Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 2:7-8

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 2:7-8
"So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.
Wherefore I beseech you that ye would confirm your love toward him."

This made me think of those that were wayward and apostatized and left the church. Doing much harm and damage to the church with lies and intrigues. Then their eyes are opened and they come back. We must have open arms to all that come back. We must embrace and love them as our brothers and sisters. Even if they never come back, especially with our family members, we must always love them.

Day 4204

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 13:11

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 13:11
"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."

People of so many different faiths have the same impression, we are in end times. When I see people fall away from the church I am so sad. Do they realize what time it is? Do they understand how close we are? Can anyone afford to fall away at this point in time? In Paul's time you couldn't afford to fall way either. The second coming was many centuries off. The problem with taking a break from church or the commandment is you may never have the desire to come back.

Day 4183

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 1:11

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 1:11
"For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;"

I pondered on the times I have seen and listened to a prophet and apostle of God in person. How the spirit would testify of the truthfulness of their words. It would strengthen my faith and anchor it. I imagine for the saints being able to hear Paul would be the same. How blessed I am for the day I live in. With the internet I can hear their words right in my home. I don't have to wait for an apostle to come to my area. I know the great apostasy happened with the early saints, and now with the restoration of the gospel the church as a whole will never fall into apostasy again. I think being able to hear the words of the prophet and apostles so frequently is one of the ways that is possible. We are continually being nourished. It's up to us to feast on it.

Day 4171

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 20:29-30

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 20:29-30
"For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them."

Paul warns of a coming apostasy. That great apostasy did take place, and Satan tactics remain the same today. The only difference is there has been a restoration of Christ's Church again upon the earth and there will not be another great apostasy. The Church will remain with prophets and apostles and be here when Christ returns. That does not mean however, that individual apostasy cannot happen. It can and is happening now. We still have to watch for ravenous wolves among us and guard ourselves against individual apostasy.

"As he bade farewell to the Church leaders in Ephesus, Paul warned them that an apostasy was coming and that it would be the result of forces working both outside the Church (“grievous wolves”) and inside the Church (“of your own selves”). The Greek word apostasia, which was translated as “falling away” in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, is closer in meaning to “rebellion” or “revolution.” Thus, Church members themselves contributed to the Great Apostasy by rebelling against Church leaders and doctrine. Priestcraft was an important element of this internal rebellion. Paul’s words in Acts 20:30 provide a definition of priestcraft.
Elder James E. Talmage (1862–1933) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles affirmed Paul’s message: “Not only would outsiders ingratiate themselves with the saints for purposes of selfish gain—wolves entering in, and not sparing the flock,—but schisms and divisions were imminent; and these dissensions were to come through some then present—men who would aspire to leadership, and who would set up their own doctrines, thus drawing disciples away from the Church and unto themselves” (The Great Apostasy [1968], 28).
Discussing the origins of the Great Apostasy, President Joseph Fielding Smith declared that some of it was the result of evil men who moved in and displaced the authority of the Apostles: “In time all ordinances of the gospel were changed, commandments were broken, and the simple principles of the gospel were mixed with pagan philosophy by the ‘grievous wolves’ and apostate disciples who displaced the prophets and apostles who had divine communion with the heavens. Spiritual darkness set in, and unrighteous men took command and closed the heavens against themselves. Visions and contact with the heavens ceased, and the gifts of the spirit came to an end. The blessings and presence of the Twelve Apostles ceased, and the cry went forth that they were no longer needed” (Answers to Gospel Questions, 5 vols. [1957–66], 5:177)."
(New Testament Student Manual, "Chapter 33: Acts 16-20")

Day 4162

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 16:15

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 16:15
"And Urijah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Urijah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus.
And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon.
And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar.'

If you didn't read the chapter header you may think Ahaz is doing something good, he's making sacrifices.

"Ahaz reigns in wickedness in Judah—He offers his son in heathen sacrifice—He makes a new altar, destroys the brazen sea, and changes the method for sacrificing in the temple."

