Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 71:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 71:3
"Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress."

I pondered how commandments are a protection to me. When I have broken commandments I have been in bondage of my own making. Keeping commandments have saved me from physical and mental destruction, and brought safety and peace. This reminds me of the story Elder Keetch once told in General Conference about a group of surfers and how they came to appreciate the barrier in place for their safety.

Day 3926

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 69:21

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 69:21
"They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."

In family scriptures tonight we were going over the "Types or Symbols of Christ". This verse made me think of how many verses in the Old Testament spoke of Christ and how they were to recognize the Messiah when he came.

"They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink."
(Matthew 27:34)

"And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down."
(Mark 15:36)

"After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."
(John 19:28-30)

Day 3925

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 66:18

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 66:18
"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:"

We cannot hide the intent of our heart. The outward appearance and our words can be deceptive but the Lord truly knows who we are. If iniquity has residence in our heart the spirit cannot reside there too.

"But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."
(1 Samuel 16:7)

"Yea, I tell thee, that thou mayest know that there is none else save God that knowest thy thoughts and the intents of thy heart."
(Doctrine and Covenants 6:16)

"And Ammon said: Yea, and he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning."
(Alma 18:32)

Day 3924

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 63:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 63:7
"Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice."

This imagery feels so safe. It reminded me of all the scriptures when Christ says he is as a hen that would gather her chickens under her wings. Sadly, it's often phrased that they would not. There is safety if we allow ourselves to be gathered and protected.

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
(Matthew 23:37) (see Luke 13:34)

"O ye people of these great cities which have fallen, who are descendants of Jacob, yea, who are of the house of Israel, how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you.
And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not.
O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart."
(3 Nephi 10:4-6)

"Who will gather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, even as many as will hearken to my voice and humble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer."
(Doctrine and Covenants 29:2)

Day 3923

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 59:16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 59:16-17
"But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.
Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy."

This made me think of my favorite hymn that I have been listening to almost every day since Oct 2025 General Conference. It's called "Jesus is the Way". I will even wake in the morning hearing it playing in my head.

Jesus is the Way
Our Savior, Jesus Christ, has said,
“Come in, oh, come ye in through me.”
By other paths we are misled;
Through Him we are made free.

Come in through Him,
Into the fold of God.Our Savior, Jesus, is the Way—
The Savior of the world.

God’s servants, teaching in His name,
Will live His gospel strong and true,
For did not Jesus do the same?
He taught and lived it too.

Come in through Him,
Into the fold of God.
Our Savior, Jesus, is the Way—
The Savior of the world.

Our Savior is the precious tree
That bears the fruit so sweet and pure.
His truth that makes us ever free
Unchanging will endure.

Come in through Him,
Into the fold of God.
Our Savior, Jesus, is the Way—
The Savior of the world.

Day 3922

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 56:4-6

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 56:4-6
"In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul."

I pondered on what type of person would wait to destroy the soul of another? They would have to be a very ill person with that objective. If you want to destroy someone for a belief in God, that makes them happy, why would you want to destroy their happiness? How would destroying their soul possibly benefit you? Is it because they want others to be as miserable as them? I just don't understand it. Just like I never could understand how Saul continually sought David's life. When all they want is to destroy another, then they're very ill indeed.

Day 3921

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 53:2-3

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 53:2-3
"God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God.
Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one."

God looking down from heaven can see much wickedness among the children of men, but also those that love Him. There are those that are doing good, and helping to bring His lost sheep unto Him. I pondered on how we are preparing for the Lord's Second Coming, and being the Zion people we need to be to receive Him.

Day 3920

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 50:3-6

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 50:3-6
"Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah."

On this Christmas Eve when we celebrate the Lord Jesus' birth, I reflected on how time wise I am closer to His Second Coming than his birth. How different that event will be compared to an innocent holy baby lying in a manger. Wise men still seek Him, and that gathering of saints includes me too.

Merry Christmas

Day 3919

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 46:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

I pondered on how "be still" can also mean you are "at rest". There is a peace and comfort to know and trust God. The soul is a rest and not flittering around every wind of doctrine to find truth.

