Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 27:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 27:1-2
"Now it came to pass that when those Lamanites who had gone to war against the Nephites had found, after their many struggles to destroy them, that it was in vain to seek their destruction, they returned again to the land of Nephi.
And it came to pass that the Amalekites, because of their loss, were exceedingly angry. And when they saw that they could not seek revenge from the Nephites, they began to stir up the people in anger against their brethren, the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi; therefore they began again to destroy them."

I was pondering on why the Amalekites felt they needed to go after the Anti-Nephi-Lehies? The Amalekites wanted to destroy the Nephites but since they couldn't they turned on a group of Lamanites that only wanted to be peaceful. That just didn't make sense. Then I realized there is no sense in what Satan inspires in the hearts of men. When you incite people and stir them up to anger about a group of people the cause doesn't even need to be true. Men's hearts had failed them.

It made me think of the video with President Nelson "Men's Hearts Shall Fail Them".

"If you got a faith you can handle difficulties, with an eternal perspective that all will be well. "...the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear,..." (Luke 21:25-26)
"Men's hearts are failing because they forget their identity and purpose."

The Amalekites were Nephite apostates. They had lost their religion, identity and purpose. Without that eternal guidance they lashed out at anyone they perceived a threat and in particular those that loved God.

Day 3471

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 38:2, 16

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 38:2, 16

"Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him,

And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes."

The chapter speaks of the great latter day battle of Gog of Magog, or as many now say the battle of Gog and Magog. It speaks of war, a devastating earthquake never known before, overflowing rain, great hailstones, fire and brimstone, pestilence, blood and men's hearts failing them. It all sounds very terrifying, yet I don't feel worried and afraid. Maybe I won't even be alive when that day happens. Or maybe its because I heard of a Stake Conference last week where Elder Treadway of the Seventy spoke. He said "President Nelson told him there are only two things left that need to happen before the Second Coming. 1. The Gathering of Israel, and 2. Jesus comes."

If your focus is on preparing for the Savior's second coming by helping to gather Israel, there is nothing that can overshadow that. Every part of the gathering of Israel, listening and following a prophet of God, will prepare us for whatever is to come. You can be in the midst of a great storm and still have peace. This made me reflect again on the Anti-Nephi-Lehies and how faith strengthened them. If we are gathering Israel up until the very end then maybe we will see some Anti-Nephi-Lehies.

"And they were among the people of Nephi, and also numbered among the people who were of the church of God. And they were also distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end.

And they did look upon shedding the blood of their brethren with the greatest abhorrence; and they never could be prevailed upon to take up arms against their brethren; and they never did look upon death with any degree of terror, for their hope and views of Christ and the resurrection; therefore, death was swallowed up to them by the victory of Christ over it.

Therefore, they would suffer death in the most aggravating and distressing manner which could be inflicted by their brethren, before they would take the sword or cimeter to smite them.

And thus they were a zealous and beloved people, a highly favored people of the Lord."

(Alma 27:27-30)

Day 2999