The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2-17)

(3-5) I am your God, your Creator, the only one that can save you. Do not look to anyone or anyone else for healing or rescue, do not think that anyone or anyone else is the key to your happiness.

(7) Remember that some things are holy and treat them that way. There are places, like temples and the tops of mountains, and things, like my name and your sexuality, that are sacred. Be careful not to be casual or selfish with these things.

(8-9) Sunday is a sacred space, and you must find a way to mark it as such. Sunday is for rest—not numbing yourself, but true rest, the kind that fills you up. It is for nurturing yourself and nurturing others.

(12) Love your parents, even when you disagree with them, when you’re hurt by them, when they have been unwise. Recognize and allow them their humanity, and love them in it. Treat them with kindness and honor, care for them in their old age as they cared for you.

(13) Don’t murder people.

(14) Do not have affairs—emotional or physical—when you are married or with someone who is married.

(15) Don’t take things that aren’t yours.

(16) Be as honest as you know how to be, and especially beware of those lies that can be used against others for your own gain.

(17) Don’t make the mistake of thinking that other people’s happy is your sad or that you deserve things. Be grateful for what you’ve been given—your body and breath, the earth, people who love you. It was all given.

3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them…

7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work…

12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

13 Thou shalt not kill.

14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.

15 Thou shalt not steal.

16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

On Testifying (Peter 3:15)

(15) In your heart and in your life, declare God’s holiness. There will be people who will ask you how you maintain faith in the face of terror and destruction and pain, so you must always be ready to testify to those who seek hope that our Lord is always mighty to save.

15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to every man who asketh you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

Guest Translation: Mary's Psalm (Luke 1:46-55)

46 And Mary said:“My soul glorifies the Lord
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has been mindful
    of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
49     for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
    holy is his name.
50 His mercy extends to those who fear him,
    from generation to generation.
51 He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
    he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones
    but has lifted up the humble.
53 He has filled the hungry with good things
    but has sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    remembering to be merciful
55 to Abraham and his descendants forever,
    just as he promised our ancestors.”

By Catherine Anne Nielson:

Mary had never prophesied before. She had heard prophecy many times, dripping from the lips of learned men, but she knew it couldn’t come from her own mouth. And she was afraid. Still, when she heard Elisabeth call her blessed, the feelings that had been growing along with her belly rose to her lips, prophetic language tangled with her own thoughts.

46. I feel like a glass reflecting God’s light,

47. When I think about Him, my soul shines with joy.

48. Because He saw me–poor, a woman, from Galilee–and He chose me to be remembered.

49. And I don’t understand what happened in my body, how I have this child, but I know it is holy;

50. Even fear can bring mercy.

51-53.  And I have heard the stories about Him, what the prophets say, that it is the proud and the mighty and the rich who should be afraid, because He will raise up the lowly and the unknown, He fills the hungry with good things.

54-55. He is the God of Israel. He will always remember us.

Mary wiped her eyes as Elisabeth hugged her tight, their bellies pressed together in communion. And for three months, she felt safe.

On Repentance (D&C 82)

(1) Now that you’ve forgiven each other, you can step away from this conflict knowing that you’ve done everything you can, and I make up the difference. My Atonement means that this is swept away, and instead of being broken, you can be better for having gone through this together.

(2) But do be careful. Because you are better, because you have received my grace and gone through the repentance process and become more, the backsliding hurts worse. You’re falling down from higher, is the thing, and the thud will be more resounding. It’s just way of moral physics.

(3) I’ve given you a lot, and I gave it to you so that you would do wonderful things in my name, so that you would work for the good of all. When you climb so high, the fall hurts more. When you’ve seen so much light, the dark is extra blinding.

1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, my servants, that inasmuch as you have forgiven one another your trespasses, even so I, the Lord, forgive you.

2 Nevertheless, there are those among you who have sinned exceedingly; yea, even all of you have sinned; but verily I say unto you, beware from henceforth, and refrain from sin, lest sore judgments fall upon your heads.

