← Don't Miss This Study
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Hi there. Welcome to Don't Miss this, a scripture study podcast with Dave Butler and Grace Freeman.
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Each week we point out things in the scriptures that we love and think you don't want to miss.
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Thanks for listening.
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Blast off.
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Hi there, I'm Dave Butler.
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I'm Grace Freeman.
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Welcome to Don't Misses our scripture study class. Hey, you guys. This is such a rad section we're in today. 88. Okay, I should just say this. All scripture is not created equal. Right. There are some chapters that are just better than others. Nobody's putting Leviticus 28 on their missionary plaque. That's the thing. Right? There's just some.
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That's the thing.
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Well, actually, let me backpedal. Let me backpedal and say there are some sections that are uniquely favorited, you know, because of an experience I had with it.
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B
Yeah.
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Like, I remember one time making fun of a hymn. I was like, oh, that is our most boring hymn. And someone was like, oh, that hymn is where I got my testimony.
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B
And you're like.
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And I was like, oh, and I love that one. So keep it in the hymn book. Right. Because you'd have a unique experience with a certain chapter or a verse or whatever.
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B
And that's the truth about God. He could speak to you through any. Through any verse or any chapter.
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Right. He can speak through movies, certainly. He can speak through the boring scriptures.
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B
Yeah.
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Right. So there's some that are unique. Uniquely unique experiences can happen with scripture. We know that. Yeah. But then there are some that are just universal favorites that just keep getting brought up because you're like, this is so good. 88 is one of those. Some of the sections of the Doctrine and Covenants feel really, really specific to the time of the early church history. Of course, we can learn lessons from it. But you read it and you're like, I just. I don't consecrate my properties, so I kind of have the, you know, apply it. And some sections, like 88, are just home runs in and of themselves. And I'd actually go so far as to say this is. Listen, everybody, I'll warn you, it's the longest section in the whole Doctrine and Covenants. I think I'm right about that. 141 verses. You have all week to read it. I wouldn't skip a verse. They are. You're going to find so many favorites in here. It's one of the goodies. That's what I'm trying to say. Getting you excited. Not. I didn't mean to diss on any other Chapter. But this is just so, so good. So it's so big. We're gonna have, obviously, like we do every week, we'll point out our highlights of things. Don't miss this and don't miss that, right? Whoa. I just made a new channel break off channel. I want you to remember, section 87 was last time. It comes right before this. And time wise, it comes really close. Like it was Christmas Day. And this one's January or starts on December 27th, so two days later. And that section, if you didn't watch last week, was about war. And that war will be poured out upon all nations. And it was like one of those. It was kind of intense and scary. A little bit scary. A little bit like panicky.
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B
Well, for sure. If you were like, to us, we know the end of the story, so it's like, oh, that's a cool prophecy. But to them it's like, wait a minute, this is my life, actually.
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Well, we have some of those that we still are looking forward to, right? Like rumors, wars and things. And so. And it's like, whoa. That was like this revelation on war, this one, if you look in the heading, it's awesome because Joseph Smith calls it, this is an olive leaf, which is a symbol of peace plucked from the tree of paradise. He was just like, okay, yes, there is a reality to the fact that there is evil in the world that must be dealt with, that there is wars and selfishness, and that's just a reality of mortality. Now he's going to give us another reality of mortality. But this one is meant to bring peace and it's meant to bring the feelings of paradise. And that's what's awesome about this one. Because life is chaotic and it's complicated and we are human and. And mess our things up. Like, I was thinking about that war section as I was driving over and I was like, sometimes, like, the war's perfect. War's a batt. Is probably a great way to describe life on Earth, right? Sometimes I'm the perpetrator, sometimes I'm the victim. Sometimes I'm like the. What do you say? The unintended victim of things. And that's just true, right? And I battle temptation and I battle awkward situations and I battle taxes or whatever. I don't know. That was dumb. That was a dumb part of that list. But you know, battle is a great way to describe life, 100%. But let's also describe life in this 88 section way.
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B
Yeah. And I like that God's response is quick. That he's like, if I'm gonna show you the reality of mortality, I will also show you this reality of mortality.
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Yeah. And it kind of reminds me of Section 76, where there was that one vision about perdition where, yes, there is the possibility of you rejecting light entirely. But then the rest of the section shows this gracious and overly generous God who intends to save all of children. Right. In a heaven.
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B
Yeah.
