Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 8:11-12

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 8:11-12
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:
And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it."

I pondered on how it depends on where you stand if you are in the midst of a feast or famine in hearing the words of the Lord. I am so blessed to belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There is no famine in hearing the words of the Lord. There is continuous revelation and prophets and apostles speaking to us. Yet, with all this bounty a person could be starving if they chose not to sup.

Even in the world where prophets and apostles are not known there can be a feast if they open the bible and read it. Start where you are and feast on the words of the Lord that you have. Then when you want to have more come and see me.

Day 4039

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 5:12-13

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 5:12-13
"For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.
Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time."

I pondered on the meaning of the prudent keeping silent. Is it like we have been told to be peacemakers? Don't content with the wicked, just leave them alone. There is no doubt about it that we are living in evil times.

"Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison."
(Matthew 5:25)

It made me think of this post I saw the other day by John Hilton III. It was from his recent YouTube video on Scripture Central. He related a story of Elder Lybbert being told he needing more faith. It didn't mean you worked so hard to the point of exhaustion. That you give reasonable effort and have faith the Lord will do the rest. Is that silent part having faith that the Lord will take care of the rest? He did that for Alma and his people when they were living in bondage.

"Have you heard the story of when Elder Packer told another General Authority he needed more faith?
Elder Lybbert of the Seventy was serving as Area President of Asia. Back-to-back emergencies—a mission president imprisoned, missionaries lost in Korea—had left him running on empty.
Elder Lybbert showed up at a stake conference in Taiwan completely exhausted. Then-Elder Dallin H. Oaks took one look at him and sent him back to the hotel to rest.
When Elder Oaks later shared the experience with Elder Boyd K. Packer, Elder Packer said: “The next time you see Elder Lybbert, tell him he needs to have more faith.” And then Elder Packer told Elder Oaks what he meant by that.
At the next General Conference, Elder Oaks pulled Elder Lybbert aside and delivered the message: “You need to have more faith.”
Elder Lybbert was astonished. “How can I work any harder than I already am?” “Exactly,” said Elder Oaks.
Then he explained what Elder Packer meant.
Elder Packer wasn’t saying to do more. True faith is understanding that the Lord expects a reasonable effort and then we trust that He will get His work done.
“Let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.” — D&C 123:17
This is what Jethro taught Moses. Moses was doing righteous work, but carrying it all alone. Jethro’s counsel wasn’t to work harder. It was to trust God enough to share the load.
True faith isn’t always doing more. Sometimes the way to have more faith is to do less and trust God more."
(John Hilton III, Instagram post 15 Apr 2026)

(Finding Christ in the Wilderness | Exodus 14-18 | Come Follow Me 2026 | John Hilton III | Apr 13-19)

Day 4038

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 3:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 3:7
"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

The Joseph Smith Translation is a little different.

"Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing until he revealeth the secret unto his servants, the prophets." (JST Amos 3:7)

Throughout the scriptures I see prophets warning the people before destruction would come. They were given the opportunity to repent and turn to God. They were given God's grace and mercy. Sadly, they didn't always listen. How grateful I am that there is a living prophet on the earth today, President Dallin H. Oaks. The warning voice has gotten louder and louder in these past eight years. We have been told what we need to be doing. So much of the prophet's counsel has been line upon line, building us to become more and more a Zion people. If we listen and obey we will be prepared for what comes. Knowing this has brought me so much peace is such a crazy world.

"What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."
(Doctrine and Covenants 1:38)

"Behold, there shall be a record kept among you; and in it thou shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ,
Being inspired of the Holy Ghost to lay the foundation thereof, and to build it up unto the most holy faith.
Which church was organized and established in the year of your Lord eighteen hundred and thirty, in the fourth month, and on the sixth day of the month which is called April.
Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;
For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.
For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory."
(Doctrine and Covenants 21:1-6)

"The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty. (Sixty-first Semiannual General Conference of the Church, Monday, October 6, 1890, Salt Lake City, Utah. Reported in Deseret Evening News, October 11, 1890, p. 2.)
It matters not who lives or who dies, or who is called to lead this Church, they have got to lead it by the inspiration of Almighty God. If they do not do it that way, they cannot do it at all. . . "
(Doctrine and Covenants: Official Declaration 1)

Day 4037

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 9:9

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 9:9

"For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth."

