Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 4:9-10
"And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested."

Another set of genealogies are listed. At least it has some added mention here and there that denotes families. I loved this mention of Jabez. I did wonder what kind of mention I would get in the recording of my family. Would it say "Renee, she loved to read and ponder the scriptures in her heart." I have no idea, but I would want some acknowledgement that I loved the Lord. I pondered on what Jabez asked "that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!" I would want that too. I think I would like to sit and talk with this man and find out more about his story.


Day 917

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 3:5

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 3:5
"And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel:"

As I have been reading the names of the sons of David and their descendants I was struck with how incredible boring this would be, if I didn't spot names along the way that reminded me of their stories. In a way its like reading a pedigree chart or family group sheet but only with names.. As a genealogist I love reading them because I know the facts behind them. But, it's the stories that bring the people to life to those that do not know them. I need to do better at writing the stories of my ancestors. It is the stories that will turn the hearts of the children to their fathers. A list of genealogies won't do that.


Day 916

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 2:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 2:1-2
"These are the sons of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,
Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher."

The chapter heading says "The descendants of Israel, Judah, Jesse, Caleb, and others are listed."

I was trying to follow these genealogies and it was jumping around. Then I paid attention to the chapter heading and figured out there were multiple family lines here. That leaves me the second time today the chapter heading of the scriptures have given important context to what I was reading. I always read them but it is worth recording how important they are. I think of how challenging it must have been to prepare these chapter headings.

I went back and found the talk by Elder Boyd K. Packer in the October 1982 LDS General Conference talk "Scriptures". He gives the story of the printing of the new edition of the Kings James Bible with footnotes and cross-referencing to the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants. Now they were inspired to format the footnotes, and a host of other things.

These are some of the references I found.



https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1982/10/scriptures?lang=eng

The Coming Forth of the LDS Editions of Scripture - Aug 1983 Ensign
https://www.lds.org/ensign/1983/08/the-coming-forth-of-the-lds-editions-of-scripture?lang=eng


Day 915

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 1:1

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 1:1
"Adam, Seth, Enosh,"

I was feeling all tangled on the lines in the earlier chapter. Now in Chronicles it is reviewing them. I thought maybe this is my chance to record the genealogies. Since I never have original thoughts I figured there must be others that have recorded them. So I took some time to look for them. Some are really good and I will use them as a reference. Once I was on my path of discovery I realized I was taking more time in a gospel hobby then what was needful in actually studying the scriptures. Maybe in time this would be a path to pursue, but for now I will leave it alone.


Day 914

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 25:7, 12

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 25:7, 12
And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.
But the captain of the guard left the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen."

Here are two more groups that did not get carried away into Babylon. There was a son of Zedekiah, named Mulek that fled. The story of this is not found in the bible, but it is in the Book of Mormon.

"And now will you dispute that Jerusalem was destroyed? Will ye say that the sons of Zedekiah were not slain, all except it were Mulek? Yea, and do ye not behold that the seed of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem? But behold, this is not all -" (Helaman 8.21)

Even the people of the Book of Mormon didn't know Mulek survived until some 300 years after the event. When the Nephites came across his descendants in the land of Zarahemla.

They are all part of Christ's words in John 10:16
"And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd."

The other group that did not get carried away, but were left behind were the poor. There is safety in being the poor and meek of the earth.


Day 913

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 24:2

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 24:2
"And the Lord sent against him bands of the Chaldees, and bands of the Syrians, and bands of the Moabites, and bands of the children of Ammon, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by his servants the prophets."

I pondered on how the prophets bring the voice of warning before destruction will come. It is the way its always been, it is the way it will always be. I am so grateful for the voice of a living prophet on the earth today. Following the words of the prophet will bring me peace and protection. Though I might be like Lehi and his family and suffer hard things, in the end it brings me to a better place. Where He wants me to be. I pondered on how truly terrifying it would be to go through these last days without the voice of a living prophet. God has never left his people alone.

