Luke 6:22-23 -- On Hatred and Joy

"Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.
Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets."
Luke 6:22-23


As is often the case, here God is asking us to change our perspective. So much of how we see life and the world is about what we are focused on, and whose opinion we value. If we're focused on God, and his opinion, then there are so many times where what might seem like a tragedy from the world's perspective is actually a triumph and a reason to rejoice. ... Not that we should seek trouble or contention, or work towards being hated, for sure, but if we are hated for doing service to God or for loving him and acknowledging his existence, well... that's a reason to rejoice, because we stood up for God when it mattered, and we didn't back down from the truth because of the world's opinion.

It can be hard to be hated, and God does care. He loves us and will help us see the good and the reasons to rejoice as we ask him for help. Let's just make sure that if we are hated, it is for doing good, and being true to God. If those are the reasons, then we are in very good company, and there are crowds of people in the spirit world cheering us on. :)

Matthew 23:8-12 -- On Greatness and Service

"But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted."
Matthew 23:8-12


This is a good passage to remind us that Christ is who we should be turning to for leadership, and for advice, rather than other people. The idea of becoming great by serving others is also amazing... and it is exactly what Christ did in his life. Everything for us. Today, let's do everything we can to help God in his still-ongoing work, to help everyone, lift them up, and help them understand where all joy and peace can be found--in Him.

Acts 12:5-8 -- On Following

"Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.
And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.
And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me."
Acts 12:5-8


I love this angel-assisted jailbreak. :) It's a good reminder that God is in charge, and no matter how we try to stop God's work, it will keep rolling forward. Today, let's work with God rather than against him, and we will therefore be on the side with the angels and the unstoppable good. It often seems to us in our limited mortal forms that evil is winning... but it never can. It can only have power in the middle chapters, but the story is the Lord's, and evil will never triumph. It's self-limiting, because it can only take advantage of others, and when it can't, it self-destructs. As we choose good, to follow the Lord and walk away from evil, we become part of a greater work and a greater power. In the end, God will triumph, and save us all. If it takes angel-assisted jailbreaks, or moving mountains, it will be done. Nothing is too hard for the Lord.

Matthew 21:6-11 -- On Praise and Preparation

"And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,
And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.
And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?
And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee."
Matthew 21:6-11


I really love this part of Christ's story, because in this brief moment of time, he is recognized and celebrated appropriately. The people love him and show him respect. His life wasn't lived for this purpose, but I think that it is very good that God granted him this triumphant moment during his mortal ministry, although it was just part of a longer-term preparation for the great work of his life.

I don't think that our lives are made for short-term praise and accolades either. This life is a test, and not an easy one. It takes sustained effort over a long time to learn the things that we need to learn and to actively choose to be more than we are, and to follow God's path to salvation. However, God grants us brief moments of understanding and celebration as well. Let's be grateful and thankful for the good times that help us endure and remember what we are striving for, and the long-term joy that is set before us. Let's choose joy in the hard times, helping others and knowing that God is teaching us and preparing us all for more, and better.

Luke 22:31-32 -- On Faith and Strength

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."
Luke 22:31-32


I imagine that the Lord feels this way about each of us. Satan wants us, but Christ holds on, and prays for us, so that we can keep having faith and become coverted... and then when that happens, he still supports us, but asks us to join his work and support others as well. Today, let's be strong in faith, stay connected to God, and strengthen the people around us.

Alma 10:7 -- On Hearing the Lord

"As I was journeying to see a very near kindred, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto me and said: Amulek, return to thine own house, for thou shalt feed a prophet of the Lord; yea, a holy man, who is a chosen man of God; for he has fasted many days because of the sins of this people, and he is an hungered, and thou shalt receive him into thy house and feed him, and he shall bless thee and thy house; and the blessing of the Lord shall rest upon thee and thy house."
Alma 10:7


Reading this today made me wonder how flexible we are in changing our lives and our plans for the Lord. When the Lord asks us to do something, do we say no because it doesn't fit into our lives, or do we find a way to restructure so that we can do the Lord's will? Something to think about, and to perhaps plan around, today.

