Segullah

God loved the children of Israel. He had heard their cries and had delivered them from slavery in Egypt. (See Exodus 3:7-8.) At Mount Sinai, after reminding them of all that He had done for them, He explained what kind of behavior would please Him:

Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me.

Exodus 19:4-5

The Hebrew word segullah (סְגֻלָּה) doesn’t have an English equivalent. It refers to a valued possession, something that is important to you. In the passage above, the King James translators rendered it as “peculiar treasure.” Other translations say “treasured possession,” “special treasure,” or “my very own people.”

God loves all of His children, and He is delighted when He sees us grow and progress. He finds joy in helping us achieve our full potential.

King Benjamin reminded his people of the “blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God.” They not only receive great blessings in this life, but they will be “received into heaven” to “dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness” (Mosiah 2:41). They will be happy, and He will be happy. They will be His particular treasure.

President Nelson recently taught, “The Savior loves us always but especially when we repent” (“The Power of Spiritual Momentum,” General Conference, April 2022). I would paraphrase this principle in this way: The Savior always wants us to be happy, and He is delighted when we make the decisions that lead us to greater happiness.

Today, I will be grateful for the opportunity to become God’s segullah, His “peculiar treasure.” I will strive to obey Him and to stay true to my covenants with Him so that I can continually grow closer to achieving this goal.