Mark 2:16-17 -- On Publicans and Sinners

"And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Mark 2:16-17


Today, let's remember that everyone, no matter their career choices or sin choices or how different they are from us or whose goverment they represent... everyone, is in need of the healing power of Christ and his gospel. Let's look to him for help, and strengthen each other rather than tearing each other down with criticism and mockery.

1 Peter 2:1-3 -- On Growing in the Word

"Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious."
1 Peter 2:1-3


Sometimes we get ahead of ourselves in the gospel, and in life, thinking that we're a little more advanced than we are and that we can handle it all as adults. However, just as God told Hyrum Smith in D&C 11 to "wait a little longer" (verse 16) and to "first seek to obtain my word" (verse 21), sometimes we need to remember that we are commanded to become as little children (Matthew 18:3), and emphasize humility and obedience before we move on to teaching or trying to guide others.

Today, let's read and listen to God's word. Let's seek to incorporate it into ourselves and into all that we do and become more like Christ, so that when we are ready to go out as representatives of him on whatever level, we don't fall on our faces and set a bad example, but be humble enough to realize that we're very far from walking on water ourselves and that we need to learn a massive amount about God and the Spirit before we grow up into spiritual adulthood. And that's okay. Let's take our time and first make sure that we are able to walk before we try to run.

3 Nephi 22:7-8 -- On Moments and Mercy

"For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee.
In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer."
3 Nephi 22:7-8


This is a good reminder that our trials are, in an eternal sense, momentary. In this chapter God compares our trials to the mistakes of youth or a young wife, and that the Lord as a husband will welcome us back, talking about Israel collectively, but the lesson also applies to us individually. We've all made mistakes, though luckily our grumbling didn't make the scriptures. :) God will forgive us all as we repent and seek to return to him.

On an eternal scale, even 40 years in the wilderness is a small moment, so it doesn't necessarily mean that our trials are going to seem short to us now, but part of the promise is that eventually we will have the perspective to see that all of our suffering was very short, that God is incredibly merciful and is teaching us with gentleness and love, even when our trials seem at their hardest.

Today, let's remember the Mercy of God and turn to him for forgiveness and comfort as we work to become better people and focus on finding happiness and peace even during the hard times, knowing that the Lord is willing to forgive and loves us beyond understanding.

Ether 12:8-9 -- On Hope and Faith and The Path to Perfection

"But because of the faith of men he has shown himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they might hope for those things which they have not seen.
Wherefore, ye may also have hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith."
Ether 12:8-9


Just before this, verse 6 explains that faith is things that are hoped for and not seen, so the first verse of this selection is explaining that faith begets faith in a way... becuase we have faith in him, Christ is able to enable us to partake of his gift, giving us more faith... which is really cool, and why I think that God talks about the power of even tiny faith... because, like a mustard seed or really any seed, once planted, it grows and becomes stronger. The more faith we have in God, the more he can do to help and strengthen our faith. The more we hope in things that we can't see and watch them happen anyway, the more we trust that things like that can and will continue to happen. The more experience we have with the Spirit, the more that we will recognize and trust it in the future.

So many things are like that in life and with God. Line upon line... God doesn't expect us to be perfect all at once, but as we make an effort, he multiplies that effort as though we were wearing power armor, making us stronger than we could reasonably be all on our own. And so our little efforts, over time, can become something amazing, and we as amazingly weak and sinful beings can actually dream of becoming perfect one day, because we have that seed of Godhood in us and every step we take is magnified and reinforced and instead of wearying ourselves on the journey of the gospel, we are energized even more, strengthened to take another step which would wouldn't have been able to make before, but faith begets faith and progress enables further progress. Today, let's remember that no matter how it seems to us today, perfection is possible. The challenge is just continuing to try, and moving in the right direction, and making sure God is our top priority. As we work to get on the same page with God and keep moving forward, he works to help us learn and become ready for that next step, and each step after that along the path he has prepared for us.

Omni 1:5-7 -- On Wickedness and Prosperity

"Behold, it came to pass that three hundred and twenty years had passed away, and the more wicked part of the Nephites were destroyed.
For the Lord would not suffer, after he had led them out of the land of Jerusalem and kept and preserved them from falling into the hands of their enemies, yea, he would not suffer that the words should not be verified, which he spake unto our fathers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall not prosper in the land.
Wherefore, the Lord did visit them in great judgment; nevertheless, he did spare the righteous that they should not perish, but did deliver them out of the hands of their enemies."
Omni 1:5-7


I think we sometimes look around and wonder why the wicked are prospering, and we aren't. Comparison is rarely a good strategy in these thoughts, but we do it anyway, and we start to doubt the promise of Mosiah 2:41 ... that those who keep the commandments will be blessed in all things. Where are our blessings like that one guy? He seems pretty wicked, and he has more stuff than me... that sort of thing. I think we do that, first, because we aren't aware of all of our blessings, and second because we don't understand the timing of the Lord. All things DO work together for them that love God (Romans 8:28 and elsewhere), but that doesn't mean that all of our trials will just evaporate. Many of our trials *are* working towards our good because they are teaching us to be stronger and better, more faithful, better able to help others, more resilient, more wise... so many things. God is also influencing the good to prosper and the bad to be removed, but he is doing it on his timetable, not ours.

