Romans 6:4-5 -- On Newness of Life

"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:"
Romans 6:4-5


The new year reminds me of this baptism imagery of symbolic life and death... dying to sin to walk in newness of life... a life centered on Christ, who saved us from death and sin and who promises us even more if we are willing to follow his instructions to get there.

Today, let's also walk in newness of life, letting go of any of the bad things that have plagued us and re-centering our lives on God, trusting in his promises and carrying that hope forward in our lives, thoughts, and example.

Psalms 78:5-7 -- On Hope and Example

"For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children:
That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:"
Psalms 78:5-7


Good reminders that we need to keep the hope alive for upcoming generations. Sometimes we get so caught up in our own journey of faith and testimony that we forget how the next generation is watching us, and taking their example from our actions.

It of course isn't bad to have questions and fears that we are working through with God, but let's work to make sure that those things don't bleed through in our actions to bias others against the gospel, or encourage disobedience. I mean, it's one thing if we are intentionally trying to get people to walk away from God. That's a choice... Alma the Younger and the Sons of Mosiah did that for a while, and still were able to repent and change with a lot of effort.

Worse though I think would be to find out that we are tearing down other people's faith inadvertently, not meaning to, but just because they see the fallout of our lives and our less than faithful reactions, and wonder where God is in all of that. I think that is part of what God was trying to prevent when he let the Children of Israel wander in the wilderness before being allowed to enter the promised land. Today, let's make sure that we're living as we actually believe and setting the example we intend to set. If we love God and want to serve him, let's be sure to show that committment and faith by our actions, and "be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh [us] a reason of the hope that is in [us]" (1 Peter 3:15).

Psalm 20:7 -- On Trusting in the Lord

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God."
Psalm 20:7


This one was a little bit amusing to me, comparing horses, chariots, and the Lord. :) But really, a LOT of the things that we compare to God are ludicrous, especially when we trust in them instead. Nothing can stand up to that sort of comparison. God is trustworthy, and nothing else is. Even other people who are completely well-meaning can't control their own circumstances well enough to make the kind of promises that the Lord gives us, because they can't keep them. Only God has the will, power, knowledge, and immortality to deliver the happy ending that he promises us.

Today, let's trust in God and not in horses, chariots, or whatever else we've been leaning on. Only God can guarantee help to get us to our best selves, and only God will deliver a happy ending even when we can't possibly imagine how to get there. Let's stick with him and do his will so that we can get there together.

Proverbs 11:4 -- On Riches and Righteousness

"Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death."
Proverbs 11:4


This is a good reminder not to get our priorities out of order, and to remember that being good is way more important than being wealthy. If we put God first, anything we need will be added to us, but if we don't put him first, then everything will be out of whack.

Today, let's work on putting God first in our lives, and valuing life and our souls over treasure that won't last.

Jacob 2:17-18 -- On Being Free With Our Substance

"Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you.
But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God."
Jacob 2:17-18


I really like this ideal. It is hard for us to step outside ourselves enough to really get in this mindset I think, but the more we do, the more we can learn to love everyone, and feel that we are sharing God's bounty rather than sacrificing our own scarce resources. Part of it is faith... knowing that God will continue to bless us, and bless us even more as we help lift others.

Today, let's talk to God and work to find that mental space where we really think of others as equals and friends, and are willing to give abundantly to them. And, as always, let's make sure we put the kingdom of God ahead of our own interests.

Mormon 6:6 -- On Working for God

"And it came to pass that when we had gathered in all our people in one to the land of Cumorah, behold I, Mormon, began to be old; and knowing it to be the last struggle of my people, and having been commanded of the Lord that I should not suffer the records which had been handed down by our fathers, which were sacred, to fall into the hands of the Lamanites, (for the Lamanites would destroy them) therefore I made this record out of the plates of Nephi, and hid up in the hill Cumorah all the records which had been entrusted to me by the hand of the Lord, save it were these few plates which I gave unto my son Moroni."
Mormon 6:6


This is right before the Nephites get obliterated, which is a sad event of course, but from a historical perspective, this helps us know that the Spirit was with Mormon, helping him to think ahead and preserve the records. I also like the idea here that it was God that was entrusting them to him, and it wasn't just some museum job or interest in historical preservation. His work on the records was a spiritual undertaking and something he knew that the Lord was overseeing. With records, and I think with all of our careers, I think we can have that spirit, and do our jobs in the Lord's way, working to serve and help others and to accomplish even more in our lives with God than we could ever achieve alone.

Today, let's include God in our work, and whatever we do, let's do it unto him, and he will grant us success, and help us look ahead for how we can work together with his plan and serve others in the best way... working for God, no matter what jobs we have in our lives.

Luke 2:10-11 -- On Joy over Sorrow

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:10-11


This is part of the message of the angel to the shepherds, the "good tidings of great joy" for all people because the Savior was born to save us all. I like the fact that the message is joyful. Even though we know that Christ's mortal life ended in a personal tragedy for him and the people who knew him, and I'm sure the angel knew that as well, the overall joy of his life and his mission remain with us, transcending personal tragedy.

Our lives are similar. None of us can do as much for the world as Christ, of course, but it is also true that the triumph of our lives can transcend any personal tragedy and make our temporary hardships ultimately meaningless. Which is not to say that we won't care while we are going through it, as Christ and his family, friends, and disciples did as he was suffering, but eventually, his triumph and God's happy ending win out... for him and for all of us because of him.

Today, let's remember that happy ending, and trust it and believe in it. Christ came to save us, and he still will, no matter how dark or stressful things might seem temporarily. Let's work towards the joy and love that God offers us by listening to him and taking God's laws and his advice seriously. He knows how we can get through our hardships, and he will help us to find the joy and transcend the sorrow, just as he did.

Matthew 2:9-12 -- On Seeking Jesus

"When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way."
Matthew 2:9-12


I like the story of the wise men visiting Jesus. They sought him diligently, putting tha search above the priorities in their normal lives... and they found him. We can do the same.

Philippians 4:6-9 -- On Prayer and Peace

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."
Philippians 4:6-9


I like the idea of God's peace being beyond our comprehension, because it is just that amazing. Paul is teaching us how to find peace here, which is a really awesome thing to have the opportunity to learn. He suggests prayer and talking to God about our lives, requesting the things that we need, and also thinking about positive things. Today, let's review the list and maybe take some time to think on some good and praiseworthy things, and talk to God in prayer to get help letting go of the poisonous things that are ruining our peace.

Alma 17:13 -- On Trusting in the Lord

"And it came to pass when they had arrived in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, that they separated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that they should meet again at the close of their harvest; for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken."
Alma 17:13


This chapter has a little rewind to help us know what the sons of Mosiah were up to before they ran into Alma again. I really like the way they went forward trusting in God, not knowing ahead of time what would happen and not being able to make specific plans, but knowing that God would help them find each other again, and help them return home as well.

I like that God hears and answers prayers and that we can trust him about things like this that seem perhaps vague and uncertain.

I think there are a lot of things in life that we have to take on faith... not "have to" as in being forced to, but that we have to take on faith in order to have hope in some future event that only God can truly plan for. And the cool thing about that is that he does, and the more we trust in that and work for that future, the more real it is... because we're merging with God's reality, and his plans and timing, and when we're on the same page with God, then everything is working together for our good.

Today, let's work on trusting in God to lead us to good, and on maintaining our connection to his Spirit so that we can weather the sometimes-difficult challenges that we may face on the way.

John 15:4-7 -- On Working With God

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you."
John 15:4-7


This is really interesting and instructive I think. Christ is letting us know that the power in our lives comes from him, and that we can accomplish a lot together, but that we aren't going to get far alone. It isn't a threat or a dismissal, but just a fact... and he wants to work with us, and help us accomplish a lot of good. We just have to stick with him and collaborate rather than thinking that we know best or that we can do it all alone.

Today, let's work with God and accomplish all the good that we can.

