Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 31:24-25, 35

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 31:24-25, 35
Now when Alma saw this his heart was grieved; for he saw that they were a wicked and a perverse people; yea, he saw that their hearts were set upon gold, and upon silver, and upon all manner of fine goods.
Yea, and he also saw that their hearts were lifted up unto great boasting, in their pride.
Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee."

Alma having heard that the Zoramites were perverting the ways of the Lord, has his heart begin to sicken. His heart is sorrowful for them. He gathers others to go with him to preach to the Zoramites. What they witness of the Zoramites manner of worship astonished them beyond all measure. Even though their gross wickedness grieves Alma he prays for them. He looks upon them as children of our Heavenly Father. They need to be saved. Alma does all that he can. I think that is a good lesson. That even though some people's sins may sicken us to our cores, we still pray for them. We still try to be there to turn their hearts. We don't mock, belittle, make fun or condemn them. We pray for them, and try to do what the Lord would have us do for them. Truly every soul is precious.

Day 3475

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 30:60

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 30:60
"And thus we see the end of him who perverteth the ways of the Lord; and thus we see that the devil will not support his children at the last day, but doth speedily drag them down to hell."

This chapter is the story of Korihor, an anti-Christ. In the end he is mute because he sought after a sign. Then he begged for his food, and was trampled to death by the Zoramites. People may think they can make a deal with the devil, but in the end when he is done with you, he will chew you up and spit you out. There is no loyalty by that evil master. He is powerless to save you in any way.

"Notably, at the last day the adversary “will not support” those who followed him anyway. He cannot. Jesus will triumph majestically, and the adversary’s clever constructs, “pleasing to the carnal mind,” will also collapse, and “the fall thereof will be exceedingly great”.
(Neal A. Maxwell, "How Choice a Seer!", Oct 2003 General Conference)

Day 3474

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 29:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 29:10
"And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me."

This is Alma the younger speaking. When he sees the Lamanites that have converted to the gospel and truly repented it reminds him of how he was also forgiven. That would be such a sweet moment. He knows where they are coming from, and experiencing.

Day 3473

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 28:12

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 28:12
"While many thousands of others truly mourn for the loss of their kindred, yet they rejoice and exult in the hope, and even know, according to the promises of the Lord, that they are raised to dwell at the right hand of God, in a state of never-ending happiness."

Before I read scriptures tonight I was watching news on horrific hurricane Helene and its devastating path of destruction. I watched this one interview with a women who lost her parents and seven year old son. I was so moved on her and her sister's faith and belief in God and how he has and will get them through this. In their sorrow, they rejoiced in the Lord. It was so inspiring. I found the video again so I could share it.

"In the midst of the chaos, all I heard was God telling me to be still and to stop fighting the water," Drye recalled. "That was Him, that was prayers. That was prayers that told me to be still and to let the water carry me to where I needed to be rescued."
"When I did let go, I heard the voice say, 'You still don't fight the water' and then I ended up in between the two carriers that stuck with me the whole time," she said.
She was then spotted by a man and then tended to by a rescue team."
("Asheville mother recounts last moments with son before he was swept away by Helene floods: ‘He became my hero’, Fox Weather, October 1, 2024)

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
(Psalms 46:10)

"Therefore, let your hearts be comforted concerning Zion; for all flesh is in mine hands; be still and know that I am God."
(Doctrine and Covenants 101:16)

Day 3472

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 27:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 27:1-2
"Now it came to pass that when those Lamanites who had gone to war against the Nephites had found, after their many struggles to destroy them, that it was in vain to seek their destruction, they returned again to the land of Nephi.
And it came to pass that the Amalekites, because of their loss, were exceedingly angry. And when they saw that they could not seek revenge from the Nephites, they began to stir up the people in anger against their brethren, the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi; therefore they began again to destroy them."

I was pondering on why the Amalekites felt they needed to go after the Anti-Nephi-Lehies? The Amalekites wanted to destroy the Nephites but since they couldn't they turned on a group of Lamanites that only wanted to be peaceful. That just didn't make sense. Then I realized there is no sense in what Satan inspires in the hearts of men. When you incite people and stir them up to anger about a group of people the cause doesn't even need to be true. Men's hearts had failed them.

It made me think of the video with President Nelson "Men's Hearts Shall Fail Them".

"If you got a faith you can handle difficulties, with an eternal perspective that all will be well. "...the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear,..." (Luke 21:25-26)
"Men's hearts are failing because they forget their identity and purpose."

The Amalekites were Nephite apostates. They had lost their religion, identity and purpose. Without that eternal guidance they lashed out at anyone they perceived a threat and in particular those that loved God.

Day 3471