Today's Favorite Verse: John 1:9, 33-34 "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God."
I pondered on how everyone born on this earth received this light, the light of Christ, to guide them in their life. Man knows right from wrong inside his soul. They cannot deny this, even if they do not have any faith or religion. Those that do come to know Christ and are baptize will receive more, the gift of the Holy Ghost. To be their constant companion if they live worthy to receive it.
Today's Favorite Verse: Moses 2:3-4 "And I, God, said: Let there be light; and there was light. And I, God, saw the light; and that light was good. And I, God, divided the light from the darkness."
I pondered on how simple a verse it is to say "Let there be light", and there was. As if the creation of light was like flicking a light switch on. I thought about how light is the first condition needed to commence a project or work. God was creating a world, a place for man to dwell, and we needed light. Looking at the footnotes on light it took me to the source and power of that light.
"He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth; Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made. As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made; As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made; And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand. And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings; Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space— The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things." (Doctrine and Covenants 88:6-13)
This made me ponder on how important it is to seek this light before undertaking the work that needs to be done. How important it is to seek God in prayer when I start my day and in the evening when I end it. This light of Christ will guide me in what I need to do.
Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 42:18 "Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man."
I pondered on the role of our conscience. At a very basic level everyone knows right from wrong. Their conscience is there to prick them. Though some may never hear the gospel in this life they will be judged on their ability to do what is right or not. We have a moral compass, the light of Christ within us.
“All of us sometime, and some of us much of the time, suffer remorse of conscience from things we did wrong or things left undone. That feeling of guilt is to the spirit what pain is to the physical body. … “We all make mistakes. Sometimes we harm ourselves and seriously injure others in ways that we alone cannot repair. We break things that we alone cannot fix. It is then in our nature to feel guilt and humiliation and suffering, which we alone cannot cure. That is when the healing power of the Atonement will help. “The Lord said, ‘Behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent [D&C 19:16]” (Boyd K. Packer, "The Touch of the Master's Hand", Apr 2001 General Conference) (Book of Mormon Student Manual, "Chapter 32:Alma 40-42)
"Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance."
I pondered on walking "in the light of [His] countenance". It would seem where one was walking would be important. As I reflect on this I thought of missionary work and conversion. How through the light of Christ one recognizes the truthfulness of the gospel when they hear it. That would be such a joyful sound. They are walking on the covenant path with the spirit as their guide. Then I thought of how that is not a one time thing. We need to feel the joy of our conversion over and over again, as we stay on covenant path and #HearHim.
"But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.
Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment."
Everyone born to this earth is given the light of Christ to know right from wrong.
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal."
(1 Corinthians 12:7)
With this we still have our agency and can choose to be unwise. I have always loved to be around older people and learn from them. I had been taught to respect my elders and that they knew more than me. It wasn't until I was probably in my thirties that I shockingly realized some adults were not all wise and knowing and lacked understanding or judgment. They appeared stunted in their growth and did foolish things. That was so disappointing and heartbreaking to me. Once realizing this I vowed to not be that type of example to others. I have taken this verse to heart.
"The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."
"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 Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David."
I think Saul is insane. He wants to kill David, and he says the reason is Jonathan's kingdom would never be established if David was alive. Then he throws a javelin at Jonathan. If Saul had hit his target wouldn't he be guilty of stopping Jonathan's kingdom from being established? What this shows me is that once the Spirit of the Lord has withdrawn from a person, rational thought has also fled. There is no reasoning with Saul. It made me ponder on the behaviors I am seeing in people today. I have wondered how people can behave so badly, especially when cameras are recording them, yet they have no self control to monitor their actions. It shows that the light of Christ has dimmed to the point it's extinguished inside of them. They have lost the moral compass to guide them.
"And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:"
Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dream and then tells him how to prepare for the coming famine. I pondered on how Pharaoh and his servants all had the spirit bare witness to them that the words of Joseph were true. That they were able to recognize the Spirit of God was with him. Everyone is born with the light of Christ within them to have these moments. Joseph had been prepared in advance for leadership roles. He rises in Potiphar's household, in prison he is the keeper of the prison. Not only did Joseph live his life to have the spirit to be with him, all that he did while in bondage spoke of his character. I reflected on how important our character is in opening that door, for our words spoken by the spirit to be believed.
Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 14:30
"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."
This made me ponder on the light of Christ, free agency, and consequences of our choices. At some point we have to be honest with ourselves and accept responsibility for our actions. Free agency is given but we alone must face the consequences of those choices. Lying to ourselves, placing blame on others, won't remove us from our guilt. The biggest lie in that case is to ourselves, thinking it somehow did. It really is quite a blessing to be able to acknowledge our faults, and to be able to repent of them and grow, instead of when we stand before the Lord where lying just won't work. No matter what anyone else around us has done, or taught us, in the end the decision is ours alone to make. The light of Christ is a gift given to all which tell us right from wrong. That is having knowledge. We alone are held accountable for our choices.
"Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; and the righteous shall have perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness."
(2 Nephi 9:14)
Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 18:5, 24-28
"Now this was the tradition of Lamoni, which he had received from his father, that there was a Great Spirit. Notwithstanding they believed in a Great Spirit, they supposed that whatsoever they did was right; nevertheless, Lamoni began to fear exceedingly, with fear lest he had done wrong in slaying his servants;
And Ammon began to speak unto him with boldness, and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God?
And he answered, and said unto him: I do not know what that meaneth.
And then Ammon said: Believest thou that there is a Great Spirit?
And he said, Yea.
And Ammon said: This is God. And Ammon said unto him again: Believest thou that this Great Spirit, who is God, created all things which are in Heaven and in the earth?"
I noticed in the first verse that king Lamoni believed in a Great Spirit but supposed whatever they did was right. Yet, now he fears thinking Ammon is the Great Spirit and that he had done wrong slaying his servants. I could see this as the light of Christ already working on king Lamoni. For the light of Christ will always testify of truth and by it man will always know right from wrong. It was making him receptive to hearing the message that Ammon would give and to feel the Holy Ghost as he speaks.
Then Ammon says the Great Spirit is God, which technically isn't true. For God does not believe that whatever we do is right. Ammon sets a wonderful teaching example. He taught Lamoni based on the knowledge he already had of a Supreme Being. He used that as common belief in the creator of the earth to then teach eternal truth. He did not destroy the knowledge Lamoni already had, but instead added to it. That is the invitation we need to extend to others.
In the words of President Gordon B. Hinckley.
"We say in a spirit of love, bring with you all that you have of good and truth which you have received from whatever source, and come and let us see if we may add to it. This invitation I extend to men and woman everywhere with my solemn testimony that this work is true, for I know the truth of it by the power of the Holy Ghost."
(President Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Marvelous Foundation of Our Faith", Oct 2002 General Conference)