This made me think of my husband, first generation American. His father is Polish and his mother is French, and somewhere he has Jewish blood on both sides. He is one of the sifted among all nations. That little grain did not fall. He is the only one to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He holds the Melchizedek priesthood. Something that was probably held amongst his fathers eons ago, and lost over time. Now it is restored and will bless generations.

"Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:"

(Jeremiah 3:14)

Day 3047

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 8:11

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 8:11

"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:"

I was pondering on how there was no famine in hearing the word of the Lord today. I have so many resources. I love having the Gospel Library app on my phone. There are so many scriptures and talks at my finger tips. I have access 24/7 to talks and videos online about various gospel subjects. Just yesterday there was a Facebook post by the prophet. This is such a wonderful time to hear the words of the Lord.

Then I realize there are people that starve to death with food all around them. They can be on self imposed hunger strikes. That's a famine to them. If you are not wanting food your in famine. More than any time on this earth we have more people ignorant of the scriptures. There is such a famine today I wonder if more people heard and knew the scriptures before they were in print? Simply because they attended church weekly and the priests would read from the scriptures. Right now when technology has the capability to bring the word of God to every person on this earth, there is a self imposed hunger strike by many. They are in famine and don't know it.

Day 3046

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 7:16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 7:16-17

"Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land."

Rejecting prophets brings destruction. I keep thinking about the First Presidency June 1, 2023 letter about the coming elections. There was a reason for that letter and this specific part.

"Merely voting a straight ticket or voting based on “tradition” without careful study of candidates and their positions on important issues is a threat to democracy and inconsistent with revealed standards".

For me counsel and prophesy go hand in hand. There is a reason to be counseled to be so careful and not do what you've always done. We really need to look closely and study the matter wisely. This is the real test of what type of person to support.

"Members should also study candidates carefully and vote for those who have demonstrated integrity, compassion, and service to others, regardless of party affiliation."

It is when the voice of the people chose evil we are ripe for destruction.

"For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted.

Yea, and this was not all; they were a stiffnecked people, insomuch that they could not be governed by the law nor justice, save it were to their destruction."

(Helaman 5:2-3)

Day 3045

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 6:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 6:1

"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!"

I am reminded today that good people can change for the worse. I've seen people once faithful and strong lose their way. Pride could be their downfall, but often they show themselves in their love for money. Never put a person on a pedestal and think that you can follow them blindly. I've been shocked when I felt things a little off with someone and then check back in a number of years and they have taken off in strange paths. Don't assume because you once had a testimony that you can take a break from church for a while and then come back. Testimonies, faith, obedience is something we work on every day. Never take your eye off the prophet. If you sit back and think you can coast along you're already drifting.

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!

Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!

Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost!

Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received, and we need no more!

And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the truth of God! For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth it with gladness; and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth lest he shall fall."

(2 Nephi 28:24-28)

Day 3044

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 5:18

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 5:18

"Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light."

This verse made me stop and sit and ponder on it. I wondered why was there a woe associated with desiring the day of the Lord? Then I realized it was the motive. What was the end of the desire? It was to seek the destruction of others. They are not looking at it as the light and glory of His coming, but the darkness it will be as a dreadful day for others. This is not something we should be gleeful over. This is something to feel great sorrow that this is the fate of the unrepented.

I am always a little troubled when I hear people speak of the wickedness of the world, and then in the next breath say they can't wait for the second coming. I am at a loss for words, because I'm not sure they understand what that all means.

"Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble."

(Mosiah 28:3)

Day 3043

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 4:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 4:7

"And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.

So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD."

