Today's Favorite Verse: John 18:18, 25

Today's Favorite Verse: John 18:18, 25

"And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself.

And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not."

As I'm reading this I have a nice toasty heater sitting behind my chair. It's so relaxing and comfortable. I don't want to move. I could really picture Peter standing in the cold warming himself by the fire. How good that must have felt, especially with the added anxiety over what was happening with Jesus. Then when Peter is confronted and asked if he is one of Jesus' disciples he denies it. The error Peter made was leaving the side of the Savior to seek comfort elsewhere. It made me think about how sometimes the things of the world can give us so much comfort that it's easy to forget who we are, and our purpose. We may do what we later regret.

Day 3174

Today's Favorite Verse: Nahum 3:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Nahum 3:4

"Because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the wellfavoured harlot, the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts."

It's one thing if you corrupt yourself and turn to evil. It's another when you sell it, preach it, and lead others astray. That is what it means by "selleth nations through her whoredoms". It is something we see in our day. Those that call evil good and good evil, that use power and influence to encourage others to accept sin and embrace it. I think the most evil among them are those that confuse and lead innocent children astray, and destroy the family.

Day 3062

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: 2 Chronicles 24:2, 12, 17, 24

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 24:2, 12, 17, 24

"And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD.

Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.

For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash."

Joash has such promise. When he listened to the high priest Jehoiada Judah prospered. Together they repaired the temple. Then when Jehoiada dies Joash listens to the princes of Judah instead of prophets that are sent to him. This leads to his total down fall. To the point he kills Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest. He is told "because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you." That is such a horrible position to be in. The Syrians with a very small army have Judah delivered into their hands. The Lord allowed them to execute judgment against Joash. Joash becomes diseased, his servants conspire against him, and eventually slay him in his own bed. He is so despised that they don't bury him in the sepulchers of the kings. If only Joash had listened to the prophets and not the flattery of men.

This reminds me of a discussion we had tonight during family scriptures. That we always have to be careful of who we are listening to, over time people that were once righteous can change and lead you astray. We have sadly seen this happen over the years. We have to be grounded in the gospel ourselves so no one can deceive us with false doctrine. The prophet and majority of the twelve are all that we are promised to not lead us astray. For them to do so they would be removed out of their place.

Day 2550

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."

This made me think of a quote that has had been for some reason on my mind lately. Now was my chance to find it.

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.”

(Quoted in Young Woman’s Journal, Dec. 1906, p. 543 by William G. Nelson)

I could only find where William G. Nelson was quoted in the Young Woman's Journal as saying the Prophet Joseph Smith had said this. Then I found the quote used by Elder James E. Faust in his October 1994 General Conference talk "The Keys That Never Rust". With that I have confidence that it is truly something that Joseph Smith said. That the majority of the twelve would never lead me astray. I am grateful an order has been established by the Lord to replace members of the twelve as their places once held are now open.

Day 2121

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 40:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 40:2

"And he received the word with gladness, but straightway Satan tempted him; and the fear of persecution and the cares of the world caused him to reject the word."

Today in Sunday School we talked about Mormon 1:16 and how the people had "wilfully rebelled". This verse reminds me of that discussion. After having the truth and then turning to the cares of the world I think that can lead to wilful rebellion too. The world will never teach you to follow the word of God. It will support you in mocking it. If one's heart is on the world they will not see the counsel of the prophets as coming from God, but instead feel they are short-sighted. The standards of the world are ever changing and taking us further from the Lord. I find it interesting that a recent talk given by an apostle of God is even now picked apart by the world until the message is twisted to support a worldly view. I find I have to take more and more care to read things through carefully, and not with an agenda. When you read the scriptures with a worldly view you can certainly wrest the scriptures to support false doctrines. I can see how Satan uses the cares of this world to lead people astray.

Day 2043

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 27:18

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 27:18
"Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen."

The other day as I was reading Deuteronomy 24 I pondered on how I would not be punished for another person's sins. Today I thought about how I am cursed if I do cause others to sin. When a person is at their spiritual weakest they may not see when another presents them with false doctrine, causing them to stumble. The person that cause them to stumble will have that on their head. It would also be required of the person who stumbled to account for their sins. So there are two things here with the scriptures. Don't cause others to be misled, and stay spiritually strong so others cannot lead me astray.


Day 755