Ahaz saw an altar in Damascus that he sent to Urijah the priest to make for him. This type of altar was used to worship false gods. With it Ahaz and Urijah set aside the altar of God. They replaced it, and not by the will of God. I can see that being offensive to Him. They are basically turning the God of Israel aside and rejecting Him. Ahaz then makes sacrifice on this replacement altar. After that more changes are made. They alter and destroy the brazen sea, and change the sacrifices. At that point they turned God aside and are worshiping in their own image. The sins and offenses of Israel becomes so great that it leads to no heavenly protection. They are besieged and carried away into Assyria. Only Judah was left. As I reflected on this it made me ponder apostasy. It can be slippery at first. Thinking this improvement or that change needs to be made. Until you've designed yourself a different God. We are not at liberty to alter the ordinances of God. A king had no authority to change the ordinances. Urijah was appeasing a king instead of doing God's work. At that point you've lost your way.

Day 3854

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 11:4-5

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 11:4-5
"For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites."

Solomon was wise, but not wise in what he studied. I think Solomon's downfall is a great story to learn from. He allowed his love of his wives to take him down a path of destruction. I'm sure in an attempt to understand them, and the people around him, he studied their gods. Then in that study he build high places for them to worship their God, until he began to worship them too. It was a slow process that left him when old on the wrong side of the Lord. In all his wisdom he was foolish. The Lord had strict rules on who the children of Israel could marry and he broke that with his wives and concubines from other nations. Then he allowed his heart to follow after their gods until he was lost to the God of Israel. I keep this lesson with me as I discern what I will read and watch.

Day 3845

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 118:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 118:1
"Verily, thus saith the Lord: Let a conference be held immediately; let the Twelve be organized; and let men be appointed to supply the place of those who are fallen."

I pondered on one of causes of the great apostasy with the primitive church. As the apostles were scattered and died the organization and authority eventually was lost. The apostles could not gather quick enough to replace those that were taken. We are blessed to know that Satan now cannot tear the organization of the church down faster then we can build it up.

"Four of the original members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles had been excommunicated or otherwise removed from office by July 1838 for transgression or apostasy: John F. Boynton, Luke Johnson, Lyman Johnson, and William E. McLellin. This caused great sorrow among Church members. On Sunday, July 8, 1838, during a leadership meeting, the Prophet Joseph Smith received the revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 118 in response to the plea to “show unto us thy will O, Lord concerning the Twelve.” (See The Joseph Smith Papers, Documents, Volume 6: February 1838–August 1839, 176–78.) John Taylor, John E. Page, Wilford Woodruff, and Willard Richards were appointed to fill the vacancies in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles."
(Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, "Chapter 45: Doctrine and Covenants 115-120")

"Today I speak of keys other than those of metal. The keys I speak of never rust. These are the keys of life and salvation in the kingdom of God. The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “I will give you a key that will never rust, if you will stay with the majority of the Twelve Apostles, and the records of the Church, you will never be led astray.”
...Prior to the martyrdom, no doubt with a sense of foreboding, the Prophet Joseph prepared for his death. President Joseph Fielding Smith states:“The Prophet declared that he knew not why, but the Lord commanded him to endow the Twelve with these keys and priesthood, and after it was done, he rejoiced very much, saying in substance, ‘Now, if they kill me, you have all the keys and all the ordinances and you can confer them upon others, and the powers of Satan will not be able to tear down the kingdom as fast as you will be able to build it up, and upon your shoulders will the responsibility of leading this people rest."
(James E. Faust, "The Keys That Never Rust", Oct 1994 General Conference)

Day 3707

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 21:20

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 21:20
"For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at that day whosoever will not repent and come unto my Beloved Son, them will I cut off from among my people, O house of Israel;"

I pondered on how God works by natural means. The world thinks it must be spectacular to believe, yet if they see the spectacular that doesn't give them faith that endures. We see that time and time again in the scriptures when miracles are performed, but it does not bring enduring faith. Some would think God will take a sword and wipe the wicked out of his church. What that only shows is they do not know the nature of God. It's by natural means that people take themselves out of the house of Israel. It is through apostasy and embracing false doctrines that they fall away. How different it would be if they were truly humble and repentant, and knew that God was greater than them, and man's wisdom.

