Today's Favorite Verse: Obadiah 1:21

Today's Favorite Verse: Obadiah 1:21
"And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lord's."

As I provide saving ordinances for my deceased ancestors I am told I become a savior on mount Zion. How is that possible? Just like the Savior gave His life as a vicarious sacrifice for me, so can I do vicarious ordinance work in behalf of my deceased ancestor. Just like people have the opportunity to accept the Savior's atonement and sacrifice, they have the same option to accept or reject the work I have vicariously done in their behalf in the temples of the Lord.

The judgment is in reference to this.
"For this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit."
(1 Peter 4:6)

The primitive church was also involved in this redeeming work.
"Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?"
(1 Corinthians 15:29)

The preaching and proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ is being done on both sides of the veil. For not all have had the opportunity to accept or reject the gospel in this life. I love how merciful the Lord is and the Father's perfect plan. I have been spiritually blessed by performing vicarious ordinances in the house of the Lord for my deceased ancestors. I am grateful to live when these things have been restored.

The baptismal font and baptistry of the Rome Italy Temple.

Day 1464

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 9:9, 14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 9:9, 14-15
"For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.
And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God."

I pondered on how this could speak of the sifting and scattering of the Jews upon all the nations. Now they are being gathered back to their lands. It also made me think of the saints beings sifted.

It reminded me of the old sifter my mother had. When she was making cakes or popovers I could help by sifting the dry goods together. I was always fascinated in how the sifter would find these hard little clumps when I originally could not see them as I poured the ingredients in. The hard items left behind were good for nothing and simply tossed into the trash. Sifting is just like the Lord finding those with hardened hearts and removing them from his covenant people. If they remained, just like the cake, they would not become its perfect creation, as a Zion people should. It was through the sifting that each little flake became all that it could be.

Day 1463

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 8:11

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 8:11
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:"

This is talking of the great apostasy that happened after all the original apostles died. There was a falling away, and a famine in hearing the words of the Lord. The gospel has once again been restored to the earth. Prophets and apostles speak the words of the Lord. In fact in eight more days I will sit at their feet and listen to them in general conference. I can't wait!

I also thought of its other meaning. How this famine in hearing the words of the Lord is still happening today. In this case it is self-imposed. For there is an epidemic of apathy for reading the scriptures around the world. Years past if there was only one book in the home it was the Bible. Families would gather to read from it. Now not only is a bible a rare commodity, it's even rarer for a family to gather and read it.

I am grateful for the counsel given in the last general conference. The emphases on home-centered gospel learning. Where as families we gather to read from the New Testament each day. My family was already reading the scriptures together, but I love the feeling of synergy that comes with being part of this worldwide. There is unity in our church as we gather together to discuss what we are learning in our homes. I enjoy these discussions and seeing each family embrace learning the gospel in their homes. There is a different feeling that I cannot find words to describe. We are being feed and it is good.

Day 1462

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 7:14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 7:14-15
"Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:
And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel."

Amos was called of God as a prophet when he was just a humble herdman. I pondered on how the Lord has used that pattern in the past and continued in this dispensation. Joseph Smith was called when a humble farm boy of fourteen.

It made me think of William Tyndale who was strangulated and burned at the stake for the offense of translating the bible into English.

"I defie the Pope and all his laws. If God spare my life, ere many years I wyl cause a boy that driveth the plough to know more of the Scripture, than he doust." Another variant of the quote is "I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the scriptures than thou doest."

Even after Tyndale's death his prophetic words came to fulfillment. His translation efforts were used by noted scholars for the majority of the Kings James version of the English Bible. It was that version of the bible that a humble farm boy read in James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Never had any passage of the scripture struck Joseph's heart as this did. This lead to him deciding to ask God which of all church's he should join. The heavens were opened and God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ appeared to the young Joseph to answer that humble prayer. Prophets don't decide to be prophets, it is the Lord that calls them to be.

Day 1461

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 6:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 6:1
"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!"

This reminded me of this.
"And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well - and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!"
(2 Nephi 28:21, 25)

Elder Dale G. Renlund recently said in a training session. "When talking about the challenges of the signs of the last days there is one often overlooked, "Be not deceived". People will focus on the earthquakes, volcanos, destructions and wars, but the one that is so subtle and misleading is that one."

