Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God

Elder Dale G. Renlund encouraged us to follow the counsel from the prophet Micah in order to understand what more we can do to draw closer to God:

“[God] hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”¹⁰

Micah 6:8

Last week in Come Follow Me Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord provided a similar counsel to Hyrum Smith in 1829 as He explained how to recognised promptings from the Holy Ghost:

“12 And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your ^atrust in that ^bSpirit which ^cleadeth to do ^dgood—yea, to do ^ejustly, to walk ^fhumbly, to ^gjudge righteously; and this is my Spirit.”

Doctrine and Covenants 11:12

Elder Renlund explained the relationship between these 3 admonitions:

“To do justly means acting honorably with God and with other people. We act honorably with God by walking humbly with Him. We act honorably with others by loving mercy. To do justly is therefore a practical application of the first and second great commandments, to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind … [and to] love thy neighbour as thyself.”¹¹

“To walk humbly is to recognize the limits of my abilities and to priotize God’s will over my own.”

“To do justly and walk humbly with God is to intentionally withdraw our hand from iniquity, walk in His statutes, and remain authentically faithful.¹² A just person turns away from sin and toward God, makes covenants with Him, and keeps those covenants. A just person chooses to obey the commandments of God, repents when falling short, and keeps on trying.”

“To love mercy is to set aside judgement or animosity and to treat others with kindness and compassion.”

“To love mercy as God does is inseparably connected to dealing justly with others and not mistreating them.”

“Always dealing honorably with others is part of loving mercy.”

“To be Christ like, a person does justly, behaving honorably with both God and other people. A just person is civil in words and action and recognizes that differences in outlook or belief do not preclude genuine kindness and friendship. Individuals who do justly “will not have a mind to injure one another, but to live peaceably”²⁴ one with another.”

“To be Christ like, a person loves mercy. People who love mercy are not judgmental; they manifest compassion for others, especially for those who are less fortunate; they are gracious, kind, and honourable. These individuals treat everyone with love and understanding, regardless of characteristics such as race, gender, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and tribal, clan, or national differences. These are superseded by Christ like love.”

“But at the same time, our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ do not want us to be paralyzed by continual uncertainty during our mortal journey, wondering whether we have done enough to be saved and exalted…”

In conclusion,

“We can assess our own progress. We can know “that the course of life [that we are] pursuing is according to God’s will”²⁸ when we do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. We assimilate the attributes of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ into our character, and we love one another.”

As I think about this talk, the following talk is the one that strike me the most:

“Loving mercy means that we do not just love the mercy God extends to us; we delight that God extends the same mercy to others. And we follow His example. “All are alike unto God,”²⁰ and we all need spiritual treatment to be helped and healed. The Lord has said, “Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think himself above another.”²¹

Do Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with God

by Elder Dale G. Renlund

Even though sometimes I might be grudge to someone and might want to see so call karma happened upon that particular person. Yeah, I know it is not Christ like at all!

But if I am putting my feet into that person’s shoes, I would want the same loving and mercy that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ extend to other persons, extended the same love towards me as well! And the love They extended to me is no discounted at all!

I will strive to make better decision (do justly) by submitting my will to the will of God (walking humbly) and learn to serve others non-judgmentally (loving mercy).

Doctrine and Covenants is the Words of God

Today I have completed my scripture study of Doctrine and Covenants with the help of the Church program Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students.

It was all started by a little struggles, doubts and questions I have early this year. And I was thinking a lot about Joseph Smith’s First Vision, as I first watched the video in the Primary Sharing time. How can I pray and get the answers from the Lord to guide me in facing my doubts and answers?

That is how I have a thought that I should study the Doctrine and Covenants. I had an urge that I should study with the Seminary guide so that I can understand better.

And, that was how it goes and my personal scripture study journey of the Doctrine and Covenants.

I still remember the first day when I opened the Section 1. It was just like the Lord was talking to me directly, warn and forewarn me face to face. And, there were so much experiences that I have during this journey, and that I would record down my thoughts and feelings in my journal. It was so sacred to me…

I feel happy and joy, that I have eventually completed all the homework required in each lesson.  I was and I am indeed amaze of the young men and young women in the Church who participate in this Seminary program. Solid 32 weeks of scripture study almost everyday, studied and answered every single question everyday.

And almost every time, I feel closer to the Spirit and the Lord when I pondered and looked back to my life, how His hand touched my life and my family during I was answering all those questions in the book.

If you asked me have I finally find the answers for my doubts or my questions early this year? I can tell you that I have not yet…

But through this 32 weeks journey, I have learned that the Lord talks to us, He gives us revelations and that is how our Church started – from a young Joseph Smith who had questions. And, the Lord still talks to us today through His living prophet, President Thomas S Monson;

I have learned that His grace and mercy that He loves everyone of us, and how He shaped each one of us to become the person He wants us to be, just like He shaped young Joseph Smith to become the Prophet that restored the gospel through His warnings, counsels, admonitions as what I have studied in the Doctrine and Covenants;

I have learned that the Doctrine and Covenants is the words of God. It is the compilation of the revelations from the Lord to Joseph Smith whenever Joseph seeks the Lord’s answers.

I have learned that the Lord loves me, and these little struggles and fears that I have are part of the plan He have installed for me.

I have not yet find the answers to all my doubts and questions, but I know that because I have learned all these things for myself, that the Lord gives me the strength and faith that I need to move forward, trusting in the Lord, in spite of things I do not understand and comprehend now.

As what President Dieter F Uchtdorf said:

“Fear not; ask questions. Be curious, but doubt not! Always hold fast to faith and to the light you have already received. Because we see imperfectly in mortality, not everything is going to make sense right now. …”

“… Searching for answers to your questions can bring you closer to God, strengthening your testimony instead of shaking it. It’s true that ‘faith is not … a perfect knowledge’, but as you exercise your faith, applying gospel principles every day under any circumstances, you will taste the sweet fruits of the gospel, and by this fruit you will know of its truth.”

The Reflection in the Water

President Dieter F Uchtdorf

Church Educational System Fireside 1 Nov 2009