are the little "why's" important?

When Habakkuk learned that the Lord was raising up the Chaldeans to overtake Israel, he’s like, “Seriously? Have you seen these guys? They’re way worse than us!”

Why is it that the Lord would do this? How can this be? Why would the Lord use one wicked people to punish another? Sheesh! There's a lot that God does that doesn't make immediate sense to us.

I think when we wonder about the mechanisms through which God chooses to accomplish his will, it’s helpful to reflect on Jacob 4:8—

“Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God.”

How many things do we trouble ourselves over, which have no relevance to our salvation, but can become huge stumbling blocks if we focus on them to distraction?

There are many things that we don’t understand about life. We may have valid questions about the history of the earth, the church, or a strange story in the scriptures that just doesn't make sense to us. In these cases, I think it’s important to consider the following:

1.       Is this crucial to my salvation, or just trivia?

2.       Will knowing/understanding this increase my understanding of God’s plan for me?

3.       Will knowing/understanding this make me a better person?

If the answer is “yes,” then seek further study! Pray, read up on what the scriptures and modern revelation have to say. The Lord wants you to have increased knowledge in this life. In D&C 130:18-19, he says—

“Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.

 And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.”

If the answer to any of those questions is “no,” then be willing to let it go. It’s okay to wonder, but don’t fixate. Remember, we were meant to live by faith. 

Whatever you do, don’t let go of the things you do know to be true, over a few things you don’t have the answer for right now.

Christ promises to reveal all when he comes:

“Yea, verily I say unto you, in that day when the Lord shall come, he shall reveal all things—

 Things which have passed, and hidden things which no man knew, things of the earth, by which it was made, and the purpose and the end thereof—

 Things most precious, things that are above, and things that are beneath, things that are in the earth, and upon the earth, and in heaven.” D&C 101:32-34

Obadiah

Obadiah 1:17, 21

17 ¶But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

 21 And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.

What is Obadiah talking about? Who are the “saviours,” and what is “mount Zion?”

Obadiah is referring to the saving work to be performed for the dead, in the Lord’s temples. At this time, on the earth, the authorization to perform ordinances for the living and dead, has been restored. We call it the “priesthood.” Through those who hold the priesthood, these ordinances can be performed. Many of them are done in our temples, which are dedicated, holy places, specifically built for this work.  

We participate in these ordinances, first for ourselves, then for our ancestors who have gone before us; those who did not have the opportunity to receive them while they lived.

This is a crucial part of Christ’s church, and part of who he is. He would never condemn his children who didn’t have the opportunity to learn of him, while they lived. Jesus Christ is an equal opportunity savior.

To those who are unfamiliar with this concept, it isn’t new to Christ’s church. Paul says:

1 Corinthians 15:29:

“Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead?”

Paul is speaking of the “lost” practice of baptism for the dead, wherein worthy members are baptized, by proxy, for those who missed this opportunity in life, but need it—just as we do—to return to live with God.

In Doctrine and Covenants 128: 5, 15, the prophet Joseph Smith explains:

“You may think this order of things to be very particular; but let me tell you that it is only to answer the will of God, by conforming to the ordinance and preparation that the Lord ordained and prepared before the foundation of the world, for the salvation of the dead who should die without a knowledge of the gospel.

And now, my dearly beloved brethren and sisters, let me assure you that these are principles in relation to the dead and the living that cannot be lightly passed over, as pertaining to our salvation. For their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation, as Paul says concerning the fathers—that they without us cannot be made perfect—neither can we without our dead be made perfect.”

So, we are the “saviours” Obadiah referred to, and “mount Zion” is the temple. Our dead depend on us for salvation, and this work we can do in our temples is necessary for our own salvation.

For a better explanation, see here.

Daniel

Both Darius and the Lord preferred Daniel because of his integrity. Daniel had shown himself to be loyal to the Lord over the king, and the king respected that. It meant that Daniel understood loyalty, and was not afraid of men who challenged it. 

I think that Darius also saw that Daniel was not ambitious, so that he didn't have to worry about being surrounded by “yes-men.” Darius knew that Daniel was honest, and would die before he betrayed what he believed in. these are qualities that a valuable to both God and men.

We know that Darius recognized the power of Daniel’s god, and even had faith in him. We know this by his response to Daniel’s sentencing to the lion’s den sleepover. He said,

“Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.”

This is kind of an amazing thing. We learn more in Daniel 6:18-20

“18 ¶Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.

 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.

 20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?”

What happens next is perhaps more amazing, when Daniel’s protection from the lions has been verified:

“25 ¶Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.

 26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and steadfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.

 27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.”

It is good to remember this, as we go about our lives. We serve this same god. He is a living God, and he works actively on our behalves to deliver and save each of us.

Here's a link to a 5 minute clip that mentions Daniel near the end. It's pure gold!

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2011-03-079-eyewitness-news-at-six-600-bc?lang=eng