It is in this part of the bible that Zedekiah becomes the last king of Judah. It is where the story of the Book of Mormon begins.

"For it came to pass in the commencement of the first year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, (my father, Lehi, having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his days); and in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed."
(1 Nephi 1:4)


Day 912

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 23:2-3

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 23:2-3
"And the king went up into the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the Lord.
And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.

This chapter speaks to me on the power of reading the scriptures and the power it has to make covenant with the Lord and keep his commandments. All the false gods were removed from the land as their hearts turned to the one true God.


Day 911

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 22:2

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 22:2
"And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David this father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left."

This is another verse that I have read many times. This time I was struck by the "turned not aside to the right or to the left". Many times I have just pictured being on a faithful course directly towards the Lord and not deviating. This time I thought what does going to the right or left exactly mean?. The left is usually a bad direction, the right is usually choosing righteousness, following the Lord.

So the question came to me, "Can a person go to the right, thinking they are on the course of righteousness, and be lead off course?" The answer to me was an astounding YES!!  You can get swallowed up in a gospel hobby and be lead into forbidden paths. All the time thinking you are becoming more righteous or more knowledgeable than others. Yeah, that's the old pride thing again. I've gotten caught up in that. I've seen others get caught up in that. It is a very real danger. The thing that has saved me is that warning voice, troubling my soul with the course I am on. I had to stop and take stock of where I really was, and acknowledge I was way off course. That means forsaking the path I am on and turning back to the fundamentals of the gospel. It's the basics of the gospel that keep me on the path leading towards Christ. Listening for the still small voice, and following the prophets. It is hard work to not become swayed by the enticing voices that come from either side of me. Even more so when the people have every appearance of being righteous. Being obedient to reading my scriptures daily and looking for the simplicity of the gospel is becoming an insulator to those contenting voices. This gives the verse "..strait is the gate, and narrow is the way" deeper meaning for me.


Day 910

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 21:6

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 21:6
"And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger."

As I began to read this verse it was very familiar, because several other kings had done the same thing. I was reading it rather quickly until I spotted those last few words "to provoke him to anger". Manasseh, Hezekiah's son what taught what was right from his father. Yet, he on purpose did what was wrong in the sight of God, to provoke him. He mocked God. He built up every evil thing and practice to provoke him.

I could picture people today that do that same thing. Mockingly saying "God will strike them dead with lightening", or something along those lines, for their crimes. This put a whole new level on the evil Manasseh was capable of, because he hated God enough to provoke him. I wonder if he "played" with things he shouldn't have because he didn't think they had any value either. Could it be like the foolish child that plays with a ouija board out of curiosity, or the adult that uses taro cards or fortune tellers, thinking it's just for entertainment? When God says don't touch such things there is a reason and warning for it. Mocking God never comes to a good end.


Day 909

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 20:8-9

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 20:8-9
"And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah, What shall be the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up into the house of the Lord the third day?
And Isaiah said, This sign shalt thou have of the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?"

Hezekiah answered for the shadow to go down ten degrees, time would go backwards. This is exactly what happened. I pondered on the asking of a sign. When a wicked man asks for a sign it brings destruction upon him. In this case Hezekiah was a righteous man and believed in God. He wasn't asking for a sign to believe, he asked so he could worship the Lord at the right time. He wanted a sign to be faithful and show his gratitude in sparing his life. I love that the sign for the faithful was an amazing sign in the heavens. The creator of time controlled time. As Hezekiah life was spared another 15 years, the time on the eternal clock adjusted in a measure.


Day 908

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 19:14

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 19:14
"And Hezekiah received the letter of the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up into the house of the Lord, and spread it before the Lord."

I had several favorite verses I marked in this chapter. But, this  one stood out. The reason for it is because I remembered hearing someone mention in a genealogy class how after doing research on their brick wall they would take their research log and papers and spread them out on their bed. Then they would kneel down in prayer and present it to the Lord. Seeking to understand how it all connected, and what steps they needed to take next. I had never heard of anyone doing that before, but when they said it, I knew it was a truth.