The Lord used a warning voice by pouring out famine, pestilence, swords, and burning upon Israel. Even with all that "yet have ye not returned unto me". The Lord use calamities and disasters as a voice of warnings, as a opportunity for us wake up and turn back to him. It is a stiff-necked people when they don't listen. It reminded of a television interview I saw once after a shooting, and the people were saying "Don't pray for me. I don't want your prayers. Prayers do nothing." I felt so sorry for them because prayers help so much. What I noticed in these verses is that God would cause rain to fall on one city, and not on others. People turn to others in times of disasters. We are only made satisfied when our hearts are turned to Him.

"How oft have I called upon you by the mouth of my servants, and by the ministering of angels, and by mine own voice, and by the voice of thunderings, and by the voice of lightnings, and by the voice of tempests, and by the voice of earthquakes, and great hailstorms, and by the voice of famines and pestilences of every kind, and by the great sound of a trump, and by the voice of judgment, and by the voice of mercy all the day long, and by the voice of glory and honor and the riches of eternal life, and would have saved you with an everlasting salvation, but ye would not!"

(Doctrine and Covenants 43:25)

Day 3042

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 3:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 3:7 "Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." But = until I love this verse. It really is one of my favorites. I know that God will reveal his secrets to his prophets. There is no way God would stop speaking to man and make them pass alone through all that is to come in the last days before His Son's second coming. We need prophets now more than ever. How grateful I am to know that Christ's church has been restored once again upon the earth, and that today there is a prophet that leads and guides us. That prophet is Russell M. Nelson. "We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God." (Article of Faith, 9)

Day 3041

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 2:12

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 2:12

"But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not."

Nazarite: A consecrated man. A man under a vow to abstain from wine, from any cutting of the hair, and any contact with the dead. The vow might be lifelong, or for a short, definite period.

(Bible Dictionary)

One of the sins Israel had committed was corrupting the Nazarites, by giving them wine to drink. Then they turned around and didn't want prophets to prophesy. They were rejecting and corrupting what was holy.

This made me ponder on what happens to those that lead others astray.

This is a statement on church discipline.

"Sometimes members’ actions contradict Church doctrine and lead others astray. While uncommon, some members in effect choose to take themselves out of the Church by actively teaching and publicly attempting to change doctrine to comply with their personal beliefs. This saddens leaders and fellow members. In these rare cases, local leaders have the responsibility to clarify false teachings and prevent other members from being misled. Decisions are made by local leaders and not directed or coordinated by Church headquarters."

(Newsroom, "Church Responds to Church Discipline Questions", 11 June 2014, Church statement)

"Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession."

(Proverbs 28:10)

"Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones."

(Luke 17:1-2)

Day 3040

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 1:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 1:3

"Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:"

The phrase "Thus saith the Lord" is mentioned 5 times in this chapter. Each time Amos says "for three transgressions, and for four". Meaning they reached their limit and then some. Each time he also says "I will not turn away the punishment thereof". Meaning they are not repentant and their punishments replaces any blessings they could have had. As I was reading this I thought about the wo's in the scripture. The more wo's the closer they were to destruction. I wouldn't want a prophet of God to place a wo or say "thus saith the Lord" on my head. It's not a good place to be. If it's said you better listen for he is speaking the words of God.

Day 3039

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 9:9, 14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 9:9, 14-15
"For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.
And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God."

I pondered on how this could speak of the sifting and scattering of the Jews upon all the nations. Now they are being gathered back to their lands. It also made me think of the saints beings sifted.

It reminded me of the old sifter my mother had. When she was making cakes or popovers I could help by sifting the dry goods together. I was always fascinated in how the sifter would find these hard little clumps when I originally could not see them as I poured the ingredients in. The hard items left behind were good for nothing and simply tossed into the trash. Sifting is just like the Lord finding those with hardened hearts and removing them from his covenant people. If they remained, just like the cake, they would not become its perfect creation, as a Zion people should. It was through the sifting that each little flake became all that it could be.

Day 1463

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 8:11

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 8:11
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:"

This is talking of the great apostasy that happened after all the original apostles died. There was a falling away, and a famine in hearing the words of the Lord. The gospel has once again been restored to the earth. Prophets and apostles speak the words of the Lord. In fact in eight more days I will sit at their feet and listen to them in general conference. I can't wait!

