Doctrine and Covenants 45:62 -- On Great Things to Come

"For verily I say unto you, that great things await you."
Doctrine and Covenants 45:62


I love this one, and it is true in context and out of context, because God has great things in store for the world, and for us each individually. Sometimes we look at the world and just see the obstacles and the problems, but there are good and great things out there too... waiting for us to find them. With God there is always hope--hope for a better world, hope for a better self, and a hope for great things to come. :) Today, let's trust in God, turn to Christ, and repent and let his hope fill us and guide us.

Doctrine and Covenants 49:23-28 -- On Continuing in Steadfastness

"Wherefore, be not deceived, but continue in steadfastness, looking forth for the heavens to be shaken, and the earth to tremble and to reel to and fro as a drunken man, and for the valleys to be exalted, and for the mountains to be made low, and for the rough places to become smooth—and all this when the angel shall sound his trumpet.
But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall flourish in the wilderness, and the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose.
Zion shall flourish upon the hills and rejoice upon the mountains, and shall be assembled together unto the place which I have appointed.
Behold, I say unto you, go forth as I have commanded you; repent of all your sins; ask and ye shall receive; knock and it shall be opened unto you.
Behold, I will go before you and be your rearward; and I will be in your midst, and you shall not be confounded.
Behold, I am Jesus Christ, and I come quickly. Even so. Amen."
Doctrine and Covenants 49:23-28


I like that God laid out some things that still need to happen before the Second Coming for his people, so that they didn't think it was imminent. I think it is helpful for us just as it was then, to realize and remember that there is still much to be done, and that we can be a part of it. As God has asked, let's repent and dedicate ourselves to his work, asking and knocking as we go forward on the Lord's business. He will help us and lift us as we work to do his will and build Zion.

D&C 45:66-67 -- On Glory and Terror

"And it shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God;
And the glory of the Lord shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, insomuch that the wicked will not come unto it, and it shall be called Zion."
Doctrine and Covenants 45:66-67


It's kind of cool, from a protection point of view, that God can be loving, and glorious, and so amazingly merciful, but at the same time also be absolutely good and just, and kind of scary to anyone thinking they can go up against him. A place of safety for followers of God, but not a place that anyone else wants to mess with... I like it. :)

Today, let's remember that glory and terror can be parts of the same thing, but if we stick with God and do his will, we don't have to be afraid. He is working to help us come home to him, and he welcomes the repentant. Let's learn to be better and turn to the Lord for help and protection from the things that are too big for us.

3 Nephi 26:19 -- On Dealing Justly

"And they taught, and did minister one to another; and they had all things common among them, every man dealing justly, one with another."
3 Nephi 26:19


I love the part here about dealing justly. Unfortunately that is often difficult to find in our world where lying, deceptions of all kinds, and profiteering can be seen as normal, commonplace, and even expected. In a world like that, sometimes we need that connection to God to even learn to understand what justice and/or fairness means, and I think that Christ offered us parables and examples partially for that reason. He showed us the difference between how the world sees things and how the Lord sees them.

Today, let's take some time to ponder how God sees the world, and do our best to be just, and kind, and loving, generous, and truly good as we deal with others and with ourselves.

3 Nephi 25:1-2 -- On Growing Up in Safety

"For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble; and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
But unto you that fear my name, shall the Son of Righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth and grow up as calves in the stall."
3 Nephi 25:1-2


This is talking about the Second Coming, and as always there is scary imagery... burning as an oven we might joke about now because it is the middle of summer and hot hot hot, but even on the worst days, it isn't as bad as an oven, which is typically at least a couple of hundred degrees hotter than the worst summer. So, yikes. But for the righteous there is healing and safety. The image of calves in the stall for me isn't all positive. Some of it seems scary and trapped, but I don't think that is what the Lord was saying here. Comparing to Malachi 4:2, the words "grow up" in the original give more of a sense of playing and leaping... not being trapped. I think the core idea is protected from predators... led home to sleep, then led to pasture (food, freedom) and back again, safe from everything, the same way the image of Christ as our shepherd is meant to convey a sense of being taken care of and led the right way.