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I mean, that was amazing. This one kind of similar. Similar kind of pattern. And you'll see a lot of similar teachings in 88. It almost expands on Section 76 just by the way, as a. As a fun fact. So this section has littered throughout it teachings and verses on light. And some synonyms to that are love and glory and law. That's actually really interesting that he's going to compare light and law to each other because normally we love light, but don't necessarily have, like, an affinity toward law, depending on who you are. Right. But it's going to teach about that. And I. Where's that? Where's that list I wrote down? You know, I have all these papers everywhere, everyone. Because I'm not an organized human. I think these light verses are kind of an answer to a lot of the hard things about this world. They're solution verses. And let's jump into them and we can show you what we mean. Okay. Grace, you say your favorites, I'll say my favorites. They're just so good. The beginning of this starts with this blessing that's so awesome about the angels rejoicing over you in the promise of a comforter. Right from the beginning. Section on war. Two days later, verse three, a promise of a. Of a comforter.
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100% right. And you'll see evidence of that right when you start this. Like, that's what I was thinking when you were talking is I was just thinking there really are some times that life feels like a particular battle for us. And if that is your situation right now, that's my situation. I want to, like, reread this chapter over and over and say, where is the comfort going to come in? And from minute one, it's going to start with this explanation of light and in all different ways. Like, one of the things that I was just, like, thinking about for my life. Like, one of the verses that, like, kind of like, uniquely touched me was verse number 11, that I think is so beautiful that it says, and the light which shineth, which giveth you light is through him who enlightens your eyes, which is the same light that quickens your understandings. And I think that's so powerful that he's like, from the very beginning, I'm gonna change the way you see things. And if you're having a hard time seeing goodness in your life, I actually can change that. I can open your eyes in a new way and I can help you understand things that you never would have been able to understand on your own. And when you're looking at life and you're like, oh, it's just like, I just, like, tend. I've been thinking about this a lot because of the books that I'm reading. I tend to like, go into, like, victim mentality a lot in my life that I'm just like, oh, my life's so hard and all these terrible things are happening. And I think that probably would have been really easy when one chapter before this, it was like, here, you're actually going to have to go to war. Dah, dah, whatever. All this stuff. It's really easy to be like, oh, mortality is ruining my life. And there's so many hard, hard things. And he's like, wait, I. I'm going to change your perspective and I can change your mindset and the way you see your circumstances.
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Yeah. And that you're doing exactly what I was. What I was saying is like this, like, there's a problem of mortality, but God's explaining, like, how he can be the solution for it. Here's another one right near that one which says that light, verse 12, light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space. And then it goes on in 13. It's like it's in all things and giveth light to all things. He's in the midst of all things at the end of verse 13. And I think one of the problems that we can feel sometimes in mortality is feeling empty or a little bit alone or distant from God. Because we say, like, oh, the presence of God feels so far away from wherever we are. But this verse is saying that he reaches into and fills every part of this world that we live in. Like, there's no place I can go, there's no situation I will find myself in where God's light is not already present. It's in tomorrow already. The way that this section starts. So usually I'm going to worry about tomorrow or have anxiety about tomorrow. And this is saying tomorrow is taken care of. It's in the past, it's in the future, and it's most importantly in the present. So for those who feel loneliness or a distance From God. This is the comfort that this, this chapter is providing.
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And I think even this one is before that. But I think it kind of gives you the. I think sometimes you hear things like that and you're like, oh, that's too good to be true. And before he even says that, he's going to give you the reason that that's even possible. And I think there's moments in our life when we say, I'm actually too far gone for light to reach me. Where I'm at, I am actually so far distanced that that is impossible for that to be able to reach me. There's no way in the world that. And I love that light comes from Jesus Christ. And he reminds you very early on in this chapter in verse number six, you see it that he says, listen, Jesus Christ ascended. He that ascended up on high, who the greatest that there ever was, higher than any of us could ever dream of being as also he descended below all things so that he could comprehend all things that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth and no matter. That takes away the. There's no way that Jesus Christ could enter in and bring light to my situation. There's no way that light is possible here. He says, no, trust me. That is really truly why Jesus Christ left heaven. So he could say, no, that is possible because I descended below. However low you found yourself. I descended below that.
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Yeah, okay, some other cool verses. I mean, and it's just all throughout this entire thing. Let's jump ahead for just a second to 34. Actually, can I say one other thing about that 13 where it's like, it gives life to all things and quickens all things. Quickens is a word that means to come alive. So some of us find ourselves in spots. We're just like. I just feel like life is blah, like church and the gospel and spirituality. They aren't lighting me up right. For like, anymore. I don't find any excitement or thrill in it. It feels like a drag to me. And this is promising. Light can quicken you. It can. It can jumpstart you. It can. It can spark again. I love that parable, Jesus's first parable of turning water to wine. Because you know, when a wedding in ancient times runs out of wine, it gets boring, right? Yeah. And it's just like Jesus came in and said, I bring. I bring wine back in. I bring the life back into the party. Like he was there all along and he brought the life back in. So there's just really, really awesome Verses like that. For someone who feels like, oh, I. I just feel blah, right? 34 is interesting because he says, and again, verde saying to you, that which is governed by law is also preserved by law and perfected and sanctified by the same. You're going to see that word all throughout, sanctified, which in some senses means. I'll give another definition later. It's a cleansing. Light can be a cleansing effect. Like, we do things and things happen to us that burden and soil our souls. And light, the light of God which descends below all things and reaches all places. So nothing is excluded from this. Can cleanse and sanctify and make pure again. Right? Some of us long for purity. I long for to be pure again. It's like. And it's a promise of this. You can. You can be.
