"Thou knowest not the works of God"

"As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all."

 - Ecclesiastes 11:5

One of the greatest lessons I've learned in my life is that my knowledge compared to God's like that of a toddler's compared to his parents.  That comparison has helped me to trust God, even when I don't understand a commandment or why things are happening to me.  He knows.  He has the infinite knowledge and wisdom and love of a perfect parent.

#comefollowme

Image: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/youth/childrenandyouth/parenting/giving-kids-a-growth-mindset?lang=eng

A Sense of Eternity

"It is beautiful how God has done everything at the right time. He has put a sense of eternity in people's minds. Yet, mortals still can't grasp what God is doing from the beginning to the end [of time]."

- Ecclesiastes 3:11 (GOD'S WORD® Translation)

When I see the works of Creation, I am reminded of a Heavenly Father who sees all eternity before Him and uses that knowledge to bless me. I trust Him.

#comefollowme

Image: NASA, ESA, STScI, William Blair (JHU); Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)

"History merely repeats itself"

The thing that hath been, 
it is that which shall be; 
and that which is done 
is that which shall be done: 
and there is no new thing under the sun.
 - Ecclesiastes 1:9

I love this verse.

The New Living Translation says it this way:  "History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new."

As I pondered this, a couple of thoughts came to mind:

1. This is why we are encouraged in the Book of Mormon to remember the captivity of our fathers.  Just as our fathers needed Jesus Christ to deliver them, so do we today find ourselves in spiritual and sometimes physical bondage, but Jesus can deliver us too.

2. We can look back to our pre-earth life for insight and wisdom that guides us today.  What we experience here is a pattern of what was experienced before.  We see that our great heavenly family is a pattern of our families on earth.  There is always a fight between good and evil.  We can always count on the Savior to be true to His promises, and we can also assume that Satan will promise the world and then break those promises once we are captive to him.

And in the U.S., it seems appropriate that I read these verses today, on the 25th anniversary of 9/11.

#comefollowme #911Remembrance

Avoid anger

The anonymity of social media invites anger, outrage, judgment, and unkindness.  Beware these.  They are tools of the Adversary.

"Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul."
 - Proverbs 22:24-25

#comefollowme #Grokimagine

Pleasant Words

 If I have learned anything in life, it's that treating others with kindness improves my own attitude and raises everyone.

"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."
 - Proverbs 16:24

#comefollowme #Grokimagine

Jesus himself drew near (Come, Follow Me)

From this week's Come, Follow Me reading...  If we gather and speak of Christ, He will walk with us.

And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
Luke 24:15

I have overcome (Come, Follow Me)

From today's Come, Follow Me reading in John comes these comforting words.  Jesus Christ is the ultimate source of peace and joy.

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
John 16:33

He loved them unto the end (Come, Follow Me)

Studying Come, Follow Me this week, I found this comforting verse. Because of His love for us, Jesus Christ endured to the end, in the garden and on the cross. As a result, He opened the door to salvation and eternal happiness for all. May I follow His example in exercising enduring love for others.

He loved them unto the end.
John 13:1

The house of prayer (Come, Follow Me)

My house shall be called the house of prayer

Matthew 21:13

Come Back Podcast: "the Book of Mormon didn't do anything for me personally"

Reading the Book of Mormon can signal to God that we are open to his divine help.  Some may wonder, "why don't I feel anything when I read the Book of Mormon?" or "why didn't I get an answer that the Book of Mormon is true?"

In this Come Back Podcast interview, Lauren Rose shares her experience reading the Book of Mormon and how it was a turning point in her life.  After reading it, she said, "the Book of Mormon didn't do anything for me personally", but she recognized that it opened the door to Heavenly help:

Sometimes the Lord uses small acts of faith, like reading the Book of Mormon, to start making changes in our lives that lead us to the happiness we seek.

I love the Come Back Podcast.  So many people have finding their faith in Christ and coming back.

With God all things are possible (Come, Follow Me)

I have seen so many miracles in my life, that I know this is true:

With God all things are possible.
Mark 10:27

ChatGPT and Scripture Study

Many are concerned that ChatGPT might be used for questionable or unethical purposes or that it might take away the need for learning.  I like to believe that technology is inspired to help carry out the work of the Lord and spread His truth.  If used wisely, I believe ChatGPT can be another instrument that brings us closer to God.

To that end, I decided to try out ChatGPT.  I asked a series of questions and was pleased with the results.  Here are some examples.

Chat:  Please list ten names or titles of Jesus Christ from the Book of Mormon.