D&C 42:27 -- On Not Speaking Evil

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


I really like this. I am not saying I am good at it, but I love it as an ideal, and something I need to work towards. We usually align on the not being violent part of this, and condemn physical abuse, but criticizing is a whole different animal. And let's note that this scripture doesn't clarify that we can speak evil of our neighbor if it is true, but just not lie about it... the whole deception thing is definitely condemned, but that's a different commandment. This one is clear... don't speak evil. Which I think goes back to not judging, and learning to love our enemies.

I want to be this kind of person... one who recognizes faults in others, perhaps, but never judges or condemns them. Only jumps in to help, gently correcting when the Spirit whispers, but otherwise letting them realize in their own (and God's) time that they need to change--just as we are allowed to do in our lives, with our own faults. We need help and not judgement, and that is how we should treat others. One experience I think of as writing this... I've always loved to sing ever since I was very young, but I remember a time that a family member laughed at me because I was off pitch, which brought self-doubt into the equation, and I sang less, and less confidently from then on, wondering if I couldn't hear my own errors.

Later, after I had regained some confidence in singing, a person on my mission who claimed to have perfect pitch would cringe when I was singing, triggering the same doubts in me. Now, of course, I don't know if my singing is off, even now... but I occasionally get compliments that help me think that I am at least not breaking people's ears every time I try, so I keep trying. I think sometimes, unintentionally, we can crush people's hope and confidence in a similar way by mocking and criticizing what they are doing. Even when we can clearly hear that it is wrong, maybe they can't. Maybe they are doing their best. Wrong, perhaps, but slamming them because they are wrong isn't going to teach them why, or how to do better. God is working on that with them, and if we can't kindly help God with that, in a way that he approves, and with the Spirit, then let's back off. We probably already have plenty to do, working on our own faults anyway. :)

D&C 41:12 -- On the Words of God

"These words are given unto you, and they are pure before me; wherefore, beware how you hold them, for they are to be answered upon your souls in the day of judgment. Even so. Amen."
Doctrine and Covenants 41:12


This struck me today not as a warning about specific words in a specific section, but as more of a warning about how we treat the scriptures and the words of the prophets. Too often I think that we try to fit them into our lives when we should rather be trying to fit ourselves into God's sacred tapestry of life. If we look at these words as something that may or may not fit into our lives or work for us, then we aren't really getting what is going on here... God, inviting us and teaching us how to become who we need to be in order to thrive in a glorious eternity. If that doesn't fit into our plans, then I mean, they are the wrong plans.

Today, let's jump in and learn and listen and build and assist and magnify all that God has given us. Let's be aware of how carefully we are holding and using the words of God.

Alma 7:21-24 -- On Motivated Learning

"And he doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can filthiness or anything which is unclean be received into the kingdom of God; therefore I say unto you the time shall come, yea, and it shall be at the last day, that he who is filthy shall remain in his filthiness.
And now my beloved brethren, I have said these things unto you that I might awaken you to a sense of your duty to God, that ye may walk blameless before him, that ye may walk after the holy order of God, after which ye have been received.
And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.
And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works."
Alma 7:21-24


This is some great advice. What struck me here was the idea of filthiness and somehow being stuck that way at the last day, which is a disgusting and horrible thought... the idea of being dirty and not being able to get clean, compounded by the idea of that not just physically but spiritually. Yikes. So, after that idea comes some advice on how to avoid that, which is welcome. Let's work on these things. Sometimes they are very difficult, but humility and patience, and all the rest... they seem very much worth learning in order to avoid the idea of eternal filthiness. :)

Malachi 3:13-18 -- On Blessings and Backstories

"Your words have been stout against me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against thee?
Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts?
And now we call the proud happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt God are even delivered.
Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.
And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.
Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not."
Malachi 3:13-18


