Freedom, Gathering, Temples, Covenants

This morning my thoughts stayed a little more focused. I had tagged 3 Nephi 21:4 to John 8:34, and I had to pull myself in a bit to understand what Jesus was really saying.

Sin is what holds all of us in bondage. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.”

You see it everywhere. There are really good people who would love to be free from addictive substances or behaviors, say nothing about political bondage. They hate what it is doing to them and feel powerless to change. Freedom isn’t simply the privilege of living in a free country. That’s part of it, but we also have the freedom to destroy ourselves. That’s something to chew on.

From time-to-time Heavenly Father has revealed the entire Plan, and prophets have witnessed it in writing—especially in the Book of Mormon. As I read the footnotes to verse 10 this morning, I caught just a glimpse of the magnificence of that Plan.

The Gathering of Israel is huge!

Yes, we send our young men and women into the world to gather Israel, but the larger part of that gathering happens on the other side of the veil. I know this isn’t new information to me, but this morning the magnitude of it seemed highlighted. Perhaps it’s because I’m now serving in the temple. I certainly saw up close and personal the “huge” part on my first night of training. The work is organized, constant, and busy.

Then I thought about the number of temples in the world. The numbers themselves are staggering—more than 200 temples already operating and many more announced or under construction. The Gathering of Israel truly is a big deal.

Think about it. In 3 Nephi 21:23–25, the Lord speaks of building the New Jerusalem. Those who are gathered will also participate in gathering others as they serve on both sides of the veil.

The “power” mentioned in verse 25 is the power we receive as we make covenants, first as baptized members and then in the temple—not just once for ourselves, but as we serve our kindred dead. It is a beautiful thing. And Jesus Himself says He will be “in the midst” of it all. Those who have experienced it know that power is real.

There are so many evidences of this gathering and of the events that will lead to the New Jerusalem spoken of in this chapter. President Nelson has repeatedly urged us to increase our ability to receive revelation and to let God prevail. After reviewing his talks as prophet, it is clear we have been warned again and again to do the work that will protect ourselves and our families—to gather Israel on both sides of the veil—and to do it now.

I’m grateful for the chance to sit with this chapter a little longer this morning. Freedom is central to the Plan. Accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and our Rock brings that freedom. And that freedom moves us forward to share the blessings of the Plan with our brothers and sisters who have not yet had the opportunity.

It truly is a beautiful Plan. The gathering of Israel isn’t just about setting people free and bringing them into the Church—it’s about helping them come into the covenant.

 

Oh, thank you, Jesus!!!

This morning feels like a bit of a triple hit—Fast Sunday, the switch to daylight savings time, and this on the heels of my first night serving the late shift at the temple, leaving at 10:30. I’m already feeling it.

Still, I tried to focus on one of the greatest events in the history of the world: the Savior instituting the sacrament.

A question came to mind: Am I truly “filled” when I partake of the sacrament?

I feel the need for the sacrament every week. Somehow it resets me. I’m not someone who goes out looking to do bad things, but sometimes I wonder if I forget why I try to do good things. It isn’t for me—it’s for my Savior. It’s a small expression of gratitude for the sacrifice He made so that I could have a second chance.

I believe in Him. I have been baptized in His name (v.5). I remember His sacrifice, but do I always grasp how great that sacrifice really was? Do I always remember Him? On tired Sunday mornings like this one, I remember Him specifically. My sacrifice is nothing in comparison to His.

The sacrament prayer gives us a simple test: Do I always have His Spirit to be with me?
The honest answer is that sometimes—probably more often than I’d like—I fall short.

Verse 10 asks a simple but powerful question: Am I willing?
Yes. Always.

The commandment is to always remember Him. If we truly do that, disputations fade. Watching someone in the family struggle with this is heartbreaking. Where does the loss of respect for parents begin? Where does love for others disappear? How does the Savior become nothing more than a name?

Then the chapter turns to prayer.

Verse 20 reminds us that whatever we ask the Father in Jesus’ name—if it is right, and we believe—will be given. My first sincere pleading prayer came later in my life after I had created a miserable existance. I don’t know where that faith came from at the time, but I knew the Lord heard my parents’ prayers. My life is a miracle because of them.

