Pitch Your Tent Toward the Temple

I have made it a practice to read the scriptures daily for many years. Today's reading in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ inspired the following thoughts.

When King Benjamin’s people gathered to hear him speak, “They pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple” (Mosiah 2:6). On the other hand, “Lot . . . pitched his tent toward Sodom” (Genesis 13:12). A few verses later we read, “Lot . . . dwelt in Sodom” (Genesis 14:12). President Russell M. Nelson said, "Everything we do in the Church--every meeting, activity, lesson, and service--is to prepare each of us to come to the temple and kneel at the altar to receive all the Father’s promised blessings for eternity" (Russell M. Nelson, cited by Kent F. Richards in "The Power of Godliness," Ensign, May 2016). 

Which way do we have our figurative tents pitched? Are we focused on the temple in which the richest blessings of eternity are provided? Or are we focused on the things of the world, which are temporary. It is easy to fall into the trap of seeking short term rewards, only to surrender the richest blessings of eternity. 

We must refuse to let things of greatest importance suffer at the hands of those that should matter least.

As you seek peace in your daily life, I commend to you reading daily in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Prayerfully reading this divine book will draw you nearer to Jesus Christ than any other book. As a companion scripture to the Bible, it will bring you peace and a nearness to the Savior that will bless your daily life with strength through trials and peace in troubled times.

You can read the Book of Mormon online at: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/title-page?lang=eng 

To receive a free physical copy go to: churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/requests/free-book-of-mormon

Here is a link to the Book of Mormon app on iOS and Android: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/mobile-applications/book-of-mormon-app?lang=eng

Optimism--An Expression of Faith

Photograph from Getty Images.

https://www.lds.org/new-era/2018/02/how-you-talk-to-yourself-matters?lang=eng

I love this article. It teaches us a powerful lesson about the effect our attitudes have on our ability to accomplish worthwhile goals life and in eternity.

For me optimism (having a positive attitude) is an expression of our faith in Jesus Christ. It is the attitude of Ammon, who said “In [God’s] strength I can do all things” (Alma 26:12), and of the Apostle Paul, who said “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

Armed with faith in Jesus Christ we can lay claim to an abiding faith in ourselves.  As we do our best and call upon Him for strength, through prayer, we can accomplish any worthy goal we set our hearts to.

I know this is true as I know that Jesus is the Christ, the Living Son of the Living God, the Savior and Redeemer of the World.

As you seek peace in your daily life, I commend to you reading daily in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Prayerfully reading this divine book will draw you nearer to Jesus Christ than any other book. As a companion scripture to the Bible, it will bring you peace and a nearness to the Savior that will bless your daily life with strength through trial and peace in troubled times. Here is a link to obtain a free copy of this book: churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/requests/free-book-of-mormon

Willingly Accept Correction

We have a clock that we purchased while living in Holland in 1977-78. Because of the chime it makes at the hour, it is called a bim bam clock. As with any mechanical clock, it doesn’t keep precise time and needs periodic correction. So, I make an adjustment every day or two, to keep it close to the correct time.

As I thought about this ritual, the thought came to me that we can each receive daily corrections from the Spirit to help us, if we will listen for and follow them. Elder D. Todd Christofferson said, "If we are to meet our Heavenly Father's high expectations [we should] willingly . . . accept and even seek correction" ("As Many as I Love, I Rebuke and Chasten," Ensign, May 2011). The Lord said to Joseph Smith, "Thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven" (Doctrine and Covenants 95:1).

All of us make deviations from God’s will and need to be corrected to stay on the path back to God’s presence. I pray for the sensitivity to hear and feel these corrections and the courage to follow them. I invite all who read these words to join me in this quest. I know that with each correction comes the promise of help as we prayerfully do our best to make the needed changes. The rewards that await are beyond our imagining.

As you seek peace in your daily life, I commend to you reading daily in the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Prayerfully reading this divine book will draw you nearer to Jesus Christ than any other book. As a companion scripture to the Bible, it will bring you peace and a nearness to the Savior that will bless your daily life with strength through trials and peace in troubled times.

You can read the Book of Mormon online at: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/title-page?lang=eng 

To receive a free physical copy go to: churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/requests/free-book-of-mormon

Here is a link to the Book of Mormon app on iOS and Android: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/mobile-applications/book-of-mormon-app?lang=eng