Alma 6:6 -- On Fasting and Prayer

"Nevertheless the children of God were commanded that they should gather themselves together oft, and join in fasting and mighty prayer in behalf of the welfare of the souls of those who knew not God."
Alma 6:6


Praying for others, and praying for others who don't know God, both seem like important things to do, since that is the work of the Lord, and helping him bring people to that entrance door where they can recognize God's Spirit in their lives and learn to make covenants with God to start them on his path of happiness, that's the ultra-important work of salvation, that we can help with.

Fasting is something that we frequently leave out of the equation, and I think that it is an important thing to add, not only to increase the efficacy of our prayers, but to help us as well. Fasting is something that helps us focus, putting our "fleshly lusts" (the desires of the body) in the background so that we can focus on and pull our spiritual selves to the forefront.

That doesn't mean that we need to go on a hunger strike or do anything dramatic that will harm our health, but fasting for 24 hours once a month as we are asked to do on fast Sunday (typically the first Sunday of the month) is something that can help us prioritize spiritual desires over worldly desires, and make our prayers more focused and heartfelt, and when we have something important to pray for, fasting and focusing on it with God and dedicating that time and attention to our prayers for a period of time can help us to break through that barrier of self-focus that we often find between ourselves and God.

Today, let's work on fasting and prayer, and joining together with others to pray for God's work to be done. Let's help others to find God, and pray to know God better ourselves as well.

1 Peter 3:3-4 -- On Outward and Inward Adornments

"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."
1 Peter 3:3-4


I like the idea here that we should adorn ourselves with the way we behave rather than by how we dress or groom ourselves. It is another flesh versus spirit idea... not that we shouldn't be clean and well-groomed of course, but that the important thing, the thing that we should prioritize, is the internal / spiritual beauty of being meek and quiet ... under control, calm, happy, joyful. We can show people that God helps us to be happy, and to control our anxiety and cope with the things around us, as we have confidence and faith in him, and his ability to teach us and help us. Which is better overall than just showing off our cool clothing or our wealth. :)

Today, let's focus on displaying our hearts and spirits--our gifts from God rather than our cool stuff. :) Let's set a better example, and work on being welcoming and inclusive rather than using clothing or wealth to separate ourselves from others.

Alma 5:48-51 -- On Atonement and Repentance

"I say unto you, that I know of myself that whatsoever I shall say unto you, concerning that which is to come, is true; and I say unto you, that I know that Jesus Christ shall come, yea, the Son, the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, and mercy, and truth. And behold, it is he that cometh to take away the sins of the world, yea, the sins of every man who steadfastly believeth on his name.
And now I say unto you that this is the order after which I am called, yea, to preach unto my beloved brethren, yea, and every one that dwelleth in the land; yea, to preach unto all, both old and young, both bond and free; yea, I say unto you the aged, and also the middle aged, and the rising generation; yea, to cry unto them that they must repent and be born again.
Yea, thus saith the Spirit: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, for the kingdom of heaven is soon at hand; yea, the Son of God cometh in his glory, in his might, majesty, power, and dominion. Yea, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, that the Spirit saith: Behold the glory of the King of all the earth; and also the King of heaven shall very soon shine forth among all the children of men.
And also the Spirit saith unto me, yea, crieth unto me with a mighty voice, saying: Go forth and say unto this people—Repent, for except ye repent ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of heaven."
Alma 5:48-51


Lots of cool things here. I love the atonement of course. Jesus Christ taking away our sins is the single most impactful event in the history of the world, and repentance is the way that we access that gift... belief in it, of course, but also action, because to be cleansed from sin we need to change ourselves, step by step over time, to people who aren't wishing every moment to repeat that same sin. We have to let go of those desires and be willing to give them up to be free of them, and God's plan not only gives us the time and space to get there, but Christ's atonement enables us to be free of our past mistakes. As we are able to change (with support and strength and assistance from God), we are also cleansed, because Christ is willing to take on the burden of our past sins to allow us to walk free as better people now. If we believe in that gift and accept it into our lives by acting on it and being willing to change and let go of the old and start anew through God, he frees us from the pain of the past and leads us to a better place of joy.

I also really love the idea of Christ as King of all the earth. No mere mortal could be trusted with that power, but Christ, the only perfect being to live on the earth, who suffered and died for us, and who understands us better than we understand ourselves... a man and God of infinite love and compassion and strength and beauty and power and pure goodness? Yeah, I'll take it. :) He only is worthy, and he can bring justice, mercy, and perfect joy and peace to this crazy place. I would wish for it to happen today, only I know that I, and we, need some more time to work on ourselves and find our way to his path. His timing will be perfect, and I look forward to it.

Today, let's pray and be grateful for the gift of Jesus Christ, for the chance we have to live and learn and love, and let's repent and do better, walking the Lord's path of joy.

Alma 5:39-40 -- On Choices and Folds

"And now if ye are not the sheep of the good shepherd, of what fold are ye? Behold, I say unto you, that the devil is your shepherd, and ye are of his fold; and now, who can deny this? Behold, I say unto you, whosoever denieth this is a liar and a child of the devil.
For I say unto you that whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the devil."
Alma 5:39-40


I like the simplicity of this... and it *is* simple in many cases, although we often complicate it in our minds thinking that we have other choices, like sitting on the fence or going off on our own. The truth though is that if we are walking away from God, we are always walking towards the devil.

Of course sometimes the choices are between good and good, and we still have to make choices, with God's help to choose what is the correct choice between good choices, like choosing a job or a house, etc. Even then, though, staying close to God and feeling his Spirit in our lives is the best way to be sure that we are choosing wisely.

Today, let's be part of God's fold, remembering that he is the source of all good, and remembering to seek his help in all that we do. As we pray and study and learn of him, and choose to put him first, we will learn more about ourselves and the choices that will lead us closer to God and closer to our best selves.

Alma 5:27 -- On Humility and Redemption

"Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?"
Alma 5:27


This is a sort of scary question to ask yourself, but maybe a good one, as long as it motivates rather than overwhelms. God doesn't want us to give up hope, for sure, but I think he does want us to feel that desire to be better, to do better, and to want to be the type of person that isn't ashamed to come before God. And as we pray and work with God to improve, we can learn that desire and have confidence that we're on the same page with God. Not that we're perfect, but that we are working with God to improve and do better, which is the point... and working with God means at least that we are humble enough to listen to him, and to follow him, which I think is the point of the verse.

