Doctrine and Covenants 39:24 -- On Being Ready

"Behold, I come quickly. Even so. Amen."
Doctrine and Covenants 39:24


This struck me today, and I was thinking how it would be if Christ came today, or we had a night to get to where he was, as some of the Nephites did in 3rd Nephi. Even if we had a week or a month of warning... what would we do differently? What would we change? And if it was today, would we be ready? Maybe something good to think on today, and also perhaps consider a plan to change our ways as needed, so that we can be more ready. Let's get rid of the things in our lives that are holding us back from God.

Helaman 2:6-7 -- On God's Wisdom

"And it came to pass as he went forth towards the judgment-seat to destroy Helaman, behold one of the servants of Helaman, having been out by night, and having obtained, through disguise, a knowledge of those plans which had been laid by this band to destroy Helaman—
And it came to pass that he met Kishkumen, and he gave unto him a sign; therefore Kishkumen made known unto him the object of his desire, desiring that he would conduct him to the judgment-seat that he might murder Helaman."
Helaman 2:6-7


I like these verses because it shows that the "good guys" were aware of secret combinations, and working to protect themselves against them. I think the good guys get characterized as ignorant and unaware of reality sometimes, when the truth is that trusting God and listening to his wisdom and inspiration actually help us face reality a lot better than if we didn't have that resource, and support. Today, let's work on being good, and wise, listening to and doing what God advises. He can help us even in the worst circumstances.

Alma 62:15-16 -- On Trust and Change

"And it came to pass that as they were marching towards the land, they took a large body of men of the Lamanites, and slew many of them, and took their provisions and their weapons of war.
And it came to pass after they had taken them, they caused them to enter into a covenant that they would no more take up their weapons of war against the Nephites."
Alma 62:15-16


I like the fact that they could trust their opponents to keep their promises. I feel like we don't have that in the modern day, although I am sure it exists on an individual basis. It wouldn't be considered a solution to have people promise to stop doing something bad or against the law. It's rarely an option to trust people even to do things that they have already agreed to do--which is why it is even more amazing and cool that God trusts us to change when we repent, not assuming that we will regress, but giving us every chance to learn to be wiser and to become the better people that he knows we can be.

Today, let's thank God for his help and for giving us a chance to change... and hey, let's also reach out in trust to others, and give them a chance to step up and do the right thing as well.

1 Nephi 18:19 -- On Tears and Prayers

"And Jacob and Joseph also, being young, having need of much nourishment, were grieved because of the afflictions of their mother; and also my wife with her tears and prayers, and also my children, did not soften the hearts of my brethren that they would loose me."
1 Nephi 18:19


I like the phrase "tears and prayers" here. It is natural to feel sorrow, frustration, etc. when something goes wrong that is out of our control, and there are a lot of things like that, but Nephi's wife wasn't only sad or only worried. She also trusted in the Lord, and petitioned him for his help.

A few verses later, Nephi is loosed, and he says "after I had prayed the winds did cease, and the storm did cease, and there was a great calm" (verse 21). Prayer is an integral part of the story throughout.

Today, no matter how things are going in our lives, let's turn to the Lord and use the power of prayer to connect with God. Let's learn and grow, and ask for the help that we need.

3 Nephi 5:13 -- On Discipleship and Messages to the Future

"Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life."
3 Nephi 5:13


I like that this is the information that Mormon gives us right after he gives his name. This is the important thing to know about him. :) Today, perhaps we should think about how we would present ourselves to generations to come, and if being a disciple of Christ is a main part of our lives.

If not, maybe that's something to work on today. And even if so, we could probably practice some more. :)

John 15:13 -- On Being Christ's Friends

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
John 15:13


I love the idea that Christ considers us his friends. On Easter and always we honor his sacrifice for us, and proclaim with joy "He is Risen." ... Sometimes even as we do that though, we think of him as impossibly distant from us, no one that could be a close friend because the distance, physically and emotionally, is just too far.

It's easy to feel that way, but it doesn't have to be like that. Christ encourages us to learn of him, and come unto him. Those aren't just phrases that mean "go to church" or something... he really does want to talk to us, and wants to have a friendly relationship with us, where we feel we can turn to him in a time of trouble.

Today, let's celebrate Easter not only by honoring the death and celebrating the resurrection of our Savior... let's pray and talk to him personally as well. Let's learn all we can of him, and be the best friends to him that we can be.

