Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 59:20-21

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 59:20-21

"And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.

As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever."

This made me think of apostolic blessings, but this time it's from the Lord himself. If I keep on the covenant path I will see His face.

"Therefore, let your hearts be comforted; for all things shall work together for good to them that walk uprightly, and to the sanctification of the church.

For I will raise up unto myself a pure people, that will serve me in righteousness;

And all that call upon the name of the Lord, and keep his commandments, shall be saved. Even so. Amen."

(Doctrine and Covenants 100:15-17)

Day 2897

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 41:15-16

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 41:15-16

"Behold, I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small, and shalt make the hills as chaff.

Thou shalt fan them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them: and thou shalt rejoice in the LORD, and shalt glory in the Holy One of Israel."

This reminded me of an article I read over five years ago, "Isaiah Prophesied of This Powerful 'Last Days' Weapon, and You Have One". In this article is showed a "sharp threshing instrument" which was an ancient farm implement used for harvesting grains. It very much so looks like a computer keyboard. This new sharp threshing instrument would be our keyboards. We would write and it would be carried by the wind and scattered. Sure sounds like the internet to me. That articled stayed with me along with the Elder Bednar's apostolic invitation.

“My beloved brothers and sisters, what has been accomplished thus far in this dispensation communicating gospel messages through social media channels is a good beginning—but only a small trickle. I now extend to you the invitation to help transform the trickle into a flood. Beginning at this place on this day, I exhort you to sweep the earth with messages filled with righteousness and truth—messages that are authentic, edifying, and praiseworthy—and literally to sweep the earth as with a flood.”

(Elder David A. Bednar, address given on 19 Aug 2014, BYU Education Week, printed "Flood the Earth through Social Media", Aug 2015 Liahona)

When I first read that article on the threshing instrument I was 947 days into sharing my favorite verse on social media, inspired by Elder Bednar's invitation. Today its been 2879 days.

Day 2879

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 39:43

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 39:43

"And Moses did look upon all the work, and, behold, they had done it as the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them."

The tabernacle is completed as the Lord asked of them. I can only imagine the joy they must have felt at that moment. I can imagine the blessing Moses gave them was no different than when we receive an apostolic blessing. It is something to be cherished, and observed.

I wanted to see a picture of what the tabernacle may have looked like and found a lovely video that the church created explaining what the different parts of it meant.

Day 2248

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 27:2-3, 5

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 27:2-3, 5
"And Jesus again showed himself unto them, for they were praying unto the Father in his name; and Jesus came and stood in the midst of them, and said unto them: What will ye that I shall give unto you?"
An they said unto him: Lord, we will that thou wouldst tell us the name whereby we shall call this church: for there are disputations among the people concerning this matter.
Have they not read the scriptures, which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name: For by this name shall ye be called at the last day;"

Several things I love here. One is the disciples were praying and Jesus appeared to them. It makes me think of Him doing the same thing today with His prophet and apostles.

He came to settle the matter on what to call the name of the church. He asked them "Have they not read the scriptures." It appears a study of the scriptures should have settled this matter. I wondered where in the bible it made this reference. I saw no references in the Old Testament. There are a handful in the New Testament which the Nephites wouldn't have had. So that leads me to believe the references to call the church in Christ's name must be in some lost scriptures. The rest of the footnotes take me to the Book of Mormon or Doctrine and Covenants.

The church must have the name of Christ and this is what they would be called in the last days. With the restoration of the gospel and the church being restored the name now has that. It is known as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We just haven't always been good at using the full name.

This made me go back and review the talk that President Russell M. Nelson gave in the April 2018 General Conference called "The Correct Name of the Church". The Lord had impressed upon his mind the importance of the name He decreed for His Church, even The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If we would make a course correction in how we refer to the name of the Church and ourselves we were given a power apostolic blessing.

"My dear brothers and sisters, I promise you that if we will do our best to restore the correct name of the Lord’s Church, He whose Church this is will pour down His power and blessings upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints, the likes of which we have never seen. We will have the knowledge and power of God to help us take the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people and to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord."

After being told by President Nelson in the April 2020 General Conference that we have "gone to extraordinary efforts" to make this course correction the blessing was renewed.
"Previously, I promised that if we would “do our best to restore the correct name of the Lord’s Church,” He would “pour down His power and blessings upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints, the likes of which we have never seen.” I renew that promise today."
(Russell M. Nelson, "Opening the Heavens for Help", April 2020 General Conference)

I thought of the corrections I have made to correct how I referred to the church and myself and it feels right. I also thought of the all the blessings I have received in over a year's time. These are hard times we all need these blessings, but it's not over yet. Recently President Nelson said: "Dear friends, the road ahead may be bumpy, but our destination is serene and secure. So, fasten your seatbelt, hang on through the bumps, and do what’s right."

I am grateful that the blessing has been renewed.

Day 1964

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 22:2

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 22:2
"Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not, lengthen thy cords and strengthen thy stakes;"

I saw this happen today. For some blessed reason my stake was invited to a devotional with church headquarters. From my home I listened to Elder David A. Bednar, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; Elder Terence M. Vinson, Presidency of the Seventy, and his wife Kay Vinson; Elder Craig C. Christensen, Utah Area President, and his wife Debbie Christensen. In unity they strengthened this stake of Zion and me.