Prayer was always part of my parents’ home (v.21), and it was part of ours as well. It didn’t look exactly the same—our lives weren’t as regimented as a farmer’s life—but prayer was never forgotten.

Do I believe in prayer?
You better believe it.

Some of my pleadings have lasted for decades. Most of them involve my children and grandchildren. I searched for the quote on the timing of prayers. President Oaks said: 

“Some prayers are answered immediately.
Some are answered later.
And some are not answered until heaven.”

It’s a comforting reminder that unanswered prayers are not ignored prayers—they may simply be waiting on the Lord’s timetable.

A companion thought from Neal A. Maxwell fits beautifully with it:

“Faith also includes trust in God’s timing.” God’s answers come “line upon line, in His own time and way.”

Together those two thoughts carry a powerful message:

·       God hears every prayer.

·       God answers every prayer.

·       But God also chooses the timing of those answers.

For parents and grandparents praying for children, that perspective can bring a lot of peace.

Verse 23 teaches us to pray for those who have not yet received a witness of the gospel. Sometimes we keep people at arm’s length because we fear their beliefs might influence us or our families. But the Lord knows His children and what they need to become disciples. That requires discernment and listening to His promptings.

Jesus Christ is the Light.
He is the light we hold up.

Living righteously and showing love for Him will do far more for our families than any barrier we try to build against the world.

So, I ask myself: How am I doing?

I try.

Age and its limitations sometimes frustrate me. I can’t move as quickly as I once did, and I wish I had sought the Savior more when I was younger. Still, I probably spend more time with Him now than I ever have before.

One last thought stood out as I followed the footnotes. Scripture repeatedly reminds us that Jesus Christ is our advocate with the Father—pleading our cause and making intercession for us (see **1 John 2:1; **2 Nephi 2:9; **Moroni 7:27–28).

Then comes the promise in Doctrine and Covenants 29:5:

Not only does He plead our cause—
He wants to give us His kingdom.

Oh, thank you, Jesus.

I speak for all of us: Hang in there.
Keep remembering Him.
Keep trying to do good.

Spiritually Saturated – Thoughts on 3 Nephi 17

This morning I reached 3 Nephi chapter 17. It’s a short chapter, but I found myself moving through it slowly. To me, it’s one of the most poignant chapters in the entire Book of Mormon. I kept stopping, simply to ponder what was happening.

The Nephites had just experienced something overwhelming. They had heard the Savior teach, and it seems He sensed that they were spiritually saturated. That’s the phrase that came to my mind. Sometimes you receive so much light and truth that you almost feel weak from it. It’s a beautiful feeling, but it can leave you a little dizzy.

So the Savior gives them simple counsel: go home and ponder the things He had taught them.

What beautiful counsel.

As I begin my service today as an ordinance worker in the temple, that instruction carries even deeper meaning for me. I recently listened to a podcast that compared this moment to how we should approach the temple. We should go prepared—praying beforehand that we will be taught. And when we leave, we should do exactly what the Savior told the Nephites: go home and ponder the things we have been shown.

If we prepare our minds and hearts, we can begin to see the Savior in the ordinances.

Verse 15 is written in the narrative by Nephi, and it captures a moment that must have been unforgettable. I watched the Church’s video depiction of this experience, and it is beautifully done. It truly feels like a temple moment. Hearing the Savior pray for you and your family would be an overwhelmingly spiritual experience.

Then comes the simple phrase: Jesus wept.

That line always stops me. He is resurrected. He sees the beginning and the end. Yet He weeps.

Part of me believes those tears came from joy. These people had accepted Him completely—as their Savior, their Redeemer, their healer. As a parent, I can understand how that kind of faith and righteousness would bring tears.

Wouldn’t it be remarkable to be among people whose faith moved even the Savior to tears?

But I also wonder if some of those tears came from what He knew about their future. He knew that within four generations they would forget these truths and trample them underfoot. That thought adds another layer of tenderness to the moment.

