Mosiah 11:2 -- On Walking the Wrong Direction

"For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart. And he had many wives and concubines. And he did cause his people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight of the Lord. Yea, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness."
Mosiah 11:2


This is talking about King Noah, who followed Zeniff to the throne (of the Nephite offshoot that went back to live near the Lamanites). What is scary about this verse is the idea that he walked after the desires of his own heart, and how deeply that destroyed him. And I think that danger is probably there in all of us... things that we want that will destroy us, unless we work with God and allow him to change our hearts, and work at walking God's path rather than the one that we make for ourselves.

It's sometimes hard because we hear "trust your heart" (or your gut) so often, but unless our hearts are in tune with the spirit, that could be a really bad idea. However, if we are listening to the Spirit, and we are letting God have full sway in our hearts, then that could be the perfect thing. If we can't tell, then let's study and pray and practice listening to the Spirit more, so that we can be more confident in knowing when God is with us and when we are going astray. And of course, we have the scriptures and commandments to help us out, which we should absolutely follow unless the Spirit tells us otherwise. There are exceptions, like Nephi and Laban, but we shouldn't decide something is an exception unless we're certain. Let's remember how King Noah's heart betrayed him, and stay far away from that possibility.

Mosiah 7:33 -- On Deliverance

"But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage."
Mosiah 7:33


Earlier in the chapter it explains the bondage mentioned, and that they have great reasons to mourn. It's a great story about how they got there and how God delivers them, but I wanted to step outside the story for a moment because this verse is a true message to each of us, in whatever kind of bondage we find ourselves in. Sometimes it is the trap of negative thoughts, or it could be having to live with poor health or the glaring absence where a loved one used to be. It might be lack of imagination or motivation that limits us, or like the Nephites here, some other individual or group that is threatening us in some way.

God's promise is to all of us. If we will turn to him with full purpose of heart, serving him and putting our trust in him with all the sincerity and faith we have to give, he will deliver us. His timing, and his way, but the promise is sure. Today, let's listen and obey, and be ready to go when the Lord tells us to go.

D&C 64:23-24 -- On Today and Tomorrow

"Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming.
For after today cometh the burning—this is speaking after the manner of the Lord—for verily I say, tomorrow all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of Hosts; and I will not spare any that remain in Babylon."
Doctrine and Covenants 64:23-24


The way that God talks about "today" and "tomorrow" here is interesting... harking back to the creation story and the idea that God's day is a lot longer than ours. :) Although, I am not sure about the time period or the background idea because God also tells us that time is only measured unto man (Alma 40:8), and that at some point there shall be time no longer (Revelation 10:6, D&C 88:110). Maybe we just need these measurements until the final judgement and everything is upgraded to "Eternal" or something, but I can't pretend to really understand what that means, or what it would be like. :)

What does seem clear is that tithing is important, not as a monetary thing, but as part of the idea of sacrifice. A commitment to God that is well beyond the surface layer, where we are honestly committed and all in, and willing to do or give anything to the cause. We don't usually think of ourselves are that committed to anything, but sometimes we lapse into workaholism or other kinds of addictions, or hobbies, relationships, or even family commitments that consume us. The idea here is that God is the right place to pour all of that energy and time, and as we do, other things will fall into place, rather than the way we do it with other things, where so many other things are just left to rot or wither.

I think also the idea of sacrifice here is about how committed that we are going to have to be in order to survive spiritually. Nothing less than all in is going to work, as we get closer to the end. Today (in both senses of that word), let's learn more about God and study his ways so that we know enough to make such a committment.

Matthew 13:18-23 -- On Receiving and Understanding

"Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
Matthew 13:18-23


I found it interesting while reading this today that one of the big differences here is understanding, specifically mentioned in verses 19 and 23, or the beginning and end of the excerpt above. There are a lot of things that can get in the way of our acceptance and committment to the word of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ, but understanding doesn't have to be one of them. If we want to understand, we can study and also ask God, and he will help us. He gave wisdom to Joseph Smith, and he offers it to us all.

Today, let's apply our hearts to understanding "the word of the kingdom." We can start with the footnotes available online (LINK if you want to look up today's excerpt). There are study helps and many related materials there, and we can also pray, and God will help us understand a principle in our everyday life. Not always immediately, but over time, he'll help us know it so well that it will soak in and become part of who we are. Let's work to keep the word alive in our hearts.

