June 24, 2026

1 Kings 8

60 That all the people of the earth may know that the Lord is God, and that there is none else.

61 Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.

There is nothing more important than following the Lord.

https://rsc.byu.edu/gospel-jesus-christ-old-testament/christ-covenants-caph

God is the only one who can fill the hole in our soul. Not friends, not wife. We cannot expect our wife to be the source of our happiness. I must rely on God.

We've been watching the show Alone as a family and have really enjoyed it together. It is a reality show where they drop 10 people off in the wilderness (125 miles into the Arctic circle, in this season), and contestants have to live off the land completely alone and outlast everyone else.

All the contestants biggest fears are grizzlies and wolves. Interestingly, though, we're almost to the end of the season and neither of these large and immediately perceivable threats have been an issue. The two most devastating issues have been small creatures stealing or spoiling food supplies (i.e. mice or birds), and the difficulty of solitude.

These are also the greatest threats to us as we strive to endure our traverse through this telestial wilderness.

Certainly, we are vigilant for bears and other large predators. We avoid murder and theft, adultery and and other overtly heinous sins. But are their more insidious and stealthy mice at work, gnawing away at our potential and contaminating our eternal life? Media, lust, white lies, unkind words, taking of the Lord's name in vain, speaking ill of the Lord's anointed, light mindedness, any other impure or unholy practice - anything that is "not THAT bad" will spoil that which is good and ultimately have the same impact as the bear that tears one to pieces. The Bread of Life is most precious, but the bread, mingled with the feces of mice, does not have the same saving effect.

Secondly, solitude. One of the first things Adam heard after being created was Jehovah saying "it is not good for man to be alone". In fact, throughout the creating God says of each milestone "it is good". Adam's solitude is the first thing He says is not good.

We recently studied David and how he sent away his friends to go to battle and stayed behind. This very much was part of his start to fall. Is it good for man to be alone? It is not good. We must stay anxiously engaged in a good cause and meet with saints regularly to fortify each other and ourselves.

We must beware of mice and solitude.