"When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it.
And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people;
He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,
Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm."
1 Chronicles 16:19-22
In reading this today I remembered a comment I saw recently online that said that if the Bible were true that God was a racist. I obviously believe that is false, but the Old Testament is somewhat easy to misinterpret in that direction. I think part of it is that we take things out of context, and have a very skewed version of that time in history, but I think part of it is also what it talks about in these verses... the Lord protects his people. The father analogy is hard to fit in here, but if we step back a little bit and use a ruler analogy, which Christ often did, it is easier to see what God is doing. He makes covenant with his people and gives them laws to follow and on their side they accept him as God, agreeing to follow him. Protection for obedience is a pretty easy transaction to follow in human history, although of course God asks obedience not because he wants to be in charge (I mean, he already is, of everything), but because he is trying to teach us to choose things that will benefit us rather than things that will destroy us.
Does God take sides and destroy people? Yes. Sometimes it is necessary. A ruler would need to enforce the laws, try to make the streets safe for his people, etc. God does some amazing miracles in the war chapters in the Book of Mormon for instance, and we know that he swallowed up a lot of Egyptians that were chasing the followers of Moses. Does he do it for racist reasons? No. That is clear because when his people start disobeying him, they lose, and they also get destroyed. As he commands his servant in Jacob 5, "ye shall clear away the bad according as the good shall grow" (Jacob 5:68). We are all God's children and he wants all of us to be part of his "chosen" people and to make covenant with him to follow him. It's about having a world where it is possible to send his children and for them to be able to grow and be able to go through that same learning process, and he protects that. But it isn't about where we were born or the color of our skin. It's just about giving us a chance to grow and not letting the evil eradicate the good.
Today, let's praise God for his protection, but also work to be worthy of that protection by striving to live the gospel and make the world a better place.
Saturday, April 30, 2022
Friday, April 29, 2022
Doctrine and Covenants 88:62-65 -- On Asking and Expediency
"And again, verily I say unto you, my friends, I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your hearts, with this commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall call upon me while I am near—
Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you;
And if ye ask anything that is not expedient for you, it shall turn unto your condemnation."
Doctrine and Covenants 88:62-65
The part right before this is a parable that we are to ponder, about the Lord visiting "every man in his hour, and in his time, and in his season" (verse 58), which is very interesting, but the part that struck me today is the idea of calling upon God when he is near... perhaps meaning when we feel the spirit, instead of just enjoying that feeling, we should use that time to communicate with the Lord verbally, not just emotionally.
I love the fact that God wants us to ask him things... he's not trying to get us to shut up and do what he says. He wants us to be curious and inquisitive and to figure things out, and to ask why, and how it works, and all of it. Adam didn't know why at first, and so God specifically asked him, I think to get him to start thinking about it.
The last part about asking for what is expedient is just a reminder I think that this isn't some unlimited wish spell where we can get gold, jewels, and large-screen televisions with the flick of a wand. I mean, honestly, God could give us those things, but the idea is not to accumulate worldly goods, but to learn ... everything. If we ask for something bad for us, we're condemned, not because God is angry, but he's worried and warning us that seeking something bad means we might actually get it, and that will be a very bad thing for us.
Today, let's call upon God and seek him diligently. When he is close, let's call upon him and learn all we can about him, the Spirit, the Gospel, the plan, the creation (world, ourselves), etc. Let's seek treasures of knowledge rather than you know... bitcoin or whatever. :)
Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you;
And if ye ask anything that is not expedient for you, it shall turn unto your condemnation."
Doctrine and Covenants 88:62-65
The part right before this is a parable that we are to ponder, about the Lord visiting "every man in his hour, and in his time, and in his season" (verse 58), which is very interesting, but the part that struck me today is the idea of calling upon God when he is near... perhaps meaning when we feel the spirit, instead of just enjoying that feeling, we should use that time to communicate with the Lord verbally, not just emotionally.
I love the fact that God wants us to ask him things... he's not trying to get us to shut up and do what he says. He wants us to be curious and inquisitive and to figure things out, and to ask why, and how it works, and all of it. Adam didn't know why at first, and so God specifically asked him, I think to get him to start thinking about it.
The last part about asking for what is expedient is just a reminder I think that this isn't some unlimited wish spell where we can get gold, jewels, and large-screen televisions with the flick of a wand. I mean, honestly, God could give us those things, but the idea is not to accumulate worldly goods, but to learn ... everything. If we ask for something bad for us, we're condemned, not because God is angry, but he's worried and warning us that seeking something bad means we might actually get it, and that will be a very bad thing for us.
Today, let's call upon God and seek him diligently. When he is close, let's call upon him and learn all we can about him, the Spirit, the Gospel, the plan, the creation (world, ourselves), etc. Let's seek treasures of knowledge rather than you know... bitcoin or whatever. :)
Thursday, April 28, 2022
Luke 19:1-7 -- On Spiritual Promptings
"And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchæus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner."
Luke 19:1-7
I love this story, because it shows how well Christ knows us. Elsewhere in the New Testament Christ has cause to rebuke some scribes and publicans, but here, he saw good. I love Zacchaeus climbing a tree so that he could see Christ, and Christ just knowing who he was, and that this man in the tree wasn't a crazy person, but a good person and the place that "all things working together for good" had provided for him to stay that day. It is sort of sad that the focus of the surrounding people is that Zaccheus is a sinner (which I'm guessing they just assume becuase he was a publican) rather than seeing the miracle that is happening here... another example of Christ just knowing things and people and what is best in situations without there being an external way for him to have arranged things.
The Spirit of the Lord knows all things, and God can assist us in our lives and help us insofar as we trust him to do so, and are willing to act on his promptings. Maybe we aren't at the level Christ was here, where we can just stop in the middle of a crowd, look up into a tree, and know that is where we are spending the day... but small miracles like this do happen all the time, and could happen more, if we could trust it, and have that faith to follow through. Today, let's practice listening, and start learning to act on spiritual promptings, and how to know they are from God, not Satan, and not just stray thoughts. That can be challenging, but as we begin, and just keep one thing in mind... to act on a feeling if it prompts us to do something good and helpful, then that will be a good direction that will allow God to help us learn more.
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchæus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.
And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner."
Luke 19:1-7
I love this story, because it shows how well Christ knows us. Elsewhere in the New Testament Christ has cause to rebuke some scribes and publicans, but here, he saw good. I love Zacchaeus climbing a tree so that he could see Christ, and Christ just knowing who he was, and that this man in the tree wasn't a crazy person, but a good person and the place that "all things working together for good" had provided for him to stay that day. It is sort of sad that the focus of the surrounding people is that Zaccheus is a sinner (which I'm guessing they just assume becuase he was a publican) rather than seeing the miracle that is happening here... another example of Christ just knowing things and people and what is best in situations without there being an external way for him to have arranged things.
The Spirit of the Lord knows all things, and God can assist us in our lives and help us insofar as we trust him to do so, and are willing to act on his promptings. Maybe we aren't at the level Christ was here, where we can just stop in the middle of a crowd, look up into a tree, and know that is where we are spending the day... but small miracles like this do happen all the time, and could happen more, if we could trust it, and have that faith to follow through. Today, let's practice listening, and start learning to act on spiritual promptings, and how to know they are from God, not Satan, and not just stray thoughts. That can be challenging, but as we begin, and just keep one thing in mind... to act on a feeling if it prompts us to do something good and helpful, then that will be a good direction that will allow God to help us learn more.
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Joel 2:28-29 -- On the Outpouring of Spirit
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit."
Joel 2:28-29
This is talking about the last days, which is approximately now, so I'm pretty sure that we are part of the people that God says that he will pour out his spirit upon. I like the idea that if we are in tune with the spirit on our side that amazing things can happen... dreams, visions, prophecy, and more. The Spirit is what grants us a portion of God's power in our lives, and there are several scriptures that explain additional gifts.
Moroni 10 tells us about gifts of wisdom, knowledge, teaching, faith, healing, miracles, and prophecy. It explains that the ability to see angels and ministering spirits is also a gift, as well as the gift of tongues (variously speaking/understanding another language without a translator), and the interpretation of languages (Moroni 10:9-17).
Doctrine and Covenants 46 mentions that a knowledge of Jesus Christ and his crucifixion for the sins of the world is a gift of the spirit as well. It is also a gift to believe the people who know. It is a gift to understand the differences of administration, diversities of operation, the words of wisdom and knowledge, faith to heal or to be healed, the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking and interpeting tongues, and the gift to be able to discern all of these gifts in someone else when it is your calling to do so (D&C 46:10-26).
Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians that we can't even say that Jesus is the Lord except by the Holy Ghost... the Spirit is tied up in all of these things, and we are working with the power of God when we speak of our knowledge or testimony that we have recieved from the Lord. He also mentions all of these gifts as well. I like how he explains "there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. / And there are differences of administration, but the same Lord. / And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all" (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). I think this means that first of all, we aren't meant to be robots or clones... there are tons of different gifts that fit different situations and that can enhance our efforts and help us. We won't all be helped or inspired in the same way, and that is okay, and expected. One person might get inspiration about a job, another might be inspired to write to a friend, and a third might feel the need to go on a walk, and not discover the reason for that until they are outside and paying attention.
