Seeing the world correctly

Many groups of people in the world see the exact same thing happen and have various ideas about whether it was good or bad, neutral, positive, or negative. What's important is to see things the right way, the way God sees them.

The Book of Mormon gives us a hint about how to see things in life the right way. Here's a verse in 1 Nephi 15 that explains the anchor to guide our decisions:

24 And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.

The word of God can guide our thinking and help us realize the right way to think and how to have the right perspective on many things. Most importantly, it will keep us from becoming blind due to the temptations and harmful intensity created by the adversary.

Have a great day.

Enjoy the scriptures.

Focusing on the right things

Some religions focus a lot of time/energy on Mary being the mother of Jesus. The Book of Mormon makes reference to her, and clearly she has an important role in God's Plan. However, it must be noted that she didn't appear to be a focus of Jesus' message to the world. Here's an example from Luke 11:

27 ¶And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him,^aBlessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

28 But he said, Yea rather, ^ablessed are they that hear the word of God, and ^bkeep it.

When the chance to speak about Mary was brought up by this woman, Jesus focused instead on the word of God and keeping the commandments. I believe that's instructive on the subject of Mary and how much to focus on her doing our teaching of the gospel (very little).

The Law Punishes and Protects and Rewards

Usually when I consider the law, I think about how it punishes people who have broken it. However, the law exists to also protect people who abide by it. This is very clear in D.C. 132:

19And again, verily I say unto you, if a man ^amarry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and ^beverlasting covenant, and it is ^csealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of ^dpromise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the^ekeys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them—Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit ^fthrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—then shall it be written in the Lamb’s ^gBook of Life, that he shall commit no ^hmurder whereby to shed innocent ⁱblood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their ^jexaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the ^kseeds forever and ever.

20Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from ^aeverlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be ^bgods, because they have ^callpower, and the angels are subject unto them.

21Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my ^alaw ye cannot attain to this glory.

God's word is law. If we abide by it, we will receive the gifts/blessings that go along with following his words. The ultimate law we know of is the law written around how to get married. If we're married according to the way and in the place and by the person that God prescribes, we will receive all the blessings that go along with it. Eternal marriage in the temple is a great opportunity and great blessings go along with following that law.

Also, consider how great a thing marriage is. Creating a great marriage is something that brings with it great rewards, because it's difficult but also very worthwhile. I believe it's true that accomplishing great things in life (with some exceptions) and certainly in the next life is possible only with a great spouse. The companionship and support and added thinking greatly helps. Building that in this life entitles one to great things in the next..... thanks to the law of God....