Daily Ponderings: Oath Ceases Fears

1 Nephi 4:37

And it came to pass that when Zoram had made an oath unto us, our fears did cease concerning him.

I should keep my word such that the simple act of my giving my oath will be enough to assure anyone who hears it.

Daily Ponderings: Diligent in Keeping

1 Nephi 4:34

And I also spake unto him, saying: Surely the Lord hath commanded us to do this thing; and shall we not be diligent in keeping the commandments of the Lord? Therefore, if thou wilt go down into the wilderness to my father thou shalt have place with us.

I should be diligent in following the promptings that are my personal commandments.

Daily Ponderings: Forth Unto the Treasury

1 Nephi 4:20

And after I had done this, I went forth unto the treasury of Laban. And as I went forth towards the treasury of Laban, behold, I saw the servant of Laban who had the keys of the treasury. And I commanded him in the voice of Laban, that he should go with me into the treasury.

Once I choose a righteous goal, He can help me attain it by helping me know where to go, who to ask for help, what to say, and how to say it.

Endure Truth

From F. Enzio Busche's October 1993 "Truth Is the Issue"

"...pray for the increased ability to endure truth and not to be made angry by it."

Speaker of All My Words

From F. Enzio Busche's October 1993 "Truth Is the Issue"

"[I] will not be satisfied until... He has become the speaker of all [my] words."

Constant Striving

From F. Enzio Busche's October 1993 "Truth Is the Issue"

"[I should engage in] constant striving through prayer and contemplation to reach the ends of self-awareness and honesty."

Daily Ponderings: Neither Did They Believe

1 Nephi 2:13

Neither did they believe that Jerusalem, that great city, could be destroyed according to the words of the prophets. And they were like unto the Jews who were at Jerusalem, who sought to take away the life of my father.

I should choose to embrace the most empowering beliefs I can find.

Daily Ponderings: Bade Him That He Should Read

1 Nephi 1:11

And they came down and went forth upon the face of the earth; and the first came and stood before my father, and gave unto him a book, and bade him that he should read.

I should read His words constantly to fill my mind with light.

Daily Ponderings: In Them the Names

Revelation 21:14

And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

I should strive to have my name worthy to be in the foundation of a wall.

Daily Ponderings: Behold a White Horse

Revelation 19:11

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

I should strive to be worthy to ride the white horse by exercising faith, embracing truth, and living righteously.

Daily Ponderings: And Souls of Men

Revelation 18:13

And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

I should keep my soul and not let it be sold as merchandise.

My soul is for acting, not being acted upon.

Daily Ponderings: Continue a Short Space

Revelation 17:10

And there are seven kings: five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come; and when he cometh, he must continue a short space.

Hard things come, but I can endure them with His help.

Daily Ponderings: Blasphemed God Because of the Plague of the Hail

Revelation 16:21

And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

And yet, the blaspheming did nothing to lessen the plague of the hail. Let this remind me of the futility and foolishness of murmuring. Murmuring doesn't solve the problem, it just drives me away from the source of the power that can.

Daily Ponderings: Pains and Their Sores

Revelation 16:11

And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

I should not allow my pains and sores to keep me from repenting and becoming more like Him.

Daily Ponderings: Tabernacle of the Testimony

Revelation 15:5

And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:

I should treat truth as sacred and worship it.

Daily Ponderings: No Rest Day Nor Night

Revelation 14:11

And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

The farther behind I leave the world, the more peace I will find.

Ends Uncertainty

From Gerald E. Melchin's April 1994 "Decisions":

"The dictionary says that a decision is 'to arrive at a solution that ends uncertainty.'"

I should strive to end uncertainty, which gives a foothold to the adversary's whisperings. Where there is certainty - whether by faith or knowledge - he has no power.

Daily Ponderings: Patience and the Faith

Revelation 13:10

He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

I should strive to exhibit the patience and faith worthy of a saint.

The Way of the Courageous Man

From H. David Burton's April 1994 "Courage to Hearken":

"Someone once said that the courageous man finds a way, and the ordinary man finds an excuse."

Have I been finding ways or excuses?

Daily Ponderings: Which Deceiveth the Whole World

Revelation 12:9

And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

If I practice godliness, I will not be of the world, and I will not be deceived.

Daily Ponderings: Two Prophets Tormented Them

Revelation 11:10

And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

I should live my life in a way that is like Him, even if it makes the worldly uncomfortable.

Daily Ponderings: By Him That Liveth for Ever and Ever

Revelation 10:6

And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:

I can do anything I need by the power of He who created all.

Daily Ponderings: Angel of the Bottomless Pit

Revelation 9:11

And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

If I find myself falling into the bottomless pit of despair, I should call on Him for help, after recognizing that despair is never sent by my Father.

Daily Ponderings: The Third Part of Trees

Revelation 8:7

The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.

Spiritually, I should strive to be like a tree, not like grass.

Daily Ponderings: Out of Great Tribulation

Revelation 7:14

And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

The process of change will make me dirty, but all can be restored to cleanliness.

Daily Ponderings: Stood Before the Throne

Revelation 7:9

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

I should acknowledge truth at all times, and know that He is prepared to bless me for doing so by sending power down from His throne to help me any time I need it.

Daily Ponderings: The Testimony Which They Held

Revelation 6:9

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:

I should strive to not only hold a testimony, but to share it.

Daily Ponderings: Golden Vials Full of Odours

Revelation 5:8

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

I should strive to fill my golden vial with prayer. My prayers should be a constant conversation and not merely an occasional postcard.

Daily Ponderings: Before the Throne, A Sea of Glass

Revelation 4:6

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

It will be easier for me to become like Him when I believe the path that leads to Him is clearly visible, smooth, and unobstructed.

Daily Ponderings: He Shall Go No More Out

Revelation 3:12

Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

Once I find the strength to be obedient to his will and commandments, I will always have that strength.

The key to overcoming fear is familiarity. If I immerse myself in the thing I'm afraid of, I will eliminate the uncertainty that is at the heart of my fear.

Daily Ponderings: Which Thing I Hate

Revelation 2:15

So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

I should not spend my time listening to the words of those spreading false doctrine or short-sighted ideas.

Daily Ponderings: Fear Not; I Am the First and the Last

Revelation 1:17

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Truth is eternal. No argument of man can alter it. I should not fear as long as what I'm embracing is true.

Daily Ponderings: What Thou Seest, Write in a Book

Revelation 1:11

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

When I am in a godly way and I experience a glimpse of what my future could be, I should write it down so that I can strive for it and recognize it when it comes.

Daily Ponderings: Foaming Out Their Own Shame

Jude 1:13

Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.

I shouldn't spend my time focusing on correcting the wrongs of others. I should focus on building up my corner of paradise with the people I love.

Daily Ponderings: Receive Such

3 John 1:8

We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

I should be willing to assist any in the pursuit of good.

Daily Ponderings: Who Confess Not

2 John 1:7

For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

I should speak the truth in all things, especially in the face of falsehoods.

Daily Ponderings: Life Is in His Son

1 John 5:11

And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

The way for me to become more like God is to follow the example of his son. I should start with kindness.

Great Work Accomplished

From Rex D. Pinegar's October 1994 "The Simple Things":

"The great work of the Lord is primarily accomplished through small, kind acts..."

Daily Ponderings: Hath seen God

1 John 4:12

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Others can see God through my acts of kindness.

Daily Ponderings: Also to Love

1 John 4:11

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

Love others not for their sake, but for mine. Loving others makes me more godlike.

Daily Ponderings: If the World Hate You

1 John 3:13

Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.

The world hates me like air hates fish. I am a godly creature and was not meant to live in a worldly way.