"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;"
(Ephesians 4:13-14)

"President Joseph F. Smith said: “To my mind, it means entering into the knowledge and love of God, having faith in his purpose and in his plan, to such an extent that we know we are right, and that we are not hunting for something else, we are not disturbed by every wind of doctrine, or by the cunning and craftiness of men who lie in wait to deceive. We know of the doctrine that it is of God, and we do not ask any questions of anybody about it; they are welcome to their opinions, to their ideas and to their vagaries. The man who has reached that degree of faith in God that all doubt and fear have been cast from him, he has entered into ‘God’s rest’” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith [1998], 56).
To find rest unto our souls includes peace of mind and heart, which is the result of learning and following the doctrine of Christ and becoming Christ’s extended hands in serving and helping others. Faith in Jesus Christ and following His teachings give us a firm hope, and this hope becomes a solid anchor to our souls. We can become steadfast and immovable. We can have lasting inner peace; we can enter into the rest of the Lord. Only if we turn away from light and truth will a hollow feeling of emptiness, like the tree’s, occupy the innermost chambers of our souls, and we even might attempt to fill that emptiness with things of no lasting value."
(Elder Per G. Malm, "Rest unto Your Souls", Oct 2010 General Conference)

"And again, be patient in tribulation until I come; and, behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, and they who have sought me early shall find rest to their souls. Even so. Amen."
(Doctrine and Covenants 54:10)

Day 3918

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 45:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 45:17
"I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever."

The other evening during family scriptures I remarked how if Jesus was just a rabbi there is no way thousands of years later people would still speak of him. He was the Son of God.

Day 3917

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 40:13

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 40:13
"Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me."

I thought about how the Lord is hastening his work. That the days are shortened for our sakes.

"And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened."
(Matthew 24:22)

This made me ponder on how I am part of the Lord's work, not only is He shortening the days for me, He's also hastening to deliver and help me when I call.

Day 3916

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 37:16

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 37:16
"A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked."

I have to agree with that. I would much rather have sufficient for my needs than untold money. For it is the love of money that can drive man to the sin of greed and pride so quickly. Of course there are wealthy people that have overcome that, and that I am sure is a great struggle for them and their families.

Day 3915

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 34:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 34:4
"I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

This reminds me of a conversation I had the other day with someone with crippling anxiety. They told me how praying and reading scriptures daily has blessed them in being able to manage their fears. This was something they were not faithful in doing before. Of course, when medication is needed that should be discussed with a doctor. In fact they told me how after they could cope through prayer and daily scripture reading the spirit directed them to seek medical help. That makes so much sense to me. For I have experienced my burden lifted from turning them over to the Lord. Then with that mental pressure taken I could receive the inspiration needed to solve the problem ahead.

Day 3914

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 33:12

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 33:12
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance."

I pondered on how you cannot place into law or force a nation to be followers of God. The nations are blessed that follow the Lord only by their own free will and choice. The Lord looketh on the heart, and not forced compliance. If it were by law you could have a nation that calls themselves Christian, but their hearts are far from Him.

Day 3913

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 30:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 30:5
"For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

I love this Joseph Smith translation even better.

For his anger kindleth against the wicked; they repent, and in a moment it is turned away; and they are in his favour, and he giveth them life; therefore, weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
(JST Psalms 30:5)

What a difference the role of repentance plays. For truly joy coming in the morning when forgiveness has been given.

Day 3912

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 27:14

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 27:14
"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

I pondered on how we are waiting on the Lord right now. We are waiting for His Second Coming. While we wait we do not sit and do nothing. The time is hastening, and the gathering is the most pressing and urgent it has ever been. As we gather people on both sides of the veil we are strengthen to the task. I marveled again tonight as I worked on my family history. The ability to find and record complete families has been hastened to an amazing speed. What a glorious time to live in.

Day 3911

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 23:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 23:4
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

The older I get the more this verse means to me. I don't need to be dying to have felt the shadow of death surrounding me. It is wherever there has been darkness of sorrow around me. I know that I do not walk alone, for the Lord is with me.

Day 3910

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 19:12

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 19:12
"Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults."

The words "secret faults" made me think of having favorite sins we don't want to let go of. How we have to be willing to do so in order to know God. I am reminded of Aaron teaching the gospel to king Lamoni, and then the king humbled prayed to give away all his sins.