Today, let's remember that God is pouring out his spirit upon us. Let's be open to it, and stay in tune with God so that we can use that power to enhance our lives and the lives of the people around us, working to make everything better and better. Let's also remember that the Spirit can have different messages for different people, depending on their callings, influences, desires, and talents. This is not to say that God is a disorganized mess who is going to give a prophecy for the whole church to someone besides his chosen prophet, or tell someone that they just don't have to belong to the church at all and they can just do whatever. That of course would be chaos, and we have to beware of Satan trying to mimic the spirit and decieve us with too-easy lies, just like we have to be careful not to fall for a spam email. :) However, if God tells one person to go to college and another not, or inspires one person to get a government or political job and another one to avoid it entirely, these are individual things. College isn't inherently good or evil, and neither is the government, but there can be a best path for our individual lives, and God can lead us down it. Let's listen, and talk with the Lord, and practice hearing and acting on the Spirit so that we can be blessed and not led astray. :)
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit."
Joel 2:28-29
This is talking about the last days, which is approximately now, so I'm pretty sure that we are part of the people that God says that he will pour out his spirit upon. I like the idea that if we are in tune with the spirit on our side that amazing things can happen... dreams, visions, prophecy, and more. The Spirit is what grants us a portion of God's power in our lives, and there are several scriptures that explain additional gifts.
Moroni 10 tells us about gifts of wisdom, knowledge, teaching, faith, healing, miracles, and prophecy. It explains that the ability to see angels and ministering spirits is also a gift, as well as the gift of tongues (variously speaking/understanding another language without a translator), and the interpretation of languages (Moroni 10:9-17).
Doctrine and Covenants 46 mentions that a knowledge of Jesus Christ and his crucifixion for the sins of the world is a gift of the spirit as well. It is also a gift to believe the people who know. It is a gift to understand the differences of administration, diversities of operation, the words of wisdom and knowledge, faith to heal or to be healed, the working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking and interpeting tongues, and the gift to be able to discern all of these gifts in someone else when it is your calling to do so (D&C 46:10-26).
Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians that we can't even say that Jesus is the Lord except by the Holy Ghost... the Spirit is tied up in all of these things, and we are working with the power of God when we speak of our knowledge or testimony that we have recieved from the Lord. He also mentions all of these gifts as well. I like how he explains "there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. / And there are differences of administration, but the same Lord. / And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all" (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). I think this means that first of all, we aren't meant to be robots or clones... there are tons of different gifts that fit different situations and that can enhance our efforts and help us. We won't all be helped or inspired in the same way, and that is okay, and expected. One person might get inspiration about a job, another might be inspired to write to a friend, and a third might feel the need to go on a walk, and not discover the reason for that until they are outside and paying attention.
Today, let's remember that God is pouring out his spirit upon us. Let's be open to it, and stay in tune with God so that we can use that power to enhance our lives and the lives of the people around us, working to make everything better and better. Let's also remember that the Spirit can have different messages for different people, depending on their callings, influences, desires, and talents. This is not to say that God is a disorganized mess who is going to give a prophecy for the whole church to someone besides his chosen prophet, or tell someone that they just don't have to belong to the church at all and they can just do whatever. That of course would be chaos, and we have to beware of Satan trying to mimic the spirit and decieve us with too-easy lies, just like we have to be careful not to fall for a spam email. :) However, if God tells one person to go to college and another not, or inspires one person to get a government or political job and another one to avoid it entirely, these are individual things. College isn't inherently good or evil, and neither is the government, but there can be a best path for our individual lives, and God can lead us down it. Let's listen, and talk with the Lord, and practice hearing and acting on the Spirit so that we can be blessed and not led astray. :)
Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Psalms 90:1-2 -- On God as Home
"Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."
Psalms 90:1-2
I like the idea here of God as our dwelling place, or in other words our home. This seems to make sense with the whole idea of the premortal existence where we lived with God and our quest in this life to learn and grow through having a body, and then being able to return to God. Alma 40:11 tells us that when we die we are "taken home to that God who gave [us] life," and it meshes with the idea in Romans 8:16 that "we are the children of God." He is our home.
Today, let's think about this idea and remember that God loves us and always has a place for us, if we are willing to turn to him. That doesn't mean he doesn't want us to learn to be ourselves. That's why he sent us to this world, after all. But we always have a home to go back to, where we can learn even more than we have here.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."
Psalms 90:1-2
I like the idea here of God as our dwelling place, or in other words our home. This seems to make sense with the whole idea of the premortal existence where we lived with God and our quest in this life to learn and grow through having a body, and then being able to return to God. Alma 40:11 tells us that when we die we are "taken home to that God who gave [us] life," and it meshes with the idea in Romans 8:16 that "we are the children of God." He is our home.
Today, let's think about this idea and remember that God loves us and always has a place for us, if we are willing to turn to him. That doesn't mean he doesn't want us to learn to be ourselves. That's why he sent us to this world, after all. But we always have a home to go back to, where we can learn even more than we have here.
Monday, April 25, 2022
Luke 18:40-43 -- On Saving Faith
"And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God."
Luke 18:40-43
The dichotomy between physical and spiritual is what strikes me about this today. Christ was granting a physical blessing, but specified that it was done because of faith. He believed enough to ask for something that he though Christ could do. I think very few people even get that far... not asking because they don't believe, or asking in despair, not trusting that anything like that is possible.
It reminds me of 2 Corintians 5:7 "we walk by faith, not by sight" ... that's a really hard thing to do... to pull our minds out of the world enough to believe that what God says is real and possible and something that we can pull into and apply to our own lives. We're like Laman and Lemuel, telling Nephi that of course they haven't asked God becuase God doesn't show things like that to them. Self-fulfilling prophecy because they couldn't work up the courage and the faith necessary to try.
Today, let's be like this certain blind mad, and believe that God can do everything he promises, and that he is willing to talk to us personally and help us in our individual lives. Let's open our hearts to that faith in Christ that can save us.
Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.
And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.
And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God."
Luke 18:40-43
The dichotomy between physical and spiritual is what strikes me about this today. Christ was granting a physical blessing, but specified that it was done because of faith. He believed enough to ask for something that he though Christ could do. I think very few people even get that far... not asking because they don't believe, or asking in despair, not trusting that anything like that is possible.
It reminds me of 2 Corintians 5:7 "we walk by faith, not by sight" ... that's a really hard thing to do... to pull our minds out of the world enough to believe that what God says is real and possible and something that we can pull into and apply to our own lives. We're like Laman and Lemuel, telling Nephi that of course they haven't asked God becuase God doesn't show things like that to them. Self-fulfilling prophecy because they couldn't work up the courage and the faith necessary to try.
Today, let's be like this certain blind mad, and believe that God can do everything he promises, and that he is willing to talk to us personally and help us in our individual lives. Let's open our hearts to that faith in Christ that can save us.
Sunday, April 24, 2022
Helaman 5:40-41 -- On Dispelling the Darkness
"And it came to pass that the Lamanites said unto him: What shall we do, that this cloud of darkness may be removed from overshadowing us?
And Aminadab said unto them: You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you by Alma, and Amulek, and Zeezrom; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you."
Helaman 5:40-41
What strikes me about these verses today is the very clear symbolism linking the spiritual to the physical. To overcome the physical cloud of darkness, the people in the prison had to do something spiritual and pray for forgiveness. This is similar to Lehi's dream where Lehi escaped the dark and dreary wilderness by praying and focusing on God, and eventually he was led to the tree of life. The message seems clear... we can overcome the darkness in our lives (both spiritual and physical) by turning to God for help.
Today, let's remember that God has solutions, not just for the spiritual challenges in our lives, but for ALL the challenges. Let's turn to him with our whole hearts and cry unto him as these prisoners did to dispel the darkness in our lives.
And Aminadab said unto them: You must repent, and cry unto the voice, even until ye shall have faith in Christ, who was taught unto you by Alma, and Amulek, and Zeezrom; and when ye shall do this, the cloud of darkness shall be removed from overshadowing you."
Helaman 5:40-41
What strikes me about these verses today is the very clear symbolism linking the spiritual to the physical. To overcome the physical cloud of darkness, the people in the prison had to do something spiritual and pray for forgiveness. This is similar to Lehi's dream where Lehi escaped the dark and dreary wilderness by praying and focusing on God, and eventually he was led to the tree of life. The message seems clear... we can overcome the darkness in our lives (both spiritual and physical) by turning to God for help.
Today, let's remember that God has solutions, not just for the spiritual challenges in our lives, but for ALL the challenges. Let's turn to him with our whole hearts and cry unto him as these prisoners did to dispel the darkness in our lives.
Saturday, April 23, 2022
2 Nephi 9:18 -- On Stepping Back from the World
"But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever."
2 Nephi 9:18
What stands out to me about this verse is the enduring crosses and despising shame part. I think we often encounter voices from the great and spacious building, shaming us for believing in Christ, for religion in general, or sometimes other people who believe in Christ mock us for not believing and worshipping in the same way they do. Being able to endure the wrongs that happen to us even when we don't deserve them sets us apart as far as patience, faith, and endurance goes, and helps us to understand perhaps the tiniest part of what Christ suffered.
