Today's Favorite Verse: Daniel 3:12

Today's Favorite Verse: Daniel 3:12 "There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." I reflected on how the act of religious devotion turned into political treason. Then for others their politics became a religion that they bowed down and worshipped because a man told them to. No where in this story do they say who that golden image represented. Only that Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold and set up. As I pondered on who the statue was, it made me wonder if it was an image of himself? Then I recalled the dream Nebuchadnezzar had, that was revealed to Daniel. He saw a great image of a man, with sections made from various metals and clay. The image's head was of fine gold. Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar "Thou art this head of gold". So yes, I believe the image that Nebuchadnezzar saw in his dream he made in reality as an image of himself. This all went to his head. He not only took over the other parts of the body but he made it completely represent himself. Then others had to worship it. He was even willing to destroy others politically, or religiously in life or death. How very telling to know what kind of man would have an golden idol made of himself, or allowed one to be kept. That must be something we are warned about for our day. I take comfort in knowing this idol is eventually destroyed. Those that worship the true God, and not the idol are protected and not destroyed.

Day 3012

Today's Favorite Verse: Daniel 2:29-30

Today's Favorite Verse: Daniel 2:29-30

"As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.

But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart."

Prior to this I was reading in the Book of Mormon where Alma speaks to his son Shiblon. He was a faithful son, that had been persecuted for righteousness sake. One word of counsel he gave him was to be aware of pride.

"See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength."

(Alma 38:11)

I see that Daniel is careful in this also. If he would have desired to take credit for having wisdom in knowing Nebuchadnezzar's dream and interrupting it, the Lord would have never given it to him. He would have perished with all the other wise men of Babylon. Daniel could only be an instrument in the Lord's hand because he was humble. Pride is the only tool the adversary has to take a fully converted righteous man down. It is the only thing that can crack the armor of God around him. It is a crack that comes from within.

"And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments."

(Doctrine and Covenants 59:21)

Day 3011

Today's Favorite Verse: Daniel 1:8, 12

Today's Favorite Verse: Daniel 1:8, 12

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to drink."

Purposed = Commitment

What stood out to me is that Daniel committed in his heart to not defile himself by eating the king's meat. He wasn't stubborn about it. He first requested from the prince of the eunuchs in charge that he be allowed to not defile himself. Daniel was asking not demanding. Then he listened to the prince of eunuchs concern that they may become sickly looking, which in turn could threaten the eunuchs life, Daniel didn't belittle or demand, or challenge his beliefs. Instead he offered to conduct a test to prove which way was best. It was a short 10 day trial of them eating pulse and drinking water. This was a short enough time period that the eunuch could feel confident any health risk from the attempt could be undone. After-all it would be three more years before the king saw them again.

Of course Daniel has faith that in ten days it would show the prince of the eunuchs they were healthier than the others. I thought about how when you have faith you don't go about challenging or belittling the beliefs of others. You respectfully listen and know that God will show the way.

Day 3010

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 48:11-12

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 48:11-12

"It shall be for the priests that are sanctified of the sons of Zadok; which have kept my charge, which went not astray when the children of Israel went astray, as the Levites went astray.

And this oblation of the land that is offered shall be unto them a thing most holy by the border of the Levites."

I reflected on how mindful the Lord was to the sons of Zadok. They remained faithful when others failed Him. He has preserved a blessing upon their posterity. This made me also ponder on how the Lord has also promised to bless a zion people, the pure in heart.

"He that sendeth up treasures unto the land of Zion shall receive an inheritance in this world, and his works shall follow him, and also a reward in the world to come."

(Doctrine and Covenants 63:48)

"And it shall be called the New Jerusalem, a land of peace, a city of refuge, a place of safety for the saints of the Most High God;

And the glory of the Lord shall be there, and the terror of the Lord also shall be there, insomuch that the wicked will not come unto it, and it shall be called Zion."

(Doctrine and Covenants 45:66-67)

Day 3009

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 47:22

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 47:22

"And it shall come to pass, that ye shall divide it by lot for an inheritance unto you, and to the strangers that sojourn among you, which shall beget children among you: and they shall be unto you as born in the country among the children of Israel; they shall have inheritance with you among the tribes of Israel.

And it shall come to pass, that in what tribe the stranger sojourneth, there shall ye give him his inheritance, saith the Lord GOD."

In this chapter I usually focus on the waters to swim in. This time something else jumped out at me because I had just finished reading Alma 35.

