2.228 Seek Ye Out... the Best Books

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. Let's talk about books and other things too. We're reading this week Doctrine and Covenants Section 88.

Yes, we are still in it. And Alma Chapters 48 through 52. We will get back to Alma tomorrow.

But we are doing another verse inside of Section 88 because I've left so much on the table. There's so much that we haven't talked about in Section 88. But we have to address this one just because it has been one that has been such an influence in my life.

We're gonna fast from yesterday, 50 verses, and land inside of our verse for today: Doctrine and Covenants Section 88, verse 118. 119 also gets an awesome nod, by the way, but 118 is our verse for today. And as all have not faith, seek ye diligently and teach one another words of wisdom. Yea, seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom.

Seek learning, even by study and also by faith. Now, did you catch on the front end why we're to seek these out? As all have not faith, good books, teaching one another words of wisdom from these good books—not just good books, but best books—opens the door to help us develop our faith.

Now, what has that been for you? Does that mean that, you know, we're only supposed to focus on self-help books or only religious books? I don't think so.

I don't think so. But I think the Lord is trying to let us know that as we help each other and maybe even as we lift each other inside of, I don't know, book clubs or masterminds around books or something like that, right? That we have an opportunity to seek diligently and teach each other words of wisdom from the best books that we have.

So, yes, if you're thinking about the list, you know, The Book of Mormon is the best book we have, right? Everyone like, "Oh, that, my favorite book!" Or The Bible. Yes, absolutely!

Are there more? I think the Lord's saying, "Yes, there is." And I think with this being from the time period it is, that I kind of feel like the Lord would include inside of here the best books, the best movies, the best podcasts, the best music you listen to, the best inspirational messages—whatever it is. I think he's saying, make sure that you're consuming the best stuff that you can consume.

Don't muddle yourself. Don't get down into the stuff that's just average or good. Seek out the best.

For me, one of my favorite books outside of scripture is one, well, I've got a couple honestly that are kind of my go-tos, but one of them is called "The Majesty of Calmness" by William George Jordan. I've quoted from it inside of this podcast. I love that book.

I think it has some of the best words of wisdom in it. And then on a flip side, my daughters certainly know this for sure, but one of my favorite series of books is "The Lord of the Rings." And I think the messages we get inside of there absolutely have words of wisdom that we can pull from them. One of them primarily being that good, no matter its size.

I love that message. So, my friends, seek out the best books and teach one another words of wisdom. I love this advice from the Lord.

I love this commandment from the Lord that we should spend our time in the best, not in good, not in okay, certainly not in the dregs. We should spend our time in the best, seeking words of wisdom and doing so with faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 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. For more information, visit us at www.savorysalt.org.