I'm not saying it is easy, or that it doesn't stink to have to endure things that we don't deserve, but it does help us to remember that Christ saves us from so many of the things that we *do* deserve, if we repent and look to him for help, and also enduring things like that helps us to learn to step back from the world, which is an important part of being able to see past ourselves and embrace God's perspective a little bit more.
Today, let's work on enduring our own suffering, and on letting go of any shame others expect us to feel for embracing God and his gospel. The truest reality is his, not the shortsightedness of the worldly view. And, as far as we can, let's also do it cheerfully and without intentionally making enemies. We don't want to lose ourselves in contention or anger either. :)
2 Nephi 9:18
What stands out to me about this verse is the enduring crosses and despising shame part. I think we often encounter voices from the great and spacious building, shaming us for believing in Christ, for religion in general, or sometimes other people who believe in Christ mock us for not believing and worshipping in the same way they do. Being able to endure the wrongs that happen to us even when we don't deserve them sets us apart as far as patience, faith, and endurance goes, and helps us to understand perhaps the tiniest part of what Christ suffered.
I'm not saying it is easy, or that it doesn't stink to have to endure things that we don't deserve, but it does help us to remember that Christ saves us from so many of the things that we *do* deserve, if we repent and look to him for help, and also enduring things like that helps us to learn to step back from the world, which is an important part of being able to see past ourselves and embrace God's perspective a little bit more.
Today, let's work on enduring our own suffering, and on letting go of any shame others expect us to feel for embracing God and his gospel. The truest reality is his, not the shortsightedness of the worldly view. And, as far as we can, let's also do it cheerfully and without intentionally making enemies. We don't want to lose ourselves in contention or anger either. :)
Friday, April 22, 2022
Omni 1:1-3 -- On Potential
"Behold, it came to pass that I, Omni, being commanded by my father, Jarom, that I should write somewhat upon these plates, to preserve our genealogy—
Wherefore, in my days, I would that ye should know that I fought much with the sword to preserve my people, the Nephites, from falling into the hands of their enemies, the Lamanites. But behold, I of myself am a wicked man, and I have not kept the statutes and the commandments of the Lord as I ought to have done.
And it came to pass that two hundred and seventy and six years had passed away, and we had many seasons of peace; and we had many seasons of serious war and bloodshed. Yea, and in fine, two hundred and eighty and two years had passed away, and I had kept these plates according to the commandments of my fathers; and I conferred them upon my son Amaron. And I make an end."
Omni 1:1-3
The book of Omni is short and these are the only verses in it that Omni wrote, the rest being other descendants of his. What strikes me today is the lost potential. Omni's words were passed down to us miraculously through thousands of years, and yet this is all we know of him. He seems forthright, loyal to his people and to his father, honest insomuch as he admits that he should have kept God's commandments better. He likely was a strong leader, a good soldier. And yet, from our perspective as readers of the historical record, we are left wanting to know more of his story.
Today, maybe we can learn from Omni's example and try to leave more to our descendants than this. Let's work to not have to tell them that we were the wicked examples. Let's offer them some advice and hope. We don't necessarily have to write multiple chapters or be prophets or kings or generals to be able to contribute to the story of faith. We all have a story, and something to teach and to tell. Let's work to make a difference for good, and perhaps take up a personal challenge to do better, even if we only get three verses. Let's write them well.
Wherefore, in my days, I would that ye should know that I fought much with the sword to preserve my people, the Nephites, from falling into the hands of their enemies, the Lamanites. But behold, I of myself am a wicked man, and I have not kept the statutes and the commandments of the Lord as I ought to have done.
And it came to pass that two hundred and seventy and six years had passed away, and we had many seasons of peace; and we had many seasons of serious war and bloodshed. Yea, and in fine, two hundred and eighty and two years had passed away, and I had kept these plates according to the commandments of my fathers; and I conferred them upon my son Amaron. And I make an end."
Omni 1:1-3
The book of Omni is short and these are the only verses in it that Omni wrote, the rest being other descendants of his. What strikes me today is the lost potential. Omni's words were passed down to us miraculously through thousands of years, and yet this is all we know of him. He seems forthright, loyal to his people and to his father, honest insomuch as he admits that he should have kept God's commandments better. He likely was a strong leader, a good soldier. And yet, from our perspective as readers of the historical record, we are left wanting to know more of his story.
Today, maybe we can learn from Omni's example and try to leave more to our descendants than this. Let's work to not have to tell them that we were the wicked examples. Let's offer them some advice and hope. We don't necessarily have to write multiple chapters or be prophets or kings or generals to be able to contribute to the story of faith. We all have a story, and something to teach and to tell. Let's work to make a difference for good, and perhaps take up a personal challenge to do better, even if we only get three verses. Let's write them well.
Thursday, April 21, 2022
2 Nephi 3:19-21 -- On Voices from the Dust
"And the words which he shall write shall be the words which are expedient in my wisdom should go forth unto the fruit of thy loins. And it shall be as if the fruit of thy loins had cried unto them from the dust; for I know their faith.
And they shall cry from the dust; yea, even repentance unto their brethren, even after many generations have gone by them. And it shall come to pass that their cry shall go, even according to the simpleness of their words.
Because of their faith their words shall proceed forth out of my mouth unto their brethren who are the fruit of thy loins; and the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith, unto the remembering of my covenant which I made unto thy fathers."
2 Nephi 3:19-21
I love the image here of voices out of the dust, crying to us and trying to help us. Kind of the idea of our ancestors alive and calling to us, trying to warn us to avoid thier mistakes... and really, that's all of history isn't it? Especially the scriptures. I think it takes a lot of humility and faith to recognize it though, because we have such a tendency to think that we are above all that... better than the people in the past, and that we are beyond such petty things. :)
Today, let's listen to the voices from the dust, and listen to God, who arranged it so that we could hear and be affected by those voices for a reason. Let's work to avoid the mistakes of the past, not because we are better, but because we are well-warned by multitudes of people who loved us, and looked to the future in hope that we could do better, with their help.
And they shall cry from the dust; yea, even repentance unto their brethren, even after many generations have gone by them. And it shall come to pass that their cry shall go, even according to the simpleness of their words.
Because of their faith their words shall proceed forth out of my mouth unto their brethren who are the fruit of thy loins; and the weakness of their words will I make strong in their faith, unto the remembering of my covenant which I made unto thy fathers."
2 Nephi 3:19-21
I love the image here of voices out of the dust, crying to us and trying to help us. Kind of the idea of our ancestors alive and calling to us, trying to warn us to avoid thier mistakes... and really, that's all of history isn't it? Especially the scriptures. I think it takes a lot of humility and faith to recognize it though, because we have such a tendency to think that we are above all that... better than the people in the past, and that we are beyond such petty things. :)
Today, let's listen to the voices from the dust, and listen to God, who arranged it so that we could hear and be affected by those voices for a reason. Let's work to avoid the mistakes of the past, not because we are better, but because we are well-warned by multitudes of people who loved us, and looked to the future in hope that we could do better, with their help.
Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Alma 5:34-36 -- On Works of Righteousness
"Yea, he saith: Come unto me and ye shall partake of the fruit of the tree of life; yea, ye shall eat and drink of the bread and the waters of life freely;
Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire—
For behold, the time is at hand that whosoever bringeth forth not good fruit, or whosoever doeth not the works of righteousness, the same have cause to wail and mourn."
Alma 5:34-36
Verses before this warn of things that we might be doing wrong... asking if we are stripped of envy, if we are mocking others, etc. The chapter encourages a change of heart, which is essential to all of this... we can't remain as we are, desiring sin, if we are going to reach our potential and return to God. We have to be changed. Part of that change is reflected in these verses... God asks us to bring forth works of righteousness... to contribute good to the world. If our hearts are changed, we will feel that need and want to do something to make things better.
Today, let's take some time to think about how we can contribute to a better world. It doesn't have to be anything dramatic enough that we think is outside our capabilities. Let's start small... just pick one thing, and start doing it. That's the way that big "works of righteousness" happen... the tiny, consistent effort builds up into something amazing. :)
Yea, come unto me and bring forth works of righteousness, and ye shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire—
For behold, the time is at hand that whosoever bringeth forth not good fruit, or whosoever doeth not the works of righteousness, the same have cause to wail and mourn."
Alma 5:34-36
Verses before this warn of things that we might be doing wrong... asking if we are stripped of envy, if we are mocking others, etc. The chapter encourages a change of heart, which is essential to all of this... we can't remain as we are, desiring sin, if we are going to reach our potential and return to God. We have to be changed. Part of that change is reflected in these verses... God asks us to bring forth works of righteousness... to contribute good to the world. If our hearts are changed, we will feel that need and want to do something to make things better.
Today, let's take some time to think about how we can contribute to a better world. It doesn't have to be anything dramatic enough that we think is outside our capabilities. Let's start small... just pick one thing, and start doing it. That's the way that big "works of righteousness" happen... the tiny, consistent effort builds up into something amazing. :)
Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Revelation 21:3-7 -- On Hope and Happy Endings
"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."
Revelation 21:3-7
I like this glimpse into the future, where we get to live in the same place as God again, and death, sorrow, and pain are gone. I mean... imagining a life without those things is incredible, and then adding the actual presence of God, and all the possibilities that opens up... what could be better than that? God is the one who makes it possible to reach our hopes and dreams now, so with his help and unlimited time and the removal of so many obstacles, what couldn't we do or be?