John 6:14-15 -- On Taking Some Time Away

"Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.
When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone."
John 6:14-15


Reading this today, I appreciated the fact that Jesus needed some space sometimes, both to meditate and pray I'm sure, but also that he just needed to get away from some well-intentioned but very misguided people who were planning his life for him.

Christ is a symbol of unity and goodness, but even he needed to take some time away from the madness sometimes. The holidays are typically a time of togetherness, but this selection reminds us that it is okay to make some space for our own sanity as well. Let's remember that as we spend time with our loved ones, and work with God to ensure that the holidays are enjoyable rather than hyper-stressful. :)

John 12:24-27 -- On Purpose

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour."
John 12:24-27


This is both sad and good in different ways, because Christ didn't want to have to suffer and die, but he recognized that is where he was meant to be, and followed through with God's will. And the idea that in dying he gave life to all of us, in the image of the wheat, is cool. We live because he died for us.

I think there are things somewhat similar in our lives... times that we have to face and overcome even though we don't particularly want to, but we know that it is God's will, and something that we need to learn. God wants us to be happy in this life, certainly, but I don't think that every part of our lives is meant to be perfect and fun. Rather, in the midst of and partially because of the challenges, God is able to teach us patience and love and self-regulation, and help us to move towards happy endings and eternal joy.

Today, let's follow Christ's example to the extent that we are able to, and use our lives to fulfill God's purposes... to make the world better and help people in any way we can.

Hebrews 8:10-11 -- On Knowing the Lord

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest."
Hebrews 8:10-11


I like this idea... I don't think that it is a forced obedience in any way, but either something we ask for (as we ask for a change of heart now), or else a reward for a good life as we go into the millenium... better memory, better recall of everything we believe in, and with God right in front of us, we move from faith to sure knowledge. ... I know it is popular to think of heaven/the millenium as boring, but I don't think that at all. I think with the kind of solid foundation of everyone knowing God, and that kind of unity, we can build farther and better, and become more than we've ever dreamed of being.

Today, let's ponder the possibilities of unity, and how things could be if everyone knew the Lord. Someday, thankfully, we'll have that. :)

Ephesians 4:29-32 -- On Uncorrupting our Communication

"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you."
Ephesians 4:29-32


This whole chapter is really good, but this part about corrupt communication struck me today. I know that I get frustrated sometimes and allow my communication to be corrupted by that, rather than being patient and kind... and maybe we all to that to some extent. I like the idea here of grieving the Spirit, which we are all part of. Remembering our unity, both with each other and with God, can help us remember not to upset that perfect peach that Christ is trying to bless us with.

Today, let's work on letting go of bitterness and anger and any sort of communication corrupted with snark or insincerity or manipulation. Let's work on being truly kind, softening our hearts towards each other and towards God, letting go of past hurts and resentments, and really being as cool to people as we can be, emulating God's love for us, and his forgiveness.

Philippians 3:7-11 -- On Losing Ourselves to Find Salvation

"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead."
Philippians 3:7-11


Before this selection, Paul runs through some things that he was proud of in his life... things that made him stand out among others and feel like he was doing the right thing and a good person. I think we all have things like that in our lives... accomplishments, things that make us feel good about ourselves and that we feel like we did, or are doing, right. And not saying those are bad things... Paul was for sure trying to do the right things his whole life, living strictly by what he thought was right, and what his society told him was right.

However, then he goes on and explains in our selection that even though all of those things lifted him up and made him feel good about himself, they were nothing compared to what Christ offers us. He lost everything (figuratively and literally in his case) so that he could accept Christ. Lost his position, lost his stuff, lost his friends... but found new life, and better life, through the truth of Christ. And it was better *despite* losing everything, not because he suddenly got all his stuff back. :)

The last part is a little confusing talking about fellowship of sufferings and conformable unto his death, but I think what Paul is going for here is the idea of having empathy for Christ and following his example even down to how he suffered and died. Not so that we can be martyrs, but the idea of doing good and being good and being willing, if necessary, to give up our lives to help or save others... those are worthy ways to live, whether it is what God has in store for us or not. Today, let's try to be more like Paul, being willing to lose ourselves to gain God... and through his example, let's work to be more like Christ in ways that we had perhaps not thought of before, being willing to follow him anywhere according to his will.

Luke 2:48-52 -- On Being Empathetic and Subject to Others

"And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man."
Luke 2:48-52


This is the end of the story of Jesus being left behind / purposely staying behind after the feast of the passover when he was twelve. I like it because it shows something that we all need to learn, which is to be emotionally aware of others, and also subject to others when needed. Neither of those are very fun lessons, but being aware of how we affect others, and how cooperation helps our society and world can both be very helpful.

Obviously that doesn't mean that we can't question unjust things, but learning humility is important, and good for us, even though it is hard. I think for Christ perhaps it was even harder, because his earthly parents didn't really understand his heavenly mission well enough to give him the latitude that he needed, but he was subject to them anyway, and learned better how to serve both them and God.

Today, let's work hard to understand, help, and cooperate with the people around us, especially those who have authority over us. It can grate sometimes, but it can also help the world work... and when we have authority over others, let's be really careful to be kind and understanding and to listen. And let's work to increase in favor with God and man as well, as we work to do good and uplift within our roles and callings.

Zechariah 1:3-4 -- On Turning to God

"Therefore say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye unto me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.
Be ye not as your fathers, unto whom the former prophets have cried, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Turn ye now from your evil ways, and from your evil doings: but they did not hear, nor hearken unto me, saith the Lord."
Zechariah 1:3-4


I like the idea here that the Lord will match us in our efforts to approach him. I also kind of like the commandment to not be as our fathers, because that means we can use some of our natural rebellious tendencies to our advantage. :) We can rebel against our ancestors' example and be righteous, even if our closer ancestors are doing pretty good. :)

Seriously though, today let's work on turning to the Lord, and listening to his warnings to us. Everything he does, he does for us... to help us improve and to help us be able to return to him. Let's reach out and do everything we can to make a connection there, and build upon that. Having God in our lives makes such a difference... he makes everything better.

Luke 18:9 -- On Humility and Love

"And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:"
Luke 18:9


The parable referred to here is great (as are the others in this chapter), but the lead up to it tells us a lot as well. Often we're really concerned with our own positive qualities, and compare them to the weaknesses of others, because it makes us feel good, and sort of superior. Nice ego boost, but it's a good thing to remember that self confidence built on comparison with others can be super flimsy, especially when the tables are turned and we are comparing our weaknesses to another person's strengths. Plus, we're supposed to be loving, lifting, and strengthening others rather than looking at them like inferior bugs, so there's that. :)

Today, let's try not to be like the audience described here. Let's trust in God rather than ourselves, remember that we all have vast room for improvement, and do what we can to help the people around us rather than despising them because they aren't as cool as we are.

Proverbs 13:10 -- On Letting Go of Pride and Contention

"Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom."
Proverbs 13:10


It is somewhat sobering to think that all of the contention in our lives is due to pride, but it seems really true. Today, let's take a step back and work on being humble, submissive to God, and patient, and see if we can let go of some of the contention in our lives with God's help.

Haggai 1:7 -- On Considering Our Direction

"Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways."
Haggai 1:7


It is instructive of course to read this in context, but maybe out of context is important too, so we aren't just considering a sliver of our ways that relate to the story, but really considering all of our ways. Another selection from my Primary lesson kind of goes along with this one too. "When ye fasted . . . did ye at all fast unto me? . . . And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?" (Zechariah 7:6).

It kind of makes me think we should be considering our ways on a large scale... why we do what we do, where our focus should be, and what our ways are leading to. Change can be scary, but if we change our direction now, at least we'll be headed to where we want to go, rather than someplace else. :) And a good thing to think about now maybe, so we can start fresh with the new year.

Isaiah 26:19-21 -- On Blood and Secrets

"Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.
Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.
For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain."
Isaiah 26:19-21


This is so interesting, because it kind of sounds like the dead coming back to life and the earth not covering the slain is *part* of punishing iniquity. Can you imagine? Someone gets murdered and the person is raised up to give his side of the story? There are many games and some books (notably, Scalzi) that deal with coming back from the dead, but to think of it as part of God's plan for stopping wickedness is different, and actually seems effective. You kill someone and they are resurrected with an immortal body so you can't hurt or kill them again. Looks like you are going to have to find a different solution. Secret combinations don't work anymore when nothing is hidden.