What I see here is a complaint that is focused on the current moment rather than long-term patience. God is basically saying "wait and see" because he knows all of those complaints are based on mortal short-sightedness. Which is understandable on one hand, because we are mortal and we can't see God's whole plan. But if we truly believe in God and his plan, then we have to look further. I use the analogy all the time I know, but it works. God is writing this story, and yeah, maybe the bad guys are winning in Chapter 5, but they do NOT win in the end. Let's keep that in mind as we navigate this day, and our lives in general. God is talking about the entire plot, not just this chapter, and we haven't read the rest yet, and we have no room to judge until we do. There is a difference, and we will see it in time.

I think it is also important to note that God is *not* saying that we just have to suffer... that our lives will be awful be we will rise in the resurrection and suddenly be happy. He says earlier in this chapter "Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10). Mormon 9:14 reminds us that at the judgement that "He that is happy shall be happy still; and he that is unhappy shall be unhappy still." In the scriptures God gave people power to "submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord" even when they were mistreated slaves, and he will give us the same power if we turn to him. As Russell M. Nelson taught, "The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives and everything to do with the focus of our lives."

Today, let's stop comparing ourselves with the bad guys, and focus on God, and on the good in the world around us. Let's make things better for others. Let's serve and love and reach out to bless others. As we do, we will find happiness, blessings, and purpose... we'll be able to find joy in fulfilling the Lord's plan for us individually and on making a difference where we are. These early chapters are the backstory of how we become the triumphant hero that we are destined to be in the end. :)

Genesis 50:19-21 -- On Forgiveness and God's Will

"And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them."
Genesis 50:19-21


This is after Jacob dies, and Joseph's brothers think that *now* he will take revenge on them for plotting to kill him, and instead selling him into slavery. But he doesn't, noting that it was God's will.

I think there are a lot of bad things that happen to us in our lives that are God's will and part of the plan, but we don't realize it until later. It doesn't make what Joseph's brothers did right, and it doesn't make the bad things in our lives automatically good... but God uses everything to bring to pass his righteous purposes and turn us to good. Even the worst things, like Joseph's brothers hating him and selling him into slavery. God helped Joseph get over that and move on without bitterness and hate filling him up, and he can help us similarly to move on and to forgive. Let's talk to God about our circumstances and our hearts, and be willing to change our hearts and our heads with God's help, so we can move onward, and upward, towards God and a happier, better life filled with a new purpose.

Ephesians 6:12-17 -- On Armor and Adventure

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"
Ephesians 6:12-17


This resonated with me today, I think because we can see similar things happening in our day, and we could probably use some armor. :) All of these things are good, don't get me wrong, but the ones that stand out to me right now are truth, faith, and the Spirit. Remembering and holding fast to the truth is so important in these days of deception. Our faith can protect us, but we need to maintain and strengthen it. And the Spirit, which is also the word of God, to cut through the darkness and the tangling vines of sin as we forge forward on our path.

It's interesting to compare a bit to Lehi's dream, where the word of God was represented by the iron rod that led to the tree, which was the Love of God. All of our armor and weapons and protections and helps and the way forward and our rearguard and even our cloak and clothing is all make of the same stuff... the light of Christ, the power of God, the sure promises of Salvation. These stories and dreams and symbolism help us to visualize it and hopefully internalize it, but it is all the same gospel, leading towards the same God, and ending in the same love and infinite joy, which is before us eternally. God has his arms open and extended to welcome us home, not to a boring eternity of sameness, but to an engaging, eternal adventure. Let's suit up and move towards those arms, and that goal... helping as many as we can along the way.