This verse reminds me of the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees in Jacob 5, and has a similar message, talking about the way that the master of the vineyard was pruning his vineyard: "ye shall clear away the bad according as the good shall grow" (verse 66). God spares the righteous and destroys the wicked, but he first wants to make sure that his careful pruning doesn't destroy the good with the bad... and I think most importantly for changing our perspective, sometimes the waiting time between wicked actions and destructions helps the wicked to *become* good. We can all benefit from God's mercy and that waiting period where he makes sure wickedness is really what we want, and gives us a chance to repent.

Today, let's remember that God always fulfills his promises. If we can't see how, then we need to do some thinking and searching to discover the answers, not doubt God. Sometimes, as in this case, those promises are being fulfilled on a grander time scale than we imagine or desire, but they are still happening. Let's trust in the Lord and "cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed" (D&C 123:17).

Psalms 86:11 -- On Learning and Uniting Our Hearts

"Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name."
Psalms 86:11


This is a good request to the Lord, asking for both instruction and for help with internal desire and motivation. We can't do it without God, and we need his help to learn what to do and to change our hearts so that we want what he wants, which is for us to become so much better than we could ever become alone.

Today, let's turn to the Lord to learn and to unite our hearts, which fight against themselves so often. To fear God in this case I think means to see God as the authority in our lives and to respect him and listen to his advice rather than rebelling. Let's walk in his way so that we can get back to him and to a better life than we can imagine.

2 Nephi 1:13 -- On Waking from the Sleep of Hell

"O that ye would awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe."
2 Nephi 1:13


This is a prophecy of Lehi. he is speaking to his sons here, but also all of us, because God showed him some of the things that would happen in the future, and he is really worried about the people dwindling in unbelief.

This reminds me of a quotation from the movie Joe Versus the Volcano, where the character Patricia says "My father says that almost the whole world is asleep. Everybody you know. Everybody you see. Everybody you talk to. He says that only a few people are awake and they live in a state of constant total amazement."

I feel like that is true with regard to the gospel. We are often figuratively asleep, blind to the possibilities all around us. That "sleep of hell" is caused by disbelief, by putting other things before God, by choosing to rebel against God, or sometimes just by casual disobedience. Hell doesn't always attack us with obvious temptations or pain, but often just by convincing us that this is all there is, and there isn't anything else, or at least nothing that matters... that communication with God is just bouncing our thoughts off of a wall and back to us.

The thing is, when there are walls between ourselves and God, it is always because we put them there, not because God isn't there or isn't listening. The amazing thing is that if we turn to God in sincerity and try to get past the obstacles that we built, he can help us tear them down, and just the barest crack can help us see through to God, and get the emanations of hope and of deep and profound love that he is always broadcasting to us, encouraging us to keep trying and to wake up and see what he has in store for us. Today, let's work on that. Let's not let Hell lull us into the drugged sleep of faithlessness and unbelief, but instead make the effort to connect with God. Every small prayer, every verse of the scriptures... it all counts, and helps us wake up to the Spirit, and the miraculous possibilities all around us. Christ is our example of wakefulness... he was always aware of an open to God, communicating with him constantly. Let's trust in that and exercise our faith to see, and be, more.

Proverbs 10:12 -- On Love and Strife

"Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins."
Proverbs 10:12


This is interesting because covering sin seems deceitful in a way, like we are trying to hide what we did. Interestingly though, in Psalms we read "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered" (32:1) as well as "Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble;" (32:7). It seems that, at least in certain circumstances, hiding and covering is okay, if it is part of our repentance process. Perhaps what is meant here is that as long as we acknowledge our sin and work to correct our lives and change our hearts, so we aren't the same people that wanted to commit those sins in the first place, it's okay to bury those things. We don't need to wear a scarlet letter symbolizing our sin. We can instead work to live a better life... and this tells us how to live that better life and to cover our sins in the only approved way, which is through love. Love of God, love of anyone that we have wronged... as we change, and accept other people's changes and move on from strife rather than digging it up daily and worrying over it.

Let's remember the consequences of sin in destroying relationships and potential and disconnecting us from things that matter. We can't go back in time and undo those decisions or open up past choices that are closed, and God isn't asking us to walk back into abusinve relationships, but despite the boundaries that we need to respect from past sin, love can heal our hearts and reestablish appropriate connections if we are open to it, and even if some opportunities or possibilities remain lost, God can bless us all with new opportunities and get us back on track to becoming our best selves. Past sin can become just a delay rather than a roadblock to our progress. Today, let's love... covering past strife rather than stirring it up, and as we cover our own sins through the generous use of love, let's allow other people that same freedom, focusing on who they are, rather than who they were, and loving the whole world enough to focus on love rather than strife.

