Day 169 Repentance: Claiming Mercy and Finding Rest

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus tells his followers that they are the salt of the earth, and in the same sentence offers a warning that savorless salt is good for nothing. Join me in an attempt to be savory salt as I share each day one verse of scripture and one small thought. Perhaps this small daily emphasis can lead to greater savor in your life and ultimately you and I can be savory salt.

Hello, my friends and family. Wherever you're listening from, thank you for joining me and know that I'm cheering for your every success. Congratulations are in order as together we have accomplished 45% of the Book of Mormon together.

We are almost on the downhill slope of reading the Book of Mormon. It has been amazing and it's absolutely worth your time and attention to pause and see what it's been for you. We are on day 169 on our 365-day journey through the Book of Mormon.

Well done sticking with it and sticking with me. This has been fun. I hope you're enjoying it because I'm having a good time.

Today you're going to be reading Alma 12:30–37. You finish that, and then you'll continue and read the first four verses: Alma 13:1–4. This is a continuation of yesterday's thoughts.

Alma cast a vision that was pretty dark about all of the things that are going to condemn us before we stand before our maker. And today he gives us the other side of the coin. And that's where I want to pick up on.

It is Alma 12:34. And he says, "Therefore, whosoever repenteth and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine only begotten Son unto a remission of his sins, and these shall enter into my rest." My friends, if you want rest and peace, then repent and soften your heart. I know this seems like it's been regular messaging, repent, repent, repent.

Alma comes in, the Book of Alma just starts off and Alma's like, "And you repent, and you repent, and you repent." And President Nelson has had a call across our General Conference talk times, right, where he said, "'And you consider daily repentance, and you consider daily repentance.'" It's really interesting because I think it's starting to set in a little bit for me. I think repentance is important and I hope that I'm learning to apply it more in my life. It really got me thinking about, my goodness, as I try to do this, you know, and as I try to think about what it means to repent and what it looks like on a daily basis.

It's not like I'm out breaking laws and intentionally breaking commandments. So what does daily repentance look like for me? And I kind of settled on at least the first verse of a hymn.

I won't share the whole thing with you and I certainly won't sing it, that's for sure. But the hymn, I'll put a link to it so that you can find it as well. But the hymn, "More Holiness Give Me," really kind of spoke to me a little bit about this message.

And this message that we can have claim on mercy through our Savior. Verse one says, "More holiness give me, more strivings within, more patience in suffering, more sorrow for sin, more faith in my Savior, more sense of His care, more joy in His service, more purpose in prayer." My friends, I love the music that can bring the Spirit in my life. And I am so grateful to a Savior and a plan of redemption given to us by our Heavenly Father that allows me to have claim on mercy as I seek repentance in my life.

I hope that this doesn't just sound like a single note being replayed on the piano, Repent, repent, repent, repent. But rather, I hope it's an opportunity for you and me to reflect in our lives and see how we can become more like our Savior on a daily basis. That's all for today, my friends.

Remember that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass. Keep it small, keep it simple, and always seek to be savory salt. I'll be here tomorrow and I hope you are too.