4 Nephi 1:2 -- On Dealing Justly

"And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another."
4 Nephi 1:2


Compared to the current world, it seems almost mind-blowing that a whole people could get to the point of having zero contentions, and being perfectly just. :) I look forward to a time when that can happen again... but let's remember that to get there, each of us individually has to step up and be part of the solution. Today, let's work on our own lives, learning to let go of contention and deal justly, so that when Christ's Kingdom is fully re-established, in this life or the next, we will be ready to be part of it... and so that we can be examples of love and trustworthiness here on earth, encouraging good to spread and displace the evil around us.

1 Samuel 20:30-33 -- On Power, Prestige, and God's Will

"Then Saul’s anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother’s nakedness?
For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.
And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done? And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David."
1 Samuel 20:30-33


Saul is one of the great people in the bible, until he moves against David I think. He was chosen of God, but then God chooses another, and it makes him scared at first, and then angry, but instead of correcting his ways and/or accepting God's will, he fights against it and determines to murder David. Here, he confronts his son basically accusing him of sabotaging his own inheritance, and dishonoring all that his parents did for him, because he can't get it through his head that David is going to take the government away from their family, and make it so that Jonathan is never king.

It turns out to be a self-fulfilling prophecy because Saul sabotages himself by going after the chosen of God. David was never planning to take over the kingdom and harm that family, because he loved them, was married into the family... but circumstances led to all of this because of the blind hatred that Saul had for someone he felt was threatening his power and prestige.

Today, perhaps we can learn from this not to resent others, especially to the point where we take action against them. God's will be done, and if he wants to pull some power or prestige away from us, then let's be humble, accept God's will, and go forward, knowing that if we stay close to God and put his will before our own, we are still chosen, and still loved, and that God will have something else amazing in store for us.

Helaman 14:30-31 -- On Self-Destructive Habits

"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.
He hath given unto you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you."
Helaman 14:30-31


This is Samuel the Lamanite, prophesying that Christ would be coming soon, and that everyone should consider repenting. This part packs a punch that I don't think that we always understand or consider. Every sin is going to come back and bite us. God isn't asking us not to sin because he's strict or un-fun. He's asking us because we are literally destroying ourselves when we sin. We are choosing death and evil rather than life and good. We're poisoning our souls and making it harder for ourselves to hear God and to feel the Spirit.

Today, let's take a step back and realize what we are doing to ourselves. Let's consider the fact that contention and deception and other sins are worming their way into our souls. Let's be humble and willing to change, and let Christ heal us, and help us to see better, understand more fully, and learn to love and to lift, and never to harm... anyone else or ourselves, through our sin.

1 Samuel 17 -- On Confidence in the Lord's Way

"This day will the Lord deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hands."
1 Samuel 17


This could be faith, confidence, and showmanship, but I think there has to be a little bit of prophecy mixed into David's speech, even at this young age. He knew that the Lord was going to win the day, and that he was just the means.

I like the idea here that God isn't about overwhelming force or winning because he can be the bigger bully, but that dedication to the Lord makes all of that not matter... God is in charge, not just of this battle, but all of our battles, and if we stop thinking of things as just contests of strength, our minds might be free enough to taste a little bit of David's brand of confidence. He wasn't stronger, or better at killing. He just knew that God was on his side. And I think that is something that can absolutely work in our lives as well. If we are doing our best and working for righteousness, God can and will clear the way before us to accomplish his work.

Today, let's focus on doing, and being, good... on not playing the game as the world presents it to us, but on doing things God's way. As we do, we will find it is the best way, no matter the comparisons and calculations of the world.

1 Samuel 17:37 -- On Faith and Deliverance

"David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee."
1 Samuel 17:37


This reminds me of the stripling warriors, who had the same kind of faith. I think it also shows that faith is built. David knew absolutely that in his times of greatest need the Lord had helped him, and he didn't doubt that God would help him again. Today, let's practice whatever amount of faith we have, and trust God as much as we can, and keep learning and praying. As we do, our confidence wil wax stronger and stronger in the Lord until eventually our faith will remain unshaken because we know the Lord well, and how he works with us.

Isaiah 33:1 -- On How We Treat Others

"Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee."
Isaiah 33:1


This is a good thing to remember. God tries to be gentle with us, and he cautions us to treat people as we would like to be treated. When we treat people as marks or objects of mockery, we risk the whole ideal of restoration turning against us. It can be a great blessing if we have been doing good, and a great curse if we have been doing evil. Let's remember that repentance and Christ's atonement and his forgiveness are the only things standing in the way of us paying for our own sins... and that is something that we could absolutely not handle. We need God, we need help, and we need other people. Let's accept the need humbly and learn how to do better in loving and serving others.

