Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 10:22-23

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 10:22-23
"Yea, and I say unto you that if it were not for the prayers of the righteous, who are now in the land, that ye would even now be visited with utter destruction; yet it would not be by flood, as were the people in the days of Noah, but it would be by famine, and by pestilence, and the sword.
But it is by the prayers of the righteous that ye are spared; now therefore, if ye will cast out the righteous from among you then will not the Lord stay his hand; but in his fierce anger he will come out against you; then ye shall be smitten by famine, and by pestilence, and by the sword; and the time is soon at hand except ye repent."

The prayers of the righteous are the cause of great protection upon the land. It made me think of the role of temples dotting the earth, and how the prayers of the righteous go continually upon from it. They are a great blessing to the people of those lands.

"President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) said the following about prayers offered in our day: “There are many many upright and faithful who live all the commandments and whose lives and prayers keep the world from destruction” ("Voices of the Past, of the Present, or the Future", April 1971 General Conference). Once the righteous were destroyed or removed from Ammonihah, the prayers of the righteous ceased to protect the city and “every living soul of the Ammonihahites was destroyed”
(Book of Mormon Student Manual, Chapter 25: Alma 8-12, Alma 10:22-23 "Prayers of the Righteous")

Day 3454

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 9:23-24

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 9:23-24
"And now behold I say unto you, that if this people, who have received so many blessings from the hand of the Lord, should transgress contrary to the light and knowledge which they do have, I say unto you that if this be the case, that if they should fall into transgression, it would be far more tolerable for the Lamanites than for them.
For behold, the promises of the Lord are extended to the Lamanites, but they are not unto you if ye transgress; for has not the Lord expressly promised and firmly decreed, that if ye will rebel against him that ye shall utterly be destroyed from off the face of the earth?"

As I was coming out of the temple yesterday morning I took time to reflect on how blessed I was. I marveled at how fortunate I was to born at a time that the gospel was on the earth, and I was baptized into His church. How blessed I was to have a temple less than 10 minutes from my home. There are more temples in Utah alone then there was in the whole world when my parents joined the church. Now, that I reflect on these verses I think of how I can never take what I have for granted and toss it away. It made me think about how the Lord will cleanse his house first.

"Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth, a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation; and as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, saith the Lord.
And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord;
First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord."
(Doctrine and Covenants 112:24-26)

I found this talk of Ezra Taft Benson, given in 1969. I can't even imagine what he thinks of our world today.

"Sometimes we hear someone refer to a division in the Church. In reality, the Church is not divided. It simply means that there are some who, for the time being at least, are members of the Church but not in harmony with it. These people have a temporary membership and influence in the Church; but unless they repent, they will be missing when the final membership records are recorded.
It is well that our people understand this principle, so they will not be misled by those apostates within the Church who have not yet repented or been cut off. But there is a cleansing coming. The Lord says that his vengeance shall be poured out "upon the inhabitants of the earth . . . And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord; First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me".  I look forward to that cleansing; its need within the Church is becoming increasingly apparent."
(Ezra Taft Benson, "To the Humble Followers of Christ", Apr 1969)

Day 3453

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 8:27, 29

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 8:27, 29
"And Alma tarried many days with Amulek before he began to preach unto the people.
And the word came to Alma, saying: Go; and also say unto my servant Amulek, go forth and prophesy unto this people, saying—Repent ye, for thus saith the Lord, except ye repent I will visit this people in mine anger; yea, and I will not turn my fierce anger away"

I was struck with the part that Alma tarried many days with Amulek. He was in Amulek's home. It would be so interesting to know what they talked about. Obviously he was preparing Amulek to testify of Jesus Christ. It made me think of how new missionaries do part of their MTC experience from their homes. A home is a beautiful place to hear and learn the gospel.

"But God was preparing Amulek, and when Amulek met Alma, he welcomed the Lord’s servant into his home, where Alma stayed for many days. During that time, Amulek opened his heart to Alma’s message, and a marvelous change came over him. From then on, Amulek not only believed, but he also became a champion of truth.
When Alma went out again to teach among the people of Ammonihah, he had a second witness at his side—Amulek, one of their own."
(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Learn from Alma and Amulek", Oct 2016 General Conference)

Day 3452

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 7:23-24

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 7:23-24
"And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.
And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works."

This is a wonderful list of virtues to strive for, for they are Christlike attributes. The one that stood out to me this time was gentle.

Gentle = having or showing a mild, kind, or tender temperament or character. Make or become gentle; calm or pacify.

It reminded me of being a peacemaker.

Day 3451

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 6:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 6:1
"And now it came to pass that after Alma had made an end of speaking unto the people of the church, which was established in the city of Zarahemla, he ordained priests and elders, by laying on his hands according to the order of God, to preside and watch over the church."

There is no doubt who is the leader of a branch, ward or stake in Zion. There is no doubt on who is the Prophet of the Church, and those that are apostles. The Lord's house is a house of order.