1. The Lord God Omnipotent
2. The Holy One of Israel
3. The Redeemer of the World
4. The Light and the Life of the World
5. The Savior of Men
6. The Prince of Peace
7. The Good Shepherd
8. The Great Mediator
9. The Resurrection and the Life
10. The Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.

Chat:  Please list ten names or titles of Jesus Christ from the Bible.

1. Son of God
2. Lord
3. Messiah (Christ)
4. Immanuel (God with us)
5. King of Kings
6. Lord of Lords
7. Lamb of God
8. The Word
9. The Way, the Truth, and the Life
10. The Bread of Life

ChatGPT provided some insightful comments in response to several questions, but occasionally it gave unusual responses that made me think.  Here's one example:

Chat: What symbols in the Book of Mormon point us to Christ?

The Book of Mormon uses several symbols that point to the Savior Jesus Christ. Some examples of these symbols include:

• The Tree of Life: The tree of life is a symbol of the love of God and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It represents the source of eternal life, and it is an invitation to partake of the love and grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
• The Iron Rod: The Iron Rod is a symbol of the word of God, it represents the way to eternal life, it is a guide to navigate the difficulties of life and come to the presence of God.
• The Liahona: The Liahona is a symbol of the guidance and direction that God provides through the Holy Ghost. It reminds us that we are not alone and that God is always with us, guiding and directing us along the path to eternal life.
• The Atonement of Christ: The Atonement of Jesus Christ is a central symbol in the Book of Mormon, and it is frequently referenced throughout the text. The Atonement represents the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the sins of humanity, and it reminds us of the infinite love and compassion of God.
• The Temple: The Temple is a symbol of the House of the Lord, the place where God dwells, the place where we can make covenants with God and receive the blessings of salvation and eternal life.
• The Word of God: The Word of God is symbolized by the word of Christ, the scripture, the teachings of the prophets, the voice of God, it points us to the knowledge of Christ and the path of salvation.

I think ChatGPT is a useful tool for discovering and synthesizing information in response to human input, but its results should be evaluated in light of true sources of information.  It will likely improve over time.  Careful use of this tool may provide valuable learning opportunities.

In this place, peace (Come, Follow Me)

Comforting counsel and a ray of hope from this week's Come, Follow Me reading in Haggai

in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.

Haggai 2:9

His glory covered the heavens (Come, Follow Me)

I love these words from Habakkuk 3:4-6.  Whenever I see new images from the Webb or Hubble telescopes, I see the evidence of God's power and love.

His glory covered the heavens,
And his brightness was as the light
His ways are everlasting

Gracious and Merciful (Come, Follow Me)

I am grateful for a kind, merciful, patient, and gracious Savior who I can turn to.

Turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness.

Joel 2:13

The Appearance of the Bow (Come, Follow Me)

Even in challenging times, the Lord is with us, and we can see evidence of His presence and love in the beauty of the earth that He created.

As the appearance of the bow
that is in the cloud in the day of rain,
so was the appearance of the brightness round about.
This was the appearance
of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.
Ezekiel 1:28

The Lord Is Good (Come, Follow Me)

From this week's Come, Follow Me reading comes this comforting verse:

The Lord is good unto them
that wait for him,
to the soul that seeketh him.
Lamentations 3:25

While my life has been full of challenges and trials, I know these words are true.  The Lord has given me guidance, strength, and wisdom, and continues to sustain me as I seek Him. 

Righteousness and Praise to Spring Forth (Come, Follow Me)

Hope and beauty in this week's Come, Follow Me reading:

For as the earth bringeth forth her bud,
and as the garden causeth the things
that are sown in it to spring forth;
so the Lord God will cause righteousness
and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Isaiah 61:11

He Will Comfort All (Come, Follow Me)

From this week's Come, Follow Me reading in Isaiah comes this comforting verse.

For the Lord shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.  (Isaiah 51:3)

Why Life and Freedom?

I believe life and freedom are two of the highest ideals that we should defend and uphold.  A review of the scriptures shows why.

• Jesus Christ, our Creator, gave us our life and then gave His life that we might all be resurrected and delivered from certain death.
• "the Spirit of God ... is also the spirit of freedom" (Alma 61:15)
• One of the primary messages of all scripture is that the Lord delivers from captivity and death.  Look at the example of the deliverance of Israel from bondage in Egypt and so many other examples of deliverance.
• "God will deliver ... all those who stand fast in that liberty wherewith God hath made them free." (Alma 61:21)
• "we honor individual agency. Most are aware of this Church’s great efforts to promote religious freedom. These efforts are in furtherance of our Heavenly Father’s plan. We seek to help all of His children—not just our own members—enjoy the precious freedom to choose." (President Dallin H. Oaks)