This goes along with Luke 12:2-3, which tells us that nothing will be hidden anymore, and in fact secrets will be "proclaimed upon the housetops" which seems to indicate at the very least that it will be hard to not know, since it will be apparent. Some of that fits with our day where different secret information is revealed all the time by bad guys hacking into different systems, news articles about past sins coming to light, etc. ... But the earth disclosing her blood takes it to a whole other level. This isn't just data breaches and people coming forward about the past. This is actually not being able to hide anything, which is a very interesting change that I don't think any of us are quite ready for.

Today, maybe we should start getting ready, making sure that we're changing into people that don't need to hide, from God or anyone else. Note that this doesn't mean that I recommend sharing your social security number or list of passwords with the world. God's change will come in time, and right now it is wise to still avoid fraud. :) But let's prepare for a time when our lives are open, and make sure that isn't going to devastate us.

Jeremiah 15:19-20 -- On Saving the Precious

"Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.
And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the Lord."
Jeremiah 15:19-20


I like the idea that the precious and the vile can be divided, and also that God is setting up walls of defense to protect the precious parts, which seems to be us. :) ... Let's be thankful to our God who sees us that way, and be willing to stand and protect others as well.

3 Nephi 27:20 -- On Repentance, Baptism, and Sustained Change

"Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day."
3 Nephi 27:20


This is Christ speaking, and it's a good reminder of the basics of the gospel. Turn to God, be willing to change, make a committment to him by following the example of Christ by being baptized, and continue in faith, listening to the Holy Ghost. Today, let's do as he asks and clean up our lives and turn to him in faith. He is the solution to all of our problems, if we open our hearts and lives to him and apply his advice.

3 Nephi 12:14-16 -- On Being the Light

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the light of this people. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house;
Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."
3 Nephi 12:14-16


Being the light is an incredible opportunity, but also a big responsibility. God is asking us to rise above the human condition to prove that it can be done, to be happy in a sometimes sad and scary world, and to set an example of patience, calm, and faith in the midst of immediacy and high drama. :)

The coolest thing about all of it is that because he asks us to do it, we know that he has provided a way to succeed. Today, let's remember that above all as we examine our lives and try to live better and work to be the Light, not as bright as Christ who is the true light, but a reflection of it because he asks us to share his light with others. With God's help, let's not just learn to survive, but to thrive and rise above our afflictions so that we can help others to do so as well.

Hosea 4:3-4 -- On Fish and Fighting

"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.
Yet let no man strive, nor reprove another: for thy people are as they that strive with the priest."
Hosea 4:3-4


This chapter is talking about the wickedness of the people. The first verse of the selection seems to be about the consequences of that. A couple of ideas there... not sure, but it might be talking about how we're connected to each other, and to the earth and the creatures therein, so that when the earth is sick from wickedness, it isn't just spiritually, because even though we can't see it, the spiritual and the physical are connected, and if we are spiritually sick it can influence our physical well being as well. If that is the case, as here, then excessive wickedness can cause the animals to be taken away... which seems like such a dramatic and almost impossible thing, but the wickedness discussed is similarly dramatic: "there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land" (verse 1).

The other thing that stood out to me is in the second verse where it talks about "they that strive with the priest." That seems to mean arguing even when there is no chance that we are right... arguing just for the sake of arguing, or thinking that we know better than the scriptures (which is what a priest would be sharing), although in later verses here we learn that the priests are also corrupt and God disowns them, saying "thou shalt be no priest to me." So the encouragement not to reprove could also mean that it is pointless to strive/contend with each other because it's just done in anger and making things worse. No one is sincerely seeking truth, and reproving when there is no one sincerely able to learn or be benefitted is pointless, the same way arguing against the scriptures is.

Let's think about this today, and make sure we don't lose truth and mercy, and work on living well and setting a good example rather than arguing with people who aren't seeking truth. We can still be ready to answer anyone who asks us about our testimony, of course, but letting go of pointless contention will go a long way in helping us all to retain the Spirit in our lives.

Ecclesiastes 12:14 -- On Secrets

"For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."
Ecclesiastes 12:14


A good thing to remember, that our secrets are not hid from the Lord, and that we need to be clean inside and out as we work towards a future blessed by God. God can help us if we are willing to change, but we can't hide or keep our souvenirs from hell if we want to go to heaven. They have to go. :)

Helaman 13:2-4 -- On Returning and Finishing

"And it came to pass that in this year there was one Samuel, a Lamanite, came into the land of Zarahemla, and began to preach unto the people. And it came to pass that he did preach, many days, repentance unto the people, and they did cast him out, and he was about to return to his own land.
But behold, the voice of the Lord came unto him, that he should return again, and prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his heart.
And it came to pass that they would not suffer that he should enter into the city; therefore he went and got upon the wall thereof, and stretched forth his hand and cried with a loud voice, and prophesied unto the people whatsoever things the Lord put into his heart."
Helaman 13:2-4


I love how Samuel solved the problem when God told him to go back to the city. He wasn't allowed in, so he got up on the wall and started preaching to them from there, and spread the message that God wanted him to spread.

I feel like this is something that we probably all need to do more of. We try, we get rejected or just fail, so we give up. Today, let's be more like Samuel (and Nephi, and others), and when we run into an obstacle when trying to do God's will, instead of giving up, let's listen to God, take heart, and return to the task. If we keep trying another way, God will help us eventually accomplish his purpose. It won't always be fun. Samuel had people shooting arrows at him... but he kept at it until the work was done.

Helaman 2:6-9 -- On Combinations and Resisting Evil

"And it came to pass as he went forth towards the judgment-seat to destroy Helaman, behold one of the servants of Helaman, having been out by night, and having obtained, through disguise, a knowledge of those plans which had been laid by this band to destroy Helaman—
And it came to pass that he met Kishkumen, and he gave unto him a sign; therefore Kishkumen made known unto him the object of his desire, desiring that he would conduct him to the judgment-seat that he might murder Helaman.
And when the servant of Helaman had known all the heart of Kishkumen, and how that it was his object to murder, and also that it was the object of all those who belonged to his band to murder, and to rob, and to gain power, (and this was their secret plan, and their combination) the servant of Helaman said unto Kishkumen: Let us go forth unto the judgment-seat.
Now this did please Kishkumen exceedingly, for he did suppose that he should accomplish his design; but behold, the servant of Helaman, as they were going forth unto the judgment-seat, did stab Kishkumen even to the heart, that he fell dead without a groan. And he ran and told Helaman all the things which he had seen, and heard, and done."
Helaman 2:6-9


My current job exposes me to a lot of stories about scams and fraud online. I don't get exposed as much to the stories about murder, but I know it happens, and that there is a lot of other evil out there that never even hits the news. Reading this is interesting because it show us that even back in the times of the Nephites, people were fighting against these secret combinations in similar ways that we do today (spies, etc.).

It reminds me of one of the supposed contradictions in the scriptures. We are told "ye shall not resist evil" in 3 Nephi 12:39, and in Alma 61:14 we read "let us resist evil." I don't think that is a contradiction, but rather different circumstances. [I also don't think that God telling us not to resist evil means that we should invite it. Let's make sure that we are using different passwords for different sites (use a password manager if they are too hard to remember), and never trust links in emails or strange calls from the boss asking us to buy gift cards.] :)

As Ecclesiastes tells us, there is a time for everything, and Nephi killing Laban helps us understand that there are exceptions to even the most strict rules. I think the key is to follow the rule as far as we can. (Christ instructing us to not resist evil, and to let someone have your cloak, and even offer him more if he needs it.) To let things go if people try to cheat us, and to help them if they are in need so maybe they don't need to steal. And obviously we should follow the Thall shalt not kill commandment as well. If there are exceptions to any of the general commandments (as in Nephi's case, and as is often the case if you are a police officer, a spy, or have a job fighting fraud), those are things that we can't just assume, but if we listen to the Spirit and stay in tune with God, making sure that we are truly and sincerely not following our will, but his, then God will lead us along, and we'll know when those exceptions are his will.