"The scriptures teach that the voice of the Holy Ghost is mild and still, like a whisper—not loud or noisy; it is simple, quiet, and plain; it can be piercing and burning; it affects both mind and heart; it brings peace, joy, and hope—not fear, anxiety, and worry; it invites us to do good—not evil; and it is enlightening and delicious—not mystifying."
(Dale G. Renlund, "A Framework for Personal Revelation", footnote #10, Oct 2022 General Conference)

Day 3544

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 44:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 44:4
"Now ye see that this is the true faith of God; yea, ye see that God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith."

The Nephites were being attacked by the Lamanites that wanted to destroy them and have power over them. Yes, good people can die in battle, but the Lord's promise was they would not be destroyed as a whole until they fell into transgression and denied their faith. That is ultimately what did happen to the Nephite civilization.

This made me reflect upon the church, and the promise that we have that it will never be taken again from the earth. The safest place of protection both spiritually and physically is to be in the mainstream of the church. Not a wolf in sheep clothing, but a faithful, active member of Christ's church.

"Apostasy can occur at two basic levels—institutional and individual. At the institutional level, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will not be lost through apostasy or taken from the earth.
The Prophet Joseph Smith proclaimed: “The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing … ; the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”
(David A. Bednar, "In the Space of Not Many Years", Oct 2024 General Conference)

Day 3488

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 26:31

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 26:31
"And ye shall also forgive one another your trespasses; for verily I say unto you, he that forgiveth not his neighbor’s trespasses when he says that he repents, the same hath brought himself under condemnation."

This reminded me of a comment I had read on an article. The person was saying that we are only to forgive those that ask for forgiveness or repent. They said that is what the scriptures say. That made me curious, because that is not what I knew, for the Lord tells us to forgive everyone. These are two scriptures that come to mind.

"For, if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you;
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
(Matthew 6:14-15; 3 Nephi 13:14-15)

"Wherefore I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men" 
(Doctrine and Covenants 64:9-10)

Elder Cook also explains it well.
"When we are truly humble, we pray for forgiveness and forgive others. As we read in Mosiah, Alma taught that as often as we repent, the Lord will forgive our trespasses. On the other hand, as indicated in the Lord’s Prayer, when we do not forgive others’ trespasses, we bring ourselves under condemnation. Because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, through repentance our sins are forgiven. When we do not forgive those who trespass against us, we are in effect rejecting the Savior’s Atonement. Holding a grudge and refusing to forgive and refusing to humbly approach our relationships in a Christlike manner truly brings us under condemnation. Holding a grudge is poisonous to our souls"
(Quentin L. Cook, "The Eternal Everyday", Oct 2017 General Conference)

I asked the person that made the comment what scripture they were referring to? They could not tell me, only that they knew it was in there. When I read this verse in Mosiah I wondered if this is what gave them that idea?

The difference I see in this mention of "when he says that he repents", is because the Lord was talking to Alma. He was discussing those that had dissented from the church, and leading others astray. In that case Alma, being called as a judge in Israel, would decide who of the dissenters would remain in the church or removed from its records. The Lord is telling Alma that if they have repented, but were not forgiven and still removed, then the one not forgiving them would be condemned.

It is further clarified on the next verse.
"Now I say unto you, Go; and whosoever will not repent of his sins the same shall not be numbered among my people; and this shall be observed from this time forward."
(Mosiah 26:32)

Day 3441

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:8

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 13:8

"Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away."

I asked myself "How could prophecies fail?" Maybe I'm tired but it took some thinking on this to realized that what was prophesized didn't fail. A prophesy of God is a prophesy and will come to pass. Its speaking of the ability for someone to prophesy if they have not charity. Same with the gift of tongues or knowledge. If we lose our ability to have charity those gifts will fail, or cease to work when they once did. Paul knew that these gifts would also end either through apostasy or eternal glory. The one man lost by unworthiness, the other being in a glorified state. The saint has no need for these gifts for they will know all things, past, present and future. The one constant through all ages and through eternity is charity, the pure love of Christ.

Day 3234

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 16:17-18

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 16:17-18

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

I like the advise to avoid those that cause division and offences. I can't tell you how many YouTube channels I have purged from my list over the years. They started out good and then just go off on some tangent and lose their way. If you stick with the scriptures, church resources, and the words of the prophet and apostles, in particular the living prophet, you can't go amiss. In Paul's day he knew there would be an apostasy. In our day we know the restored church will stand when Christ comes again. The church as a whole will not apostatize, but some members will. I work hard to not be among the apostate ranks. There is safety if you know where to look for it.