Luke 17:17 -- On Thankfulness, Faith, and Wholeness

"And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?"
Luke 17:17


This is a good reminder of the need to be thankful, but reading today I was thinking that it isn't just about thankfulness, but also about retaining the healing or cleansing... if we want to not just have the change of heart, but to feel so now. If we want to be not just healed, but whole... not just cleansed of a bad spirit, but protected from one returning. Two verses later Christ says "thy faith hath made thee whole," perhaps not just talking about the healing process but also the thankfulness--the recognition that God has done this. And that is a recognition that we need in our lives always. That constant reminder that God is what is holding us, and all of it, together, and that he is the author and the reason there is a happy ending coming.

We want to feel good about ourselves and think that we accomplished a lot of this, and avoiding self-loathing is a very good thing. :) So is humility, and the recognition of truth though, so let's not hate ourselves, but today let's recognize God's hand in our lives and that he is the source of goodness and truth, and that we desperately need his help and healing in our lives. As we are thankful for his help and recognize his hand in our lives, he can not just heal us, but coupled with our participation and faith and patience, he can make us whole, in every way.

Helaman 14:29-30 -- On Choice, Condemnation, and Consolation

"And this to the intent that whosoever will believe might be saved, and that whosoever will not believe, a righteous judgment might come upon them; and also if they are condemned they bring upon themselves their own condemnation.
And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever doeth iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free."
Helaman 14:29-30


The title is kind of heavy, and the idea here follows that. Any condemnation that happens to us is condemnation that we bring on ourselves... the verse previous to this explains that that's why God shows us signs and provides wonders... so that there won't be a cause for unbelief and so that everyone will know and have responsibility for his or her own condemnation. It's talking about a period of time before Christ appeared to the Nephites, but I think we all have space in our own lives where we don't actually know, and as we learn more then we become more responsible for our choices. God knows where that line is... and he also provides repentance, so that we never have to despair or give up, because as long as we live, at least in mortality, we have that chance to change.

It's both scary and enlightening to read that we perish unto ourselves and do iniquity unto ourselves... that just like when we do good, we do it unto God, when we do evil we're also doing it to ourselves. We don't have the luxury of doing things that don't have consequences and that don't affect others. God gives us the power to choose for ourselves, but he doesn't want us to harm ourselves by making bad choices. He wants us to realize that we are part of a whole, that the people around us are family, that we are part of a large whole with God at the head. When we realize that, and feel it through the Spirit, then that is God teaching us to not have a mind to injure one another (Mosiah 4:13, Romans 12:16, 1 Peter 3:8), but to be united--not only avoiding causing others pain, but saving *us* pain, which is really part of what God has been trying to help us with from the beginning. Some pain is necessary, but not the extent that we cause it to ourselves, much too often. Today, let's listen and learn from God how to live more in tune, to cause less pain to ourselves and to others, and also how to heal ourselves and others, even of things that we didn't cause. :) God will help us and console us as we choose to avoid bringing ourselves condemnation.

Luke 12:54-57 -- On Making Better Calls and Choosing the Right

"And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.
Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?"
Luke 12:54-57


Christ (of course) makes a really good point here about why we aren't making better calls in our lives, and choosing what is right. I think it is easy to get into a mindset where we blame bad calls on something else like evolution or emotions or even just telling ourselves that we don't know what to do.

Here's God though, asking us to find out... to think about it, and work it out in our minds. In the scriptures, over and over he offers to help us with this process. He offers wisdom, confirmation, reassurance, and even outright revelation, depending on what we need. We're asked not to judge others, but we are absolutely asked to judge for ourselves and choose the good, the strait and narrow, to do what is right, and we are also given the tools.

Today, instead of choosing ignorance or blinding ourselves so we can do something we know isn't right, let's study and learn and pray, and make better choices. We can learn, and change, with God's help, which he is offering us even now. If we will pray in faith, sincerely seeking his help, we will find him, and the help we need.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 -- Written in Our Hearts

"But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
Jeremiah 31:33-34


This is talking about something that is at least starting to happen now in the last days: the new covenant. God offers us his law written in our hearts, and asks us to come to him and become his people. He wants to welcome us back and embrace us as in the story of the prodigal son. He forgives us and asks us to return.

As we turn to him, he will teach us of his ways and help us grow closer to him. No mortal can convince us or give us that solid, internal, lasting testimony of the truth, but God can. We support and help each other (and should continue to do so), but the real transformation of belief and conversion... that only comes from God. And apparently, perhaps when we get to the Millenial day, there will be no need to teach each other that basic knowledge of the Lord at all, because God will be written so indelibly in our hearts and we won't so easily forget.

Let's work towards that today, stuffing our hearts full of the word of God and internalizing his law and a constant prayer connection to him so that the first thing we think of when something goes wrong... or right, is Him, for help, strength, thanks, praise, and everything else. He loves us more than we can imagine. Let's return that love, and go forward with Him, always.

