Prescription against Depression

Jacob 3

There are nuggets all through this chapter. I will focus on the 2^nd verse to begin though and more if time allows. Did you know there is a prescription for depression? I love this verse! Depression need not be. Yes, I know it is chemical, but much of it can be worked out through following this simple prescription:

• Be pure in heart.

What exactly does it mean to be pure in heart? As you read further, it suggests that not being filthy before God is a start. How could you go about that? Keep reading and it says “repent”. Repent of what? Anything you're doing that displeases God – one tiny infraction at a time.

• Lift up your heads.

How would I go about lifting up my head? What exactly would that mean? Perhaps knowing that I am a child of god, royalty in His eyes and worthy of better things would cause me to look up. Wasn't there a talk in Conference just last week on looking up? Look to God for a solution to all my concerns and problems. Look up!

• Receive the pleasing word of God. But of course! Read the scriptures; digest them. Know them like you would a good friend.
• Feast upon His love. How? I know of no better way than by doing his work; serving others and going about doing good. When you do, you feel much better about yourself and depression is less likely to infringe upon these good feelings. Again, I do know its chemical; but can this hurt? I don't think so.

I also love v11, where Jacob tells the people to “arouse the faculties of your souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death; and loose yourselves from the pains of hell that ye may not become angels to the devil. . .” It is such a visual to me. Wake up! Shake the sleep from your eyes and realize the danger you are in. Reach out to your Savior for help in this. As I see some who are in this “slumber of death”, this verse jumps out at me. It is a real slumber that numbs the heart and soul to the reality of what this life is all about. They are numb to the fact they are in danger. It is the rest of us who are in their opinion, wasting our lives. Go figure.