"In many other places Paul also warned us against the deceivers who would come even before his departing (Rom. 16:17-18) And they have continued to come, and they are among us today. The authorities which the Lord has placed in his Church constitute for the people of the Church a harbor, a place of refuge, a hitching post, as it were. No one in this Church will ever go far astray who ties himself securely to the Church Authorities whom the Lord has placed in his Church. This Church will never go astray; the Quorum of the Twelve will never lead you into bypaths: it never has and never will. There could be individuals who would falter; there will never be a majority of the Council of the Twelve on the wrong side at any time. The Lord has chosen them; he has given them specific responsibilities. And those people who stand close to them will be safe. And conversely, whenever one begins to go his own way in opposition to authority, he is in grave danger. I would not say that those leaders whom the Lord chooses are necessarily the most brilliant, nor the most highly trained, but they are the chosen, and when chosen of the Lord they are his recognized authority, and the people who stay close to them have safety."

(Spencer W. Kimball, "Be Valiant", Apr 1951 General Conference, pg. 104)

Day 3221

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 19:14

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 19:14

"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven."

This verse made me think of this.

"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.

For this shall be a law unto the inhabitants of Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized.

And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands."

(Doctrine and Covenants 68:25-27)

I've been reflecting on the state of families, and how I can hardly find a member family now without a child that has wandered. Taking entire generations with them. As a parent you grieve and wonder what more could I have done? If we raised them in the gospel, saw them baptized, watched them go on missions, marry in the temple, we got them to the point they needed to be. If they fall away after that then it is by their own choice. Sometimes you don't even get as far as seeing them serve the mission or marry in the temple. There is no way you can make a stubborn teenager go to church and like it, once they have rebelled. Love of the gospel had to come when they were a child. What is the requirement for parents? It is to teach them the gospel before the age of eight and to be baptized. The Lord said to forbid them not, to come unto me. Forbid = refuse someone entry, is the same as not bringing them there in the first place.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

(Proverbs 22:6)

"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children."

(3 Nephi 22:13)

“The Prophet Joseph Smith declared—and he never taught a more comforting doctrine—that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God”

(Orson F. Whitney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1929, 110).

(Joseph Smith, Jr., "Hope for Parents of Wayward Children", Ensign, Sept 2002)

Much has changed for the worse in the 31 years since Elder Boyd K. Packer said this.

“The measure of our success as parents, however, will not rest solely on how our children turn out. That judgment would be just only if we could raise our families in a perfectly moral environment, and that now is not possible.

It is not uncommon for responsible parents to lose one of their children, for a time, to influences over which they have no control. They agonize over rebellious sons or daughters. They are puzzled over why they are so helpless when they have tried so hard to do what they should.

It is my conviction that those wicked influences one day will be overruled. …

We cannot overemphasize the value of temple marriage, the binding ties of the sealing ordinance, and the standards of worthiness required of them. When parents keep the covenants they have made at the altar of the temple, their children will be forever bound to them”

(Elder Boyd K. Packer, “Our Moral Environment," April 1992 General Conference)

Day 3107

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 18:7-8

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 18:7-8

"Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire."

The footnote for "offences" is Sin. This quote describes it with more detail.

"The word "offend" as used by the Master means "to cause to sin or fall." This definition is now almost lost in our modern-day language, but the word was used with this meaning in the days of Christ and even up until a century or two ago.

Jesus also said: "Woe unto the world because of offenses! for it must needs be that offenses come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!"  

Willful wrong teaching, wrong example, wrong utterance, wrong action by those of influence are offenses to any youth, and the retribution follows as night the day that "no man ever did a designed injury to another, but at the same time he did a greater to himself" (Henry Home, "Injury," The New Dictionary of Thoughts)."

(John H. Vandenberg, "Beware of the Leaven", April 1965 General Conference)

President Spencer W. Kimball gives even more details.

"In our own Society, the murderer who kills the body is hunted, imprisoned, and executed, but the character who kills the soul by implanting doubt and shattering faith is permitted not only to go free but also is often retained in high places. The body which is killed will rise again in the resurrection with little damage to its eternal welfare, but he whose faith has been shattered may suffer long ages before complete restoration of spiritual stature can be had, if at all.

