reach higher than seems possible... things beyond our reach, things beyond our sight. We have to trust that feeling that there is something better than this... and find truth wherever it is. We have to believe that the extraordinary is possible. :) And then we have to live for it. Whenever we give up our dreams and settle for something less, I think that we lose hope and faith in ourselves and the world around us. ... Of course, back to the scripture... I think that there are a lot of true things out there that we can't comprehend or reach yet... but knowing that they are there helps us to be open to them in the future, and believe that we will reach them someday. Let's keep reaching. :)

Doctrine and Covenants 43:25

"How oft have I called upon you by the mouth of my sevants, and by the ministering of angels, and by mine own voice, and by the voice of thunderings, and by the voice of lightnings, and by the voice of tempests, and by the voice of earthquakes, and great hailstorms, and by the voice of famines and pestilences of every kind, and by the great sound of a trump, and by the voice of judgment, and by the voice of mercy all the day long, and by the voice of glory and honor and the riches of eternal life, and would have saved you with an everlasting salvation, but ye would not!"
Doctrine and Covenants 43:25


This list of things is interesting... the voice of mercy is one that recognized.  When I think about how merciful God has been to me in my life, I realize that I have been very ungrateful and selfish in continuing to doubt and thinking that I know better. :)  The verse before this says that God wants to gather us, as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but we won't come... we don't want to be gathered and protected and comforted.  So the Lord tries other things to help us and to save us.  He tries this whole list of things... he talks to us through prophets.  He speaks to us himself.  He can promise or threaten, and we still don't listen, still don't understand.  I wonder what we expect, sometimes, from God.  We want him to be strong and powerful and to solve problems for us, but the minute he tries to solve our problems in a way we weren't expecting, we start thinking that he is too demanding and restrictive.  We want him to love us and to help us to be great and rich and powerful, but as soon as he tries to help us with those things by teaching us, we again rebel against the method of teaching, or think there should be an easier path to our goals.  We want him to make everything perfect for us, with no effort whatsoever on our parts... but if he points out that we are children, not marshmallows, then we get angry again.  Today... let's allow God to gather us, and hold us, and protect us.  Let's listen to his voice, whether it is in the thunder or a whisper.  Let's accept his mercy...  not fight against it.

Hosea 4:3

"Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away."
Hosea 4:3


This sounds pretty bad... no fishes?  Things would have to be pretty rotten to get to that point.  It's mind-boggling.  The ocean is huge, you know... and all of them, gone?  One thing about living in the last days is that we are going to have to be ready for some changes.  We won't like all of them... I'm sure there have already been changes in our individual lives that we have had to make, but that were hard for us to accept... and we're going to have to pry our minds more and more open as we go on, because God isn't bound by our ideas of normalcy or frightened of change.  As we learn more, we'll find more and more things that we may find difficult to accept and to embrace... because God can't stop teaching us until we know all of the truth there is.  Not that he will just dump it all on us at once... he always gives us just as much as we can learn today, and no more.  We just have to work on being open to it instead of getting to one point and saying, that's it... no more;  I like myself and my life exactly as it is, and never want it to change.  Because even if what we have is good... staying at that level forever isn't. :)  Anyway, I am mostly babbling, but I was just blown away by no fishes... it is hard to live without them. :)

Romans 6:16

"Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or obedience unto righteousness?"
Romans 6:16


I think sometimes we try to find some way to not follow God and not follow Satan either.  We try to find a way that is completely our own, and our ferocious independence sends out fierce denials whenever someone points out to us that we are on someone else's path.  The truth is, ferocious though it may be, our independence is largely an illusion.  Not because someone else is pulling the strings, but because we are children.  We have learned to walk, and we walk this way and that way within the parameters our parents have granted, and we think that it is freedom.  Our real freedom comes from learning more, and growing up into trusted adults.... and that is where our free agency comes in.  We can choose to learn from our childhood here on earth, or we can refuse to learn.  Grow or refuse to grow.  Although we make choices every minute of every day, they either help us to learn and grow or they do not... and if they don't, then we still aren't following our own path, we are merely believing and following someone less trustworthy than God.  As children, we have to trust and follow someone, or we can't get anywhere.  Someday though, if we trust and follow God, and become like him, we will have the freedom to travel the Universe... to know everything... to do things that we could never comprehend at this level.  That sounds pretty good to me. :)

2 Samuel 22:29

"For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness."
2 Samuel 22:29


I don't know about you, but sometimes I feel like I have a lot of darkness.  not really sure if it is in me or around me so much as I know that it is there.  And so this verse is a good reminder that God can bring light into even the darkest places, and make things clear and purposeful even when they seem the opposite.  The light always comes, we just have to be patient through the dark times and trust that God's light will chase away the shadows.