3 For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation.

On Prayer, For Days We're Discouraged (D&C 81)

(4) You all have to pray. Even (especially) the people with the most authority in my church, you have to pray, because that’s what opens the doorway for me to bless you. Come, counsel with me, out loud, in your head, on your knees, in public transport, when your speaking to others, when you’re talking to yourself. (5) When you learn to pray like this—and you do have to learn to do it—to hone the ability to focus yourself in on God, to draw your mind back to Him steadily, you will be so useful to the people around you. You will be part of bringing them back to God and walking them towards salvation.

(6) So be faithful. Try hard, because it’s going to be hard. Plant your feet where I’ve planted you, shoulder to shoulder with those who are hurting.

3 Therefore, verily I acknowledge him and will bless him, and also thee, inasmuch as thou art faithful in counsel, in the office which I have appointed unto you, in prayer always, vocally and in thy heart, in public and in private, also in thy ministry in proclaiming the gospel in the bland of the living, and among thy brethren.

4 And in doing these things thou wilt do the greatest good unto thy fellow beings, and wilt promote the glory of him who is your Lord.

5 Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.

On the Relationship Between Physical and Spiritual Things (D&C 78:5-7)

(6) I want you all to have equal access to me and my blessings, now and in the future, so work to be equal in your access to physical, monetary, blessings, the stuff that’s right in front of you, because all these things are related.

(7) I’m trying to be really, really clear about this: you can’t have the same level of spiritual, celestial access, if you are not equal in the resources you have in the world you live in now. There are a lot of things that could make that true—like, someone who is poor and has to work three jobs doesn’t have the same time or energy to put into knowing me, and I don’t want that. But also, as I’ve said over and over again, being wealthy (especially when other people are poor) is not good for you. It’s really, really hard to resist thinking that you’re better than others or believing that you deserve what you have. It’s really, really hard to be generous the way that you should, to truly consecrate the way you’ve promised me you would—and failure in any of these areas can have truly dire spiritual consequences.

(8) So, guys, share with each other. Give up believing that you earn things. Be equal in earthly things so that I can pour out heaven upon you evenly.

5 That you may be equal in the bonds of heavenly things, yea, and earthly things also, for the obtaining of heavenly things.

6 For if ye are not equal in earthly things ye cannot be equal in obtaining heavenly things;

7 For if you will that I give unto you a place in the celestial world, you must prepare yourselves by doing the things which I have commanded you and required of you.

On Turning the Other Cheek (Matthew 5:39 & 41 by James Goldberg)

What if soldiers give us trouble?” says the southern Simon.

“The laws of their kingdom say an armed soldier can make an unarmed man carry his pack for a mile,” says Jesus, “but if one does, go two miles to show him that in God’s kingdom, it’s the strong who will carry the burdens of the weak.

“The laws of their kingdom say a soldier can slap us with the back of his hand, like he would strike a slave,” says Jesus. “But if one does, turn your face so he has to slap you with an open hand, the way he would challenge an equal.”

—The Five Books of Jesus, pg 106, James Goldberg

39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also…. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.

On Fairness (D&C 71:6)

(6) It probably seemed really unfair to you when I said that I would give more to the people who already had and I would take away from the people who lacked, but here’s what I meant: if you accept my gifts, if you reach out for them and use them to make yourself more, if you receive the things that I give you, then I will keep giving. I will trust that you will continue to use my gifts well. I will give you knowledge and abilities and even power, trusting that you will make my world better with them.

6 For unto him that receiveth it shall be given more abundantly, even power.

On Testifying (D&C 62:2-3)

(2-3) You haven’t done everything I expect of you yet, but the way you’ve testified of me, in actions and in words, resounds in the heavens and brings joy to those who came before you and those who will come after. Continue to work, renewed, knowing that you are blessed, and your sins are forgiven.

3 And verily mine eyes are upon those who have not as yet gone up unto the land ofZion; wherefore your mission is not yet full.