Later, in verse 24, the angels descend and the children are encircled by fire while angels minister to them. I can hardly imagine the emotion of witnessing something like that — a sacred moment where heaven and earth briefly meet.

As I pondered the entire chapter, my mind wandered to another question. When the Savior comes again, what will it look like? At this appearance to the Nephites, the world had already been shaken by earthquakes, fire, and destruction. We know from scripture and modern prophets that similar upheaval will precede His Second Coming, before the earth receives its paradisiacal glory. This one is hard to wrap my brain around.

Will we see Him before or after those events?

Questions like that don’t trouble me. They simply make me ponder.

Maybe that’s the lesson for me today: when my heart feels spiritually saturated, it might be the Lord’s quiet invitation to go home, be still, and simply ponder.

 

Learn, Discern, Endure

Some mornings in the scriptures feel like quiet conversations with the Savior, and this morning in 3 Nephi 14 felt just like that.

It reminded me again how grateful I am for the sweet nuggets we’ve been given in the Book of Mormon. It was a good read today.

Jesus warns us about judging others and teaches that we will be judged as we have judged. Oh, how I work on this one. What exactly is judging? The definition in Webster’s Dictionary that seems to fit best is being qualified to give an opinion on something. That gives me pause. My opinion, if I’m not careful, can do more harm than good—and often it ends up tearing me down as well. That’s not where I want to go.

The real challenge is finding that sweet spot between judging and assessing a need. How do we discern without condemning?

Later in the chapter, verses 16–20 give us important clarity. The Savior teaches, “By their fruits ye shall know them.” Perhaps this is what we call righteous judgment. We are not asked to condemn people, but we are asked to discern their fruits. Why do you suppose? Because people with evil intent—and there are many—have the capacity to destroy others in their path. I learned that lesson firsthand. Learning to see people as the Savior sees them while still recognizing the fruits of their actions is the real balance.

Jesus also warns about sharing sacred things with those who would not understand and might mock them. This can be especially difficult in families where some of our posterity no longer believe. Navigating that space requires a lot of prayer and sensitivity.

Then comes one of the most powerful invitations in scripture:

“Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

This verse carries personal history for me.

Years ago, when I was newly returning to covenant living, I learned quickly that Jesus was not exaggerating when He told us to ask. I was sitting on an organ bench in the chapel, completely flummoxed. I knew organs, but this was a pipe organ with more power and complexity than I understood.

The thought came: Pray.

So I did.

As soon as I finished, the back door of the chapel opened. The “intruder” was the very man who had installed the magnificent instrument. He gave me a quick 20-minute overview of its unique features and how to control them. What a tender mercy! Suddenly I could make sense of it.

I was thrilled. When I left that practice session I could hardly contain myself at the miracle I had just experienced. By the time I arrived home—only a short drive away—a song was forming in my mind: “He Answers Prayer.” By the end of the weekend the song was written. Another miracle. I had never been taught how to properly notate music, but somehow I did it.

Verse 7 may be one of the most underestimated pieces of counsel the Lord has given. He really means it—ask.

How many times I have knelt and said a very simple prayer:

“Heavenly Father, could I please sleep well tonight so I can do what is required of me tomorrow.”

Or,

“I can’t fix this. I’m giving it to You while I sleep.”

And in the morning, the solution comes easily or ceases to even nag me. Things fall into place. This counsel is powerful.

In verse 9 we are reminded of the promise of eternal life to those who endure to the end. Once we have entered into covenants and received the blessings of the temple, enduring faithfully is what remains. There will be troubles, persecutions, and all manner of challenges in this life. Enduring well is what brings us back to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Press forward in faith.

The Savior also speaks of His “other sheep.” For years we have associated that phrase with the ancient inhabitants of the Americas. In a study note I wrote on December 23, 2021, I recorded learning that missionaries in various parts of the world have encountered people whose traditions closely resemble teachings Christ gave to the Nephites. Some accounts suggest traditions in places like England and even Russia that echo similar teachings. I find that fascinating.

Another note I wrote years ago records a returned missionary sharing that a traveling patriarch once told missionaries in a fireside that he had given patriarchal blessings to individuals from every one of the lost tribes of Israel.