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I. Since our last week's episode, I've been thinking, because last week we kind of talked a little bit about, like, not, like, having, like, a. Like, the little things to, like, remember about your life. Like, a little record of your life. Like, what are my actions right now and what is happening in my life and all these things. And I've just been thinking about that a lot since we recorded that episode. And it made me want to change the way I read my scriptures and the way I pray before I study. And I just want to pray and almost, like, have that listed out that, like, this is where I'm at right now. This is what I need. This is what I'm thinking about. These are my questions. This is, like, where I'm. Where I'm at in my every single day, and then read from there. And I think that the reason that's so powerful is really clear to see in section 88, because I think you can pause. And we've already just shown you, like, just our favorites. But maybe before this, you want to make a list in your margins of your scriptures or in your journal, and you want to say, I need life brought back into my life. I'm bored with my spirituality. I. Maybe you're pausing and you're saying, I feel too far gone. I feel dirty and messy, and I feel like everything I do is making my life seem messier. And write down really honestly, where are you really at? And the beautiful part about scripture is that it answers the question of who God will be for you and you're going to go through. And you can see. I just think everywhere in this whole entire section, God will remind you who he is and what he is capable of for you. But that will be Significantly more powerful if you know what you need him to be.
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Yeah, I think an awesome way to study this and teach this is to line out and see what does. What does it say about light? And then what does light actually do? Right. To help people understand and see that for yourself, for a class, whatever, like light. In fact, it's on this, on the tip ins, especially the youth tippin. There's a list on there for that. But these tip ins are all about light and they remind you what light does. Okay. So you'll have those in your scriptures for your own scriptures to remind you. But. But it's a good study that light provides like. Like light, actual light provides direction and warmth and guidance and protection and, you know, all. All those things. And then to study what that opposite of that is, like, what does light overcome? It overcomes worry and it overcomes the feeling of loneliness. It overcomes the feeling of being lost. It overcomes the feeling of blahness, whatever that is. And it's just great to kind of show those and study that together. The last verse we want to say about light, even though we just love this topic so much, is 41. Did we already read this? Because it's. No, it's another one. And it's actually the poster for this week. And if I were a parent, I would teach this principle and it's what I'm going to to my own kids. And then they can see this reminder all week long. Because I think the one thing I want them to remember about light is this all principle. And that's the word on the poster is all. And 41 is the great verse to accompany it, which is. I mean, there's so many alls in here. But he's like, he comprehended all things and all things are before him and all things are round about. And I just think about how many times you say in your life, he's like, no one gets this. No one gets us. And he's like, I do all things right, all things. He's above all things, in all things, through all things, round about all things. And all things are by him and of him, even God, forever and ever. That's 100%. It's actually 110%. And I just want that reminder about that light. It's in all things, wherever you may be. It's available and he understands and can be a solution for all and a help for all things. So I would teach that. I want this to be like the reminder that's up all week for that. That's a lesson That I would for sure particularly focus on now. This all sounds so amazing and so wonderful, right? And almost like it's a gospel infomercial. You're like, wow, I want that. And the next question, obviously, after that, is, okay, how great I believe you that light can do all those things. Teach me how. You're in a metaphor a little bit right now. And teach. Because I know how to turn on the light in this room. I just walk over to the switch and I push it, right? So how do I push the switch? Is what I'm trying to say. And this section is so cool because, as you read, is so majestic. It just. I mean, the verse I just read, he is in all things. He's the light of the sun, the moon, the stars. He's, you know, like, he comprehends the immensity of space. You like, it just paints this, like, huge picture about God and his glory and goodness. And it's going to go into the second coming and the trumpets and, you know, later. And it's so majestic. And it also is super practical at the same time, too. It's both of those things together. It gives you this grand vision and then shows you practical ways to live out that vision in your. In just regular life on a Tuesday.
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Which I think is. So that's one of my favorite parts about the gospel, is that God thinks eternally and sees every day and that he's capable of both of those. That he's like, oh, I'm not too big for your everyday life, and you're not too small for eternity. This is going to go together. This is going to work really well.
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You know, Lying grace.
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Yeah, it was a good. That's so cute.
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Put that on a pillow. Making pillows today, friends. Okay.
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Really good.
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Okay, so here's some of our favorite.
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Wait. And are you gonna do 44 or could I do that one first?
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You just do it.
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Okay.
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I don't even know. Look how all these are out of order.
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Okay. So it's gonna be fine.
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Yeah.
