Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 10:12-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 10:12-15
"Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.
And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.
But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.
And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common."

Jesus fulfilled the law of Moses but it appears that some of his Jewish followers still followed it, at least in what was considered clean and unclean to eat. I know later I will also read when other questions come up. Is it the changing of culture at that point? It made me think of how we are told the restoration is ongoing and not complete, there is more to come. It was after President Nelson was called as prophet that first heard the phrase "ongoing restoration". Up to that point I could not recall it being said like that. I decide to search the general conference talks for when that phrase was first used.

I found it in the Oct 2019 General Conference by a talk given by Elder Quentin L. Cook. He used the phrase "ongoing Restoration" in reference to President Russell M. Nelson's earlier talk. That talk was about changes in policy regarding who may serve as witnesses to baptism and sealing ordinances. It also went over changes in the Young Women and Young Men classes. After that General Conference it was used more and more. So interesting to review that tonight when we are in preparation for another change to take place in a couple weeks.There has been so many changes in the last seven years. I am so grateful I have a heart that loves and embraces change.

Day 4152

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 9:4-6

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 9:4-6
"And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do."

This made me ponder on judgment day when we will face the Lord. Like Saul, there will be no long speeches for justification for our sins and behaviors. It will be an absolute truth if we are found wanting. Thankfully for Saul he had years ahead of him to repent and be forgiven.

Day 4151

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 8:3, 9

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 8:3, 9
"As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.
But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:"

Two examples of men that had much to repent of, and they did. They are examples of how you can never write a person off as unredeemable and going to hell. It is not for us to judge. I would have been careful around them, but happy to see them change.

Day 4150

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 7:60

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 7:60
"And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

This is the story of Stephen, his testimony, and how he became a martyr. I was wondering if there was more information regarding "lay not this sin to their charge". Were they asking God to forgive them without repenting and be guiltless, or that the person had forgiven them for their actions. As I was reading I came across this story told in General Conference. I vaguely remember it. I felt to share it to honor their memory.

"During the Mexican Revolution, Rafael Monroy was the president of the small San Marcos Mexico Branch, and Vicente Morales was his first counselor. On July 17, 1915, they were apprehended by the Zapatistas. They were told they would be spared if they would give up their weapons and renounce their strange religion. Brother Monroy told his captors that he did not have any weapons and simply drew from his pocket his Bible and Book of Mormon. He said, “Gentlemen, these are the only arms I ever carry; they are the arms of truth against error.”
When no arms were found, the brethren were cruelly tortured to make them divulge where arms were hidden. But there were no arms. They were then taken under guard to the outskirts of the little town, where their captors stood them up by a large ash tree in front of a firing squad. The officer in charge offered them freedom if they would forsake their religion and join the Zapatistas, but Brother Monroy replied, “My religion is dearer to me than my life, and I cannot forsake it.”
They were then told that they were to be shot and asked if they had any request to make. Brother Rafael requested that he be permitted to pray before he was executed. There, in the presence of his executioners, he kneeled down and, in a voice that all could hear, prayed that God would bless and protect his loved ones and care for the little struggling branch that would be left without a leader. As he finished his prayer, he used the words of the Savior when He hung upon the cross and prayed for his executioners: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”  With that the firing squad shot both Brother Monroy and Brother Morales. "
(James E. Faust, "Discipleship", Oct 2006 General Conference)

In the talk President Faust then goes on to tell of reorganizing a stake in the area and interviewed a descendant of Rafel Monroy. He asked what happened to rest of Brother Monroy's descendants and was told that many had served missions and were faithful in the church.

Day 4149