Russell M. Nelson - Daily Joy: A Devotional for Each Day of the Year

Contents

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January 1

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Hope from Him Who Is Eternal

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Romans 15:13

A s we begin a new year, we desire to improve our talentsby the patience of hope and the labor of love. We all have hope.... Hope emanates from the Lord, and it transcends the bounds of this mortal sphere. Paul noted that if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable (1 Corinthians 15:19). Only with an eternal perspective of Gods great plan of happiness can we ever find a more excellent hope.... Have you heard the old statement that hope springs eternal? It can only be true if that hope springs from Him who is eternal.

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January 2

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Free to Choose

Behold, here is wisdom, and let every man choose for himself until I come.

Doctrine and Covenants 37:4

W hy are you here on planet earth?

One of the most important reasons is to receive a mortal body. Another is to be testedto experience mortalityto determine what you will do with lifes challenging opportunities. Those opportunities require you to make choices, and choices depend on agency. A major reason for your mortal existence, therefore, is to test how you will exercise your agency.

Agency is a divine gift to you. You are free to choose what you will be and what you will do.... The proper exercise of moral agency requires faith. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the first principle of the gospel. Because of Him, you have your agency. He must be the very foundation of your faith, and the testing of that faith is a fundamental reason for your freedom to choose.

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January 3

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Gods Eternal Plan

Adam did fall by the partaking of the forbidden fruit, according to the word of God; and thus we see, that by his fall, all mankind became a lost and fallen people.... Therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead.

Alma 12:22, 24

T he Creation of the earth and all that dwell therein, the necessary Fall that enabled man to be, and the Atonement of the Lord are three fundamental components of Gods eternal plan. Without that atoning sacrifice, there would be neither immortality nor eternal life.

His message is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ; and it is administered by the Church that bears His name. He directs the affairs of His church by the power of the priesthood and by revelation through prophets who proclaim His doctrine to all people of the world.

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January 4

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Spiritual Power

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord; and the power of the Lord was with them.

1 Nephi 13:16

T he source of our spiritual power is the Lord! The ultimate source of spiritual power is God our Father. The messenger of this power is the Holy Ghost....

Our spiritual power line is strengthened through prayer. As we counsel with God in all our doings, He will direct us for good. Prayer is available whenever we ask for it! But the Lord places the initiative upon us. He expects us to reach for His power, just as we must insert the plug in the outlet for electricity.... Personal worthiness and scripture study enable us to do more with this power.

Rewards result from the righteous use of the spiritual power belonging to the priesthood!

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January 5

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Single to the Glory

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

Matthew 6:22

I magine, if you will, a pair of powerful binoculars. Two separate optical systems are joined together with a gear to focus two independent images into one three-dimensional view.... Let the scene on the left side of your binoculars represent your perception of your task. Let the picture on the right side represent the Lords perspective of your taskthe portion of His plan He has entrusted to you. Now, connect your system to His. By mental adjustment, fuse your focus. Something wonderful happens. Your vision and His are now the same. You have developed an eye single to the glory of God (Doctrine and Covenants 4:5).... That special vision will... help clarify your wishes when they may be a bit fuzzy and out of focus with Gods hopes for your divine destiny.

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January 6

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Achieving the Impossible

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Luke 1:37

I feel impressed to counsel those engaged in personal challenges to do right. In particular, my heart reaches out to those who feel discouraged by the magnitude of their struggle. Many shoulder heavy burdens of righteous responsibility which, on occasion, seem so difficult to bear. I have heard those challenges termed impossible. ...

How is it possible to achieve the impossible? Learn and obey the teachings of God. From the holy scriptures, heaven-sent lift will be found for heaven-sent duties.

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January 7

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Source of the Atonement

Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Matthew 20:28

U nder the Fathers great eternal plan, it is the Savior who suffered. It is the Savior who broke the bands of death. It is the Savior who paid the price for our sins and transgressions and blots them out on condition of our repentance. It is the Savior who delivers us from physical and spiritual death.

There is no amorphous entity called the Atonement upon which we may call for succor, healing, forgiveness, or power. Jesus Christ is the source. Sacred terms such as Atonement and Resurrection describe what the Savior did, according to the Fathers plan, so that we may live with hope in this life and gain eternal life in the world to come. The Saviors atoning sacrificethe central act of all human historyis best understood and appreciated when we expressly and clearly connect it to Him.

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January 8

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Power of the Book of Mormon

And for this very purpose are these plates preserved, which contain these recordsthat the promises of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to his people.

Doctrine and Covenants 3:19

W hen I think of the Book of Mormon, I think of the word power . The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls.

My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day.

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January 9

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Love Anchored in Jesus Christ

And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Deuteronomy 6:5

L ove for family and friends, great as it may be, is much more profound when firmly anchored in the love of Jesus Christ. Parental love for children has more meaning here and hereafter because of Him. All loving relationships are elevated in Him. Love of our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ provides the illumination, inspiration, and motivation to love others in a loftier way.