"Private" Sins

Look for something that could be very embarrassing and heartbreaking.

3 And the rebellious shall be pierced with much sorrow; for their iniquities shall be spoken upon the housetops, and their secret acts shall be revealed.

Doctrine & Covenants 1:3

I love it when a lesson can be boiled down to 5 words or less. In my margin I've written: Private Sins Won’t Remain Private!  Do you have any private sins you are hiding?  They will not remain that way. Would you be embarrassed to have a family member see what you look at, watch or say online? Is your relationships with colleagues and friends that might be appropriate? Do you live with integrity even when others aren't looking? Sin always gets out.  Whether in this life or when the Lord returns, it will get out.  They best we can do is D&C 58:42-43 where we confess and forsake so that the Lord remembers them no more.

Today’s Recharge: Is there any sins you are trying to hide from others? Repent so God remembers it no more. Confess and do everything you can to forsake it now. 

Trying to "Always Remember Him"

36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.

Doctrine & Covenants 6:36

Over the years, I've had my share of getting dental work done. But I am always impressed with the dental assistants. As the dentist is doing the various things, I am amazed how the assistant will anticipate the desires of the dentist. They will often see the need and fulfill it without ever having to be asked. They will often already be handing the dentist the next tool with the slightest indication. Their whole focus is anticipating and servicing the needs of the dentist.

That is how we should be with the Savior. Every week when taking the Sacrament, we recommit ourselves to “always remember him”. We are commanded to look unto the Lord in every thought.  Perhaps this means to have Him in our thoughts and what He would have us do like the dental assistant would for the dentist.  We always remember Him so we can do His will all around us with the people around us. 

Today’s Takeaway: This week as you try to “always remember him”, consider what the Lord wants you to do for him around you.  Whose lives does He want you to touch with His hands and your hands?  

The Power of a Mentor

Look for the duty of a person who is spiritually strong.

106 And if any man among you be strong in the Spirit, let him take with him him that is weak, that he may be edified in all meekness, that he may become strong also.

Doctrine & Covenants 84:106

You can think of this verse as about being a mentor, or having a mentor in life. A mentor is someone you admire and would like to be more like. When someone becomes your mentor, they become a guide, tutor, supporter, and counselor for you.  Like the verse says, they are someone who edifies (builds up) in meekness. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have a responsibility to take with us those who are weak and help build them up in a nurturing relationship.

Today’s Takeaway: Do you have any mentors in life, whether formally, or informally? If not, seek one. Make a list of those you know who you deeply admire in different areas. Seek to learn from them. Are you a mentor to anyone?  Is there anyone that you are striving to help along in their journey through life? It is easy to feel unworthy or incapable of being a mentor to someone, but you are probably more able than you think.  

"I've got a better idea... than God"

Try to recall the Old Testament story referred to in this verse.

 8 While that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning.

Doctrine & Covenants 85:8

Poor Uzzah. Here is the sad story about how thinking we know better than God, can lead to death. In 2 Samual 6:1-8, the Ark of the Covenant was being moved to a new location. Although Numbers 7:6-9 clearly says to carry, and not use a wagon, to transport the Ark, someone thought that it would be much more efficient and logical to use a cart. Then when the oxen were on some unsteady ground, the cart began to rock and Uzzah put his hand on the Ark to steady it.  Numbers 1:51 also clearly states that only certain Levites could ever touch the Ark, or death would come.  But Uzzah didn’t want the Ark to fall out of the cart; surely this would be a good time to make an exception to the commandment. But God smote Uzzah dead on the spot. 

So what is the lesson for us? Have you ever felt like you had a good logical reason, which made it OK to disobey God. “But this is different.” “Yeah, but this is for the greater good.” Willful disobedience to God might not bring immediate death, but over time it often brings spiritual death.

Today’s Takeaway: Consider if there is a standard or commandment God has given where you have decided it is OK to make yourself an exception.  Is there an area you are compromising “for the greater good”?  Trust God enough to know He will support us and take care of things if we will be faithful.  

Lift Where You Stand

Look for where the Lord wants us to help others.

 5 Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.

Doctrine & Covenants 81:5

 The Lord has given each of us offices, callings or responsibilities where we are to stand and make a difference.  As a member of a family, spouse, or parent, you have wonderful things to do to bless their lives. Are you a Home or Visiting Teacher? Do you have other Church callings? In those areas you have people that you can bless.  Don’t wait or think, “Well if I had his calling, then I would do more.”

In the October 2008 Priesthood session, President Uchtdorf shared the story of priesthood brethren being asked to move a very heavy piano. After trying many ideas, finally one brother suggested, “Brethren, stand close together and lift where you stand.” President Uchtdorf went on to say, “It seemed too simple. Nevertheless, each lifted where he stood, and the piano rose from the ground and moved into the cultural hall as if on its own power. That was the answer to the challenge. They merely needed to stand close together and lift where they stood.”

Today’s Takeaway: Right now there are so many that need the help we can give them. Consider how God wants you to help members of your family. How does He want you to bless the lives of those you Home or Visit teach?  Who are you to bless through your current church calling? Are you at least praying for those people?  Stand close to those you are to work with, and start blessing lives where you stand.  

Time, Talents, and Treasure

Look for what the “Lord’s storehouse” is.

18 And all this for the benefit of the church of the living God, that every man may improve upon his talent, that every man may gain other talents, yea, even an hundred fold, to be cast into the Lord’s storehouse, to become the common property of the whole church—

Doctrine & Covenants 82:18

There is a difference between a “Bishop’s Storehouse” and the “Lord’s Storehouse”. The Bishop’s Storehouse  is usually a physical building where goods and commodities are distributed to those in need, under the Bishop’s direction.  On the other hand, the Lord’s storehouse “receives, holds in trust, and dispenses consecrated offerings of the Saints. The storehouse may be as simple or sophisticated as circumstances require. It may be a list of available services, money in an account, food in a pantry, or commodities in a building. A storehouse is established when faithful members consecrate to the bishop their time, talents, skills, compassion, materials, and financial means in caring for the poor and in building up the kingdom of God on the earth” (Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 2: Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders [1998], 256).

There are three things we are to offer the Lord: our Time, Talents, and Treasure.

Today’s Takeaway: Have you consecrated to the Lord your time, talents and treasure?  When asked, or when you see a need, do you give the valuable commodity of your time? Have you been developing and generous with the talents God has blessed you with? Do you give back your treasure to the Lord as asked? Ask the Lord how he would have you change, if needed, and He will let you know. 

Overwhelmed?

Look for a message of comfort to the overwhelmed.

 17 Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye are little children, and ye have not as yet understood how great blessings the Father hath in his own hands and prepared for you;

 18 And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along. The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours.
Doctrine & Covenants 78:18

Do you ever have those moments when the World and responsibilities and obligations and demands, and everything else become too much?  Have you sometimes felt that all you have been asked to do is too much and you start to panic?

Remember, we are God’s “little” children.  It is not all up to us to make the World right.  That is what Christ did in Gethsemane and on the Cross.  So reach out and take the Lord’s hand.  We are His children and everything in God’s kingdom is ours to have. Read those verses again. Isn't that what the Lord is telling us?

Today’s Takeaway: If you are feeling overwhelmed, perhaps you have been running faster than you are able (Mosiah 4:27). Slow down, and as long as you keep trying, He will help and lead us along.  The Lord will be with us.