And Jesus said: Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!  (Matt. 18:7)

Far better to take from a man his flocks or herds, his lands or wealth, even his sight or limbs, than to be responsible for the loss of his faith. The Son of God put it this way:

Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt and maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire.

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast It from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire  (Matt. 18:8-9)

And so we admonish the leaders in stakes, wards, and missions to be ever vigilant to see that no incorrect doctrines are promulgated in their classes or congregations. Wolves will come in sheep's clothing and will deceive the very elect, if that were possible. And we warn again those who write or preach or otherwise teach subversive doctrines, that their punishment is sure for their "worm dieth not"

(Spencer W. Kimball, "Build or Destroy", April 1948 General Conference)

In this chapter the Lord tells us to be like little children. Then he speaks of anyone offending little children, how it would be better for them to have a millstone hanged around his neck and drowned in the dept of the sea. This makes me realize the Lord isn't just talking about physically hurting a child. It's leading any child of God astray. That would be you or me! The damage for causing another person to lose their faith or to sin is the severest of penalties.

Paul speaks of the parts of the body and how they are the church. How every member of the body is needed. Now I understand how cutting off the hand or foot that offends in this chapter is speaking of removing of the member of the church that offends, and teaches incorrect doctrine, that cause others to sin and fall.

Day 3106

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 15:13-14

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 15:13-14

"But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."

I saw this tonight in action. False prophets, lies and conspiracies that are blinding men. They blindly follow each other, even to the point they reject and throw stones at prophets. Yet they claim to be cleansing the church. Who are they to cleanse the Lord's church? He will cleanse the church himself and them with it. It is so sad to witness these days. There is great wisdom to leave them alone. First, because you do not want to be corrupted, and have them destroy your peace. Second, because those that are blind are also deaf.

The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “I will give you a key that will never rust, if you will stay with the majority of the Twelve Apostles, and the records of the Church, you will never be led astray."

(President Joseph Smith as quoted by President James E. Faust, "The Keys That Never Rust", Oct 1994 General Conference)

Heber C. Kimball, while serving as a counselor to President Brigham Young, reported: “I will give you a key which Brother Joseph Smith used to give in Nauvoo. He said that the very step of apostasy commenced with losing confidence in the leaders of this church and kingdom, and that whenever you discerned that spirit you might know that it would lead the possessor of it on the road to apostasy.

(Heber C. Kimball, Deseret News, Apr. 2, 1856, p. 26; spelling and capitalization modernized.)

(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith: Beware the Bitter Fruits of Apostasy)

“The authorities which the Lord has placed in his Church constitute for the people of the Church a harbor, a place of refuge, a hitching post, as it were. No one in this Church will ever go far astray who ties himself securely to the Church Authorities whom the Lord has placed in his Church. This Church will never go astray; the Quorum of the Twelve will never lead you into bypaths: it never has and never will. There could be individuals who would falter; there will never be a majority of the Council of the Twelve on the wrong side at any time The Lord has chosen them; he has given them specific responsibilities. And those people who stand close to them will be safe. And conversely, whenever one begins to go his own way in opposition to authority, he is in grave danger. I would not say that those leaders whom the Lord chooses are necessarily the most brilliant, nor the most highly trained, but they are the chosen, and when chosen of the Lord they are his recognized authority, and the people who stay close to them have safety.”

(President Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, Apr. 1951, Page 104)

(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball, "Chapter 23: Shepherds of the Flock", p. 256)

Day 3103

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: Hosea 9:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 9:7

"The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred."

When you call the prophet fools it makes me wonder which prophet they speak of? The footnote takes me here.

"Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!"

(Ezekiel 13:3)

"Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark."

(2 Nephi 28:9)

"O ye wicked and ye perverse generation; ye hardened and ye stiffnecked people, how long will ye suppose that the Lord will suffer you? Yea, how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by foolish and blind guides? Yea, how long will ye choose darkness rather than light?"

(Helaman 13:29)

These prophet had all apostatized from the word of God. The taught their own doctrines and were blind guides. We better make sure we are listening to a true prophet of God.

Day 3030