Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 24:10

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 24:10

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

This chapter Jesus quotes Malachi a prophet in the Holy Land that lived after Lehi's family had moved to the promised land.  "And it came to pass that he commanded them that they should write the words which the Father had given to Malachi, which he should tell unto them. And it came to pass that after they were written he expounded them."

This verse comes from Malachi 3:10. It is the importance of paying tithes. I can tell you there have been times I was a full tithe payer and times I have not. I know from my own experience the blessings of paying tithing. I have never had much money but when I use celestial bookkeeping, paying the Lord first, I have always been blessed to manager the 90% that is mine. Many, many times I find exactly what I need at the prices I can afford. I know I have been blessed to have what is needful in my life.

There is so much more to tithing then money though. The spiritual blessings are innumerable. The greatest of which is being able to spend time in the temple. When I sit in the lovely peaceful celestial rooms I often reflect on how my tithes helped build this for my Lord. It is His house but I get to sit inside it and have peace in my life that nothing else can bring. It is truly humbling. My home will never be this clean and beautiful but for a time I get to sit there and feel its peace.

I also think of all the saints living around the world with much less than I. How they must also feel being able to just rest in the House of the Lord. The money to build a temple is not wasted money that could have been given to the poor. The poor need the house of the Lord even more so in their lives. Its the peace and strength from a temple that helps them become greater things.    

Day 377 Tami Fitzgerald Harris

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 23:6, 8-10, 13

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 23:6, 8-10, 13

And now it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he said unto them again, after he had expounded all the scriptures unto them which they had received, he said unto them; Behold, other scriptures I would that ye should write, that ye have not.

And when Nephi had brought forth the records, and laid them before him, he cast his eyes upon them and said:

Verily I say unto you, I command my servant Samuel, the Lamanite, that he should testify unto this people, that at the day that the Father should glorify his name in me that there were many saints who should arise from the dead, and should appear unto many, and should minister unto them. And he said unto them: Was it not so?

And his disciples answered him and said: Yea, Lord, Samuel did prophesy according to they words, and they were all fulfilled.

And it came to pass that Jesus commanded that it should be written; therefore it was written according as he commanded."

I just love how the Lord knows all. The smallest omission of his servants means something. The scriptures are sacred and the record must be true. I pondered on the times little details have later meant something important to me. I had that experience when Arvin Gibson was writing my near-death experience. There was a tiny detail I had neglected to relay and could not simply let it slide by. The record would not be true otherwise. The only way to fix it was add it into the record. It would have troubled my soul otherwise. Now I see how important the record that testifies of Christ needed to be complete and accurate. Nothing can be omitted in sacred records. It brings me comfort to know the Lord will make us mindful of needful things, even if they are the smallest of details. 

Day 376 Tami Fitzgerald Harris

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 22:1

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 22:1

"And then shall that which is written come to pass: Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break froth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child; for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord."

The Lord, Jesus Christ is quoting Isaiah, for great are the words of Isaiah. It was in this verse of the Book of Mormon, where Isaiah is quoted, that my eyes were opened and I could begin to see what it was talking about. We are told that only in the last days would we understand these words. 

At that time I had married nieces that wanted children and could not have them, and other nieces that were not married expecting children, and planning on raising them alone. When I heard this verse I realized how many unwed mothers I was seeing around me and married women with fertility issues. This is one of the things that Isaiah was referring to in these last days. It really hit home and I understood its meaning. There are always layers to Isaiah but this one I think when people sit and think about it their eyes will see what is happening around us. Truly we are living in the days of Isaiah.

Day 375 Tami Fitzgerald Harris

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 21:6

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 21:6

"For thus it behooveth the Father that it should come forth from the Gentiles, that he may show forth his power unto the Gentiles, for this cause that the Gentiles, if they will not harden their hearts, that they may repent and come unto me and be baptized in my name and know of the true points of my doctrine, that they may be numbered among my people, O house of Israel;"

I pondered on how the record of the Jews came to the Gentiles, for the Jews were God's covenant people. The Jews denied the Christ but will yet receive him as their King by way of the Gentiles. The Nephites and Lamanites on this land were also his covenant people and fell away and were lost to their heritage and covenants. That by way of the Gentiles they are restored. The first will be last and the last will be first. Does that not make all equal in the sight of God? One people are not greater than another. The blessings of the House of Israel can come to all that receive their King.

Day 374 Tami Fitzgerald Harris