The Sin of Ingratitude

Ingratitude is a sin. In the Old Testament, the Lord literally provided the Israelites with everything they needed, including water, food and shelter, and He, personally guided them daily. Still, they whined like spoiled children saying, "Our soul is dried away; there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes...We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers and the melons" (Numbers 11:5-6). Their appetites became more important than their freedom.

 

The Blessing of Daily Bread

     Jehovah provided daily manna for the children of Israel to eat as they wandered in the desert. In the book of Exodus it says the manna was "like coriander (cilantro) seed, white; and the taste of it was like wafers made with honey" (Exodus 16:31).
      Sometimes we forget the blessing of daily food, and focus only on what we do not have.

     

God loves Mothers

In his October 2011 sermon to women, Dieter F. Uchtdorf reminds women, "Forget not that the Lord loves you." He illustrated the message by relaying the legend of the dainty blue flowers.  After God had named all the plants, and fearing their identity was overlooked, they cried, "Forget not us!" The Lord responded, "That is what you shall be called."
Forget not that the Lord loves mothers.  And, forget not to tell your mother that you love her.

He is Risen

Photo taken April 1, 2015
 

I thought I added this on April 2, 2015, but somehow it didn't post. 
     The Easter Lily, also known as Madonna Lily, has become a symbol of Christ's resurrection.
On the third day, "they came unto the sepulcher" where Jesus was buried, to bring "spices which they had prepared" but "they entered in and found not the body of the Lord Jesus . . . behold two men stood by them in shining garments . . . they said, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but it risen" (Luke 24:1-6). Rejoice! The Lord is king! "He suffereth this that the resurrection might pass upon all men, that all might stand before him at the great and judgment day. And "he inviteth all men to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God" (2 Nephi 26:33).

Green Things of March

"I was exalted like...the cypress tree upon the mountains of Hermon" (Ecclesiastes 24:13)

     Think green for March!  These tall, columnar Mediterranean Cypress trees grew everywhere in the Middle East.  Their funny green pods reminded me of Yoda in Star Wars. As they dry out, the pods turn charcoal and open out like a little rubrics cube. 

 

"Heart's Desire"

    Because February is the month of love, I felt it would be fun to post a caper plant, nicknamed "Desire" for this month's message.  As we approach the Lord with the desires of our hearts, He does hear and answer our prayers. 
    Prayers aren't always answered in the way we want, but we can know that He hears us.  This plant grows wild all over the Holy Land.  It even grows on walls and among rocks!  But the lovely white flowers with vivid magenta stems and stamens are show-stoppers.  The pure, white flower is representative of a pure heart.  The royal purple stem and stamens remind us of our royal heritage as sons and daughters of God.  Truly, this flower expresses love (Ecclesiastes 12:5).

"Shall Blossom as a Rose"

Photo taken on the grounds of the Garden Tomb. Old Jerusalem. May 2014

     Isaiah, respected as the prophet of all prophets, predicted that as fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant, in the day of the restoration of the gospel Israel would again be gathered and "rejoice and blossom as the rose" (Isa. 35:1). Likewise, in the book of Doctrine and Covenants, a branch of the house of Israel, known as the Lamanites, were given a similar promise. It says they "shall blossom as the rose" (D&C 49:24).
     Through the Zionist movement, we are seeing the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy.  We can also witness that a branch of the house of Israel, through the seed of Joseph, are accepting the gospel and becoming a great nation.