I've never had an opportunity or need to do that. Yet those words have stuck with me for many years now. Popping up at random times so they are never forgotten. Maybe someday I will need to do this. The exciting thing to me today was seeing that this was a truth that is confirmed in the scriptures. I love finding things like this, scriptural evidence as a second witness to what the spirit told me before hand.


Day 907

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 18:3-4

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 18:3-4
"And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that David his father did.
He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan."

It looks like Judah finally has a righteous king. Hezekiah begins by cleaning out the pagan places of worship. That is something I have been paying attention to each time they have mentioned if the king was righteous or not. There has been a long stretch of those that were righteous but kept the high places. In the end they were not completely righteous. Now there is hope.

What I pondered on was the brass serpent that Moses made. Moses lifted it up on a pole so those that were bitten by the firey serpent could look towards it and live. This symbol represented Christ and looking towards it was looking towards him. Some just wouldn't do it because of how simply an act it was, and so they died. So now we have people not only looking towards the brass serpent, but they are burning incense to it. They are worshiping it, and not what it actually represented. It is a perversion. I sat and tried to think of what I could liken it to in my day. I know there is an example but it wouldn't form in my mind. I can tell it will be something to ponder on in the coming days. All that kept coming to me were those that appear to worship the last days, reading all types of signs for his coming, but in their zeal forget the Lord and their preparation to meet him. They would much rather see the signs of his coming, then see Him. I do believe the faithful will see the Savior before he ever appears to the world as a whole.


Day 906

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 17:6

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 17:6
"In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria took Samaria, and carried Israel away into Assyria, and placed them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes."

This is the scattering of Israel into the north countries. They were carried away captive by Assyria in 721 B.C. All because they no longer feared the Lord but feared other Gods instead. They were rebellious and unrighteous so the Lord's protection was no longer over them. This is so hard to see happen to once beautiful Israel. With the bad also comes good, for Israel needed to be scattered so the seed of Abraham could bless the earth. You have to scatter seeds before you can gather them.

I pondered on the tenth Article of Faith.
"We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory."

I was just reading an article earlier today that spoke of how unique America was with all the nationalities of the earth found here. You could not say we were just one race or people.

Even with all that I found a quote by President Russell M. Nelson from June 2013. "The gathering is not a matter of physical location; it is a matter of individual commitment. People can be 'brought to the knowledge of the Lord' without leaving their homelands."


Day 905

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 16:2-4

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 16:2-4
"Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord his God, like David his father.
But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel.
And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree."

As I have been reading through the reign of the different kings I have found it interesting how many times I am told that the king did right or wrong in the sight of the Lord, yet it goes on to mention that the "high places" remained. In these cases it is referencing pagan worshipping and not the holy temple. I have wondered how you can be a righteous king and let the "high places" remain? Maybe they didn't touch them but they gave their people the right to worship how they wanted? I do wonder what Israel would be like if just one of those kings had removed them completely from the land? Then I thought of my land and those that are pagan worshippers. Even if they know they are one or not. I can't remove them. Because they are around me doesn't make me wicked or effected by them. There will be opposition in all things. It seems the message is do what is right and the things of wickedness will have no power over you.

Ahaz not only sacrifices his son by fire, he then perverts the ways of the Lord and changes the method of sacrifices in the temple. This is the risk that you run when you touch the things you're not suppose too.


Day 904

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 15:25, 30

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 15:25, 30
"But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.
And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah."

The word conspiracy stood out to me in the last chapter. In this chapter a form of this word is mentioned four times. I noticed that as conspiracy built so did the murders of their leaders, and eventually being made captive by a foreign land. Out of all the things I see happening in the world right now I sure hope that isn't something we begin to see next.