We truly are living in a remarkable time.

I am deeply thankful for the Book of Mormon and for the growing witness of its truthfulness. The Savior promised that nothing would remain hidden forever. Knowledge will come as we are ready to receive it.

What a gift.

What a blessing.

What a blessing it is to follow a Savior who teaches us how to discern, invites us to ask, and then helps us endure to the end. 

Quiet Things of the Heart — 3 Nephi 13

As I read 3 Nephi 13 this morning, the Savior is giving the people what we know as the Lord’s Prayer. But along with the prayer, He is teaching something deeper about quiet devotion.

His instructions are simple:

• Give in quiet humility.

• Pray in secret.

• Keep our thoughts clean.

• Fast without drawing attention to it.

• Seek heavenly treasures rather than earthly ones.

A pattern begins to emerge—so much of true discipleship happens quietly.

“Pray in secret.” I love my private time with the Lord. It is sacred to me.

This makes me think about something I’ve pondered about before—blessing the food in a restaurant. I’ll admit it sometimes feels awkward. I’m probably wrong about that because we should give thanks in all things, and it can be a wonderful example. I’ve often seen couples bow their heads before eating and thought, Why don’t I do that?

I find peace in quietly pausing and thanking Heavenly Father in my heart. He knows my heart.

Verse 17 says, “Anoint thy head.” I’ve stopped on that phrase before and asked myself what it means.

Looking up the word wash led me to Book of Jeremiah 4:14:

“O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved.”

That answer satisfies me. I think of the initiatory anointing in the temple and the sacred symbolism there. For me, this instruction from Jesus means I need to cleanse my thoughts. My mind runs about ninety miles an hour most days, but fasting is a time to quiet it and focus on the purpose of the fast - drawing nearer to Him.

Verse 18 reminds us that the Father “who is in secret… seeth in secret.” Perhaps this is another reminder that fasting isn’t something to advertise.

Then the Savior speaks of treasures.

Verses 19–20 are clear as a bell: earthly treasures are temporary. The treasures that matter most to me are my family. I want every one of them securely anchored in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

At this stage of my life, how do I help with that?

• Attend the temple regularly.

• Pray for each of them by name.

• Love them every chance I get.

• And sometimes create those moments to love them, even when it isn’t easy.

• Do family history work. We’ve been promised that those we help on the other side will help us here. I hold tightly to that promise.

Another verse that has fascinated me for decades is verse 22: “The light of the body is the eye.”

Over the years I’ve noticed something. When you look into someone’s eyes, you can often see light… or the absence of it. What is truly sad is watching someone turn away from the gospel of Jesus Christ. The change is visible.

There is a lot to ponder in this chapter. But the thought that keeps returning to me is this: we can trust our Heavenly Father. He knows our thoughts, our intentions, and our efforts. He knows how to guide each of us home.

More and more lately I hear the same message repeated—He is in relentless pursuit of His children. He wants us to return.

And in this chapter, the Savior gently teaches a few quiet ways we can begin becoming more like Him.

I Wonder When He Comes Again

My thoughts this morning linger on a small detail in 3 Nephi. When the Savior appears to the people at Bountiful, I’ve always pictured Him in a white robe—radiant, resurrected, whole.

But in Doctrine and Covenants 133:48–51, when He comes again to the whole world, His garments are described as red, like one who has “trodden the winepress alone.” That language comes from Isaiah 63:1–3, where the Messiah’s garments are stained red in judgment.

So I found myself wondering: if the Atonement had already happened before He visited the Nephites, why do we picture Him in white at Bountiful instead of red?

Maybe the answer lies in the people He stood before.

Those gathered at Bountiful had just lived through unimaginable destruction. Cities had fallen. Darkness had covered the land. The wicked had been swept away. Those who remained were humbled and repentant.

Judgment had already happened.

What they needed now was reassurance.

Throughout scripture, white garments symbolize purity, resurrection, and redemption. Alma asks, “Have your garments been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ?” (Alma 5:21–24). White is the result of His sacrifice in the lives of the repentant.