Today, let's work on overcoming the obstacles of mortality, and focus on the hope and promise of what God offers to us, and longs to give us, if we can get over ourselves and our fears enough to take him up on his offer of a guaranteed happy ending, and follow his directions in order to get there. :)
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."
Revelation 21:3-7
I like this glimpse into the future, where we get to live in the same place as God again, and death, sorrow, and pain are gone. I mean... imagining a life without those things is incredible, and then adding the actual presence of God, and all the possibilities that opens up... what could be better than that? God is the one who makes it possible to reach our hopes and dreams now, so with his help and unlimited time and the removal of so many obstacles, what couldn't we do or be?
Today, let's work on overcoming the obstacles of mortality, and focus on the hope and promise of what God offers to us, and longs to give us, if we can get over ourselves and our fears enough to take him up on his offer of a guaranteed happy ending, and follow his directions in order to get there. :)
Monday, April 18, 2022
Psalms 91:4-6 -- On Trusting and Gathering to the Lord
"He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday."
Psalms 91:4-6
This is describing how the Lord would protect the Messiah, and it reminds me of the scriptures that describe the Lord wanting to gather his people "as a hen gathereth her chickens" (Matthew 23:27, Luke 13:34, 3 Nephi 10:5, D&C 10:65, etc.). It might seem like a weird analogy to people who are unfamiliar with chickens except as a source of food, but I think that the idea of wanting to protect and help the young bits of fluff until they fulfil their potential and grow up into their adult forms is clear.
The Lord can't protect us from everything and still fulfil his goal of helping us to find joy. Even Christ, the best of all, had to experience bad things in order to learn. But if we turn to him, I believe that he will protect us and teach us in the gentlest way that we will actually listen to, protecting us from some of the random craziness of the world and guiding us along the best path.
Today, before we listen to our urge to rebel, let's consider the peace and safety that the Lord offers us if we are willing to gather to him. We can still learn and grow under his influence, and are honestly more likely to thrive, but it takes some faith and humility and trust that we have to learn by actually practicing it... trusting God and trying it his way. Today, let's be willing to learn in his way, and maybe save ourselves some trouble.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday."
Psalms 91:4-6
This is describing how the Lord would protect the Messiah, and it reminds me of the scriptures that describe the Lord wanting to gather his people "as a hen gathereth her chickens" (Matthew 23:27, Luke 13:34, 3 Nephi 10:5, D&C 10:65, etc.). It might seem like a weird analogy to people who are unfamiliar with chickens except as a source of food, but I think that the idea of wanting to protect and help the young bits of fluff until they fulfil their potential and grow up into their adult forms is clear.
The Lord can't protect us from everything and still fulfil his goal of helping us to find joy. Even Christ, the best of all, had to experience bad things in order to learn. But if we turn to him, I believe that he will protect us and teach us in the gentlest way that we will actually listen to, protecting us from some of the random craziness of the world and guiding us along the best path.
Today, before we listen to our urge to rebel, let's consider the peace and safety that the Lord offers us if we are willing to gather to him. We can still learn and grow under his influence, and are honestly more likely to thrive, but it takes some faith and humility and trust that we have to learn by actually practicing it... trusting God and trying it his way. Today, let's be willing to learn in his way, and maybe save ourselves some trouble.
Sunday, April 17, 2022
Joshua 24:14-15 -- On Serving and Spreading Light
"Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Joshua 24:14-15
I have seen the "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" part of this quoted a lot, and that is definitely an appropriate resolution, but what struck me about this today is that this whole thing is in a group context. The Lord has done miracles in our lives, whether we can see them or not depends on how good our spiritual sight is lately... but the same is true for all of us as peoples and communities, and really as the human race. We're part of each other, and it takes more than an individual stand to bring forth the change in the world that God asks of us. It requires everybody working together and choosing similarly.
So, today, let's for sure determing that we are going to serve the Lord. But let's also let go of any instinct we have to "go it alone" and let the rest of the world go to (literally and figuratively) hell. They need us too. Let's be the light and the example that God asks us to be... let's find a way to spread our good influence so that as many people as possible will have that chance to have God in their lives the way that we can when we are committed to putting him first in our lives.
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Joshua 24:14-15
I have seen the "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" part of this quoted a lot, and that is definitely an appropriate resolution, but what struck me about this today is that this whole thing is in a group context. The Lord has done miracles in our lives, whether we can see them or not depends on how good our spiritual sight is lately... but the same is true for all of us as peoples and communities, and really as the human race. We're part of each other, and it takes more than an individual stand to bring forth the change in the world that God asks of us. It requires everybody working together and choosing similarly.
So, today, let's for sure determing that we are going to serve the Lord. But let's also let go of any instinct we have to "go it alone" and let the rest of the world go to (literally and figuratively) hell. They need us too. Let's be the light and the example that God asks us to be... let's find a way to spread our good influence so that as many people as possible will have that chance to have God in their lives the way that we can when we are committed to putting him first in our lives.
Saturday, April 16, 2022
Mosiah 16:7-9 -- On Life and Triumph
"And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.
But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.
He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death."
Mosiah 16:7-9
Because of Christ, we will all live again after we die. This is the hope that we can cling to during times of trial and tragedy... that there is a life to come where we can be reunited with God and with those we love. Christ's triumph over fear and death was also a triumph of love, as he bowed to the Father's will, fulfilling his plan and making it possible for us all to live again, and even to overcome our own failures and flaws through the additional miracle of repentance.
Today, let's celebrate Christ's life and triumph as we strive to follow his example and follow God's will and not our own, for the betterment of all.
But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.
He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death."
Mosiah 16:7-9
Because of Christ, we will all live again after we die. This is the hope that we can cling to during times of trial and tragedy... that there is a life to come where we can be reunited with God and with those we love. Christ's triumph over fear and death was also a triumph of love, as he bowed to the Father's will, fulfilling his plan and making it possible for us all to live again, and even to overcome our own failures and flaws through the additional miracle of repentance.
Today, let's celebrate Christ's life and triumph as we strive to follow his example and follow God's will and not our own, for the betterment of all.
Friday, April 15, 2022
1 Chronicles 17:7-10 -- On Gifts for the Lord
"Now therefore thus shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, even from following the sheep, that thou shouldest be ruler over my people Israel:
And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.
Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,
And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the Lord will build thee an house."
1 Chronicles 17:7-10
At the beginning of the chapter, David the king and Nathan the prophet are talking and David says "Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord remaineth under curtains." Nathan likes the idea of building a house to the Lord, so he tells David to go for it. Then, that night, Nathan dreams, and this is part of the message, telling David to chill, and that the Lord will build HIM a house, rather than the other way around.
I find this interesting, because we know that the Lord values temples, and wants us to invest the time into building houses to his name. In this case though, perhaps the intention was off. David might have been thinking of doing a favor for the Lord rather than cementing the Lord's name and importance in the hearts and minds of his people for *their* benefit. The Lord tells us clearly in 2 Nephi 27:20 "I am able to do mine own work." Temples (and other material objects) are not gifts that we can give to the Lord. The only thing that we can give him, and that is worth offering, is our will--our own hearts and minds turned to his. The broken heart and contrite spirit is the sacrifice that the Lord desires of us... to help us come back to him, to be our best selves, again... not because he needs things OR servants. We "help" the Lord do his work, but it is help like the kid helping mom make a cake... it isn't because the kid is so much really helping as it is teaching the kid how to do something useful, and growing that relationship. :) Even the material gift of tithing and offerings is not because God needs the money. It is there to teach us faith, and that if we trust the Lord and do as he says, he will pour blessings down upon us so much that there won't be enough room to recieve them.
As we desire to offer gifts to the Lord in honor or celebration of his life and all that he has done for us, let's just keep in mind this lesson from David and Nathan's lives. Let's give the gift that the Lord wants... our time, attention, will, and obedience, so that we can someday give him the thing he wants most, which is seeing us return to his presence. Dramatic gestures are less important than sincere and heartfelt prayer and honest striving to be better people, closer to him. Today, let's give him *that* gift.
And I have been with thee whithersoever thou hast walked, and have cut off all thine enemies from before thee, and have made thee a name like the name of the great men that are in the earth.
Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning,
And since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Moreover I will subdue all thine enemies. Furthermore I tell thee that the Lord will build thee an house."
1 Chronicles 17:7-10
At the beginning of the chapter, David the king and Nathan the prophet are talking and David says "Lo, I dwell in an house of cedars, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord remaineth under curtains." Nathan likes the idea of building a house to the Lord, so he tells David to go for it. Then, that night, Nathan dreams, and this is part of the message, telling David to chill, and that the Lord will build HIM a house, rather than the other way around.
