Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 14:11-12

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 14:11-12
"For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."

I often remind myself of this, not only for myself but also for those I would want to judge. It is best to not travel down the road of judgment and just leave things in God's hands. He understands the matter more completely than I ever could. No one will miss their personal accountability before him. All will have an account for themselves.

Day 4184

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 12:36-37

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 12:36-37
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

What are idle words? This is what I found in the footnotes.

"Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few."
(Ecclesiastes 5:2)

"Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks."
(Ephesians 5:4)

Footnote for word = gossip
Speak = profanity
Account = accountability

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."
(Proverbs 18:21)

"The Savior warned that we will be judged for “every idle word that [we] shall speak”. Modern revelation commands us to cease from “light speeches” and “light-mindedness”  and to cast away “idle thoughts” and “excess of laughter”.  There are plenty of other spokesmen for trivial things. Latter-day Saints should be constantly concerned with teaching and emphasizing those great and powerful eternal truths that will help us find our way back to the presence of our Heavenly Father."
(Dallin H. Oaks, "Powerful Ideas", Oct 1995 General Conference)

Day 4065

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 6:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 6:2
"And it came to pass that there was not one soul, except it were little children, but who had entered into the covenant and had taken upon them the name of Christ."

It's understandable that little children do not enter into covenants. What is sad is it doesn't appear that the parents taught their children the words of king Benjamin. We cannot assume because we believe that our children will also.

"Now it came to pass that there were many of the rising generation that could not understand the words of king Benjamin, being little children at the time he spake unto his people; and they did not believe the tradition of their fathers.
They did not believe what had been said concerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning the coming of Christ.
And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of God; and their hearts were hardened.
And they would not be baptized; neither would they join the church. And they were a separate people as to their faith, and remained so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state; for they would not call upon the Lord their God."
(Mosiah 26:1-4)

The reason I feel these children were not taught is because they were not baptized when eight years old. The only way I can see an eight year old not wanting to get baptized is because they were never taught the gospel before they reached that age.

"And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents."
(Doctrine and Covenants 68:25)

Day 3421

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 7:21

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 7:21

"I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me."

I was talking to someone today about a young child that was being a terror in their primary class. I asked how old, and they told me eight. That brought back memories of my children when they turned eight. They could be so sweet and pure but once they turned eight and were baptized it was like the adversary came full force at them. They had reached the age of accountability and once baptized they were tempted. I did not much care for the age of eight. It was a very difficult year of training a child to overcome temptation and follow the spirit.

Day 3212

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 1:8-9

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 1:8-9

"I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.

Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be."

I love how this chapter shows how a vision is given and the interpretation is received. It's that question and answer session that the spirit uses to instruction. I am reminded what Joseph Smith said about interpretations of vision or figures.

“Whenever God gives a vision of an image, or beast, or figure of any kind, He always holds Himself responsible to give a revelation or interpretation of the meaning thereof, otherwise we are not responsible or accountable for our belief in it. Don’t be afraid of being damned for not knowing the meaning of a vision or figure, if God has not given a revelation or interpretation of the subject.”

(Joseph Smith, Jr. "History of the Church", 5:343)

“Oh, ye elders of Israel, hearken to my voice; and when you are sent into the world to preach, tell those things you are sent to tell; preach and cry aloud, ‘Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand; repent and believe the Gospel.’ Declare the first principles, and let mysteries alone, lest ye be overthrown. Never meddle with the visions of beasts and subjects you do not understand”

(Joseph Smith, Jr "History of the Church", 5:344).

We also have this warning from President Nelson.

"As any good thing can be misused, a word of warning may be appropriate. The scriptures don't have the answers to every question. Many important truths have yet to be revealed. Preoccupation with the so-called "mysteries" should be avoided. Beware also of private interpretation. Look to the living prophets and official policies for interpretation."

(Russell M. Nelson, “Living by Scriptural Guidance,” Oct 2000 General Conference)

Day 3071

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 3:13

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 3:13

"For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not."