"We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof."
(Article of Faith, 5)

"No person is to be ordained to any office in this church, where there is a regularly organized branch of the same, without the vote of that church;"
(Doctrine and Covenants 20:65)

"Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion."
(Doctrine and Covenants 132:8)

Day 3450

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 5:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 5:7
"Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them."

I have many that I pray for that their eyes will be opened. That they will awake from that deep sleep and recognize their blessings and privileges. I pray for them because I love them. Then I ask that my eyes will be opened too. For we never know when we are in a midst of darkness and not seeing clearly. I remember that day when I had my first cataract surgery and the first thing I noticed was white. One eye had the orangey dingy white, and the other eye I could see real white again. With that white an array of other brilliant colors poured in. I hadn't noticed over the years that white was no longer white for me. So it is with our testimonies and the word of God. If we stopped treasuring and pondering on His word, and renewing the covenants we have made, we may think we still have a testimony. Then slowly things darkened and we don't even realize we have lost our way. That moment of a change of heart that awaken us can be both painful and sweet, it is individual to us all.

Day 3449

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 4:20

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 4:20
"And thus in the commencement of the ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Alma delivered up the judgment-seat to Nephihah, and confined himself wholly to the high priesthood of the holy order of God, to the testimony of the word, according to the spirit of revelation and prophecy."

This made me think of the prophet and apostles and how they have given up successful careers when their calls came to serve as apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. I thought about President Dallin H. Oaks and how he was a justice of the Utah Supreme Court when his call came. They leave their careers and come, follow Him.

Day 3448

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 3:4, 13, 18

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 3:4, 13, 18
"And the Amlicites were distinguished from the Nephites, for they had marked themselves with red in their foreheads after the manner of the Lamanites; nevertheless they had not shorn their heads like unto the Lamanites.
Now we will return again to the Amlicites, for they also had a mark set upon them; yea, they set the mark upon themselves, yea, even a mark of red upon their foreheads.
Now the Amlicites knew not that they were fulfilling the words of God when they began to mark themselves in their foreheads; nevertheless they had come out in open rebellion against God; therefore it was expedient that the curse should fall upon them.

Today we have people that are marking themselves by wearing red on their foreheads. Does make me wonder if they are unknowingly fulfilling prophesy, but in our day? A study of Amlici has a lot of parallels.

Day 3447

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 2:6-10

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 2:6-10
"And thus they did assemble themselves together to cast in their voices concerning the matter; and they were laid before the judges.
And it came to pass that the voice of the people came against Amlici, that he was not made king over the people.
Now this did cause much joy in the hearts of those who were against him; but Amlici did stir up those who were in his favor to anger against those who were not in his favor.
And it came to pass that they gathered themselves together, and did consecrate Amlici to be their king.
Now when Amlici was made king over them he commanded them that they should take up arms against their brethren; and this he did that he might subject them to him."

I really, really, hope and pray that this election, history does not repeat itself. We've emulated enough of the downfall of the people in the Book of Mormon. There is a reason we study the Book of Mormon every four years in the church, which also happens to be during our presidential elections.

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

Day 3446

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 1:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 1:5
"And it came to pass that he did teach these things so much that many did believe on his words, even so many that they began to support him and give him money."

Priestcraft is among the Nephites as Nehor preaches false doctrine for gain among the people. Two little words "so much" stood out to me. I realized this was one of his tactics. Say it long enough and often enough, even if untrue, and people will believe it. Just because a thing is accepted among many and repeated over and over we cannot assume it is truth. It could be propaganda. This is Satan's tactic. I decided to look for the quote I was thinking of, and found there are many attributed with saying similar things. Then I realized the author is none of them, this evil practice is inspired by the devil himself.

Here is a sampling of quotes with the same meaning.

‘If a lie is only printed often enough, it becomes a quasi-truth, and if such a truth is repeated often enough, it becomes an article of belief, a dogma, and men will die for it." (The Crown of Life, 1869)

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it." (Joseph Goebbels)

"If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it, and you will even come to believe it yourself. (Joseph Goebbels)

"If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently enough, it will be believed." (Adolf Hitler)

"A lie told often enough becomes the truth." (Vladimir Lenin)

"If you repeat a lie often enough, people will believe it. If you repeat a lie often enough, it becomes the truth. If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. If you repeat a lie long enough, it becomes truth. If you repeat a lie many times, people are bound to start believing it.
(The Sack of Rome (2006) by Alexander Stille, p. 14, and also A World Without Walls: Freedom, Development, Free Trade and Global Governance (2003) by Mike Moore, p. 63)

"Actually, Peking has operated, as Moscow has since the days of Lenin, on a number of principles which taken together can be called the technique of the "great lie." Among these are: 1) make it big enough and people will believe part of it; (2) repeat it often enough and you will convince some people; (3) say it in enough different ways, and you will convince others..."
(Great China Danger, 1966)

The ways to overcome being fed lies is to look for truth. I will often feel something is just a little off. That will send me on a hunt for original sources and its context. With doctrine I look up the scriptures and read them in context, then look for what the prophets have said about it.

Day 3445

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 29:26-27

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 29:26-27
"Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people.
And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land."

