Today's Favorite Verse: Nehemiah 4:18

Today's Favorite Verse: Nehemiah 4:18
"For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me."

This chapter described how "the Jews enemies seek to prevent them from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah arms the laborers and keeps the work progressing."

It made me think of the opposition the early saints had in this dispensation trying to build the temple in Kirtland. Lucy Mack Smith recorded in her book "History of Joseph Smith by His Mother"

"But they suffered much pain, fatigue, and uneasiness, for as soon as the work was commenced, our enemies began to swear that we should not finish it. Still, the brethren were faithful to their charge, and they took turns keeping guard upon the walls every night. My sons also took their turns, standing upon the walls as often as three nights in the week. How many of those affectionate brethren spent days and nights watching for the enemy, lest they should steal into the town unawares and murder the Prophet and his council and tear down the foundation! But they clung fast by the walls and “gave no quiet sleep to their eyes, nor peaceful slumber to their eyelids, until they found a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob."

Brigham Young described work on the Kirtland Temple as “a mere handful of men, living on air, and a little hominy and milk, and often salt or no salt when milk could not be had; the great Prophet Joseph, in the stone quarry, quarrying rock with his own hands; and the few then in the Church, following his example of obedience and diligence wherever most needed; with laborers on the walls, holding the sword in one hand to protect themselves from the mob, while they placed the stone and moved the trowel with the other” (JD 2:31).

Interesting parallel I hadn't noticed until now. "Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven."


Day 992