I find this interesting, because we know that the Lord values temples, and wants us to invest the time into building houses to his name. In this case though, perhaps the intention was off. David might have been thinking of doing a favor for the Lord rather than cementing the Lord's name and importance in the hearts and minds of his people for *their* benefit. The Lord tells us clearly in 2 Nephi 27:20 "I am able to do mine own work." Temples (and other material objects) are not gifts that we can give to the Lord. The only thing that we can give him, and that is worth offering, is our will--our own hearts and minds turned to his. The broken heart and contrite spirit is the sacrifice that the Lord desires of us... to help us come back to him, to be our best selves, again... not because he needs things OR servants. We "help" the Lord do his work, but it is help like the kid helping mom make a cake... it isn't because the kid is so much really helping as it is teaching the kid how to do something useful, and growing that relationship. :) Even the material gift of tithing and offerings is not because God needs the money. It is there to teach us faith, and that if we trust the Lord and do as he says, he will pour blessings down upon us so much that there won't be enough room to recieve them.
As we desire to offer gifts to the Lord in honor or celebration of his life and all that he has done for us, let's just keep in mind this lesson from David and Nathan's lives. Let's give the gift that the Lord wants... our time, attention, will, and obedience, so that we can someday give him the thing he wants most, which is seeing us return to his presence. Dramatic gestures are less important than sincere and heartfelt prayer and honest striving to be better people, closer to him. Today, let's give him *that* gift.
Thursday, April 14, 2022
Deuteronomy 10:1-2 -- On Moving toward the Ideal
"At that time the Lord said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.
And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark."
Deuteronomy 10:1-2
This is the Lord asking Moses to redo what he broke, which seems to be important in keeping track of what God had asked historically, even if the people weren't ready to recieve it and needed some more specific laws to prepare them first.
This seems to be similar to what we have today... we have clear records of what God has asked us, and like the Israelites of old, we aren't quite there yet. We aren't loving our enemies and living the law of consecration fully. We still have poor among us. But we're working our way towards the ideals that the Lord has commanded us, and because we have those ideals "in stone" to refer back to, we can keep moving towards the perfection that God has described to us as a people.
Today, let's move forward and be a little bit better than we have been. As we all do that, we'll grow towards God and progress as a people to be able to be more in tune with the Lord and more open to hearing his voice.
And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark."
Deuteronomy 10:1-2
This is the Lord asking Moses to redo what he broke, which seems to be important in keeping track of what God had asked historically, even if the people weren't ready to recieve it and needed some more specific laws to prepare them first.
This seems to be similar to what we have today... we have clear records of what God has asked us, and like the Israelites of old, we aren't quite there yet. We aren't loving our enemies and living the law of consecration fully. We still have poor among us. But we're working our way towards the ideals that the Lord has commanded us, and because we have those ideals "in stone" to refer back to, we can keep moving towards the perfection that God has described to us as a people.
Today, let's move forward and be a little bit better than we have been. As we all do that, we'll grow towards God and progress as a people to be able to be more in tune with the Lord and more open to hearing his voice.
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
Joshua 11:6 -- On Anticipating Our Deliverance
"And the Lord said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire."
Joshua 11:6
I really like the idea here that we don't need to be afraid because the Lord is planning on delivering us. In this case the delivery was going to be the next day, which isn't too long, so they could anticipate their victory. Still, when people with better equipment than you are coming to kill you, it is hard not to be afraid, even when the Lord tells you exactly what to do with the scary things that are coming to get you. They had to have faith that he would keep his word and deliver them, and that he had the power to do so.
I feel like our whole lives are like this. God promises us all deliverance, whether it be tomorrow or a little further out, and if we truly trust him, we don't need to be afraid of any of it. Easier said than done of course... we don't know whether today's chariots are going to run us over or not, and even though God helps prepare us with specific instructions about the scary technology attacking us, sometimes we adopt and trust in that instead of in him.
Today, let's work on not being afraid, because we trust the Deliverer, and we know that we aren't part of a horror story. He promises us a happy ending and has the power to provide it. We just need to reach out for it and anticipate it by keeping our faith and our lives centered on him.
Joshua 11:6
I really like the idea here that we don't need to be afraid because the Lord is planning on delivering us. In this case the delivery was going to be the next day, which isn't too long, so they could anticipate their victory. Still, when people with better equipment than you are coming to kill you, it is hard not to be afraid, even when the Lord tells you exactly what to do with the scary things that are coming to get you. They had to have faith that he would keep his word and deliver them, and that he had the power to do so.
I feel like our whole lives are like this. God promises us all deliverance, whether it be tomorrow or a little further out, and if we truly trust him, we don't need to be afraid of any of it. Easier said than done of course... we don't know whether today's chariots are going to run us over or not, and even though God helps prepare us with specific instructions about the scary technology attacking us, sometimes we adopt and trust in that instead of in him.
Today, let's work on not being afraid, because we trust the Deliverer, and we know that we aren't part of a horror story. He promises us a happy ending and has the power to provide it. We just need to reach out for it and anticipate it by keeping our faith and our lives centered on him.
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
Psalms 20:1-4 -- On Getting What We Want
"The Lord hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee;
Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel."
Psalms 20:1-4
Not all of this applies to us, since we don't do burnt sacrifice anymore, but we still sacrifice in other ways, so I think it still fits. I love the idea of God hearing (and helping) us, especially in a day of trouble, but the "grant thee according to thine own heart" part made me pause. Maybe sometimes that's not ideal, because getting what we want is sometimes the worst kind of curse, when we want something that is supremely bad for us. ... And that is a lot of life, where we bounce between what we want and the fact that God knows that we can be so much more, and find higher and infinitely cooler desires, if we would only follow him.
Today, let's try to trust God a little more and ourselves a little less in terms of who we aspire to be and the desires of our hearts. Getting what we want can be dangerous, so let's take a step back and seek the Lord's will rather than our own, so that when the Lord blesses us according to our own hearts that we get better and not worse. :)
Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;
Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.
Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel."
Psalms 20:1-4
Not all of this applies to us, since we don't do burnt sacrifice anymore, but we still sacrifice in other ways, so I think it still fits. I love the idea of God hearing (and helping) us, especially in a day of trouble, but the "grant thee according to thine own heart" part made me pause. Maybe sometimes that's not ideal, because getting what we want is sometimes the worst kind of curse, when we want something that is supremely bad for us. ... And that is a lot of life, where we bounce between what we want and the fact that God knows that we can be so much more, and find higher and infinitely cooler desires, if we would only follow him.
Today, let's try to trust God a little more and ourselves a little less in terms of who we aspire to be and the desires of our hearts. Getting what we want can be dangerous, so let's take a step back and seek the Lord's will rather than our own, so that when the Lord blesses us according to our own hearts that we get better and not worse. :)
Monday, April 11, 2022
Isaiah 65:24 -- On Communicating with God
"And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear."
Isaiah 65:24
The chapters leading up to this talk about the Lord's vengeance upon the wicked, his mercy to the people who call upon him, and the creation of a new heaven and a new earth where "the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind" (Isaiah 64:17), which is amazing all by itself of course, but I found this verse even more amazing. This is part of the description of what the new earth will be like... no more crying, or laboring in vain... and this part, God answering us before we call, which seems like the most amazing part of all.
When I read about Adam and Eve talking to the Lord in the garden, or the Brother of Jared talking to the Lord about his barges, or Abraham and Moses talking to the Lord face to face, negotiating with him, that seems so amazing, and that's what I imagine when I read about the Lord answering before we call, or hearing as soon as we open our mouths... that he will be that close to us in our lives. Something that we can strive for now, and get a taste of I think... but what could be better than having that all the time?
Today, let's work on our relationship with the Lord, and talk to him about our lives, working on the barriers that we put up between ourselves and the Lord, but let's also look forward to the day when there will be no gulf between us at all, and perhaps we can walk with him in a garden ourselves.
Isaiah 65:24
The chapters leading up to this talk about the Lord's vengeance upon the wicked, his mercy to the people who call upon him, and the creation of a new heaven and a new earth where "the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind" (Isaiah 64:17), which is amazing all by itself of course, but I found this verse even more amazing. This is part of the description of what the new earth will be like... no more crying, or laboring in vain... and this part, God answering us before we call, which seems like the most amazing part of all.
When I read about Adam and Eve talking to the Lord in the garden, or the Brother of Jared talking to the Lord about his barges, or Abraham and Moses talking to the Lord face to face, negotiating with him, that seems so amazing, and that's what I imagine when I read about the Lord answering before we call, or hearing as soon as we open our mouths... that he will be that close to us in our lives. Something that we can strive for now, and get a taste of I think... but what could be better than having that all the time?
Today, let's work on our relationship with the Lord, and talk to him about our lives, working on the barriers that we put up between ourselves and the Lord, but let's also look forward to the day when there will be no gulf between us at all, and perhaps we can walk with him in a garden ourselves.
Sunday, April 10, 2022
Matthew 16:21-23 -- On Harmful Advice
"From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."
Matthew 16:21-23
This is an interesting interaction between Peter and Christ. I think we can see both perspectives. Peter, thinking this was a human conversation, is trying to rally his friend, encouraging him not to be discouraged and negative. Christ, who is trying to break it to his friends that this is how it has to play out, both sees Peter's compassion for him but also his blindness to the reality that he is trying to explain, and that blindness is just making it harder for everyone. Christ teaches Peter by using a dramatic analogy, comparing him to Satan... in essence saying 'don't twist or belittle my words or encourage me or anyone else to look for another path. This is God's path, and this is the one we are going to walk.'