Alma 5:40-41 -- On Taking Sides

"For I say unto you that whatsoever is good cometh from God, and whatsoever is evil cometh from the devil. Therefore, if a man bringeth forth good works he hearkeneth unto the voice of the good shepherd, and he doth follow him; but whosoever bringeth forth evil works, the same becometh a child of the devil, for he hearkeneth unto his voice, and doth follow him."
Alma 5:40-41


I think sometimes we resist taking sides, which can be good with human things sometimes... not getting involved in the conflicts or trying to work for good and be pro what you believe in rather than anti-something. I think where it is bad is what these verses explain. On Earth, we are effectively children compared to God, and in spiritual areas, we have to choose sides. We can't stay on the fence. If we aren't working for God, we really are working against him. We have to commit to doing good and helping others, or we are effectively voting for Satan.

Today, let's choose the Lord. He's the one that gives us the freedom to choose other things rather than trapping us in chains of our own making. God will help us to safety if we need it. Let's turn to him for a new chance, and a new and better life.

Alma 5:18-19 -- On Looking Up to God

"Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?
I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?"
Alma 5:18-19


This is sort of scary, but also a good thing to think about. When we get to that last day and we consider the sum total of our lives, standing in front of God, what would we like to be able to say? I think we all want to be able to say that we helped more than we hurt, and that we improved. We won't be perfect, but God's mercy goes a long, long way, as long as we are trying and working to help others. Today, let's make sure that we aren't going to fail that test. Let's let go of the things that we have done wrong and our bad desires, and let's let our spirits have more of a say. Let's commit to work towards our meeting with God by purifying our hearts, and then using them to make better calls. Let's ask God to change our hearts and to help us learn to love others the best that we can.

As we work with God and listen to him daily, our goodness and confidence will grow, and we will be on our way to being able to look up at God that day with joy and gratitude rather than fear, happy in who we are and what we have accomplished with God's help.

1 Nephi 8:10-12 -- On The Tree of Life

"And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy.
And it came to pass that I did go forth and partake of the fruit thereof; and I beheld that it was most sweet, above all that I ever before tasted. Yea, and I beheld that the fruit thereof was white, to exceed all the whiteness that I had ever seen.
And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit."
1 Nephi 8:10-12


I love Lehi's dream, and this description of the tree of life. :) It's a dream, so symbolism is to be expected, and I just love the idea of looking at a tree, and knowing that the fruit will make you happy. And maybe looking at Christ and the gospel is like that sometimes too. We might not be sure exactly why all the time, but our souls are shouting at us that this is the exact thing that will make us happy. And that inner voice, strengthened by the Spirit, always points to Christ. We can corrupt our own voices, or smother them, but the Spirit will always be pointing to the tree, not to the great and spacious building. Today, let's listen to the Spirit, and go to the tree, no matter what the world says.

2 Nephi 25:4 -- On Plainess and Clarity

"Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. But I give unto you a prophecy, according to the spirit which is in me; wherefore I shall prophesy according to the plainness which hath been with me from the time that I came out from Jerusalem with my father; for behold, my soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn."
2 Nephi 25:4


I like the idea here that Isaiah is only complicated because we don't know the context in which he was writing... and I think that is true of a lot of writing. We refer to things that everyone will know, saying things like "during quarantine" that other generations would think of as a totally different time period or not understand. I also like the implied idea here that God wants us to understand. It might take a little effort, especially with Isaiah, but God invites us in, and teaches us what we need to know, as we read with the Spirit. ... And I think having the Spirit/Holy Ghost is key to every other experience in life as well. The Spirit can teach us all things and help us remember anything we've learned. Let's work on following God and keeping that Spirit in our lives, to help us understand and see the things that seem confusing to us now.

Alma 12:3-5 -- On Thoughts and Plans

"Now Zeezrom, seeing that thou hast been taken in thy lying and craftiness, for thou hast not lied unto men only but thou hast lied unto God; for behold, he knows all thy thoughts, and thou seest that thy thoughts are made known unto us by his Spirit;
And thou seest that we know that thy plan was a very subtle plan, as to the subtlety of the devil, for to lie and to deceive this people that thou mightest set them against us, to revile us and to cast us out—
Now this was a plan of thine adversary, and he hath exercised his power in thee. Now I would that ye should remember that what I say unto thee I say unto all."
Alma 12:3-5


I like this confrontation with Zeezrom, maybe in part because I know that later he repents and changes, and maybe this helped him. It's good to remember that God knows us inside and out and that our thoughts are not hidden. He knows when we are lying to others, and to ourselves, and of course, it is impossible to decieve God. ... The other part that is really important here is that when we do lie or decieve that it isn't some clever tactic that we found to get ahead... it's actually just us following the plan of the devil. Today, let's remember Zeezrom, and be willing to recognize and acknowledge our faults, and to change. Let's work for God rather than the devil, and help others rather than manipulating and trying to take advantage.