Today, let's work on walking God's path in humility and cleanliness, and trust in Christ to help us to have the hope and faith to improve. :)

1 Peter 2:11 -- On War Against the Soul

"Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;"
1 Peter 2:11


The idea of warring againt the soul is kind of scary, along with the idea that we could allow the flesh to win over the spirit by making unwise choices. That seems so opposite of God's hopes for us in this life, where our spirits were granted the opportunity to acquire a body. Allowing ourselves to slip the other way is almost like one of those werewolf stories where the person forgets themselves and goes all wolf... all instinct, no rationality.

Bodies are such amazing gifts from God, and the potential source of much joy, but our Spirits are the core of who we are. Let's not lose ourselves by letting our flesh rule us, losing God and ourselves in the process.

1 Peter 1:22 -- On Purified Souls and Fervent Love

"Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:"
1 Peter 1:22


I like the idea that we purify our souls with truth, by following it. That was dishonesty, or untruth, equals corruption, and harming our souls, and that seems about right, not only in our personal efforts to be honest, but in this world where the truth is so often twisted into deceptive shapes to push some corrupt agenda rather than being plain and precious, encouraging us to do good and rejoice in truth.

To be able to love one another in truth and goodness, we need some extra dedication and fervency so that we can overcome the twisty deceptions and half-truths all around us, and see each other as brothers and sisters and worthy of love and filled with the potential for good.

God is light, love, and truth, and through him we can banish darkness, hatred, and deception. Today, let us love each other fervently, and pray that God's light will help us see through the darkness and show the truth, and when we see it, let us cling to it and to God, through all the mists of darkness, as we gather in God's love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 -- On Doing Good and Not Being Easily Provoked

"Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;"
1 Corinthians 13:4-5


What struck me today is the "not easily provoked" part of love. That's hard sometimes, especially with people who know exactly how to push your buttons, but God can help us to perhaps have fewer buttons, or to be able to take a step back and make sure we are seeing things from the other person's perspective and not misinterpreting a sincere message.

I also kind of like that it says "easily" provoked. God isn't asking us to never stand up for ourselves or ignore it when wrongs need to be righted and we can legitimately do something about it, but he is asking us to chill a little and stop allowing little things to get in the way of doing good. Today, let's work on not being easily provoked, and with God's help, keeping our cool, and moving forward, loving and doing good to everyone.

James 5:7-8 -- On Patience and Stablishing Our Hearts

"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."
James 5:7-8


I like the comparison here for waiting for a harvest or through a growing season. It helps me understand a little why waiting is necessary sometimes, and perhaps we also have growing seasons in our lives where we learn a lot, and then take some time to recover nutrients before growing something new. We definitely need a lot of time to learn the lessons that God is trying to teach us as gently and lovingly as possible, and the more patience we have to study and learn perhaps the softer those lessons can be, whereas if we harden our hearts and resist, it takes something a little more harsh to break through the soil.

Today, let's remember patience in our lives as we learn and grow, and also as we wait for blessings, and for the coming of the Lord. Let's remember that everything won't be right or perfect now, but as we trust God and have confidence in his happy ending, and "stablish" our hearts to live as though God were present in our lives, he will be, and that time will come, where all things will be made right and we will be welcomed in to more joy than we can imagine... if we can just be patient and have faith for a little longer, until the season and the end. :)

James 4:8 -- On Double-Mindedness and Drawing Nigh

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


This sounds like a rebuke, and so it is, but I think also some great advice. It can be hard to cleanse our hands and purify our hearts, and part of that is thinking that God should come close to us without us having to do anything... without asking, without seeking, and without any actual effort on our parts. The scary thing is that it is never God that has moved. It is always ourselves that have drifted away from him, forgetting to pray, or study, or make the effort to know Him.

Today, let's cleanse our hands and work on purifying our hearts. Let's seek God, and put forth the effort to draw near to God, and as we do, He will be there when we seek him sincerely. Let's stay focused on him and not let other things cloud our way.

James 3:2 -- On Bridling Ourselves

"For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body."
James 3:2


This is kind of cool, telling us that if we are able to control what we say that we should be able to control the rest of ourselves too... and that, at least in that thing, we're perfect. So, it sounds like a super good and important thing to work on. :)

Avoiding offense in the things that we say doesn't mean that we can't express opinions or correct errors... we still need to do what we can at work/school and at home to improve things, but maybe "bridling" means that we can improve the way that we express our opinions and correct situations so that it is clear that we aren't angry and are only working in the service of all... and if we aren't, then maybe we need to wait a bit and calm down until we *can* be in that mindset.

We can watch our language to make sure it is positive and uplifting, and be gentler to others and listen to the Spirit more, which can help us know what to say and how to say it. God is always willing to teach us to love. Today, let's do our best to only allow good things out of our mouths, and to show love and kindness and goodness to all around us. As we do that, we'll increase our sin resistance overall. :)

James 2:12-13 -- On The Law of Liberty

"So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment."
James 2:12-13


I wonder here if the law of liberty and the idea of restitution in the scriptures are the same thing. It seems so here, because it is talking about us being judged based on how we treat others. If we show mercy, we will be shown mercy, and if we have not shown mercy, we shall not be shown mercy... so how we use our liberty/free agency affects our own judgement.

I love this idea, because it is perfect, individualized justice... we all get exactly what we deserve. It is also super scary, thinking back on the petty cruelty and emotional outbursts of life. It makes me very thankful for the atonement of Christ, which is the only thing that can save us from our own stupidity, by allowing us to repent of the harm that we have caused and to live and love better.

Today, let's work on using our liberty to show mercy and love for others, and live in hope and faith that Christ will not only offer all of us justice, but mercy through his atonement and because of his great love for us.

James 1:23-25 -- On Forgetting Ourselves

"For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
James 1:23-25


This is an interesting analogy, comparing doing the will of God with knowing ourselves. I feel the truth of it when I remember the difference between sincere and fervent prayer and rote or hurried prayers. Perhaps part of it is sincerity and true, heartfelt belief, but those things are also part of who we are, of knowing ourselves.

When we take God less seriously and are just going through the motions we can justify it to ourselves because we are busy or tired or whatever else, but while those things might be true, isn't it also true that we are too busy or tired or whatever else to truly live as we believe... to match our souls with our physical selves and do what we believe we should do? That doing is what makes us into our ideal selves... that work, that etching of the truth slowly into our hearts and minds with practice and committment. If we take a day off from God, we take a day off from our selves, settling for less than we could and should be.

That isn't to say that we can become perfect all at once or that we should beat ourselves up when we fall short. Trying to make small, incremental improvements is important so we don't lose heart. But God can and will strengthen us as we try, and perfection, while not yet attainable is always something to keep in mind, so that we remember who we are working to be, and that God isn't asking us to do any of this frivolously or pointlessly. He is helping us learn salvation and joy and become everything we have ever wanted to be.

