A Latter-day Call to Gather to War or to God

November 29, 2024 By Delisa Hargrove

During my Come, Follow Me study, an unexpected verse stuck out to me. It seemed pretty inconsequential in previous readings—like a pass-through detail. But in our current political climate’s divisive upheaval and thinking of President Nelson’s call to prepare now for the Savior’s Second Coming, the verse suddenly felt significant. It felt like a latter-day call to gather to war or to God. Gathering to War The Book of Mormon recalls the Nephites and Lamanites’ final civil war battles. The... Read more

Trusting God Enough to Board the Barge

November 27, 2024 By Delisa Hargrove

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The scriptures relate many harrowing tales that I digest while sitting comfortably on my couch—stories of trusting God through wars, shipwrecks, lions’ den, fiery furnaces, fiery deaths, betrayals, rejections, apocalypse, death. One harrowing tale, like many others, is actually a story of covenant redemption. I honestly hadn’t considered it a harrowing tale until the Holy Ghost taught me how it related to me. Following the Lord’s direction and commandment, Jared and his group traveled from the tower of Babel to... Read more

Chief Judges and the Devolution of Nephite Government

November 9, 2024 By Delisa Hargrove

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Repeatedly reminded by prophetic voices over the past year that the Book of Mormon, written for our day, is a witness and warning, I decided to track the reign of chief judges to watch for governmental strength and weakness. I learned that freedom was constantly under fire by power-hungry opponents. The insatiable quest for power and authority caused the ultimate devolution of the Nephite government and complete destruction of its civilization. The Reign of Chief Judges Mosiah changed the system... Read more

Accessing the Lord in Mighty Prayer

October 29, 2024 By Delisa Hargrove

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After Jesus first ministered to the people in 3 Nephi (11-26), His disciples journeyed to preach His word throughout the land. 3 Nephi 27:1 records that while journeying and preaching, “the disciples were gathered together and were united in mighty prayer and fasting.” Then Jesus again showed himself unto them, for they were praying unto the Father in his name; and Jesus came and stood in the midst of them, and said unto them: What will ye that I shall give unto you? Mighty prayer... Read more

Resisting the Fiery Darts of the Adversary

October 28, 2024 By Delisa Hargrove

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When I was little, my family lived on a farm in southeastern Arizona. One day, my brother and I left the house on a quest, aka a little walk “around” the farm. I wasn’t quite five, and Donovan wasn’t quite two. We didn’t move quickly or very far down the dirt road in the hot sun before our little bodies needed a rest. We found a nice little dirt mound by the side of the road and sat down. Within... Read more

Such then is our need for a Redeemer

October 22, 2024 By Delisa Hargrove

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Such then is our need for a Redeemer For a few moments, as we contemplate our need for a Redeemer and Jesus Christ’s suffering for each of us, I hope we can feel the Spirit giving hope and peace to our hearts and understand even more deeply how to know and worship our Savior. Before we came to earth, we lived as spirit children with our Heavenly Parents. Our Heavenly Father wanted us to be able to progress and become... Read more

Russell M. Nelson’s ‘The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again’

October 8, 2024 By Delisa Hargrove

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After President Russell M. Nelson announced 17 new temples, I sat riveted on every word of his October 2024 conference talk, ‘The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again,’ as he repeatedly declared that now is the time to prepare for Jesus Christ’s Second Coming. The Church hasn’t published conference transcripts yet, but I’ve listened to the talk multiple times since Sunday and transcribed parts I’ve incorporated into my scripture study. Words in italics are direct quotes. The Lord Jesus Christ... Read more

The Destroyer that Is Sent from God

October 1, 2024 By Delisa Hargrove

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One of the most prominent promises for wearing the temple garment is to avoid the power of the destroyer. Initially, I assumed that “destroyer” meant the adversary, Satan. Then one day while serving as an ordinance worker in initiatories, a new thought dramatically changed my mind. While pronouncing the blessings of being clothed in the holy garment, my mind flashed to the Passover story in Exodus 11. 4 And Moses said, Thus saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into... Read more

Stickers Point to the Lord’s Promised Protection

September 28, 2024 By Delisa Hargrove

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Scripture contains several variations on a theme about the Lord providing protection. An accumulation of stickers taught me about that promised protection. Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you—there is no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper (Doctrine and Covenants 71:9) Versions of that promise occur in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants. I’ve often wondered how that could or would apply to me. Yesterday as I concluded my walk around the neighborhood, I discovered... Read more

The Risk-Averse German Shepherd

September 23, 2024 By Delisa Hargrove

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At the tail-end of my daily walk, I turned from the road onto the alley that connects my subdivision to the one I was in. I saw a construction crew building a large workshop midway down the alley. Then suddenly, a German shepherd darted onto the alley. I paused to gauge intent. I decided I didn’t need to fear her and preferred walking the alley rather than walking an extra mile the long way around. The dog stopped, glancing back... Read more