Alma 12:10-11 -- On Hearts and Knowing

"And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.
And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell."
Alma 12:10-11


The idea of losing knowledge is scary, but it makes sense. When we stop practicing something, we can lose abilities... playing an instrument, speaking a language, participating in a sport, etc. If we aren't actively doing it, then we get rusty and it is difficult to restart. Perhaps, as the scripture suggests, we could even get to the point of knowing nothing because we haven't tried something since childhood. That seems like a really good motivator to not harden our hearts and to make sure we're staying in tune with God.

Today, let's remember that we have to keep working at our faith and our testimonies and our connection with God, every day. Let's not lost the progress that we've made, or forge our own chains. Rather, let's look to God, who can help us get through anything, and who is the one that can perfect us and help us learn to be our best selves... better than we can imagine. Let's go all in with God, and keep at it--keep learning, and knowing, and becoming.

Helaman 14:11-13 -- On Belief and Repentance

"And ye shall hear my words, for, for this intent have I come up upon the walls of this city, that ye might hear and know of the judgments of God which do await you because of your iniquities, and also that ye might know the conditions of repentance;
And also that ye might know of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of heaven and of earth, the Creator of all things from the beginning; and that ye might know of the signs of his coming, to the intent that ye might believe on his name.
And if ye believe on his name ye will repent of all your sins, that thereby ye may have a remission of them through his merits."
Helaman 14:11-13


I like the direct connection here between belief and repentance. If we believe we will repent... which I think should probably make us all take a step back and think about what we really believe. Today, let's turn to God and learn the "conditions of repentance," and if we really do believe, let's show it by acting on it, and changing our ways and letting go of past sins. Let's become new, changed people endeavoring to walk in the light of Christ.

Helaman 7:4-8 -- On Wanting and Working

"And seeing the people in a state of such awful wickedness, and those Gadianton robbers filling the judgment-seats—having usurped the power and authority of the land; laying aside the commandments of God, and not in the least aright before him; doing no justice unto the children of men;
Condemning the righteous because of their righteousness; letting the guilty and the wicked go unpunished because of their money; and moreover to be held in office at the head of government, to rule and do according to their wills, that they might get gain and glory of the world, and, moreover, that they might the more easily commit adultery, and steal, and kill, and do according to their own wills—
Now this great iniquity had come upon the Nephites, in the space of not many years; and when Nephi saw it, his heart was swollen with sorrow within his breast; and he did exclaim in the agony of his soul:
Oh, that I could have had my days in the days when my father Nephi first came out of the land of Jerusalem, that I could have joyed with him in the promised land; then were his people easy to be entreated, firm to keep the commandments of God, and slow to be led to do iniquity; and they were quick to hearken unto the words of the Lord—
Yea, if my days could have been in those days, then would my soul have had joy in the righteousness of my brethren."
Helaman 7:4-8


I like this story where Nephi is praying in his garden (which is by a busy street), and the people gather together to find out why he is so upset. God definitely had a hand in that, and in what happens later. And I think it shows that God can work with us even when we are sad or going through really hard things, if we are open to the Spirit.

Nephi wanted to live in a different time, when things were better. And I think we, too, sometimes wish that we could live in a time or place where there wasn't so much corruption and greed, or where there were more people who listened to God and did good things.

The thing is, I think part of it is looking back with rose-colored glasses. We've read about the time that he is wishing for, and I think he might be overlooking the fact that Nephi had to flee with a bunch of others so that his brothers wouldn't murder him. It's similar with us. We long for different things, but every time and place in mortality has its challenges, and its difficult work.

The other part of that longing I think is for something we all want, but is something we partially have to build and something that is also waiting for us in the resurrection... a united, faithful, group that we can be part of. People who lift each other up and help each other succeed. This is something we can have in families and friendships, and in wards and branches as we work for them. We can spread good, and lift others, and we can make a difference in the world as we do good to others, no matter how they treat us in return.

Today, let's direct our longings into building good and uplifting relationships and spaces. Let's listen to God as he whispers in our hearts about what we can do and build and be. Let's make a difference despite the wickedness in the world, and be God's hands to help others and make things better.