2 Timothy 2:16

"But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness."
2 Timothy 2:16


Hilarious. :)  I babble all the time... I think I am going to have to change my ways. :)  Although, hopefully, my babblings aren't all profane and vain.  I think the message here is to stop talking about things that you don't know anything about just so that people will notice you and think you're cool.  Which is hard for all of us at times... we all have that need to be loved, we just try to get it in the wrong ways sometimes.

Doctrine and Covenants 39:5

"And verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth my gospel receiveth me; and he that receiveth not my gospel receiveth not me."
Doctrine and Covenants 39:5


I find this interesting just because sometimes I think we want God to accept us on *our* terms.  Exactly the way we are, no changes and no work necessary.  And, you know, in a way he does.  He loves us the way we are, but because he cares about us, he wants us to improve.  I think the key here is not God's acceptance of us, but OUR acceptance of HIM.  God can be close to us outside of church, I think we all know that... but can *we* be close to *him* when we reject his gospel?  I don't think that we are going to have any problems, in the end, with God not caring about us or wanting the best for us.  I think our problems are going to come if we can't accept God and his ways.  Whether we can manage to live by them or not, there are rules and there are guidelines that God has set forth to help us to learn and become better than we are.  If we reject that help, or refuse to acknowledge that we need it, then we aren't going to become the people that we can be, and we aren't going to learn who God really is.  God loves us, no matter what, no matter where, and he asks us to come to him.  That requires movement on our parts... and acceptance of and obedience to his laws.  It's the PhD program that he wants us to pass so that we can help him with his advanced work... but if we can't even learn to sit still or raise our hands in kindergarten, we will never never get there.  Sometimes God asks hard things of us, and we bristle and think that we have to choose fascism in order to get to heaven... I know that my nephew feels that way whenever we tell him that he has to come inside the house.  If he were offered complete freedom, I think he would stay out there all the time.  As we are children, sometimes we don't always understand why God asks us to come inside, or why we can't play with dangerous things... but he is wiser than we are, and someday, if we accept the guidelines, we'll avoid getting blown up or run over by a car, and we'll graduate from high school, and college, and grad school, and we'll stand beside him, knowing everything that he knows, and be able to have some real conversation with him.  I look forward to that. :)

Psalms 72:12

"For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper."
Psalms 72:12


This scripture is talking about King Solomon, who was blessed with incredible wisdom.  It also refers to Christ, since Solomon is a type (predecessor, forerunner) of Christ here.  I think that this verse is very interesting when it talks about "him that hath no helper."  In the end, no matter how alone anyone can be, God is still there, watching and helping.  Perhaps we have all felt that alone, where help was out of reach, and the only thing that there was to fall back on was God... and sometimes at times like those we aren't even sure of that.  But God is there, consistent and sure, even when nothing else is or can be.  God gives to those who have no riches and no influence and those who will never receive help from any other source.  Even when you don't like yourself much, God still likes you, and is there for you... which seems pretty amazing to me.

Isaiah 42:16

"And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.  These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them."
 Isaiah 42:16


This could be for only the physically blind, and if so it is still really cool.  But I was thinking that we are all pretty blind sometimes, especially when it comes to seeing spiritual truth, and understanding God.  And so, maybe, this applies to us all... the Lord will smooth the way before us, show us ways to go that we hadn't considered, light our way, help us through obstacles.  And he will not forsake us.  We get overwhelmed sometimes... the way before us seems practically impossible, and we don't think that we can overcome the obstacles in our path.  But God will help us, and show us paths that we knew not, and help us through it all.  The toughest part is humbling ourselves enough to talk to him and ask for his help... if we do so, he will lead us, and save us from our own blindness. :)

