Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 18:11, 18

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 18:11, 18

"Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.

Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words."

I pondered how God and his mouthpieces the prophets, and the natural man never change. As in Jeremiah time we have the same type of people. Tomorrow, I will sit at the feet of a prophet and listen to his warning voice, and hear counsel to guide me through what lies ahead. At the same time there will be people that won't listen, and instead will devise ways to stop his words.

Day 2922

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 17:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 17:7

"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is."

This made me think of a beautiful song written by Nik Day, "Peace in Christ". I had to find it and listen to it.

"Peace in Christ,"

There is peace in Christ

When we learn of him

Feel the love He felt for us

When he bore our sins

Listen to his words

Let them come alive

If we know Him as he is

There is peace in Christ

He gives us hope

When hope is gone

He gives us strength

When we can't go on

He gives us shelter

In the storms of life

When there's no peace on earth

There is peace in Christ

There is peace in Christ

When we walk with him

Through the streets of Galilee

To Jerusalem

Mend the broken hearts

Dry the tear-filled eyes

When we live the way He lived

There is peace in Christ

Day 2921

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 16:10-12

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 16:10-12

"And it shall come to pass, when thou shalt shew this people all these words, and they shall say unto thee, Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?

Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;

And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:"

This made me think of what Jesus said to the Pharisees.

"Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.

Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:

That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;"

(Luke 11:47-50)

I believe the second Article of Faith.

"We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression."

So why where the people of Jeremiah's time and during the Savior's earthly ministry punished for their father's sins? It's because they embrace the false teaching of their fathers. They became even more corrupt. Not only where the Pharisees false priests in their day. They were worst than the priest of Baal and idol worshippers that sacrificed prophets and innocent children. These were people in Jesus' time that would crucify the very Son of God.

Day 2920

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 15:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 15:6

"Thou hast forsaken me, saith the LORD, thou art gone backward: therefore will I stretch out my hand against thee, and destroy thee; I am weary with repenting."

Does God weary of us repenting? How could that be I wondered? I am reading this right? I know President Nelson has told us to repent daily, and that is what I do. Then I read this in the Old Testament manual.

"Plainly, Judah had reached the point at which the Lord would no longer forgive them. Jeremiah represented the Lord as saying, “I am weary with repenting”, that is, with repeatedly relenting and giving Israel another chance. Nothing God did had worked; further delay was useless."

(Old Testament Student Manual Kings-Malachi, "As ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap", (23-33) Jeremiah 15:1-14. "I Am Weary with Repenting")

This made me think of this little puppy we were watching that was almost housebroken. Every time he went outside we gave him a treat. He got so used to being given a treat that he would pretend he had to go outside just so he could come in and get one. Over several days this fake potty in and out got really old. I finally just put him in his crate so he would leave me alone, and that broke the cycle. It appears getting treats for fake potting and ending up in a crate wasn't worth it. It appears that God gives so many chances and if you demonstrate you will not learn, abuse privileges, then we get a different lesson.

"Repentance is a thing that cannot be trifled with every day. Daily transgression and daily repentance is not that which is pleasing in the sight of God."

(Joseph Smith, "Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith", p. 73)

"Overcoming the world is not an event that happens in a day or two. It happens over a lifetime as we repeatedly embrace the doctrine of Christ. We cultivate faith in Jesus Christ by repenting daily and keeping covenants that endow us with power. We stay on the covenant path and are blessed with spiritual strength, personal revelation, increasing faith, and the ministering of angels. Living the doctrine of Christ can produce the most powerful virtuous cycle, creating spiritual momentum in our lives."

(Russell M. Nelson, "Overcome the World and Find Rest", Oct 2022 General Conference)

Day 2919

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 14:14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 14:14-15

"Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed."

The very thing the false prophets prophesied were to be, was what God would use to destroy them. They thought there would be no sword or famine in the land, and that was what Jeremiah was told would come because of their wickedness. It made me wonder where I have seen that before? All I could think of is some doom and gloom "prophets" that are always saying its the end of our economy and we will be in bondage. I guess that's the benefit of getting older, I haven't see it happen yet. I used to get in a panic and all concerned, until I found its a story they continually repeat. Creating fear and panic retains viewers and revenue. Now if a true prophet of God prophesies its coming then I will take heed.

"My enemies say that I have been a true prophet. Why, I had rather be a fallen true prophet than a false prophet. When a man goes about prophesying, and commands men to obey his teachings, he must either be a true or false prophet. False prophets always arise to oppose the true prophets and they will prophesy so very near the truth that they will deceive almost the very chosen ones."