I searched the scriptures and read all the verses that mentioned conspiracy. Interestingly there was no mention of that word in the Book of Mormon. Instead it's called "secret combinations". There are more references to secret combinations in the Book of Mormon than the combined use of conspiracy in the Bible and Doctrine & Covenants. What an odd thing to ponder on today. Feels like a question for a board game on random scripture facts.


Day 903

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 14:10, 19

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 14:10, 19
"Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there."

This chapter is on Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah. I have to say the generations and names are beginning to blur on me. Totally wish I had kept a genealogy of all these kings, it would help keep things straight in my mind.

As I read these verses all I could think of is "Pride goeth before a fall", which is actually based on this verse.

"Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
(Proverbs 16:18)

Destruction, rather it be physical or spiritual comes as an end result of pride. It is a very damaging and destructive thing. The very think I have to work my hardest at. Humility isn't a natural state. It's something that has to be continually worked at. When I think I'm getting close to it, it just left. Sure hope I can figure that one out some day.

I know monitoring it and continually checking myself, on where I stand is helping. Well at least I can tell what my danger signs are and hear when warning bells begin to ring. Yup, you just crossed the line and went out of bounds on that one. What I want is to not even cross that line. Maybe I need supersonic hearing so I hear the warning bells the moment they are triggered, and not when the decibels get unbearable. That's actually given me some good thoughts to ponder on. Maybe its not so bad to hear warning bells if I hear them when I first touch the line. The warning bell is the spirit and that is exactly his role. What I need, is to be able to hear the still small voice of the spirit, before it has to shout. What protects against pride is drawing closer to the spirit.


Day 902

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 13:3-4

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 13:3-4
"And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazel king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-hadad the son of Hazael, all their days.
And Jehoahaz besought the Lord, and the Lord hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them."

I pondered on the anger of the Lord and how he just didn't help Israel. Their enemies were allowed to come upon them. That is how they were delivered into their hands. He didn't bring it against the people, truly they brought it upon themselves. All it took was them to turn back to God and the means to deliver themselves from oppression was given them. I pondered on how I cannot curse God when bad things happen. There is a reason why we suffer, and mostly it so I will turn my heart back to him.


Day 901

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 12:2

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 12:2
"And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him."

I pondered how listening to a prophet or apostle, a messenger of God, it will cause me to do what is right in the sight of the Lord. If I follow strange voices and those that teach of their own doctrine I can be lead astray. Over the many years of sitting and pondering the scriptures, I have come to learn that I am never given an original thought. Things may come to me that I have never heard of, or understood before. They are new thoughts to me. When taught by the spirit I am given eternal truths. These are not original things, others learned them before me. Then soon after I will find a second witness through the words of the prophets confirming what the spirit had taught me. I find it such a marvelous thing. This follows the law of witnesses and is as revelation should be. I find comfort in that.


Day 900

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 11:2-3

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 11:2-3
"But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.
And he was with her hid in the house of the Lord six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land."

Joash must have been a one year old baby when Athaliah rose up and destroyed all the royal princes of the house of Judah. I just had to think of that small child hid in the house of the Lord for safety. Of all the places to hide that is where I would want to be. He was surrounded by priests and protected by them. By the time he is anointed king he is seven years old. I think out of all the wickedness that have filled the house of Judah and Israel it was necessary to raise a child up without corruption. His parents could not teach him evil. Athaliah herself was an example of being raised by evil parents. He father was Ahab and her mother Jezebel. She learned to worship Baal from her mother. Now Joash (or Jehoash) would be raised by those that loved God and worshiped him. I can see the Lord giving him every chance to know how to do right. The rest will be up to what he chooses.


Day 899

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 10:30-31

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 10:30-31
"And the Lord said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.
But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the Lord God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin."

