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The Daily - 2020

Ring in the Christ

As we begin a new year, we can replace the false with the true, the grief with remedy or compensation, and strife with manners and nobility. We can replace pride with love, war with peace, and darkness with kindness. As this year ends, let’s ring out our old vices and temptations and ring in strength in Christ.

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Witnesses around Us

As we continue faithful, building our faith in Jesus Christ and accepting strength from witnesses around us, we can build our own testimonies and draw nearer to our Savior. We can inherit eternal life.

Lessons from a Testimony

As we give our hearts to God, the Lord will use His matchless power, His grace, to compensate for our weakness. He has already given us everything that is within our abilities. And so regardless of what we have done, it is always the grace of Christ that saves us. We only have one thing to give in return: our choice to have faith and trust Him.

Another Testament of Christ

The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ. It is permeated with references to His teachings, His love, and His gospel. As we read this book, we will draw nearer to Him.

An Angel from on High

The new year is often a time to think of renewal. Through Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation, all things will be restored. Through the power of the Holy Ghost, the words of ancient and modern prophets, and sincere prayer and searching, we can build a testimony of the love that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have for us, and the great things they have in store in these latter days.

Watchful unto Prayer

In October 2019, Elder David A. Bednar described an experience of watching cheetas hunting a group of topis on the Savannah and taught that there are many lessons we can learn from their behavior. For example, the scriptures teach that we can escape temptation through the saving power of Jesus Christ, and He can only protect us if we stay within the bounds the Lord has set.

Heed Watchmen

We may not always see the dangers that we are faced with. But as we choose to heed the Lord's watchmen, we will have the Lord’s protection from seen and unseen dangers.

Book of Mormon Videos

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been releasing a new series of Book of Mormon videos since last fall. The first three videos of the series cover the Come, Follow Me reading for this week. Watching these videos helped me to see Lehi's family as real people, rather than just words on a page. As we make use of the resources that have been carefully prepared for us, we can learn and grow.

I Will Go, I Will Do

The Lord always provides a way for us to obey His commandments, no matter how difficult or even impossible they may seem.

Commune with Thee

“Commune” means “to communicate intimately.” When we enter a prayer truly seeking to offer thanks, find guidance, and heed the inspiration we receive, we can truly commune with the Lord.

Peace to Your Mind

The Lord doesn’t offer fear or anxiety; He gives us peace. If we start to panic about decisions that we have made in faith and felt peace regarding, we can remember Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s counsel: “Beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted in it, it is right now.” We need to trust the peace the Lord has given us and know that He will continue to speak peace to our minds.

Hold to the Rod

In visions seen by Nephi and Lehi, an iron rod representing the word of God led them to the tree of life. We need to be steadfast, holding to this rod of iron daily throughout our lives. Then, we can reach our goal. We can abide there forever if we only hold fast to the rod.

The Power of Empathy

To be called the people and the church of Christ, we must be “willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; yea, and [be] willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things.” Empathy is one way we accomplish this witness.

The Fruit of the Tree

As we grasp the iron rod and progress toward the tree of life with fruit that is the love of God, we will find true joy—now and forever. The fruit is most sweet, above all that we have ever before tasted.

How Great Thou Art

Through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, the bands of death were broken. Because of Him, and through the Plan of Salvation, each of us will see our loved ones and our Savior in the next life.

Joyful Service

Making sacrifices to serve is always worth it. When we choose to serve with joy and love, we will build lasting relationships.

You've Come So Far

We sometimes get bogged down with uncertainty, doubt, fear, frustration, or even a simple lack of understanding. But in most circumstances of our lives, we can repeat these words: I did not come this far only to come this far.

One Path

Through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we can come back. We can give up our sins, our mistakes, and our uncertainty in favor of choosing to believe and choosing to act on that belief. Let’s always seek to be on the path that leads to eternal life and eternal joy, whether than involves staying on or returning to the path.

Two Churches

As we choose to follow Jesus Christ, and as we choose to repent of our sins and serve He who is master of all, we can leave the great and abominable church behind us. We can abandon Babylon and come to Zion. We can be made whole.

It Is Well With My Soul

It takes courage and faith to find peace in times of trial, but the Lord is always there for us. When we have built our foundations on Christ, we too can find strength in the midst trials to declare, “It is well with my soul!”

Forgive All Men

Fred Rogers once said, "Forgiveness is a strange thing. It can sometimes be easier to forgive our enemies than our friends. It can be hardest of all to forgive people we love.” But through the healing power of the Atonement Jesus Christ, we can fulfill the commandment to “forgive all men.”