Alma 43:54 -- On Compassion in Conflict

"Now Moroni, when he saw their terror, commanded his men that they should stop shedding their blood."
Alma 43:54


I really like the idea of compassion in the midst of war here... that even though the Lamanites were trying to destroy them and kept doing it, and taught each other to hate the Nephites, still, when the Lamanites were surrounded and scared, Moroni stopped and offered them what was basically a peace treaty.

So often we get into conflict and don't see a way out... it's all or nothing, and no compromises because we're dead-set on proving we're right, or getting out way, or asserting our superiority or whatever. And of course there are some principles that we can't compromise, but perhaps when we are in conflict with others, we should take a step back and really consider if part of what is going on is just pride. Humility and admitting we were wrong is okay, even though sometimes it can feel awful and we feel embarrassed, sometimes working through those feelings are better than the conflict. It's especially important when we are in positions of power that we don't throw people into conflict just because we can. Sometimes we need to step back and consider, and often adjust our position.

Today, let's have compassion in whatever we are engaged in. Let's remember that Jesus Christ, and learning how to see in his way, with love, is a better answer than any conflict.

Alma 1:20-22 -- On Words and Blows

"Yea, they did persecute them, and afflict them with all manner of words, and this because of their humility; because they were not proud in their own eyes, and because they did impart the word of God, one with another, without money and without price.
Now there was a strict law among the people of the church, that there should not any man, belonging to the church, arise and persecute those that did not belong to the church, and that there should be no persecution among themselves.
Nevertheless, there were many among them who began to be proud, and began to contend warmly with their adversaries, even unto blows; yea, they would smite one another with their fists"
Alma 1:20-22


Good reminder here not to contend or persecute, even if we aren't the ones that started it. I don't think that means we can't walk away from a bad situation, but we should be careful to not escalate from words to blows, and to always love first. God can handle justice when it needs to happen, but he requires that we forgive and love, so that we can have those same blessings in our lives. ... I was working in the temple today and a woman came in, and she had tears running down her face the whole time I was interacting with her. She told me after that she was doing work for her abusive parents... getting to that point I'm sure had taken her a long time, but she wasn't crying with sorrow that whole time. She was crying because in doing that work for them, God was lifting that burden from her heart, and she felt truly joyful and at peace for the first time in a very long time. ... I'm not saying that is the answer for everyone, but she impressed me a lot, and I think that we can find ways to heal our hearts as we work with God, and leave the negative consequences for others to him. He paid the price for all of our sins, and that is his job. Ours is to love and serve, and find our way back to God.

Mosiah 29:16 -- On Righteous Rulership

"Now I say unto you, that because all men are not just it is not expedient that ye should have a king or kings to rule over you."
Mosiah 29:16


For Mosiah, the king, to say this, it makes me think he was one of the most humble and righteous people I have ever heard of. To help the people change governments without a power struggle, and working to help them form a government that would be more stable than a kingdom. He cared more about people than about power. Today, let's think about that choice in our own lives, and work to make similar righteous decisions.

Mosiah 28:6-7 -- On Inquiring of the Lord

"And king Mosiah went and inquired of the Lord if he should let his sons go up among the Lamanites to preach the word.
And the Lord said unto Mosiah: Let them go up, for many shall believe on their words, and they shall have eternal life; and I will deliver thy sons out of the hands of the Lamanites."
Mosiah 28:6-7


It seems so natural in context, I think maybe we don't stop and consider what a big deal inquiring of the Lord is. It says that his sons pleaded with their father many days about this, so I imagine that at first his answer was no, that he wouldn't even consider it... but after they persisted, he decided to ask the Lord.

To truly inquire of the Lord, we have to first consider that the answer might not be exactly what we want it to be. We have to let go of the sense that we, of course, know what is best, and open ourselves to God's will. We have to let go of pride and adopt a little bit of humility to even get to that point... and then there are further impediments because being able to truly listen to the Lord and get an answer requires study, patience, and practice.

Today, whatever our experience with prayer and the Spirit, let's work on our ability to inquire of the Lord, and listen to his answers. Let's familiarize ourselves with the scriptures and the words of Christ. Let's pray and know how it feels to connect to God. Let's keep God in our hearts as we go throughout our days and include him in our lives and thoughts. Let's work on getting to the point where we can both ask and hear the answers God has for us... and as we practice, we will see God's hand in our lives and everyday miracles all around us.

