Ponderizing Psalm 1:1

Blessed is the man that walketh not 

in the counsel of the ungodly, 

nor standeth in the way of sinners, 

nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psalm 1:1

Rollo chose this verse for us.  It's a great list of what not to do.  God is a loving Father who wants what is best for us.  "The ungodly" must be opposite.  Whose advice would you rather follow?  Isaiah describes the Lord as a "Wonderful Counsellor"(Isaiah 9:6).  I'd rather walk in His paths.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

"Standing in the way of sinners" sounds doubly dangerous.  Joining with sinners and doing what they do is obviously not the way to be blessed.  "Getting in their way," available to be a victim, doesn't appeal, either.  I'd rather "stand . . . in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come" (Doctrine and Covenants 87:8). 

"Sitting in the seat of the scornful," though.  That could be more of a trap.  When we're avoiding sinners and the ungodly, are we tempted to label them, to scorn their foolishness and unrighteous behavior?  It's easy to find others' faults, and to gloss over our own.  Even in our loving home, sometimes we doubt each other's intentions, criticize, make fun.  But it doesn't help.  We need to persuade, to lead others to righteousness with example and love.  And with repentance for our own sins, because we do have them, even when we're trying to be good. 

Let's watch how we sit, stand, and walk, so the Lord may bless us with wisdom, righteousness, and joy!

Ponderizing Doctrine and Covenants 64:33

Wherefore, be not weary

in well-doing,

for ye are

laying the foundation

of a great work.

And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

Doctrine and Covenants 64:33

Being good and doing the right thing takes effort.  The Lord's work is work, and can be tiring.  But it shouldn't make us "weary."  This counsel echoes Paul's words in Galatians 6:9.

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

To "faint" here means to give up, I think.  It makes sense--if we work hard, then give up, we won't see the fruits of our labors.  It doesn't mean there won't be any.  We just won't see them. 

Speaking of fruits, what is a smaller thing than a seed?  Delicious fruits don't appear spontaneously.  A seed must be planted, and tended.  If all goes well, one seed may produce many fruits containing many more seeds.  Plants are amazing that way.  So is spiritual effort.  The Lord could accomplish His work all by Himself.  But He lets us join in, adding our little bit, so that we may also enjoy the great blessings He has to give.

Little bits of obedience, kindness, determination, repentance, faith, they all lay the foundation of a stalwart character in ourselves.  Little bits of service and gospel-sharing can lay the foundation of transformation in others. 

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.  Doctrine and Covenants 123:17

Ponderizing 1 John 1:5-7

 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  1 John 1:5-7

Scoot chose these verses for us this week, and they are so appropriate.  It has been pretty dark outside here.  The sun will be up for maybe nine hours today, and thick rainclouds dim its influence.  But, as John wrote, "God is light," and we can always have His light within us. 

It's a choice we have to make, though.  I can sit here in my dark house and feel sorry for myself, or I can turn on the lights and feel better.  Going for a "walk in darkness" will not lead us anywhere good, no matter what popular opinion may say. 

Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  Isaiah 5:20

It seems like we're seeing more of this sort of thing all the time.  "But if we walk in the light," by searching the scriptures to learn God's will and do it, "we have fellowship one with another"--we can support and comfort each other in doing what's right--"and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." We all need that, don't we?

So, this Christmas time, let's turn on the lights, turn on the sweet music, and learn more about the Light of the World!

Ponderizing Moroni 10:32

Yea, come unto Christ,

and be perfected in him,

and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ,

ye can in nowise deny

the power of God.

Moroni 10:32

This week we're thinking about some of Moroni's last words.  He obviously put a lot of thought into them--chapter ten is a real treasure.  In verse 32, he repeats the invitation that has been given so many times: "Come unto Christ."

Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live . . .   Isaiah 55:3 

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 11:28

And he said unto the children of men:  Follow thou me.  2 Nephi 31:10

We'll be more comfortable with Christ if we are more like Him, but we do not have to be perfect on our own.  In fact, we can't be.  If we try our best to leave ungodly things behind, and trust in Christ, He will make up the difference and make us perfect through His grace.  Really, Moroni said it best.  Think about it!

What are you pondering this week?

Ponderizing James 1:12

Blessed is the man that resisteth temptation:  for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.   (JST James 1:12)

This verse caught my eye this week.  I especially like the correction Joseph Smith was inspired to make--resisting is so much more active and effective than just enduring.  There are many trials we can get through by patiently enduring.  Temptation, however, doesn't usually just go away.  We have to get away from it, like Joseph, who "fled" from Potiphar's wife, "and got him out."(Genesis 39:12)

There is always a way out.  Paul promised this in 1 Corinthians 10:13:

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man:  but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Of course, the way out does little good if we don't use it.  We have to make the effort to resist temptation, to leave it behind and fill our lives with something better.  If we use our agency correctly, the Lord will strengthen us and reward us.  And the tempter will lose power over us.  As James wrote in chapter four,

Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

Let's send him running!

