Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 98:16

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 98:16
"Therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children;"

This verse made me see exactly the direction President Nelson has given us in his general conference talks. We are told to be peacemakers. We are also counseled to work on our family history. I have thought many times as I am researching my ancestors how this allows my heart and focus to be on other things than what is happening in the world. It is a safe place a holy place, for my thoughts and actions. Then as this effort brings me to the house of the Lord, to perform vicarious ordinances for my kindred dead, I know this is all a great plan. The prophet truly is speaking the words of the Lord, for in the scriptures I can #HearHim.

"Now, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, what does the Lord expect of us? As a Church, we must “renounce war and proclaim peace.” As individuals, we should “follow after the things which make for peace.” We should be personal peacemakers. We should live peacefully—as couples, families, and neighbors. We should live by the Golden Rule. We have writings of the descendants of Judah as now merged with writings of the descendants of Ephraim. We should employ them and expand our circle of love to embrace the whole human family. We should bring divine love and revealed doctrines of restored religion to our neighbors and friends. We should serve them according to our abilities and opportunities. We should keep our principles on a high level and stand for the right. We should continue to gather scattered Israel from the four corners of the earth and offer the ordinances and covenants that seal families together forever. These blessings we are to bring to people of all nations."
(Russell M. Nelson, "Blessed are the Peacemakers", Oct 2022 General Conference)

Day 3687

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 14:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 14:8
"And it shall come to pass, that if you shall ask the Father in my name, in faith believing, you shall receive the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance, that you may stand as a witness of the things of which you shall both hear and see, and also that you may declare repentance unto this generation."

Our family has spoken together recently on being witnesses. There isn't much we can comment on to others about world events because we are trying to be non-contentious as the prophet asked. That leaves us as standing as witnesses of what is happening. We are in the later part of the last days and prophesy is being fulfilled. The Lord's coming to his saints is drawing near. It's so important to have the Spirit to always be with you, with eyes that see and ears that hear and know and understand. I pray for that daily. Just like I pray for forgiveness and repent daily. I just don't want to leave anything undone. I don't know if sharing my daily favorite verse counts as declaring repentance to others. I just hope it touches anyone's heart that needs to turn back to God. If you need to repent I hope you feel it and do it.

Day 3603

Today's Favorite Verse: Moroni 2:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Moroni 2:3
"Now Christ spake these words unto them at the time of his first appearing; and the multitude heard it not, but the disciples heard it; and on as many as they laid their hands, fell the Holy Ghost.'

The thought that came to me is we don't always hear everything, or know all that goes on in the background. What we can trust is that the Lord's disciples #HearHim. They know what in turn we need to know. Right now they are saying to prepare for the second coming of the Lord.

"As the prophet Isaiah prophesied, and as memorialized in Handel’s Messiah, when Jesus Christ returns, ‘the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.’
“Now is the time for you, and for me, to prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Now is the time for us to make our discipleship our highest priority.
“Jesus Christ took upon Himself your sins, your pains, your heartaches, and your infirmities. You do not have to bear them alone! He will forgive you as you repent. He will bless you with what you need. He will heal your wounded soul. As you yoke yourself to Him, your burdens will feel lighter. If you will make and keep covenants to follow Jesus Christ, you will find that the painful moments of your life are temporary. Your afflictions will be ‘swallowed up in the joy of Christ’ [Alma 31:38].
The best is yet to come, my dear brothers and sisters, because the Savior is coming again!” — President Russell M. Nelson" ("The Lord Will Come Again", Oct 2024 General Conference)
("Post from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints", YouTube 15 Jan 2025)

Day 3580

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 17:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 17:5

"While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."

This records when Jesus is transfigured before Peter, James and John. There appeared Moses and Elias, and the Father bore witness the Jesus was His Son. I pondered on the times The Father has born witness of the Son, and we have been commanded to #HearHim.

Peter relates his experience on the mount of transfiguration

"For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

(2 Peter 1:17)

Luke records what Peter, James and John witnessed

"And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him."

(Luke 9:35)

When Moses was transfigured.

"But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever."

(Moses 4:2)

When Jesus was baptized of John the Baptist

"And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

(Matthew 3:17)

John relates his experience after baptizing Jesus.

"And I, John, bear record, and lo, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove, and sat upon him, and there came a voice out of heaven saying: This is my beloved Son."

(Doctrine and Covenants 93:15)

When Christ appeared to the people in North America after his resurrection.

"Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him."

(3 Nephi 11:7)

When Heavenly Father and Jesus appeared to the prophet Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove.