This is what the Lord told Samuel about the high priest Eli and it made me wonder how the sins of a child could come back on a parent. What had Eli done that he was being made accountable as well as his sons? I thought of Aaron and how two of his son Nadab and Abihu were struck dead for offering strange fire. I didn't recall Aaron being found guilty for this? Alma and king Mosiah were not condemned in the Book of Mormon when their sons went wayward. What made this different? In this verse it sounds like what made Eli responsible was his failure to restrain his sons. I could not picture an adult parent being responsible for restraining his adult children. I needed to know more so I started with that footnote.

"And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents."

(Doctrine and Covenants 68:25)

What great sin did Eli commit? He didn't teach his children to understand the gospel. Wow, that is powerful. Eli was a high priest of Israel, he appears to have served faithfully. Yet, he didn't teach his sons as he should have and the price was to fall on his head too. It made me think of that famous quote by President David O. McKay “No other success can compensate for failure in the home.”

Day 2398

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 74:1, 7

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 74:1, 7

"For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; else were your children unclean, but now are they holy.

But little children are holy, being sanctified through the atonement of Jesus Christ; and this is what the scriptures mean."

This chapter discusses the practice of infant baptisms and 1 Corinthians 7:14, often used to justify it. I didn't realize until reading this chapter that this verse was actually referring to the law of circumcision that was done away with as Christ's atonement fulfilled the law of Moses. Probably the reason I didn't remember this connection is because I've known since I was a child that infant baptism is an perversion and false doctrine. (Moroni 8) For little children are whole and not capable of committing sin, and are alive in Christ. Baptism takes place after the child has reached the age of accountability, which we have been taught is 8 years of age. I do see some good that has come out of this unsound practice, the genealogical value of the records. This has furthered the work in redeeming the dead, and sealing families together for the eternities.

Day 2077

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 52:13

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 52:13

"And behold, he that is faithful shall be made ruler over many things."

When I pondered on this accountability came to mind. If I rule over something I have stewardship and am accountability for it.

"His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord."

(Matthew 25: 23)

Day 2055

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 41:12

 Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 41:12

"These words are given unto you, and they are pure before me; wherefore, beware how you hold them, for they are to be answered upon your souls in the day of judgment. Even so. Amen."

That warning "beware how you hold them" really stood out to me. Maybe its because I have thought a lot lately about wresting the scriptures, and talks given by the prophets and apostles and what the means. We will answer for how we hold them. Do I live by the Lord's words or do I twist them to fit my agenda? Much care has to be given when quoting scriptures. I would think with the Lord's word being pure we don't have to stretch so far to find their meaning. We just have to ponder on them.

Day 2044

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 11:16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 11:16-17
"Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Forasmuch then as God gave them the gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?"

I think it such an amazing thing how the gospel went from the Jews to the Gentile. What a learning curve to put away customs and traditions and the law of Moses being fulfilled. With the gospel being received by the gentiles they went from calling themselves Jews to Christians. It made me think about how strange it will feel when the time of the Gentiles end and the gospel once again is taken to the Jews. The first shall be last and last shall be first.

"And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last."
(1 Nephi 14:42)

Day 1602

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 18:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 18:1
"And the Lord said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary: and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood."

The word "iniquity" used with the words sanctuary and priesthood left me puzzled, so I had to pondered on it. There was one footnote in that verse associated with the word bear.

"IE bear any guilt incurred in failure to bear the full responsibility thereof."

This made me thing of Doctrine & Covenants 82:3 "For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation."

I sat and pondered on the great weight of responsibility for those called in leadership responsibility within the church. I though of King Benjamin's words in the Book of Mormon.

"Therefore, as I said unto you that I had served you, walking with a clear conscience before God, even so I at this time have caused that ye should assemble yourselves together, that I might be found blameless, that your blood should not come upon me, when I shall stand to be judged of God of the things whereof he hath commanded me concerning you." (Mosiah 2:27)

I felt much soberness thinking of those that serve and the great responsibility on their shoulders. The stewardship they will have to answer for. It is a wonder than anyone would be willing to serve, when they are accountable for what they didn't do. They really do deserve my heartfelt respect and gratitude. The best way I can show that is to listen to them.


Day 710