Matthew 13:44 -- On Treasure Hunting with God

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field."
Matthew 13:44


There is a lot in this chapter, talking about wheat and tares and what separates them and gathering good fish and casting the bad away, etc. I think that this idea of the treasure is part of that idea of making sure we're the wheat, or the good fish in these analogies. In this one-verse story, a man finds a treasure in a field and realizes that it is more important than everything else in his life, so he hides it and goes to buy the field, selling everything else, so that he will have legitimate claim to it.

That's a powerful story. What kind of treasure must that be? What kind of treasure would *we* sell everything for? Very serious question, because I think that is the whole idea of the gospel. It is absolutely that source of joy that this man felt... "for joy thereof" he gave up everything else. It wasn't this horrible sacrifice for him... it was clearly worth it, because it brought happiness.

Now some people twist this in life of course, imagining that the treasure is something mundane like piles of gold and jewels, or if not mundane than at least less than God. They might give up their family or their job or go move to Tahiti searching for that one thing that will make them whole.

Spoiler alert though, the treasure isn't in freeing ourselves from obligation or in any passionate love affair or other obsession or addiction. Even all the LEGOs in the world, or the absolutely best job, or the perfect spouse, or child, or even getting all of those stubborn people on the internet to just agree with us... those aren't things that can possibly fill our emptiness. The one thing that can is God. His gospel is what we give up everything else for. God makes us whole. One day in his court is better than a thousand anywhere else (Psalms 84:10).

The difference between the wheat and the tares, the good and bad fishes, or the fruit of the wild and tame olive trees in Jacob 5 isn't about calculating the points that we all acquired in life and assigning people a kingdom based on whether that calculates out into an A or B or C. It isn't about how long we worked in the field or even about how many prayers we said. It is about what brings us joy, what fills us... what we yearn for. If we've learned to love God and really want to live that perfect life that he offers us, then that is the joy and desire that is going to fill our souls and bring us to him, and if we walk away from that treasure because we want the gold or the toys more than that, then that is what we will get instead. God offers us everything that he has... his treasure, that great and eternal joy... and the question is, do we want that more than everything else? Are we willing to sell everything else to get it? As King Lamoni's father put it "I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day" (Alma 22:18)... or as C. S. Lewis said, "If we insist on keeping Hell (or even earth) we shall not see Heaven: if we accept Heaven we shall not be able to retain even the smallest and most intimate souvenirs of Hell" (from the preface to The Great Divorce).

Today, let's decide what we want, and make sure we are all in on getting it. Like Joshua, let's choose God over all else (Joshua 24:15), and find his true treasure, worth more than everything else combined.

Matthew 5:13 -- On Saltiness

"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."
Matthew 5:13


I like the idea here of people being symbolic salt (rather than literal salt, like Lot's wife). Salt preserves and prevents other things from becoming corrupt, and whether that means the world itself or all of humanity, or both... the same question: If we don't do that job, then who will? If the salt doesn't work, how can you salt the salt? If we aren't useful in preserving each other, then we've lost sight of our main purpose, and are about as useful as gravel.

Today, let's remember to be salty (in a good way, of course). :) Let's work with God and do all we can to prevent the corruption and to preserve the earth.

Ether 12:39 -- On Talking to God in Person

"And then shall ye know that I have seen Jesus, and that he hath talked with me face to face, and that he told me in plain humility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language, concerning these things."
Ether 12:39


The whole idea of just sitting and talking to Jesus face to face seems so amazing to me. I know that we have access to prayer and can talk to him anytime we want, but face to face seems more real in a way. ... Although prayer is definitely real and very important and maybe I need to get over that psychological distance, closer still seems cooler.

I also love the idea of Christ talking to us in our own language, and the idea that one day languages won't be a barrier, either because we'll know them all or because we'll be able to speak mind to mind, or maybe both, or maybe something even cooler than I can imagine. :)

Today, let's look forward to the day when we'll be able to talk to God in person, and work at preparing for that meeting. :)

2 Peter 2:21-22 -- On Overcoming Ourselves

"For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire."
2 Peter 2:21-22


A couple verses before this it explains that even though we sometimes think that sinning is exercising our liberty -- becoming more free by throwing off the shackles of God I suppose -- in truth, we are becoming slaves to sin/corruption. God can help us to free ourselves, of course, but if we keep going back, it keeps getting harder to pull ourselves out of that bondage, and I think there is a lot more self-condemnation as well, because it is hard to repent sincerely when we keep choosing otherwise.

That doesn't make it impossible, of course, but if we're going round and round and unable to escape the pattern, sometimes we need some help. God can help, of course, but talking to our bishop, a counselor, or getting specific help with an obsession or addiction is often necessary... and not a bad thing at all. We don't want to end up like Lot's wife, who turned around to go back even though she *knew* that it would destroy her, but we need outside help to get us out of that mindset sometimes, that we NEED something more than we need God... which is never true.

Let's work with God to escape the bondage of sin. He will help us, teach us, and strengthen us as we work with him and other support systems to learn to overcome ourselves and become clean and free. He is the source of true liberty... the power to be so much more than we are now, and to find peace and joy.

