Focused on Salt

I have to apologize for missing several days here. I've been involved in some research and when I get in a project that is intriguing me like this one is I focus so intensely that time goes by and I don't even know it. It is a gift, but at the same time it is a weakness.

It is gift when I am studying and able to blank out any distraction and stay focused. It is a weakness when I am so focused that when I leave my desk to go someplace else in public my mind is still intent on the questions I am wrestling with. At those times I often pass by people I know and don't really see them. I don't acknowledge them or say hello and they must think I'm awful. I try so hard to bring myself out of what is a called a "brown study," but often I fail. Mr. J and my children have teased me about it for years. I am working on it!

But what I am studying is SALT. And I am excited about what I am learning. In the Sermon at the Temple Jesus told His followers, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, I give unto you to be the salt of the earth; but if the salt shall lose its savor wherewith shall the earth be salted? The salt shall be thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and to be trodden under foot of men" (3 Nephi 12:13).

I'm sure I'll be writing more about this, but to begin . . . in the Savior's day salt was significant--so significant that at times in history it was worth ounce per ounce the same as gold. Why was it so precious? Because it was what they used to preserve their meat and fish, it enhanced the flavor of the many bland foods they ate, it purified things and was therefore used for medicinal purposes, and it was nearly indestructible. It didn't rot or decay or have a "shelf life." Everyone needs salt to stay alive and so most importantly, it sustains life. And the Savior wants us to be salt! Wow! I've been overwhelmed thinking about that.

Live in Truth

I’ve read the Sermon on the Mount very often, but today found something that I haven’t noticed before. I think that there are so many beautiful teachings in the Sermon that I’ve concentrated on them and missed this verse. It is found in Matthew 5:33: “Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths.” Under the Law of Moses people were taught that if they made a promise to the Lord they were to keep it.  That makes sense. But Jesus goes on to say, “But I say unto you, Swear nt at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil” (Matthew 5:34-37).

This statement follows a pattern that has been established in the sermon where the Lord has said "Old Law" now the "New Law." For example, the old laws says don’t murder, but I say don’t even get angry. And the old law says don’t commit adultery, but I say don’t even have lustful thoughts. Now these verses say, the old law says keep oaths you have made to the Lord, but I say don’t make oaths that you will do certain things instead do what is right at all times.

In other words, don't make promise to God occasionally, but Live in Truth all the time.

Shed Light

In the Sermon on the Mount the Savior told the People, 

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel,
but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works,
and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16).

To understand better what this means I went to my trusty dictionary and looked up the word light. 

I found three definitions that shed some light :) on these verses. Light is: 

(1) something that makes vision possible. 

(2) Spiritual illumination 

(3) something that enlightens or informs.

This made me think of the amazing people who have been a light to me. Without exception these people have increased my vision, especially my vision of myself. They have taught me the gospel by their words, but especially by their deeds. And they have all enlightened me. Unfortunately, many of them have moved on from this world and I can’t thank them, but some still live and to them and others who daily cross my path shedding their light on me, I will be forever grateful. 

People with light, warm my soul and make my path brighter.