I also thought of its other meaning. How this famine in hearing the words of the Lord is still happening today. In this case it is self-imposed. For there is an epidemic of apathy for reading the scriptures around the world. Years past if there was only one book in the home it was the Bible. Families would gather to read from it. Now not only is a bible a rare commodity, it's even rarer for a family to gather and read it.

I am grateful for the counsel given in the last general conference. The emphases on home-centered gospel learning. Where as families we gather to read from the New Testament each day. My family was already reading the scriptures together, but I love the feeling of synergy that comes with being part of this worldwide. There is unity in our church as we gather together to discuss what we are learning in our homes. I enjoy these discussions and seeing each family embrace learning the gospel in their homes. There is a different feeling that I cannot find words to describe. We are being feed and it is good.

Day 1462

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 7:14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 7:14-15
"Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:
And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel."

Amos was called of God as a prophet when he was just a humble herdman. I pondered on how the Lord has used that pattern in the past and continued in this dispensation. Joseph Smith was called when a humble farm boy of fourteen.

It made me think of William Tyndale who was strangulated and burned at the stake for the offense of translating the bible into English.

"I defie the Pope and all his laws. If God spare my life, ere many years I wyl cause a boy that driveth the plough to know more of the Scripture, than he doust." Another variant of the quote is "I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the scriptures than thou doest."

Even after Tyndale's death his prophetic words came to fulfillment. His translation efforts were used by noted scholars for the majority of the Kings James version of the English Bible. It was that version of the bible that a humble farm boy read in James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Never had any passage of the scripture struck Joseph's heart as this did. This lead to him deciding to ask God which of all church's he should join. The heavens were opened and God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ appeared to the young Joseph to answer that humble prayer. Prophets don't decide to be prophets, it is the Lord that calls them to be.

Day 1461

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 6:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 6:1
"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came!"

This reminded me of this.
"And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well - and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.
Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!"
(2 Nephi 28:21, 25)

Elder Dale G. Renlund recently said in a training session. "When talking about the challenges of the signs of the last days there is one often overlooked, "Be not deceived". People will focus on the earthquakes, volcanos, destructions and wars, but the one that is so subtle and misleading is that one."

Being deceived is the one that concerns me the most. When you are at ease you can be carefully lead down to hell. I pondered on how people can still feel at ease even when they are inactive in the church. The devil lies to them that they still have their testimony of the gospel and that is all that matters. Not going to church, reading scriptures, attending the temple, paying tithes and offerings doesn't mean they don't have a testimony. Guess what that's a lie and you have been deceived. If you love the Lord you will do what he says. At some point the testimony that isn't being feed will be gone and you won't even notice it, or miss it, because you were carefully lead down to hell.

I have such a curiosity that I would love to ask someone that is inactive or left the church, but probably never will. What would it take for you to wake up? What prophesied event would have to happen to realize how close things are? The reason I am curious is because I remember an idea I had as a teenager. I decided the year 2000 was probably about the time of the second coming. That someone could do whatever they wanted up until a year before. That would give them enough time to repent and be ok when the Lord came. I am so grateful I saw the absolute foolishness in that idea. But, yet I know it is ideas like that which Satan uses to carefully lead us down to hell. "Woe to them that are at ease in Zion."

Day 1460

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 5:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 5:4
"For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live:"

This verse made me think of something I read last night in the Book of Mormon Student Manual (Rel 121-11), chapter 22.                                                                                                                                   
"Speaking of a man who had prayed for the visitation of angels, President Wilford Woodruff (1807–98) said:

“I said to him that if he were to pray a thousand years to the God of Israel for that gift, it would not be granted, unless the Lord had a motive in sending an angel to him. I told him that the Lord never did nor never will send an angel to anybody merely to gratify the desire of the individual to see an angel. If the Lord sends an angel to anyone, He sends him to perform a work that cannot be performed only by the administration of an angel. I said to him that those were my views. The Lord had sent angels to men from the creation of the world, at different times, but always with a message or with something to perform that could not be performed without. I rehearsed to him different times when angels appeared to men. Of course, I referred to the angel visiting Joseph Smith. The Revelator John said that in the last days an angel would fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach to them that dwelt on the earth. The reason it required an angel to do this work was, the Gospel was not on the earth. The Gospel and the Priesthood had been taken from among men. Hence God had to restore it again.

