Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 28:25-26

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 28:25-26
"Thus saith the Lord God; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.
And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the Lord their God."

At first I thought of the Jews around the world gathering to Israel. Then I thought of the gathering taking place throughout the world to the stakes of Zion. Then I thought of the saints gathering in their homes to be taught of the Lord. There is safety within our homes as we dwell in confidence before the Lord. We are His people, he is gathering his sheep. 

"And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth."
(Doctrine and Covenants 115:6)

Day 1405

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 27:26

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 27:26
"Thy rowers have brought thee into great waters: the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas."

The thought that came to me was "who is manning the boat". Whoever is at the helm is directing it. Just like the rowers that take the boat along. They can take me into deep water and I can be broken up. Or, it can be the Savior that makes me swim in deep waters that heal me. My responsibility is to know who's boat I am in. Is the Savior at the helm of my boat or is it me?

Day 1404

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 26:19-20

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 26:19-20
"For thus saith the Lord God; When I shall make thee a desolate city, like the cities that are not inhabited; when I shall bring up the deep upon thee, and great waters shall cover thee;
When I shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit, with the people of old time, and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth, in places desolate of old, with them that go down to the pit, that thou be not inhabited; and I shall set glory in the land of the living;"

This chapter reminded me of the shows I enjoy watching on archaeology and ancient civilizations. I always wonder how could such a glorious civilization can be no more? Now I realize God has removed them from their place, for even in Ezekiel's time there were old desolate places. They are a reminder to the living.  It is a very prideful thing for a civilization to think they no longer need God. That they can survive without Him. As the Lord God is telling Ezekiel, he is also telling us the same.

Day 1403

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 25:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 25:17
"And I will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall lay my vengeance upon them."

I actually had a conversation earlier today with my son about this. With the wickedness around us and the laws supporting in too, why has the Lord's wrath not come down upon us?  I reminded him that it is for the sake of the righteous among them that they are spared.

"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."
(Helaman 13:14)

Even the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were not destroyed for the sake of ten righteous. It wasn't until Lot and his family left than the Lord's wrath was turned upon it. This shows the importance of the righteous that are living among the wicked right now. While the righteous are still there, there is time for them to repent.

Day 1402

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 24:4-5

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 24:4-5
"Gather the pieces thereof into it, even every good piece, the thigh, and the shoulder; fill it with the choice bones.
Take the choice of the flock, and burn also the bones under it, and make it boil well, and let them seethe the bones of it therein."

This is one of those scriptures where it fits what it happening in my life exactly. It cannot be a coincidence. Thursday the impression came to me on how I needed to heal my knee. I needed to make bone broth. Now I had an interest in bone broth before I hurt my knee and though of it off an on. When I arrived at church the first time in a wheelchair a sister stopped to inquire on what had happened. She mentioned I needed to take bone brother. I knew that wasn't a coincidence that I had that on my mind also. But, at the time had no idea that was something that would help my knee.

Then Thursday the impression came so strongly with a promise, that if I would take bone broth every day, and something else, that my knee would be well enough that I could use my walker by RootsTech. In fact I felt it so strongly it was as if in my mind I was already healed. I couldn't get the bones until Friday so I bought some bone broth from a local restaurant until then. I roasted the bones and then boiled them for 36 hrs. Which meant this morning I had to strain it and put it out on the porch to cool before leaving for church.

I felt so bad that I had broken the sabbath day by working on my bone broth. I prayed that I would be forgiven and promised to keep the remainder of His day holy. I felt that was acceptable. I even had the impression that what I was doing was as I had been told.  I just got done with all my meetings, a self-reliance class and family scriptures. Finally I could sit at my desk with my cup of bone broth and read my scriptures. This is amazingly what I read. Surely at times the Lord has a sense of humor. For it cannot be a coincidence the scriptures talk of bones as I'm dealing with bones. It is as verse 24 in this chapter says.

"Thus Ezekiel (Renee) is unto you a sign: according to all that he hath done shall ye do: and when this cometh, ye shall know that I am the Lord God,"

Day 1401

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 23:35

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 23:35
"Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms."

This chapter would be a good one ponder for anyone caught in the trap of pornography or moral sin. It also shows the consequences of any sin, for one sin will lead to another, and greater sins fall upon their heads. The JST translation of Ezekiel 23:17 reads "...and her mind was alienated from me by them." That is the great snare, having our idols alienate us from God. Then consequences are our making and something they must bear. For Christ will not save them in their sins. They must forsake them and come unto Him.

