Who are the rightious?

I was talking with a lady yesterday about My Favorite Scriptures and I quoted, “It is by the prayers of the righteous ye are spared.” (Alma 10:23)

“Are you saying I'm wicked?”  She asked.

I was stunned and finally answered. “I never thought of that scripture it that way. I have always looked at it as hope for me and my loved ones." It is true that Nephi is talking fire and brim stones in that passage but, I find great comfort in that scripture. Prayers are love. When someone prays for me or you it is because they love us. That is what that scripture means to me. Where would I be now if I hadn’t had the prayers of my Grandmother, and others?

Are we wicked? Well yes, we all are, at times. Anything that takes me away from the Holy Spirit is cause for prayers, and that happens every day. I need to pray and I need the prayers of others. I need your love, I need your caring and I need to pray for you because you also need love and caring. I can feel the effect of having someone pray for me. It feels like love and hope and you need that as much as I do.

Was it because the scripture says the “prayers of the righteous” that she felt that way? To some it might sound like Nephi is making a division there, but again I never thought of it that way. While my grandmother was certainly a righteous woman and did many charitable acts she was not perfect and neither am I. We have to be righteous to some degree or we cannot pray for others.

Who are the righteous anyway?  I think it is all of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and call upon his name.

Jesus at the mount of Olives

Today in remembrance of the great sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I share a few verses from Luke.

“And he came out and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray, that ye enter not into temptation. And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and knelt down and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me; nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." (Luke 22: 39 – 44) 

What is your favorite book of scriptures?

I cannot remember a time when I did not know there was a God. There have been times when I have been further away from him, but I always knew he was there and that it was I who had moved away from him.  

We didn’t go to church when I was a child. My mother wouldn’t go, and Dad wouldn’t go without her.  I’m grateful that I had the example of my faithful grandmother. She read from her worn Bible daily. In my mind I can still see her sitting in her rocking chair near the west window catching the light from the sitting sun to read her scriptures. On Sunday she took her large family to Dutch Ridge Baptist church. In the summer she always saw to it that we grandchildren went to Vacation Bible School at that little country church house. It was there I learned and memorize John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

That is probably the most favorite scripture of almost everyone no matter what church they belong to. It is certainly one of the foundation verses of the Christian world, but I would add to it John 17:3 “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

How, beautiful, and wonderful are the scriptures and none are more beautiful to me than those in the book of John.

What is your favorite book of scriptures?