Genesis 46:2-4 -- On Comfort and the Word of God

"And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.
And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes."
Genesis 46:2-4


I like how God comforts Jacob here. Jacob is doing something scary and hard, and God reassures him and promises that things will be okay in the end. ... I think God does the same thing for us in our lives if we are open to it. Jacob's family grew into something huge, nurtured by the Egyptians, and God kept his promise to bring them out of there later and back to the land he had promised to their fathers. ... As he will keep his promises to us. Not in our time of course, but in His... all his words will be fulfilled. Which happens to be an excellent reason to study God's words, and to listen to them. Today, let's pray, and also study and learn of the word of God given to others throughout history.

Mosiah 24:10-12 -- On Pouring Out Our Hearts to God

"And it came to pass that so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God.
And Amulon commanded them that they should stop their cries; and he put guards over them to watch them, that whosoever should be found calling upon God should be put to death.
And Alma and his people did not raise their voices to the Lord their God, but did pour out their hearts to him; and he did know the thoughts of their hearts."
Mosiah 24:10-12


I like the fact that prayer can't be stopped, since it can be out loud or silent, which is a good thing to remember here. Also though, the very first part where their afflictions were so great that they began to cry to God... I don't think they neglected to pray before that, but I think sometimes we do forget, and so another good thing to remember is to pray through all of it, the good times and the bad, because our relationship with God isn't just an emergency outlet... we need him all the time, even even though we don't always realize that need until things go wrong. Today, let's pray our hearts out to God and build that relationship so that prayer is like breathing... something that we just always do. As we get closer to that ideal, the more God can help direct our paths and lead us to happiness within, even when the circumstances we are in aren't exactly happy. :)

Mosiah 23:13-14 -- On Kings, Artificial Intelligence, and Trust

"And now as ye have been delivered by the power of God out of these bonds; yea, even out of the hands of king Noah and his people, and also from the bonds of iniquity, even so I desire that ye should stand fast in this liberty wherewith ye have been made free, and that ye trust no man to be a king over you.
And also trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be a man of God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments."
Mosiah 23:13-14


Good reminder that systems have checks and balances for a reason, and king Noah was a great example of why kings can't be trusted. If they go off the rails, they take everyone else with them. The part that struck me today is the second verse of today's selection though... trust no one to be your teacher or minister, unless it is someone who follows God. Perhaps it is a strange thought, but my mind instantly went to AI. While AI can be an excellent *tool* ... it is definitely not something we can trust to teach or advise us in other ways.

Let's remember that for the real advice, we still need to go to God, and his servants who are following the commandments and have his spirit. What we are calling AI is trained to say yes to anything, and think that everything we come up with is a good idea. That is definitely not what we need when we have bad ideas and are getting off track... something that will just help us down the wrong path. God loves us... he will correct us, and get us facing the right way again, and so will anyone else who actually cares. AI does not care. Today, let's stick with God, and trust ONLY his spirit when we need real wisdom and truth.

Mosiah 22:1 -- On Planning for Salvation

"And now it came to pass that Ammon and king Limhi began to consult with the people how they should deliver themselves out of bondage; and even they did cause that all the people should gather themselves together; and this they did that they might have the voice of the people concerning the matter."
Mosiah 22:1


Reading this today I was impressed that the king gathered everyone together to get their ideas and make a plan. The situation required it, of course, but I still get the feeling that a king like Limhi's father would have just commanded and expected to be obeyed. Instead, Limhi and Ammon really want to hear what everyone has to say, and talking about it together seems to have gotten them to the plan that they had to leave and go back to the land of Zarahemla. Gideon comes forth and helps them figure out how to make that overall plan work, and they escape.

For this plan, everyone had to be in on it, and I think God had made them ready to do something really hard, through wars and bad treatment, and internal dissent... so many things in their recent history, until they were ready to escape. And how cool of God, honestly, to save these people as well as Alma's group that had already left when king Noah was in charge? Both groups went through different things, but they both returned to God and got to the same place eventually.

God does a really good job of gathering and saving us, wherever we are. Let's consult with him today and talk to him about how to get to where we need to be for the next step in our own story, and how to accept the gift of salvation that he offers to all of us.

