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When God Chooses to Save Souls Instead of Nations

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When God Chooses to Save Souls Instead of Nations Reflections while studying Judges 6–8 While studying the story of Gideon in Judges 6–8, a thought settled into my mind with surprising clarity. If God could conquer the Midianites through Gideon and only three hundred men—an intentionally impossible military situation—then surely He could purify any government on earth today. He could throw down oppressive regimes, expose corruption, or raise up righteous leaders in a single generation. His power has never been the limiting factor. But that does not seem to be His focus in our day. Again and again, the scriptures show that God is far more concerned with the condition of His covenant people than with the condition of their political institutions. He refines individuals long before He restructures nations. He prepares hearts before He rearranges kingdoms. And today, He seems to be directing His people not ...
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The New Standard of Love Jesus Gave

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Jesus raised the standard of love. The Mosaic law taught, “Love your neighbor as yourself” , a command Jesus affirmed as the second great commandment. But on the night before His crucifixion, He gave His disciples something deeper, something distinctly shaped by His own life: “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you.” ( John 13:34–35 ) Elder Jeffrey R. Holland notes that Jesus chose this commandment as His final, summarizing lesson—“one grand, eternal principle”—to sustain His disciples once He was no longer physically with them. He explains that the word new (Greek kainēn ) means “fresh,” a renewed and intensified version of an ancient law. What was new was the measure: “As I have loved you.” What Did Jesus Mean by “As I Have Loved You”? Service and humility At the Last Supper, Jesus washed His disciples’ feet—an act normally reserved for the lowest servant. ...
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What Zion Is, What It’s Made Of, and How We Build It Today

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Zion has always been more than a place. It is a people — a covenant people — shaped by contrast, refined by choice, and anchored in Christ in a world that is not. Zion is what happens when ordinary disciples choose holiness in the middle of opposition, noise, and spiritual counterfeits. It is heaven taking root in human hearts. Scripture gives the clearest definition: “The Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.” — Moses 7:18 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/pgp/moses/7.18 Zion is unity, righteousness, and generosity — not perfection, but harmony born of covenant commitment. President Russell M. Nelson taught: “The gathering of Israel ultimately leads to the creation of Zion—where the pure in heart dwell.” ( Let God Prevail , October 2020) https://www.churcho...
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When We Know Who Wins: What Is Our Part in a Shaking World?

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What Is Our Part in a Shaking World? One of the quiet miracles of the Christian story is that God has already told us the ending. Christ wins. Light wins. Love wins. Justice wins. The Lamb triumphs. The kingdoms of this world “become the kingdoms of our Lord” (Revelation 11:15). Knowing the ending doesn’t make the middle easy — but it does change how we walk through it. It means we don’t have to live in panic. It means we don’t have to carry the whole world on our backs. It means our efforts can be rooted in hope instead of fear. So if Christ wins, what is our responsibility now? What does God actually ask of us in a world that feels like it’s burning? We Prepare the World by Becoming More Like Christ President Russell M. Nelson taught: “The Lord needs you to be His people and to be prepared for the Second Coming of the Savior.” ( The Gathering of Israel , Worldwide Youth Devotional, 2018) ...
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When the World Feels Like It’s Burning

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Finding Peace That Doesn’t Depend on Circumstances There are moments in history — and moments in our personal lives — when the world feels like it’s shaking under our feet. The news cycles faster than our hearts can keep up. Tragedies stack on top of each other. People we love are hurting. And sometimes it feels like everything depends on our vigilance, our effort, our outrage, our action...  That sense that if we don’t hold the world together, maybe no one will. But in the middle of all that noise, I’ve been learning something quieter. Something steadier. Something that feels like it comes from God rather than from the world. Christ never asked us to carry the whole world. He asked us to walk with Him in it. The Peace Christ Gives Is Not the World’s Peace Jesus made a promise that feels almost impossible in chaotic times: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you… Let not your heart be troubled, neither let i...
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Becoming Whole: How Grace Completes Our Obedience

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In Relief Society, we had a thoughtful discussion about obedience and grace. These two principles can feel paradoxical. If we are saved by grace , why must we be obedient ? And if obedience can never “earn” heaven—because none of us will ever be perfectly obedient—why not rely on grace alone? I believe the answer lies in understanding why God gives commandments and how grace actually works . 1. Commandments show us how to live joyfully and become like God. God does not give commandments as a test we must pass to earn heaven. He gives them because they describe the kind of life that leads to joy, peace, and spiritual growth now . “Men are, that they might have joy.” — 2 Nephi 2:25 Christ taught that obedience is an expression of love and alignment with Him: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” — John 14:15 President Dieter F. Uchtdorf explained: “God does not need us to be obedient so He can love us. We need to be obedient so we can learn to love Hi...
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A Brief Meditation for Couples

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When you think of the one you love,   what fills your mind? Is it longing for their presence,   or the comfort they bring? Is it admiration,   or gratitude for what they give? Is it the joy of sharing your life—   your discoveries, your small triumphs? Or is it the quiet question   of how you might lighten their load,  or make their day gentler? Which thoughts honor them,   and which simply circle back to you?   Which are born of active love,   and which reflect your truest intention toward them?   Which would they hope to find in your heart?
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