Mosiah 1:4 -- On Scriptures, Memory, and Preparation

"For it were not possible that our father, Lehi, could have remembered all these things, to have taught them to his children, except it were for the help of these plates; for he having been taught in the language of the Egyptians therefore he could read these engravings, and teach them to his children, that thereby they could teach them to their children, and so fulfilling the commandments of God, even down to this present time."
Mosiah 1:4


In context, this is a good explanation of why Nephi and his brothers needed to obtain the plates from Laban. I think it is instructive for us as well, to recognize that God's commandments are important and necessary, and also the history of our lives, which live in the memories of the people around us, but not for long if they aren't written down. Our memories and our lives are short, compared to God's overall plan that encompasses all of human history, and our collective human future.

Also, just as a thought... perhaps if we only have a copy of the scriptures on our phones, we should get a physical copy for a backup? It's always good to be prepared if we get called to go on a long journey, in the wilderness or across an ocean. :)

2 Chronicles 36:11-13 -- On Stiff Necks and Hard Hearts

"Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the Lord.
And he also rebelled against king Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God: but he stiffened his neck, and hardened his heart from turning unto the Lord God of Israel."
2 Chronicles 36:11-13


The idea of pride is shown here both in "humbled not" and in "stiffened his neck" ... not willing to give reverence or honor to God or his prophets, and of course hardening the heart indicating that he resisted compassion and love and the softer emotions that God helps us feel so that we can relate to others and learn empathy.

Today, let's make sure that our necks are pliable and able to bend in humility. Let's make sure that our hearts are softened and open to feeling the Spirit as God shows us how to love.

Helaman 5:51 -- On Laying Down Hatred

"And as many as were convinced did lay down their weapons of war, and also their hatred and the tradition of their fathers."
Helaman 5:51


I really like the idea that these people were converted all the way through. They didn't just change their actions, they changed their hearts and feelings as well. Thay laid down their weapons AND their hatred. Throughout the Book of Mormon, even just to this point, we have seen the Lamanites lay down their weapons and depart with a covenant of peace, only to have them, or their descendants, come back later because their whole society is still teaching hatred... but this group stopped hating.

That's often the solution to our own troubles too. We definitely should put down our weapons, or whatever we are using to fight those we hate. Our voices or our keyboards sometimes. It doesn't mean that we shouldn't speak the truth or participate in respectful political discourse (if we can find the respectful kind), but what is does mean is that we have to let go of our hate. We have to realize that hate never helps, or succeeds. It only poisons. The solution is always going to be Christ, and love.

In the chapter above, in the very next verse, the Lamanites give up the lands that they won in the many wars, and give them back to the Nephites. Not in a war, not even in a treaty negotiation. Just because they let go of their hatred. What would our lives look like if we let go of hatred? ... Remember, not just going silent and seething in private. What if we actually just let it go completely? Today, let's find out. Let's ask God to fight the battles that need to be fought, but to help us purge any hatred from our hearts so that we can serve and love and be part of the solution... like these people were. Let's remember that we are on God's side, and that's the only side we need.

1 Nephi 17:2-3 -- On Wilderness and Strength

"And so great were the blessings of the Lord upon us, that while we did live upon raw meat in the wilderness, our women did give plenty of suck for their children, and were strong, yea, even like unto the men; and they began to bear their journeyings without murmurings.
And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness."
1 Nephi 17:2-3


I think it would be hard to talk about "great blessings" when you were wandering in the wilderness for years and eating raw meat... but perhaps that is part of the point. God strengthened them to not feel like complaining... which I think is a lot stronger than we often are in easier circumstances.

So the lessons I am seeing here are first, that when God leads us to a cool, promised land, often that means hardship along the way, and starting from scratch. The Jaredites, the Nephites, Abraham and later Moses with the Israelites, the Pioneers, and we should probably count Noah in here as well. They all went from something established to unknown and really starting from scratch starting over. No existing homes to buy, no sewer hook ups.

And second, that the first part doesn't matter. The hardship factor of being led to a promised land is nullified by the strength that the Lord gives us so that we can tackle the new situation that we're thrown into.

We don't have to be in the wilderness literally to face the scary and the new and sometimes our hardships come in different ways. Our world is a wilderness sometimes, not because there are trees and wild animals, but because of the new things that we have to face and the new ways that evil is trying to attack us. AI has made it very, very easy to fake voice, video, or anything written. The internet is becoming increasingly fictionalized. Truth is harder to come by, and many prominent companies and personalities are boldly lying to the public about different technologies in order to enrich themselves.

Today, let's keep the commandments of the Lord and look to him for strength to live in our day. He can help us navigate the wilderness of our modern day challenges, and feeling the Spirit is one of the only ways that we are going to be able to truly know truth from deception as we move forward. Let us put our trust in God above all, and he will strengthen us and "provide means for us" as we sojourn in this wilderness.