Alma 32:40-41 -- On Seeds, Rocks, Fruit, and Happy Endings

"And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.
But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life."
Alma 32:40-41


These verses are part of an analogy that starts in verse 28, where Alma compares the word of God to a seed. I like the idea of the "eye of faith" here. The second verse of the selection helps us to know that it means to look forward, to act in support of our faith, and to believe in the results/fruit of our faith as though it were already real. It reminds me of Christ asking us "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" (Luke 14:28). In other words, God is telling us that committment to the Gospel isn't just sticking our toe in the pool, but going all in for the full immersion baptism... not just believing in one principle of the gospel, but also to enduring to the end... not just starting to read the first pages of the book, but believing in and committing ourselves to the the entire work all the way through to the happy ending.

Today, let's remember that planting a seed requires more than tossing it on a countertop and looking at it for a few minutes. We have to believe in what it is, give it nutrients, water, light, and time. We have to commit to seeing it grow, and envision what it could be rather than only seeing what it is and assuming it is just a strange rock. That's what faith is... believing in the possibility and the future of that seed enough to see it sprout within us and then to continue and follow up and help it to flourish with God's help. Let's not give up and see God's word and the gospel as a strange rock, but actually plant it in our hearts and believe that it can become something by nourishing it. As we do, we'll see it sprout and understand that it is all real... but we have to have that faith first, to believe that this is a good book and not just propaganda... to believe that it is a seed and not a rock, and have a willingness to read it/plant it and see it through. Otherwise, we can never taste the fruit or get to that happy ending.

1 Timothy 2:1-2 -- On Prayer, Authority, Peace, and Rebellion

"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
1 Timothy 2:1-2


This is interesting, instructing us to pray for people in authority so that we can pursue quiet and peaceable lives. :) I think this generally applies to us today as well, even though Paul seems in this chapter and a few others to be specificially reacting to certain practices in Corinth, where the women seem to have been advocating for equal rights by not wearing veils. Perhaps it was a big concern of the time, and Paul comes down on the side of upholding the traditional practice.

Whether or not the specific reasons make sense to us now, just like some of the practices in the Old Testament seem archaic, and we don't still practice animal sacrifice as they did in ancient times, even in the Book of Mormon, I think the general idea here is, pray for those in authority rather than just choosing to rebel against authority. It doesn't mean that those in authority are always right, but it is better in most cases to pray for them and to humble ourselves to be in obedience to them so that peace can be maintained... just as Christ chose to pay taxes even though he seems to have believed that the practice was unjust (Matthew 17:24-27).

There are exceptions and times when we should absolutely rebel, of course, and times in the scriptures where this particular rule was broken, just as with any other rule, but as with any other advice from God, we should seriously consider the rule and pray about it, being willing to follow it, before we assume that we are exceptions.

Today, let's pray for those in authority, even when we disagree with them, and think seriously about whether any of our ideas of rebellion are worth disturbing the peace, and whether God supports us in our rebellion, before acting on it. God has changed the world for the better, and continues to do so... but he knows the timing. Let's listen to his advice and be willing to do his will and let some injustice stand if he has more important things for us to attend to. Let's work to change the world through prayer first, and only start an uprising when God has our backs. :)

Revelation 9:4 -- On Selective Destruction

"And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads."
Revelation 9:4


This is talking about some of the things that will happen before Christ's return. This one is interesting because it is a very specific destruction, avoiding harming plants and anyone God has excepted. It reminds me of the story of the first passover when the Lord destroyed the firstborn of all the Egyptians, but whoever had the appropriate mark on the door the destroyer left alone, saving the Lord's chosen people. It also reminds me of the allegory of the olive trees and how the bad branches will be pruned as the good ones grow. Another reminder that we want to be on God's side, doing good to other people and the world so that we don't get caught up in the pruning. It isn't a fun thing to think about, but I guess just as the destructions in 3 Nephi prepared the way for a society that was ready to meet God and stay righteous for generations, at some point judgement and justice are going to catch up with us all. Today, let's do what we can to ensure that when they do, we'll either be passed over and spared, or that we are actually ready to meet God. :)

1 Samuel 8:6-7 -- On Authority and Ambiguity

"But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.
And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them."
1 Samuel 8:6-7


After this, Samuel warns the people about what a king will ask of the people and how things will turn out badly, but they still demand that.

I think sometimes we want an authority figure in our lives to tell us what to do and limit our choices so that things are less complicated. Missions feel like that a little bit, and schools and jobs, and I imagine the military and perhaps prison are like that as well, although of course all of these to varying degrees. Despite the negative aspects of some of those things, the structure and the guidance can help us feel grounded and safe. The Law of Moses may have been a structure of that sort as well, helping people feel safe with exacting process, but of course God doesn't stand in front of us, and he doesn't give us all the answers... we have to figure things out and learn.

And of course structure is not inherently bad. Even prison can help some people learn to arrange their own lives a little bit better, but let's be careful as with everything else, that we don't place our need for boundaries or a feeling of structure before our need for God. We do need to learn to live with some amiguity in our lives, and to find our way, even without walls.