Today, let's remember who we are, and that we are children of God, with infinite potential. Let's work to do as God asks and walk his path, not just because it's a theoretically good path, but because it leads to everything we want, and because it is where we truly want to go. Let's connect our love of God and our desire for joy and peace together, and apply all of that to the little decisions we make each day. Let's try to do small things for God, and as we do, we'll slowly become stronger and more faithful and able to do greater things and to feel more of the Spirit, and to feel and see God's hand in our lives more strongly.

Ether 12:11 -- On Gifts and Faith and a Better Way

"Wherefore, by faith was the law of Moses given. But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled."
Ether 12:11


In verse 8, before this, the propher Ether refers to "the heavenly gift" which Christ prepares a way for us to partake, and here we're told that Christ *is* a gift, given to us by the father, also to prepare a "more excellent" way. As always, the father and the son working hand in hand to prepare the way for us, and Christ's atonement is the gift that leads us to, and is, our salvation.

It's the same thing that we consider during the sacrament each week at church, but I'm not sure if we always realize or "retain in remembrance" (Mosiah 4:11) just how amazing God's gifts are, and the possibilities that we have because God loves us enough to give us such incomparable gifts.

Today, let's seek the more excellent way that God has prepared for us, and be thankful to and open with God as we pray, study, and learn to follow his path to eternal joy.

Mark 3:35 -- On Being God's Family

"For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother."
Mark 3:35


This is an interesting passage, with this verse being the point I think ... that being united in the gospel is becoming God's family. I think that is a huge, joyful, blessing especially for people who might have strained family relationships in this life.

I don't think that it means that family isn't important outside the gospel, or that we have to choose between the two. There are cases where breaking ties might be necessary, but typically our families can be huge blessings and often are a source of great joy, and of great learning as we work on those relationships that are less ephemeral than other types seem to be.

Still, the idea of being children of God, of being part of Christ's family, that's something far more valuable than any other relationship, and (as we learn from Lehi's dream), God's love is the goal, and surpasses everything else. Today, let's learn more of God and what it means to be his family. As we do, we will tap into the deepest type of joy and love that it is possible to experience.

Romans 8:35-37 -- On the Love of Christ

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."
Romans 8:35-37


I like this explanation that we can never be separated from God's love. Jesus Christ suffered and died for us, and no one can know us better, or love us better, than he can. His love is central to everything, and the core of worship as well. Today, let's pray and reach out to God, to learn from him and to feel his love for us, which is a true source of joy. :)

Jarom 1:11-12 -- On Reaching Our Hearts

"Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to diligence; teaching the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was. And after this manner did they teach them.
And it came to pass that by so doing they kept them from being destroyed upon the face of the land; for they did prick their hearts with the word, continually stirring them up unto repentance."
Jarom 1:11-12


The idea of pricking the heart... which sounds painful, but which is of course symbolic, is an important one here I think because it is so easy to remove our hearts from the equation and distance ourselves from the gospel, thinking about it as a great plan, but not feeling it. The prophets, priests, and teachers were intentionally trying for that emotional reaction, because that is where they were connecting with the Spirit and not only teaching the mind, but awakening the heart.

Today, let's not only read of the love of God, but apply it to our lives and feel it. Let's let the truth of the gospel into our innermost selves, living and breathing and feeling the gospel, not just thinking it. God is here, asking to be let in. Let's open our hearts and allow him to reach us, and reach out to him in turn, not just intellectually but spiritually and emotionally as well, taking action in our lives and feeling his love as we reach out in prayer.

D&C 14:9 -- On Light that Cannot be Hidden

"Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, who created the heavens and the earth, a light which cannot be hid in darkness;"
Doctrine and Covenants 14:9


This is kind of like the idea that the good will overcome the evil in time, because if the light can't be hidden, the dark can never smother it, and there will always be that light to help us and guide us. We can never lose our way if we look to Christ and his light.

Today, let's remember that, even when we are afraid of the darkness or wondering where the good is. Let's turn to God and make Christ our light as we go forth. Let's focus on that good, and spread that light as far and as wide as we can, driving back the darkness and doing good with his help and in his strength.

Doctrine and Covenants 8:10 -- On Faith and Good

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


Faith is interesting... it's sort of like living the principles that you believe gives you power, except that of course the actual power comes from God, so it doesn't work unless your belief matches the truth of God. Which is actually cool, because any kind of power can be super scary when it is being used for something besides good.

Today, let's throw ourselves into goodness and faith in God. Let's trust that he will help us as we strive to make the world better and to be better people. As we believe that and trust God, acting on those beliefs and living as though we were already those better people, we will start becoming them, and a better world will grow up around us, more and more as we gather and work together with God on bringing joy and doing good.

Alma 12:26-27 -- On a Preparatory State

"And now behold, if it were possible that our first parents could have gone forth and partaken of the tree of life they would have been forever miserable, having no preparatory state; and thus the plan of redemption would have been frustrated, and the word of God would have been void, taking none effect.
But behold, it was not so; but it was appointed unto men that they must die; and after death, they must come to judgment, even that same judgment of which we have spoken, which is the end."
Alma 12:26-27


I like the explanation here, letting us know that a preparatory state was important and necessary to our happiness. We needed (and still need) a chance to come to earth to learn, and grow, and improve ourselves before facing immortality. God grants us the chance to achieve eternal happiness rather than eternal misery, and that is what life is for... to learn happiness and to find a better state of being through Christ, and with his help.

Today, let's take advantage of this opportunity to learn happiness. Let's improve ourselves, focus on the good, and learn to do more good and expand the good around us, lifting and helping others and doing God's will. As we do, we will become happier as a byproduct because God's plan is the plan of happiness, and that is what all of this is meant to teach, as in Mormon 9:14 "he that is happy shall be happy still; and he that is unhappy shall be unhappy still" ... let's open ourselves up to God so that he can teach us to find the happiness. :)

Jacob 5:66 -- On Clearing Room For Good

"For it grieveth me that I should lose the trees of my vineyard; wherefore ye shall clear away the bad according as the good shall grow, that the root and the top may be equal in strength, until the good shall overcome the bad, and the bad be hewn down and cast into the fire, that they cumber not the ground of my vineyard; and thus will I sweep away the bad out of my vineyard."
Jacob 5:66


I like this idea of balance and keeping the trees alive from the allegory of the tame and wild olive trees, especially the idea that the Lord will make room for the good. He clears space for us as we learn to plant seeds of Good and He always gives us as much room as we need to expand those things and develop more and more Good.

