Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 5:39

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 5:39
"But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."

I found this note in my scriptures added on 8 Oct 2023. It would have been right after President Oaks general conference address on "Kingdoms of Glory".

"Wow, I just realized that President Oaks general conference talk was actually steps ahead of a growing movement I have read about in several articles now. How inspired he was."
"It was the result of having multiple pastors tell me, essentially, the same story about quoting the Sermon on the Mount, parenthetically, in their preaching — "turn the other cheek" — [and] to have someone come up after to say, "Where did you get those liberal talking points?" And what was alarming to me is that in most of these scenarios, when the pastor would say, "I'm literally quoting Jesus Christ," the response would not be, "I apologize." The response would be, "Yes, but that doesn't work anymore. That's weak." And when we get to the point where the teachings of Jesus himself are seen as subversive to us, then we're in a crisis." 
(NPR, "He was a top church official who criticized Trump. He says Christianity is in crisis", 8 Aug 2023)

Day 4058

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 4:23

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 4:23
"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people."

I was pondering on how I would have loved to be there, to hear Jesus preaching. Then I thought about how I already do hear His words. I'm reading this is the scriptures. I also hear His words when I listen to the prophet, especially during general conference. As I was reflecting on this and wondered why I would have loved to be there, right then. It wasn't just because it was Jesus. It was the time of the end of the law of Moses and learning how to live a higher and holier way. I realized it was because I love change. I love being in the middle of change. I thought about how the restoration is still on going. There are lots of changes still to come. If I live to see the millennium I will see tremendous changes. That is all very exciting.

Day 4057

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 3:16

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 3:16
"And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:"

I focused on the part of the heavens being opened up. Then I read the note I had added to this verse.

"Do you know what I think is so cool...Look at JST Matthew 3:43-46..."and John saw, and lo, the heavens were opened unto him."
And then this from President Nelson just recently to the women of the Church:
President Russell M. Nelson: "Sisters, I love you and thank you. As a result of your efforts, I promise that the heavens will open for you [just like John the Baptist?]. The Lord will bless you with increased inspiration and revelation. Together we will do all that our Heavenly Father needs us to do to prepare the world for the Second Coming of His Beloved Son."
(President Russell M. Nelson, "A Message of Gratitude and a Promise for the Women of the Church in 2019)

I didn't put down who quoted President Nelson, and quoted the addition added to the JST of the New Testament. It was John who witnessed this and heard the voice, "And lo, he heard a voice from heaven saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye him." It would be amazing to see all of that.

Day 4056

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 2:12, 13, 19-20

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 2:12, 13, 19-20
"And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. "

I noticed the three different dreams mentioned in this chapter. First to the wise men to not return to Herod, and leave another way. Then to Joseph to flee to Egypt with his family. He is told to remain there until he brings him word. That word wasn't from a third party, saying Herod was dead. It was from the angel of the Lord in a third dream telling him to arise and take the family back to Israel. I pondered on what a righteous man Joseph must have been to have visitations of angels in dreams, and obey what he was told. It made me ponder on our day and how import it is that we are able to receive personal revelation for us and our family. It can have not only spiritual but also physical consequences.

"I feel to emphasize the warning President Russell M. Nelson issued us: that “in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” One of the many reasons you will need the constant influence of the Holy Ghost is that you live in a season in which the adversary has become so effective at disguising truth that if you don’t have the Holy Ghost, you will be deceived. Many obstacles lie ahead. The distractions will be many."
(Dallin H. Oaks, "Coming Closer to Jesus Christ", BYU Devotional address on February 10, 2026)

Day 4055