That fits Bountiful perfectly.

They did not need a reminder of judgment—they had just witnessed it. They needed to see the Living Christ, the Redeemer who had overcome death.

But when He comes again, as described in Doctrine and Covenants 133, the emphasis shifts. Then He comes as the Judge of all the earth, the One who has trodden the winepress alone.

Sometimes the Lord reveals Himself according to what His people need most in that moment.

To the humbled, He comes in white.

To a defiant world, He comes in red.

And I find peace in knowing that the One who will someday come in red to judge the world is the same Savior who once stood in white among the repentant and invited them to come unto Him.

Secret Combinations and Wickedness Rules

As I read in 3 Nephi 6–7 today, I felt an uneasiness settle in my heart — not fear exactly, but deep pondering.

In 2024, Clyde and I began listening to the Adamic Code series by Timothy Knutsen. As we’ve listened, I sometimes wonder what the world might yet become. Will there come a time when prophets and apostles must disappear quietly, even be hunted or silenced? We have been told that the Book of Helaman — and the chapters that follow — were preserved for our day, that we might recognize the patterns preceding the Savior’s Second Coming. Still, it feels almost unfathomable.

I look at our prophet,  President Dallin H. Oaks, and I see a man respected throughout the world, an instrument for tremendous good. People love him. It is difficult to imagine a world that would reject such goodness — yet scripture reminds us that societies can change far more quickly than we think.

In just 6-7 years, the Nephites moved from peace and unity back into class distinctions and division. Prosperity returned, and with it came pride. Pride truly is a slippery slope.

Some remained humble while others became prideful. What made the difference?

Agency.

The church itself fractured within only a few years. Interestingly, those Lamanites who had been converted remained firm, steadfast, and immovable, diligent in keeping the commandments of the Lord. Those who fell away were not merely confused — they willfully rebelled. They succumbed to the familiar tactics of Satan: pride, power, authority, riches, and the vain things of the world.

It is that word willfully that troubles me most.

I know people dear to me who once stood solidly in faith but now choose to ignore sacred promises they once cherished. One temptation — the pull of attention or worldly validation — has proven stronger than expected. Watching this unfold makes these scriptures feel painfully current.

There is one difference I still hope remains between their time and ours. We have not yet seen believers secretly put to death for their testimonies of Christ as described in 3 Nephi 6:23. Yet we do see corruption — judges and lawyers who fail to uphold justice, wrongdoing left unpunished, and increasing distrust in institutions meant to protect society.

Just a short time ago -  2022, I wondered how the divisions described in these chapters might appear in my small world. I thought perhaps nations or states would fracture. By 2024, my thoughts shifted toward political and ideological divisions already forming — movements and identities separating people into camps. And now, as I write on March 2, 2026, global tensions and discussions of war remind me how fragile peace truly is.

Chapter 7 raises another question for me: What regulates our country?

For us, regulation comes through the Constitution of the United States — an inspired document. While there are movements seeking to weaken or dismantle it, there are also many striving to preserve and protect it. The scriptures describe a tragic moment when the people were “united in their hatred and desire to destroy the government.” What a sobering commentary on what collective anger can become.

And yet — amid all this chaos — one figure stands out — Nephi.

While society collapses into tribes and division, Nephi is visited daily by angels. He goes forth boldly preaching repentance and remission of sins through faith in Jesus Christ. He casts out devils, heals the afflicted, and even raises his brother from the dead after he had been stoned. The people witness miracles with their own eyes — and yet many grow angry with him because of his power.

How can someone see a miracle and deny its divine origin?

This is what happens when the Spirit ceases to dwell within us. Spiritual blindness replaces spiritual sight.

As I relate these chapters to our day, I cannot help but feel we may be approaching a similar place in our story. The Brethren continually preach love, repentance, and returning to the covenant path. Their message is consistent and urgent.

God is in relentless pursuit of His children. Even as societies divide and hearts harden, His invitation remains unchanged: “Turn ye, turn ye unto me.” The question is not whether He is calling — but whether we are willing to hear Him.