God is out there... closer than we think, ready for us to take action, and ready to help us succeed and thrive. That doesn't mean that there won't be setbacks or hardships or that we won't have to work for it, because that's part of the normal trials of life, but I think part of the message here is what we can read in the parable of the talents. God is giving us the space to at least double whatever effort we are putting in. The only way we can lose is by doing nothing, and trying nothing to make the world better. As soom as we try, he is ready to help. Today, let's try. Let's work with God and make the effort. It might not work at first, and it might take effort and patience and persistence, but as we trust God, He will multiply and magnify our efforts, and in the end if we don't give up, we will see great success from our labors.

Alma 10:2 -- On Stories of Faith and Hope

"I am Amulek; I am the son of Giddonah, who was the son of Ishmael, who was a descendant of Aminadi; and it was that same Aminadi who interpreted the writing which was upon the wall of the temple, which was written by the finger of God."
Alma 10:2


There are so many missing stories in the scriptures, hinted at but not complete. I would love to hear more about the writing that was written by the finger of God, or the remarkable vision of Abish the Lamanitish maidservant's father, or what happened to Hagoth's ships... and so many other things. And the cool thing is that it never ends. There are stories in everyone's lives, and so much more to know.

Of course, we need to learn to appreciate what we have and to understand it before demanding more from God, which is understandable. Focusing on obtaining the word and learning more of God and his plan should come first. ... But it is also good to know that miracles are happening all around us, in our own lives too, and that we have inspiring stories to share just as others do. God asks us to be ready when someone asks why we hope, and that right there is a story that God is asking us to be ready to tell.

Stories matter, and help us not only hope, but build faith and learn from the past as well as applying to the present or helping us to understand what we can of the shape of the future. Let's inhale the scripture stories we have and learn all that they have to teach us, and prepare ourselves for more. :)

3 Nephi 26:1-4 -- On Learning From God

"And now it came to pass that when Jesus had told these things he expounded them unto the multitude; and he did expound all things unto them, both great and small.
And he saith: These scriptures, which ye had not with you, the Father commanded that I should give unto you; for it was wisdom in him that they should be given unto future generations.
And he did expound all things, even from the beginning until the time that he should come in his glory—yea, even all things which should come upon the face of the earth, even until the elements should melt with fervent heat, and the earth should be wrapt together as a scroll, and the heavens and the earth should pass away;
And even unto the great and last day, when all people, and all kindreds, and all nations and tongues shall stand before God, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil--"
3 Nephi 26:1-4


Reading this today, I was imagining what it woudl be like to have Christ himself reading the scriptures ande expounding all things, which would be utterly amazing. And then I thought... while it isn't exactly the same, we all have the opportunity to have that, because we have prayer and the opportunity to have God's Spirit in our lives, teaching us of all things.

Today, let's take some time to talk to God and to feel his spirit, and to ask him about the things that we read and study. It might not be exactly like being there in that moment, but it's still an opportunity that we all have that we should incorporate into our lives more often, rather than relying on our own wisdom alone. God has so much to teach us, and there are so many things for us to learn. I think we're probably missing out on a lot of it by not asking and studying.

John 10:6 -- On Understanding and Explanations

"This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them."
John 10:6


I think this (not understanding what God has to say to us) happens a lot, perhaps to us all. If we stick with God, he'll explain things and we'll learn more and more, but we perhaps too often give up after one parable, deciding that we can't understand, without even giving God a chance to explain (as he did in this case almost immediately afterward).

Today, let's think about what God says and study it out in our minds, and ask God to help us with the things that we don't get. He will. Maybe not instantly, but over time, he will teach us anything that we want to know, little by little sometimes, but always helping us learn more and more as we grow.

John 4:13-15 -- On Living Water

"Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw."
John 4:13-15


I really like the banter between Christ and the Samatitan woman at the well. It starts out normal, but develops into the most important conversation of her life. I really don't know if she was starting to believe yet here, but she was at least engaged enough to follow his lead and to admit desire for what he promised, and then when she realizes that he is a prophet, and then guesses, and has confirmed, that he is the Christ, she likely understands even more of the symbolism of the earlier conversation.

Today, let's also follow Christ's lead and desire the living water that he promises us. Let's work on drawing so close to God that we don't have to keep refilling our empty spiritual reservoirs, but instead we have a constant source of spiritual strength and power.

Romans 12:20-21 -- On Overcoming Evil

"Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
Romans 12:20-21


The verse before this asks us to not avenge ourselves, but allow God to repay. The "coals of fire" seems like vengeance, but I think that Paul is telling us here that if we want vengeance, that we need to be super nice. In practive, that won't necessarily get us vengeance... thankfully, we all have a chance to repent and hopefully avoid those coals of fire, but if not, God will make things right, whether it is exactly what we wanted or not... that's part of the deal. He died for us, and we accept his grace *and* his judgement.

I really, really love the overall idea of not letting ourselve be overcome by evil (or recompensing evil for evil as it says in verse 17, prior to this), but that the way to beat evil is by doing good. That is what will work. Not because of some crazy math where we measure the good and the bad and more people are doing good. I don't what that actual ratio is, but it doesn't matter, because God is doing the balancing and pruning his vineyard. He will prune away the bad as the good grows (Jacob 5:66)... so today, let's do good and grow that good as much as we can. That's the way to help God and the world to be filled with good rather than contributing to the evil. :)

1 Peter 3:13-17 -- On Suffering for Well Doing

"And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing."
1 Peter 3:13-17


I don't know if I have learned this lesson, but I like the idea of, if we have to suffer, suffering for doing good rather than evil. It can be hard to trust God when we're suffering, but even then he knows what we need to learn and how we need to change, and hard as it is, we often have to learn through the things that we suffer in this life. I don't think there is any question about it being worth it, but it's a challenge for us mentally to trust God and be able to see the joy of his light and truth even in the midst of trials.