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44 is one of my favorite verses of scripture of all time. It hung on my mirror for all of high school, and I think my mom showed it to me first. And to be honest, I'm just gonna teach it the way that my mom taught me it because I don't actually know what it really is. Don't worry, I'm not doing the one we're doing later because I don't know what it maybe is actually talking about. But my mom. When my mom taught it to me, she taught it to me about people. And she only showed me this verse out of all of Section 88. And I didn't even know other people loved Section 88, which is so funny because I just loved this verse the most. And it just says this. And they give light to each other in their times and in their seasons, in their minutes, in their hours, in their days, in their weeks and their months, in their years. All of these are one year with God, but not with man. And I think sometimes we think, how on earth am I going to find all of those good things that we just learned about in the first 67 verses? Whatever. How am I going to be capable of getting all of that light in my life? And then he just says this. Oh, you're going to give it to each other. That's how in your minutes and in your hours and in your days, you will bring my light to each other. That's your job. That's why we have each other. That's why this whole earth is actually really just a neighborhood, is because you need to give light to each other. And maybe there's going to be moments when you say, there's no way that the light could show up here. This is impossible. I found myself in this wild, uniquely niche circumstance. And then you all of a sudden just heard this, that he comprehends all things and he's going to be everywhere. And it's. He's capable of doing all of this. And you say, I don't know how. And he says, oh, I do, because I've actually set their course in verse 43. Their courses are fixed, and the courses of heaven and earth. I know exactly where people are going to be and exactly when they're going to be there. And I know that because their goal is to give my light to each other. And Neil A. Maxwell has a quote.
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Yes. My favorite poem ever. Wait a second.
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It's so good.
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I'm so excited. Okay, good. It's so good.
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It's from Nell Maxwell. And it's. He who carefully placed the stars in the sky also carefully places people in our lives. And if he is that careful about the eternities, why would he not be that careful with our souls? And I was just in the middle of Indiana two weeks ago, which is. I almost just said something mean about Indiana. And then I took it back in case someone's from Indiana. It's fine. I like. I liked it. But it was the most random state in the whole entire world. That is just true about it.
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And yeah, it's just like you never thought you'd go, yeah.
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I've never. I've never had any affiliation with Indiana ever. And I was at a Holiday Inn, and I was with this group of kids. I was leading a church history tour, and There was, like, 86 kids, and we were getting all our luggage out, and everyone was trying to find their rooms. And there was this one girl, and. And I just, like, kind of saw her in the back, and she. I could just, like, see little tears, like, streaming down her face. And so I just, like, grabbed her, and I was like, hey. I was like, come sit by me for a second. And we just, like, sat on the curb of a Holiday Inn in the middle of Indiana, and we talked for, like, an hour and a half. And she reminded me so much of me when I was her age. And, like, the things she was saying. Like, I was just like, oh, like, I know exactly how you feel, because I was you. Like, I was like, I've got it. And so, like, we just, like, sat there and we talked so long, and then at the very end, she said, and I never really thought that God would remember me at a holiday in Indiana. And in my head, I thought. And I never thought that I would meet a girl that reminded me so much of me. And, like, in my head, when I was sitting there talking to her, I thought I would go through everything I've gone through in the last 25 years of my life to be able to sit next to that girl and say, it's gonna get better and you're gonna be happy and life is gonna be good, and God didn't forget about you. And the fact that that happened in the middle of a Holiday Inn in Indiana is perfect for that was my best case scenario. I wouldn't have wanted it anywhere else. And I love that God was careful enough to put two girls from the west coast in the middle of Indiana at a Holiday Inn and say, no, you're going to need each other. And that is how light is possible. Because of each other.
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A
Yeah. And I really like this idea because this section really kind of later on will illustrate this idea of God's. Like, I'm building people and building things, but I'm calling you to be builders also. I'm sending you out. You're going to see that later on. And that's one of the hows. Sometimes it actually will just come to us, Right? And it will be in places we never imagined.
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No.
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And this is proof that God saying, I told you, in all things, through all things, including the curb in Indiana, I told you, right? And you're just like, ah. And sometimes we get a glimpse of that and it's so awesome. Can I read you that, the full quote of this? Because you're going to love this part. He said that same God that placed the star in a precise orbit millennia before it appeared over Bethlehem in celebration of the birth of the Bab. So he's like, he put that star in orbit so long ago so that it would be in the right spot, the sky for Christmas, you know, he's like, he has given at least equal attention to the placement of each of us in precise human orbits so that we may, if we will, illuminate the landscape of our individual lives so that our light may not only lead others, but warm them as well. See, right? So it's like how sometimes God has just arranged these when he's talking about orbits. Yes, the moon is in an orbit and stars are in orbit. But he's trying to teach a different lesson here, which is, you know, there's something about the sun where it's like it comes new each day. There's something about the moon that says, even in the darkest of night, there is light. The sun is gone, we say. And yet there's evidence of it in the darkest of, you know, anyways, Right. There's so much that's lessons there. Okay, here's another verse. This one's great. 63. Maybe my most practical bit of advice. The Lord says, draw near unto me, and I will draw near unto you. Look, this. That simple phrase is so practical. How do I bring this light? Draw near unto him. God's not playing hard to get. And he didn't say, if you would have. This is a future tense. I don't care. Their past doesn't disqualify from you, from this, right? From this day. For draw near unto me and you will see that I am drawing near unto you. You. All it takes is a little bit of effort. That's what he says. That's it. Right? And light can begin to flow into your life at a more rapid pace. It's everywhere. And you're going to benefit from the light and the goodness of God just by being alive on this planet. But what he's inviting us into here is he says you can experience more of it. You can experience a greater measure of that light. My girls right now are so obsessed with what the UV is every single day. Right? It's like, I didn't even know you existed.