"O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day. And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he were dead."
(Alma 22:18)

During the time he appeared to be dead, he was sleeping in the Lord and came to have a powerful witness of Him. I am also reminded of the words of President Nelson

"What does it mean to overcome the world? It means overcoming the temptation to care more about the things of this world than the things of God. It means trusting the doctrine of Christ more than the philosophies of men. It means delighting in truth, denouncing deception, and becoming “humble followers of Christ.” It means choosing to refrain from anything that drives the Spirit away. It means being willing to “give away” even our favorite sins."
(Russell M. Nelson, “Overcome the World and Find Rest," Oct 2022 General Conference)

Day 3909

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 18:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 18:2
"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."

During our recent stake conference our visiting Area Seventy mentioned years before he was interviewed when they were looking for a new Stake Presidency. I forget what calling he had at the time. One question he was asked is to explain his relationship with the Lord. At the time he had a personal relationship with God in prayer, but was stumped on how to explain his relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ. He told them he would have to do more thinking on that. Since then I've thought of that and have had many different conversations with myself on how I would explain my personal relationship with the Savior. As I read this verse I see listed many of the areas I too would say.

Day 3908

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 15:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 15:1-2
"LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart."

This made me think of temple recommend interviews. We do our best to make sure those that go into the tabernacle or the house of the Lord are upright, righteous and honest. Sadly, there will always be those that will lie and try to cover their sins. They are not deceiving the Lord though. I would not want to stand in their shoes on judgment day. For they will not abide the Lord's coming.

Day 3907

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 10:2, 6

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 10:2, 6
"The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity."

I pondered on why the wicked hated the poor? The poor would have no power over them. As I was going over this and other chapters I realized to see the poor is to fear being poor. That is why in their pride they say "I shall never be in adversity." They puff themselves up that they are better, and what better way to show that than to oppress the poor for their poverty. The wicked are also liars to themselves. They do not want to think that "there but for the grace of God go I."

Day 3906

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 9:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 9:9-10
"The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee."

This verse made me think of this.

"And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children."
(Isaiah 54:13)

I think about how important a sense of peace and safety is. How the Lord can be, and has been, a refuge to me in the midst of the storm. A refuge where I find peace and comfort, and the inspiration needed to help my situation. It all seems so simple, but it really is.

Day 3905

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 4:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 4:8
"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety."

Since I was a little child I've said my prayers each night. I could not rest until I had prayed. I have always felt protected while I sleep.

Day 3904

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 2:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 2:10
"Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth."

Before reading in Psalms I read this in the Book of Mormon.

"O be wise; what can I say more?"
(Jacob 6:12)

What does it mean to be wise, and in particular spiritually?

"As a Church and a people it behooves us to be wise, and to seek to know the will of God, and then be willing to do it; for “blessed is he that heareth the word of the Lord, and keepeth it,” say the Scriptures. Watch and pray always,” says our Savior, “that ye may be accounted worthy to escape the things that are to come on the earth, and to stand before the Son of Man.” If Enoch, Abraham, Moses, and the children of Israel, and all God’s people were saved by keeping the commandments of God, we, if saved at all, shall be saved upon the same principle. As God governed Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as families, and the children of Israel as a nation; so we, as a Church, must be under His guidance if we are prospered, preserved and sustained. Our only confidence can be in God; our only wisdom obtained from Him; and He alone must be our protector and safeguard, spiritually and temporally, or we fall."
(Joseph Smith, Jr. "Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith", p.253)

Day 3903

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 42:10-13

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 42:10-13
"And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.
So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
He had also seven sons and three daughters."

I love the ending of the story of Job. Job prays for his friends that spoke wrong in the Lord's eyes. That is forgiveness. Then Job's brothers and sisters all gather around him and comfort him. They each give him some money and gold. Then Job is blessed in the end double the sheep, camels, oxen, and asses then before. As for children, his is blessed again with the same number. Now for the eternities Job has 14 sons and 6 daughters, for the ones that died as still his too.

Day 3902

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 38:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 38:4
"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding."

This made me think of our "Come, Follow Me: reading for this week. How President Joseph F. Smith saw in vision the redemption of the dead after the crucifixion of the Savior and his appearance in the spirit world. Christ organized from the righteous his forces, and appointed messengers with power and authority to preach the gospel to the dead.

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” (1 Peter 3:18—20.)
“For 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.)

It also goes on to state how some reserved for our day were chosen in the beginning. This would be when God laid the foundations of the earth, while we were in the pre-existence.