Being deceived is the one that concerns me the most. When you are at ease you can be carefully lead down to hell. I pondered on how people can still feel at ease even when they are inactive in the church. The devil lies to them that they still have their testimony of the gospel and that is all that matters. Not going to church, reading scriptures, attending the temple, paying tithes and offerings doesn't mean they don't have a testimony. Guess what that's a lie and you have been deceived. If you love the Lord you will do what he says. At some point the testimony that isn't being feed will be gone and you won't even notice it, or miss it, because you were carefully lead down to hell.

I have such a curiosity that I would love to ask someone that is inactive or left the church, but probably never will. What would it take for you to wake up? What prophesied event would have to happen to realize how close things are? The reason I am curious is because I remember an idea I had as a teenager. I decided the year 2000 was probably about the time of the second coming. That someone could do whatever they wanted up until a year before. That would give them enough time to repent and be ok when the Lord came. I am so grateful I saw the absolute foolishness in that idea. But, yet I know it is ideas like that which Satan uses to carefully lead us down to hell. "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion."

Day 1460

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 5:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 5:4
"For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:"

This verse made me think of something I read last night in the Book of Mormon Student Manual (Rel 121-11), chapter 22.                                                                                                                                   
"Speaking of a man who had prayed for the visitation of angels, President Wilford Woodruff (1807–98) said:

“I said to him that if he were to pray a thousand years to the God of Israel for that gift, it would not be granted, unless the Lord had a motive in sending an angel to him. I told him that the Lord never did nor never will send an angel to anybody merely to gratify the desire of the individual to see an angel. If the Lord sends an angel to anyone, He sends him to perform a work that cannot be performed only by the administration of an angel. I said to him that those were my views. The Lord had sent angels to men from the creation of the world, at different times, but always with a message or with something to perform that could not be performed without. I rehearsed to him different times when angels appeared to men. Of course, I referred to the angel visiting Joseph Smith. The Revelator John said that in the last days an angel would fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwelt on the earth. The reason it required an angel to do this work was, the Gospel was not on the earth. The Gospel and the Priesthood had been taken from among men. Hence God had to restore it again.

“Now, I have always said, and I want to say it to you, that the Holy Ghost is what every Saint of God needs. It is far more important that a man should have that gift than he should have the ministration of an angel, unless it is necessary for an angel to teach him something that he has not been taught” (“The Administration of Angels,” in Brian H. Stuy, comp. Collected Discourses, 5 vols. [1987–92], 5:233).
(Book of Mormon Student Manual (Rel 121-122), Chapter 22)

Why I thought of this was because even good people can go off base seeking the wrong thing. Seeking an angel will not get you anywhere. It is by seeking the Lord through the Holy Ghost that I will find Him. Through this we can obtain eternal life and live.

Day 1459

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 4:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 4:6
"And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord."

Very fitting day to read this. In my living room sits 25 lb bags of various dry goods that we purchased today. I took the money from savings to purchase it because I know the price of corn, beans and wheat is going to go up. Gratefully the prices in the store are the same as our last purchase right now. We have been counseled for years to have a food storage. With the recent floods in Nebraska and Iowa, and water heading south into all the farm lands of the Midwest it was time to reassess what we had on hand. I know the price of beef with go up but I am not so worried about storing that if I have plenty of beans for protein.

The Lord may use natural disasters and famines to give people the opportunity to return to him. I would much rather turn to Him and have the spirit guide me on when to store in time of plenty for the famines to come. It is no loss to my lifestyle, this is food we eat and rotate anyways. I just wish I had space to store more while the prices are good.

This is from an article my friend Amy Archibald sent me Saturday.

Why the devastating floods in Nebraska should have you concerned.

If you don't have adequate food storage in your home, now is the time to get food before prices start to sky rocket.

Nebraska is the:
* National leader in beef production
* #3 leader in corn production
* #1 for Great Northern Beans, #2 for Pinto Beans, #5 for ALL DRY edible beans
* #10 leader in egg production
* #4 in soybean production
* 55-70 million bushels of wheat annually

"Across parts of the Midwest, hundreds of livestock are drowned or stranded; valuable unsold, stored grain is ruined in submerged storage bins; and fields are like lakes, casting doubt on whether they can be planted this year."

