Cordon, Sister Bonnie - Come Unto Christ and Don't Come Alone

 Two points I love so far in this talk. The point about how much God loves His children. It reminded me that Elder Holland said it very eloquently when he said the first great truth is that Father loves us with his whole heart, might, mind, and strength.

Second point, learn about His plan for us through our patriarchal blessings.

Day 192 Today's reading: Alma 31:1-23

Question of the day: How is the word more powerful on the minds of the people than the sword?

The word can affect the heart and the mind. Through the word one can feel the Love of God, which truly changes people. Whereas, the sword is used to create pain and ultimately instill fear. While these are motivators, their affect is on a single person. When one is affected by the Love of God, that person in turn will desire to share that with others. In other words love spreads well from person, to family, to community, to nation, while fear remains fairly well contained to a few individuals. The word brings love to all.

D&C 101: Instructions from the Lord to be faithful

Day 7: Today's reading: 1 Nephi 5:7-6:6

Question of the day: The Nephites understood the importance of their genealogy. How has doing your family history made a difference in your life?

Any time I have taken action on anything related to family history I feel the spirit of Elijah. I think the spirit of Elijah includes the love of God that goes between this world of mortality and the spirit world. Just like we feel something special when we do missionary work or serve others, each is an opportunity to tap into charity, the pure love of Christ. This is brushing up against the love of God. 

Day 361 Today's reading: Moroni 7:35-48

Question of the day: Why do you think meekness and lowliness of heart are necessary in order to have faith and hope in the Atonement of Jesus Christ?

Meekness and lowliness are a good and interesting attributes to consider as we study faith, hope and charity.  These three are discussed together quite often and I appreciate that Moroni wants us to understand what it takes to approach faith and hope and then ultimately charity.

Before I began reading this passage, I knew that most of it was about charity and it reminded me of the passage at the beginning of the Book of Mormon from Nephi.  It is when in his vision he is learning about the fruit. He learns that it is the "love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men." In a discussion with a friend. I thought about how I have viewed this love or charity as being directional, God's love toward us and our love towards Him. My friends suggestion was that God's love was greater than that it was more like the radiance of the sun and we merely approach or brush up against it. I'm sure there is more to learn and understand about this, but as I think of my greatest spiritual moments they do always feel like intense love from Father. It is a feeling I long to feel more often.

In verse 48, we are invited to pray to have charity. It made me think that I would like to search the scriptures to know what else have we been asked to 'pray' for in the Book of Mormon. 

2 Nephi 9:51 The Invitation

Coming to God is the invitation. As we do, we fill our souls with His love, which comes through the Holy Ghost, and it is more satisfying to the soul than food and water are to the body.