Through Your Vision
Arthur Smith, Council of Twelve Apostles
God, the Eternal Creator, weeps for the poor, displaced, mistreated, and diseased of the world because of their unnecessary suffering. Such conditions are not God’s will. Open your ears to hear the pleading of mothers and fathers in all nations who desperately seek a future of hope for their children. Do not turn away from them. For in their welfare resides your welfare. -Doctrine and Covenants 163:4a
God, you asked Jonah to go preach to his historic enemies, to foreigners, and he rebelled.
Help me overcome that rebellion in my heart. Help me see the whole world through your vision.
Help me resist temptation to look down on others, to categorize people as lesser.
Help me not look down on foreigners.
Help me not look down on immigrants.
Help me not look down on the undocumented.
Help me not look down on people who speak different languages.
Help me not look down on people of different religions and cultures.
Help me not look down on people of different gender identity.
Help me not look down on people of different sexuality.
Help me not look down on people who seem to take great pride in looking down on any of these others.
But help remove pride from me and replace it with love.
Prayer Phrase
We are one in Christ.
Spiritual Practice
Week Four: Think Globally, Act Locally
Journal/Reflect
The world conference community represents spiritual communities from cities, towns, and villages around the world. Each comes with distinct experiences that impact how they see, hear, and respond to the community as a whole. Some issues that are discussed will seem far removed from your own daily realities, but they may be close at heart for someone else. Notice your own local context as preparation for this global gathering. What dreams inhabit your community’s imagination? What concerns rest on people’s hearts? What practical matters impact your ability to share in ministry? Where is the Spirit at work in the realities you encounter in your daily life? How does your own local context and experience both restrict and expand your ability to engage in broader dialogue?
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.