Day 1458

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 3:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 3:7
"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

The word "but" in this verse has the footnote "until". That is a very good point. The Lord never punishes or destroys a people until they have been first warned by a prophet. Not a prophet that is long gone, but a living prophet. Just like Noah received revelation from God on how to build the ark. God didn't give those instructions to Adam for him. Neither did Noah receive instructions on parting the red sea to preserve the children of Israel for Moses. We are in the most critical period of this earth's existence, the period before the second coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ. All that is vital to know and do leading up to this event will be revealed to a living prophet. He will add to what prophet's have prophesied before him.

Today in sacrament our bishop mentioned something Elder Dale G. Renlund said in a training session. When talking about the challenges of the signs of the last days there is one often overlooked, "Be not deceived". People will focus on the earthquakes, volcanos, destructions and wars, but the one that is so subtle and misleading is that one.

In the early days of the restoration there were some that claimed they received revelation for the church. The Lord made his mind and will in the matter clear to His prophet.

"But, behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses."
(Doctrine and Covenants 28:2)

"And this ye shall know assuredly—that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.
But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him; for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead.
And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments;
6 And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me."
(Doctrine and Covenants 43:3-6)

I am grateful to know that the Lord speaks to his living prophet President Russell M. Nelson today. He holds the same keys that were given to Joseph Smith through Peter, James and John. Knowing where to look, and through the confirmation of the Holy Spirit, the Lord has put in place the ability to not be deceived. This knowledge brings me great comfort. I am so excited for General Conference coming in two weeks. Once again I will sit at the feet of a prophet and listen to what the Lord has reveled to him.

Day 1457

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 2:16

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 2:16
"And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the Lord."

Naked can mean riotous, let loose, or exposed. It can also mean you are physically naked as was Adam and Eve.

"And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they had been naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.
And he said: I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I beheld that I was naked, and hid myself."
(Moses 4:13, 16)

I think the experience of Adam and Eve hiding in the garden from the Lord because of their nakedness is exactly how the world will end.

"And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;
And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:"
(Revelation 6:15-16)

In the great and terrible day of the Lord, I do not want to stand naked before him. I want to stand clothed in the garments of the priesthood, with the robes of righteousness, obtained through the atonement of Jesus Christ. For that is the only thing that can cover my nakedness. Nothing man made can do it.

"Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them." (Genesis 3:21)

To stand naked, exposed before God, I would truly want the rocks to fall down and hide me.

"For behold, when ye shall be brought to see your nakedness before God, and also the glory of God, and the holiness of Jesus Christ, it will kindle a flame of unquenchable fire upon you."
(Mormon 9:5)

"Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness, and the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness."
(2 Nephi 9:14)

"That our garments may be pure, that we may be clothed upon with robes of righteousness, with palms in our hands, and crowns of glory upon our heads, and reap eternal joy for all our sufferings."
(Doctrine and Covenants 109:76)


Day 1456

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 1:11

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 1:11
"Thus saith the Lord; for three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:"

In this chapter Amos says "Thus saith the Lord", five times. I was reminded of Moses saying that multiple times to Pharaoh. In fact in the book of Exodus Moses says the phrase ten times. I did a search of the scriptures and that phrase is used 546 times. Why is it used so often?  Because a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord and he acknowledges it. When a prophet says those words I better listen.

Day 1455

Today's Favorite Verse: Joel 3:16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Joel 3:16-17
"The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more."

I pondered on how the Lord is in two very different places in this chapter. There is a difference between Zion and Jerusalem. Orson Pratt said, "Zion will be favored with the presence of the Lord before the Jews are permitted to behold him. The Lord will come to the Temple of Zion before he comes to the Temple at Jerusalem. Before he comes in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, he will manifest himself in the city and Temple of Zion; or in other words all the pure in heart who are permitted in those days to enter into the Lord's Temple in Zion, which will be built on this continent, the Lord will reveal his face unto them, they will see him and he will dwell in the midst of Zion." (Orson Pratt, "Latter-Day Judgments", JD 15:337b) (See Doctrine & Covenants 97)

Day 1454

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

Today's Favorite Verse: Joel 2:1-2
Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

This chapter discusses the war and desolation that will precede the Second coming. In verse 11 is says "...for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?" The impression I received is to look for the hope. Then I saw where this chapter begins with the hope. I was reminded of President Russell M. Nelson's words of promise and warning.

"Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost. My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation."
("Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives", April 2018 General Conference)

Following the prophet will prepare and protect us to be a great and strong people, with a spiritual capacity to receive revelation. Ready to withstand the days ahead.

Day 1453

Today's Favorite Verse: Joel 1:14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Joel 1:14-15
"Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord.
Atlas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come."

My heart is so sad for so many terrible and sad things I have read and saw the last few days. I need to fast for all the grief and sorrow I see others going through. I want to go to the temple, and pray for them. But, my time table is not my own, because I am dependent on others helping me right now. Two weeks of not being able to go to the temple makes the news happening around me even harder to bare.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Hamilton, New Zealand Temple

Day 1452

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 14:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 14:8
"Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found."

I pondered on how listening and reading the word of God brings a change of heart. That you no longer desire idols or things that take you away from God. That you then bare the good fruit of the gospel and strengthen others with it.

Day 1451

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 13:9

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 13:9
"O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help."

I pondered on how no matter how deep the sin the Lord's hands are stretched out still. He is our help. We just need to come to Him.

Day 1450

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 12:10, 13

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 12:10, 13
"I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.
And by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved."

It has been a wonderful week listening to the words of the prophet and the apostles, which are also prophets, seers and revelators. The Lord prepared his people in the past by prophets. He is doing it again by prophets.

I loved this quote by President Nelson at the Rome Italy temple.
"This is a hinge point in the history of the church. Things are going to move forward at an accelerated pace, of which this is a part. We think the Church is an old Church, It's 189 years old. But it's only the beginning. Just project out what the next future will be and the Church is going to have an unprecedented future, unparalleled; we're just building up to what's ahead now.

As President Nelson mentioned during a recent visit to South America:
"We're witnesses to a process of restoration. If you think the Church has been fully restored, you're just seeing the beginning. There is much more to come...wait till next year. And then the next year. Eat your vitamin pills. Get your rest. It's going to be exciting."

Over and over again in this past general conference I heard reference that we were preparing for the second coming of the Lord. While we prepare for what is ahead is it any more important that we have a prophet then it was for the children of Israel to have a prophet that led them out of Egypt? Is it any different than Joseph being warned by an angel in a dream to flee and then to come out of Egypt to preserved Jesus as a child? This is part of the similitudes that Hosea mentions.

What I want to also reference is this beautiful testimony Sister Wendy Nelson recently give. Baring her personal witness that her husband Russell M. Nelson is the prophet of God. She said, "I can say that I am a witness by being present and I am a witness by being absent, that the Lord indeed instructs His prophet." Sister Nelson's testimony of what happened for two hours one night tells me the prophet is following the Lord's detailed plans right now.

"Two hours later, my husband emerged from our bedroom, and said, 'Wendy, you won't believe what has been happening for two hours. The Lord has given me detailed instructions about a process I am to follow."

I believe the Lord is at the head of this His church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he speaks to his living prophet.


Day 1449

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 11:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 11:1
"When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt."

I know this verse is a similitude of the Lord, as a child coming out of Egypt after his parents fled Herod, with Joseph having been warned in a dream by an angel to do so.

"And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son."
(Matthew 2:15)

What this all made me ponder on is how the prophesies of Jesus Christ are so layered in the scriptures. What is there that I haven't noticed or learned yet? I wonder if it was the angel that told them this was fulfillment of Hosea's prophesy or was it the apostles that recognized it as such later? I won't know the answer to that, because more than likely it could be both. What I do recognize is how important it is to treasure up the scriptures, because when prophesy yet to to be fulfilled is revealed I will recognize it for what it is.

Day 1448

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 10:12

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 10:12
"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you."

The cause and effect of what you sow is what you reap. If I sow righteousness I will reap mercy. If I sow seeking the Lord, he will rain righteousness upon me. Meaning I will reap righteousness in return. It is from seeking the Lord that I gain righteousness which then brings mercy. It is one great eternal round.

