Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 23:8

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 23:8
"And they shall be afraid; pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames."

I have been weeping. I sorrow for those being deceived. I have prayed to know if I am possibly the one deceived. This morning the answer came. I needed to stop asking that. I already knew. To ask again in this matter would be like Joseph that kept praying, after being given the answer twice, if he should give the 116 pages to Martin Harris to take home. Then they were lost. Then Joseph lost the ability to translate for a season. I cannot risk asking when the Lord has already counseled me in the matter. Now I just mourn because I sit back and watch others that I love, that should have the spirit to guide them be deceived. This last day stuff is hard. For one day they will wake up to their awful situation, that they supported and caused to overcome them. They will be amazed as they look upon each other, facing burning for shame, yet have lost the ability to look upon the Lord. It will be to late.

"For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant."
(Joseph Smith - Matthew 1:22)

Remembering the importance of the qualifier "if possible". If you are deceived you've already strayed. I need hope to stay on the right course. How grateful I am for living prophets that guide us through these days.

"I am optimistic about the future. It will be filled with opportunities for each of us to progress, contribute, and take the gospel to every corner of the earth. But I am also not naive about the days ahead. We live in a world that is complex and increasingly contentious. The constant availability of social media and a 24-hour news cycle bombard us with relentless messages. If we are to have any hope of sifting through the myriad of voices and the philosophies of men that attack truth, we must learn to receive revelation.
Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.
My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. .. Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly."
(Russell M. Nelson, "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives", Apr 2018 General Conference)

Day 3394