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B
So high school.
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A
Yeah. I didn't even know U of e existed. 10 years ago. But it's a thing, right? And if the UV is higher, it is going to do better for your tan. Right? It's just, it's more intense, right? Is that what it means? It's more intense, right? Yes. Okay. Yeah.
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You're learning.
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A
You're great getting it. You're getting great. Right? That made me, I was saying that like I was like this old.
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B
Yeah, like you've never.
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Just chill out everybody. Right? So there, the intensity of the uv, you don't get to decide. Right. You just have to look at the weather app and it's like, oh, it's actually a nine tomorrow.
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B
Yeah.
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A
Or whatever. The interesting thing about this is he's like you, you're in charge of the intensity. You can, you can bump up the UV at any time that you like. Draw near unto me and I will draw nearer to you. Seek me diligently and you will find me. Ask and you shall receive. Knock and it will be open. Like sometimes we're, you know, like, you know, you're dating people and you're like, man, I don't know if I want to shoot my shot because I don't want to be rejected. And the Lord is just saying here is like, shoot your shot. Yeah, I'm not going to reject you. Draw near unto me. And I would draw near unto you in any degree that you would like. And light will flow. I love that bit of advice that's in here. Do you have others? I'm going to keep, I'm just going to keep going and you. We'll just whatever. Okay.
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B
This one's just like short for me that I love. I think one thing to remember, and this is something that my soul always craves when I'm studying, when I'm thinking, when I'm pondering, is sometimes we really focus on what we need to do. And I love about scripture, specifically in Doctrine and Covenants is that he is never quiet about what he will do as well that it goes both ways. And so even in this house section of like, how am I going to get that light? Remember, you're not the only one working for it. It's not just you, he is also working for it. And you see that really clearly in 72 to 74. And I, and I like marked what is he gonna do and what can I do? And that is both. It's like a two way street. It's not a one sided relationship. And he's gonna even go through and say, I will take care of your flocks. I will hasten my work. I will give unto you what you are going to need for this. You're gonna gather yourselves together and organize yourselves and prepare yourselves.
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This is 74.
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74. So 72 through 74 are all of those. And you're gonna purify your hearts and cleanse your hands, and then I will make you clean. And I think when we, like, are wondering about how it's possible to have this, like, heavenly experience of light on earth in our everyday lives, I think it's really important to remember that there are things that we do and there are things that he does and that he is working just as hard as you are to bring that light into your life. It's not. That makes it less exhausting for me. I'm not all by myself in this. I'm not working against God. God and me are working on the same team. We're working together in it.
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A
Yeah. And there's something about this. And we'll. Well, I'll save that. I'll save what I was going to say. But let's add into that 74, this verse 2. 68.
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Yeah.
- [28:08]
A
Sanctify yourselves. Is the cross reference right there. If I click it. Let me just see the one in Joshua. That's so good. Okay. Beginning of the book of Joshua. You can look it up. It's like a treasure hunt. Right? But he makes his promise. Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow God will do wonders among you. And another definition of sanctify, we've talked about this is to set something apart, to set it aside. And we can set aside time, we can set aside space. That's what it means to sanctify. And that's the invitation when he says, sanctify yourselves. Right. Because look at the promise. The days will come that you shall see him, for he will unveil his face unto you. And it shall be in his own time and in his own way and according to his own will. But it's a promise that you can enter into the very presence of God. But the. But he says, but you have to sanctify yourselves. You have to make room for such an experience to happen. Like, this world is busy. And this world can be crude. And he says it can be a hustle. Right. Just so. And he's like, you have to, in this world you live in. Sanctify yourselves or set yourselves apart from everything else going on and make actual physical time and emotional space. And sometimes physical space can lead to emotional space. You know, I go to a certain place to like, to make yourself available to hear and sit in the presence of God in a more to turn up the intensity of it.