I think we sometimes get into a similar trap in our own lives, looking for a different path than God's, because sometimes God's seems hard... almost impossible to endure at times. Not trying to make following God seem bleak. There is also (of course) a lot of joy in following Christ, but it requires growth and progression and change for the better, and that stretching and growing can definitely be painful even as it leads to much more potential joy. In any case, we might have people around us encouraging us to do the easy thing or to stop thinking along those lines if we feel we need to give up something to serve the Lord. ... And although on a human level that seems like a good friend-thing to do, it is actually just what Christ called it here. A Satanic lure to walk the way of the world rather than the way of God.
Today, let's make sure we are committed to walking God's way, no matter how hard, and also that we aren't encouraging the people around us to give up on God's way out of misplaced compassion... giving them harmful advice and leading them astray because we are turned in to the wrong source.
Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men."
Matthew 16:21-23
This is an interesting interaction between Peter and Christ. I think we can see both perspectives. Peter, thinking this was a human conversation, is trying to rally his friend, encouraging him not to be discouraged and negative. Christ, who is trying to break it to his friends that this is how it has to play out, both sees Peter's compassion for him but also his blindness to the reality that he is trying to explain, and that blindness is just making it harder for everyone. Christ teaches Peter by using a dramatic analogy, comparing him to Satan... in essence saying 'don't twist or belittle my words or encourage me or anyone else to look for another path. This is God's path, and this is the one we are going to walk.'
I think we sometimes get into a similar trap in our own lives, looking for a different path than God's, because sometimes God's seems hard... almost impossible to endure at times. Not trying to make following God seem bleak. There is also (of course) a lot of joy in following Christ, but it requires growth and progression and change for the better, and that stretching and growing can definitely be painful even as it leads to much more potential joy. In any case, we might have people around us encouraging us to do the easy thing or to stop thinking along those lines if we feel we need to give up something to serve the Lord. ... And although on a human level that seems like a good friend-thing to do, it is actually just what Christ called it here. A Satanic lure to walk the way of the world rather than the way of God.
Today, let's make sure we are committed to walking God's way, no matter how hard, and also that we aren't encouraging the people around us to give up on God's way out of misplaced compassion... giving them harmful advice and leading them astray because we are turned in to the wrong source.
Saturday, April 9, 2022
D&C 84:105-106 -- On Compassion and Relative Strength
"And if any man shall give unto any of you a coat, or a suit, take the old and cast it unto the poor, and go on your way rejoicing.
And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also."
Doctrine and Covenants 84:105-106
This is talking about missionaries, but since we can "liken all scripture unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning" (1 Nephi 19:23), I'm guessing that these basic ideas can apply to us all. It is good to give our older-but-still-usable stuff to the poor, and when we team up to do things, we should teach other people our strengths. It is interesting because we can't all team up with someone weaker than ourselves, in whatever area. Maybe in some way we are going to be the weakest. But what I think we can do is always find ways to teach in whatever situation we are in... if we're weak in an area where our companion is strong, that isn't going to be true in every aspect. In some way we will be stronger, and we will always have something to offer... not just on missions, but in life.
I think it is also important to remember that everyone has something to teach us, because if we assume that we are superior in every situation we go into, then (even if that is true, which is highly doubtful), we'll have a tendency to get smug and act snotty and superior rather than being sufficiently patient and humble and able to teach people in a way where they will be receptive to what we have to say.
Today, let's be kind to the poor, kind to those we teach, and remember to remain open to the lessons that we can learn from the people around us, and be humble enough to continue to learn from others and from God.
And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also."
Doctrine and Covenants 84:105-106
This is talking about missionaries, but since we can "liken all scripture unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning" (1 Nephi 19:23), I'm guessing that these basic ideas can apply to us all. It is good to give our older-but-still-usable stuff to the poor, and when we team up to do things, we should teach other people our strengths. It is interesting because we can't all team up with someone weaker than ourselves, in whatever area. Maybe in some way we are going to be the weakest. But what I think we can do is always find ways to teach in whatever situation we are in... if we're weak in an area where our companion is strong, that isn't going to be true in every aspect. In some way we will be stronger, and we will always have something to offer... not just on missions, but in life.
I think it is also important to remember that everyone has something to teach us, because if we assume that we are superior in every situation we go into, then (even if that is true, which is highly doubtful), we'll have a tendency to get smug and act snotty and superior rather than being sufficiently patient and humble and able to teach people in a way where they will be receptive to what we have to say.
Today, let's be kind to the poor, kind to those we teach, and remember to remain open to the lessons that we can learn from the people around us, and be humble enough to continue to learn from others and from God.
Friday, April 8, 2022
Alma 7:7 -- On Christ First
"For behold, I say unto you there be many things to come; and behold, there is one thing which is of more importance than they all—for behold, the time is not far distant that the Redeemer liveth and cometh among his people."
Alma 7:7
Simple message here, that we should remember that Christ's atonement is more important than every other thing. If we prioritize God in our lives at the very top, then everything else will become at least a little bit easier, because God will be there, helping us. Today, let's put God at the front of our lives, where he belongs, and let the rest of our priorites be guided by him.
Alma 7:7
Simple message here, that we should remember that Christ's atonement is more important than every other thing. If we prioritize God in our lives at the very top, then everything else will become at least a little bit easier, because God will be there, helping us. Today, let's put God at the front of our lives, where he belongs, and let the rest of our priorites be guided by him.
Thursday, April 7, 2022
Mosiah 2:20-21 -- On Unprofitable Servants
"I say unto you, my brethren, that if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another--
I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants."
Mosiah 2:20-21
This is interesting, because I think God is telling us here that by almost every measure that our society values, we don't make the cut. At work if we aren't supporting the company and making it profitable, we're often laid off, and in God's own parable of the talents we like to think that we're not the guy who buried his talent, but by these verses, we probably are.
In fact, it is like we are the "unprofitable" side of every parable ever... the better side perhaps representing Christ... maybe a smattering of prophets. :) And yet, even if every story every told in the scriptures is there to teach us how to stop being the bad example, these two verses seem overwhelmingly hopeful to me... because they also mean that God isn't in it for the profit. He isn't some corporate entity blind to the importance of the people who work there. There must be another goal, and another way of assessing value, because even if we are all unprofitable servants, never able to pay back the time and effort that God has invested in us... he himself still tells us that we are loved, and of infitine worth. Unprofitable, but greatly loved, and learnign to do better.
Today, let's not lose the original lesson of these verses, that we need to be grateful to God for all that we have, and are... but let's not be disheartened by the message. We should also remember that God isn't in it for the profit. We are all here because we have inherent worth, and God loves us, and is teaching us how to live up to our potential.
I say unto you that if ye should serve him who has created you from the beginning, and is preserving you from day to day, by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you from one moment to another—I say, if ye should serve him with all your whole souls yet ye would be unprofitable servants."
Mosiah 2:20-21
This is interesting, because I think God is telling us here that by almost every measure that our society values, we don't make the cut. At work if we aren't supporting the company and making it profitable, we're often laid off, and in God's own parable of the talents we like to think that we're not the guy who buried his talent, but by these verses, we probably are.
In fact, it is like we are the "unprofitable" side of every parable ever... the better side perhaps representing Christ... maybe a smattering of prophets. :) And yet, even if every story every told in the scriptures is there to teach us how to stop being the bad example, these two verses seem overwhelmingly hopeful to me... because they also mean that God isn't in it for the profit. He isn't some corporate entity blind to the importance of the people who work there. There must be another goal, and another way of assessing value, because even if we are all unprofitable servants, never able to pay back the time and effort that God has invested in us... he himself still tells us that we are loved, and of infitine worth. Unprofitable, but greatly loved, and learnign to do better.
Today, let's not lose the original lesson of these verses, that we need to be grateful to God for all that we have, and are... but let's not be disheartened by the message. We should also remember that God isn't in it for the profit. We are all here because we have inherent worth, and God loves us, and is teaching us how to live up to our potential.
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Leviticus 24:19-22 -- On Justice and Progression
"And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him;
Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.
And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.
Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the Lord your God."
Leviticus 24:19-22
This is part of the Mosaic law that was fulfilled in Christ, and although I think sometimes we dismiss it as being old or outdated, it still teaches justice and a measure of equality, both of which were sorely needed at the time... and perhaps still are sometimes, in the "justice system" that is the best we can do because we as a society haven't evolved to living a higher law yet.
We are missing the whole higher law thing on a lot of levels. We don't love our enemies, we don't have all things in common, we don't care for the poor... we haven't eliminated poverty... all things that people in the scriptures did at one point or another in their particular groups. We're still loving our friends, and doubting, mistrusting, and hating most people outside our circles.
Today, let's maybe just remember that we are living obsolete lifestyles. Christ modeled a better way for us. I think we've all glimpsed the idea of it, the eye-popping wow of the whole thing, and why it would be so much better. Let's stop building on old technology... trying to coax our 8 baud modems back to life when Christ is already promoting fiber. Let's let go of the old code and write some new, jumpstarting some changes in our lives, and progressing bravely into a better world. Yeah, it isn't there yet, but this is the way we get there... by changing ourselves, and supporting others who want to do the same.
Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again.
And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it: and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death.
Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the Lord your God."