Conscience-wise though, when we're suffering for things that we did well rather than for sins, at least we can know that we're still okay spiritually, and be guilt-free. That's the part I like. Maybe today we can trust God a little more even in the midst of injustice, and learn and pray just as hard as we can, so that perhaps our trials can be shortened through our patience and faith. :)

Alma 19:16-17 -- On Being Ready

"And it came to pass that they did call on the name of the Lord, in their might, even until they had all fallen to the earth, save it were one of the Lamanitish women, whose name was Abish, she having been converted unto the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father—
Thus, having been converted to the Lord, and never having made it known, therefore, when she saw that all the servants of Lamoni had fallen to the earth, and also her mistress, the queen, and the king, and Ammon lay prostrate upon the earth, she knew that it was the power of God; and supposing that this opportunity, by making known unto the people what had happened among them, that by beholding this scene it would cause them to believe in the power of God, therefore she ran forth from house to house, making it known unto the people."
Alma 19:16-17


I love Abish. I think she is a perfect example of 1 Peter 3:15, maybe not in speaking up herself, but for seizing an opportunity to show others how cool God is. So many people were converted that day, and it could have been a small incident except that Abish expended every effort to draw attention to it, to gather people together, and thus they were there when the miracle continued. It didn't go exactly the way she wanted it to, but it never does. :) It worked out the way that God designed it to, but Abish was part of it. :)

Today, let's be ready when opportunities come, and do God's will. Even when things don't go the way we want them to, if we are listening to the Spirit, God will be able to work through us, and we can be part of amazing things. :)

D&C 42:27 -- On Speaking of Neighbors and Avoiding Harm

"Thou shalt not speak evil of thy neighbor, nor do him any harm."
Doctrine and Covenants 42:27


This is a really good commandment, although I think hard to keep, because as the parable of the Good Samaritan teaches us, neighbor is a big word. No one is outside that circle, so speaking evil of anyone is something we need to learn to avoid. A tough one, perhaps especially when talkinga bout traffic, or politics. :) But whatever our circumstances, a hopeful thing is that God will always make a way for us to obey his commandments, so if we stretch ourselves and ask God to help us learn to love better and find ways to heal rather than harm others, we can grow into being this type of person, even if it seems beyond us now.

Today, let's think about this one, and as we go throughout the day be aware when we start to speak evil of anyone, and examine our own actions and then work with God to see what steps we can take to improve.

Mosiah 7:10-12 -- On Being Positive and Polite and Trusting in God

"And now, I desire to know the cause whereby ye were so bold as to come near the walls of the city, when I, myself, was with my guards without the gate?
And now, for this cause have I suffered that ye should be preserved, that I might inquire of you, or else I should have caused that my guards should have put you to death. Ye are permitted to speak.
And now, when Ammon saw that he was permitted to speak, he went forth and bowed himself before the king; and rising again he said: O king, I am very thankful before God this day that I am yet alive, and am permitted to speak; and I will endeavor to speak with boldness."
Mosiah 7:10-12


I like Ammon's attitude here. He's been held in jail for two days, and the rest of his party went through a lot and are still outside the city where he can't help them, and they are here to help. Resentment or bitterness wouldn't be surprising, especially since from a general political perspective they are both Nephites, supposedly on the same team. Instead though, he rejoices that it wasn't worse, and trusts that they just didn't recognize who they were (even though they had no knowledge of the priest of Noah).

I wonder how often we react badly to things when it could go well if we just had a different attitude. I'm not suggesting that we need to be pleased that someone threw us into jail without even asking who we are, but with God's help, we can follow Ammon's advice and have hope and faith, even when things seem to be going poorly. Today, let's work on reacting better and keeping a positive attitude. Let's trust in God and seek his help to stay in a good mental space so we can treat others with respect and kindness, even if they haven't treated us that way.

Jarom 1:14 -- On Writings

"And I, Jarom, do not write more, for the plates are small. But behold, my brethren, ye can go to the other plates of Nephi; for behold, upon them the records of our wars are engraven, according to the writings of the kings, or those which they caused to be written."
Jarom 1:14


It's interesting to think about all of the writings that we don't have... not just the continued adventures mentioned here with additional information about the Nephites, or the lost pages that were translated by Joseph Smith, or even the sealed portion. All of those would be super cool, but I mean even bigger... all the books by all the people and maybe even the books in heaven the we are judged from, if that is not just symbolic.

Consider eternity... maybe we will have the time to read ALL of it, to get to know not just every historical figure, but everyone, everywhere. I love that idea. No idea if it will really happen... God might have much faster ways for us to learn about things than reading. But let's look forward to eternity and to the revelation of all things. Should be some exciting and interesting times. :)

Jacob 3:6-7 -- On Obedience, Blessings, and Hypocrisy

"And now, this commandment they observe to keep; wherefore, because of this observance, in keeping this commandment, the Lord God will not destroy them, but will be merciful unto them; and one day they shall become a blessed people.
Behold, their husbands love their wives, and their wives love their husbands; and their husbands and their wives love their children; and their unbelief and their hatred towards you is because of the iniquity of their fathers; wherefore, how much better are you than they, in the sight of your great Creator?"
Jacob 3:6-7


It's interesting here how Jacob talks about the Lamanites. They had been a separate people for less than his lifetime at this point, and I am sure there was still a lot of individual resentment because the principal people at odds knew each other personally, but he was able to step back with God's help and see the goodness among them and the hypocrisy among his own people. I like that the truth is more nuanced here than it sometimes seems in the whole abstract "good versus evil" struggle, and I wonder if we can see as well, through our own time and biases, to be able to recognize the good in others and our own hypocrisy.

Today, let's try to see and understand the truth, and ask God to teach us to see more and to be better, more caring, and less judgemental people.

Mosiah 13:30-31 -- On Symbolism and Preparation

"Therefore there was a law given them, yea, a law of performances and of ordinances, a law which they were to observe strictly from day to day, to keep them in remembrance of God and their duty towards him.
But behold, I say unto you, that all these things were types of things to come."
Mosiah 13:30-31


I like that God uses symbolism to teach us. We don't always get it at first, but once we have the scripture stories stuck in our heads, it is easier for us to see how they connect to our lives, and to the world around us, and we see how well God prepares us for not only events in our personal lives, but for larger world events.

Today, let's think about what we read and liken the scriptures unto ourselves, thinking of how they relate to our lives and help us prepare for normal events, but also for the Second Coming and for the restoration of all things, and bring us closer and closer to God as we learn and understand more and more. Let's remember and look to God for help seeing the threads of his plan, and how to do his will.

Mosiah 10:17 -- On Letting Go of Hatred

"And thus they have taught their children that they should hate them, and that they should murder them, and that they should rob and plunder them, and do all they could to destroy them; therefore they have an eternal hatred towards the children of Nephi."
Mosiah 10:17


Reading this today, I was going to include a couple more verses discussing how the Lamanites looked at the situation and thought they had been wronged. But then I realized that in a general sense, it doesn't matter. It didn't matter all those years later when they were still teaching their children to hate, and as we're reading, it's the same. None of the reasons matter because it is just wrong to hate. If we are justifying our own hatred because of past generations, or teaching our children to hate because of some past actions, that's just wrong, no matter the reasons. Instead, we should be finding wholeness and oneness in Christ, and forgiving others as we have been forgiven.