Day 1447

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 9:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 9:17
"My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations."

I looked it up and Hosea's prophesies were about 826 BC. This was before Lehi and his family left Jerusalem in 600 BC. Why is that significant? Because Lehi and Ishmael's family that went with them are from Ephraim and Manasseh. They were led from out of Jerusalem before it was destroyed and carried away to the Americas. It was all part of the prophesy of being "wanderers among the nations".

As Jacob blessed Joseph and his son's Ephraim and Manasseh he said:
"Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall."
(Genesis 49:22)

This was all for a wise purpose in God's plan. I also can see how punishment can be blessings, for God will use them to move people in the directions he needs them to be.

Day 1446

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 8:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 8:7
"For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind:it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up."

I've been thinking of late how I need to be a wise steward of my time. That it is so precious I must invest it in things that last for the eternities. For that would be the wisest investment of my time. Now I see it so with this verse. I could put my time and effort into things that are sown into the wind. That which is sown to the wind is not enduring or of an eternal nature. It's like departing from the principles of truth and cleaving to darkness and wickedness. There is no substance of a lasting nature. There is no lasting happiness. What is sown to the wind is what you reap, nothing. The price that is paid is there is no substance or anchor to ground you. The whirlwinds can carry you away.

Day 1445

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 7:14

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 7:14
"And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me."

What Hosea speaks of is what also Mormon saw at the end of his civilization.

"And it came to pass that when I, Mormon, saw their lamentation and their mourning and their sorrow before the Lord, my heart did begin to rejoice within me, knowing the mercies and long-suffering of the Lord, therefore supposing that he would be merciful unto them that they would again become a righteous people.
But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin.
And they did not come unto Jesus with broken hearts and contrite spirits, but they did curse God, and wish to die. Nevertheless they would struggle with the sword for their lives." (Mormon 2:12-14)

All this made me think of people during the last mass shooting in Thousand Oaks, California. I was appalled when people actually said they didn't want our thoughts and prayers. They mocked those that even offered them. They saw no value and benefit, they were hollow words in their eyes, which they found insulting. Then the news stations started mocking the same thing. It brought such sorrow to my heart. For they had no idea the peace that prayers can bring. How the joined prayers of others can strengthen, lift and sustain you. I just prayed for them all the more.

Day 1444

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 6:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 6:6
"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."

I pondered on how I can go through the rituals and ordinances and not know God if I do not seek Him. I need to ponder on the meaning of the emblems and the sacrifice that was made. Knowing God is deeper than the outward expression. It is what is written on the heart.

Day 1443

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 5:15

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 5:15
"I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early."

The reference is Doctrine and Covenants 101:8
"In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but, in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me."

I pondered on how true this has been in my life. It wasn't until I noticed a pattern. I would go along doing my own thing and as soon as trouble hit I became more conscious of the things I needed to be doing. Then I would get on my knees and pour my heart out to God to rescue me. I realized this wasn't a good pattern because trouble just kept knocking on my door. I had everything backwards. It was only when I needed the Lord's help that I would start doing what I was suppose to be doing. I vowed to break that cycle and do what I knew I should be doing because it was the right thing.

Now I can't say all my troubles have left me, but there is peace now where there wasn't before. I do feel the Lord answers my prayers quicker than He did in the past, or at least presents the solution to me quicker. My relationship with God is better. I see more purpose in the trials I do go through because He is there to teach me.

Day 1442

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 4:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 4:6
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."

This may have happened in the past, but I pondered on how it does not need to happen now. For there is much access to wonderful gospel materials. We have more scriptures that clarify what was lost to humankind for ages. If parents follow the prophet and use the Come, Follow Me manual not only will they gain knowledge of God, but their children will also. It is only through willful disobedience to the council that has been given, and rejecting knowledge that people and their families will face what God has said. I would not want God to forget my children in the days ahead.

Sadly, I would have to say the world in general is more ignorant of the word of God then at any time. Families used to come together at the end of a day and read the scriptures. Now the entertainment of choice is Netflix. The moral compass that guided us for generations is no longer there. It has come by choice, willful contempt, or totally apathy, for the value of the word of God is gone.