I really don't get this chapter. Rather bloody with the severing of seventy sons of Ahab's heads. Then gathering all the worshippers of Baal together and killing them. I totally get what they were doing was wrong and had been warned of the cleansing long before it came. The Lord used Jehu as the tool to fulfill that promise. What I guess I don't understand is how Jehu now would dare to not walk in the ways of the Lord afterwards. All I can think is that somehow Jehu went beyond the mark of what the Lord required.  He does appear to be a rather bloodthirsty man. He lost his heart with his zeal.


Day 898

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 9:1-3

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 9:1-3
"And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead:

Elisha gives this son of the prophets a charge to pour the box of oil on top of Jehu's head and says, "Thus saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel." I pondered on how Elisha didn't do it himself. Instead he sent one worthy to do it for him. Isn't that just like how priesthood keys are given today? The prophet holds all the priesthood keys on the earth today. He in turns sends others to set apart Stake Presidents and Bishops, and ordain others to their priesthood callings. The Lord's house is a house of order.


Day 897

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 8:11-12

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 8:11-12
"And he settled his countenance steadfastly, until he was ashamed: and the man of God wept.
And Hazael said, Why weepeth my lord? And he answered, Because I know the evil that thou wilt do unto the children of Israel: their strong holds wilt thou set on fire, and their young men wilt thou slay with the sword, and wilt dash their children, and rip up their women with child."

It's easy to forget that not only does a prophet see amazing spiritual things, they can also see the horrible events to come. What must it have been like for John the Revelator, Nephi and the brother of Jared to see my day? I know just watching the news I weep. What must it be like to be a prophet and know what is to come.

Day 896

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 7:1

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 7:1
"Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.

Benhadad had besieged Samaria and food was selling for a great price. Elisha prophesized that there will be plenty the next day, and flour will sell at an unheard of price. He is scorned. How did the prophesy come to pass?  The Syrians heard the noise of the unseen chariots of fire that surrounded them. They thought the king of Israel had hired others to fight them so they fled. Leaving behind all their provisions. What does this tell me? Never mock the words of a prophet. For the one that mocked Elisha was trampled to death. Spiritual death is a far worse fate.


Day 895

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 6:16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 6:16-17
"And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha."

I have often thought of this verse. I know angels have surrounded me, even though I have not seen them with my natural eye, I have felt them. Then I thought of the young man being able to see the chariot of fire and I wished I could have seen them too. I pondered on seeing things with the natural eye verses my spiritual eyes. Obviously, this young man could not see them with his natural eyes, he had to be given spiritual eyes to see the chariots of fire surrounding them. How many times have I dismissed seeing things with my spiritual eyes because I did not see them with my natural eyes. It was just last month that I had such and event happen. What a difference this last time made for I could finally recognize it for what it was. I think I have seen far more spiritually in my life than I realized at the time. It has taken a lifetime to understand where I see with spiritual eyes. I'm sure it will take an eternity to know how to use them.


Day 894

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 5:10-11

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 5:10-11
"And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper."

Naaman has leprosy and is sent to be healed. He is so disappointed that the prophet Elisha doesn't come out to see him. That instead he sends a messenger and is told to simply wash in the Jordan river seven times. What he was expecting was a big show and is upset when that doesn't happen. The request is so small he doubts that it will work.

Then one of his servants wisely says to him "My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?"

With this Naaman does as the Elisha told him and is made clean. I pondered on how listening to the words of the prophet and obeying has never been a personal one on one invitation to me. The closest I come is LDS General Conference. How many times in the past have I wanted to hear some great announcement or prophecy made during it. I have come to learn that the faithful following of the peaceful things of the gospel, emphasized at conference time, have blessed my life in the months that follow.


Day 893

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 4:2-3

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 4:2-3
"And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
The he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few."

What a faith promoting chapter. When times are tough this is one where I can stop and ponder on the miracles and power of God. How following the living prophet will protect me not only spiritually but temporally also. I love this story of the women who's husband dies and the creditors are coming to take her sons to be bondmen. All she has is pot of oil and the faith to follow the living prophet. She inquires what she is to do and then follows his council to gather and borrow all the empty vessels she can together.