It requires a little bit of humility perhaps to connect with the sheep and calf imagery, and to understand the need for protection from God, but no matter how much we have learned, or how cool we are, we always need Christ in our lives. God is the one who can teach us what we need to know, and protect us from the scary stuff to come... when the imagery and the warnings are made real. Let's stick with Christ and listen to the Spirit so that we can guide our lives, help our loved ones, make the whole world better, and become our best selves. God only wants what is best for us, but that doesn't mean that obstacles, problems, and scary things won't happen. It just means that he will help us through them and help us learn and become so much more as we have faith in him and follow his guidance and commandments.

2 Kings 19:19-20 -- On Prayers and Answers

"Now therefore, O Lord our God, I beseech thee, save thou us out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that thou art the Lord God, even thou only.
Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, That which thou hast prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard."
2 Kings 19:19-20


I like how Hezekiah prays to God in the temple and then Isaiah sends him a message with an answer. When we pray, our answers aren't often delivered by messenger, but if we pay attention, we will see that they are answered, and God will help us get through threats and oppression and other things that a more modern world challenges us with. Today, let's turn to the Lord and trust in his help and protection as we are faithful to him.

2 Kings 17:9-12 -- On Secret Rebellion

"And the children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God, and they built them high places in all their cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
And they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and under every green tree:
And there they burnt incense in all the high places, as did the heathen whom the Lord carried away before them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to anger:
For they served idols, whereof the Lord had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing."
2 Kings 17:9-12


This is a good reminder of how easy it is to get off course as we are following Christ and walking the path of God. No matter how close we have been to God, chosen and blessed abundantly, when we rebel against God, even just in our hearts and outwardly pretend to still be part of his people, then we start losing the Spirit and all things aren't working together for our good anymore. We start slipping where we were once upheld by the hand of God, and we are left in our own strength, which always feels like weakness compared to being supported by the Lord.

Today, if we're going off track, even in a secret or small way, it isn't secret to God. Let's rethink and remind ourselves why we chose God in the first place. Let's get back on track and put our faith back where it should be, in God and the path of Christ, which is the only way to salvation.

Luke 18:1-7 -- On Prayer and More Prayer

"And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?"
Luke 18:1-7


I like Christ explaining here that we should keep praying and not give up. God will answer our prayers in his own time, and in his own way, but he is hearing us, and does care about what we say. We have to make sure that we aren't asking for something that God doesn't want, or asking for a bad reason, but if it is a good thing and within God's will, then God will answer it somehow, within his own time, but continuing to ask isn't going to annoy God. Continuing to pray and being open to listen to what God has to say can only help us learn more, and God will help us understand whatever answer we receive.

Today, let's pray in faith for good things, and for understanding of the Lord's will so that our petitions can be part of the solution and help build up the kingdom of God.

1 Nephi 1:18-20 -- On Mockery

"Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after the Lord had shown so many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard.
And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world.
And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance."
1 Nephi 1:18-20


What stuck out to me today about these verses was the mockery that Lehi encountered when he went out to warn the people and tell them what the Lord had shown him. Later, when we read about Lehi's dream we learn that the people in the great and spacious building were mocking the people going to the tree of life, and this mockery seems to precede violence on many occasions throughout the scriptures. It seems like one of the beginning steps in rebellion against God. It's almost dehumanizing, not in saying this is an alien or something, but in definitely setting the object of mockery aside as some group other than one's own. "Oh, look at those peculiar people over there..." that sort of thing. I guess it is good that we are supposed to be exactly that. :)

Today, let's try to listen to prophets rather than mock (or try to kill) them. Let's try not to set people apart from us as a method of ridicule. Let's work on love and kindness and finding ways to help.