Alma 23:14 -- On the One

"And the Amalekites were not converted, save only one; neither were any of the Amulonites; but they did harden their hearts, and also the hearts of the Lamanites in that part of the land wheresoever they dwelt, yea, and all their villages and all their cities."
Alma 23:14


I hope someday we get the story of the one Amalekite that converted, because that was a good and brave thing to do after being raised and surrounded with conflicting beliefs.

Today, let's stand up and do what's right in God's eyes, even when the world wants us to take a different path.

2 Nephi 5:5 -- On Departing From Evil Rather than Wiping it Out

"And it came to pass that the Lord did warn me, that I, Nephi, should depart from them and flee into the wilderness, and all those who would go with me."
2 Nephi 5:5


I think often we want God to come down and make things right, to solve the problems right in front of us and prove us right. And, as long as we are on his side at the last day, then this will eventually happen, or at least he will make things right, not necessarily prove *us* right. :) Until then, though, often instead of chopping off an evil branch of the tree, he allows it to grow, and instead grafts us into a different tree where we can help and make things stronger. It's not because he loves evil, but because we all need a chance to repent and change, and if we wiped out evil as soon as it happened, we wouldn't get that chance.

Today, let's do what we can where God asks us to go, and strengthen whoever we can. And let's repent and give others the space to repent as well. God will make everything right in the end, but we can help him in his work to save people in the meantime.

1 Nephi 9:5 -- On Moving Forward with Faith

"Wherefore, the Lord hath commanded me to make these plates for a wise purpose in him, which purpose I know not."
1 Nephi 9:5


I kind of like the mystery in doing something that God asks but not knowing why. It doesn't always seem cool and mysterious I know, but every single time, it is still the right thing to do. Why? We don't always know, but we do know that all things work together for good, and that small things can make a big difference. God asks us each to do small things, but those things fit together into a living tapestry that brings God's will to pass, and moves the gospel forward. Today, let's do God's will and fit our pieces into the whole. It doesn't mean at all that we can't ask why, or that God won't tell us. Often he will, but it is on his timetable, according to his wisdom. Let's trust that, and move forward anyway. :)

1 Nephi 5:21 -- On the Worth of Obedience

"And we had obtained the records which the Lord had commanded us, and searched them and found that they were desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us, insomuch that we could preserve the commandments of the Lord unto our children."
1 Nephi 5:21


This is a good illustration of how faith works. We can't always understand beforehand why God asks us to do something, or make certain choices, but when we are obedient and do it, then we find treasures and blessings and understand better. It requires trust in God to begin, but continued practice with doing as God asks, and then seeing the blessings in our lives helps us to learn a little more trust, a little more faith, and our testimonies deepen, so we learn to be a little closer to God, and want the same things that he wants, as he shows us how cool his way is. :) Today, let's be willing to do as God asks, and look forward to discovering why. :)

Alma 19:4-5 -- On Hope and Faith

"And she said unto him: The servants of my husband have made it known unto me that thou art a prophet of a holy God, and that thou hast power to do many mighty works in his name;
Therefore, if this is the case, I would that ye should go in and see my husband, for he has been laid upon his bed for the space of two days and two nights; and some say that he is not dead, but others say that he is dead and that he stinketh, and that he ought to be placed in the sepulchre; but as for myself, to me he doth not stink."
Alma 19:4-5


The queen here is a great example of trust and faith, in asking for help from Ammon even though she didn't know for sure why her husband had collapsed. She trusted the servants and trusted in the holy God that was described enough to see if He could help. Sometimes that inch of hope is all it takes to reach out to God and to see his hand in our lives. Let's have a little bit of that faith in our lives today, and ask God for help, and watch for his hand in our lives.

Alma 50:30-31 -- On Listening to God, and Acting on Promptings

"And behold, they would have carried this plan into effect, (which would have been a cause to have been lamented) but behold, Morianton being a man of much passion, therefore he was angry with one of his maid servants, and he fell upon her and beat her much.
And it came to pass that she fled, and came over to the camp of Moroni, and told Moroni all things concerning the matter, and also concerning their intentions to flee into the land northward."
Alma 50:30-31


It's so interesting the tiny things that make a difference. Sometimes the world makes us think that we can't make a difference, but this woman did, and so can we all, if we listen to the Spirit and act on God's promptings. Let's be open to that guidance and remain ready to act when God gives us an opportunity.