Today, let's look for the good in the world around us, focusing on the positive things, especially in the good people around us. Unlike in fiction, it is unlikely that anyone we know is without any redeeming qualities... which doesn't of course mean that we have to stay married to them or live with them or even be friends with them. There are circumstances where God will want us to stay far away or separate ourselves, but he never wants us to hate. Let's cultivate hope and forgiveness and love today, and get help from the Lord when those things are too big for us. He will help.

Mosiah 7:18-19 -- On Effectual Struggling and Faith

"And it came to pass that when they had gathered themselves together that he spake unto them in this wise, saying: O ye, my people, lift up your heads and be comforted; for behold, the time is at hand, or is not far distant, when we shall no longer be in subjection to our enemies, notwithstanding our many strugglings, which have been in vain; yet I trust there remaineth an effectual struggle to be made.
Therefore, lift up your heads, and rejoice, and put your trust in God, in that God who was the God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob; and also, that God who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, and caused that they should walk through the Red Sea on dry ground, and fed them with manna that they might not perish in the wilderness; and many more things did he do for them."
Mosiah 7:18-19


I like this, not just in context as they were trying to bolster their faith to escape the Lamanites, but also the similar hope that we can have in all of our lives if we put our trust in God. As Limhi reminds us here, God has done miracles in the past, and he can and will do miracles now. We just need to ask, and have patience and faith, and act on the inspiration that God grants us. Today, let's remember the goodness of God and all that he has done for his people in the past, and believe and trust that he will do the same for us, as we have faith in him.

Galatians 6:9 -- On Doing Well, and Long-Term Effort

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
Galatians 6:9


Let's try not to faint today. It's good to remember that life is a long journey, not a quick sprint, and we can't do everything at once. Let's be patient with ourselves, and do what good we can each day. Making the world better (and ourselves better) is a big job, and it is going to take some time. But if we keep at it, we will see things change for the better through our effort in doing God's will.

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 as an abstract concept, but also on an individual level, finding out what makes a person awesome and celebrating it. :)

D&C 19:41 -- On Being Humble, Meek, and Wise

"Or canst thou be humble and meek, and conduct thyself wisely before me? Yea, come unto me thy Savior. Amen."
Doctrine and Covenants 19:41


This is a good question... can we be humble and meek and conduct ourselves wisely before Christ? Perhaps not yet consistently, but with God's help, we can get there. Let's pray for help and work on it today.

Zechariah 13:6-9 -- On Layers of Meaning and Finding the Hope

"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the Lord of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones.
And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein.
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God."
Zechariah 13:6-9


I was reading in Mark today, and in Mark 14:27, Christ refers to verse 7 in this selection. The chapter heading talks about it referring to the Second Coming, but it obviously also refers to things that happened the first time. :) A lot of prophecies seem to be like that, with layers of meaning, and symbolic repetition (probably so that we catch on at some point).

One thing I love about these verses is that, whichever layer of meaning you are looking at, there is also the prophecy of hope. Tragedy strikes, but God holds some in reserve to endure, and to renew God's covenants with his people.

Today, whatever tragedy we face, let's focus on the hope that is always also there, and which persists in spite of death and suffering. Let's turn to the Lord and pray for help in figuring things out and choosing to do good and help others. Let's be part of God's solution.

Colossians 4:5-6 -- On Wise Words and Salty Seasoning

"Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."
Colossians 4:5-6


This is an interesting one about treating people outside the church with grace and kindness. The "seasoned with salt" phrase to a modern ear might suggest "being salty" or snarky/negative, but likely at the time it didn't have those overtones, but was rather a comment similar to the one in Mark 9:50, encouraging us to have salt in ourselves... since salt was a preservative, it saved food from going bad, and so having salt in us is a way to save/preserve us and keep us from rottenness and corruption. It could also just be talking about having a good flavor as well... kind of like asking us to be graceful and palatable to others, rather than sour or bitter.

Today, let's speak with grace and kindness to everyone, including people not in our religion, our circle of friends, our country, and even our enemies. God asks us to love all people. That is sometimes difficult, but as we follow God's acvice in the scriptures and turn to him in prayer, he can help us learn to do and be better.

Mormon 5:8-9 -- On Hidden Things and House-Tops

"And now behold, I, Mormon, do not desire to harrow up the souls of men in casting before them such an awful scene of blood and carnage as was laid before mine eyes; but I, knowing that these things must surely be made known, and that all things which are hid must be revealed upon the house-tops—
And also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles, who the Lord hath said should scatter this people, and this people should be counted as naught among them—therefore I write a small abridgment, daring not to give a full account of the things which I have seen, because of the commandment which I have received, and also that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of this people."
Mormon 5:8-9


I like that Mormon is trying to spare our feelings here. I think it shows the stark difference between him and the people around him.

The thing that struck me besides Mormon's kindness was the idea of all things that are hid will be made known upon the house-tops. Not sure where that house-tops idiom comes from, but the idea that everything will be revealed and nothing will be secret is clear.

It's interesting because our society faces a privacy dilemma right now. Not just trying to hide things, but also just trying to protect our information from being destroyed by malware, preventing our identities from being stolen, and hoping someone doesn't use AI to duplicate our likenesses and voices to decieve someone else. It can be hard to tell what's real, and what is true.

As a society we keep pulling back and trying to protect secrets, but at the same time the good guys and the bad guys are both building tools to find out all the secrets. And then those tools get abused to break into more things by the bad guys, and the cycle continues.

I think God's solution is different. We likely can't handle it right now, but when Christ comes again he'll reveal everything, which I think has to be part of the fear of judgement day, right? And once everything is known, there will be no hiding places anymore. It will be a super scary day for any of us / all of us who have something to hide.

Maybe today we should take a look at the things that we have to hide and start clearning those things up and making things right with God and with other people, so that when that day comes, we won't be asking the mountains to hide us because of our shame or guilt, but rather will be able to participate joyfully.

Mosiah 14:7 -- On Silence

"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb so he opened not his mouth."
Mosiah 14:7


This is talking about Christ's death, and makes me wonder how hard it was for him to be silent about so much injustice. In our lives we complain a lot about things that aren't fair (to us). I wonder if silence, at least when we can't do anything about it, is a better strategy. No more thinking up retorts or trying to exact revenge, or broadcasting our displeasure. We'd probably have a lot more energy to invest in doing something good. Perhaps something to try today... a little silence in the right spots could improve things.