Genesis 45:25-28 -- On Happy Endings

"And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,
And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not.
And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:
And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die."
Genesis 45:25-28


I love the last line where Jacob/Israel finally believes, and decides to go see his son before he dies. It's kind of like the story of Job, where everything gets taken away, and then restored... but better, because Joseph didn't die as he thought, but he is able to see him not just in the afterlife, but in the present. And everyone can see the truth at the end of the story... there is no question of Joseph's rulership anymore. No resentment from his brothers. Just understanding and forgiveness and the acknowledgment of the hand of the Lord.

Today, let's learn from this. Let's let the past be the past, and understand that God has taken us where we are for a reason. Let's let go of bitterness and see the underlying truth that God is in charge of all of it, and he blesses us with opportunities and relationships that we would never have without the good and the bad in our lives. Let's see the lessons and the hardships as a learning experience, and grow from there, and trust that God will bring us through all of it, just as with Joseph and with Jacob, if we trust him and follow him with all our hearts. And yeah, historically, this also set up a rough situation for the family's descendants, but they also, in turn, had their chance at their own happy endings as well... and on all the way to us. Let's not just believe IN God, but let's believe his teachings and his promises as well. As we do, he will lead us to happiness, now and later.

Genesis 39:1-3 -- On Prospering in Place

"And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.
And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand."
Genesis 39:1-3


So, here Joseph is a slave, but he prospers anyway. I think that we often hate our circumstances and let that poison the rest of our lives, but God always has a plan for us, in every circumstance, and will help us and guide us. Joseph went through a lot in his life, but his life shone as a light anyway, and he realized that God had sent him to this place, and to these circumstances, for a reason. Today, let's work on having the same kind of faith in our own circumstances. God is not punishing us--rather, he is putting us exactly where we need to be for a greater purpose. Let's shine brightly, wherever we are, and make the world better around us, any way that we can. Let's lighten burdens for others and call upon God for whatever help we need. He will guide us and help us, and if we need to escape, he will help us do that as well. Maybe it will be like Lehi, taking his family and finding a new land, or maybe it will be like Joseph, prospering and saving and leading his family to him... or any number of other plans that God has. Let's have patience and trust in God and his plan, and do as he asks, and we will be led to our happy ending. If we aren't happy yet, then it isn't the ending. Let's keep turning the pages, and God will get us there.

1 Nephi 8:21-23 -- On Mists of Darkness

"And I saw numberless concourses of people, many of whom were pressing forward, that they might obtain the path which led unto the tree by which I stood.
And it came to pass that they did come forth, and commence in the path which led to the tree.
And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness; yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost."
1 Nephi 8:21-23


This is just a small part of Lehi's dream, but I thought it was a good reminder for us today that the mists of darkness will arise. We want things to always be easy, but they aren't, and honestly, the always-easy way is Satan's plan, because that way we never change, or learn the things that we need to learn. In the dream, there was no way to dispel the mist of darkness, but you could catch hold of the rod of iron, and feel your way through it. Likewise, in our lives, sometimes we are going to feel confused and blind, and we won't see a way out, but God can guide us. The iron rod symbolizes the word of God, which we get through reading the scriptures and following the prophets. Even when we can't feel the Spirit in our lives in that moment, God still has guides to help us through the darkness. Today, let's pray, and read, and listen to the word of God, so that we can navigate the darkness and find our way through. God has promised us a happy ending. The darkness is just chapter 5, where things seem bleak. But if we keep turning the pages, the hero manages to escape, and with God's help, always triumphs. Let's be the hero, and stick with God, our author, who will lead us to an ending and then a continued series that is more glorious than we can imagine.

