Principles about words in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes: 1. Words have great power to heal and to harm. 2. Lying and flattery are destructive. 3. Words can inflame or extinguish contention. 4. We are accountable for our words.
Temple Psalms
Yesterday was my last day serving as a temple worker in the Columbia, South Carolina temple. I've never had a bad day serving in the temple, and several psalms verbalize well the joy I feel in the house of the Lord, particularly psalms 23, 24, 84, and 100.
Psalms 21-30
21. The King Trusteth in the Lord 22. Why Hast Thou Forsaken Me? 23. The Lord Is My Shepherd 24. Who Shall Ascend? 25. Teach Me Thy Paths 26. Examine Me 27. The Lord Is My Light 28. My Strength and My Shield 29. The Voice of the Lord 30. Joy Cometh in the Morning
Remember Me, O My God
Nehemiah corrected his people when they failed to follow God's commandments, sometimes harshly. Afterward, he pleaded with God to approve of his efforts. He might have been wise to seek God's guidance about how to encourage obedience, as Alma did when he faced transgression within the church.
Will God Indeed Dwell on the Earth?
Solomon asked the searching question at the dedication of the temple, "Will God indeed dwell on earth?" The Book of Mormon provides a definitive answer when the resurrected Savior Jesus Christ visits a group of believers gathered at the temple in the land of Bountiful.
“Speak, Lord”
Samuel heard God calling his name multiple times but only received the message when Eli taught him how to respond. In the Book of Mormon, a group of Lamanites and a group of Nephites had similar experiences, hearing multiple times from God but only responding appropriately the final time.
Bitter
Disciples of Christ absorb bitterness. Imagine the impact as people experience suffering without passing it along and without letting it define them! Like the maror in the Seder service preceding the Paschal lamb, our suffering can turn our hearts to Christ, who can replace the bitterness with exquisite joy.
Into Thy Hands
The Atonement of Jesus Christ is not only the mechanism through which He saves us but also emblematic of the process by which we receive that salvation. As He suffered on our behalf, He quoted from a psalm, reaffirming His commitment to submit fully to the will of His Father.
Drawn from Water
Moses's name means "drawn from the water" — a name given him by Pharaoh's daughter, who pulled him from the river. He later fulfilled the promise of the name, leading Israel through the Red Sea. At baptism, we are also drawn from water, symbolizing God's ability to lift us from the trials which inundate us.
“God Meant It Unto Good”
The reconciliation of Jacob's family is a powerful example of how ruptures can be healed and peace restored. At the end of his life, Jacob found joy in being with his children and grandchildren. Upon his death, he was gathered in burial with other family members: his parents, his grandparents, and his wife Leah.