Author: Ben Minson

A Way to Prepare for Christ’s Coming

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For those who believe Jesus Christ will set foot upon the earth again, this time “coming in the clouds of heaven” (Matthew 24:30) in the fulness of His glory, that day can’t come soon enough. However, as much as we would like Him to come today or tomorrow, His purposes and His plan must be fulfilled leading up to that event.

One of those purposes is preparation. So that His truth and mercy can be offered to every kindred, nation, tongue, and people to give them a chance to be ready, the Lord began calling prophets and apostles in these times and restored His Church as He organized it in the meridian of time. His prophet and apostles are ensuring that His words are going forth throughout the world, giving as many as will listen a chance to learn of the gospel of Jesus Christ and become His disciples—a process that takes time.

One of the first steps in this process was the translation of a record left behind by ancient inhabitants of the American continents, an additional testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God.

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A Pebble in the Shoe

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By David Armstrong, who writes weekly about prayer at Ere You Left Your Room This Morning

I got a pebble in my shoe while hiking up Fraery Peak. At first it was just an irritation, and I ignored it.

After a while it started to become painful. A blister developed.

My guide looked back at me from time to time but kept going at his steady pace. I started to limp, and it was harder to keep up. But I wasn’t going to let a little pebble stop me.

The guide didn’t slacken his pace, and I started to get angry. Surely, he could see I was limping. Why wouldn’t he stop and give me a break?

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The Woodcarver

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In the shaded porch of his home in the country, a white-haired man bent intently over his work. He was settled in his favorite chair as if part of the wood frame and cushioning. His brow furrowed in concentration. A small knife flashed in one rough hand, whittling and cutting at a chunk of raw wood in the other. Shavings flew in all directions, flicked aside by the deft movements of the small blade.

The old man often became lost in this minor labor; he had long since retired from working in town. His aged bones ached and his muscles had diminished, but his sinewy hands were still strong. He could make a blade do exactly what he wanted, and he used that skill to produce wood carvings. Most of his models were animals, such as giraffes, elephants, and bears. This one would be a lion.

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The Soda Fountain

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Jenna ambled through the lights and sounds of the carnival, absorbing the fun-filled atmosphere. The festivities covered the county fairgrounds—more than four city blocks. As the night went on, Jenna walked back and forth, going wherever whim or interest took her.

After three hours enjoying herself, she realized she was thirsty.

First she bought a fruit smoothie from a concessions booth. The icy mixture soothed her dry mouth and throat. But the satisfaction lasted only a few minutes, and Jenna was thirsty again.

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He Is Faithful Who Promised

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“But you promised!”

I imagine that most, if not all, parents have heard this, or a variation on it, from a child. From an early age, children develop the sense that if someone says something that sets certain positive expectations—intentionally or otherwise—it’s a promise. And they sense that promises to them must be kept.

Of course, from the perspective of the adult, sometimes we didn’t intend a statement as a promise at all, which is probably why we find ourselves hedging with responses like “We’ll see” or “Maybe.” We like the wiggle room that gives us, but it hardly instills trust and confidence in our little people. I think that’s one reason why God tends to be more direct.

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