2.177 For the Rising Generations

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus calls us the salt of the earth, a bold reminder that our lives are meant to carry his flavor, his truth, and his love to the world. Join me each day to explore one verse of scripture and one thought, striving to stay full of savor and truly live as savory salt. Hello, my friends.

It's great to have you with me. Today, let's be anxiously engaged in a good cause and bring to pass much righteousness. We are continuing our readings inside of Doctrine and Covenants, sections 67–70 this week, as well as Alma chapters 16–19.

We are, by the way, knocking on the door of 50% through both of those experiences, Doctrine and Covenants, as well as the Book of Mormon, which is pretty amazing and awesome considering the adventures that we have been on thus far in the year. Our verse for today comes after yesterday when I talked about a verse that had been referenced almost, you know, over a hundred times in General Conference. We're going to go to a section in Doctrine and Covenants that has been basically never quoted in General Conference.

And so that's what we're going to take a look at inside of Doctrine and Covenants section 69 here. And we're going to look specifically at verse 8. The Lord here inside of verses 7 and 8 is talking to John Whitmer.

I'm just going to sneak the very, very tail end of verse 7 here into verse 8 because it is a continuing sentence, but it will just help with your context a little bit. It says that he may the more easily obtain knowledge, preaching and expounding, writing, copying, selecting, and obtaining all things which shall be for the good of the church and for the rising generations. Now, some of you may be sitting there saying, you know what?

I agree. There's nothing in there that should be in General Conference talks. And that's okay.

That's okay. Sometimes I see things through a little bit different lens. But let me share with you what I see inside of this one.

This list here that we're talking about, the Lord's talking about with John Whitmer: preaching, expounding, writing, copying, selecting, and obtaining all things which shall be for the good of the church. What I hear here is the Lord asking John Whitmer to collect the records that will help the rising generation. Now what does that mean for me and for you?

Well, if I read something that I want to make sure that I teach my children, what am I going to do with it? And what do you do with it? I know that I've tried in the past.

For me, I've done journaling before. I know I have. I have some books that are those composition notebooks, and I write inside of those and I put stars next to the things that I want to remember and teach other people.

I tried index cards before, where I have index cards and I write a specific quote on an index card and then I file it away. My friends, what I learned here inside of this one is kind of a fun one for each one of us. Where do you collect and gather the good stuff that you want to make sure that your children or grandchildren are taught?

Do you have a library in your house? Even if it's a little one, do you have favorite books that you collect where your children and grandchildren can see the books that you read? Perhaps you have favorite places to write favorite quotations.

Maybe you needlepoint them on pillows. I can remember for when I was growing up, it was very common to have pillows on couches in the front room that had a scripture verse with a nice little picture or something sewn into it. Whatever it is, I think it's an opportunity for us to think about the way that we collect, preach, expound, write, copy, select, obtain the things which shall be for the good of the church and for the rising generation.

We talked about the role that we have as parents to teach our kids. This verse to me says, 'Hey, think about the different ways that you're going to collect that information and make it available to your kids.' So if you write in a journal, that's cool, but are your kids allowed to read your journal? And if not, where can that information become accessible?

This is great, especially in today's world, with the technology we have, to get creative about how we collect the good things that we're studying and learning in our lives and make sure that it's available to share with the rising generation from generation to generation forever and ever. I loved this verse because it reminded me of all the ways I collect my information that I think is important, and by making sure that that's available to my rising generation—the girls that I've been blessed as a father to have in my life—and make sure that I share that information with them as well. Great, great verse here that's never been quoted in General Conference.

So one of you, if you're listening and you have a General Conference talk coming up, perhaps think about adding this one in and that way we can get it on the citation index going forward. My friends, I hope that you're reading incredible things and that you're collecting them and passing them on from generation to generation. That's all for today, my friends.

Lift up your hearts and rejoice. Cleave unto the covenants you have made, and together we will be savory salt. We'll see you next time.