1. God is merciful. 2. He extends "arms of mercy" toward us. 3. The Savior's bowels are filled with mercy because of what He suffered. 4. He earned the right to offer us mercy. We claim that mercy by repenting. 5. Mercy is central to God's plan for us.
“Wise in Their Own Eyes”
Isaiah said, "Wo unto the wise in their own eyes." God wants us to be wise, but it's apparently dangerous to think we're wise. This is probably because a fundamental characteristic of wisdom is a willingness to listen and learn, particularly from God.
To Day
David said that our deadline to repent is "today." So did Paul, Jacob, Alma, and Amulek. Paul explains that the deadline of "today" applies to us. President Nelson added that we should repent every day, because repentance is not an event. It's a process.
Beseeching
In Paul's epistle to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus, he uses the word "beseech" instead of "enjoin." This word conveys his depth of feeling about the request while also showing appropriate respect for Philemon's agency.
Think Celestial!
Paul urged the Colossians to prioritize heavenly goals over earthly desires. This message is echoed in the teachings of Jesus and the Book of Mormon. President Russell M. Nelson has invited us to "think celestial," framing decisions in an eternal context.
The Cornerstone
Jesus Christ is our cornerstone, our sure foundation. If we center our lives on Him, we will be well-supported. But even if we reject Him, all is not lost. He is patient and merciful and ready to be our foundation as soon as we are ready to accept Him.
God Gave Them Knowledge
It's tempting to think of physical health, mental/emotional health, and spiritual health as separate categories of well-being, with separate practices required to maintain each. But we know it's not that simple. All of those categories of health are interconnected. For example, it may be impossible to hear the voice of the Spirit, which speaks to... Continue Reading →
Why Will Ye Die?
The Lord assured the prophet Ezekiel that He wants what is best for His children. "As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live." As Elder D. Todd Christofferson has affirmed, "Far from being anxious to condemn, our Heavenly Father and our Savior... Continue Reading →
Joshua and the Book of Mormon
This week, I reviewed the book of Joshua, summarizing the content of each chapter and identifying related Book of Mormon passages. The book can be divided into four parts: The children of Israel prepare to enter the promised land (chapters 1-5)With divine intervention, they conquer various cities in the land of Canaan (chapters 6-12)Land is... Continue Reading →
Hardened Hearts
Why would the leader of a nation continue to pursue a harmful course of action in the face of increasing punishments? I'm not talking about Vladimir Putin's ongoing invasion of Ukraine in spite of severe international sanctions; I'm talking about Pharaoh's unwillingness to let the Israelites go free while his country was pummeled by plagues.... Continue Reading →