Day 1400

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 22:27

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 22:27
"Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain."

That just make me very sad. All I could think of was "they know not what they do." Sometimes for the selling of freedom you destroy your very soul.

Day 1399

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 21:24

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 21:24
"Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand."

I pondered on how it's one thing to sin and be ashamed and hide it. For that is between you and the Lord, and the accountability is yours. It's another when sin is shouted from the housetops and praised as something desirable, smart and good. To the point laws are enacted that go against the laws of God. This is when it's published and called to be remembered, this is when the hand of God will come upon them as a people. On the one hand it's between you and the Lord. Only then do you need to repent or be condemned. On the other, it is calling good evil and evil good and causing others to sin along with you. This is when a nation needs to come to repentance for going against the laws of God. This in when the nation will be punished. It makes my stomach sick to think of where we as a nation are right now.

Day 1398

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 20:12, 20

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 20:12, 20
"Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them.
And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God."

How I worship on the Sabbath is a sign to God. If I hallow it, I will be sanctified. That is a great promise. I reflected on what a difference reading the scriptures has made in how I keep the Sabbath day holy. I am much more observant of what I do. Sunday is my favorite day of the week. It is the best day to study the word of God. I prepare all week by reading the word of God, and then on Sundays He in turns blesses me with a greater capacity to understand. Part of the sign is I will know, "I am the Lord your God".

Day 1397

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 19:12-13

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 19:12-13
"But she was plucked up in fury, she was cast down to the ground, and the east wind dried up her fruit: her strong rods were broken and withered; the fire consumed them.
And now she is planted in the wilderness, in a dry and thirsty ground."

This is the state of Israel after turning their back on the Lord and being led away captive. Now they must thirst for living water for they have none. Sometimes what you didn't find desirable becomes desirable when you no longer have it. I think this is part of the reason the Lord lets them suffer for a season.

Day 1396

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 18:21-22

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 18:21-22
"But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statues, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live."

This is the beauty of repentance. For after repentance my sins are no more. The Lord will not mention them at final judgment. They are as if they never happened. How merciful is that! To be made clean there is no stain left. If only the world could do that to. I am so sadden as I see people unable to forgive others, and so willing to bring up dirt so long ago overcome and say you life is now wasted forever. No wonder I see depression and suicides increasing.

For the Lord says in version 32 "For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye."

Spiritual death can be overcome in Christ. Man now teaches the opposite. That is unrighteous judgment and such will be condemned.

"For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."
(Matthew 7:2)

"Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again."
(Alma 41:14)

Day 1395

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 17:2, 12

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 17:2, 12
"Son of man, put forth a riddle, and speak a parable unto the house of Israel;
Say now to the rebellious house, Know ye not what these things mean? tell them, Behold, the King of Babylon is come to Jerusalem, and hath taken the king thereof, and the princes thereof, and led them with him to Babylon;"

I pondered on the Lord's use of parables throughout the scriptures. That those that have eyes to see and ears to hear will understand them. In this chapter He knows they are rebellious so he gives part of the meaning. These are keys to understanding the full meaning if they would just ponder on it. I think it is through the act of pondering on the words of God that the spirit has the chance to testify and instruct. The Lord was trying to get the rebellious to open that door.

Day 1394

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 16:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 16:8
"Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest mine."

This chapter is written so beautifully that I could see all the Lord has done for his people and how even after rejecting him, his hands are stretched out still. There is sad cycle of how God showers his love upon his people, then sin over takes them. They turn to pride, gluttony, idleness, turn their backs upon the poor and needy, justify the sins of others, and judge unrighteously. The worst is when their sins cause them to feed their children to the fire. Which I think means they no longer teach their children about God and leave them to the fires of hell.

I just sat and wept over how lost they became. My heart cried how do I not go this same path? How do I not leave the goodness of the Lord? Then I went back and read the beginning of the chapter and saw the key. Never leave His embrace. Don't break my covenants and leave Him. Love the Lord back with all my heart. Let Him call me mine. Remember I am nothing without the Lord, and do not turn to pride. 

Day 1393

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 15:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 15:5
"Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?"

The Lord is using the vine tree as an example of Jerusalem. Which can also be an example of me. I pondered on how those that do not prepare themselves to serve the Lord are not fit for any of his work. How much less fit would a person be, if they are burned and destroyed? To have value and purpose I need to serve the Lord.

