The hymn "A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief" elaborates on the types of service described in the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats. As we serve others and meet their needs, we are blessed immediately, and we become more prepared to return to God's presence.
Servant Leadership
Jesus taught that leaders in God's kingdom do not place themselves above others. They focus on serving and ministering to those they lead. In the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin and Ammon demonstrated this kind of leadership.
The Zeal of Thine House
Jesus felt strongly about treating the temple with reverence. When He drove out the moneychangers, His apostles remembered the words of David, "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." Our reverence for the temple reflects our reverence for God.
“Exact No More…”
John the Baptist answered the same question asked by three groups of people: "What shall we do." All three of his answers are based on the same underlying principle, a principle which King Benjamin also exemplified and taught: Don't take more than you should. Discipline yourself to not abuse the power you have.
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.
“Consider Your Ways”
Sometimes we spend a lot of time and energy on activities which are not aligned with our goals and priorities. We can reduce that waste with a little self-reflection and self-discipline. "Consider your ways," said the prophet Haggai to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. "Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough;... Continue Reading →
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 →
Incline Your Ear
In the 55th chapter of Isaiah, we receive important instructions about listening to messages from God: "Incline your ear, and come unto me," He says, "hear, and your soul shall live" (Isaiah 55:3). Listening requires intentional effort. We need to eliminate distractions and focus our attention on His words. "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found," says... Continue Reading →
“Thou Art My Servant”
To be a servant of God is a great honor. King Benjamin reported to his people that God had preserved him so that he could serve them. Then, he added, "Because I said unto you that I had spent my days in your service, I do not desire to boast, for I have only been... Continue Reading →
How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling-place
Based on: Psalm 84 Core message: Holy places on earth can prepare us to return to God's presence. Related Book of Mormon passage: Mosiah 2:41
Book of Mormon Study Notes 