- [29:40]
B
I was talking to one of my friends the other day and he was telling me something that he's learning about at work about gardening. And they were talking about, like, pruning bushes or whatever and how. So usually when you want to do something, if you wanted to do a garden, you couldn't wait. Usually when you, like, want something, you, like, try to do more and do more and do more. And he was talking about, in gardening, that's not always the case. If you are, like, trying to, like, grow a plant or a tree or like a fruit, tree is a good example. You can't actually just water it more and the fruit is going to come quicker or be better fruit. And you can't just, like, put more fertilizer down and be like, oh, that's going to work. And if I just water it more and more and more, that will actually kill it. Like, that's not helping. That's not going to make the fruit come faster. But one of the best things you can do is rather than give more water or give more fertilizer or whatever, it's actually just to prune the tree and get rid of all the stuff that is like, stopping it. And so I think that that's the thing about sanctification is that sometimes when we want to see God or we're hoping for miracles, our goal is to do as much as we possibly can and spread ourselves so thin. And like, I need to be doing this, and I need to be doing this, and I need to be doing this, and. And there's something about sanctification and this idea that if you want to see him, it's going to require surrender. And maybe if your goal is, I need to see him more clearly in my life right now, maybe pause and say, what do I need to prune out of my life? What do I need to cut down? What do I need to take away? Maybe the fact isn't that you need to be doing more. Maybe the fact is that you need to be getting rid of the things that are stopping you from seeing him instead.
- [31:09]
A
Yeah, and there's something about that. Sanctify is like, okay, this is something I actually am having to make a decision for. It will not happen. And just naturally, the culture of our world, you'll be swimming against that current. And I just like that deliberate decision of. And what you're just saying, make space. You're not earning a miracle or checklisting. You know this. You're making space for it is what you're doing. And that's so awesome. Let's add on to that one other thing, because I want to do our principle of prayer for the summer of prayer. That was a drum roll for one. But we don't know what happened. Is there is this. So one of the things that the Lord says here is he's like, I want you to set up this school of the prophets, right? Two things. Two requests from the Lord in this section. One, build a temple. Make a space, a sanctified space for these things to happen. And so that you can leave the world actually physically, but it will always be also a spiritual metaphor of leaving the world spiritually. Temples will always stand as that kind of symbol. Right. Too. But build a temple. And second, set up this school of the prophets is what they call prophets and prophetesses, we should say those who commune with the divine, Right? Let's set up this school, this place where we can learn how to do this right? And it's organized and it's really right. And there's some verses in here where he just says. Where he gives really practical advice, like cast away your idle thoughts. You know, I hate this. On your excess of laughter. But sometimes in some places we need to like, limit our excess of laughter, right? Because it can be. Because it can be distracting, Right? But skip to 121, for example. I don't even know what's in it. I just wrote it down that I loved it because look how many verses there are. Okay? Your light speeches, your lustful desires, from all your pride and light mindedness. Appoint among yourselves a teacher. Let not all be spokesmen at once. Let one speak at a time. I just like that there's a really practical nature to this. He was like, you have to make deliberate decisions to set yourself aside and make room for these things. It gives me this. If we go back to verses, there's this really famous verse, right? Where it just says, organize yourselves, right? Prepare every needful thing. Establish a house, a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning. The houses don't just become that on their own. That's not the natural course of the world, Right? You have to do something. You have to organize. Look at the verbs. Prepare and establish. And I think we can do that and create holy rhythms and holy habits that help to do that for us. And that's actually our principle of prayer for this week, which is establish a house of prayer. Organize yourself to be a person of prayer. I'm a spontaneous fella, you know, and I will be that to the day I die.
- [34:13]
B
That is through and through.
- [34:14]
A
Right, right. And so. And I think God loves spontaneous prayer. And randomly throughout the day, that's great. This is not the only way to live a life of prayer. It's just a good principle to organize yourself to be a person of prayer. Set a time and a place where I will be. You know, we pray. We set a time and a place in our home to pray every night with the kids before we go to bed. Right. And there's just something about that. And it's a great principle to just think to yourself, let me organize myself in that way. And that's our principle of prayer. Right. So set a time this week. That's the challenge. Set a time every day that this is going to be my prayer time. And try it out, Try doing it. But it's great for. For every other principle also. 100, organize, prepare and establish those holy habits into your own life and into the life of your family. Otherwise you just. You just won't do it. I mean, Jenny right now is a temple worker, and so she has an appointment. You know, in my mind, I was like, I would like to spend time in the temple every week, but it's crazy how weeks can just pass without it. And I'm a spontaneous temple goer. I used to just drive by a temple and be like, like, I'm going in, you know, and then having to make appointments now has ruined my spirituality because I was like, listen, I did not do appointments.
- [35:34]
B
I can't believe it on that.
- [35:35]
A
I am going to blame it on that because I'm like, I can't go in spontaneously. And then I come back to this verse and the Lord says, organize yourself, David.
