Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 18:8-9, 12, 14

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 18:8-9, 12, 14

And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

And Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with him, and was departed from Saul.

And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him.

The downfall of Saul is pride, his inner peace is destroyed, and in turn he seeks to destroy David. He's eyeing him and trying to set him up. He sends him on an impossible mission to fight the Philistines because he wants him dead. It's interesting that as you seek to destroy someone else, you only destroy yourself. In this chapter is says four times that David behaved himself wisely. As I read this I thought of how the light of Christ guided his actions. I think of someone that acts wisely as someone that models their life after Christ, and has inner peace. This also made me think about how we need to become the peacemakers, and not the ones full of contention. This is how we invite others to partake of the light of Christ in their lives.

"Notwithstanding this vision of the millennial reign, we know that world peace and harmony are not prevalent in our day. In my lifetime, I have never seen a greater lack of civility. We are bombarded with angry, contentious language and provocative, devastating actions that destroy peace and tranquility.

Peace in the world is not promised or assured until the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The Savior instructed His Apostles that His earthly mission would not achieve universal peace. He taught, “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth.” Universal peace was not part of the Savior’s initial mortal ministry. Universal peace does not exist today.

However, personal peace can be achieved despite the anger, contention, and division that blight and corrupt our world today. It has never been more important to seek personal peace.

Agency was a principal issue in the premortal Council in Heaven and the conflict between those who chose to follow Christ and the followers of Satan. Letting go of pride and control and choosing the Savior would allow us to have His light and His peace. But personal peace would be challenged when people exercised their agency in harmful and hurtful ways.

The Savior can provide protection and peace to guide you ultimately to safety and shelter from life’s storms."

(Elder Quentin L. Cook, "Personal Peace in Challenging Times", Oct 2021 General Conference)

Day 2413