Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 121:45-46

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 121:45-46

"Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy specter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever."

The first part of this chapter just makes me weep. The Prophet Joseph Smith and several companions have been held in prison at the Liberty Jail for several months.  Not only is he and his companions suffering, but he is powerless to help the saints being persecuted, driven and killed by the mobs. I can just hear the prophet's mournful cry "O God, where art thou?"

Then the Lord speaks "My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;" When I sit and think upon this it is so true. In the scheme of the eternities all that I go through on this earth, is just a brief moment. How I learn to rely on the Lord here, echoes for the eternities.

The Lord tells him what will happen to those that fight against God and his saints. I would not want to be in their shoes. Yet, I see in his warning things that I have needed to be careful of, and still do. I do love how the Lord gives the prophet not only comfort and peace, but hope of what is to come. He tells them how to rise above their enemies with charity, the pure love of Christ. He promises the Holy Ghost as a constant companion.

Would not the Spirit and the peace it brings, especially in our trials and grief, be exactly what the saints needed at this time? Showing charity in the midst of our afflictions, brings back the humanity in our lives. It refines us and we can rise above what is going on around us. It turns our heart to God and brings a peace and protection that nothing else can. Our world needs more charity. I need more charity.

Day 540