God gives us help. Specific commandments, the iron rod (scriptures), a narrow way to walk in to get to salvation in general... but he also gives us freedom to make our own choices and a lot of flexibility with regard to *how* to do the things that he asks, and what path we want to take in how we use and express our talents, opinions, personality, etc. Today, if we feel like we need some structure, let's pray and dive into the scriptures, listening to God through the pages. Let's not reject God because we don't understand him or how to fit into the gospel. Instead, let's just do the basics for today and remember that it takes time to learn anything well enough to gain confidence, and that God can feel just as close as a king, or even a father, to us if we keep praying and practicing, building that relationship. Let's give it time, and stick with God who loves us much more than a king ever will.

Psalms 82:3-6 -- On Care and Potential

"Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.
Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.
They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High."
Psalms 82:3-6


I like this combination of verses, telling us to care for and do justice to the poor, fatherless, afflicted, and needy, and then helping us to understand why... because whether or not everyone realizes it, we are all children of God, and worthy of that care and justice that God is asking for on their behalf.

Today let's remember who we are, and who the people around us are. We're not powerful or vastly knowledgeable and miraculous like our father is, but we have the seeds of greatness within us, and an amazing potential we might reach in some level of eternity someday. Let's treat each other like the infinitely precious children that we are, and do all we can for our brothers and sisters in need.

Romans 13:9-10 -- On Doing No Harm

"For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."
Romans 13:9-10


I like the idea of working no ill to our neighbors... being careful not to harm others, even emotionally. It is a tough thing to accomplish though, for sure, and maybe we all need some help from God to learn to love better and be a little bit more sensitive to how we treat each other.

One thing that I find interesting with all of this is that having the first verse there seems to make it clear that one thing that the commandments are designed to do is to prevent us from harming each other. So it is also an interesting exercise to take a look at the things in that list and to acknoowledge how they harm other people. Sometimes we believe sin only harms ourselves, but I am not sure that is ever true. Our lives affect the world around us, and just as we can be great examples and help people find God, we can also be horrible examples and draw people away.

Today, let's think about how we are affecting the people around us, and work on doing no harm. Let's talk to God about how to let go of our sins and how to love people better, and work to be better tomorrow than we were today. :)

Doctrine and Covenants 130:18

"Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection."
Doctrine and Covenants 130:18


I like the idea here of being able to keep something from our earth life. We might not be able to take our toys, but we can take our lessons, and we can understand things better. The next version tells us that it will give us an advantage in the next life... I don't think in terms of being better than anyone else, but more in terms of being farther along in our own progression. Even though God is going to bless us incredibly, and I am assuming that our premortal memories will return when the veil is drawn, we still are going to have a long, long way to go to become like our Father, and so anything that we can absorb here will help us on our way.

Today, let's value the intelligence that we can gain above our toys, and dedicate ourselves to learning something new and good. No matter what we choose, it will help us move closer to being able to understand another facet of God's vast, complete knowledge, and hopefully also bring us joy as we learn more about something that we like.

John 8:11 -- On Condemnation

"She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."
John 8:11


This is part of the story of the woman caught in adultery. God's laws were clear in this regard, and still are. Not a good choice. And yet, Christ chose not to condemn her... not to judge her and cast her out or stone her. Not because he didn't agree with the principle behind his own laws, or because he was in favor of lawlessness, but because he loved her, and he wanted to give her a chance to repent.

I think God offers that same grace to all of us. Eventually, caught or not, we will all have to stand before God and be judged for who we have become, and how we have used the lives that we were granted, but until that day, God gives us space and time to repent.

Alma warns us that if we harden our hearts that we condemn ourselves (Alma 12:14), and yet, if we are still alive and able to choose, John assures us "if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart" and that he can help us, and hopefully get to a point where we can repents and our hearts do not condemn us, and we can have "confidence toward God" (1 John 3:20-21).

Christ wasn't sent to condemn the world, but rather to save us (John 3:17), and that is still his goal. Let's remember that today, and instead of giving up or thinking that it is too late to change, let's turn to him and ask for help. He isn't going to ever say that sin is okay, but he wants to help us overcome it, and he'll give us another chance and work with us. He can help us to change for the better if we are willing to be changed.

John 14:15 -- On Love and Commandments

"If ye love me, keep my commandments."
John 14:15


I like this because I think it shows a different, healthier, side of friendship/love than we usually see. Christ talks in the previous verses about unity and offers something, telling his friends that if they ask God in his name, he wil do it. Then he makes it clear what he asks of them. I feel like this is what God does for all of us... he loves us and sets up standards and goals so that we can reach for more rather than showing us a corrupt love that doesn't care whether we improve or not.

Interestingly, loving God is already a commandment, but Christ is talking here about what he will do and what he asks as part of a way to unify them all and to help each other... things they want to do for each other out of love, and maybe also to show that is what the entire gospel is... an effort to help and save and assist loved ones. It's also something a father might say to a child... if you love me, please listen to my advice.

Our ideas of love are often corrupt and twisted. We often want a permissive, pushover type of love that accepts all of our badness, and that if someone contradicts us or wants us to reach for more, that isn't real love. We say things like "real friends help you bury the body" or "prove you love me by doing [fill in the blank with something you are uncomfortable with]," valuing loyalty over all else, even when we're dead wrong. We read/watch love stories about Romeo and Juliet or teenage vampires and we start thinking that suicide for a lost love is noble, or that we really can't choose who we love romantically, which is a pretty convenient lie when it comes to adultery. None of this is real godly love, because love isn't manipulative or corrupting OR forced. Real, pure love is always a choice, and it inspires us to be better people, not worse.