Agents unto Ourselves

The Lord has taught that “men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness; For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves.” Let us emulate the Savior's example of anxious engagement, especially in our Father’s work.

Following the Compass

Church leaders have reminded us that we have our own metaphorical Liahonas in our own lives, and their help and guidance is dependent on the heed we give them. As we follow the word of God in our lives, regardless of how small or simple it may seem, we will be blessed with eternal life and our own eternal land of promise.

I Could Do All Things

One of the commandments we have been given is to liken the scriptures unto ourselves. This means that we need to read carefully and apply the lessons in the word of God to our own lives.

Sometimes My Soul

Like Nephi, we can know in whom we have trusted. We can have faith in Christ’s infinite Atonement and feel His love. We can awake, rejoice, and praise because of the rock of our salvation.

Awake from a Deep Sleep

We need to be cautious of complacency and metaphorically sleeping during the day when we should be doing the work of the Lord. As we awake and act, we can draw nearer to the Lord and overcome both physical and spiritual death.

Exceeding Rudeness

As we choose to seek knowledge “by study and also by faith,” we can gain truth, light, and knowledge that will banish ignorance and unlearnedness. Let us avoid rudeness in any of its forms and instead strive to be “finished,” “flawless,” “perfected,” “polished,” and “exact.”

Two Points, One Line

How many straight lines can you draw through a single point on a piece of paper? The answer is infinite. But if you add a second point, that number drops to one. “In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”

Free to Choose

Adam and Eve were given a law, and they were offered opposing, enticing choices. They also had the power to act, but they had no knowledge of good and evil. Because of their choice to partake of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, all men and women have agency. And because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, we can be redeemed from the Fall of Adam and Eve.

How Great the Wisdom and the Love

Jesus Christ taught, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” From the beginning, mankind has been taught “that we should love one another,” and Christ is the perfect example of this love. Through His infinite atonement, He showed His perfect love for us.

Truth and Remembrance

The Holy Ghost can help us to know what is true, and he can help us to remember his witness. While teaching His apostles during His earthly ministry, the Lord called the Holy Ghost “the Spirit of truth.” Through the power of the Holy Ghost, we can recognize truth when we hear it and remember his witness in times of need.

Redeemed from the Fall

When we find ourselves at the perilous cliffs of life, we can remember: “Adam fell that men might be . . . and the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time that he may redeem the children of men from the fall.”

Arise, Sit Down

As we choose to accept the Father’s will, we also choose to accept liberty and eternal life, but we must awake, arise, and shake off the chains by which we are bound.

Love and the Plan

Love is a principle of salvation. When we humble ourselves and repent, we “shall always rejoice, and be filled with the love of God, and always retain a remission of [our] sins.” And the prophet Alma taught that if we have “the love of God always in [our] hearts, . . . [we] may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest.”

The Lord Is My Light

As we follow the light of Christ, it will cast out all darkness from our lives. Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, and the Spirit can assure us of His presence when we allow it into our hearts. Through our Savior, we will conquer. And His mercy and grace can cover our weakness with his strength.

Expectations of Perfection

Do we hear the latest breaking news and assume the worst? Or do we wait to learn more, doing what we can? Let’s give others the benefit of the doubt, especially when we can see by the rest of their actions that they are striving each day to be a little better.

What Is "All We Can Do"?

We must do all that lies within our power to be reconciled to God, but then it is only through His grace that we can be redeemed. This is why we call Him our Redeemer.

Joy Now and Joy Later

Several speakers at recent devotionals have highlighted a talk by President Russell M. Nelson: "Joy and Spiritual Survival." As we choose to see the joy in even the worst situations, finding the silver lining that is always present in our knowledge of the Savior’s Atonement, we will have even greater joy in the world to come. Our focus on the joy of the Atonement of Jesus Christ will allow us to endure and receive promised blessings.

King Henry and Sir Thomas

As we choose to follow the Lord’s guidance and heed his direction of what is right and what is wrong, we can find peace and confidence in the truth that comes from the Spirit. We do not need the approval of men, but rather the approval of the Lord.

Hope of Israel

I love the cry of the hymn "Hope of Israel." I love the joy and exuberance, the hope and faith, and the absence of fear in these words. As we put on the armor of righteousness, including the sword of truth and right, we can defeat our foe: he whom the scriptures call “the old serpent,” “the enemy of righteousness,” or the “adversary.”