Matthew 16:22-23

"Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."
Matthew 16:22-23


Peter listened to Christ talking about some of the bad things that were going to happen to him, and he didn't want to believe it... he didn't want it to happen, and so he tried to brush it aside.  But Christ knew that it was his Father's will that all of these things happen, and wishing it were otherwise was a tool of Satan.  I think I do that in my own life a lot.  There are difficult decisions to make, and hard things to face, and instead of walking forward, I wait around complaining that it is too hard, or that I shouldn't have to go through that. :)  But the things of God are straight ahead of me, and trying to avoid them is taking me nowhere except closer to Satan's grasp.  The verse after this is one of many that talks about denying yourself and taking up your cross to follow Christ... and I think that these verses help to explain that idea.  Going wherever God's path takes you is a difficult thing at times... you have to deny yourself a more pleasant road, or a side trip that you've always wanted to take.  You have to give up what you want for what God wants sometimes, not because someone is forcing you, but because that is what the destination requires.  You can't get to God's house by going somewhere else.  Christ went where he was headed, despite the hardships of the journey, and refused to turn off on a side road because the road was too hard.  We need to do the same as we follow him.  Not that the road is always horrible, but we have to take the hardships along with the blessings as we travel.

Revelation 3:18

"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thy eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see."
Revelation 3:18


Interesting.  About three and a half years ago, when I started the scripture of the day list, the very first scripture was Revelations 3:17, the verse before this.  It reads, "Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked."  A very compelling scripture.  This next verse kind of tells us how to solve the problems outlined there, even though we don't perceive them at times.  God counsels us to buy gold from him, that has been tried in the fire.   I'm not sure what that means, but it could be trials that are supposed to refine us... it could be people who have been so refined... or it could be anything in life that helps us to be better... the real riches of life, rather than the fleeting ones of worldly wealth.  White raiment is a fairly clear reference to the temple.  The temple offers us instruction, kind of on a gospel graduate level, so that not only our physical bodies are clothed, but that we are clothed with knowledge and power.  And the eyesalve seems to refer back to the fact that we are blind, and have a hard time seeing our own faults and needs clearly... The scriptures could be part of that eyesalve, as could prayer, or anything that helps us to have the spirit of truth in our lives so that we are less likely to blind ourselves, and more likely to see our opportunities to improve.  Today, let's work on accepting the counsel of the Lord. :)

Doctrine and Covenants 8:10

"Remember that without faith you can do nothing; therefore ask in faith.  Trifle not with these things; do not ask for that which you ought not."
Doctrine and Covenants 8:10


A good reminder for today.  Faith is behind everything that we do.  Our whole lives shift according to the amount of confidence and belief we have in ourselves and in God.  Our ability and desire to do good and to achieve great things increases when we believe in ourselves.  Also, since faith is so powerful, it is scary to direct it in unproductive ways, such as believing that we will fail.  Believing that we are not smart, or not good enough, or that we can never be redeemed.  If you had a magic lamp and three wishes, you would have to be very careful to ask for things that were super important and you would examine each of them to make sure that they couldn't be interpreted in a bad way. :)  We have to be careful with our own attitudes and desires in the same way.  We can do and become anything that we believe is possible for us... and if we can't live our eyes out of the mud, that is all we will ever see (Hidden Yertle the Turtle reference here...). :)
God will give liberally to those that ask... but we have to be careful about what we ask.  Sometimes we are confronted with a difficult life lesson and we plead and plead with the Lord to not make us learn it... and he listens to us, and delays the lesson.  But without that lesson that we are so frightened of that we plead with the Lord to take it away... without that lesson, we are stuck.  Our forward progress is halted, by our own choice.  If instead we asked for the strength to deal with the lesson, he would grant that strength.  Something that I need to remember, definitely... and a good reminder today, that we should ask for good things, and not things that will halt our progress.  The Lord's will and our wills clash sometimes... often even... but the Lord can see better than we can, and he knows the lessons that we need to learn. :)

James 4:8

"Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw nigh unto you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."
James 4:8


Sometimes we wonder why God seems so far away, and here, I think, is a way to have him closer.  The closer that we approach God, the closer he will approach us.  As in any relationship, it takes work on both sides to establish the closeness and trust that we would like.  No matter how much God loves us, the relationship can't work without some effort on our part as well, and here he promises to match that effort... making it twice as effective.  I think that the rest of the verse is helping us to know what kinds of things will help us to draw nigh to God.  Cleansing our hands and purifying our hearts... and interesting that he mentions sinners and the double-minded. :)  I wonder whether it is just two names for the same group, or two separate groups. :)  I think the idea of being double-minded is interesting... like trying to hold two contradictory beliefs and live by them at the same time.  It never works, and is pretty stressful and exhausting.  Today, let's try to draw nigh to God.