Luke 17:31-32 -- On Looking Forward

"In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.
Remember Lot’s wife."
Luke 17:31-32


This is talking about the Second Coming, and letting us know that it will be a day where we need to remember Lot's Wife... so I assume, if the Lord says go, we go... thinking about what God asked rather than what we are leaving behind. And that's always the tough part, right? We worry about our stuff and we don't want to let it go, and we have a tendency to compare... oh, if I just had my soft bed, or the food we used to have, or our nice things. But that's exactly what got Laman and Lemuel and the Children of Israel into trouble.

Looking back and coveting, not just what others have, but what we used to have, is poison. It can distract us from now, and the path that God has asked us to walk. What we can do though is be prepared. Always good to have a bag packed with things that we need if we have to leave on short notice. Maybe we'll never use it, but it isn't just for that one event. Having a bag like that can help us be prepared for evacuations and natural disaster warnings and even for family emergencies. We can keep it in the car, or near the door or wherever, and hope that when we do have to move fast that we aren't on the roof already, and we can grab it on the way out. :) Today, let's look forward, and have a plan for when God warns us about anything. :)

Isaiah 28:21-22 -- On Strangeness and Mockery

"For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.
Now therefore be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth."
Isaiah 28:21-22


I don't think that I understand all of this, but the part about mockery struck me... and I think that we can apply that lesson, because whatever God does, and asks us to do, is going to be strange to some. It's God though, and he knows infinitely more than we do. If it seems strange, the answer is not to mock or laugh at something that we think doesn't make sense, but rather to pray for understanding. We get enough mockery from people thinking that religion itself is some sort of delusion or joke... let's not add to the arrogance and pride by also mocking God. Today, let's try for some patience and humility and be open and willing to learn from the Lord about his timing and his ways. His works are sometimes unclear to us, but are are always perfect. As we cultivate the Spirit in our lives, we will also grow in understanding.

Genesis 19:17 -- On Escaping, and Looking Not Behind

"And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed."
Genesis 19:17


This is when God sent angels to tell Lot and his family to escape the destruction of their city, and they are instructed to not look behind. It reminds me of the similar stories of God telling Lehi to escape from his city, and God telling Moses to lead the Children of Israel out of their city. So many of those groups looked back, despite the danger and destruction behind them. They weren't turned to salt as Lot's Wife was, but there were similar devastating consequences in a longer-term way.

The lesson here, which is the same lesson that we experience in our own lives when God tells us to escape from sin, or to leave a city or a place and start over, is don't look back. Don't live in the past, but go forward with hope and build something new. Partner with God, start over, become the new, better person. Today, let's remember that Godly advice. Let's let go of the past, create an amazing present, and work towards the future that God has promised.

Mosiah 12:25-27 -- On Applying Our Hearts

"And now Abinadi said unto them: Are you priests, and pretend to teach this people, and to understand the spirit of prophesying, and yet desire to know of me what these things mean?
I say unto you, wo be unto you for perverting the ways of the Lord! For if ye understand these things ye have not taught them; therefore, ye have perverted the ways of the Lord.
Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people?"
Mosiah 12:25-27


This is part of the story of King Noah and Abinadi. Here Abinadi is being questiond by the King and his priests (presumably including Alma at this point, which is how the story comes to us afterward). On the surface, it is a prophet turning a question back on his attackers, but since we know the larger story, we also see that it is God, carefully teaching a young, corrupt priest under the sway of a wicked king, the truth. Abinadai is asked about a scriptural passage in order to catch him contradicting himself, and instead he lays into them. For us, it is an excellent reminder that we need to apply our hearts to understanding, and do more with the scriptures than just skim them. If there is something we don't understand, then let's apply our hearts and our minds and look for the truth. Today, let's study and pray... including the Lord in all of our efforts, with this and with all else that we seek to understand. That is wisdom. Let's follow Alma out of darkness and into the light.

