Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 42:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 42:1

"And now, my son, I perceive there is somewhat more which doth worry your mind, which ye cannot understand - which is concerning the justice of God in the punishment of the sinner; for ye do try to suppose that it is injustice that the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery."

This chapter explains the demands of justice and the role of mercy in the plan of salvation. It is very compelling. But, I had to come back to this first verse of what Corianton's issue was. It sounds like he thought people should be saved in their sins. They would make it back home to their God without every repenting or having a need for a Savior.

As I pondered on this I thought of giving good gifts to our children. We may know we have something precious for them but the child wants to go in another direction. His eye is on a different course. I know you cannot serve two masters at one time. You will love the one and hate the other. Would a gift be good for a person if you made them go on a course different than the one they wanted? If I owned a beautiful ranch and wanted my child to inherit it and they wanted instead to be a coal miner, how would forcing them the reward I wanted be a good gift any more?

So I'm thinking that another area of mercy is letting a child follow what they want to follow, even if we know its a really bad idea. Forcing someone to say above ground when they wanted to be beneath it would never make them happy above ground no matter how hard they tried. After they follow their whim they may see that darkness doesn't bring light and come back, or they might just seek more darkness.

The plan of salvation gives us our free agency. There are rules and laws to follow to gain exaltation. God in the end will give me only what I have been seeking after. If I am headed to misery or to joy that will be my final destination. Though thankfully there are hints along the way of what the outcome will be, and opportunities to turn back the other way. I guess the whole point is I need to really think about what direction I am are heading in any action that I take, for that is where I will end up. It doesn't matter how deep I am in the path, its the direction I am headed that counts.

Day 316 Tami Fitzgerald Harris

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 41:4-5

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 41:4-5

"And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame - mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption - raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other -

The one raised to happiness according to his desire of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh."

I love this chapter it is confirming more on what I pondered yesterday and answering my gospel question. There is a kingdom of God and a kingdom of the devil two separate places. Yet within them are degrees of glory determined by our desires for happiness. That really fits with the known degrees of glory in God's kingdoms - Telestial (stars), Terrestrial (moon), and Celestial (sun). It would be against the laws of God to let any unclean thing into his kingdom so there has to be another kingdom for those that have never wanted to live his laws.

Then I see that we are raised with the same desire to do good and have happiness as we lived in this life. We do not all have the same desires. The only thing I pondered on was how sad it will be for those that don't try for the highest kingdom, because they could find themselves in no kingdom of God at all. I just don't think it possible to say I don't want God's highest kingdom because I want to sin a little and not do all that is asked. I have to aim for the highest and know where I end is exactly as I have reached for.

Day 315 Tami Fitzgerald Harris

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 40:21

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 40:21

"But whether it be at his resurrection or after, I do not say; but this much I say, that there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works."

I have had a gospel question on my mind. In fact in a recent family scripture reading I told them what I had been pondering on. I was trying to figure out how the scriptures were clear that there is a division between the righteous and wicked at death and where they go. But I also knew there were degrees of glory - Telestial (stars), Terrestrial (moon), and Celestial (sun). I couldn't figure out who went where. I wasn't doubting my faith just pondering on it. I knew the answer would come when I was ready. This chapter answered it for me.

I see it now, it has to do with the space of time between death and resurrection. At death the righteous and wicked are separated. I know that's true for I visited there in my near-death experience. The degree of glory that separate us further comes after my body is once again restored through resurrection, to my soul. As I ponder on this it makes sense that I could not fully enjoy a degree of glory unless I had my glorified body once again. I love it when I see the spirit giving me questions to ponder on for my learning, and then I read the very answer in my daily scripture study. There is more that I pondered on, but I will leave it at that. I so love the harmony and consistency in the gospel.

Day 314 Tami Fitzgerald Harris

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 39:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 39:8

"But behold, ye cannot hide your crimes from God; and except ye repent they will stand as a testimony against you at the last day."

What this verse made me ponder on is that its basically saying if you do want to "hide" your crimes from God - then repent. It is only through repentance that are sins will be remembered no more. They will not stand as a testimony against us at that final judgment seat. To not repent they will all be exposed. What an amazing gift to stand clean before the Lord because I washed my sins away in the blood of the Lamb. The thought of how much I owe the Lord makes me weep.

Day 313 Tami Fitzgerald Harris