- [35:43]
B
And you say, oh, dang.
- [35:44]
A
Prepare and establish a pattern. You know, Jenny's like, I'm going every Tuesday at 10 or whatever it is. I don't know her schedule. Right. Don't stalk her, everybody. But. But, like, it works for every single principle of, like, okay, the things that I'm going to do to draw near unto God, I can organize, prepare, and establish to do them.
- [36:03]
B
I am so bad at goals. Like, that's my number one weakness. And I'm so bad at making new habits. And prayer was mine for this year. And someone told me the two biggest tricks that you could do to, like, make yourself successful is to create something that makes you excited about accomplishing that habit and to eliminate all distractions, like, eliminate all temptations away from it. And so that's something I did with my prayers. And me and my friends were talking about that the other day because one of them was like, I started realizing that 1111 is their favorite time of day. And they were like. And they usually just like, make a wish. Like, that's like the like, 1111, make a wish. And she was like, well, instead I just set my alarm for 11:10. And then once it's 11:11, I think, oh, make a wish. And then she's like. But then instead I just start praying. And like, for all of that, I just do my prayer. And she like, it makes me excited because I already love 11:11. And so it's just like, just find something, like, eliminates this is like that practical.
- [36:56]
A
Practical, yeah, the practical way of looking majestic and practical at the same time. Okay, those were just a couple. We have so many listed, but we're just not going to go over them. But look for the hows in this section also. Right? You're going to see the light. You're going to see the house. Now, there's just a couple things that. Let's just end on a couple thoughts of thoughts we like here. The section also includes some things that we think the Lord would say. I think you should just know this when you're engaging in this pattern and way of living, when you're trying to live a life of light, a life in the presence of God, having more of his influence in you, Number one thing that I think he says you ought to know is he starts talking about those who will inherit the kingdoms of glory, which, by the way, I like when it says inherit, because nobody does something to inherit something.
- [37:45]
B
It's your birthright.
- [37:46]
A
It's your birthright. You know, it's kind of cool, right? Where he just says, for he who's not able to abide the law of the celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory. And he's like, there's a reason for these laws and commandments that I've. I've given. They're not forced down anybody's throat. They are yours to choose. And I just love that throughout this, you're going to see an emphasis on agency that the Lord says, you, I want. You're going to experience my light and love and goodness no matter what, just by virtue of being my children. But I'm also going to honor your agency and any of you. And it gets to the spot where he's like, if you would like to, like, be a celestial person, let me show you the path pattern of living to become One, if you'd like to be a terrestrial person, let me show you the pattern of living to become one. Right. There's just this idea of like, I'm going to show you how to do it. I'm going to encourage you along the way, but it's your choice, and I think that is really important. On that same thought, let me just add in this one other 1. Verse 29. This is such a winner of a verse. Ye who are quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even of fullness. Let's remember what you were saying earlier. The Lord's like, I'm asking for a portion from you, and in response I'll give you fullness. Let's remember the mathematics of grace in, you know, in this section. Okay. The other thing that you just might want to know is I'm wondering why I wrote these verses down. And I'm just. Oh, it's kind of back to what you were saying earlier.
- [39:22]
B
Seasons, times and seasons.
- [39:23]
A
Okay. Do you want to teach that one? Or either you can 42. Go to 42, where he says, I say unto you, he hath given a law unto all things by which they move in their times and in their seasons. Sometimes things take time. Sometimes you're not going to notice the effects of this right away. Sometimes you do and sometimes you don't. Right. It's like my girls going out. When they go out, the UV is doing its work, but you just don't see it. Yeah, sometimes you. Sometimes you do. If I write a thank you note to someone, immediately I'm going to sense more light coming in into my life. If I practice gratitude, it's immediately gonna. It's immediately gonna happen. But sometimes things come in their times and in their seasons. And he even gives this parable here in the 50s, starting right in 50s, like, where he just says, like, I visit all of my kingdoms at some time. And he says, let me liken this into a man who is visiting his different fields that he owns and who loves that God is talking about like these kingdoms of glory in this way of like a guy visits his field.
- [40:27]
B
Like a farmer I just love.
- [40:29]
A
Again, majestic and practical at the same time. And he just says, in each of their times I come into their life. And that's just something that we should know that we might not notice. And things happen in their times and in their season. Sometimes light is more like a seed and it just grows gradually. And I think that's something that we just. Just something we want to know Anything else that we.
