Lies of Satan

Look for the reassurance God is giving Joseph after he lost the 116 manuscript pages.

 9 Behold, thou art Joseph, and thou wast chosen to do the work of the Lord, but because of transgression, if thou art not aware thou wilt fall.

 10 But remember, God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which thou hast done which is contrary to the commandment which I gave you, and thou art still chosen, and art again called to the work;

Doctrine & Covenants 3:9-10

Like Joseph Smith, sometimes we fail in spectacular ways. Here Joseph lost scripture that we still don’t have back today. When it happened, Joseph said, “All is lost!” and Martin Harris said, “I've lost my soul.”  When we fail, Satan will usually move right in and start his lies.  Have you ever heard Satan tell these kinds of lies: “Why try any more? It’s no use. After what you've done, you’re a lost cause. God wouldn't even want you after what you've done. You just aren't good enough. You are just a failure”?

But in these verses, the Lord is saying that he knows each of us by name, and he has given us special things to do with our lives. He also reminds us of His merciful nature, and He won’t give up on us.   Even Joseph had consequences he could not escape for his mistake, but it didn't end Joseph’s purposes in life.

Today’s Takeaway: Next time you mess up (because like the rest of us, you will), refuse to listen to the lies of Satan.  Remember that God knows you and He is merciful and will help you along no matter what.  God never gives up on us –EVER. 

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. 

Between Terrestrial and Celestial

Look for what made these people Terrestrial rather than Celestial.

79 These are they who are not valiant in the testimony of Jesus; wherefore, they obtain not the crown over the kingdom of our God.

Doctrine & Covenants 76:79

Did you see the key word “valiant”?  So does that mean those Terrestrial people just were not good enough to make the cut?

Let’s consider the word valiant in another context.  What would make someone a valiant basketball player on a team? Could you have a valiant member of the team that is not on the starting line up? Yes. The valiant team member is one of those trying their best; first one at practice, last to leave.  The valiant players always give their best even though they might not be the most talented players on the team.  Could you have the opposite, someone on the starting lineup that's not a valiant member of the team?  Sure; they are the kind people that their half effort is better than another’s total effort.  They are just naturally good.  So we see that valiant is not a measurement of how good a person is, but rather what kind of effort they are putting into it.

That can give us all great hope.  I don’t have to be as good as Brother or Sister ______.  To the Savior, I only need to be trying my best; even if my best isn’t nearly as good as someone else’s best. When I fall down, I get back up and keep trying. All of us who are honestly striving to follow the Lord are going to make it no matter how imperfect we are.

Today’s Takeaway: If you are sincerely trying to grow and follow the Savior, take comfort that you are going to make it to Celestial Glory. One step in front of the other.

Discouragement

Look for how perfect a Celestial person needs to be:

69 These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood.

Doctrine & Covenants 76:69

Have you ever wondered if you were Celestial material? Ever just feel like you didn't have what it takes? Just not good enough? Well did you see how perfect we need to become to go to the Celestial Kingdom?  One hundred percent perfect!

The trick is that we are made “perfect in Christ” (Moroni 10:32). Satan goes around discouraging us saying we aren't good enough, and he is right.  Of ourselves, we will never be good enough.  But through covenant, Christ shares His perfection with us.  No matter how flawed, broken, and imperfect we are, in Christ we are “perfect”.

Did you see in the verse how good we need to be? “Just men” and women.  I take that to mean good and honorable people trying to follow Christ.

Today’s Takeaway: Recognize and accept that you are not good enough, of yourself. It is only through our covenants and relationship with the Lord that we are good enough to return to the presence of God. So today, try to focus on the Lord and thank Him for His goodness He shares with you.