"The Prophet Joseph Smith, and my father, Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and other choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fulness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work,
Including the building of the temples and the performance of ordinances therein for the redemption of the dead, were also in the spirit world.
I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God.
Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men."
(Doctrine and Covenants 138:53-56)

Day 3901

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 34:35-37

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 34:35-37
"Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God."

I can't even imagine judging, much less saying these words to a good man that had suffered so much loss. No wonder the Lord spoke these words to Joseph Smith, while held prisoner in the Liberty jail.

"Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job."
(Doctrine and Covenants 121:10)

Day 3900

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 32:9

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 32:9
"But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding."

I pondered on how the spirit has taught me things I had no knowledge of before hand. As I reflected on several experiences I thought about many great inventions even just in my lifetime. I then thought of President Nelson and how he was instrumental in creating the first heart-lung machine, so they could perform surgery on the heart. Then he was instructed through inspiration on how to perform those surgeries.

"During the early pioneering days of surgery of the heart,” a stake patriarch from southern Utah suffered much because of a failing heart. He pleaded for help, thinking that his condition resulted from a damaged but repairable valve in his heart.
Extensive evaluation revealed that he had two faulty valves. While one could be helped surgically, the other could not. Thus, an operation was not advised. He received this news with deep disappointment.
Subsequent visits ended with the same advice. Finally, in desperation, he spoke to me with considerable emotion: “Dr. Nelson, I have prayed for help and have been directed to you. The Lord will not reveal to me how to repair that second valve, but He can reveal it to you. Your mind is so prepared. If you will operate upon me, the Lord will make it known to you what to do. Please perform the operation that I need, and pray for the help that you need.”
His great faith had a profound effect upon me. How could I turn him away again? Following a fervent prayer together, I agreed to try. In preparing for that fateful day, I prayed over and over again, but still did not know what to do for his leaking tricuspid valve. Even as the operation commenced, my assistant asked, “What are you going to do for that?”
I said, “I do not know.”
We began the operation. After relieving the obstruction of the first valve, we exposed the second valve. We found it to be intact but so badly dilated that it could no longer function as it should. While examining this valve, a message was distinctly impressed upon my mind: Reduce the circumference of the ring. I announced that message to my assistant. “The valve tissue will be sufficient if we can effectively reduce the ring toward its normal size.”
But how? We could not apply a belt as one would use to tighten the waist of oversized trousers. We could not squeeze with a strap as one would cinch a saddle on a horse. Then a picture came vividly to my mind, showing how stitches could be placed—to make a pleat here and a tuck there—to accomplish the desired objective. I still remember that mental image—complete with dotted lines where sutures should be placed. The repair was completed as diagrammed in my mind. We tested the valve and found the leak to be reduced remarkably. My assistant said, “It’s a miracle.”
I responded, “It’s an answer to prayer."
("Discovering a Surgical First, Russell M. Nelson and Tricuspid Valve Annuloplasty" by Austin A. Robinson and Curtis T. Hunter, BYU Studies)

Day 3899

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 29:16

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 29:16
"I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out."

This reminded me of the principles of self-reliance and the humanitarian efforts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is not enough to help the poor by feeding and clothing them. What is truly needed is a help up so they can provide for themselves, and in turn help others. I love how the "Light the World Giving Machines" have donations that do just that. Chickens are not for people eat. They are to raise and sell eggs, and continue to replenish their flocks. Goats are not to eat. They are to raise and start a business to sell milk and cheese. There are seeds to grow crops to feed themselves and begin a business. Helping people to sustain themselves and their families effects generations.

Find a location near you. 

Day 3898

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 27:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 27:6
"My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live."

This made me think of the iron rod, the word of God, and holding fast to it.

"And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God."
(1 Nephi 11:25)

The love of God goes both ways. God's love for his children, and our love for God. The heart is in all of this. Our heart will know if we are steadfast and true.

"And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction."
(1 Nephi 15:24)

Day 3897

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 22:3,5, 21-23

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 22:3,5, 21-23
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

Eliphaz the Temanite words to Job are rather shocking. Here Job is suffering the loss of children, and his great wealth and being told how wicked he is. That God doesn't take pleasure in our being righteous. Then he is told he needs to acquaint himself with God and his laws. Pray, read the scriptures, and put away iniquity. Talk about being judged unrighteously. I loved how in the next chapters Job is humble, and doesn't point at the wrong judgment being placed on him, but builds on what is true. For we can always do more to be acquainted with God. Prayer and repentance are a daily thing.

Day 3896