Day 1392

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 14:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 14:7
"For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to inquire of him concerning me; I the Lord will answer him by myself:"

So why would someone that separated themselves from the Lord, and was putting up stumblingblocks inquire of the prophet? Then I realize it was not to know the Lord, it was to challenge the prophet about the Lord. In particular to challenge the prophet about something he said came from the Lord.

Do I see that in my day?  Absolutely! and interestingly enough we talked about this very thing tonight in family scripture reading. About how they are blinded even to the fact they have become exactly what the scriptures have warned about. They cannot even see themselves in the story any more. No wonder I am to liken the scriptures to myself. For to not do that, you run the risk of being blinded to what you have become.

The sad part is "the Lord will answer him by myself". That is not a good thing. The next verse says how the Lord will handle them. I would not want to be in their shoes.

"And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the Lord."
(Ezekiel 14:8)

Day 1391

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 13:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 13:6
"They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The Lord saith: and the Lord hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word."

Divination = Superstitions

This made me think of an ad I saw for a book from a "modern religious group". It had the names of some celebrities listed with it. Now from the book's title I already knew without a doubt that this was a priestcraft. I followed the website link, not to buy the book, but to get a better look at the people endorsing it. There were pages of celebrities from all professions shouting its praise.

This was exactly what President Dallin H. Oaks warned about in his Oct 2018 General Conference talk "Truth and the Plan"

"We live in a time of greatly expanded and disseminated information. But not all of this information is true. We need to be cautious as we seek truth and choose sources for that search. We should not consider secular prominence or authority as qualified sources of truth. We should be cautious about relying on information or advice offered by entertainment stars, prominent athletes, or anonymous internet sources. Expertise in one field should not be taken as expertise on truth in other subjects.
We should also be cautious about the motivation of the one who provides information. That is why the scriptures warn us against priestcraft (see 2 Nephi 26:29). If the source is anonymous or unknown, the information may also be suspect."

"He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion."
(2 Nephi 26:29).

Truly what Ezekiel had happening in his day, is happening in mine. Just because "celebrities" or people we look up to endorse something, doesn't make it true. Truth only comes from the Lord, and through His anointed prophets, seers and revelators.

Day 1390

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 12:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 12:2
"Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house."

After reading how Ezekiel was to prepare, move stuff, and dig through a wall right in plain sight of others, it occurred to me that this lack of ability for the rebellious to see and hear can be and is a blessing to the saints. The Lord can do things in plain sight. It reminded me of the Nephites and how the treasures of the wicked became slippery.

"And it shall come to pass, saith the Lord of Hosts, yea, our great and true God, that whoso shall hide up treasures in the earth shall find them again no more, because of the great curse of the land, save he be a righteous man and shall hide it up unto the Lord."
(Helaman 13:18)

I also thought about that scene in the movie "17 Miracles" where the women flees with her children from her abusive husband to come to Zion. He comes searching for her aboard the train, and when he stops at her seat he stares right at her and the children and doesn't recognize them. It was a miracle. I had never looked at the wicked's inability to see and hear as anything but a sorrowful state for them. Now I see it as a great gift to thoset they do not need to pay attention to.

Day 1389

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 11:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 11:17
"Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel."

The gathering. It is taking place right now. How many years ago did Ezekiel record this prophesy? He lived between 622-570 BC.

I love this promise to those that are gathered.
"That they may walk in my statues, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God."
(Ezekiel 11:20)

Day 1388

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 10:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 10:4
"Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord's glory."

The cloud is referenced as the "manifestations of God". I did sit and wonder what a cherub or cherubim was. They are associated with the guarding of the tree of life, covering the mercy seat of the ark and in Ezekiel's vision. What are these heavenly creatures that are not totally human, but attend the throne of God? I guess I just won't have an answer on that one. However, I would not be surprised if they belong to another world. The purpose being, not to be made in God's image. Yet, still a spirit child of God.

"And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten."
(Moses 1:33)

Day 1387

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 9:4, 6

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 9:4, 6
"And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house."

What Ezekiel sees, is for his time and for mine. So I was curious about the people to be preserved that were marked. Yet, in Revelations I read of the mark of the beast and what happens to them.

"And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
And he caused all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
(Revelations 13:15-17)

"And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimestone."
(Revelation 19:20)

"And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image."
(Revelations 16:2)

So what is the difference between the people that are marked?  It is whom they are worshipping. In Revelations they are worshipping the beast and not the Lord. It is the beast's mark they identify with, and the Lord destroys. The people marked in Ezekiel have the Lord's mark upon them. They fear the Lord not the beast. It is sad that little children are included in both groups. I had not noticed that before. It seems the blessing or curse then would be upon the heads of the parents.

