Luke 2: 14; Doctrine and Covenants 87: 2; 87: 6, 8

How are we blessed when we choose to stand in holy places as we navigate our life journey in this troubled world?

"14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2: 14)

"2 And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place." (Doctrine and Covenants 87: 2)

"6 And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn; and with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation, and chastening hand of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations;" (Doctrine and Covenants 87: 6)

"8 Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen." (Doctrine and Covenants 87: 8)

And here's the introductory commentary to this week's reading assignment: "August 4–10: “Stand Ye in Holy Places” Doctrine and Covenants 85–87 : 

"Christmas Day is usually a time to ponder messages like “peace on earth” (see Luke 2:14). But on December 25, 1832, Joseph Smith’s mind was occupied with the threat of war. The state of South Carolina in the United States had just defied the government and was preparing for battle. And the Lord revealed that this was only the beginning: “War,” He declared, “will be poured out upon all nations” (Doctrine and Covenants 87:2). It seemed like this prophecy would be fulfilled very soon.

But then it wasn’t. Within a few weeks, South Carolina and the United States government reached a compromise, and war was averted. Prophecy, however, is not always fulfilled at the time or in the way we expect. Nearly 30 years later, long after Joseph Smith was martyred, South Carolina rebelled and civil war followed. Today, war throughout the world continues to cause “the earth [to] mourn” (Doctrine and Covenants 87:6). The value of this revelation is less in predicting when calamity will come and more in teaching what to do when it comes. The counsel is the same in 1831, 1861, and 2025: “Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved” (verse 8)."

How blessed we are for the revelations from the Lord of the calamities that will come and for teaching us what to do to be prepared when they come. Standing in holy places to be safe from the calamities makes so much sense to me. The Lord wants us to be safe because He loves and cares for us. We're not alone in this troubled world. He is with us. We can feel His presence more, receive of His guidance, and feel peace whatever is happening or not happening when we choose to stand in holy places and stay there.