Today, let's think about what loving God means on both sides, and what God asks us to do if we love him. We could maybe also review 1 Corinthians 13 where Paul talks about what is and is not love. Let's recognize that our best friends and the ones who love us the most are the ones who urge us to be better, and who help us get there, and that God is the best friend that we could ever have.

Proverbs 27:5 -- On Openness

"Open rebuke is better than secret love."
Proverbs 27:5


This seems crazy to me in some ways... how could someone telling me I am wrong (what?!) or rejecting me be better than caring about me? I can't possibly know what everyone is thinking out there, but in general I'd rather have them like me than not, and at least on one level I would rather that the ones who don't like me *not* confront me, because that sounds scary, even though I am positive that many of them are absolutely in the right and deserve an apology.

However, since I also know that God is smarter than I am, I was thinking about the whole "all things which are hid must be revealed" (Mormon 5:8) idea, and I think the point is that openness and honesty are better than withholding information and deception. Even though we might not like it when people don't like us, at least it is honest information that we can face and deal with, rather than something hidden that we can't deal with. When it comes down to it, secret love isn't really any better than secret hatred, since neither of them can do any good, and both can fester and cause problems.

God keeps secrets, and so saying that we need to be honest doesn't mean that we need to blurt everything out to everyone right now. The Santa Claus secret can probably wait a few years, and of course some secret love is love that shouldn't be acted upon at all, including revealing its existence, but rather is something we should reveal only to God so we can talk with him about it and get his help in changing our hearts, for instance in cases where it could interfere with a marriage or is otherwise inappropriate.

Today, let's work on being open, and admitting our secrets, at least to God, rather than letting them grow in our imaginations and command more mental real estate than they need. God will eventually reveal all secrets, including ours, so let's make sure that we take all of them out and examine them and neutralize the poison if we can. The more we turn our lives inside out and shake out the darkness, the more room there will be for light, and hope, and healing.

1 Samuel 15:22 -- On Obedience and Sacrifice

"And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."
1 Samuel 15:22


This struck me today I think because we so often feel like the opposite is true. We are eager to do something over the top and dramatic, but simple obedience is difficult. Those high effort one time things are totally cool, but sustained low effort, no thanks. :) Except that daily obedience is exactly what we need to keep the spirit with us.

Maybe today is the time to rethink our high-drama outward-appearance strategy. Maybe with normal people our flashy huge-effort side is impressive, but God sees through it, and he honestly is trying to help us through asking obedience. Listening to God and doing as he requests is going to save us a lot of pain and trouble. Let's be a little less drama queen and a little bit more honestly humble. I'm not saying it is easier. Lots of times it won't be... but as God tells us through Samuel here, it will definitely be better.

2 Nephi 29:11-12 -- On Writing

"For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them; for out of the books which shall be written I will judge the world, every man according to their works, according to that which is written.
For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it."
2 Nephi 29:11-12


This is interesting, not just because of the second verse of the selection which seems to relate directly to writing that will be used to comprise scripture--Bible, Book of Mormon, and future compilations--but the first verse here seems to apply it to us individually as well: "every man according to their works."

Today, let's think about this, and perhaps get a journal or a diary where we can write the things that God has told us. As God says above, it is a commandment, and since it will be used to judge us as well, seems like talking things out with God and writing our side of the story would be a good start. Reminds me of Orual's story in Till We Have Faces. The story doesn't always end up the way we thought, but the exercise and the participation with God in the writing of it is what matters. :)

D&C 25:4 -- On Murmuring Not

"Murmur not because of the things which thou hast not seen, for they are withheld from thee and from the world, which is wisdom in me in a time to come."
Doctrine and Covenants 25:4


This was a revelation directed to Emma Smith, but like all scripture, we can liken it unto ourselves (1 Nephi 19:23-24). I think it is difficult sometimes to be satisfied when we don't get a clear answer. There are many things that we don't know and questions that the scriptures leave open. Nephi asked God to see what his father saw, and he did, and it made sense to him, but sometimes the answer is no, and we have to accept on faith what is given to us in the scriptures and from the prophets. Since Emma was the wife of the prophet, I imagine that might be even more difficult.

The trick I think is to avoid doubting everything because we can't know that one thing. God gives us so much and answers so many of our questions through the scriptures and through revelation--we have enough to build our testimony on, and as we learn we can see his hand in our lives every day. Sometimes that needs to be enough, for now. Complaining to God or complaining *about* God can be tempting in the moment, but when we pull back from the emotionality of the moment, it is clearly ungrateful in the light of all that he offers us freely. Instead, let's keep asking our questions. If we can't get the answer to one yet, maybe we can take a step back and try something a little less complex and closer to what we already know, so that instead of trying to grasp the knowledge of the entire universe in one go, we are working more in the "line upon line" way that God teaches us. There are plenty of other questions, and God loves to teach us.