Today, let's think about this, but in a very very careful and studious way. We need to make sure that we never assume that we are exceptions, but also be aware that there are exceptions so that we don't judge others harshly. Let's listen to the Spirit and make sure that we are wholly in tune with God (at bare minimum to the temple recommend level) before taking any action that contradicts the commandments, which are there to keep us safe, and others safe from us. And let's remember love first, especially with those around us. It is most important to do as the prophet asks and work on being sin-resistant first, before we worry about resisting evil in other ways.

Matthew 6:21-23 -- On Hearts, Eyes, and Light

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!"
Matthew 6:21-23


In life sometimes we feel like we are missing something, but aren't always sure what it is. Sometimes we throw various addictions into the void to try to fill ourselves up, but what is really missing is God... his love and light makes us whole. If we fill ourselves with darkness instead, we might feel temporary satisfaction, but that darkness just starts eating away at us, making the void bigger and can never make us whole... rather, it can make us forget ourselves and turn into people that we never wanted to be.

I think God is helping us to understand our direction and focus here by talking about hearts and eyes... what we love and what we look towards, those are things that are going to change who we are, and what we are filled with.

Today, let's work on being filled with light rather than darkness. Let's talk to God about who we really want to be, and who he knows we can be, and then let's work on that plan together.

Matthew 26:20-22 -- On Hard Questions

"Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve.
And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?"
Matthew 26:20-22


I like this I think because it shows the humility of his team... his disciples. I think many of us, if faced with a prediction like that might think... yeah, no way is that me, I would never do that. But they were humble, they believed him without question, and their biggest worry was whether they were going to be the one that betrayed him. They clearly believed him and valued him more than they trusted and believed in themselves. ... And while that might be a bad recipe in some human relationships, our relationship with God, who we know is infallible and who would never take advantage of his power over us, it was perfect. (And they also really grew into confident, powerful people later, once Christ had died and they stepped up and became the leaders of the church, but still, they relied on his perfection and power even then.)

Today, let's consider this scene from Christ's life, and really ask ourselves the same question... are we betraying Christ with some of our choices... and if so, can we learn from him how to do better?

Matthew 7:1-3 -- On Thinking, Praying, and Seeing Clearly

"Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"
Matthew 7:1-3


This is some good advice from God, even though it is hard.

I feel like a lot of it is how we take in information. When we think about a scripture, or a new idea, or even a criticism, we have a tendency to react too quickly, rejecting anything that seems like it could be painful or hard, and deflecting it instead.

Sometimes we deflect it into criticism or mockery of others, sometimes into just outright dismissal of the information, but because the information is triggering some defense mechanism in us, rarely do we step back, consider how it applies to us, and then act accordingly.

I think defense mechanisms like that are normal and understandable... I mean, no one wants to experience pain. The problem is that a lot of the time it causes us to adopt really bad habits in the way that we self-evaluate and in the way that we see others... and thus the reminder from God, which in essence is saying, hold on, take a step back. Remember patience and meekness. Think.

Today, let's consider how God's laws apply to ourselves before we attempt to apply them to others. Let's remember that our vision is obstructed when it comes to how we see ourselves, and let's take extra care and time when we run into other information as well, taking the time to think and pray and get God's perspective on how we should react and what we should learn. As we do, God will help us to learn and grow and see more clearly.

Helaman 10:4-5 -- On Purpose and Power

"Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.
And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will."
Helaman 10:4-5


Here, Nephi is given close to limitless power... whatever he says will happen, does. Now, of course, it is still the power of God that makes everything happen, so God could theoretically revoke those powers, but he's granting them here specifically because he knows that Nephi won't abuse the power granted. Nephi's goals and God's goals are the same.

We're all children of God and theoretically we could all have that kind of power, but we fall short in that whole united purpose thing. And probably in lots of other ways as well, but you know, we have to start somewhere. :) Nephi was dedicated to helping people see the truth of God, and his power, and urging them to repent, and those are things that we can learn to honor in our lives as well, finding ways to get God's message out there, and help others who have questions. Today, let's think of ways that we can be like Nephi, and be more on the same page with God than we have been before. We likely won't get this level of power anytime soon... maybe not even in this life, but hey, we have eternity before us. :)

D&C 25:10 -- On Seeking for the Things of a Better World

"And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better."
Doctrine and Covenants 25:10


Ran across this verse today, which was interesting after writing about "hope for a better world" yesterday (Ether 12:4)... God was asking Emma, and since this is scripture, and we should liken all scripture unto ourselves, he is also asking us. It seems like a step beyond just hoping and believing in a better world. Now we're moving on (as we should) to actively trying to find it, and build it.

The question is, can we let go of those "things of the world" and switch our priorities over to something better? Perhaps it is the same as asking how we can be in the world, but not of the world. It takes work and purposeful intent to put God first, and to seek his guidance in all that we do, but it's definitely worth the effort as we change our lives for the better and do our part in being part of, and an example of, that better world.

Today, let's think about (and talk to God about) how we can do this in our individual lives, and implement some changes for the better.

Ether 12:3-4 -- On Faith and Hope for a Better World

"For he did cry from the morning, even until the going down of the sun, exhorting the people to believe in God unto repentance lest they should be destroyed, saying unto them that by faith all things are fulfilled—
Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God."
Ether 12:3-4


Ether was really dedicated to his mission, spending every daylight hour doing God's work and trying to get his message across... and the message here was hope. That if we trust in God with faith, we can hope for more, and better, than what this world can offer us. Parts of this world can seem scary and hopeless, and God offers us more. And other parts of this world seem beautiful and awe-inspiring... and still, God offers us more. We don't need to be in despair or hopeless if we look to the hope that is there in Christ. And the good parts of life inspire us to be thankful, which also helps us to be happy and look to God for even more happiness... so, whatever the current mood, faith in God can lift us and offer us more. ... The better world that God offers us is real, and coming. We just need to hang in there and have faith in his promise... if we keep following his path, God will lead us straight to it.

James 1:4 -- On Patience

"But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
James 1:4


Thinking about this today, I wonder how much our lives would change for the better if we had more patience. I feel like it would be a dramatic difference, and maybe that is something huge that God has that we don't typically have... that patience and perspective to know that things are going to work out and be okay, even if that isn't true right now.

Let's listen to this advice, and work on our patience, letting it grow in our lives until we get to a point where we feel more whole and confident and satisfied, because we have patience as well as faith, and we know that the happy ending is coming, and that God will help us and answer our prayers. His timeline is different than ours sometimes, but that doesn't mean it is worse. :) Let's trust and have patience today, and keep trying that, and see how our lives improve over time.

Matthew 18:7-9 -- On Change

"Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire."
Matthew 18:7-9


I don't think that God is asking us to maim ourselves here, but is rather trying to make a strong point about some of the mind traps that we set for ourselves. If we have a bad habit or we want to do something that God asks us not to do, often we justify it by claiming it is in our nature... this is how man evolved, or this is how I was born, or this is how I was raised, and I can't change it. It is part of me. With God's analogy he is saying, okay... if you have incorporated the world into yourself, then physically cut it out. If there is part of you that is preventing you from reaching heaven, then *change* it.

It might seem impossible to us to change some of these things that seem like part of ourselves, but part of life is exactly this challenge... the struggle of having a body and trying to join our spirits to it, and understand that dual nature, and make sure our spirits are coming out on top, rather than the "natural man" (Mosiah 3:19). Today, let's talk to God about whatever is holding us back from him and from heaven... and let's pray for his help to change... to even want to change. If we ask in sincerity, he will help us to let go of the bad and embrace the good... and if we walk God's path, in the end, no matter what sins or selves we shed, we won't end up being maimed, but rather will become whole and complete and happy, through God's help and his grace.