Romans 7:1-6

"Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."
Romans 7:1-6


Rather long today, but I wanted to include the whole thing.  As you can see, the comparison here is to an earthly marriage... when you die, the marriage is over, and you are free to marry again.  It is interesting to me that they compare sin to marriage, that we are, in a very real way, married to our sins, and that is one thing that baptism signifies... our death and re-birth, so that we are free of that marriage to sin, and in our new life we can be married again, which it talks about in verse three... a symbolic marriage to Christ.  I wouldn't take it literally and become a nun, but it is just as real as the marriage to sin... now we have a bond to something else, something better.  We no longer serve the old law (of sin), since we have died and are free of it... and in our re-birth we are free to serve the new law (of Christ, or righteousness).  The imagery seemed kind of dramatic to me at first, but after thinking about it, I don't think that it is dramatic at all.  Death, sometimes, seems to be what is necessary for us to let go of some things... and the kind of commitment that is present in the best of marriages is the kind of commitment that we need to the gospel.  God, as always, teaches us things by relating them to things that are important to us.  I also think that it is interesting the way that death provides us a kind of freedom in this analogy.  I think that it does in reality as well, but usually we just think of the horror of death... when, no matter how painful, being free of our sins is worth experiencing death... and the promise of rebirth is right behind it, softening the blow.  We have to have that dramatic change in our lives, dying to sin, and living anew to God... and it is that dramatic, and it is that kind of unbreakable bond that we need to make a marriage last.  Interesting stuff to think about today. :)

4 Nephi 1:2

"And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another."
4 Nephi 1:2


Again, just absolutely amazing.  Whenever I read about large groups of people that actually get along, it blows me away.  No contentions... everyone dealt justly with each other.  That is mind-boggling.  ... We can't get there overnight, but if we try to deal justly with people in our individual lives, then we are building the foundation.  If we learn how to lessen the contentions and disputations in our own lives, then we are beginning that kind of a society.  And it isn't just an idealistic dream... it is something that has happened before, and something that will happen again, and becoming people who deal justly will only help us to get along better in the Celestial Kingdom. :)  There is a lot of corruption out there, but when we focus on individuals, there is no one without some redeeming quality.  There is hope for all of us, and hope for a just and peaceful society.  It just takes a lot of work, cooperation, and self-knowledge.

Alma 53:20-21

"And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all--they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.
Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him."
Alma 53:20-21


This is about the two thousand stripling warriors that the converted Lamanites sent out to help preserve the Nephite lands.  I think it is amazing, first of all, that any large group of people was "true at all times."  ... It's hard enough individually. :)  I think that is something to strive for... to be known as a man or woman of truth. :)  Can you imagine your life and soul absolutely free of deception or shades of the truth?  To know who you were and what you stood for that well would be incredible.  The other thing that is interesting here is the reason that they were men of truth... "for they had been taught."  I wonder if we teach half so well in any aspect of our lives as the parents of these men did.  In another scripture it says that they had been taught that if they did not doubt, they would be delivered... and they *were* delivered.  Another reason that we all need each other.  We all have knowledge and experience that can help someone else... not only to discover and retain more truth, but to add to our perspective and change the way that we live.  Let's try to be men and women of truth, and to teach that truth in all that we do.

Galatians 6:2,5

"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
...
For every man shall bear his own burden."
Galatians 6:2,5


There are three verses in between these two, and I don't usually pull verses individually like this, but the contrast here is intriguing.  Even though these seem almost contradictory at first, I think that it makes sense (awfully big of me to think that God makes sense, isn't it?). :)  God first says that we should bear one another's burdens.  This is good, and helps us learn to both offer and receive help when we need it.  And then, he says that each of us should bear our own burdens.  That is what I find interesting... that God isn't only talking about interdependence, but also independence... and the way those work together is the really interesting part.  I think of relationships that way.  You have to be independent... your own person... in order to have a healthy relationship, but then in any healthy relationship there also has to be some interdependence... helping each other, and lifting each other's burdens.  I think that the second verse is really just helping us to understand what bearing one another's burdens is... that interdependence isn't helplessness.  Because we are commanded to lift each other up, none of us should get used to being carried. :)  We have to remember that it is our job to walk alone without leaning on others... but it is also our privilege to help others and be helped in return when we need it.  I don't know if I am conveying the way it all fits together in my head... so I hope it fits together in yours as well. :)  Some cool things to ponder today. :)

