AUGUST 4-10: “Stand Ye In Holy Places”
Come Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants 85-87
Where are your holy places? Hopefully you find holiness in your home. Even amongst the chaos and noise and shouts and busyness there is love, which is holy.
I found it interesting that in this week's reading one holy place mentioned was in writing a journal. I have to confess that as much as I love to write I rarely get to writing my own story, as I can let it take over too many hours in a day. When I do write a journal entry, I find it cathartic, healing, and instructive even to myself.
What do your journal entries tell? What would others know of you by reading them? Are they more than a laundry list of what you did that day? I would want to read of thoughts, lessons learned, those who you engaged with, helped, or who helped you.
Let our journals tell the story of our becoming. Let them tell of how we feel our divine parents in our lives. Let them open to the discovery of our adventures. Let them help us remember who we have always been.
My Story - Kaity Whitcomb
The prophet Elijah teaches, “'Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice." Kings 19:11-12
Through journaling we might hear answers to our prayers, we might find a quiet place to hear the voice when He speaks to us.
Still Small Voice - Bethany Yeh
Most of us are familiar with the song 'Battle Hymn of the Republic'. "Glory, glory, hallelujah! His truth is marching on!" With lyrics as we know them by abolitionist Julia Ward Howe, written during the American Civil War, it was an anthem that spoke to the souls seeking freedom from slavery, freedom for all.
The Altar Music musicians have taken it a step further, making what was a song during war time, to be a song of peace.
A friend, Winston, recently taught me about the United States Peace Flag that is shown above. The flag we fly now is officially our flag during times of war, which we have been in since before it was first flown. When a day comes that we are no longer threatened by war on this earth, we may fly the flag of Peace, blue stars on a white field, vertical stripes. What a blessed day that will be.
The War Is Over - The Altar Music
"Holy places, safe and sure, Where all who enter rest secure, Where we shelter from the storm, Unshaken by the thunder’s roar, ...
"Holy places where we learn To feel the Spirit’s witness burn, Homes where faithful saints unite Are fortresses of love and light, ...
"Holy places where we meet To worship at the Savior’s feet, Sacred temples to His name Where hearts are filled with heaven’s flame, ...
"Holy places where we pray For heaven’s guidance day by day, Where our voices ring with praise, Rejoicing in the Savior’s grace, There the saints of God will stand Unmoved, upheld by heaven’s hand."
Holy Places (Hymn) - Sally DeFord, Kathryn Wright, ft. 2019 Salt Lake Institute Combined Choirs
I hope that you can find holy places, where you can feel guidance from above and from the holiness that is within yourself.