Alma 36:17-21 -- On Pain and Joy and Making Change Possible

"And it came to pass that as I was thus racked with torment, while I was harrowed up by the memory of my many sins, behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.
Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.
And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.
And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!
Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy."
Alma 36:17-21


This is part of the converstion of Alma the Younger. Before this, an angel comes and talks with him and tells him that even if he chooses to be destroyed, he needs to stop trying to destroy the church (verse 9). I can only guess at his previous knowledge and motivations, but it seems that Alma didn't have a full realization of what he was doing to himself before that, and so hearing it as a choice that he was making from an angel, which is hard to doubt, threw him into a guilt spiral, because he had been leading people away "unto destruction" (verse 14).

The cool thing here is that even though he was suffering intensely at the realization of his horrible actions, he was able to come out of that pain and change himself into a different, better person... and it started when he remembered to call upon Jesus Christ, who he had heard of because his father was the prophet.

I think the same thing can happen in our lives, whether we get as low and evil as Alma the Younger did or not. We all sin, we all have guilt, but we can be lifted out of our own weaknesses and pain and rightful consequences and obtain mercy as we call upon Christ. As with Alma the Younger, it takes more than a one-time conversion... we'll have to work at changing who we are, and work to get to a point where we no longer want those bad things that we wanted before. Sometimes that seems out of reach, just as Alma the Younger felt when he was steeped in despair. However, when we call upon God, we realize that his love, and hope, and grace are never out of reach. If we are sincere and we want to change, God will help us do so, and make the impossible possible for us. We can change our very natures and our minds and our hearts as we turn them to Christ and get his help in becoming who we truly want to be, rather than the person we were before who caused pain and grief to others.

Today, let's remember that all is possible with God, and let's take time to look to him and pray for help in becoming better than we currently are.

Alma 33:2 -- On Worship

"And Alma said unto them: Behold, ye have said that ye could not worship your God because ye are cast out of your synagogues. But behold, I say unto you, if ye suppose that ye cannot worship God, ye do greatly err, and ye ought to search the scriptures; if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not understand them."
Alma 33:2


This is a good lesson from Alma. Definitely don't misunderstand and think that any of this is anti-church. Going to church and fellowshipping with other believers is a great way to get a spiritual uplift, and taking the sacrament is important. However, the point here is that worshipping God isn't something that can only be done there, one day a week, but it is something that we can do all the time... praying for help and guidance in any circumstance, and (through prayer) having God with us no matter where we are. We don't have to face anything alone.

Today, let's remember this, and worship the Lord where we are, giving thanks for all that we have, and asking God to teach and lead us in his path.

Zephaniah 2:2-3 -- On Seeking the Lord

"Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger come upon you.
Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger."
Zephaniah 2:2-3


The chapter before this was talking about destruction and burning, and so I really liked turning the page to find this... a good warning about how to possibly avoid some of the doom predicted in the last days, which I think comes down to being part of the solution rather then being part of the problem, right? If we do the Lord's work and seek the good in the world, promote good and help others, rather than seeking to get ahead by stepping on other people or similar strategies, then "it may be" that we will be hid when God makes an end to the evil. ... But if not, even if we die tragically, let's remember that God still and always has a happy ending in store for us, and everyone that is willing to seek him and to be the good in the world. Death is no permanent ending for us, and God always keeps his promises. We just need to work on keeping ours, and helping to make the world a better place.

Moses 1:37-38 -- On the Greatness of the Lord

"And the Lord God spake unto Moses, saying: The heavens, they are many, and they cannot be numbered unto man; but they are numbered unto me, for they are mine.
And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works, neither to my words."
Moses 1:37-38


This is a good scripture for remembering to be in awe of God and what he does. He didn't just create our world, but more than we can count.

Today, when we are tempted to take God lightly and think that we know best, let's remember this verse and the gigantic scale of what we are really saying, and step back and regain some humility. If there is a disagreement between us, God is right and we are wrong--every time. Instead of railing against him and trying to get our way, let's learn from him and work to understand why things are the way the are, so that we can grow up more wisely and learn to be more like him.

Deuteronomy 31:28-30 -- On Songs of Memory

"Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.
For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands.
And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended."
Deuteronomy 31:28-30


Moses has the Levites put the book of the law into the ark as a reminder, but then also teaches them a song as a reminder of what he knew would happen. It seems a little strange to us perhaps, but maybe in the context of a world where most history was kept as oral history it makes sense. Write it all down once on something as permanent as you can, and then put highlights and warnings into a song so that people can memorize it and pass it on. I think that Deuteronomy 32 is the song that he was talking about, since it does mention "a perverse and crooked generation" (verse 5), but also other good reminders, like remembering that God is great and right and perfect.

Today, if we have a little time, let's read Moses' reminder song, and even if not, let's think about what God wants us to remember and find ways to remind ourselves of God and His gospel daily. Let's work hard to not forget and go astray, since we do have a tendency to do that.

Psalms 24:1 -- On God's Supremacy

"The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein."
Psalms 24:1


This is a good thing to remember... maybe one of the biggest things that we forget in life, and it relates directly to the "first and great commandment" (Matthew 22:37-38, Mark 12:29) of loving God, and the whole idea of God. We shrink God in our minds to a being that is just like one of us, when he isn't anything of the sort.

It's good to remember when we're having a bad day that we are God's children and that someday we can learn what he knows, etc., but the operative word is children. And it is important that we know that we don't need to be afraid of talking to God, and that he wants us to, and loves us. However, when we start thinking that God is just another authority figure to rebel against or that we can trick him, or get into heaven our own way and pick and choose which commandments to follow, then we're getting way off track.

We're equally misguided when we think that we can manipulate him because of his great love for us. First of all, love is not some inconsequential thing that should be abused to get our way with anyone, and second, God is not an overly permissive grandparent. He's not there to meet our deadlines for proving himself to us, or subject to our twisted "I won't love you unless you do this for me" pleas. He knows what is behind all of that. He knows our hearts.

Today, let's remember that God made the earth and everything in it, and stop fighting him on the subject of who is in charge. Once we get past that and gain a little bit of perspective and humility, then we can get to the real work of learning from God, being part of his work, and taking his advice, including the second commandment of loving everyone else, for we are all his creations. If we can get this one thing right... to put God and his will first in everything, then all of life will fit together better, because we won't be fighting against where the puzzle peices actually go. :)

Psalms 121:2-3 -- On Awareness and Help From the Lord

"My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber."
Psalms 121:2-3


I like this, because it is showing that God is always aware of us, and watching over us. He won't accidentally miss it if we fall into trouble, or fail to help us. A good reminder. Today, let's work on trusting the Lord and living worthy of his promises.

Proverbs 18:10 -- On the Name of the Lord

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe."
Proverbs 18:10


I was thinking about this verse as it relates to the promises that we make at baptism and that we renew each week when we take the sacrament. One of the things that we promise is "to take upon [us] the name of [Christ], and always remember him, and keep his commandments" (Moroni 4:3). To me, it seems like that is what is being referred to here. Our covenant with our God is our safety, and his name is our protection... that's why we promise to take that name upon us, because that is how we survive in this world. :)

Today, let's remember the Lord and keep our covenants with him, so that we can stay safe, but also so that we can live and be bold and learn and try new things. The gospel isn't always about being careful... sometimes we need to be bold, but safety isn't about whether we are following sane security procedures (although that is certainly a good idea)... it is about turning to the Lord. Let's work on that.

Colossians 3:12-14 -- On Bonds of Perfection

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."
Colossians 3:12-14


When Paul asks us here to "put on" some things, it reminds me of the idea of wearing the armor of God, but instead he is talking about just normal clothing, which also reminds me a little of the story of the Emporer's New Clothes, where a swindler convinces the king he is wearing fine clothing when he is not, and he goes outside unclothed. Although we of course wear physical clothing, if we are not wearing this spiritual clothing, we could be likewise in the embarrassing situation of not being clothed, spiritually.