Psalms 94:17

"Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence."
Psalms 94:17


This is very thought-provoking.  That God is the one who saves us from silence, and helps us to speak... to allow our souls to speak, rather. :)  What I envision is someone walking around through life, doing the wrong things, and the soul is silent, not complaining, not responding... just watching sadly.  Having God around is what allows our souls to speak, and allows us to attempt to unify our actions and beliefs.  We have a lot to discover about ourselves, but if we focus only on our body's instincts and desires, then we learn much, but we have nothing to balance it with.  We have to also learn of our spirit's instincts and desires, and how to integrate soul and body without cheating either. :)  I really like this scripture... I am going to have to think about it more.  I invite you to as well... and if you have any additional insights, let me know. :)

Romans 12:17

"Recompense no man evil for evil.  Provide things honest in the sight of all men."
Romans 12:17


This seems difficult to me.  It is hard, when someone is being cruel, not to be cruel right back.  ... but then maybe I have a cruel streak that I need to work on.  I would like to be someone who could be kind and solve problems in a good way.  Christ always seemed to be able to do that.  People would try to manipulate him into anger or saying something wrong, and no matter how they twisted things, he always knew the right thing to say, that would be good, and also teach the people around him.  Perhaps it is the straight and narrow path ... in speech as with everything else.  There is always something good to say, if you can only find it. :)  There is always a way to respond to evil with good... somehow.  God wouldn't give us this advice otherwise. :)  The task is to find the way, and to be able to be calm enough to control ourselves when we are tempted to respond in an evil way.  The other part of the verse says to provide things honest in the sight of all men.  That seems like a big task as well.  I wonder exactly what it means. The closest that I can think is to be honest with everyone, and not just to those you identify with... but that isn't exactly the way that it is written.  I wonder if it has more of the aspect of living your life in a way that can't be condemned... where you don't have to hide anything from anyone.  Even if the media tried to dig up something on you, they wouldn't be able to find it. :)  Wouldn't that feel good?  To feel so clean and have such a clear conscience that no one anywhere could give you a guilt trip about anything? :)  A difficult task, but a worthy goal. :)  Though we might not be able to get there immediately, the more honestly we live, the closer we will be to that ideal. :)

Luke 4:18

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised."
Luke 4:18


This is interesting.  Today I taught my CTR class about Christ being able to heal people, and so I guess the healing aspect jumps out at me... and is different than most healing scriptures.  Here, the healing seems not to be for a physical injury, but for emotional injury.  I like that both matter to God, and that both can be healed. :)  It seems interesting to me also the focus of some of the other things.  Preaching the gospel to the poor, for example.  Perhaps because that is how they can be made rich?  And is God's idea of who is poor completely different from ours? :)  It seems interesting that deliverance is for the captives... again, physically, or perhaps prisoners of addictions?  Do we captive ourselves sometimes?  Is he speaking only of the physically blind?  And setting at liberty them that are bruised... very interesting, in both a physical and a spiritual way.  Can't exactly picture someone being spiritually bruised, but I think I have felt it before.  Comparing deliverance and setting at liberty, what are the differences there, and why is one directed to the captives, and one directed to the bruised? :)  Perhaps we raise walls for different reasons.  Anyway, just a thought-provoking scripture today, and I thought I would share it with you.