"It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

(Joseph Smith-History 1:17)

Day 3105

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 3:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 3:10

"Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears."

I thought about how meaningful these words were to Ezekiel and to me. I need to do just like Ezekiel and receive in my heart and really hear the words of the Lord. It can come to me personally or though the Lord's servants the prophets. The spirit will guide and tell me what I need to do, if I don't lose the ability to #HearHim. You cannot hear him if you heart is unable to receive it. Daily prayer, repentance and feasting on the scriptures helps prepare my heart and open my ears so I can hear.

Day 2964

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 135:15-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 135:15-17

"The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;

They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths."

This made me think of how we are told to #HearHim. This is why this scripture about dumb idols that can neither see, hear or speak is so important. For it is only the Lord that can see, hear or through the spirit speak to us. When we are turned to the Lord we will have eyes that see, ears that hear and we will know and understand the will of the Lord.

Day 2772

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 81:11-12

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 81:11-12

"But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels."

I pondered on the counsel we have been given to #HearHim. How urgent is it not only to be in turn with the spirit and understand how God speaks to us, but also the risk of not doing so. How when we will no longer "hearken" to His voice that we are left to walk in our own counsels and lust of our own hearts. That leads to our destruction.

Day 2718

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 34:25

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 34:25

"Therefore he knoweth their works, and he overturneth them in the night, so that they are destroyed."

What this verse made me think of is how God is always one step ahead of the rest of the world. He prepares a way for those that follow and #HearHim. The wicked will not stop His work.

“The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (History of the Church, 4:540).

Day 2629

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 26:17-19

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 26:17-19

"Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:

And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;

And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken."

Avouched = declared, testified

I thought of the covenants and blessings here. I also thought of what President Nelson has counseled, to "Hear Him". To hearken unto His voice, is to Hear Him. Walking in His ways, keeping his statutes, judgment and commandments demonstrates that I Hear Him. He promises to make us a peculiar people. Meaning a valued treasure, made or selected by God. There is a refinement that takes place there. First, I must do my part to testify that the Lord is my God and I will follow Him. How grateful I am for a prophet of God that helps me Hear Him and points the way to Jesus Christ.

Day 2338

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 16:1-2

 Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 16:1-2

"Hearken, my servant Peter, and listen to the words of Jesus Christ, your Lord and your Redeemer.

For behold, I speak unto you with sharpness and with power, for mine arm is over all the earth."

With Hearken I think of "Hear Him". The message that President Nelson has given on the importance of listening to Jesus Christ rings so loud with me. That is what I want to do. I pondered on the meaning of sharpness. I don't think its harsh or cruel, as in having sharp words with someone. I think it means exactness and right to the point of the matter. If you are listening to the words of Christ they would appear very clear. In the word power I think of Christ's power to save us from our sins. His arm is over all the earth reminds me that I have to let God prevail in my life.

“The only way to survive spiritually is to be determined to let God prevail in our lives, to learn to hear His voice and to use our energy to help gather Israel,”

(Russell M. Nelson, "Let God Prevail", Oct 2020, General Conference)

Day 2019

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 1:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 1:1

"Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the voice of him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon all men; yea, verily I say: Hearken ye people from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together."

I had to pick this verse because that is the one President Russell M. Nelson has pointed to. The Doctrine and Covenants begins with Hearken, #HearHim. I felt something so different as I began to read the Doctrine and Covenants this time. I am not sure how to describe it. It's like the spirit was telling me "Read this as the Lord is talking to his servants today. Not when the prophet Joseph Smith was receiving them. This is for your day."

As I read further I see the Lord is pointing me to listen to his servants, the prophets and apostles of my day.

"And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed; and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people;

They seek not the Lord to establish his righteousness, but every man walketh in his own way, and after the images of his own god, whose image is in the likeness of the world, and whose substance is that of an idol, which waxeth old and shall perish in Babylon, even Babylon the great, which shall fall."

(Doctrine and Covenants 1:14, 16)

I don't want to get cut off from the Lord. I want so badly to hear and listen to the Lord. It really makes me stop and ponder on what could be stopping me from doing that? How have I embraced the image of the world? What am I trying to do that is my way and not the Lord's way? What am I setting up as my idols and worshipping or prioritizing over the Lord? Where is my heart, focus, and passions taking me? Sometimes you just really have to sit and get real with yourself and honestly see what path you are on. I know one thing is for sure if my desire is to follow the example the prophets and apostles have set, than I must be on the right path. "By their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:20)

Day 2004