1 Nephi 5:1-2 -- On Trials and Testimony

"And it came to pass that after we had come down into the wilderness unto our father, behold, he was filled with joy, and also my mother, Sariah, was exceedingly glad, for she truly had mourned because of us. For she had supposed that we had perished in the wilderness; and she also had complained against my father, telling him that he was a visionary man; saying: Behold thou hast led us forth from the land of our inheritance, and my sons are no more, and we perish in the wilderness."
1 Nephi 5:1-2


I like these verses I think because it shows us some of the realities of that time. There was no way to communicate with people at a distance. There was no quick transportation. When Nephi and his brothers went back to Jerusalem, they were gone a very long time, trying different things to get the plates, and Sariah admitted to her husband that she thought he was crazy. :) Which, by modern standards seems like a pretty likely explanation. ... The cool thing about this though is that when they come back, Sariah is completely coverted and says that now she knows for sure that the Lord is really commanding her husband. It was a stressful way to gain a testimony, but having that testimony through the rest of the journey was invaluable.

Today, let's not be afraid to tell God what we think about life and whatever situation that we are in. He wants to know. However, after we express our opinions, let's take a step back and listen to what God has to say. He can help us understand all of it, and guide us in discovering the answers to all of our questions.

Exodus 20:3 -- On Putting God First

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
Exodus 20:3


Even though I don't think that most people worship idols anymore, we still seem to put a lot of things before God, primarily ourselves, which is common, but flawed. Since God can see more, and better, than we can, and understands everything that we don't (even when we think we do sometimes), prioritizing his perceptions before our own makes a lot of sense. We talk ourselves into crazy things sometimes, and God is the most trustworthy of all to be able to get us back on track as we are learning to walk, and think, and reason.

It reminds me of Revelation 3:17 "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Today, let's remember that God is our father, and we are still toddlers compared to him. We need some extra wisdom and help as we learn to navigate life, and God is there to help, and wants us to ask. Let's read and study his word, and pray for help rather than trying to do it all alone. We need him, and just like this is the first commandment, admitting that need is the first step on the path to wisdom. :)

Psalms 94:12-13 -- On Chastening

"Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law;
That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked."
Psalms 94:12-13


It's hard to handle sometimes, but the Lord's chastening is good for us. It isn't like human chastening that can be arbitrary and unjust, but God's chastening will be appropriate to the situation and most importantly, will teach us how to improve. Today, let's try to be more patient with chastening and use ut to improve and learn.

Psalms 88:2-3 -- On Turning to the Lord

"Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave."
Psalms 88:2-3


I like this because sometimes our lives do feel heavy and dramatic, and the best thing we can do in times like that is to turn to the Lord. It also works when we are happy, of course, but emotional heaviness unfortunately gets us to remember God more often. :)

Today, let's turn to the Lord with grateful hearts, whether our lives seem good or bad, and include the Lord in our thoughts and lives. He loves us and wants to be there, in sorrow and in rejoicing.

Psalms 85:7-8 -- On Avoiding Folly

"Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.
I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly."
Psalms 85:7-8


God is amazing to grant us repentance and allow us to keep trying until we get it right. We need to take it seriously though, and not just blow it off thinking that we can repent on our deathbeds and everything will be golden. It's a process, not an instant perfection. :) Today, let's make sure we keep going and keep getting better, working with God each day to improve the world and ourselves... and not turning again to folly. :)

Psalms 84:11 -- On Good

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly."
Psalms 84:11


I like the idea of God allowing us everything good. That's a lot of potential blessings. The trick is of course to make sure we are distinguishing between good and evil, but also to learn to understand what *God* thinks is good more and more... not just avoiding evil, but focusing on understanding and doing good to ourselves and the world around us. Today, let's observe and see if we can fit a little bit more good in.

Luke 4:24 -- On Loving and Accepting People We Know Well

"And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country."
Luke 4:24


This is sort of sad. You would hope that the people who know you best would see your calling and rejoice for you and support you, but instead they might only see your weaknesses, remember your past errors, or treat you like you are still a toddler. In Christ's case he theoretically probably overcame all of his weaknesses, but that might be even worse for the jealousy factor. ... And you expect people who knew you when you were young to be a hard crowd, but after this they try to throw him off the top of a hill, so that's some serious animosity.

Today, let's try to be better to the people that we know well, and see past their weaknesses to who they are trying to be now. Let's give other people the grace that we want for ourselves--the room to change, the freedom from judgement, and the kindness and respect that we show to others.

Let's also respect God and show him love and respect, and not make the same mistake that the people in Nazareth did, assuming they knew him, but not knowing his heart very well at all.