Proverbs 1:18

"And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives."   
 Proverbs 1:18


In this first chapter of Proverbs, Solomon tells his son not to hang out with bad guys who "lay wait for blood" and "lurk privily for the innocent without cause."  Then this scripture says that they are basically laying wait for themselves.  Fascinating... and true for all of the bad things that we do in life, I think.  Whenever we hurt someone else, we are basically hurting ourselves.  And I don't think that it is in a removed "what goes around comes around" way... I think that it hurts you right then.  We harm ourselves when we set out to harm other people.  We cheat ourselves when we cheat other people.  We shut out ourselves when we shut out other people.  I wish I could explain how strongly I feel this... the temporary "benefits" we get from taking advantage of one another are less than worthless compared to the harm that we do to ourselves.  We have to extend our perspective beyond the limited gain-loss ratios that we can see with our eyes.  We are more than limited beings, and we have to think about more than what we want in a moment, to what we can have forever.  What we can learn, what we can become... why this test of life matters. :)  How are we connected to each other?  Who really do we want to be at the end of this life?  What would we like to have accomplished?  And what is in store after that... the possibilities are infinite. :)

Ether 4:12

"And whatsoever persuadeth men to do good is of me: for good cometh of none save it be of me, I am the same that leadeth men to all good; he that will not believe my words will not believe me--that I am; and he that will not believe me will not believe the Father who sent me.  For behold, I am the Father, I am the light, and the life, and the truth of the world."
Ether 4:12


There is so much in this scripture that I could talk about it for days I think. :)  I got to it because I was looking up a cross reference to when Christ told the young rich man that only one was good, and that was his father... interesting to think about a sole source of good. :)  and then there is the belief thing... if you won't believe Christ's words, then really, is there any other way to convince you?  And then "I am the Father" ... without even touching the Nicene creed, it is still mind-boggling to consider the kind of unity that Christ and the Father have.  Isn't it interesting that Christ says that he is the life, light, and truth of the world?  What do those things have in common?  How are they different?  I wonder.  Truth is what intrigues me the most today.  If Christ is truth... and there are other scriptures that relate here... light and truth forsake the evil one, light grows brighter and brighter until the perfect day... but if he is, and we are to follow him, then we must be made of truth in some way as well... or so it seems to me. :)  And if we are made of truth in some way, then do we harm ourselves in some way when we partake of deceit?  When we lie to ourselves, then are we basically in the process of losing who we are?  And how would life change if we were all utterly honest in all that we did (beyond the surface of tactfulness, because if we were honest about ourselves, would we need tact anyway?)... how would things change?  Several things pop into my mind immediately, mostly about other people being honest with me... but it is interesting to think about how my life would be different if I were perfectly honest and open with the people around me, and then ... do we know enough about ourselves and about life to know what the real truth is?  At least for me, I think that I seldom do.  Something I perceive as truth one day turns out to be wrong the next.  I still have a lot to learn.  Fortunately, this scripture gives me a broad hint about where to go to find more truth... and since God is the only consistent thing I can think of right now, that sounds like a good option. :)

Alma 30:15

"How do ye know of their surety?  Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ."
Alma 30:15


This scripture is quoting Korihor, the anti-Christ.  It is interesting to me how logical this sounds. :) The truth though, is that we *can* know of things that we do not see.  We have the spirit, and senses beyond just the basics.  We are children of God, after all.  And when we deny our spiritual senses, then we limit ourselves.  We try to explain things without the depth that is necessary for the explanation.  There is so much beyond our sight... but we can still feel it, and know it... more surely sometimes than if we had seen.  The scriptures talk of people who have seen angels and still deny.  So sight alone doesn't cut it.  When I feel the spirit confirm the truth of something to me, I know it better than if I had only seen it with my eyes... it's tied to my soul in some way.  As real as I am. :)  So, today, let's look beyond our eyesight for the truth that lasts, even if we are blind. :)

Doctrine and Covenants 64:23

"Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming."
Doctrine and Covenants 64:23


This is interesting to me, and reminds me of Moses and Pharaoh, and how the Israelites were spared *if* they marked their doors.  And then the Angel of Death knew to keep going. :)  I'm sure the Lord could have communicated that without the mark... but the Lord could have given the Brother of Jared light for his boat without requiring any thought too... and the Lord could have teleported all the early Saints to new homes rather than make them walk across the plains.  What good would we be if the Lord just gave us everything without letting us help, or giving us a way to grow?  We'd be lazy and worthless.  Tithing is what he requires of us, in this scripture, so that we won't be burned at his coming.  I think that is a pretty fair trade. :)  And, you know... it isn't even about the trade.  I think that tithing is completely based on faith.  We give to the Lord, trusting that the Lord will continue to give to us.  And he does.  He gives and gives, and all he asks is a token, really... a small sign of faith.  In return, not only does he offer us the normal blessings of tithing... but we also get to be fireproof when he comes again.  Pretty cool if you ask me. :)