I also like the idea of being bound to perfection. We can't really qualify for perfection ourselves in this life... it is out of reach to us, but Christ atoned for us, and treating others well and loving and serving his people... those things bind us to him, and ensure that we can reach that perfection someday, through his mercy and grace.

Today, let's clothe ourselves in mercy, kindness, humility, forgiveness, and especially love, and we will be spiritually ready to face the world, and be bound to that perfection and unity that God promises to the faithful.

Proverbs 11:17 -- On Choosing Who to Be

"The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh."
Proverbs 11:17


A simple lesson from God today. When we help others, we help ourselves, and when we harm others, we harm ourselves. I don't even think it is karma... just a deep, spiritual truth. We can't keep our thoughts and actions towards others from having an impact on our souls and our bodies. There is no way of separating ourselves from that consequence. We are either becoming better, purifying ourselves, or becoming worse, corrupting ourselves, and we are choosing who we *are* by how we act, every moment, every day. I think we have all felt sick after doing something, and needed to make it right before we could move on from that. Today, let's keep this lesson in mind, and choose more wisely how we treat others, so that we aren't harming anyone, including ourselves.

Psalms 27:3-6 -- On Sacrifices of Joy

"Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.
One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.
For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord."
Psalms 27:3-6


Lots of great symbolism here. I like that we don't need to fear even if armies come against us, because the Lord is on our side, and his temple is a spiritual refuge that we can have confidence in. I especially love the phrase "sacrifices of joy" ... and it makes me ask the question, what do we give to the Lord when we are filled with happiness?

Perhaps gifts of praise and thanks, as with the singing mentioned. Or maybe the sacrifices of joy are the same sacrifices as always... humility, repentance, submission to God's will (broken heart, contrite spirit), but all of the things that we could possibly be sorry for are swallowed up in the joy of Christ. Or even joy *as* a sacrifice, because we have to work to pull ourselves away from the gloom of the world to find and promote the positive.

One interpretation or all of the above, I think that today is a good day to contemplate what sacrifices of joy we can make to the Lord, as we look for the good in the world and work to praise him with the way that we live our lives. :)

Joel 2:25 -- On Restoring the Locust Years

"And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you."
Joel 2:25


I like the idea that God will restore the years that the locust hath eaten... but how? It seems similar to Ezekiel 37:11-14 which talks about the hope to be found in the resurrection. Even if we die, God can raise us up and still keep his promises to us. And that seems appropriate as well in this last-days, end-of-the-world context. Despite the war and desolation and the lack of so many things, God promises all of us, then as well as now, that he will restore to us the years that are lost.

I feel like this has application to our lives now as well. Sometimes we do lose years, maybe not always to locusts, but to disasters and sickness and tragedy and trial. These symbolic "locust years" in our lives are things that God will also restore, because he promises us a happy ending. No matter how the other chapters of our lives go, and what we need to learn through enduring some pain and some hardship, God promises in many places that our mourning shall be turned into joy (3 Nephi 10:10, Psalms 30:11, Jeremiah 31:13, Isaiah 61:3, 2 Nephi 8:11, etc.). If we stick with the story and keep turning ourselves into the heroes that we can be, God, who is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2, Moroni 6:4) will deliver the promised joy. No matter what they look like now, with convoluted plotlines and crazy twists that the self-destructive protagonists seem to relish, every one of our stories can have a happy ending if we turn to God.

Mark 5:25-27 -- On Faith and Endurance

"And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment."
Mark 5:25-27


This is pretty amazing. It seems like one of those self-made miracles (still powered by God of course) like when the Brother of Jared was asked to come up with a solution to the problem of not having light in his vessels. He came up with something creative and asked the Lord to do it, and it worked. Similar thing here... she had done what the world suggested and sought out doctors for healing, but when that didn't work, she relied on God, and sought her own creative solution, and because she was listening to the Spirit and had faith that God could help, it worked.

Let's remember that she had suffered with this same problem for twelve years though. Like so many other miracles, it wasn't an instant solution that avoided all suffering, but rather through sustained effort and listening to the spirit, she was finally granted a solution. That took a lot of strength as well as a lot of faith... to keep trying, to trust in something that others might have laughed at, and even to come forward and admit everything after she felt that she had been cured. She might have been afraid that her miracle would be taken away if it was known.

Today, let's keep returning to God in prayer, asking him for the things that we are in need of, and trusting that he will bless us... in his way, and in his time. Let's stay thankful for what he has given us, even when we still have things in our lives that are painful and/or perplexing. Let's keep trying, and keep the faith, walking God's path. In time, all will be made right, in this life or the next. As we work with God and try to find solutions, enduring our hardships, he will work with us, and like this woman, bless us for our faith.

John 17:20-21 -- On Oneness

"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me."
John 17:20-21


I love the idea of oneness wtih God... in this way at least. I think some concepts of God have us all joining him in a big amorphous blob, and I don't really like that idea, but if we are one with God as Christ is one with him... having his own will, but being one in purpose, working to help people and bring to pass his Father's purpose, which is happiness for all of us, then I am totally in. I want to be part of that and always connected to that amazing guidance and love.

Isn't that what we are emulating when we create friendships as well... we're at least on some level gathering together because we are like-minded and enjoy that mental/spiritual connection. Because we're imperfect, I am not sure if I want any of you in my actual mind the way that God is, but as we learn to be pure and righteous and if we're all connected through God, then I think it would be cool to have that connection with others as well, where we would be way more connected than just texting across distance, but we could actually converse mind-to-mind.

Privacy issues spring to mind, of course, but I'm sure God has all of that worked out. I wonder if that is what prayer is... focusing our attention and requesting a direct connection. :)

Today, let's pray for the people around us, and look forward to the time when we can feel complete acceptance and belonging together, in God, as we are one in him, and yet still ourselves. :)

Isaiah 55:11-13 -- On Joy and Peace and Happy Endings

"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."
Isaiah 55:11-13


I like that whatever the Lord says will happen... and also that what he says in this case is that everything is going to be filled with love and peace... plants rather than weeds, and even the earth itself will be happy. That is what God is working towards, and what will definitely happen. The happy ending is waiting for us, even though we might be in one of the middle chapters where the hero is struggling to go on, or where hope seems lost. Because we know that the Lord is the author of eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9), all we have to do is keep turning the pages and reading (and participating in) the story, and that is where it will lead. :) Today, let's trust in Christ and work towards the happy ending that he has already written.

2 Corinthians 5:12 -- On Appearance and Heart

"For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart."
2 Corinthians 5:12


I was thinking about this appearance and heart comparison, and it feels like a really easy trap to fall into if we don't specifically work at it. We are these eternal beings whose spirits existed before this life, and we must have been valued for who we were, spiritually, then, and known the value of what we think of as the "inside" of a person, rather than the external appearance, but a byproduct of having these bodies is a whole different perspective. We often use "see" and other vision words when we mean "understand," equating the two things when they are absolutely not equivalent. Our eyes, like the rest of our bodies, can distract us from what is really important.

One way to "see" past our external bias is to focus on the Lord and work to stay in tune with the Spirit. God can help us to understand and value the things that are true and important in the world, beyond the visual/external layer, because "the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). Today, let's pray and work on learning from God how to do the same.

1 Nephi 4:3 -- On Moving Forward Despite our Fears

"Now behold ye know that this is true; and ye also know that an angel hath spoken unto you; wherefore can ye doubt? Let us go up; the Lord is able to deliver us, even as our fathers, and to destroy Laban, even as the Egyptians."
1 Nephi 4:3


This is part of the story of Nephi retrieving the Brass Plates. God had commanded them to return to Jerusalem and get them, and they had tried a couple of times, and had their property stolen, and almost been killed, so his brothers were (understandably perhaps) reluctant to try again. Nephi urges them to continue, because he wants to do God's will, and knows that God can make it happen, even if he can't see how.

