The Lord advised the early Saints to offer prayers of "praise and thanksgiving." Thanksgiving is informed joy, with an awareness of its source. Praise is generalized gratitude, directed to the Giver of joy. The two are complementary. We can thank God for specific blessings and acknowledge Him as the ultimate Giver of all good gifts.
Acceptable Offerings
When we serve God diligently, our offering is acceptable even when circumstances prevent us from achieving all we hope for. The Saints in Missouri could not establish Zion, and Alma’s people did not remain free in Helam, yet God accepted their sincere efforts and blessed them for the faithfulness of their hearts.
Cheerfully
How can we calibrate our efforts in God's work? Joseph Smith wrote that we should "cheerfully do all things that lie in our power." Maybe "cheerfully" is the key. When our efforts are so intense that we feel miserable, we may need to simplify, trust God, and more fully experience the joy of gospel service.
In Haste / Not in Haste
In 1831, the Lord instructed church leaders to do some things "in haste" and other things "not in haste." There are some circumstances where we need to be in a hurry and others where we need to move more slowly. We should monitor and manage our velocity to match the needs of the moment.
How the Savior Succors Us
The author of Hebrews and Alma both emphasized that Jesus lived as a normal human, subject to all of our afflictions and temptations so that He would know how to succor us. To "succor" is to run to help someone in distress.
The Immediate Goodness of God
Both Limhi and Alma learned by experience that God can deliver us from the challenges we face. They also learned that that He will provide immediate blessings and strength to help us endure the challenge until the deliverance comes.
Captivity and Deliverance: Limhi and Alma
Both Alma's and Limhi's people fell captive to the Lamanites and were both delivered by God. From their examples, we can learn to pray humbly, to recognize the blessings God provides immediately, and to look forward to the deliverance He will provide.
Bearing Burdens
Three lessons about carrying burdens from Alma's people and Limhi's people: 1. Burdens are lighter when we carry them together. 2. Sometimes, we need to accept our burdens gracefully. 3. A burden can be a blessing.
Prisoners of Hope
Captivity does not imply hopelessness. The prophet Zechariah proclaimed to his people, who had only recently been delivered from bondage, "Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope." Then, he added a promise from the Lord: "even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee" (Zechariah 9:12). When Alma and his people were in bondage,... Continue Reading →
Cast Thy Burden Upon the Lord
Based on: Psalm 55 Core message: God will ease our burdens as we draw nearer to Him. Even if He doesn't take them away, He can make them seem light. Related Book of Mormon passages: Mosiah 24:14-15, Alma 33:23