Romans 12:21 -- On Expanding and Increasing the Good

"Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
Romans 12:21


So much good in this chapter, but this is the best part I think. There is some great guidance throughout, but if we can leave with just one takeaway, it is this. Don't bend to evil, and return that to others. That just makes us evil. Instead, we have to expand and increase the good that we do... *that* is what overcomes evil. Today, let's think of some big projects to spread some good. God will be behind us in those efforts.

2 Peter 1:2-9 -- On Abounding and Remembering

"Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins."
2 Peter 1:2-9


I like how it talks about escaping corruption and gives a list of things to aspire to. It's interesting that he adds "and abound" near the end, making it clear that none of this is passive. :)

Today, let's remember that we were purged from our old sins, and live in newness of life, embracing and abounding in faith, virtue, knowledge, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. We can't be perfect all at once, but Simon Peter (and God) give us some great suggestions for things to work on and pray about here. :)

John 8:34 -- On the Trap of Sin

"Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin."
John 8:34


Sin is a trap. It's why God warns us against it... because sin ensnares us and challenges our priorities and our devotion. Sin can deceive us because we want what it promises, even though it can't actually deliver happiness or peace or maintain anything else for very long. Those things come from God, and there isn't another path. All roads to eternal joy go through Jesus Christ.

Today, let's avoid the snares and walk in God's path. Improving ourselves does require effort, but it is worthwhile as we grow into people that we like better and that we want to be... an investment in eternity, which we wouldn't have without the atonement. Let's take a step away from sin and towards God, even if it is just a little one. God can help us keep moving.

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12 -- On the Love of Truth

"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12


This is talking about the Second Coming. Jesus Christ will overcome lying wonders and the "mystery of iniquity" (verse 7). It seems like those who are not decieved are people with a real love for the truth, which is verse 10 is clearly something we receive. Perhaps today is a good day to question and study and pray to make sure we are on God's side, which is the side of truth, and work with God to get that gift of the love of truth, and nurture it and learn how to spiritually discern between truth and error.

Zephaniah 1:7 -- On the Lord's Guests

"Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord God: for the day of the Lord is at hand: for the Lord hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests."
Zephaniah 1:7


It talks in these verses about the destruction of Jerusalem, which is also symbolic of the second coming, so the two ideas/events are mixed together here. This verse in particular reminded me of the parable of the ten virgins. Leading up to this it doesn't sound like anyone is going to survive, but then here we are reminded that the Lord has invited us to dinner on this night. And if we are watching and waiting for his return, then we will be invited in before the door is shut, which at least in the context of this chapter seems to mean the burning of everything (as in the allegory of the olive trees as well--the season and the end.).

Today, let's make sure we are diligently watching and waiting and communicating with God, prepared as only he can prepare us, for his coming.

2 Nephi 5:34 -- On Happiness and War

"And it sufficeth me to say that forty years had passed away, and we had already had wars and contentions with our brethren."
2 Nephi 5:34


By itself, this verse sounds like things were kind of bleak. But in verse 27, Nephi says "And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness." And then we get here and we find out that wars and conflicts were happing during that happiness.

I think it reinforces the lesson that happiness isn't dictated by external factors, but instead is a product of both our focus and attitude and our connection with God, who brings us hope and joy even when we personally can't see past the current darkness.

Today, no matter what is going on around us, let's remember that we can still live after the manner of happiness. Let's call on God for help and be diligent to find the joy that he sends.

D&C 11:12-13 -- On Spirit and Joy

"And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;"
Doctrine and Covenants 11:12-13


I really like this description of the Spirit. It leads us to do good and brings us joy, among other really good things that we need. If we're stuck on something, the spirit will enlighten our minds. If we're prideful, the spirit can help us instill some humility. It helps us make better choices and judgements, to treat each other fairly, and to do good to others. Those are things that we desperately need in our lives.

Today, let's turn to the Lord and feel the spirit in our lives, which can make everything better and happier.

D&C 11:4-5 -- On the Personalized Gospel

"Yea, whosoever will thrust in his sickle and reap, the same is called of God.
Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you."
Doctrine and Covenants 11:4-5


Obviously God can't give us everything we want in this life (because, like children, we often want things that are harmful to us, thinking that playing in traffic might be fun, etc.), but it amazes me sometimes how much his gospel *is* catered to what we want. If we jump in and do the work, then we are pre-approved, and God cares about the things that we ask and the things that we want access to. There are eternal truths that guide everything, but God really does personalize the gospel for each of us, teaching us in ways that we will understand and rewarding us according to our desires.

Like a perfect teacher, he pays attention to the individual and caters all of his lessons to us, in the context of our needs and our desires. God can help us to change our hearts, but he never does it without our willing participation. respecting both who we believe ourselves to be, and who he knows that we can be. He urges us to raise our sights and improve, aiming at becoming our ideal (and heavenly) selves.

Today, let's have hope and aim higher, trusting in God to help us accomplish much more than we could accomplish alone, and to teach us to be better than we now are.

4 Nephi 1:16 -- On Finding Happiness

"And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God."
4 Nephi 1:16


It's interesting here that we're shown happiness by the lack of certain things rather than the presence of certain things. I think it shows just how much freedom and joy that God offers us just by promising us a better world, free of strife. Now, of course, we don't inherit that world in our sins. We have to be willing to repent and change into the type of person that could live there... one that doesn't create strife, for instance, but it's also not something we have to be perfect at immediately. God is willing to take the time to teach us and help us get there, as long as we are willing to change.

Today, let's not look for happiness in acquisitiveness or cool toys, but instead aim for a better world, and work on being better people.

2 Corinthians 5:17 -- On Newness

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
2 Corinthians 5:17


I love the promise of newness here... leaving behind sins and mistakes and moving on trying to be new and better, and God allows everyone that same grace. The ability to start over and try again, no matter how much you've messed things up.

Today, let's turn to God and embrace newness and repentance and the chance for all of us to change and grow and improve.

Ephesians 4:31-32 -- On Bitterness and Love

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you."
Ephesians 4:31-32


I think this is hard to do... to let go of bitterness, wrath, etc. ... Sometimes injustice has been done, and soemtimes we've just been embarrassed or ignored. But all that bitterness, malice, etc. poisons our souls. Love is the cure, and God can teach us how to love those who have wronged us... and anyone else as well. Let's turn to the Lord for help, so that we can rid our souls of the poison of bitterness and learn how to forgive.

D&C 27:15 -- On Lifting Up Our Hearts and Rejoicing

"Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand."
Doctrine and Covenants 27:15


I like that beginning of this verse is asking us to rejoice. God's armor is there to protect us, but I think part of rejoicing is nor getting caught up in, or becoming part of, the evil around us, but rather being resilient and seeing the good that is out there, and being part of *that* instead.