Mark 1:14-20 -- On Being Called

"Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him."
Mark 1:14-20


It's really cool that so many of Christ's diciples came just because Christ asked them... leaving their regular lives and jobs behind for his sake. They made a huge committment well before they understood all that it would require.

The Lords calls us similarly. We don't always know what God will require of us ahead of time, but we willingly follow. Whether or not God asks us to leave our jobs and families behind for a particular mission, he always asks that we leave the philosophy of the world behind, in order to learn a new and better way of thinking and being.

Today, let's hear God's call, and desert our bad habits and sins, and learn a new way. Let's learn how to love and serve each other rather than buying into the selfishness and heartlessness of the world. Let's hear God's call to be peacemakers and to shine as lights and examples of goodness. We won't know how at first, but as we talk to God, he will teach us of his ways, and we will learn to walk his path.

Matthew 25:31-33 -- On Sheep and Goats and Reaching Out to Help

"When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left."
Matthew 25:31-33


The difference between sheep and goats in this parable is the way that they treated each other, for as Christ says later in the parable, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" (verse 40), and tellingly, "Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me" (verse 45). The idea is taking care of the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked (presumably because of poverty), the sick, and the incarcerated. All too often these are exactly the people that we dismiss, even when it is people close to us, because we are uncomfortable when things get messy.

God doesn't expect us to become sheep superheroes overnight, but today, maybe we can shed some of our goat tendencies, and take more time to consider the people in the world around us. Let's work on finding ways to help, because we help God when we are helping his children. As we find ways to reach out to others to assist, we'll look less and less like goats, and hopefully find our way into God's sheepfold on that great day referenced above.

D&C 60:7 -- On Holiness

"And in this place let them lift up their voice and declare my word with loud voices, without wrath or doubting, lifting up holy hands upon them. For I am able to make you holy, and your sins are forgiven you."
Doctrine and Covenants 60:7


This comes a few verses after God explains that if we hide our talents because of the fear of man, they can be taken away (similar to the parable of the talents), and with that context this seems to be a message of hope... that God has our back and that we don't need to be afraid. When God tells us to do something, he will help us find a way to do it (as we learn with Nephi as well). I love the line "I am able to make you holy" ... recognizing that we are afraid of our own imperfections and failings, but God can forgive us and make us holy, if we stick with him and make the effort to do his will. Today, let's find a way to do what God asks, despite our fears and worries.

Helaman 3:35 -- On Sanctification

"Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God."
Helaman 3:35


All of this is good of course, but what struck me today is the idea that sanctification (to purify or make sacred) comes through yielding our hearts to God. The whole idea of sending us into the world in one way is to create individuality... to give us physical presence and the ability to make choices that are not overly influenced by God. Unforced individuality... the ability to do whatever we want to do, and realize who we are, separate from other voices. And yet we, like mortal children, can make so many mistakes that put us in physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual danger. We're flailing about here, often not understanding fully the consequences of our own actions, and so easily influenced by other things. God keeps us free, which I am sure is a crazy balancing act keeping Satan out to the extent that we can still choose. Mortality puts us purposely out of Eden, and heaven, and encourages us to be independent and learn to be individual people.

Sanctification though... sanctification is the point where we realize that we want back in. It's us learning to be like God, not because he forced us into it, but because we have experienced individuality, and learned to make our own choices, and knowing what we now know, we understand why God does what he does (at least to an extent), and why heaven is the ideal... a perfect society without all of the corruption of mortality. So the idea of sanctification in some ways is a return to the idea of an Eden-type paradise, but now with the understanding of why it is a paradise, and with sanctification replacing innocence, which is part of why it is Heaven rather than Eden that we strive for. We follow the example of Christ, who knows all things, and yet is pure and uncorrupted. Today, let's work on that for ourselves as well. Let's ask God how he does it, and listen and learn from him. Let's give him our hearts and discover what he can make of us, with our participation and blessing. We can be more loving and kind and good than we could become by ourselves, with God to show us the way. :)

Helaman 3:29 -- On the Strait and Narrow Bridge

"Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked."
Helaman 3:29


This verse makes the strait (strict/rigorous) and narrow path seem like a bridge over a vast gulf of something very bad... a symbolic ocean of misery, perhaps filled with the sharks of sin who can chomp us full of extra holes for the misery to get in. Thinking of that "everlasting gulf" makes the plan of happiness seem ever so much more important, when we know that ocean or cloud or fog or storm is ready to engulf us. Just like in Lehi's dream, we know that darkness and storms will come, but if we stick with God, holding to his word, we can get through the hard parts. Today, let's not play at straying off the path, but take it seriously and keep the guard rails up, knowing how dangerous it is down there underneath.