"And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents."
(Doctrine and Covenants 68:25)

Day 1386

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 8:16

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 8:16
"And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord's house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east."

I pondered on how you can be in the temple but not worshipping God. They had their backs toward the temple and worshipped the sun. It made me reflect on gospel hobbies and personal agendas. How you can totally miss the point of where you are and what you are doing. It's even a great reflection of how you act outside the temple to. If you are following false gods and precepts of man you will not focus on the right thing in the house of the Lord either.

Day 1385

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 7:19

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 7:19
"They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity."

The very thing that was a stumbling block, gold and silver, riches of the earth is what cannot help them in the end. All the money in the world will not satisfy the soul of man nor fill his belly when the wrath of the Lord comes.

As I sat and pondered on these verses I though, what about me?  I want to hear good things. Then I realized this is a message for me too. The day of the wrath of the Lord will come, and taking the warning to heart is important to all His saints. I can never afford to lose sight of that.

Day 1384

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 6:14

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 6:14
"So will I stretch out my hand upon them, and make the land desolate, yea, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblath, in all their habitations: and they shall know that I am the Lord."

I was just thinking about this yesterday. How sometimes people do not believe until they see something that opens their eyes.

"But as many as there were who did not believe in the words of Samuel were angry with him; and they cast stones at him upon the wall, and also many shot arrows at him as he stood upon the wall; but the Spirit of the Lord was with him, insomuch that they could not hit him with their stones neither with their arrows.
Now when they saw that they could not hit him, there were many more who did believe on his words, insomuch that they went away unto Nephi to be baptized."
(Helaman 16:2-3)

I wondered if this was a good thing? For in the end they do believe. I realized that this was the parable of the sower. That these are the seeds sown in stony places.

"Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away."
(Matthew 14:5-6)

When you have to see to believe you have no spiritual depth to your roots. This is not desirable. When their faith is tested they will wither and die. The environment needs to change, to dig roots deep and not be shaken. With the greatest of care they need to be fully converted, with eyes of faith looking towards Christ, and not in the signs.

Day 1383

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 5:14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 5:14-15
"Moreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by.
So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the Lord have spoken it."

I pondered on how loving the Lord God is. How merciful he is to his children. Then why must he punish them? Then I thought about my parents having to punish me as a child. What I learned from it. I though of myself having to punish my children. Even when I didn't want to see them loose privileges and suffer loss. Sometimes one children's disobedience caused the whole family to suffer. Yet, it was for their good. It was also for the good of the other children. So they would learn by example the price of disobedience. It's hard to be a good parent and raise children in righteousness. It would take a God to handle this on such a massive scale.

Day 1382

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 4:9

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 4:9
"Take thou also unto thee wheat, and barley, and beans, and lentiles, and millet, and fitches, and put them in one vessel, and make thee bread thereof, according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side, three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof."

Ezekiel bread!  It took me a minute to realize I was reading Ezekiel 4 and I see that on the Ezekiel bread wrapper. It makes me want to try some for I never have. So now I am actually off to read up on this Ezekiel bread. It has intrigued me totally. Ezekiel is told to take all these grains and put them into one vessel, enough to last 390 days. This is enough to sustain life, I sure hope it tasted good. I wonder if there are any other recipes in the scriptures where God has told man what to store and eat? The closest I can come to is the Word of Wisdom, all of these ingredients would fit into it, but yet not a recipe. 

Day 1381

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 3:18-19

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 3:18-19
"When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou has delivered thy soul."

I thought about the prophet and what a heavy responsibility he has. He must warn of wickedness or the blood of the wicked will be upon his hands. He also must not lead us astray or he will be removed from his place.

"The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty.
It matters not who lives or who dies, or who is called to lead this Church, they have got to lead it by the inspiration of Almighty God. If they do not do it that way, they cannot do it at all..."
(Wilford Woodruff, General Conference 6 Oct 1890, and Doctrine and Covenants, Official Declaration 1)

I am grateful to know that this is the condition to be called the prophet of God. Yes, I need my own testimony of what he says is true, but it;s comforting to know he will tell me the will of God and warn me in times of danger.

Day 1380

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 2:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 2:9-10
"And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;
And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe."

