Building People

Look for what God is all about.

 And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.

Doctrine & Covenants 50:23

So God has nothing to do with anything that does not edify. But what does edify mean?  The word come from Latin and it means “to build”.  It is where the Spanish words “edificio” (a building) and edificar (to build) come from.  Or the English word for a building, “edifice”, comes from.  

So God is all about building.  Most of all He is about building people. Any feeling that is tearing you down or discouraging you is not from God. The Lord just doesn't work that way. He is a builder.

It should be the same with us.  We live in a world where people love to tear others down as a joke or an insult. It takes no great skill to be able to tear down things or people.  But have you ever known a builder?  Someone who built you up and made you want to strive for the best when you were around them? They complimented, encouraged, and cheered you on? Those are the kind of people we love, and should strive to be like.

Today’s Recharge: Think of ways that you can be a better builder of those around you: spouse, children, associates. Make some specific plans for today on how you can build up someone close to you. Likewise, is there a pattern of tearing others down in your life? Make plans to replace the demolition work with the work of building.