Today, let's take upon ourselves the armor of God, but also remember that it begins with attitude and trust that in God, and knowing that in Him, there is always reason to rejoice.

D&C 5:19-20 -- On the Brightness of the Lord's Coming

"For a desolating scourge shall go forth among the inhabitants of the earth, and shall continue to be poured out from time to time, if they repent not, until the earth is empty, and the inhabitants thereof are consumed away and utterly destroyed by the brightness of my coming.
Behold, I tell you these things, even as I also told the people of the destruction of Jerusalem; and my word shall be verified at this time as it hath hitherto been verified."
Doctrine and Covenants 5:19-20


This reminds me of the allegory of the Olive trees. This "desolating scourge" could be the pruning, and the clearing away the bad as the good shall grow. (I am not claiming that only bad people die in any scourges. Just generally comparing the predictions.)

The idea of the earth being empty is kind of mind-boggling, but it goes along with scriptureal predictions of the earth finally being able to rest, and growing in glory. Whether anyone lives through the "end" that way or not, we know that God still has plans for us, and for the earth, so all will work out according to his will in the end.

It was hard for the people in Jerusalem to believe that no stone would be left on top of another, and so many blew the idea off, but let's be diligent and repent and prepare spiritually so that we aren't caught unprepared with no time left, like the five foolish virgins in another parable. Today, let's listen, and believe, and pray, and prepare.

D&C 22:4 -- On Seeking to Counsel God

"Wherefore, enter ye in at the gate, as I have commanded, and seek not to counsel your God. Amen."
Doctrine and Covenants 22:4


This answr from God is interesting. He was responding to some people who wanted to join the church without rebaptism, but I think that it can apply to any time we think that we can do things our own way rather than God's way. And we do tend to question or even think that we are right and God is wrong sometimes.

Today, let's turn to God with our questions, and let him guide us. He listens, and helps us understand. Let's also be careful to be humble and to remember that God's path is the correct path. Going our own way will just result in having to turn around and get back on God's path anyway, so let's put the effort in ahead of time and be open to God teaching us why his way is right, and helping us get on the same page.

Acts 10:34 -- On Learning Love

"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons."
Acts 10:34


I got to this verse by looking at the footnotes for D&C 1:35, but wanted to use this one instead just because D&C is warning everyone, but here the context is offering everyone the same gifts and promises.

What about places where we read about God's chosen people? That sounds like being a respecter of persons. ... I don't think that is actually a contradiction though. It's more like the story of the talents or the parable of the prodigal son. There seems to be favoritism in general in both cases, but what it is is actually responsibility. If we join in God's work then we are chosen (called) to the work, and might get different levels of "talents" (whether spiritual gift or monetary unit) as we choose to serve God, or we might start out well, but then choose to squander our inheritance / blessings. The inequity is temporary, but the underlying lessons of responsibility and priorities are what matter.

It's a hard concept to understand on one level because we are respecters of persons, and we change how we act and how we treat people based on a lot of things. Today though, let's do our best at trying it God's way, treating everyone with kindness adn respect (in a good way), and not promoting inequity. As we work on it, God can teach us more about others and about how to be better people.

D&C 1:32-33 -- On Losing Light

"Nevertheless, he that repents and does the commandments of the Lord shall be forgiven;
And he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received; for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts."

Doctrine and Covenants 1:32-33


This life is a probationary time, and it seems, a time when we can have it both ways to some extent. Temporarily, some people might be able to profit from evil, and we can waffle a little in our dedication to God without losing the connection entirely. We at least have what we have learned in the past, and can look back and feel that... hopefully to inspire us to go further.

This verse tells us that it won't always be that way, which raises the importance of repentance to a critical level. If we don't repent, at some point it will be too late, and we will lose even the light that we have gained in the past. All progress lost... "as though there had been no redemption made" (Alma 12:18), because we rejected the chance to partake of God's mercy and change.

Today, let's take advantage of our time in this life, and welcome the opportunity to repent. Let's gather more light into our lives, being thankful for the atonement, and working to allow it full sway in our hearts, so that we can become better and not lose everything we already have, spiritually.

D&C 20:37 -- On Baptism

"And again, by way of commandment to the church concerning the manner of baptism—All those who humble themselves before God, and desire to be baptized, and come forth with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and witness before the church that they have truly repented of all their sins, and are willing to take upon them the name of Jesus Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end, and truly manifest by their works that they have received of the Spirit of Christ unto the remission of their sins, shall be received by baptism into his church."
Doctrine and Covenants 20:37


I like this description of baptism, and the idea that we're doing it as a witness that we are humble and repentant. Being willing to take upon us the name of Christ is an ongoing promise that our humility and repentance aren't just a one-time thing, but a promise to keep coming back and putting God first in our lives, recognizing that salvation comes through Him. Today, let's work on upholding that promise that we made at baptism, or, if we aren't baptized yet, discussing it with God and being humble and willing to enter into this covenant with Him.

Omni 1:2 -- On Our Wickedness

"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."
Omni 1:2


This made me think about how we will judge ourselves, looking back on our lives. Omni recognizes that he fought for his people, but that he is wicked. ... Maybe today we should stop and look back a little sooner than Omni did, and if we realize that we are wicked, or off track, let's do something about it. If we don't know how or we think it is too hard, then let's go to the Lord. Nothing is too hard for him, and he loves it when we ask him to teach us how to make better choices. Let's do better, and not end our days as an Omni, accepting our own wickedness. Let's fight it and with God's help, overcome it.

Daniel 6:18-23 -- On Worry and Miracles

"Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God."
Daniel 6:18-23


I love the king in this story. He allows himself to be flattered into signing a law that is designed to get Daniel, his trusted counselor, killed, and the political forces of the time force him to go through with throwing Daniel into the den of lions. But as he is doing so he says "Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee." He believes, but has a really rough night, worried about Daniel, and he gets to the den really early and calls out in anguish, hoping that Daniel is somehow still alive. And he is, the night he likely spent petitioning God on Daniel's behalf has been heard and a miracle granted.

The miracle here isn't just for Daniel, who definitely deserved to be saved, but also for the King who is angry at himself for letting people talk him into this crazy law and who loves Daniel and wants him to live... and who trusted enough to go to the lion's dan early in the morning to find out.

Later, he sends out a decree telling people about the God of Daniel, calling him the "living God" (as opposed to idols perhaps), and celebrating his greatness... and I can't help thinking that he was honoring the God that helped him when he couldn't do anything himself, even with all his earthly power.

Today, let's also believe, and honor, and trust, the living God of miracles. Let's pray and study his word, and get to know him better and learn from him.