- [40:51]
B
Okay, and one more, one more. That is verse 91 to me because this is just interesting and maybe just like super applicable in my mind. But it is verse 91 and all things shall be in commotion. Okay. That feels really relevant for me personally. And surely men's hearts shall fail them. And this is not the first time scripture says that, that men's hearts will fail them. And it always makes me so scared because I am a very like heart person. I listen, I love to feel things and I'm like, I live in like my heart that is like really important to me. That's how I make my decisions. Like, I really love that. And so when it says like men's hearts will fill them, I'm so scared because I'm like, usually that's how I feel the spirit. Like, usually that's like my go to of like, oh, God's going to speak to my heart. And then it's so interesting because it says this. For fear shall come upon all people. And it all of a sudden I made this connection and I was like, oh, that's why people's hearts will. Will fail them because they will be listening to fear instead of God. And that to me, like changed my mindset of like me making choices. A sudden I started realizing if I'm making all of my choices and if I'm making my decisions based in fear, that is not my heart and that is not God speaking to me. That is what will fail me is if I'm listening to fear more than I'm listening to him.
- [42:04]
A
Yeah.
- [42:05]
B
And I just think that's really like.
- [42:07]
A
Go ahead.
- [42:07]
B
No, well, it was just. That was just felt really important to me.
- [42:10]
A
Yeah. And I don't know, let's add this one because this is. And then maybe last, last thought here. Verse 40 is such a great verse because it says either fear or faith is actually gonna compound on itself. And it just you know, just kind of like a snowball fear.
- [42:28]
B
It's really easy to feel that with. And faith also like I am a tornado thoughts person. Like I have like, we were just talking. You don't panic. I am a panicker. I have like one thought and then all of a sudden like it's like worst case scenario in two seconds.
- [42:39]
A
Right, right. And look at verse 40. What a great verse. This is great dating advice, by the way. But it's also just talking about this. There's like intelligence guide cleaveth unto intelligence. Wisdom receives wisdom. Truth embraces truth, Virtue loves virtue, light cleaveth unto Light, mercy, have compassion on mercy. And this is what governs all things. And he's just teaching us this idea of like all it takes is a little bit just keep moving down that path. And faith and light are going to compound themselves. And you have to be aware that fear and destructive habits are going to do the same exact thing too. They're going to compound upon themselves. Because the opposite of verse 40 is true. But it's so encouraging. It's just like just all it takes a little and then just let it keep compounding, you know, itself. This is. We have to just mention this about. This section is also includes a lot of second coming language more than any other section. And may, if you, if you know us, you're surprised. Cause you're like, I can't believe you didn't focus on only the Second coming. Because I love the Second coming so much. And I think one of the things that is really cool about this section and then I'm gonna give you one little study tip and that's it. But, but is as it talks about the Second coming, there's such a big buildup to it. And I started to think about like, you know, he's like, there's seven trumpets that blow and then they blow again and then there's the little time and.
- [44:01]
B
It'S like 30 minutes of like silent. It's like so drama.
- [44:04]
A
There's just like so many things that happens, like set 14 trumpets, you know, or whatever to announce it. And it just made me think about like the super bowl or, you know, I mean, think about. We seriously just had the most epic Wiffle ball tournament. I told you.
- [44:18]
B
Seven game series.
- [44:19]
A
Yeah, seven game series down in Houston. Like we. And for.
- [44:22]
B
And everyone just so you know, we all wish we were there. Like I do. I would have bought a ticket.
- [44:25]
A
But listen, and for game seven of this series, like we had the national anthem, we had a drone flyover, we had my dad throw the ceremonial first pitch.
- [44:32]
B
That ring camera.
- [44:34]
A
Yeah, we had the previews, right? And it's like, oh, you kind of build up something really, really exciting. You bring in a really good singer to sing for the fourth. I mean, for the, the super bowl, right? Because you're like, I'm looking forward to this. We're building up. And I hope you get that sense as you read this that the Lord is like, this is something to look forward to. This is really exciting of what's coming. We're going to pull out all the pomp and circumstance for this because it is such a.
- [45:00]
B
We're planning it. It's going to be good.
- [45:02]
A
It's such a big deal. And as you think about this and the second coming and the promises of the second coming, the Lord's inviting us to. To just have these two mindsets. One, there is so much good that's coming. There is light and goodness and glory that is coming that you should anticipate and be excited about. And also he invites you to recognize, but it's in all things right now. And you can experience that excitement, that thrill, that goodness and glory today. And there's practical ways to do it. Right. Heaven should not come so easily, we think. Right. But it just. It is. And. And it's right here and available. And I think there's something so sweet about that as well. So. All right, 88. This is a taste of it.
- [45:48]
B
So true.
- [45:49]
A
Read every verse. Okay?
- [45:50]
B
Read every verse. It's okay.
- [45:52]
A
You're gonna find so many.
- [45:53]
B
School started. School started. You have time now. You have.
- [45:55]
A
It's good. Okay? And we'll see you next week. If you want to follow along in everything we're doing, you can find us on Instagram @Miss this Study, at this week's Grace, and @Mr. Dave Butler.
- [46:07]
B
And if you want to subscribe to the app or get our weekly newsletter, all of the information can be found at don'tmissthisstudy. Com.
- [46:13]
A
See you next week.