D&C 29:43 -- On the Gift of Immortality

"And thus did I, the Lord God, appoint unto man the days of his probation—that by his natural death he might be raised in immortality unto eternal life, even as many as would believe."
Doctrine and Covenants 29:43


I like the idea here that we have to go through death in order to get something better, and not just hang around living forever in this corrupt state where we can get sick and experience pain, etc. Resurrection gives us a perfect, immortal body without most of the pains and sorrows that we experience now... repentence is a bigger gift, for sure, but immortality is right up there. Another gift from God that we can be looking forward to.

1 Chronicles 28:9 -- On Hearts

"And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever."
1 Chronicles 28:9


I like the idea of God searching all of our hearts, even though it is also a little scary, because it means that he really knows us individually, and everything about us, the good and the bad. So he can be a combination of a best friend and a coach (and of course so much more), since he knows our quirks and our favorite things, but also our weaknesses and how to help.

The forsaking part is scary, but it's similar to being advised not to ask for the wrong things (D&C 88:65), or to deny help to others (Mosiah 4:24-25)... because those things bring our own condemnations down upon us. If we deny Christ and live our lives without him, we can't really expect him to force us to heaven, when we haven't ever gone in that direction. He does search for us, and our hearts, and give us every chance, so let's not think that part happens easily. It requires resisting and abandoning Christ over a lifetime and on a broad scale.

It also makes me think of someone in Conference today emphasized... that our obedience to God should be about love. That's why God comes to find us, and we do ourselves a disservice if we don't seek God out and try to get to know him through prayer, the scriptures, etc. and really find out for ourselves what God is about. That's a more important question than almost any other, and getting to know and love God is imperative if we want to see how any of this life stuff fits together, because that love is at the center of it all.

Ruth 1:16-19 -- On Love and Kindness

"And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
So they two went until they came to Beth-lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?"
Ruth 1:16-19


Ruth's loyalty to her mother in law is commendable, but, to me, her commitment to the religion that she married into is even more so. I feel like this woman realizes that who she is now is better than who she used to be, and she doesn't want to go back, or leave the new life that she loves, despite the loss of her husband.

I'm also impressed that when they return, everyone knows who Naomi is, and throughout the story people hear about Ruth and how good she is to her mother-in law. It's a community that knows each other and at least to some extent, watches out for each other.

Today, let's love people and God more, and watch out for others and treat them with respect and kindness.

Judges 5:9 -- On Offering Ourselves

"My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the people. Bless ye the Lord."
Judges 5:9


I like the idea here of offering yourself. It sounds sacrificial, and in a way it is. God wants the sacrifice of a broken heart, a contrite spirit, and also a willing mind (2 Corinthians 8:12, D&C 64:34). He wants us to realize that we need improvement and to be meek enough to work with God to do good to ourselves by growing and improving and do good to others by learning to love, and forgive, and bless and not curse, to help rather than harm.

I don't think that kind of sacrifice has to feel sacrificial... like we are dying or tearing ourselves apart, but depending on what else we are giving up, sometimes repentance and change are painful. Even then though, it leads to more joy than we have ever felt, and a happiness about *ourselves* that we have never felt before either, so getting through that stage is worth the effort. Today, let's jump in and offer ourselves and become better while helping others to thrive and improve as well.

Psalms 32:2 -- On Guile

"Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile."
Psalms 32:2


I like the idea here of being without guile. Guile is basically being deceptive or duplicitous... or creative and intelligent, but in a devious way. :) So, perhaps someone who it doesn't even cross their mind to cheat, or to lie or to treat people differently, that might be a person without guile. Little kids are, but I think most of us quickly learn some guile from the world.

Maybe today, with God's help we can unlearn some of it, and look at other people with fresh eyes and a spirit of sincerity and love.

Romans 12:9-10 -- On Preferring One Another

"Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;"
Romans 12:9-10


I like the idea of preferring one another. We're told to treat everyone well and to not be thinking that someone is better because of riches or whatever, and even to love our enemies, so we know it isn't about saying these people are better than those people. I love the idea of having everyone be your favorite for different reasons. Preferring not one person over another, but people over worldly thing. Everyone has something cool and special about them, and their own kind of genius. If we look for those things, then we can make people feel special and noticed as we love them and not just treat everyone the same because we are glossing over everyone in the same way. :)

Today, let's try to love everyone as God does, not just in bulk, but also on an individual level, finding out what makes a person awesome and celebrating it. :)