July 21, 2026

In 2 Chronicles 17 we read that Jehoshaphat: "walked in the first ways of his father David", "sought to the Lord God of his father, and walked in his commandments", "and his heart was lifted up in the ways of the Lord: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah."

He was a mighty king who strengthened Judah, fortified it, and tore down the remaining residue of idolatry. Usually, the phrase "his heart was lifted up" refers to someone becoming too proud. However, in this case, his heart was lifted up in the ways up the Lord. This reminds me of Alma 26: 11-12:

11 But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

12 Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.

What a blessing, what a sweet fruit of righteousness, to have your heart lifted up in the ways of the Lord. To "brim with joy" as you consider all the Lord has done for you. To have joy in Christ.

I also love that it says he walked after the _first_ ways of David. David's story is sad and a foreboding lesson about not enduring to the end. However, the chronicler reminds us that we can bifurcate people's actions to learn from and rejoice in the good examples the provide. We all are imperfect. If we were to only learn from sinless people, we'd only have One example. And while His example may be enough, the strength that comes from pointing each other towards Christ, imperfect though we may be, is a pivotal part of His plan for us. I am grateful for the beautiful teachings of the first ways of David.

Helaman 5:12 is a beautiful, famous verse about building on the foundation of the Rock, our Redeemer. Reading it tonight, I realized that it's also a wonderful scripture that outlines the relationship between grace and works. The wording is subtle, but powerful. "... it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built".

Notice it doesn't say "because you built upon the rock", it says "because OF the rock". It is because of our Savior and His grace that we are saved, not because of our works. But it is our works (specifically covenants and ordinances) that bind us to our Savior, through the power of His Atonement, in a covenantal relationship so that we can come to know God and have eternal life.