Then she shuts her door with her sons and her inside and pours out the oil into the vessels. As she faithful does so, all the pots are filled and the oil still remains in the pot of oil that she has. Once she does this she turns again to Elisha and is told to now go and sell the oil to pay her debts. Then she and her children can live upon the rest. I know this happened. I am sure this will happen again. It totally made me think of the Self-Reliance class I just completed. The Lord is prepare us for great things. It made me think of my mason jars and how fruitful my the little plants in my garden are. They are filling my jars as the Lord has promised me he would.


Day 892

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 3:14

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 3:14
"And Elisha said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee."

This verse made me think of these two other scriptures.

"And there had been murders, and contentions, and dissensions, and all manner of iniquity among the people of Nephi; nevertheless for the righteous sake, yea, because of the prayers of the righteous, they were spared." (Alma 62:40)

"But, behold, it is for the righteous' sake that it is spared. But behold, the time cometh, saith the Lord, that when ye shall cast out the righteous from among you, then shall ye be ripe for destruction; yea, wo be unto this great city, because of the wickedness and abominations which are in her." (Helamon 13:14)

I pondered on how vital the righteous are to preserving a nation.


Day 891

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 2:3, 5

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 2:3, 5
"And the sons of the prophets that were at Beth-el came forth to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he said, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace.
And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Lord will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace."

The spirit of prophesy falls upon Elisha and the sons of the prophet. They knew that Elijah was going to be taken from them before it even happened. I'm sure they didn't know Elijah would be taken up to heaven in a whirlwind upon a chariot of fire. They only knew something was coming. Each time Elisha tells the sons of the prophets to hold their peace.

Though not totally the same thing it did make me recall recent events. How many times did my family and close friends all say privately to each other, I know something is going to happen, I just don't know what. Since this hurricane and flooding in Texas hit I no longer have that feeling resting upon me. It's kinda like the clock has been rest and people haven found the goodness in each other again. Now I wonder what will the nation and people do with it? Have we learned from what has just happened? I wonder how long this reprieve will last?


Day 890

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 1:13-14

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 1:13-14
"And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.
Behold, there came fire down from heaven, and burnt up the two captains of the former fifties with their fifties: therefore let my life now be precious in thy sight."

I as struck by the response of third captain that came to the hill where Elijah sat. This time he didn't mock Elijah he came with a humbled heart. He knew that Elijah had the power to call down from heaven fire that could consume him and his men. It amazes me that the second captain even dared to mock as the first one did. Both of them had the fate of being consumed by fire.  This captain recognized he needed to act differently. This made me ponder on how many times I have had to repeat the same mistakes a couple of times before I learned to humble myself and do things the Lord's way. If only I could be better at making mistakes only once and learning from them the first time.


Day 889

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 22:6-8

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 22:6-8
"Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear?  And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.
And Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might inquire of him?
And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, Micaiah the son of Imlah, by whom we may inquire of the Lord: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so."

At first I wondered how you could have 400 prophets. Then I saw that Jehoshaphat asks for a prophet of the Lord. I realized that when the king of Israel asked his prophets what he should do, they never mentioned they inquired of the Lord. The king of Israel is Ahab who obviously had sold "himself to work wickedness in the sight of the Lord" (1 Kings 21:25) again. These prophets may have said the Lord shall deliver, but they did not say they asked him.

Why did Ahab not like the prophet Micaiah? Because he didn't prophesy good concerning him. Is there any wonder in that? Then I pondered on how this is like people today. We want to get everyone else's opinion first and not inquire of the Lord. Then when we hear a prophet we don't like what they have to tell us. We think them outdated and out of touch. They couldn't possibly understand our situation. Yeah, I've seen this. Sadly I think I've been at times there. I don't ever want to be there again. I have found following the opinions of others and not the Lord's just leads me to foolishness.


Day 888