Organize Ourselves

In Doctrine and Covenants 88:119 it reads: "Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God."

This scripture has always impressed me and caused me to continually ask, "Is my house in order according to what God has asked of me?" As I have lived my life, I have gained a strong testimony and understanding of the principles that it teaches.

It teaches the importance of setting our own houses in order. What does this mean? Are our desires in alignment with what our Father in Heaven wants? What means the most to us in our life? Are we fulfilling what the Lord asks of us? Are we doing it the way the Lord has asked us to?
When we wake up in the morning, what is the first thing that we do? What do we do next? What are our priorities for that day? What should mean the most to us?

I ask these questions, because we are also taught in Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Are our priorities in order, are we truly seeking the Lord's help in everything that we do in our daily lives. Is our Father in Heaven's will for us what we are seeking? Is our relationship with Him our number one priority? Is our true desire to return to live with Him again in the Celestial Kingdom? Are we willing to do everything that it takes to do so?

If so, is our relationship our family our second priority? Is our service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints our number three priority? Is our relationship with others our number four priority?

"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." Doctrine and Covenants 82:10.

I say these things because we are spiritual sons of God participating in a mortal experience. I truly feel that we sometimes forget this.

Do we have the faith and trust in the Lord enough to focus on the things that matter most in His eyes? Or are we content to persist in the lives we currently live?

As Melchizedek Priesthood holders, we have been chosen and asked by God to represent Him in all of our words, thoughts, and deeds. Are we living up to His call? If not, I plead that we take the steps necessary to do so.

Remember the promise that rings so clear and true throughout the Book of Mormon: "And behold, all that he requires of you is to keep his commandments; and he has promised you that if ye would keep his commandments ye should prosper in the land; and he never doth vary from that which he hath said; therefore, if ye do keep his commandments he doth bless you and prosper you." Mosiah 22:22

I share these things with you just as Nephi did with his brothers. "O, my beloved brethren, turn away from your sins; shake off the chains of him that would bind you fast; come unto that God who is the rock of your salvation." 2 Nephi 9:45

I humbly pray that you will ponder the things that I have been prompted to share, and that each of us can set our own "house in order". In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.