Joyful Wells | Sharing Cups of Water

Lehi was a man whom the Lord called “blessed” because he was “faithful and declared the things [God] commanded [him]” (1 Nephi 1:6). This is important to remember because, despite the people’s reaction to Lehi’s preaching, he remained faithful. He didn’t declare anything the Lord didn’t want him to. Their reaction and their fruits were not indicative of Lehi’s mission, faithfulness, or alignment with God. It is interesting that the Covenant of Christ opens with several examples of interpersonal conflict. It doesn’t begin with flattering stories about Lehi being a good husband, a faithful employee, a good sense of humor, a beloved friend, or a warm personality. Instead, beginning on page one, it goes straight to the heart of what prevents God’s kingdom from growing on earth: disagreements that turn into division. The very first interaction between two or more people that we read about in Lehi’s ministry is negative—Lehi was met by the people in Jerusalem with mocking (speech that bel...

“ Then the Angel told me: You’ve seen that if the Gentiles repent, it will turn out well for them. You also know about the Lord’s covenants with the house of Israel. And you’ve also heard that whoever doesn’t repent must perish.  As a result, if the Gentiles harden their hearts against the Lamb of God, I will afflict them.  Because the time will come, says the Lamb of God, when I’ll bring about a great and awe-inspiring work among mankind, one that will be everlasting — one way or the other — either to convince them, resulting in peace and life eternal; or to give them up to their hard hearts and blind minds, bringing about their slavery and temporal and spiritual destruction , under the accuser’s enslavement which I’ve spoken about.” - 1 Nephi 3:26 Covenant of Christ

I rise with the Sun. I am born with the dawn. I am Ra when he appears upon the horizon, young and radiant in the morning sky. The gates of the east open for me, and the doors of light swing wide. I take my place in the Solar Barque. I sit among the gods who steer eternity. My name is spoken by the crew of heaven, and I am not turned away. I pass over the sky as the living do, yet I belong to those who never perish. The air is mine, the light is mine, the flame within the sun is my soul. At midday I am strong. No shadow clings to me. Serpents fall back, darkness has no power, for I travel with the Eye of Ra and my voice is fire. I know the secret names of the hours. I know the paths of the sky. Nothing blocks my way, for I am recognized in every realm. At evening I do not die. I descend as Ra descends, whole, complete, unbroken. The western gates receive me gently, and the gods of the dusk lift their hands in welcome. I journey through night as the ...

Throughout the Bible, whenever the tabernacle or a temple was destroyed, it never meant God was done with temples. It always meant the people had fallen into apostasy and needed to repent. When repentance was proven, the temple was restored. After the Tabernacle was lost, God gave Israel Solomon’s Temple. After Solomon’s Temple was destroyed, God commanded the people to rebuild the Second Temple. Every time a temple fell, it was followed by restoration—not the end of temples. Because of this pattern, it doesn’t make sense to say that when the temple was destroyed in Jesus’ day, it meant temples were finished. If that were true, then the loss of the Tabernacle or the First Temple should have meant the same thing. But no one believes that. The Bible also talks about a temple in heaven and future temples in prophecy, which shows God still uses and values sacred space. So the destruction of the temple ~40 years after Christ’s death fits the old pattern: it signaled apostasy and the need fo...

The sons of Adam and the sons of Noah were not called “sons” merely because of biology, but because of what they proved by their faith. They became—or were begotten—sons born into God’s family  for one reason: they listened to the voice of God and obeyed. Eve said, “I have gotten a man from the Lord; wherefore he may not reject His words.” (Genesis 3:6) Of Noah and his sons, it is written, “And Noah and his sons listened unto the Lord and gave heed, and they were called the sons of God.” (Genesis 5:5) It's one of those absolute standards that you cannot become a son of God if you refuse to hearken to His voice.  Using Melchizedek as a clear example, here are the keys the scripture gives us: " Now Melchizedek was a man of faith who wrought righteousness. And when a child, he feared God, and stopped the mouths of lions, and quenched the violence of fire. And thus, having been approved of God, he was ordained a high priest after the Order of the covenant which God made with Enoch...

We yearn for peace through cooperation but will always wrestle with war to achieve it.  This is daunting.  Yet, a part of salvation consists of being a light in the (constant) darkness - fighting in that war.  A part of salvation is eternally dealing with the war and dealing with other people’s problems for their benefit.  We’re not ready to do it forever. Coming here teaches us that.  In the mean time we focus on just one step, one problem, at a time.