4 Nevertheless, ye are blessed for the testimony which ye have borne is recorded in heaven for the angels to look upon, and they rejoice over you, and your sins are forgive you.

On Creation and Gratitude (D&C 18-21)

(18) Everything, literally everything you see, is for you (and everyone else, sharing is important, but still, God was thinking about you). God made them specifically for you, to make you happy and so that you could be surrounded by beauty.

(19) God made them for you so that you could be fed and clothed, so that you would have things to taste and smell. God made them so that your body could be strong and your soul could rejoice.

(20) It makes God really happy that He gets to give you these things, and He cares about how you use them. He doesn’t want you to use more than your fair share of creation, and He doesn’t want you to use the things He’s created to hurt his other kids. He wants them to make you happy and to give you ways to make the people around you happy.

(21) There aren’t a lot of things you can do that really hurt God’s feelings, but one of them is not seeing that He put a lot of work into this world, not being careful with His gift.

18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;

19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.

20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extorition.

21 And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.

For When You Don't Know What to Do (D&C 58:26-29)

(26) Look, I’m not always going to tell you what to do, and wanting me to is lazy. I want you to become like me, and you can only do that by making decisions.

(27) So go choose something good to throw yourself into. Wear out your life in pursuit of it. Try lots of different things, make mistakes, and do good where ever you go, whoever you meet, whatever you try.

(28) You are an eternal being, carved out of intelligence, given agency and a body so that you can effect the world around you. I fought the war in heaven so that you would be able to exercise that agency. Don’t neglect the gift. Don’t shy away from it by being a perfectionist. Go, learn, become more.

(29) You think that the only way to get into trouble is by doing bad things—but you dishonor me equally by failing to try, by waiting for my go ahead before you do anything. Trying is a kind of faith. It’s a way of receiving me in the best parts of yourself.

26 For behold, iti s not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;

28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward.

29 But he that doeth not anything until he is commanded, and receiveth a commandment with doubtful heart, and keepeth it with slothfulness, the same is damned.

For When You Don't Want to Be Where You Are (D&C 51:15-19)

(15) Here is the gift: I’ve given you principles, and you get to decide what to do with them. You get to decide how to collectively be the Zion that I’ve asked you to be.

(16-17) I’ve given you the circumstances that you’re in for a little while, until I give you new circumstances—but you’re not going to know when that is. So act like you are where you are forever. Build a life here, because here is where your life is right now.

(19) And those of you that do that well, those of you that practice and prosper in your stewardships, you will build heaven with me.

15 And thus I grant unto this people a privilege of organizing themselves according to my laws.

16 And I consecrate unto them this land for a little season, until I, the Lord, shall provide for them otherwise, and command them to go hence;

17 And the hour and the day is not given unto them, wherefore let them act upon this land as for years, and this too shall turn unto them for their good….

19 And whoso is found a faithful, a just, and a wise steward shall enter into the joy of his Lord, and shall inherit eternal life.

It's Scary, But It Will Be OK, Because Jesus (D&C 50)

(40) Look, you’re still little. There are things that you can’t do yet and things that it would hurt too much to know—but I’m preparing you to be able to do and know these things. I am pouring my grace over you, so that you will have it in you to be godly.

(41-42) Don’t be afraid. I know there' is a lot to be afraid of, but I’ve got you. There is no suffering that you can experience that I don’t already have intimate knowledge of. You are my kuleana, and I will always find you.

(43) Our Father and I are in perfect harmony, so tune yourself to me, and we will all sing together. (44) I am with you, even if you can’t see me. I am him that guides you, that supports you, the path beneath your feet. Walk with me, and I will lead you from grace to grace.

40 Behold, ye are little children, and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of truth.

41 Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me;

42 And none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost.

43 And the Father and I are one. I am in the Father and the Father in me; and inasmuch as ye have received me, ye are in me and I in you.

44 Wherefore, I am in your midst, and I am the good shepherd, and the stone of Israel. He that buildeth upon this rock shall never fail.