Do It Today

Sometimes, when we delay making decisions, we miss out on opportunities. This is an eternal principle: When we have made mistakes in our lives, as everyone has, we need to choose to change and repent now. Not tomorrow, not someday, but now. When we choose to put off repentance, the Spirit of the Lord withdraws from us, and we can miss important opportunities to grow, change, or help others.

Entitlement Mentality

As we recognize times when we feel we are “owed” something, let’s remember the humility of the Savior, who did what no one else could for each of us and asked nothing in return except our hearts and wills. Let us echo instead his words: “Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.”

The Mountain of the Lord's House

Historically, mountains were symbolic of temples. But because we have temples, we don’t have to find some remote place to find the Lord’s house; we have access to a dedicated house where He dwells.

Here a Little and There a Little

Just as we need water little by little, and just as we need to memorize techniques and movements little by little, we need to learn the precepts of God little by little. As we accept and implement what we are given, we will learn wisdom and receive even more from the Lord.

Come, Follow Me

This simple, three-word doctrine from the Lord is the name of the new manuals that we’ve been studying since 2019, but it's also the name of a favorite hymn. As we strive to follow the Savior, we will find joy and blessings beyond our wildest expectations.

The Tree of Life AR

The Church works hard to put out study helps like the new Tree of Life app so we can make use of these resources and create something even more meaningful as we study the scriptures. As we ponder the teachings of the word of God, we can gain a better understanding and be open to the teachings of the spirit.

The Impact of a Vision

We enter the strait and narrow path by baptism. But we reach the tree by enduring to the end, by pressing forward with steadfastness in Christ, a perfect brightness of hope, and love of God and of all men.

The First Principles and Ordinances of the Gospel

Faith, repentance, baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost are some of the first things we learn about the gospel of Jesus Christ. But that is because they are so vital to our understanding of His gospel.

Unto Our Understanding

The Lord speaks “according to [our] language, unto [our] understanding.” As we take the time to recognize and follow His guidance and the promptings of the Spirit, we will gain greater understanding. We will be better prepared to receive more.

We Give Thee But Thine Own

This hymn reminds us that everything we are given comes from the Lord. When we return a part of that in tithing or use it to bless others, we are simply returning it to the Lord.

Enter in at the Gate

We must enter in at the gate through repentance and baptism. “And then [we] are in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life.”

A Job Well Done

As we strengthen our willpower and learn to prioritize what matters most, we can become like our Heavenly Father. As we choose to be contributing members in the gospel of Christ, we can give up ideas of wanting immediate “rewards” for our actions, and instead be content with the blessings they bring and the joy that comes from serving God and our fellow man.

Children and Heirs

We have a divine heritage: We are children of God. As Paul wrote in his epistle to the Romans, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” As we remember our divine heritage and trust the guides we have been given from the Lord, we are enabled to make good decisions that will enable us to return to live with Him again.

Becoming Unshakable

When we build upon the rock of our Redeemer, we will find safety even in whirlwinds, and even in spite of our weakness. We can build unshakable faith in the Savior of the world as we “take counsel from his hand.”

Do What Is Right

We need to do what is right in spite of the consequences. The eternal rewards of choosing the right are much more lasting than the temporary popularity or discomfort that comes from the judgment of our fellow men.

Explanations, Not Excuses

When we accept responsibility for our own actions, we take control of our own lives. When we live without rationalizations, pretenses, self-deceptions, and excuses, we can look forward to what Jacob called “the pleasing bar of God.”

Resources for the Sabbath

On ChurchofJesusChrist.org, we can access a page with "Ideas and Resources for the Sabbath." These resources have been carefully prepared with us in mind and can help us keep the Sabbath day holy. They can help us in our goals to keep our thoughts and efforts focused on the Savior, His Atonement, and the Plan of Salvation.

Faith, Not Fear

Through faith in Christ, we can face potentially frightening situations with courage, prudence, hope, and love for our fellow men. As we read in 2 Timothy, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Standing for Truth

We can stand up for what we believe in, not because we have anything to prove, but because our testimony grows when we bear it. Standing for truth in spite of opposition can help those seeking truth in their efforts to find it.

Master, the Tempest Is Raging

As we face metaphorical winds and waves in our own lives, we need to remember that the Savior’s command, “peace, be still.” He can calm even the greatest tempests of life. And He can calm even the most restless soul.

Comfort in Troubling Times

Even challenges like pandemics and earthquakes can be used to build faith and hope. When people are frightened, they can turn to the Lord to find comfort and even joy.