"Now the people of the Zoramites were angry with the people of Ammon who were in Jershon, and the chief ruler of the Zoramites, being a very wicked man, sent over unto the people of Ammon desiring them that they should cast out of their land all those who came over from them into their land.

And he breathed out many threatenings against them. And now the people of Ammon did not fear their words; therefore they did not cast them out, but they did receive all the poor of the Zoramites that came over unto them; and they did nourish them, and did clothe them, and did give unto them lands for their inheritance; and they did administer unto them according to their wants."

(Alma 35:8-9)

It really struck me with how compassionate the people of Ammon were, and now I see the Lord's counsel to the tribes of Israel towards the stranger among them. It made me really sad to reflect on the anger and hostility I have seen towards the stranger among us, and the refugees that need assistance. We have lost our compassion as a nation. We could never get to the waters to swim in if charity and compassion is not in our hearts. Then I looked at pictures and saw not everyone feels that way. This is the pure love of Christ.

Day 3008

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 46:9, 12

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 46:9, 12

"But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it.

Now when the prince shall prepare a voluntary burnt offering or peace offerings voluntarily unto the LORD, one shall then open him the gate that looketh toward the east, and he shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, as he did on the sabbath day: then he shall go forth; and after his going forth one shall shut the gate."

The mention of going from the north to the south gate reminded me of how many times in the scriptures people neither turn to the right or the left but march ahead with exactness. This is to prevent them from being surrounded and overtaken by their enemies.

"Now they durst not turn to the right nor to the left lest they should be surrounded; neither would I turn to the right nor to the left lest they should overtake me, and we could not stand against them, but be slain, and they would make their escape; and thus we did flee all that day into the wilderness, even until it was dark."

(Alma 56:40)

Then it mentions only looking towards the east when you have the peace offering. It made me ponder on how when you are voluntarily doing the Lord's work the way will open up for you. It's interesting that the offering is a peace offering. Something President Nelson has been stressing to us.

Day 3007

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 45:9

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 45:9

"Thus saith the Lord GOD; Let it suffice you, O princes of Israel: remove violence and spoil, and execute judgment and justice, take away your exactions from my people, saith the Lord GOD."

This made me think of President Nelson's general conference message to be peacemakers. It's the same call when you remove violence, and greed. It's a people called to stop warring with one another. It's a people needed in order to receive the King of Kings.

"Contention drives away the Spirit—every time. Contention reinforces the false notion that confrontation is the way to resolve differences; but it never is. Contention is a choice. Peacemaking is a choice. You have your agency to choose contention or reconciliation. I urge you to choose to be a peacemaker, now and always."

(President Russell M. Nelson, "Peacemakers Needed", April 2023 General Conference)

Urge, now and always are pretty powerful words coming from a prophet. The word NOW was used 9 times in his talk. We better make the right choice now to be peacemakers or we will lose the Spirit.

Day 3006

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 44:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 44:5

"And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary."

I think it one of the most desirable gifts, to have eyes that see and ears that hear, and know and understand. I pray for that often. It is only through the Holy Ghost that you can have such a gift. It is the only way you can understand the ordinances of the the house of the Lord.

Day 3005

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 43:2, 7

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 43:2, 7

"And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.

And he said unto me, Son of man, the place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name, shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places."

I thought about the "soles of my feet" and how important that is. Moses was told to remove the shoes from his feet because he walked on holy ground. Christ when he returns and the soles of his feet touch the earth will cause such an earthquake it will shake the whole earth. That when Christ has visited the earth since his resurrection he has stood upon a paved work of pure gold. How the sound of his voice is like the noise of many waters. The coming of Jesus Christ to this dispensations first temple in Kirtland has some similarities to Ezekiel vision.

"We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber.

His eyes were as a flame of fire; the hair of his head was white like the pure snow; his countenance shone above the brightness of the sun; and his voice was as the sound of the rushing of great waters, even the voice of Jehovah, saying:"

(Doctrine and Covenants 110:2-3)

Day 3004

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 42:13

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 42:13

"Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they be holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy."

I was pondering again on this never built temple seen in vision. How if it was in the future it could have meat offerings? I do not believe that the sons of Levi future offering will be an animal sacrifice. I believe that offering will be a book, worthy of all acceptation, containing a record of the temple ordinances performed for the dead.

"Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness."

