Today's Favorite Verse: Job 12:12-13

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 12:12-13
"With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding."

Today is Thanksgiving and with it comes preparing a family dinner. I noticed in the last couple days I was telling my adult children things I took for granted and didn't realize they didn't know. Like putting a frozen turkey in a tub of cold water to defrost it. They were thinking it would need to go in hot water. It's little things that we gain time and experience in. That get handed down generation after generation if we are lucky. I always loved listening to older people's conversations when I was a kid. I have an old soul and love stories of days gone by. I also appreciated their wisdom and knowledge. Now I find my generation is the older generation.

Day 3892

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 13:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 13:1
"Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed."

I can't even imagine how Joshua must have felt. You're old, stricken in years and told there is much land to be possessed. Which isn't a simple matter of walking in, they have to fight for it. Basically there is no rest. It made me think of my birthday tomorrow, and how I feel like I've slowed down so much this past year. I can't even imagine turning 101 years old like President Nelson tomorrow. As I pondered on all this I thought of purpose. Even though I am older its the purpose and the need to get things done that keeps me going. You really can never stop. The difference is you focus on what's important and devote the energy you have to that. It reminded me of a story Elder Bednar related about Elder Robert D. Hales.

"Several years ago I spent a Sunday afternoon with Elder Hales in his home as he was recovering from a serious illness. We discussed our families, our quorum responsibilities, and important experiences.
At one point I asked Elder Hales, “You have been a successful husband, father, athlete, pilot, business executive, and Church leader. What lessons have you learned as you have grown older and been constrained by decreased physical capacity?”
Elder Hales paused for a moment and responded, “When you cannot do what you have always done, then you only do what matters most.”
I was struck by the simplicity and comprehensiveness of his answer. My beloved apostolic associate shared with me a lesson of a lifetime—a lesson learned through the crucible of physical suffering and spiritual searching."
(Elder David A. Bednar, "Chosen to Bear Testimony of My Name", Oct 2015 General Conference)

Day 3812

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: 2 Nephi 9:34, 47

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 9:34, 47
"Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to hell.
But behold, my brethren, is it expedient that I should awake you to an awful reality of these things? Would I harrow up your souls if your minds were pure? Would I be plain unto you according to the plainness of the truth if ye were freed from sin?"

My mind has pondered much on liars lately. In fact I woke early the other day with new understanding on the matter. My mind recalled this scripture.

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
(Isaiah 5:20)

It takes a liar to call evil good, and good evil.

"Satan does rage in the hearts of some. Many he will lull away into carnal security; others he flattereth, or he says there is no hell. He has lured and enlisted many followers with enticements of fame, riches, and power. He forges a Rembrandt-quality representation by calling evil good and good evil. He has confused many people, even nations and leaders, to the point of an immoral approach to moral issues."
(Durrell A. Woolsey, "A Strategy for War", Oct 1995 General Conference)

As I pondered on this I recalled an aged man who appeared to be sleeping, but woke every time he heard a lie. I felt it was saying "Wake up to your awful situation."

"Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.
For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning."
(Ether 8:24-25)

I reflected then on age and how that is not to be feared over a man of lies. My mind then recalled stories of our prophets and how as they aged they would awaken when the call was needed.

"The call of a man to fill a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is the responsibility and prerogative of the president of the Church....During the months preceding [Apr 1983] conference, President Spencer W. Kimball’s health had become increasingly frail and his memory spotty.
Then on January 11, 1984, a year to the day after the passing of Elder Richards, Elder Mark E. Petersen passed away... President Kimball’s health had deteriorated even further, and his mind was less dependable. To make matters worse, those privy to the situation knew President Kimball was in no condition to receive the revelation to extend such calls.
One of those persons was Dr. Nelson. The week before the April 1984 general conference, Russell’s surgical nurse, Jan Curtis, mentioned how excited she was for the upcoming conference because two new apostles would be called. Russell tried to gently tell her that it wasn’t going to happen. “I was his doctor, and I knew it wasn’t feasible, that President Kimball was not well or coherent enough to do it. I explained to her that calling an apostle is the prerogative of the president of the Church and that President Kimball was simply in no condition to do that.
For months, President Gordon B. Hinckley, the only healthy member of the First Presidency at the time (President Marion G. Romney’s health had also deteriorated), had left standing instructions with President Kimball’s caregivers that if the prophet’s mind ever cleared, they were to call him immediately, regardless of the hour. Month after month passed with no call. From time to time, President Hinckley looked in on President Kimball, but an opportunity to discuss such a spiritually sensitive topic as calls to the Twelve never presented itself.
Then, at about 2:30 a.m. on the Wednesday morning prior to the April 1984 general conference, the phone rang at President Hinckley’s home. President Kimball was alert and wanted to talk to him. President Hinckley rushed downtown to President Kimball’s suite in the Hotel Utah, where the issue of vacancies in the Twelve was raised. President Kimball said simply, “Call Nelson and Oaks to the Quorum of the Twelve, in that order.”
(Sheri L. Dew, "The Miracle Behind President Nelson's Call as an Apostle" LDSLiving, 5 Oct 2019)

My mind was settled on the subject I will not fear an aged man that can recognize lies, if that is my choice today. Yet, overall the greater message is "awake to a sense of your awful situation". Since this experience I have only seen things grow even darker for us. Yet, I feel incredible peace that I can move forward in faith come what may.

Day 3380