Today, let's remember that God's plan is a good one, even if he doesn't reveal all the details to us all at once. We're children compared to him, and some things children won't understand, and even adults probably shouldn't have visions of the future that might change important choices in between. All of our questions will be answered in time... but on the Lord's timetable, not ours. He's the one that can see the future. Let's focus on improving our lives and the lives of the people around us, based on what we already know, and as we master those things, the Lord will grant us more. The Lord knows when the right time is, and that is exactly when it will happen. :) Let's work to be thankful rather than resentful.

1 Nephi 16:10 -- On Guidance and Faith

"And it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round ball of curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness."
1 Nephi 16:10


The ball that it talks about here is the Liahona, named later in Alma 37:38. Liahona may have just been the word for compass, but it was clearly more than the compasses that we have now, because it worked according to faith, and it also had writing on it that "changed from time to time" which gave them instructions, but also "understanding concerning the ways of the Lord" (1 Nephi 16:28-30).

In thinking about how the Lord provides for us, I was also thinking of the Brother of Jared. In both stories, God has them build ships/barges that can cross the water. Noah also did this part, and in all three stories God led them to a promised land (Moses also for the promised land part). In the Brother of Jared story, the Lord answered a question by asking the Brother of Jared to figure it out, and he came up with 16 small stones that the Lord could touch to cause them to give off light. In this case, an amazing tool was just left at the door of the tent, but Nephi mentions that it was prepared "by the hand of the Lord" as well (2 Nephi 5:12).

Our lives are like this too, even though we aren't all prophets. These are patterns to the way that the Lord works with his people. We all have purposes and goals that are set by God, pulling us out of the life that we thought we would live and helping us strive for more. We don't always embrace that at first (like Jonah), but when we see the results of our own choices, we often ask God to help us back to his way.

The lord helps us build what we need to get to our destination... not always a ship. Perhaps a career, or a family, or a trade or a hobby... to learn something new, to expand upon our talents... to have an opportunity to affect the world and other people's lives for good. He answers our questions, not always in the way that we wanted (as with Christ), but always in the way that will help us become who we need to be... our best selves. Along the way he blesses us miraculously. Maybe not with glowing stones, and maybe not with an amazing faith-powered compass, but miraculous still, whatever we need but don't have tailored to our own lives.

The trick of course is that, just like the Liahona, the miracles in our lives are also faith powered. Just as the Liahona stopped working when Nephi's brothers tied him up on the sea (1 Nephi 18:12), the miracles in our own lives can stop working and stop showing us the way when we go astray. The Liahona worked "according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold it was done" (Alma 37:40), and so it is with us. We have to maintain our faith in the Lord, and trust in his spirit, or we lose the way.

Even though the things that God asks us to do seem small, and sometimes not that important, things like prayer, tithing, scripture study, fasting, temple attendance, church attendance, and listening to or reading conference talks... those things can help us keep God's spirit with us, and enable us to keep our personal God-compasses pointed in the right direction. When we start believing that we don't need those things, or that we can handle it all on our own, then slowly things stop working, and we might start getting off track... leaving the path that the Lord has laid out for us.

Today, let's work on making sure the miracles are working in our lives by nurturing our faith, by doing as God asks, praying to him, and listening to his words through the scriptures. As we do, we will be guided in the way that we should go in our personal wilderness, and shown the way to our promised land.

Daniel 11:35 -- On Being Tried and Shaped

"And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed."
Daniel 11:35


The prophecy of Daniel of the Last Days in these chapters is interesting, but this one verse struck me because it explains what we don't always want or expect... that even the people who understand what God is doing, and are the good guys, even some of them will fall.

God explains here that it is to try them and purify them in preparation for something in the future... and I think that is the reason for a lot of our regular everyday trials as well. God is working on perfecting us, strengthening us for things that are coming in our lives, helping us to let go of bad habits, purifying us and preparing us for new and better lives.

It is the sinner to saint process, right? We can't walk into heaven the way we are right now. Our resentments and anger issues and imperfection won't work there. We have to learn new ways of dealing with people and change who we are... learning to react to everything with patience and kindness, and all of that other Godlike behavior we haven't quite perfected. :)

Today, let's try to be patient and humble in our trials, remembering that God gives them to us to help us learn what we need to face the future. Let's embrace those lessons and strive to understand what we're being taught rather than resisting and trying to resist the potter's hand. :) It's understandable to be scared and to want to hold on to our current shape, not knowing what shape we will be later... but this is God. We can trust him to improve everything and to retain the things that make us who we are. He's not making us into robots or slaves... just into our best selves.

Alma 33:21-23 -- On Focus and the Seed of Salvation

"O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish?
If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall rise again from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works.
And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up in you unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do if ye will. Amen."
Alma 33:21-23


Before this selection, Alma mentions the story of Moses raising up the brass serpent, and whoever looked at it would live, so that is what it is referring to right at the beginning... that the brass serpent was a symbol of Christ, and that we can be saved if we look to him.