“Now, I have always said, and I want to say it to you, that the Holy Ghost is what every Saint of God needs. It is far more important that a man should have that gift than he should have the ministration of an angel, unless it is necessary for an angel to teach him something that he has not been taught” (“The Administration of Angels,” in Brian H. Stuy, comp. Collected Discourses, 5 vols. [1987–92], 5:233).
(Book of Mormon Student Manual (Rel 121-122), Chapter 22)

Why I thought of this was because even good people can go off base seeking the wrong thing. Seeking an angel will not get you anywhere. It is by seeking the Lord through the Holy Ghost that I will find Him. Through this we can obtain eternal life and live.

Day 1459

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 4:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 4:6
"And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord."

Very fitting day to read this. In my living room sits 25 lb bags of various dry goods that we purchased today. I took the money from savings to purchase it because I know the price of corn, beans and wheat is going to go up. Gratefully the prices in the store are the same as our last purchase right now. We have been counseled for years to have a food storage. With the recent floods in Nebraska and Iowa, and water heading south into all the farm lands of the Midwest it was time to reassess what we had on hand. I know the price of beef with go up but I am not so worried about storing that if I have plenty of beans for protein.

The Lord may use natural disasters and famines to give people the opportunity to return to him. I would much rather turn to Him and have the spirit guide me on when to store in time of plenty for the famines to come. It is no loss to my lifestyle, this is food we eat and rotate anyways. I just wish I had space to store more while the prices are good.

This is from an article my friend Amy Archibald sent me Saturday.

Why the devastating floods in Nebraska should have you concerned.

If you don't have adequate food storage in your home, now is the time to get food before prices start to sky rocket.

Nebraska is the:
* National leader in beef production
* #3 leader in corn production
* #1 for Great Northern Beans, #2 for Pinto Beans, #5 for ALL DRY edible beans
* #10 leader in egg production
* #4 in soybean production
* 55-70 million bushels of wheat annually

"Across parts of the Midwest, hundreds of livestock are drowned or stranded; valuable unsold, stored grain is ruined in submerged storage bins; and fields are like lakes, casting doubt on whether they can be planted this year."

Day 1458

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 3:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 3:7
"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."

The word "but" in this verse has the footnote "until". That is a very good point. The Lord never punishes or destroys a people until they have been first warned by a prophet. Not a prophet that is long gone, but a living prophet. Just like Noah received revelation from God on how to build the ark. God didn't give those instructions to Adam for him. Neither did Noah receive instructions on parting the red sea to preserve the children of Israel for Moses. We are in the most critical period of this earth's existence, the period before the second coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ. All that is vital to know and do leading up to this event will be revealed to a living prophet. He will add to what prophet's have prophesied before him.

Today in sacrament our bishop mentioned something Elder Dale G. Renlund said in a training session. When talking about the challenges of the signs of the last days there is one often overlooked, "Be not deceived". People will focus on the earthquakes, volcanos, destructions and wars, but the one that is so subtle and misleading is that one.

In the early days of the restoration there were some that claimed they received revelation for the church. The Lord made his mind and will in the matter clear to His prophet.

"But, behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses."
(Doctrine and Covenants 28:2)

"And this ye shall know assuredly—that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.
But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him; for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead.
And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments;
6 And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me."
(Doctrine and Covenants 43:3-6)

I am grateful to know that the Lord speaks to his living prophet President Russell M. Nelson today. He holds the same keys that were given to Joseph Smith through Peter, James and John. Knowing where to look, and through the confirmation of the Holy Spirit, the Lord has put in place the ability to not be deceived. This knowledge brings me great comfort. I am so excited for General Conference coming in two weeks. Once again I will sit at the feet of a prophet and listen to what the Lord has reveled to him.

Day 1457