Isaiah 26:2 -- On Keeping the Truth

"Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in."
Isaiah 26:2


I'm not sure there is such a nation, at least now, but it's here in God's word, so I hope that there will be. Maybe it's something that the city of Enoch can claim, or a nation can claim in the future at the second coming. After all, the Nephites in 3rd Nephi managed to hold on to a fairly perfect society for a couple of generations. There is hope for us as well. :)

One thing we can work on today, to be sure that we qualify to be part of that future nation, is the truth. Truth is getting harder to discern in our society, with important people, companies, and governments lying, as well as chatbots that have been trained on less than 100% truth. They are also trained to agree with us, so they won't correct our bad information and make us rethink or recheck. We have to do that for ourselves. So let's check, read different perspectives, and study it out in our minds, and let's also cultivate the Spirit which can help us know the truth of all things.

Truth is much more important than our current society values it. Let's remember that God is a God of Truth, and hold to that ideal, and practice being truthful as well as kind, not sacrificing one for the other.

Luke 16:27-31 -- On Allowing Ourselves to Be Persuaded

"Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
Luke 16:27-31


This reminds me a little of A Christmas Carol when Marley comes back. Here, a rich man asks Abraham to send a former beggar to comfort him in the flames of hell, and then when he learns that is impossible because of the gulf between then, asks for his family to be assisted to understand and believe. It's hard on one hand to understand why someone wouldn't repent after seeing someone come back from the dead, or after seeing an angel as we see with Laman and Lemuel, but on the other hand if we just look at ourselves and the obvious truths that we push aside for our own comfort or opinion, it is probably easier.

Perhaps another thing that comes into play here is God's involvement in our lives. He prompts us to listen and to turn to him. We have times in our lives where the voice is easy to hear, warning us or trying to save us... and then after, similar to Laman and Lemuel with the angel, we go back to our normal way of doing things rather than remembering that we need the Lord to save us every single day, not just in one crisis.

Today, let's remember that we have the scriptures and the prophets, and give them full sway in our lives. Let's remember the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. Let's remember prayer and God's hand in our lives. Let's be humble and remember how much we need God, every day, and include him in our lives and follow his path, and keep his commandments. And as we do, let's give everyone around us a chance to see and hear and know the truth as well, so we *and* they can avoid the "place of torment" the rich man is speaking from.

Isaiah 25:8-9 -- On Waiting and Working

"He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.
And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."
Isaiah 25:8-9


The whole idea of victory over death is powerful. Being able to continue past that ending that seems permanent, and find that there are other stories and other chapters for us... that seems like the ultimate hope. Today, let's remember who offers that hope to us, and let's wait for the Lord's second coming and his salvation... and while we wait, let's work to do his will and make the world around us better and more loving than it was before, or than it is now.

Luke 16:12 -- On Learning Faithfulness

"And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own?"
Luke 16:12


This one strikes me today, I think because I'm thinking about it from an employee perspective. You often have to work your way up and show that you are going to be diligent at your job, even if it isn't the ideal job, before you can move into something you love more... before people will trust you to do that other job that you are looking for.

It's also interesting from our perspective as children of God and essentially toddlers on the earth learning to share and to love at some basic levels. We're still growing and learning, but if we can't take care of our toys now, how will we graduate to "grown up" and the responsibilities of adulthood, especially when growing up with God as our father suggests that there will be a lot of earth-shaking power involved. If we can't learn to be good now, who is going to trust us with that kind of power?

The other thing flitting through my mind about this is relationships. If we can't learn to care about and love people now, how are we going to do with the myriads of people around us in a perfect society? Are we even going to want to be there if we can't open our hearts to others?

Definitely not saying give up... we can't be perfect in this life, and we have to take little steps, but we can be headed in the right direction. Let's partner with God and work on our faults, and try to be faithful, and learn to love better.

3 Nephi 6:12-14 -- On Inequality and Iniquity

"And the people began to be distinguished by ranks, according to their riches and their chances for learning; yea, some were ignorant because of their poverty, and others did receive great learning because of their riches.
Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God.
And thus there became a great inequality in all the land. . ."
3 Nephi 6:12-14


Later in verse 15, this same situation is called "iniquity" rather than just "inequality," which I think is something that we might want to ponder, considering how much our modern world resembles this. Clearly God wants us to be one, even going so far as to say "and if ye are not one ye are not mine" (D&C 38:27).

