Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 49:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 49:8
"Wherefore, I will that all men shall repent, for all are under sin, except those which I have reserved unto myself, holy men that ye know not of."

I asked myself "Who are these holy men that God reserved unto himself?" I didn't find an answer to that. So I made my own list of possibilities. First, I identified who the Lord was addressing. This chapter is directed to the Shakers. This is some background found in the chapter header.

"In prefacing this revelation, the Prophet wrote, “In order to have a more perfect understanding on the subject, I inquired of the Lord, and received the following.” The revelation refuted some of the basic concepts of the Shaker group. The aforementioned brethren took a copy of the revelation to the Shaker community (near Cleveland, Ohio) and read it to them in its entirety, but it was rejected."

Since this was being read to the Shakers they would be holy men they were not aware of. To start they would not have know that Joseph Smith, Jr. was a prophet of God and that is indeed a holy man. But, being still a mortal man he probably still needed repentance. I thought about those that were reserved then that never tasted death. The Shakers wouldn't have known about the Book of Mormon and the three Nephites. They were like John the Revelator and would never taste death. All would be holy men. Then I thought about the city of Enoch, which included Enoch and all his people that were taken up to heaven. They would certainly be holy men reserved to come to earth again. They possibly wouldn't know about Moses and Elijah also taken up. I suppose there could be more. Unless there has been some physical change that came upon us all will die and all are in need of repentance.

Day 3638

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 28:7-8

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 28:7-8
"Therefore, more blessed are ye, for ye shall never taste of death; but ye shall live to behold all the doings of the Father unto the children of men, even until all things shall be fulfilled according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in my glory with the powers of heaven.
And ye shall never endure the pains of death; but when I shall come in my glory ye shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye from mortality to immortality; and then shall ye be blessed in the kingdom of my Father."

The Lord is speaking to the three Nephites that requested, like John the Beloved, to remain on this earth until the Lord's coming.

I attended a funeral today. The person that passed did so in their sleep. Several of us were remarking on how that is a wonderful way to go. Then we had a discussion on how its possible we could be here when the Savior returns and be twinkled, which sounds even better. Though some of our patriarchal blessings say we will rise in the morning of the first resurrection. Thinking we will probably be gone before that happens. I then recalled that the morning of the first resurrection began when Christ was resurrected and will continue into and through the Millennium. I now wonder if you can be twinkled and thereby receive your resurrection at the same time? For all men will die, and every man resurrected in his proper order.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming."
(1 Corinthians 15:22-23)

President Joseph Fielding Smith also taught: “Men on the earth will still be mortal, but a change shall come over them so that they will have power over sickness, disease and death. Death shall all but be banished from the earth, for men shall live until they are the age of a tree or one hundred years old, and then shall die at the age of man, but this death shall come in the twinkling of an eye and mortality shall give way to immortality suddenly. There shall be no graves, and the righteous shall be caught up to a glorious resurrection” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 2 vols. [1953], 1:461).

"And he that liveth when the Lord shall come, and hath kept the faith, blessed is he; nevertheless, it is appointed to him to die at the age of man.
Wherefore, children shall grow up until they become old; old men shall die; but they shall not sleep in the dust, but they shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye."
(Doctrine and Covenants 63:50-51)

I have decided to no longer assume rising on the morning of the first resurrection necessarily means you have died before the Lord's second coming.

Day 3551

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 45:14

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 45:14
"But whosoever remaineth, and is not destroyed in that great and dreadful day, shall be numbered among the Lamanites, and shall become like unto them, all, save it be a few who shall be called the disciples of the Lord; and them shall the Lamanites pursue even until they shall become extinct. And now, because of iniquity, this prophecy shall be fulfilled."

Alma is speaking to his son Helaman. First, its like a temple recommend interview. Alma makes sure the Helaman will be faithful and keep the commandments. Then he gives him a prophesy that Helaman is to record but not make known to the people. They are to be kept until the prophecy is fulfilled. He prophesied for what would happen 400 hundred years from then, when the Nephites would be destroyed. All destroyed except a few called the disciples of the Lord. Alma saw Moroni, he was the last prophet to record in the gold plates before hiding them up to the Lord. But, Moroni was not alone. There were three Nephite disciples that Jesus Christ blessed to remain on the earth, just like John the Beloved. I hadn't thought about that connection until now. Those disciples of the Lord remained until the wickedness of the people became to great.

"And there are none that do know the true God save it be the disciples of Jesus, who did tarry in the land until the wickedness of the people was so great that the Lord would not suffer them to remain with the people; and whether they be upon the face of the land no man knoweth.
But behold, my father and I have seen them, and they have ministered unto us.
And whoso receiveth this record, and shall not condemn it because of the imperfections which are in it, the same shall know of greater things than these. Behold, I am Moroni; and were it possible, I would make all things known unto you."
(Mormon 8:10-12)

Day 3489

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 133:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 133:4

"Wherefore, prepare ye, prepare ye, O my people; sanctify yourselves; gather ye together, O ye people of my church, upon the land of Zion, all you that have not been commanded to tarry."

This chapter has so much in it. One thing I noticed, it uses the word "prepare" eight times. We are to prepare for the coming of the Lord. That is the message I have heard very strongly for the last couple of years in general conference. This is the season we are in - preparing for the Lord's second coming. I noticed that the message is for all to prepare, but not all will gather upon the land of Zion. For some are to tarry where they are. My heart kind of sank, and I thought would I miss this great scene too? Would I be made to tarry where I am? Maybe that's part of what we prepare for. To be willing and obedient to stand where the Lord would have us during the winding up scenes of the last days. There has to be a purpose for those that are commanded to tarry.

As I sat reflecting on this thought of tarrying it came to my remembrance where I had heard of people that tarried before. It was the three Nephites that never tasted of death.

"And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words, he touched every one of them with his finger save it were the three who were to tarry, and then he departed.

And behold, the heavens were opened, and they were caught up into heaven, and saw and heard unspeakable things."

(3 Nephi 28:12)

"And there are none that do know the true God save it be the disciples of Jesus, who did tarry in the land until the wickedness of the people was so great that the Lord would not suffer them to remain with the people; and whether they be upon the face of the land no man knoweth.

Be behold, my father and I have seen them, and they have ministered unto us."

(Mormon 8:10)

"For behold, thus said Jesus Christ, the Son of God, unto his disciples who should tarry, yea, and also to all his disciples, in the hearing of the multitude: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature;"

(Mormon 9:22)

To say I have a new appreciation for those commanded to tarry is an understatement. These appear to be the most valiant of the Lord's disciples.

Day 2136