I thought the mention of a book interesting, for I was just reading this morning an article in the January 2019 Ensign, "John, the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved". In it, it discussed Revelations and the book John was given to eat. I wondered if there were more books given to prophets, and found this great quote mentioning them in an October 2005 General Conference talk by Merrill J. Bateman, "A Pattern for All". This pattern was something new to me.

"At the beginning of most dispensations, a book is given to the newly called prophet. Moses received tablets (see Ex. 31:18) Lehi was given a book to read concerning the destruction of Jerusalem (see 1 Ne. 1:11–14) Ezekiel was given “a roll of a book” (Ezek. 2:9–10) containing the Lord’s message for the house of Judah in his day. John the Revelator on the Isle of Patmos was shown a book with seven seals (see  Rev. 5  D&C 77:6) Is it any wonder, then, that the Lord would provide a book containing the fullness of the gospel as part of the “restitution of all things”? The Book of Mormon has the power to draw all men and women to Christ. Its references to the Savior’s Atonement are the clearest on record with regard to its purpose and powers."

Day 1379

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 1:9, 12, 20-21

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 1:9, 12, 20-21
"Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward.
And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went.
Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.
When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels."

Wow, that was some vision that Ezekiel had. I have absolutely no prior understanding of it, so I had to ponder and listen. The words that came to me were "Power of Obedience". Now what does that mean?  All I can say is that I was struck by how they went straight and forward and didn't turn and were lifted up. They went where the spirit went. At the end of the vision Ezekiel hears the voice of God, is given a covenant and promise of eternal life and see's God. That to me means the blessing and power of obedience.

Day 1378

Today's Favorite Verse: Lamentations 5:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Lamentations 5:7
"Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne their iniquities."

The chapter header says "Jeremiah recites in prayer the sorrowful condition of Zion". It just made me cry for them. How hard must it be to know you did all you could to warn the people to repent and now you witness their destruction. Not only that but you must suffer too. The righteous do not escape the wrath of God as it falls upon the people. The only promise is he will not leaved them comfortless. This chapter doesn't speak of Jeremiah's comfort, but I know he had it for he still had hope.

"Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old."
(Lamentations 5:21)

Day 1377

Today's Favorite Verse: Lamentations 4:12

Today's Favorite Verse: Lamentations 4:12
"The kings of the earth, and all the inhabitants of the world, would not have believed that the adversary and the enemy should have entered into the gates of Jerusalem."

This reminded me of this..

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."
(Matthew 7:15, and 3 Nephi 14:15)

The easiest way to let the adversary in, and to be deceived by others, is to be ignorant of the word of God. I have learned so much during my personal scripture study. That there are little warning bells going off as I see false precepts of man and false doctrine trying to be passed off as truths. I know I can never afford to stop reading the scriptures, because I have experienced deception before when not reading them. If its happened once, it can happen again, so I will never stop watching for the wolf in sheep's clothing waiting to deceive. 

Day 1376

Today's Favorite Verse: Lamentations 3:26

Today's Favorite Verse: Lamentations 3:26
"It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord."

I was just talking to my family about this. This past year I have gone through much physical and emotional pain. One of the hardest to endure has been my knee. First came the blessings, and being told in time I would be healed. I knew I had faith to be healed, but in my mind I thought we were talking weeks. I would improve a little then I would hurt it again starting the clock over. This third time my body was done with the pain and it brought on stress seizures. I had to accept the fact that healing doesn't always mean in this life. The Lord isn't telling me no, he's just telling me to wait. 

Now I sit in a wheelchair. My wonderful little computer room simply doesn't work any more. How I have loved this beautiful sacred place. Last Saturday the spirit whispered "you have to move". You have to give up the room that you love and move your office out into the living room. Then you can sit in the wheelchair with the leg elevated to control the pain. At first I fought the impression, but it would not leave me. It brought a new emotional anguish of its own. Then I knew to disobey means something else could make it so it's not a choice. Out in the living room is where the Lord wanted my office to be. I tearfully told my husband. He would now get my sacred holy place. I mourned and grieved as if I was the young ruler told by Jesus to give up all his treasure.

"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions."
(Matthew 19:21-22)

Since the acceptance of the Lord's will and making plans to move, my heart has had great peace. There is excitement and joy and tender mercies from the Lord. Do you know we lifted part of the ugly old carpet and see a pretty oak floor waiting for me. The Lord always has a better plan. With faith and hope he knows how to rescue me. This coming year has so much promise, even if miraculously viewed from a wheelchair.

Day 1375