2.320 My Heart has been Filled with Sorrow

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. Have you ever thought into what it was like to be Mormon?

We're reading this week, Doctrine and Covenants sections 129 through 132, as well as 3 Nephi 29 through Mormon chapter 2. And we're going to go into that book now. As we finish out our week of readings, Mormon's an interesting prophet.

He, of course, compiles this incredible record that we have, another testament of Jesus Christ in our lives, which is then translated by Joseph Smith through the gift and power of God. But Mormon did not live in the greatest of times. In fact, we probably couldn't even use kind of the Charles Dickens tale of two cities here Names from the Bible Book of Mormon Doctrine and Covenants Pearl of Great Price Names from the Bible Book of Mormon Doctrine and Covenants Henry B Eyring Dieter F Uchtdorf But he gives us some interesting insight into those difficult times In fact I might even say that I feel like as he saw our day and he considered what to put inside of his own records he thought you know what maybe some of my experiences as I pass them on to those that will read them later could help them in their experiences And that's what I want to share with you today.

Our verse for today is Mormon chapter 2 verse 19, but I want you to read 18 with it. We're not going to read 18. I'll read a little segment of it after I read 19.

But this is what Mormon says in Mormon chapter 2 verse 19. The Bible says, And I will stand with sorrow because of their wickedness all my days. Nevertheless, I know that I shall be lifted up at the last day.

Mormon grew up at a time where even when he was 10, 11 years old, he's like rushed out of town because they're in the middle of war and he's raised in a time of war and Mormon's going to witness the entire destruction of his people. He's literally watching the crumbling of his society around him. A little bit in verse 18 he says it a continual scene of wickedness and abominations My friends there some days maybe not full days but there are definitely some minutes and hours in my life where I feel like I'm only seeing a continual scene of wickedness and abomination.

And I'm not even seeking it out. It's on the news or it's in the newspaper, it's on social media or whatever. We are living in days, I believe, very similar to Mormon's days.

And yet Mormon's insight in 19 gives me hope and it gives me light. And I hope it gives you hope and light as well. Did you catch the part at the end there?

He's filled with sadness and life is heavy for him, but his faith is that he will be lifted up. My friends, I hope, one, that you can find, through your faith in Christ, a light during the difficult, dark days. And two, that you perhaps could be a light for others during their difficult and dark days.

I know that for me, recently, personally, I've had some challenges with our family, Names from the Bible Book of Mormon Doctrine and Covenants Pearl of Great Price Names from the Bible Book of Mormon Doctrine and Covenants Henry B Eyring Dieter F Uchtdorf I going through some very difficult times right now I know that the Lord helps us through those times And I grateful for Mormon sharing these pieces with us that can say hey we may be totally surrounded with sorrow wickedness contention abominations all the things but I absolutely can keep my faith that things get better My friends, things get better. I know it. And I know that they get better through the power of Jesus Christ.

My faith in Him is absolutely a light in the darkest of times. Mormon watched his entire civilization crumble. I can't imagine the sadness and the sorrow he felt.

And yet, the faith he had is an example to each one of us to get up and to continue We are ready to seek the Lord throughout our lives. We can do this. That's all for today, my friends.

Lift up your hearts and rejoice. Cleave into the covenants you have made and together we will be savory salt. For more information, visit us at www.fema.org.