2.345 He has Heard Our Prayers

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. Thank the Lord for modern revelation. We are reading this week the Articles of Faith as well as Official Declaration 1 and 2 and Ether chapters 8-11.

We've taken a look at the Articles of Faith and Official Declaration number 1. Today we're going to look at Official Declaration number 2. Which presents the news that the priesthood is available to all worthy men, regardless of race or color.

Comes out in 1978. And the section that I chose inside of this one really has more to do with the concept—I guess the principle. I'm kind of struggling with the term that I want to grasp here.

More, the principle of what happens before my lifetime, so I can say my feelings in terms of experiencing it in real life. But this day I have heard many times shared through stories of those that can remember hearing this on the radio. They can remember hearing it from the pulpit and the excitement and love that they had for loved ones, for themselves, in terms of being able to receive the priesthood and all of the blessings that accompany it.

Here's what keeps stewing in my mind. This is Official Declaration 2 and this paragraph here and the paragraphs before it here, it's more than just about the priesthood. In fact, maybe let's go to the questions that revolve around this one so much.

I've been all around the world. I've laid my hands on others' heads for blessings and been with others of all races and creeds in terms of race and color and participated as priesthood brethren in those blessings. But when didn't it happen then?

And how come it took so long here? And all of these questions. And you know, really, I think the principle that I take out of this one is that the Lord's timing is the Lord's timing.

We could very easily in our own lives say, "Well, Lord, why didn't you help me? Help me get married earlier or help me get married at all? Or, Lord, why couldn't we have the children that we wanted to have?

Or how come we didn't get the job that we were hoping to get the job for? Or why didn't this happen the way that I wanted it to happen?" We can go down any one of those streams all the time, and at the end of the day we really have the opportunity to pause and to say, "Look, the Lord has promised that those who are faithful will have all things work out. All things will be for their good." Can we trust that regardless of the timing, even if the timing seems inconvenient for us, even if the timing seems like it's not the right time through our lens of the world?

My friends, I want to continue to have the faith to trust the Lord and His timing. I want to be better at that. I want to be more patient.

And I know, as I say that, that the Lord is hearing it and saying, "Oh, Allen, I'm going to help you with that patience." I want to trust the Lord in His timing, and this paragraph in this Official Declaration number 2 helps me remember to trust the Lord's timing and know that it will work out for all of those that seek to follow the commandments and seek to keep the covenants that they've made. I am grateful to the Lord for open, modern revelation. 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.