Leviticus 24:19-22
This is part of the Mosaic law that was fulfilled in Christ, and although I think sometimes we dismiss it as being old or outdated, it still teaches justice and a measure of equality, both of which were sorely needed at the time... and perhaps still are sometimes, in the "justice system" that is the best we can do because we as a society haven't evolved to living a higher law yet.
We are missing the whole higher law thing on a lot of levels. We don't love our enemies, we don't have all things in common, we don't care for the poor... we haven't eliminated poverty... all things that people in the scriptures did at one point or another in their particular groups. We're still loving our friends, and doubting, mistrusting, and hating most people outside our circles.
Today, let's maybe just remember that we are living obsolete lifestyles. Christ modeled a better way for us. I think we've all glimpsed the idea of it, the eye-popping wow of the whole thing, and why it would be so much better. Let's stop building on old technology... trying to coax our 8 baud modems back to life when Christ is already promoting fiber. Let's let go of the old code and write some new, jumpstarting some changes in our lives, and progressing bravely into a better world. Yeah, it isn't there yet, but this is the way we get there... by changing ourselves, and supporting others who want to do the same.
Tuesday, April 5, 2022
Jeremiah 18:6-10 -- On Rebellious Pottery
"O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them."
Jeremiah 18:6-10
I think God is saying here that all is malleable (at least with God's power). One one side, that means that even in the worst condemnation or circumstance that we shouldn't give up hope. Repentance and going before the Lord in meekness and humility and asking him to turn aside his anger can still work, if we're committed and sincere. On the other side, he is telling us not to be smug about our situation. Even if the Lord has promised us all and pronounced blessings upon us, we can still easily lose all of that through sin and disobedience if we play the part of the rebellious pottery. :)
We deal with God in a relationship, and not one that is a one-sided wish-->genie or slave-->master deal either. It is child-->Father. Also, this is a father that has the best interests of his child at the forefront of his mind at all times, and who isn't going to easily give in when asked for things that will harm us. He is going to try to teach us to stand up for ourselves and to walk on our own even if we would rather not. He'll never force us, but he will keep encouraging us to do the right and to improve. He's also smart, and isn't going to let us get away with fakery.
Today, let's do our part in our relationship with the Lord. Let's be his true people so that he can be our true God. Let's follow his path so that he can lead us to safety and peace.
At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them."
Jeremiah 18:6-10
I think God is saying here that all is malleable (at least with God's power). One one side, that means that even in the worst condemnation or circumstance that we shouldn't give up hope. Repentance and going before the Lord in meekness and humility and asking him to turn aside his anger can still work, if we're committed and sincere. On the other side, he is telling us not to be smug about our situation. Even if the Lord has promised us all and pronounced blessings upon us, we can still easily lose all of that through sin and disobedience if we play the part of the rebellious pottery. :)
We deal with God in a relationship, and not one that is a one-sided wish-->genie or slave-->master deal either. It is child-->Father. Also, this is a father that has the best interests of his child at the forefront of his mind at all times, and who isn't going to easily give in when asked for things that will harm us. He is going to try to teach us to stand up for ourselves and to walk on our own even if we would rather not. He'll never force us, but he will keep encouraging us to do the right and to improve. He's also smart, and isn't going to let us get away with fakery.
Today, let's do our part in our relationship with the Lord. Let's be his true people so that he can be our true God. Let's follow his path so that he can lead us to safety and peace.
Monday, April 4, 2022
2 Corinthians 3:12-14 -- On Veils and Beyond
"Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ."
2 Corinthians 3:12-14
The veil that it is talking about at the beginning of this selection is one that is referred to in Exodus 34. Moses spent a month with the Lord, writing the words of the covenant, not eating or drinking, and when he came down from mount Sinai, his face shone so much that everyone was afraid to come near him. After that, he started wearing a veil a lot of the time, except when he was before the Lord.
I think here that veil symbolizes a similar fear of "looking to the end" or maybe in other words accepting/understanding the unfiltered God as he really is from creation to destruction to resurrection to condemnation... often we water down the teachings of the Lord for ourselves until we can accept them. We read the "nice" parts of the scriptures so that we can see God as a loving father rather than the avatar of justice or the destroyer of evil. And of course God is all of those things. The God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are the same God. The God of the Book of Mormon and the God of the Doctrine and Covenants are the same God. He is all about mercy, but also the deliverer of glorious justice, and since the veil is done away in Christ, I think that also means that we need to get to know God fully, in all of his aspects.
I mean, of course that is a mind-boggling ask and not one that we should try to comprehend all at once, but I think one of the reasons that God tells us these stories... of Nephi murdering Laban, Abraham being asked to kill his son, the Israelites being asked to spare no one in their conquest, Noah being swallowed by a whale/fish as a judgement, in addition to the woman taken in adultery, the woman with an issue of blood, the woman at the well, and so many others, is that God is trying to tell us who he is and what he values across the perhaps infinite spectrum of time and space. This is God in war. This is God in peace. This is God in individual circumstance, in our deepest need and most dire situation. This is God across the evolution of human behavior... these are the things that have been needed, and all of this is the path to the promised events and blessings that have not yet come.
Today, let's take comfort in God's love for us, which is the core of all of it, but let's also read and pray and seek to understand the Lord more than we do now. Let's understand how often God tries to gather us, and how often we refuse (Luke 13:33, 3 Nephi 10:5), and the hard, painful path that God walks to ensure our freedom and agency. And as we learn more of him, let us learn to respect and love him more, for his infinite goodness and patience and longsuffering as he shows us the way to eternal joy.
And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which veil is done away in Christ."
2 Corinthians 3:12-14
The veil that it is talking about at the beginning of this selection is one that is referred to in Exodus 34. Moses spent a month with the Lord, writing the words of the covenant, not eating or drinking, and when he came down from mount Sinai, his face shone so much that everyone was afraid to come near him. After that, he started wearing a veil a lot of the time, except when he was before the Lord.
I think here that veil symbolizes a similar fear of "looking to the end" or maybe in other words accepting/understanding the unfiltered God as he really is from creation to destruction to resurrection to condemnation... often we water down the teachings of the Lord for ourselves until we can accept them. We read the "nice" parts of the scriptures so that we can see God as a loving father rather than the avatar of justice or the destroyer of evil. And of course God is all of those things. The God of the Old Testament and the God of the New Testament are the same God. The God of the Book of Mormon and the God of the Doctrine and Covenants are the same God. He is all about mercy, but also the deliverer of glorious justice, and since the veil is done away in Christ, I think that also means that we need to get to know God fully, in all of his aspects.
I mean, of course that is a mind-boggling ask and not one that we should try to comprehend all at once, but I think one of the reasons that God tells us these stories... of Nephi murdering Laban, Abraham being asked to kill his son, the Israelites being asked to spare no one in their conquest, Noah being swallowed by a whale/fish as a judgement, in addition to the woman taken in adultery, the woman with an issue of blood, the woman at the well, and so many others, is that God is trying to tell us who he is and what he values across the perhaps infinite spectrum of time and space. This is God in war. This is God in peace. This is God in individual circumstance, in our deepest need and most dire situation. This is God across the evolution of human behavior... these are the things that have been needed, and all of this is the path to the promised events and blessings that have not yet come.
Today, let's take comfort in God's love for us, which is the core of all of it, but let's also read and pray and seek to understand the Lord more than we do now. Let's understand how often God tries to gather us, and how often we refuse (Luke 13:33, 3 Nephi 10:5), and the hard, painful path that God walks to ensure our freedom and agency. And as we learn more of him, let us learn to respect and love him more, for his infinite goodness and patience and longsuffering as he shows us the way to eternal joy.
Sunday, April 3, 2022
2 Corinthians 8:10-12 -- On Continuous Improvement
"And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago.
Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not."
2 Corinthians 8:10-12
This seems to be saying that desire and action both matter, but also that it isn't just a one time thing. We can want to know God, for instance, and we can take action to read our scriptures or pray, or to understand him through obedience... and that is all good, and part of the process, but it is a process. We have to move past where we were a year ago, and not think that we're done and that no additional effort is necessary. Actions and desires are what we focus on today, and God doesn't expect more than we have right now, but over time, we also need to plan in some continuous improvement as we increase our capacity. How can we up our game and improve our relationship with God?
We shouldn't tackle everything all at once and let ourselves get overwhelmed, but we *should* think about where we are and where we want to be, and keep moving towards that, with God's help and advice of course. Today, let's think about that continuous improvement aspect, and whether we are better than we were a year ago. If not, let's think of something we can do just a little bit better, and work on it.
Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.
For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not."
2 Corinthians 8:10-12
This seems to be saying that desire and action both matter, but also that it isn't just a one time thing. We can want to know God, for instance, and we can take action to read our scriptures or pray, or to understand him through obedience... and that is all good, and part of the process, but it is a process. We have to move past where we were a year ago, and not think that we're done and that no additional effort is necessary. Actions and desires are what we focus on today, and God doesn't expect more than we have right now, but over time, we also need to plan in some continuous improvement as we increase our capacity. How can we up our game and improve our relationship with God?