Living Water and the Soap of Repentance

Let’s look for the light of the Savior and the compensatory spiritual power given to the righteous. As we fill our lives with Living Water and what Elder Dale G. Renlund called the "soap of repentance," we can focus on what matters most. As we emulate the Savior, share His gospel, and serve others, we can find peace and comfort.

Ponder, Wrestle, Struggle, Rest

As we pray, let’s remember Enos’s example. As we truly seek the Lord in earnest prayer, we must be willing to put forth effort to align our will with His. When we do so, we will find greater peace than comes from any other source.

The Lord Knoweth All Things

The Lord is able to do His own work, as we learn from Nephi, Mormon, Joseph Smith, and many others. As we heed the promptings of the Spirit, we can be instruments in His hands in our own small ways, loving others, serving them, and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Let Zion in Her Beauty Rise

Our current times aren't very restful, so we each need the reminder that rest is coming with the millennium. As the gospel spreads through the land, we can prepare to meet the Lord. His coming is near.

The Light of the Restoration

As we follow President Russell M. Nelson's counsel to study Joseph Smith's account of the First Vision, study the Book of Mormon, ponder the words of ancient and modern prophets, and participate in the Bicentennial General Conference, we will be prepared to receive greater light and knowledge. As we immerse ourselves in the light of the Restoration, we will strengthen our testimonies and grow closer to our Heavenly Father and our Savior.

More Wonderful than You Can Imagine

President Dallin H. Oaks taught that our duty “is to teach the doctrine of the restored gospel, keep the commandments, love and help one another, and do the work of salvation in the holy temples.” As we do these things, trust in the Lord, and heed his apostles here on Earth, we will gain greater understanding of the gospel of Jesus Christ and draw nearer to Him.

Settle This in Your Hearts

Let us cast off our sins completely and anchor ourselves more firmly to Jesus Christ by following his example, keeping His commandments, and making covenants with the Lord. During His earthly ministry, the Savior invited His disciples to “settle this in your hearts, that ye will do the things which I shall teach, and command you.” He invites us to do the same.

Centered on Christ

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we seek the Savior. That is why this church bears His name. We cannot allow other things to obscure Him. In Joseph Smith’s day, many were seeking truth, but “these exuberant revivalists were, ironically, obscuring the very Savior young Joseph so earnestly sought.” Today, we face what Elder Jeffrey R. Holland called an "incessant din and drumbeat." But we must still make the Savior the center of our lives.

Hark, All Ye Nations!

This is the Lord’s work. Our brothers and sisters worldwide may be searching in darkness, watching for dawn, but the light of the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ will spread to every land and every people. As we stand for the Lord, we can be part of His glorious work.

Keeping Conference with Us

As we face the challenges of life after coming down from a spiritually edifying experience, we must not be cast down or give up when we see limitations in ourselves and others; when we don’t yet measure up to the messages we have learned this past weekend. These conferences are meant to “give hope and inspiration. They are not intended to discourage [us]." We have hope for a bright tomorrow, for improvement, progression, and change, because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

He Cometh unto His Own

The plan of salvation, Jesus Christ, and His gospel remove the sting of death. This Easter, let’s remember those sources of joy and rejoice.

Eyes to See

When we have “eyes to see” and “ears to hear,” when we “behold the man” and recognize Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer of mankind, we become His disciples. Even when encompassed by sorrow and grief, even when we feel lost or forgotten, even when we are “despairing, deserted, doubting, damaged, or defeated,” the Savior will comfort and heal us if we will only “behold the man.”

Because of Him

If you haven’t seen the Church’s #BecauseofHim videos, take some time this weekend to look them up. They remind us of the scope and power of the Savior’s atonement. He died for all of us, and He died for you.

Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

Christ’s redemption for all mankind is borne out of love, and darkness veils the earth no more. Our king lives, death has lost its sting, and our souls are saved. The grave has no victory because of the events that happened nearly two thousand years ago. As we read in Matthew, “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

Replenish and Refill

We may be alone with our nuclear families much of the time during the COVID-19 pandemic, but we don’t have to be emotionally alone. As we find ways to connect with loved ones, we can add fuel to our tanks and theirs, and we can help each other feel the Savior’s love and support during this difficult time.

Great Days

Winston Churchill once said, “Let us not talk of darker days . . . these are not dark days, these are great days.” These days are great because we are great. As we rise up to meet the challenge before us, we will be strengthened. The Lord has turned down the noise and busyness of the world for us so we can focus on loving more, on serving more, and on making choices based on others rather than ourselves. In short, we can focus on keeping the commandments of God.

