Today's Favorite Verse: Nehemiah 4:1, 7-8, 11

Today's Favorite Verse: Nehemiah 4:1, 7-8, 11

"But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.

But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.

And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease."

I was interested in the tactics of the adversary in stopping the Lord's work. In this case it was those trying to stop the Jews from rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem. It got so bad they had to work with a tool in one hand and weapon in another. Very similar to how the saints had to protect themselves while building the Kirtland and later the Nauvoo temple.

Earlier Sanballat and others in the surrounding area laughed the Jews to scorn and despised them for saying they were going to rebuild. Now as they witnessed it happening they were wroth and had great indignation. In comparing it to my day I would say angry and took offense. After that they wanted to stop the work from happening so they conspired together to fight against and to hinder the work. The Jews at that point would not stop their work of rebuilding, they pressed on ever watchful, but armed themselves as they worked for protection. This last general conference I think we were given tools to protect ourselves as we work. That tool was to be peacemakers. To watch and guard ourselves from contention, to hold our peace. It will work for a season, but greater persecution will come. We must prepare spiritually in order to endure.

Day 2576