We shouldn't tackle everything all at once and let ourselves get overwhelmed, but we *should* think about where we are and where we want to be, and keep moving towards that, with God's help and advice of course. Today, let's think about that continuous improvement aspect, and whether we are better than we were a year ago. If not, let's think of something we can do just a little bit better, and work on it.
Saturday, April 2, 2022
Proverbs 20:17 -- On the Aftertaste of Sin
"Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel."
Proverbs 20:17
I was watching conference today, which I always love because there is so much great advice, and really simple things said plainly about how we can improve. When I came across this, it felt similar to me. Deceit can seem sweet at first, very convenient, getting around consequences or effort, or making yourself look better, or whatever it is... lying can often temporarily make things sweet. But kind of like fruit stripe gum, the sweetness doesn't last long.
Kind of simplistic example from grad school... went to a ward activity where they played a get-to-know-you game (the beginning of the semester always brought a lot of new people). We had to go around the room and find people who could fulfil different things on a kind of scavenger hunt sheet. One that no one seemed to be able to answer was something like "find someone who has lived in a place beginning with E." That was the last blank one of my more-outgoing friends needed, so I signed it, based on living in Eugene, Oregon for a few days on vacation once. :) Fair, right? ... He turned it in, and then all of these other people came over to get me to sign because they needed that blank too, and then at the end of the day some other girl, who apparently really did live in Eugene at once point, came up and started gushing about it, saying it was so cool that I had lived there, and whatever, and I just deflected, smiling and saying that I really liked it there, and just bailing... perhaps unintentional / indirect deceit, but deceit nonetheless.
Honestly, though, I thought that was the end of it, but a few weeks later some of her friends came to town and she introduced one of them to me because he had lived in Eugene as well. Then she walked off. I am not sure what was going on there, but maybe she was trying to set us up? A really cool, nice guy was there, asking me about Eugene, and I just told him the truth... I loved it, but I wasn't from there, and had only been there for a short time. That kind of killed the conversation and later she came over to accuse me of lying to her when I said that I had lived in Eugene. I could tell that I had embarrassed her, and she wanted me to admit it in front of him so that it was my fault and not hers. So, I took it on the chin and didn't try to weasel out, but wow... for something that seemed so innocent, that was an ugly aftertaste for me. I was embarassed and it was kind of lose-lose all around.
That's a very small example, but I think that actually almost all sin is like that... just sometimes on a much larger scale. Often we break God's commandments because we can't understand why they exist, or because it just doesn't seem like a big deal... but they are there for our protection, and later we always find out how those things harm our lives, and it's kind of like eating one bite of a delicious donut, and then waiting a month and taking another bite. It is never going to be as good, and often it is going to be disgusting and distasteful. And then if we go chasing that first feeling rather than repenting, things get worse and worse as we dig our hole deeper and deeper to the point where it is going to require a ladder to get out, which, you know, we didn't happen to bring.
Luckily God has plenty of customized ladders for each of us, and he can save us from our stupid mistakes if we turn to him... but it would be even better if we didn't take that first bite... if we focused on not being deceitful (or whatever other sin) in the first place, so that we don't ever feel the horrible consequences, so we don't have to sit down in that hole for any amount of time before being rescued, so that we don't ever risk being lost completely and losing touch with our own spiritual senses by hardening our hearts and lying to ourselves about what good and evil are and what they feel like. Today, let's avoid the aftertaste by not committing the sin, and try to learn the easy way for once. :)
Proverbs 20:17
I was watching conference today, which I always love because there is so much great advice, and really simple things said plainly about how we can improve. When I came across this, it felt similar to me. Deceit can seem sweet at first, very convenient, getting around consequences or effort, or making yourself look better, or whatever it is... lying can often temporarily make things sweet. But kind of like fruit stripe gum, the sweetness doesn't last long.
Kind of simplistic example from grad school... went to a ward activity where they played a get-to-know-you game (the beginning of the semester always brought a lot of new people). We had to go around the room and find people who could fulfil different things on a kind of scavenger hunt sheet. One that no one seemed to be able to answer was something like "find someone who has lived in a place beginning with E." That was the last blank one of my more-outgoing friends needed, so I signed it, based on living in Eugene, Oregon for a few days on vacation once. :) Fair, right? ... He turned it in, and then all of these other people came over to get me to sign because they needed that blank too, and then at the end of the day some other girl, who apparently really did live in Eugene at once point, came up and started gushing about it, saying it was so cool that I had lived there, and whatever, and I just deflected, smiling and saying that I really liked it there, and just bailing... perhaps unintentional / indirect deceit, but deceit nonetheless.
Honestly, though, I thought that was the end of it, but a few weeks later some of her friends came to town and she introduced one of them to me because he had lived in Eugene as well. Then she walked off. I am not sure what was going on there, but maybe she was trying to set us up? A really cool, nice guy was there, asking me about Eugene, and I just told him the truth... I loved it, but I wasn't from there, and had only been there for a short time. That kind of killed the conversation and later she came over to accuse me of lying to her when I said that I had lived in Eugene. I could tell that I had embarrassed her, and she wanted me to admit it in front of him so that it was my fault and not hers. So, I took it on the chin and didn't try to weasel out, but wow... for something that seemed so innocent, that was an ugly aftertaste for me. I was embarassed and it was kind of lose-lose all around.
That's a very small example, but I think that actually almost all sin is like that... just sometimes on a much larger scale. Often we break God's commandments because we can't understand why they exist, or because it just doesn't seem like a big deal... but they are there for our protection, and later we always find out how those things harm our lives, and it's kind of like eating one bite of a delicious donut, and then waiting a month and taking another bite. It is never going to be as good, and often it is going to be disgusting and distasteful. And then if we go chasing that first feeling rather than repenting, things get worse and worse as we dig our hole deeper and deeper to the point where it is going to require a ladder to get out, which, you know, we didn't happen to bring.
Luckily God has plenty of customized ladders for each of us, and he can save us from our stupid mistakes if we turn to him... but it would be even better if we didn't take that first bite... if we focused on not being deceitful (or whatever other sin) in the first place, so that we don't ever feel the horrible consequences, so we don't have to sit down in that hole for any amount of time before being rescued, so that we don't ever risk being lost completely and losing touch with our own spiritual senses by hardening our hearts and lying to ourselves about what good and evil are and what they feel like. Today, let's avoid the aftertaste by not committing the sin, and try to learn the easy way for once. :)
Friday, April 1, 2022
Revelation 5:1-5 -- On Being Worthy of the Future
"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."
Revelation 5:1-5
In the book of Revelation, it is hard sometimes to tell what is symbolic and what is real, although of course as I mentioned in a different commentary, even God's fiction is intended to teach truth, so that question is probably not as important as it would be if we had to worry about deception.
Here, the central idea is being worthy to read a book... and assuming the person on the throne is God, it is the idea of who is worthy to read God's book, or in other words to know God's thoughts and intentions and detailed plan? I am guessing that the worthiness comes in because God needs someone to read it in order to fulfil his will and carry out his plan... not just reading for entertainment. :) The seals are likely symbolic of this being the ultimate difficult job... no one else is talented or worthy enough to do this one. Only God himself, or... Christ, who is the one who ends up being able to read it and fulfil the word of the Lord.
That idea of being worthy to know God's intentions made me think about Prophets and knowing the future, and specifically General Conference which is this weekend. God doesn't give anyone glimpses of the future just for kicks. He does it, always, for a reason, so that his plan can be brought to pass... and if we want more clarity and knowledge and revelation in our lives, that is the way to work for it--to be committed to doing God's will and fulfiling his plan. If he can trust us with it, then he will share it with us.
The first step in that is to be committed to the change necessary to become our best selves. God wants that, and if we are really willing to put in the work, he will help us with hints and opportunities and pushes in the right direction. Sometimes even a glimpse inside the book, of what is coming for us. Today, let's be committed to being the best people we can be, and from there, God can help us change the world for the better.
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."
Revelation 5:1-5
In the book of Revelation, it is hard sometimes to tell what is symbolic and what is real, although of course as I mentioned in a different commentary, even God's fiction is intended to teach truth, so that question is probably not as important as it would be if we had to worry about deception.
Here, the central idea is being worthy to read a book... and assuming the person on the throne is God, it is the idea of who is worthy to read God's book, or in other words to know God's thoughts and intentions and detailed plan? I am guessing that the worthiness comes in because God needs someone to read it in order to fulfil his will and carry out his plan... not just reading for entertainment. :) The seals are likely symbolic of this being the ultimate difficult job... no one else is talented or worthy enough to do this one. Only God himself, or... Christ, who is the one who ends up being able to read it and fulfil the word of the Lord.
That idea of being worthy to know God's intentions made me think about Prophets and knowing the future, and specifically General Conference which is this weekend. God doesn't give anyone glimpses of the future just for kicks. He does it, always, for a reason, so that his plan can be brought to pass... and if we want more clarity and knowledge and revelation in our lives, that is the way to work for it--to be committed to doing God's will and fulfiling his plan. If he can trust us with it, then he will share it with us.
The first step in that is to be committed to the change necessary to become our best selves. God wants that, and if we are really willing to put in the work, he will help us with hints and opportunities and pushes in the right direction. Sometimes even a glimpse inside the book, of what is coming for us. Today, let's be committed to being the best people we can be, and from there, God can help us change the world for the better.