I'm not saying that humility and sharing and working on our attitudes and our actions towards others is easy, and the not turning and reviling again is a huge challenge. But these are also the same things that Christ asked in the Sermon on the Mount and in 3rd Nephi. To love even our enemies. To be the glue that holds the world together, rather than joining forces with Satan to tear it apart.

Today, let's learn more equality, more humility, and let's partner with God in doing everything we can to make the world better--for everyone, including our enemies.

Luke 11:23-24 -- On Sticking with God

"He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out."
Luke 11:23-24


The part about the unclean spirit is also in Matthew (12:43-45), which has a slightly different wording, and perhaps a slightly different lesson at the end, whereas what looks like this lesson in Luke comes before. ... I think the lesson here is that we have to stick with God and keep walking his path, every day. It can't just be a one time conversion (or exorcism), because if we don't keep it up, we'll fall back to our old ways, which will get us into the same hole that we were in before.

Today, let's make suer that we are with the Lord. Let's gather to him, and stay close, so that we can fall under his protection at all times. Protected even from the evil that we have invited in and embraced in the past. Sin is much like alcoholism... it hovers there on the periphery, and if we aren't careful, we can let it in again.

The cure is always God, who can help us feel safe and a million miles away from temptation. ... Let's work on staying there, in that safety, keeping the Spirit with us, so that we don't find ourselves in a worse situation than we started with (verse 26).

John 9:39 -- On Blindness and Improved Sight

"And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind."
John 9:39


This is an interesting statement, and at first I think it kind of makes you wonder... why would Christ want anyone to become blind? I don't think he really does, but blindness is the byproduct of him coming into the world and those people who believed that they were enlightened becoming blind because they couldn't see through their arrogance and belief in their own authority that the son of God was standing before them.

Others saw and either physically or spiritually gained their sight... in this particular chapter, both. And both is what we hope for as well, because God can heal our hearts and our minds and our spirits, helping us to live and understand, and to be filled with the Spirit, as we look to him in faith.

Both sight and blindness continue in our day, about Christ and all that he taught. We are often blinded by looking at the things the world teaches and placing those things as the focus of our lives, which blinds us to the bigger spiritual tapestry of all things interwoven in beautiful harmony. Today, let's work on seeing past today and talking to God about the bigger picture. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't live today and care about the people around us and our interactions... but let's focus on God and the bigger picture, which will help us to see the things immediately around us in a better way and from the proper perspective, where slights and setbacks can't get to the core of our peace, because God helps us to see farther and better, and know that all things work together and will be right in the end.

Mark 5:27-30 -- On Faith

"When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?"
Mark 5:27-30


This is part of the story of the woman with an issue of blood. What I think is interesting here is that Christ either really didn't know who had touched him (this isn't clear, but we know that he could know people's thoughts and that there was a donkey in a certain place and a piece of money in a fish, so it's definitely possible that he knew, or could have known from his Father), or he asked because he wanted a chance to both follow up with her, and teach the multitude that this sort of thing was possible. "This sort of thing" being having faith in God enough to obtain a miracle without having a specific blessing or hands laid on her. Perhaps it was arranged through prayer, of course, and obviously it was an application of God's power... but power that is available to all of us directly, if we have the faith.

I don't think it has to be a dramatic miracle, but I have seen this happen in my life as well. When you do all you can do, and the only way that things can work out is through God, and you know that it will work out somehow... and it does. Might not be mountains moving, but the more we trust God, the more that he can work with us in our lives. Today, let's learn to trust God a little more. It won't happen overnight, and sometimes we're going to have to ask God to help us with our unbelief (Mark 9:24), but as we strive to stay close to the Lord and to do as he asks, our faith and confidence in the Lord will grow.