Keeping that focus on Christ is the primary goal. Being saved might not always be as simple as casting about our eyes, but I think the point here is the same. Like Christ telling us what the great commandments in the law are, there are just a few things that we need to focus on and keep at the forefront of our minds and hearts, and if we do that, all the rest will flow from that.

This also follows the previous chapter, which mentions that faith isn't a sure knowledge (Alma 32:21-22), and talks about planting a seed of faith, even if we can only start an experiment and "desire to believe" (Alma 32:26-28), which is what the selection is talking about in the end. It isn't difficult to start talking to God, to test and see if reading our scriptures and saying our prayers makes our lives better or worse, happier or unhappier, regardless of anything else. What it does require is intellectual and emotional honesty... to not try with a predetermined mindset that the whole idea is ludicrous, or to just not even look because we don't think it will help (Alma 33:20).

Today, as Alma asks us, and as Moroni also offers us (Moroni 10:4), let's plant the word / seed. Let's ask God if these things are true, and as he shows us the truth, let's put his plan of happiness into place in our lives, reaching for the better lives, selves, relationships, and eternity that he offers to us, focusing on that hope and that faith and walking in that direction. As we cast our eyes forward, towards the Lord, and maintain that focus in our hearts and our lives, we can and will be saved.

Proverbs 1:31 -- On The Fruit of Our Own Way

"Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices."
Proverbs 1:31


This struck me today because this is the result of not listening to God... to be left to our own devices. It's kind of a crazy thing, because I think lots of times we think we *want* that... to be left alone to live our lives the way we want to, but it is, in fact, a curse. We don't realize how bad it is at first, until we honestly try doing things God's way and compare, or we follow our path far enough and see that it doesn't lead to where we actually were hoping to go. Or it seems like it does and we still feel empty.

Today, let's remember that God's way leads to wholeness and joy, and our own way is always going to fall short of that. Let's trust God a little more and give him a little more credit as the creator of the universe and our all-knowing father, that he might be able to give us a few tips about how to improve. Let's listen, and learn, and change for the better.

Romans 4:17-21 -- On Hope

"(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform."
Romans 4:17-21


This is an interesting excerpt which talks a little bit at the beginning about God talking about things that aren't real as though they are.

We could argue of course that whatever God says *is* real to an eternal being that is not subject to time, but the fact is, whatever the reality for God, Paul's point is very relevant to the way things seem to us. We are all in this world, and our physical senses often tell a different story than God tells us.

God tells us a story not always of what is (at least to our perception), but instead of what can be, what should be, and what absolutely will be.

God's story, or his vision, or his reality... it isn't altogether different than what we hear from earthly people... the visionary leader, the sports figure, the hero. They tell different stories, encouraging us to believe in and act on their ideas/ideals. We change our actions, and our actions change our lives, and the world around us, depending on what we believe in, what version of reality we subscribe to, and what we are willing to work to make happen.

The most important difference is that God is never wrong. His vision is true because it has always been true... he created all things and they are all working together to bring his vision to life. We might go wrong believing in the wrong leader or working towards a misunderstood ideal, but we can't go wrong supporting God's vision.

Today, let's take a page out of Abraham's book, and "against hope" (even though so often the story seems false to our physical senses), let's believe in hope, and trust our spiritual senses that help us to know that God can keep his promises, and that all is never lost as long as we have faith and work towards God's vision. The happy ending was there for Abraham, and it will also be there for us, as we refuse to give up and keep turning the pages.

Daniel 8:23-25 -- On the Dark King versus God

"And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.
And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand."
Daniel 8:23-25


This is a prophecy from Daniel, who saw a glimpse of our day in addition to other things. Fierce countenance is bad, but "understanding dark sentences" seems way creepier, especially when it is followed up with "not by his own power" ... so whether those dark sentences are drawing upon some dark supernatural power, or just creepy human underworld type stuff, it is yikes either way. It says that this person will destroy mighty and holy people, which is also frightening.

The "causing craft to prosper" makes me wonder about supernatural stuff again, but it could also be advanced technology which would look like magic to Daniel anyway, but maybe the creepiest part of the whole thing is "by peace shall destroy many" ... which sounds very underworldy, with people working to undermine others from the shadows, kind of like all of the hacking and ransomware stuff going on, but worse ... destroying from the dark, the world at peace on the surface, but underneath still being attacked and destroyed.

In any case, whatever the methods of this 'wonderful destroyer,' as soon as he tries to stand up to God, he will be broken. And I think that is the lesson here, and the lesson for all of our lives. Bad people are going to do bad things, at least until they are banished from the earth, but that is the far future. Right now, they are a reality, and we will have to find a way to make a difference despite them, and help people who have been harmed by them. But their terror is temporary, and their triumph only lasts a chapter or two. In the end, God and good will prevail. This is God's story, and no one can mar the happy ending that is waiting for us, no matter how evil. God has already written the ending, and (spoiler)... we win. If we stick with God, he will help us through the hard chapters where people speak dark sentences and destroy the holy. And God will break the fierce countenance of the transgressors, and bring us to lasting peace and wholeness. Today, let's count on that, and get through the rough chapters with faith and our determination to get to the happy ending with God.