It reminds me of the story in Daniel 3 where the king asks the young men why they aren't doing as he commanded and asks "who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?" (Daniel 3:15). They answer confidently, telling him "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us," and "he will deliver us" (Daniel 3:17), and then in the next verse they assert that even "if not" ... if the Lord chooses not to deliver them, they are still going to do the Lord's will rather than the King's will (Daniel 3:18).

The other thing that comes to mind is a story from the early days of the pioneers that I have heard several times:

"A large company of several hundred persons had been called to settle Arizona. One brother, reporting on the expedition in President Brigham Young’s office, said the group had gone about 50 miles (80.5 km) beyond the Colorado River. Finding no water, they were in desperate circumstances. Their chaplain went out alone one day and pleaded with the Lord for water.
“Soon there was a fall of rain and snow depositing plenty of water for the cattle, and [for the company] to fill up all their barrels. … In the morning all were refreshed, barrels filled up, and all turned back rejoicing in the goodness of the Lord in saving them from perishing. They returned to Salt Lake and reported Arizona uninhabitable.”
Brother Dan Jones recalled that Brigham Young “said nothing for a few moments, but sat looking me straight in the eye. Finally he asked, ‘What do you think of that Brother Jones?’”
Brother Jones answered, “I would have filled up, went on, and prayed again.”"

(Found in "A Time for Faith, Not Fear" HERE.)

Returning to our title scripture, Nephi continues acting on faith after urging his brothers to try again. He went forward, being "led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which [he] should do" (1 Nephi 4:6).

Nephi knew that the Lord wasn't going to deliver him from everything that they faced, just as Dan Jones knew that settling Arizona would still be difficult, and just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego knew that there was a possibility that the Lord wouldn't save them from the fiery furnace. They all still knew that the Lord was able to lead them, save them, or help them accomplish what he asked, and they trusted in him enough to move forward, doing his will.

Maybe that's where we fall short sometimes... if our symbolic journey to Arizona is too hard and we run out of water, we get scared. If we figuratively face the king and know that God can, but might not, save us, we panic. If God asks us to do something and we fail several times, we think, well, maybe he doesn't want that after all and we give up, as Nephi's brothers wanted to do.

In 2 Corinthians 5:7, Paul talks about walking by faith and not by sight, and I think that all of these things are illustrations of that. Exercising our faith doesn't mean that one time plea for water, or praying for help in our direst need and then *not* praying the rest of the time. It means doing as Christ did, and praying always... knowing that the Lord could provide a place to stay, a place for a feast, a donkey, or the power to bring sight to the blind. Whatever was needed in that moment, the Lord could do.

Our fear holds us back a lot I think, as we try a couple of times and then turn back rather than having the confidence in God to move forward despite our fear that God won't have our backs this time, or that as far as his will goes, this might be an Abinadi moment rather than a Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego moment.

I definitely don't have all the answers about how not to be afraid, but I do know that this is an important lesson... to keep going in doing God's will despite our fears. Today, let's pray and pray and keep praying for God's help in moving forward and not back as we strive to do his will.

Jacob 3:1-2 -- On Pureness of Heart and Firmness of Mind

"But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.
O all ye that are pure in heart, lift up your heads and receive the pleasing word of God, and feast upon his love; for ye may, if your minds are firm, forever."
Jacob 3:1-2


Being pure in heart has a lot of cool perks. The purity spoken of is probably a lot about what we are focused on in our lives--whether we are dedicated to God, or have our focus fractured by other, lesser things. The cool thing is that the more we solidify God as our number one concern, the more that we are able to fit other righteous things in.

Today, let's work on being the pure in heart spoken of here, working to ensure that our minds are firm, that we are praying in faith, and that we are open to his word and his love, letting our worries and unrighteous desires dissipate as we are filled more and more with good things... getting purer and firmer in heart and mind as we improve that focus. As we do, we'll be able to "feast" upon his love, and fill our hearts with happiness rather than fear and worldly concerns.

3 Nephi 11:37-39 -- On the Doctrine of Christ

"And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.
And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them."
3 Nephi 11:37-39


The fact that this is repeated so often, in the context of clearing up arguments about what Christ's doctrine really is, indicates that it is super important. So, some things to ponder for today: repentance, baptism, and becoming as a little child.

These are all things that we can work on... even baptism, if already completed with the proper authority, we can work on because keeping the covenants we make at baptism is huge, and part of the becoming like a little child part, which King Benjamin further explains: "becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father" (Mosiah 3:19). Let's focus in and work on the basics today, which reach into everything that we are.

2 Chronicles 30:9 -- On Returning to the Lord

"For if ye turn again unto the Lord, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the Lord your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him."
2 Chronicles 30:9


I love the idea of God not turning his face away if we return to him. Regular people do that sometimes, perhaps because love and trust are well and truly lost, and sometimes because we are just scared of the whole thing melting down over again. It's amazingly difficult to re-build bridges once we've burned them all down. But God is loving and merciful, and we know that if we repent and change, he will accept us, and won't even recall our sins to throw them in our faces again... he'll let them go, and take us back.

This of course isn't a reason to go wandering in the first place. Repentance doesn't become impossible when we planned it from the beginning, but it does become ultra hard, because we don't just have to change a behavior. We have to become people who *wouldn't* have planned it from the beginning.

Today, let's return to God in whatever ways we have strayed from him, and be thankful and diligent in changing to become the sort of people who would never leave him in the first place.

2 Nephi 4:25 -- On More to Come

"And upon the wings of his Spirit hath my body been carried away upon exceedingly high mountains. And mine eyes have beheld great things, yea, even too great for man; therefore I was bidden that I should not write them."
2 Nephi 4:25


I like the "too great for man" idea here... not because I don't want to know everything, but because I love the idea that there are so many things left to discover and learn. I think we delude ourselves sometimes into thinking that we know everything and we've got everything covered, when there is so much more to come.

That doesn't mean we don't have enough of the gospel to make decisions. God tells us that the Book of Mormon contains the "fulness" of the gospel, and God mentions in the Doctrine and Covenants that God's everlasting covenant is what he means by the fulness of the gospel. We don't need to know all the details of the universe to be able to make a covenant with God, or to know that he is worthy of our trust and faith.

Today, let's have faith and trust in the Lord and solidify our covenant with him, but also remember that there is so much more to come. Life isn't ever going to be a boring existence where we know all of the answers ahead of time (except the most important answer about God being in charge and being able to handle all of it)... and heaven isn't going to be boring either. Too much to know, and to do. I'm sure we'll be able to kick back on a cloud playing a harp if we feel like it, but you know, other than the humor value, I feel like that likely won't make the priority list of cool activities in the hereafter. :)

Helaman 3:27-28 -- On the Gate of Heaven

"Thus we may see that the Lord is merciful unto all who will, in the sincerity of their hearts, call upon his holy name.
Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe on the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God." Helaman 3:27-28


I like the basics here, reminding us that the way is not just barred to us... that we have access to the gate of heaven if we want it and sincerely seek it. Today, let's remember this basic truth and work towards entering in by the gate, through belief in Jesus Christ and sincere prayer to God. :)

Mormon 3:2-3 -- On Seeing God's Hand and Softening our Hearts

"And it came to pass that the Lord did say unto me: Cry unto this people—Repent ye, and come unto me, and be ye baptized, and build up again my church, and ye shall be spared.
And I did cry unto this people, but it was in vain; and they did not realize that it was the Lord that had spared them, and granted unto them a chance for repentance. And behold they did harden their hearts against the Lord their God."
Mormon 3:2-3


I wonder how often the Lord is working in our lives and we are not seeing it. Just like they didn't realize that the Lord was the one that had spared them, we often don't notice God's hand in our lives... or we only notice when we are looking for someone to blame besides ourselves when things don't go the way that we would have preferred.

God *is* there though, strengthening and sustaining us and giving us the breathing room to repent, to try again, to choose to accept his salvation. The instant we turn to him rather than rejecting him, he is there, helping us and guiding us. I was going to say to a place of safety, but it isn't always safe and protected. It is when we need a breather, but when we're able, he guides us to someplace that will stretch us and help us to learn and to grow. It doesn't always feel comfortable or fun, but if it is where God wants us, then there is a reason, and probably an opportunity to grow and thrive.