Isaiah 30:18 -- On Waiting and Changing

"And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him."
Isaiah 30:18


I feel like this is the reason that the Lord doesn't judge us instantly... why sometimes the bad guys get away with it, but remembering that the bad guys are sometimes ourselves. Because he is giving us grace and space... time to get our heads on straight and our lives cleaned up. Time to change so that he won't have to come down in wrath during our judgement, but so that he can give us mercy and forgiveness instead. He longs to purify our hearts and welcome us, but he can't do that in the middle of us being rebellious and causing harm to others. ... Today, let's reach out to him and learn, so that when it is time for that judgement, we will be better than we are, and able to embrace the Lord without shame and fear of who we are.

Isaiah 30:9-10 -- On Smooth Lies and Difficult Truth

"That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord:
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:"
Isaiah 30:9-10


How often do we do this to ourselves, I wonder. Sometimes we say we want the Lord to guide us, but we're actually not really open to his will. Instead, we're only open to a single answer where we win or prosper in some way, or get the particular answer that we want. Other answers that make things harder for us we don't want, and perhaps we really would rather be lied to, and told "smooth things" that don't necessitate change.

God's way isn't easy. None of the people that he led to their own "promised land" (Jaredites, Nephites, Israelites, etc.) had an easy time of it, and they didn't arrive to catered meals and hotels. They got to the particular promised land and they had to overcome challenges, and in many cases start from scratch. But it was still promised, and they were meant to be there, to begin so many things, and to further God's plan. We too may have to face hard things in our lives... storms and darkness come to everyone. But God will be with us if we cling to him, and help us through, and help us to do good works and further his plan of happiness as well. Let's join with him and do good even in hardship, rather than reaching for and desiring lies.

1 Samuel 3:8-9 -- On Connecting with the Lord

"And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.
Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place."
1 Samuel 3:8-9


This is some excellent advice from a priest, familiar with the voice of God, to the new prophet Samuel, who didn't yet understand that the Lord was speaking to him. I think it can also be instructive to us as well, to think about whether the Lord is speaking to us in ways that we might not expect. God wants to communicate with all of us, but we don't always hear him, or understand yet how to listen. Today, let's pray and talk to the Lord, and then work on staying open to the Spirit as we go througout our day, paying attention to how the Lord might be communicating to us. It doesn't always take words, but God is always reaching out his hand to us, ready to connect. Let's tear down the walls on our side, and reach out to him as well.

1 Samuel 2:12 -- On Prepared Miracles

"Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord."
1 Samuel 2:12


I think it is interesting here how the earnest desire of Hannah for a son (in chapter 1) coincided with a desperate need for some new priests... and of course, it wasn't truly a coincidence, but rather "all things working together for good" (Romans 8:28), but it is still so interesting how all of God's creation is woven together so that a prayer over here solves a problem over there, etc.

I think the same thing is going on in our lives. Sometimes our needs lead to other people's blessings. Things that seem completely disconnected are often connected through the Lord making a way to provide what is necessary. Even things that seem awful at the time... say we break an arm or a leg, but then after we're healed up, the mobility aids that we needed are given away and come to bless someone's life that is desperately in need of exactly those things. Just an example, not a personal story, but that sort of thing happens every day with the Lord directing all of it. The whole world is connected by things like that, which is how Christ could do amazing things like tell Peter to get a piece of money out of a fish, or direct his disciples to go find a donkey. All of it is known to the Lord, and we often find that when we need something most, God has provided something that is miraculous, but the miracle isn't it appearing out of thin air, but rather God preparing it slowly for years ahead of time.

Today let's remember that God really does know the end from the beginning and there are miracles all around us, in everything we say and do, in everyone we meet. Let's join with the Lord and follow the Spirit, and be part of the interconnectedness of it all. :)

Ruth 1:1-5 -- On Bitter Beginnings

"Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.
And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth-lehem-judah. And they came into the country of Moab, and continued there.
And Elimelech Naomi’s husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.
And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.
And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband."
Ruth 1:1-5


This part doesn't get much into the story of Ruth, but what it made me think of today is how God designs our lives for good. Naomi's life up to this point is severely truncated. We don't know the joys and the sorrows of moving to a different country to escape the famine, or the courtship and joy of the sons and their marriages. In a way though, the lack of detail helps us to see the overall design a little bit better. This is a story partly about the genealogy of Christ, but also about virtue and faith, and adoption and conversion into the gospel. This chapter of Naomi's life seemed bitter to her because she lost her loved ones. But it had meaning and purpose still, which she and Ruth find later. It's a good reminder that even when things seem bleak, God is still ordering all things for our good, leading us towards the happy ending that he still, and always, promises, for those who keep working and don't give up on the story. :)