King Mosiah is speaking to his people about the dangers of having kings. He reminded them of wicked king Noah and how much damage one unrighteous king can do. He then suggests instead of having kings that they have judges, established by the voice of people. He then gives a warning that this works because it is common for the voice of the people to desire what is right. But if the majority of the people choose iniquity the judgment of God will come upon them. This is a warning for us today. The voice of the people will make their decision in our land this year. In many ways I see this as a question of free agency, and how much we allow others their agency or force them to conform to ours.

I could see this also in the response king Mosiah's people gave to him on enjoying their own rights and privileges.

"And now I desire that this inequality should be no more in this land, especially among this my people; but I desire that this land be a land of liberty, and every man may enjoy his rights and privileges alike, so long as the Lord sees fit that we may live and inherit the land, yea, even as long as any of our posterity remains upon the face of the land.
Therefore they relinquished their desires for a king, and became exceedingly anxious that every man should have an equal chance throughout all the land; yea, and every man expressed a willingness to answer for his own sins." (Mosiah 29:32, 38)

Day 3444

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 28:10, 20

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 28:10, 20
"Now king Mosiah had no one to confer the kingdom upon, for there was not any of his sons who would accept of the kingdom.
And now, as I said unto you, that after king Mosiah had done these things, he took the plates of brass, and all the things which he had kept, and conferred them upon Alma, who was the son of Alma; yea, all the records, and also the interpreters, and conferred them upon him, and commanded him that he should keep and preserve them, and also keep a record of the people, handing them down from one generation to another, even as they had been handed down from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem."

I pondered on how after king Mosiah's son left to preach the gospel to the Lamanites he set his affairs in order. He had no one to confer the kingdom on and the very first matter he settled was translating the plates of gold the Limhi's people had discovered. He acted in the role of a seer. Then he took all the sacred records and conferred them upon Alma, with command to preserve them and record their history. Mosiah took care of spiritual things before he addressed the physical or political needs of the kingdom. He took care of what was most important first.

Day 3443

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 27:16, 30

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 27:16, 30
"Now I say unto thee: Go, and remember the captivity of thy fathers in the land of Helam, and in the land of Nephi; and remember how great things he has done for them; for they were in bondage, and he has delivered them. And now I say unto thee, Alma, go thy way, and seek to destroy the church no more, that their prayers may be answered, and this even if thou wilt of thyself be cast off.
I rejected my Redeemer, and denied that which had been spoken of by our fathers; but now that they may foresee that he will come, and that he remembereth every creature of his creating, he will make himself manifest unto all."

I pondered on how an angel appeared to Alma after his father Alma prayed for him. Alma the younger was a great hinderment to the prosperity of the church of God. One thing the angel told Alma was to remember the captivity of his fathers. It wasn't to remember what the Lord did for Moses and the children of Israel, or even for Lehi's family. It was more recent, it was part of his family history. While Alma was laid upon his bed for two days and nights the people prayed for him. During that time he did reflect upon his fathers. The words of his own father and those before him. It made me reflect on the importance of family history work and how those beyond the veil can help in the redemption on this side.

Day 3442

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 26:31

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 26:31
"And ye shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say unto you, he that forgiveth not his neighbor’s trespasses when he says that he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation."

This reminded me of a comment I had read on an article. The person was saying that we are only to forgive those that ask for forgiveness or repent. They said that is what the scriptures say. That made me curious, because that is not what I knew, for the Lord tells us to forgive everyone. These are two scriptures that come to mind.

"For, if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you;
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
(Matthew 6:14-15; 3 Nephi 13:14-15)

"Wherefore I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men" 
(Doctrine and Covenants 64:9-10)

Elder Cook also explains it well.
"When we are truly humble, we pray for forgiveness and forgive others. As we read in Mosiah, Alma taught that as often as we repent, the Lord will forgive our trespasses. On the other hand, as indicated in the Lord’s Prayer, when we do not forgive others’ trespasses, we bring ourselves under condemnation. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, through repentance our sins are forgiven. When we do not forgive those who trespass against us, we are in effect rejecting the Savior’s Atonement. Holding a grudge and refusing to forgive and refusing to humbly approach our relationships in a Christlike manner truly brings us under condemnation. Holding a grudge is poisonous to our souls"
(Quentin L. Cook, "The Eternal Everyday", Oct 2017 General Conference)

I asked the person that made the comment what scripture they were referring to? They could not tell me, only that they knew it was in there. When I read this verse in Mosiah I wondered if this is what gave them that idea?

The difference I see in this mention of "when he says that he repents", is because the Lord was talking to Alma. He was discussing those that had dissented from the church, and leading others astray. In that case Alma, being called as a judge in Israel, would decide who of the dissenters would remain in the church or removed from its records. The Lord is telling Alma that if they have repented, but were not forgiven and still removed, then the one not forgiving them would be condemned.

It is further clarified on the next verse.
"Now I say unto you, Go; and whosoever will not repent of his sins the same shall not be numbered among my people; and this shall be observed from this time forward."
(Mosiah 26:32)

Day 3441