Ponderizing Moroni 10:9-18

  For behold, to one is given by the Spirit of God, that he may teach the word of wisdom;

  And to another, that he may teach the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

  And to another, exceedingly great faith; and to another, the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

  And again, to another, that he may work mighty miracles;
  And again, to another, that he may prophesy concerning all things;
  And again, to another, the beholding of angels and ministering spirits;
  And again, to another, all kinds of tongues;
  And again, to another, the interpretation of languages and of divers kinds of tongues.
  And all these gifts come by the Spirit of Christ; and they come unto every man severally, according as he will.
  And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that every good gift cometh of Christ.
Moroni 10:9-18

 Rollo chose Moroni 10:9 for our pondering this week, but we couldn't stop there.  While each of these gifts of the Spirit is amazing on its own, they are meant to all go together.  

Similar lists can be found in 1 Corinthians 12 and Doctrine and Covenants 46.  I've always found it interesting that Paul would advise use to "covet earnestly the best gifts"(1 Cor. 12:31), given the 10th commandment.  The Lord puts it a little more clearly in the Doctrine and Covenants:

And that ye be not deceived seek earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given. (D&C 46:8)

Why are they given?  So that we can avoid being deceived, and "that all may be profited thereby."(D&C 46:12) The coveting prohibited in the Old Testament is a selfish thing, enmity toward our neighbors who have cooler stuff than we do.  Desiring a spiritual gift for the purpose of blessing our neighbors is a righteous desire, and will be rewarded.

Which gifts are best, though? 

For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God. (D&C 46:11)

We each have at least one spiritual gift, and we need to learn what it is and how to use it to bless others.  We can receive other gifts when we need them for specific callings we receive or situations we encounter.  In all cases, we need to put forth some effort, to develop, practice and use our gifts, or we may lose them.
Paul and Moroni agree that the greatest gift is charity. 

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—

But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure.(Moroni 7:46-48)

I think charity encompasses all the other gifts.  With charity, we will really want to benefit all, and we'll know how to do it.  We will share our gifts, and appreciate the gifts of others without envy.  The Lord has such great things in store for us.  Let's use the tools He has given us, and seek for more!

What gifts have you seen in others?

Ponderizing Hebrews 8:12

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.  Hebrews 8:12

Scoot chose this verse for our consideration this week.  It is a very hopeful message, and I'm glad he did.  I decided to take a look at the context.

In this epistle, Paul tried to convince the Jewish Christians that the law of Moses was really just a preparation for the law of Christ, and that the new covenant was even better than the old.  The beginning of this chapter reflects that purpose, but then the Lord speaks of those who enter fully into the new covenant:

I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people . . . for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.  Hebrews 8:10-11

How can we get to know the Lord?  It takes study and faith, but also action, as Jesus taught the Jews:

If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.  John 7:17

We have to keep the commandments to gain a witness that they are divine.  And as we do, our own divine nature will develop, and we will come to know and be more like Him.  The reward of knowing God is amazing:

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.  John 17:3

If we are working hard to obey and know God, and his laws are written in our hearts, we will easily recognize when we mess up.  We'll have the faith to repent, to trust Christ to help us do better.  Then, surely, He will be "merciful to [our] unrighteousness," and prepare us for life eternal.

What are you pondering this week?

Ponderizing Moses 1:39

For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.  Moses 1:39

The Caterpillar chose this verse for us to ponder this week.  He has studied it in Seminary this year, and he quoted it in a strong testimony last Sunday.  It made a big impression on me when I went to Seminary, too.  It shows that not only do our lives have purpose, but our lives are God's purpose. 

Christ has assured our immortality through His atonement and resurrection.  We will all be resurrected, and live in perfect bodies some time after we die.  It is a costly gift, but He gives it to us freely.  Eternal life, living like God does, requires faith, repentance, and obedience on our part.  The more people who attain it, through the grace of Christ, the more glory God receives.  It's not a competition--He wants us all to return to Him.

As a youth, I realized that to "honour thy father and thy mother" (Exodus 20:12) goes beyond obedience.  I could bring honor to my parents by behaving in ways that would bring credit to them and the way they brought me up.  I hope I have!  Similarly, we bring honor and glory to God by walking in His ways.

In Moses 1:39, the Lord defines His own work.  But what is ours?  I found the answer here:

Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength.  Doctrine and Covenants 11:20

By doing that, we also show our love for the Lord:

If ye love me, keep my commandments.  John 14:15

It is a privilege to have been a small part of God's work in bringing four people into mortal life, which is required before immortality and eternal life.  I'm trying to teach them to do their work, too, so we can enjoy eternal life together.

Wow, there's so much to ponder in this verse!  What do you see?

Ponderizing Psalm 46

In the recent LDS General Conference, Devin G. Durrant advised us to "ponderize" a verse of scripture each week. 

“So what does it mean to ponderize? I like to say it’s a combination of 80 percent extended pondering and 20 percent memorization. . . . When our minds are filled with uplifting thoughts and images, when we ‘always remember him,’ there is no room left for filth and trash."--Devin G. Durrant

For our family's ponderizing enjoyment this week, Dandelionslayer selected Psalm 46, and highlighted some passages for our focus:

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

 4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.

 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

 6 The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.

 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.

 9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Isn't that comforting?  God is in charge.  If we follow Him, we need not fear.  When I read verse 8, I wondered how desolations could be reassuring, but verse 9 made it plain:  He will destroy violence, and save the meek.  Wonderful!

What are you pondering this week?