I have had so many things come to my mind as I have pondered their words this Sabbath day. I wanted to share what I took notes on and stood out to me, but I can't. Not that anyone said I couldn't, its just that they are so deep inside of my heart and welding together it just isn't time yet. There is one thing I will share, the apostolic blessing that Elder David A. Bednar left us with.

"I invoke a blessing upon you that according to your desire and your diligence, that you may be blessed to have eyes to see and ears to hear, the remarkable lessons that can be learned through the constraints that we would not want to experience, but we are now experiencing. I express my love to you. I declare my witness and I invoke these blessings upon you in the sacred name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen." 
(David A. Bednar, "Apostolic Blessing", Utah American Fork (South) - Member Devotional, Sunday, August 9, 2020)

I realize that what I have experienced after this blessing is that my eyes and ears are beginning to see and hear, and learn. What a strength this has left this little grain of sand in the kingdom. I have been so blessed.

Day 1959

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 7:27

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 7:27
"And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good works, from this time forth and forever. And thus I have spoken. Amen."

Alma was speaking to the righteous people in Gideon and ends by giving them an apostolic blessing. This is a blessing that we need over our homes and land. Then I remembered I had not recorded all the apostolic blessings that were given this last General Conference.  I started my record and the first one I entered is the last talk given by President Russell M. Nelson at the close of General Conference. He even said it was an apostolic blessing.

"Dear brothers and sisters, I express my love for you. During this time of tension and uncertainty, and invoking the authority vested in me, I would like to confer upon you an apostolic blessing.

I bless you with peace and increasing faith in the Lord.

I bless you with a desire to repent and become a little more like Him each day.

I bless you to know that the Prophet Joseph Smith is the prophet of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness.

Should there be illness among you or your loved ones, I leave a blessing of healing, consistent with the will of the Lord.

I so bless you, adding once more my expression of love for each of you, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen."
(President Russell M. Nelson, "Go Forward in Faith", April 2020 General Conference)


Day 1865

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 14:5

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 14:5
"And the Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory of Zion shall be a defence."

I had a note that this verse reminded me of the Come, Follow Me - home centered learning. Where we are to make our home Christ centered and a refuge from the storms. I was listening to Elder Gary E. Stevenson during Family Discover Day at RootsTech on Saturday and was really struck with the reference to fortifying our homes with the scriptures and family history, and we can carry them with us at all times. My heart was full as he left his apostolic blessing upon us.

"The fortification we build will contribute to the individual amour that they bare...The Lord's youth battalion doesn't walk around holding swords but they do hold a powerful tool...Never before has a generation of latter-day saints carried with them at home, at school, at play, almost 24/7 the holy scriptures. What a great blessing this is. What a wonderful use of technology.

Nephi and his brothers when they returned to the tent of their father with the brass plates, Lehi discovered that they not only contained the gospel but also the genealogy of his fathers. 

"Wherefore, it was wisdom in the Lord that we should carry them with us, as we journeyed in the wilderness towards the land of promise."
(1 Nephi 5:22)

In the history of the world you too are the first generation of parents and children that carry not just your scriptures but also your personal family history. Your family tree, and it can be with you at all times on this small device. There seems to be great wisdom and power in this as well.

You are not alone and are entitled to help from the other side of the veil.

"Those who have passed on "are as deeply interested in our welfare today, if not with greater capacity, with far more interest behind the veil, than they were in the flesh...They see us, they are solicitous for our welfare, they love us now more than every" (Joseph F. Smith, 1916)"

So please remember that you are never, and will never be alone. These ministering angels know who you are and care for you and love you. They will become a vital part of the fortification of your home. The spirit of Elijah makes this possible. The spirit of Elijah testifies of the divine nature of the family. I add my testimony to that as well.

As we do the work of salvation on the other side of the veil through temple and family history work we will be blessed in that participation. I would add a promise brothers and sisters to you. That as you participate in this divine work that it will come back to you. That it will fortify your home. That it will become a defense and refuge for you. I bare my testimony of God the Father and of Jesus Christ, and I bare my witness that Jesus Christ is our Savior and our Redeemer, the son of the Living God. I offer that testimony and witness to you in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." 
(Elder Gary E. Stevenson, Family Discovery Day, 29 Feb 2020)

Day 1799

Today's Favorite Verse: Ephesians 3:17-19

Today's Favorite Verse: Ephesians 3:17-19
"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."

As I read this chapter I thought of apostolic blessings. Paul sounds like he was leaving the saints at Ephesus one. I think I first became aware of apostolic blessings about 10 years ago at RootsTech during Family Discovery Day. Every year since then an apostle has left an apostolic blessing on us in this great work of redeeming the dead. I don't know if I am just looking for them or if there actually are more and more of them being given by the apostles and prophet during General Conference. Elder Dale G. Renlund visited our stake and left us one too. I think there just has been more of them given while I have been blessed to hear them.

In these verses I love the imagery of being rooted, grounded in love and faith.

"If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;"
(Colossians 1:23)

Elder Rasband Offers Apostolic Blessing

 to Quake-Weary Ecuadorians

Day 1673