Abram's father remained behind in Haran, instead of continuing on to their destination in Canaan. The Jaredites paused their journey for four years and stopped seeking heavenly guidance. Don't confuse comfort for completion. We can be grateful for joyful waystations, but we need to keep moving forward.
Decoys
Multiple times, Nephite armies recaptured cities by luring Lamanite armies out where they were more vulnerable. We can learn from these stories. Don't allow low-priority goals to distract you from your main mission. Stay focused on what matters most.
Developing Christlike Attributes
Peter listed a number of attributes that we should strive to develop with God's help: faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. The Book of Mormon provides insight into each of these Christlike attributes.
Mustard Seeds and Time Management
Jesus and Alma both emphasized that a tree begins as a very small seed. The practical application of this principle is simple: focus every day on making small contributions to big goals. The cumulative effect of those efforts can be extraordinary.
Wisdom, Stature, Favor with God and Man
Luke's description of the growth of young Jesus provides a useful organizing principle for our goals and preparation throughout our lives. At the beginning of a new year, setting goals in these four domains—spiritual, social, physical, and intellectual—can help us find balance in our lives.
Repentance and Resolutions
January is a good time to repent. Setting resolutions can be part of a pattern of change which can lead to incremental improvement throughout the year. Here are some of my resolutions for 2023.
“Greater Things Above Them”
God taught Abraham a way to think about progression. If two celestial bodies exist, He said, and one moves more slowly than the other, there is probably a third one that moves more slowly still (Abraham 3:6-8). If two people exist, one more skilled than another, there is probably a third who is more skilled... Continue Reading →
An Effectual Door
In his first epistle to the Corinthian saints, Paul promises to spend some time with them in the future, but not right away. "I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost," he says. "For a great door and effectual is opened unto me" (1 Corinthians 16:9). The word effectual means "successful in producing a desired or... Continue Reading →
Innovation Lessons from the Allegory of the Olive Tree – Jacob 5
As I listened to Jacob 5 this morning, it occurred to me that Zenos's allegory of the olive tree teaches us how to innovate successfully. Here are some of the principles I noticed: Don't expect your first idea to work. In the allegory, the master of the vineyard sees an olive tree beginning to decay... Continue Reading →
A New Star Did Appear – 3 Nephi 1:21
21 And it came to pass also that a new star did appear, according to the word. (3 Nephi 1:21) Five years before the birth of Jesus Christ, Samuel the Lamanite prophesied of His birth and described a number of unmistakeable signs that would mark the time of His birth and His death. The signs... Continue Reading →