Words of Mormon 1:1-2 -- On Writing to the Future

"And now I, Mormon, being about to deliver up the record which I have been making into the hands of my son Moroni, behold I have witnessed almost all the destruction of my people, the Nephites.
And it is many hundred years after the coming of Christ that I deliver these records into the hands of my son; and it supposeth me that he will witness the entire destruction of my people. But may God grant that he may survive them, that he may write somewhat concerning them, and somewhat concerning Christ, that perhaps some day it may profit them."
Words of Mormon 1:1-2


It's weird to imagine Mormon (and his son Moroni) seeing the end of their people, and writing it down and organizing a book for the future world was the only way they could pass on the lessons and goodness that they wanted to share. I think though, that the lesson applies to us as well, even though we are in different circumstances. We're encouraged to keep records and journals... these extend our reach beyond death, and allow our loved ones and later relatives to understand what things were like in our day, and hopefully to also be inspired similarly. We're also taught that we should write, that "all things are written by the Father" (3 Nephi 27:26) and that we'll be judged by the things that are written ... so getting in our words and our version of events sounds like a good idea anyway. :) Writing is also a great way to work through really what we think and feel about things. We often go through life on autopilot, just doing and not really examining, and taking the time to step back and write about things is a great help in learning about ourselves, and how to improve. Today, let's pray and learn from God, but also take the chance to write about whatever we are thinking and feeling. Could be a blog, could be a written prayer, could just be a note to ourselves. Let's include God in the process and see what he inspires us to write. :)

2 Kings 4:20-23 -- On Faith and Determination

"And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.
And she went up, and laid him on the bed of the man of God, and shut the door upon him, and went out.
And she called unto her husband, and said, Send me, I pray thee, one of the young men, and one of the asses, that I may run to the man of God, and come again.
And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well."
2 Kings 4:20-23


Another great story of faith and determination. This woman, who had been blessed by the prophet with a child, knew without a doubt that the prophet could also save him, even after death, and she went out to make it happen. How many times in our lives do we give in to hopelessness and/or despair rather than turning to God? It's always God's will and God's timing, and we can't just demand that God do things our way... but as we learn in Matthew 7:9-11, God *wants* to bless us, and he won't give us stones and serpents in place of bread and fish. He will either give us what we ask, or he will have a better plan, and will help and comfort us if we have to wait for something better. Today, let's be strong and faithful, and go to the Lord with our problems and the desires of our hearts. He will hear us, and help us, as we listen and take his advice to heart.

2 Kings 3:10-12 -- On Turning to, and Trusting in, the Lord

"And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!
But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord, that we may inquire of the Lord by him? And one of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the Lord is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him."
2 Kings 3:10-12


Another excellent reminder that when we can't figure out what to do on our own, it is time to turn to the Lord, and listen to the prophets. Here, the Lord found water for them and their armies and cattle, and also gave them victory on the battlefield. I don't think that the principle is confined to the story though. This can also work in our own lives. When we feel like we are going to fail, and we can't see a way forward, God is always there to help us. He will know the answers... it might not always be the way we wanted or expected. Maybe we'll have to go around an obstacle rather than through it, change our plans, or turn the obstacle into a friend. :) But God can help us to know what to do and where to go... and if we listen and follow his advice, things will be better than they were before. And that principle works, and will work, until the perfect day when we don't need things to get better, because there are no improvements to be made (which is far future stuff, but worth looking forward to). :) Today, let's turn to the Lord, and trust in his help.

Luke 18:9-14 -- On Humility and Recognizing the Good in Others

"And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
Luke 18:9-14


This is a good reminder that we shouldn't look down on others and consider ourselves superior, or despise others. Learning to love others can be really tough in some cases, but acknowledging our faults before God and asking for help is a much better strategy for self-improvement and progression than stepping on other people. Today, let's step back and think about any people, or groups, that we despise or feel superior to, and let's consider their perspective. Let's also ask God to help us see others as he does and be aware of their goodness and all that they have to teach us. If we're sincere, a little humility will get us closer to heaven than any amound of pride.

2 Kings 2:19-21 -- On Solutions From the Lord

"And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.
And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.
And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land."
2 Kings 2:19-21


I like the idea here of going to God and his prophets when we have a problem to solve that we don't know how to address. That's what we should do. If we know how to solve it, we can also go to God for courage and strength to do what needs to be done... that can also be its own kind of miracle, getting us through our own resistance or fear. But when we have no idea what to do, God still has answers for us, and often is the only one who can help. Today, as we encounter any obstacles or problems, let's pray. God can help us with anything, whether we understand the problem completely or not. Let's be open to God's suggestions and influence in our lives, and put him first. As we do, everything else will come that is God's will, and the things that aren't will be easier to release.