(Joseph Smith, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", p. 365)

"For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant."

(JST Matthew 1:22)

Day 2918

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 13:15, 17

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 13:15, 17

"Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.

But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD’s flock is carried away captive."

The one way the adversary can crack the shield of protection over a righteous person is through pride. Even if its to make them prideful in how righteous they are. During family scriptures we were talking about how things and their meanings have changed over time. It's society that has changed and we have to be ever vigilant on who or what we follow or support. Man and his pride can make them lose their way. It is only God that does not change .

Day 2917

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 12:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 12:1

"Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?"

This made me ponder on why the wicked prosper and don't seem to come to face judgment or justice. I suppose that is a similar question to why do bad things happen to good people? In a "perfect" world the righteous would never suffer, and the wicked always would. Where would the trial of faith be in all that? If a man was punished immediately for his sins, then he would learn not to sin so he would not be punished. It would be a lesson totally avoid of abhorring sin because it was an offense to God. They would be compelled to selfishness in a self preservation and love of themselves, and not out of a love of God.

"But if it be not built upon my gospel, and is built upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you they have joy in their works for a season, and by and by the end cometh, and they are hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence there is no return."

(3 Nephi 27:11)

"At a meeting I attended one Sunday, a young woman asked something like the following: “My boyfriend and I recently broke up, and he chose to leave the Church. He tells me he has never been happier. How can this be?”

The Savior answered this question when He said to the Nephites, “But if [your life is] not built upon my gospel, and is built upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you [you will] have joy in [your] works for a season, and by and by the end cometh.” There simply is no enduring joy outside the gospel of Jesus Christ."

(Robert C. Gay, "Taking Upon Ourselves the Name of Jesus Christ", Oct 2018 General Conference)

Day 2916

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 11:12

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 11:12

"Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble."

This made me think of our favorite sins, and how hard they are to give up. That idols and false gods would be the same way. I thought of different things that people worship, that take them away from God. It doesn't have to be false religions it can be so many material things. Things that fill us with pride, and give us a sense of superiority over others. Things of man that we put our trust into, and feel will save us. I pondered on how Satan has his hands is so many facets of life. He is spread throughout social, educational, political and philosophical doctrines which run counter to the gospel. The key is to not be deceived. Come unto Christ, is our only hope.

Day 2915

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 10:24

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 10:24

"O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing."

I pondered on needing correction. There are times that I appreciated being corrected so I didn't continue is error or ignorance. I especially like to be corrected by someone not angry at me. If the Lord is correcting me I can see it with patience and loving kindness. His judgment is just and in righteousness. This would be something that is good for my soul. Yes, I could say "Lord, correct me."

"I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment."

(Ezekiel 34:16)

"And now I, Nephi, declare unto you, that this prophet of whom Moses spake was the Holy One of Israel; wherefore, he shall execute judgment in righteousness."

(1 Nephi 22:21)

Day 2914

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 9:23-24

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 9:23-24

"Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD."

What a contrast in what the wicked and the righteous glory in. The wicked glory in themselves and the righteous glory in knowing the Lord and doing his work. It reminds of what I was just reading about Lucifer and those that follow him, they are seeking their own glory and praise. Their pride comes before their fall.

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! Art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!

For thou hast said in thy heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north;

I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.

Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."

(2 Nephi 24:12-15; Isaiah 14:12-15)

Day 2913

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 8:20

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 8:20

"The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved."

Such a simple verse with repercussions that last an eternity. The harvest, the time for gathering people into the fold is over. Summer has ended and now comes death. If you were not saved before this period ends, there will spiritual death that lasts the eternities.

"And again I say, hearken unto my voice, lest death shall overtake you; in an hour when ye think not the summer shall be past, and the harvest ended, and your souls not saved."

(Doctrine and Covenants 45:2)

"Wo unto you rich men, that will not give your substance to the poor, for your riches will canker your souls; and this shall be your lamentation in the day of visitation, and of judgment, and of indignation: The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved!"

(Doctrine and Covenants 56:16)

“If it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!”

(Doctrine and Covenants 18:15-16)

"It is written in the eternity of our God that every soul must progress that does not retrograde. Therefore, make good use of the time you have. Now is the time of your probation, now is the time of harvest, now is the summer of your days. Let it not be said, the harvest is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved. But let us bear in mind that now is the probation that God has given us. Let us make use of it by doing the works of righteousness, by keeping the commandments of God, by having our eye on the mark of our high calling in Christ Jesus; which may God grant in the name of Jesus. Amen.

(George Q. Cannon, "Spirits in Prison", JD 26:77)

Day 2912