(Doctrine and Covenants 13:1)

"Therefore, verily I say unto you, that your anointings, and your washings, and your baptisms for the dead, and your solemn assemblies, and your memorials for your sacrifices by the sons of Levi, and for your oracles in your most holy places wherein you receive conversations, and your statutes and judgments, for the beginning of the revelations and foundation of Zion, and for the glory, honor, and endowment of all her municipals, are ordained by the ordinance of my holy house, which my people are always commanded to build unto my holy name."

(Doctrine and Covenants 124:39)

"Behold, the great day of the Lord is at hand; and who can abide the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap; and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness; and let us present in his holy temple, when it is finished, a book containing the records of our dead, which shall be worthy of all acceptation."

(Doctrine and Covenants 128:24)

As I reflected on the difference between what Ezekiel said would be offered. That the priests would "eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy." All of these were symbolic in their day that have reference to things fulfilled in Christ's atonement and sacrifice for us. When the Lord purifies the sons of Levi, it will be us laying on the table all our sins, purging and refining us to be acceptable before Him. This offering will be swallowed up in Christ.

Day 3003

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 41:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 41:4

"So he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple: and he said unto me, This is the most holy place."

Having a temple and a most holy place has been restored and with us today.

"Therefore, verily I say unto you, that your anointings, and your washings, and your baptisms for the dead, and your solemn assemblies, and your memorials for your sacrifices by the sons of Levi, and for your oracles in your most holy places wherein you receive conversations, and your statutes and judgments, for the beginning of the revelations and foundation of Zion, and for the glory, honor, and endowment of all her municipals, are ordained by the ordinance of my holy house, which my people are always commanded to build unto my holy name."

(Doctrine and Covenants 124:39)

It made me wonder how many temples now dot the earth. The Helena Montana Temple was the 178th temple dedicated this past weekend. It was also the first modular temple to be built. From groundbreaking to dedication it took almost 2 years. Given the announcement this past week that there will no longer be any further cornerstone ceremonies as part of the temple dedications it must mean the modular temples are moving forward. What an exciting time to live.

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has issued the following statement: Construction techniques have advanced to the point that cornerstones are no longer included in large buildings. Therefore, temple cornerstone ceremonies will no longer be part of temple dedications.

(First Presidency, Official Statement 17 Jun 2023, Church Newsroom)

Day 3002

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 40:2, 4, 41

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 40:2, 4, 41

"In the visions of God brought he me into the land of Israel, and set me upon a very high mountain, by which was as the frame of a city on the south.

And the man said unto me, Son of man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears, and set thine heart upon all that I shall shew thee; for to the intent that I might shew them unto thee art thou brought hither: declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel.

Four tables were on this side, and four tables on that side, by the side of the gate; eight tables, whereupon they slew their sacrifices."

Ezekiel is shown a vision of a city and temple to be built. There is a lot of detail on its exact measurements. I wondered if Ezekiel's temple was the second temple and found that one didn't meet all the design requirements. This is a vision of a future temple to still be built. It could be the third temple, the one that has to be rebuilt and some think it maybe yet a fourth one to come after that.

Now that all made me wonder how you would have tables to slew sacrifices if Jesus Christ fulfilled that role as the ultimate sacrifice? We no longer practice the law of Moses and sacrifice animals. I suppose the tables could be used for the blessing and passing of the sacrament? What is another possibility is that temple never was going to be built. The vision has another purpose. I found one such suggestion by Elder James E. Talmage.

“In the twenty-fifth year of the Babylonian captivity, while yet the people of Israel were in exile in a strange land, the word of the Lord came to the prophet Ezekiel; the power of God rested upon him; and he saw in vision a glorious Temple, the plan of which he minutely described. As to whether the prophet himself considered the design so shown as one to be subsequently realized, or as but a grand yet unattainable ideal, is not declared. Certain it is that the Temple of the vision has not yet been builded.

The immediate purpose of this revelation through the vision of the prophet appears to have been that of awakening the people of Israel to a realization of their fallen state and a conception of their departed glory.” (Elder James E. Talmage, "The House of the Lord", pp. 37–38.)

(Old Testament Student Manual, Kings-Malachi, "Prophecies of the Restoration", (27-29) Ezekiel 40-44 The Vision of a Future Temple)

It seems possible that this glorious temple was simply for an awakening, since the man in Ezekiel's vision told him to set his heart upon all he would be shown.

Day 3001