So maybe we are back to where Hosea prophesied. But, it doesn't have to be. This is probably where we see the separation of the sheep and the goats.

Day 1441

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 3:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 3:5
"Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.'

After a period of falling away the gospel of Jesus Christ will be restored in the latter days. I pondered on the name of the church and how fitting it is, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It can't get much clearer than that.

Day 1440

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 2:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 2:2
"Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not my wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts;"

I have long since decided that when the scriptures speak of marriage, divorce, and adultery it is speaking about the church and its people's relationship with God. In this verse, if I continued to see it speaking of adultery and apostasy as being the same, it made the whole chapter understandable. When people go after other gods they divorce themselves from the true and living God. He is no longer written in their hearts and cherished by them. For that severe judgment comes upon them. In the end of this chapter there is a restoration, that is where we are right now. 

Day 1439

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 1:10-11

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 1:10-11
"Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.
Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel."

The chapter headers says: "Hosea and his family are a sign unto Israel - In the day of gathering, the people of Israel will become the sons of the living God."

I wasn't really sure about what this chapter was talking about so I felt impressed to make notes of the points that stood out to me and what I thought they meant.

Departing from the Lord = apostasy
Marriage = covenant with the Lord
Jezreel = God will sow, or scatter abroad
Lo-ruhamah = not having obtained mercy
Lo-ammi = not my people

I think when it comes to not my people, that he is talking about the gentiles and the restoration. They will covenant with the Lord and be adopted as his children, sons of the living God.

Then the children of Judah and the covenant children of Israel will gather together and the Lord will be at the head.

Day 1438


Posted 5 Mar 2019

Today's Favorite Verse: Daniel 12:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: Daniel 12:9-10
"And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.
Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand."

Daniel wanted to know when the end times would be. He is instead told to seal up the prophesies he received. So what is in the bible is not all that Daniel saw. What is there, and is to come, only the wise shall understand. This would not be the wise of the world, this would be those made wise through the spirit. For prophesy can only be understood through revelation. It takes revelation to understand revelation. 

Day 1437

Today's Favorite Verse: Daniel 11:30, 32

Today's Favorite Verse: Daniel 11:30, 32
"For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
And such as do wickedly against the covenants shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits."

I pondered on how important it will be to know the Lord and not be deceived by flatteries. It all speaks of pride and the fall that comes from it. I cannot imagine what it would be like for those that forsake their holy covenants and say or do things that help to overcome the saints in the last days. It reminds me of the early saints that joined the church and then became enemies to it. They led to the martyrdom of Joseph and Hyrum Smith. I don't want to be in their shoes when they have to stand before the Lord.

Day 1436

Today's Favorite Verse: Daniel 10:8, 19

Today's Favorite Verse: Daniel 10:8, 19
"Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
And said, O man greatly beloved, fear not: peace be unto thee, be strong, yea, be strong. And when he had spoken unto me, I was strengthened, and said, Let my lord speak; for thou hast strengthened me."

Daniel sees the Lord and others in a glorious vision and his strength is gone from him. Then the Lord strengthens him. How tender and loving these words are to Daniel. I pondered on how the Lord has strengthened me and carried me when I have been weak. For indeed he can make weak these strong.

Day 1435

Today's Favorite Verse: Daniel 9:21-23

Today's Favorite Verse: Daniel 9:21-23
"Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of evening oblation.
And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision."

Daniel understood from the books the 70 years prophesied by Jeremiah, of the desolation of Jerusalem where coming to a close. He then prays not only to repent of his sins but his people for not listening to and obeying the prophets. The angel Gabriel (Noah) is sent to Daniel to inform him that seventy weeks would finish the transgression and make an end of sins. So Daniel is told when the Jews will be able to return to Jerusalem again.

What I pondered on is the need for a living prophet. Just because Daniel could read the prophesy of Jeremiah, and count the number of years from the books, it does not mean he could proceed without being told by a messenger sent from God. A living God needs a living prophet to direct his people. Of all times for this earth, while preparing for the Lord's Second Coming, the need for a living prophet is the greatest. How grateful I am to know that President Russell M. Nelson is God's living prophet on the earth. I can't wait for General Conference again in April, just six weeks away.

Day 1434