Today, let's work on seeing the hand of the Lord in our lives, and on softening our hearts and finding the good and the possibilities around us. If God prompts us to make a change, then good, but otherwise, let's work with God and find a way to thrive in our current circumstances, whatever they are.

Proverbs 8:12 -- On Wisdom and Wit

"I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions."
Proverbs 8:12


I liked this today, mostly for the word witty. It could be that when this was written there was no humorous connotation to the word, and it is just talking about interesting or brilliant inventions... be smart and make good decisions, but it's totally cool to break new ground sort of thing... basically, use your wisdom to do something innovative.

However, I know God has a sense of humor, and witty inventions in that sense could also be good, as long as we aren't using humor as a cover for mockery, cruelty, or inappropriate topics. Just like everything else, our humor needs to stay within the boundaries that the Lord has set, which are there for everyone's safety. :)

I know that it can feel limiting sometimes to walk God's path, but the analogy I always think of is writing. Stream-of-consciousness writing might be a good start, but refining and editing always makes it better, and often if you adopt a form or structure it gets even better than that... a poem, if done well, is full of precise, meaningful words exactly because they were chosen from a limited palette and had to fit together in a certain way. I think our lives are like that as well. They get better when we have some structure and direction, which God can provide.

Today, let's work on being wise and witty, and in tune with the Lord. :)

Psalms 3:2-3 -- On Hope and Change

"Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. Selah.
But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head."
Psalms 3:2-3


That seems like a mean thing to say to someone, but I get that sometimes we feel this way about others, especially public figures that we have limited information about and so it is easy to see them as having no redeeming qualities... or other categories of people that are defined by their faults. Child abusers, purveyors of ransomware... that sort of thing.

Sometimes we feel this way about ourselves... that everything we do is wrong, and we don't see a way out of our own sins or limitations.

No matter who denies hope, or to whom it is directed, the truth is that God has the full power to save every single person that turns to him with a broken heart and a contrite spirit... in humility, sorrowing for the harm caused and willing to change. There is always help for us in God, and he will shield us from despair, if we will turn to him in faith and work to repent and change, even if ten thousands of people stand against us (verse 6). Today, let's turn to God and work to become the people that we truly want to be rather than the people we now are.

Ezekiel 37:11-14 -- On Continued Life and Hope

"Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord."
Ezekiel 37:11-14


I read these verses as part of preparing my primary lesson for today, and not only was the whole bones-becoming-an-army thing a big hit with the kids, I really liked the message of hope behind what is happening in this story.

The people here were physically just dried bones, thinking that hope was lost and that everything was just way too late... what they wanted and hoped for was just impossible now, and it is time to just give up and accept the dust and death that was their future. But God showed them, and through his prophet, everyone, that hope doesn't reach its limit at death, and that he could fulfil his promises to them in a way they hadn't considered. And God can do that for all of us. He will raise us up and give us new life, and he will make *everything* right. Chances and blessings that we missed out on, who can tell? God knows, and he is everything we can possibly hope for because he can raise us from the dead and grant us eternal life and hope in eternity.

Today, let's remember not to give up or stop trying because we don't think that what we are working for is possible. Everything good is still there, with God, and because of Christ, death is no limitation. There are scriptures about using our lifetimes wisely to prepare to meet God, and we definitely should... but let's also remember that our lifetimes may be continued in the Millenium, and that God means to restore what was lost and bring us to perfect peace and happiness. In him, there is always hope.

Hebrews 12:5-8 -- On Family and Rebellion

"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons."
Hebrews 12:5-8


This is an interesting analogy and lesson. The difference between a son and a bastard is mainly in "belonging" ... where the person lives, what family group they are a part of. Usually this isn't a choice we can make, as children, but here it is presented that way. If we want to be part of God's family and accepted into his house and family unit (for we are all his children whether or not we live with him), then we need to accept his rules and his advice and punishment. Just like God says to all of his followers, that the agreement is two-way. He will be our God if we will be his people. We always have a part to play in all of this.

On the other hand, if we don't accept his rules and his chastisement, then we're essentially moving out and making our own way... which can seem pretty awesome and empowering at first, but, as the prodigal son found, it doesn't last. Today, let's remember that belonging to God's family and being part of all the cool things that means also means listening to his counsel. Let's and work on letting go of our hair-trigger rebellious tendencies.

Isaiah 50:5-8 -- On Unity and Peace

"The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.
I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together: who is mine adversary? let him come near to me."
Isaiah 50:5-8


I like the idea here that other people can't cause us to be ashamed... and the challenge is not being ashamed before the Lord. Also, being united with God can help us to find common ground even with former enemies... and the Spirit of the Lord can make us open to that. It is hard, for sure, but if we can let go of our rebellion, our hate, and our resentment, we can find peace in our lives in so many places where there was pain previously. As we all grow and learn and draw closer to the Lord, we also draw closer to one another.

Today, let's work on doing our part and letting go of our rebellion and resistance to God, and as we do, God will also help us find peace with other people.

2 Peter 2:19-20 -- On Being Deceived and Trusting in the Lord

"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 in bondage.
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning."
2 Peter 2:19-20


This is a good reminder that freedom comes through Christ and the gospel, and people that preach "freedom" from God and his commandments are actually seeking to enslave us, or to see us enslaved as servants of sin. God's desire is never to control or force us, but rather to help us to be free and able to make our own decisions without force or coercion.

Today, let's step back and see things as they really are, and not be led astray by those who hate us, or even worse, just don't care at all about our eternal welfare or anyone else's. Let's trust in God, who loves us and works for our welfare and happiness. If we get ourselves stuck in a hole, we can still turn to him, and he will come and help us out, unlike anyone who helped lead us there. Let's turn to him.

Philippians 2:4-8 -- On Ambition and Humility

"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
Philippians 2:4-8


The first line sounds ambitious and a little acquisitive, which could go along with the idea of working to be equal with God. The last part talks about humility and obedience, which seem exactly opposite of that interpretation.

I think it probably means both, but in compatible ways. We shouldn't assume that we are better than others, but we can reach for the ability to make a difference or to become more like God. That isn't about acquiring physical goods or money, but there are many things that the Lord has that we should be striving for. For instance, even though we are commanded not to covet, 1 Corinthians 12:31 tells us to covet the best (spiritual) gifts, as does D&C 46:8, although it uses the word seek rather than covet. Looking not on the gifts we already have, but being acquisitive / seeking for other spiritual gifts that we see in each others' lives, and wanting to be more righteous, as they are... that's a totally good thing.

To make all of that work, we really do need to be humble, or we'll find ourselves competing with others rather than acting as servants, with Christ as our example. We can strive for excellence while still being obedient to God, we just have to be careful not only of our own things, but making sure we don't tread on the things of others or treat them unfairly. If we approach all of it as the idea of making everyone better, I think we'll be more willing to share and to help others to learn what we know, rather than hoarding our blessings and our knowledge to retain some advantage.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 -- On Looking Inward

"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18


I like the idea here is focusing on the eternal, spiritual things rather than the temporary, physical things. ... Definitely not saying it is easy, but if we can work on that focus, then the temporary pains of the "outward man" will matter less and less, as we build our inner selves.

I don't think that God wants us to take it to an extreme and actually not take care of our bodies. It is a good idea to, you know, wash ourselves to stay clean, comb our hair, wear clean clothing, eat food to sustain ourselves, avoid abuse and self-harm... the basics. :) God gave us our bodies so that we could learn to use them and become beings with a physical aspect. However, when we obsess over our bodies and care more about them than about God or our spiritual selves, then we're getting our priorities out of order and emphasizing the natural/animal part of ourselves over the spiritual/godly part of ourselves. Instead, God's way is to teach the physical to obey the spiritual rather than the other way around.

Today, instead of letting our body dictate our choices (which is way too easy to do), let's make sure we're putting our spirits in the driver's seat and learning, and prioritizing, our spiritual needs over our physical.