Unprofitable Servants

As King Benjamin taught, there is nothing we can do for God that makes us profitable servants. We are completely at the mercy of His grace. Everything we give to Him, He repays us exponentially. And everything we give, He gave us to begin with.

Courage to Be Kind

When we follow the commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves, we will be merciful, not condemning. We will be loving, not hateful. We will be compassionate, not full of censure. And through Jesus Christ, we can find the courage to be kind.

Sweet Is the Work

I love the reminder that our work in the service of our God is sweet. It is sweet to love and serve others. It is sweet to praise the Lord. It is sweet to share his word.

Good Things to Come

We can find peace and comfort in the Savior, no matter our circumstances. And as we draw near to the “high priest of good things to come,” we will find the strength to go on and look forward with hope to the future.

Embracing Change

Change is not only possible but necessary if we are to fulfill our divine destinies. Through the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can each face changes with courage and find strength and growth in them. We can come to embrace change.

Words Unkind

We must weigh our words before we give them voice. While our words and mouths may seem like little things, they can turn us about as a bridle turns a horse, or as a ship is steered by a small helm. The Savior cautioned his disciples, “Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.”

Subtle, Mighty Change

As we follow the commandments; attend church meetings when possible; study the scriptures; practice home-centered, church-supported gospel study; and minister in love to those around us, we can implement the gradual changes that help us become like the Savior. We can be born again, we can experience a change of heart, and we can become holy.

The Spirit of God

Miracles have not ceased. The Spirit of God truly is burning, and the glory of the latter days is coming forth to the whole earth. Angels visit the earth, and all things are being restored. Through our faith, we may begin to inherit the glories of God. The time is not far distant when Ephraim will be crowned with his glory in Zion, and Jesus will descend with His chariot of fire. This is why we sing Hosannas with the armies of heaven.

Praise the Lord with Singing

As we obey the commandment to "praise the Lord with singing, [and] with music," we will feel the influence of the Holy Ghost and the love of God in our lives. We will be comforted, consoled, and inspired, and we will draw nearer to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Man from Snowy River

When we feel we are rushing down a mountainside in our own lives, seemingly out of control, let’s remember to give the reins to the Lord. As we allow Him to direct our lives, we will land safe and sound, no matter how terrible the descent.

The Touch of the Master's Hand

During the Lord’s earthly ministry, many sought His touch and were healed. Even those who touched only the hem of His garment were made whole. As we come to Christ, seeking His touch in our lives, we too can be made whole.

Building Spiritual Strength

Both spiritual and physical strength must be developed gradually, and both must be maintained with conscious effort. If we cease to exercise our physical muscles, our body actually will break them down over time to use those components elsewhere, and we will become less strong. Similarly, if we do not work on building our testimonies, they can gradually decay. Let’s keep ourselves in spiritual shape and make consistent efforts to gain and maintain spiritual strength.

Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me

As we face uncertainty in our lives that may seem as dark and impenetrable as the unplumbed depths of the ocean, we can be comforted by the Savior, who calmed the sea and hushed the waves. We, too, can be comforted by the admonition, “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Stand Up, Speak Out

As we stand out, speak up, and strive to look to Christ in every thought, we will cease to doubt and fear.

CS Lewis on Learning from Challenges

Many of us have been able to find more stillness in this time of uncertainty. In both that stillness and also in the tempests we face, we can connect more with our earthly families and our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, as we weather this trial together. We can learn, grow, and become through this experience.

The Fruits of Our Labors

We may not always get to see the fruits of our labors in this life, but that doesn’t mean our work is fruitless. The Lord is able to take even the most meager offerings and use them for His own divine purposes.

On Womanhood and Motherhood

Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have often taught about motherhood and womanhood. Like our Heavenly Father and Savior, they have great respect for women.

Keep the Commandments

We are children of God, and we must be tested here on earth. But as we hold to the promises He has made to us and heed the words both of ancient and modern prophets, we will find safety and peace.

Take His Name upon You

As bearers of the holy name of Jesus Christ, we witness to the Lord and those around us that we will always remember our Savior and His atonement. We can make better choices of what we say, what we do, and how we love. As witnesses of Christ, we have a responsibility to show His love to the world.

The Pleadings of His People

As we fast and pray more often, these actions become more familiar to us. We will draw nearer to God and be comfortable reaching out to Him in prayer and supplication.

King Henry's Speech

Difficult and painful trials can reward us with blessings and experience when we turn to the Lord. We often look back on trying times with 20/20 hindsight and see how we were blessed, how we grew, and how we are now grateful for the experience. Blessings will come as we hold fast to what we know to be true and stand firm against trial and tribulation.