Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 43:19-20, 37

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 43:19-20, 37
"And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nephi, or that Moroni, had prepared his people with breastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing—
Now the army of Zerahemnah was not prepared with any such thing; they had only their swords and their cimeters, their bows and their arrows, their stones and their slings; and they were naked, save it were a skin which was girded about their loins; yea, all were naked, save it were the Zoramites and the Amalekites;
And the work of death commenced on both sides, but it was more dreadful on the part of the Lamanites, for their nakedness was exposed to the heavy blows of the Nephites with their swords and their cimeters, which brought death almost at every stroke."

I know the war chapters are not always what they seem to be. There are warnings and lessons deeper in the stories as we ponder them. This time my mind was on garments. How they were a protection to the Nephites and covered their nakedness. They would not have survived the battle and been victorious without that protection. We have been hearing a lot about the wearing of garments in many general conference talks. There are many reasons why we need to be wearing them.

"Our temple garment reminds us that the Savior and the blessings of His Atonement cover us throughout our lives. As we put on the garment of the holy priesthood each day, that beautiful symbol becomes a part of us."
(J. Anette Dennis, "Put Ye On the Lord Jesus Christ", Apr 2024 General Conference)

"Partaking of the bread and water is a weekly reminder of His power working in you to help you overcome. Wearing the garment of the holy priesthood is a daily reminder of the gift of His power working in you to help you become."
(Emily Belle Freeman, "Live Up to Your Privileges", Oct 2024 General Conference

Day 3487

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 38:2, 4

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 38:2, 4

"Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.

Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt."

I found it interesting that the reason the princes did not like Jeremiah, and wished him dead, was because the prophesies he gave was to leave Jerusalem and not stay and defend it. Politically and militarily he was a problem, in what they perceived was their ability to fight this war. They thought he was hurting the people, when in reality he cared more for their welfare, both spiritually and physically then they did.

It made me ponder on the Jews and how some did not receive Christ, and even had him killed, because they perceived the Messiah would be a might warrior and fight their battles and free them from Rome. When in reality the Lord was there to free them from eternal bondage. It's interesting how the adversary can use political means to turn people from the Lord toward him. I think we have that same mentality happening today. We can get so lost in our own battles that we go beyond the mark and miss the whole purpose and message on what we should be focusing on. I am so grateful for a prophet of God, and the scriptures. They keep me grounded and focused on what really matters.

Day 2942

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 1:19

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 1:19

"And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee."

This made me think of "Let God Prevail" that President Nelson says. Nothing will stop the Lord's work, it will prevail. It is only us that stops it from sustaining us, and allowing Him to fight our battles.

"So imagine my delight when I was led recently to a new insight. With the help of two Hebrew scholars, I learned that one of the Hebraic meanings of the word Israel is “let God prevail". Thus the very name of Israel refers to a person who is willing to let God prevail in his or her life. That concept stirs my soul!...

The question for each of us, regardless of race, is the same. Are you willing to let God prevail in your life? Are you willing to let God be the most important influence in your life? Will you allow His words, His commandments, and His covenants to influence what you do each day? Will you allow His voice to take priority over any other? Are you willing to let whatever He needs you to do take precedence over every other ambition? Are you willing to have your will swallowed up in His?...

And what is the Lord willing to do for Israel? The Lord has pledged that He will “fight [our] battles, and [our] children’s battles, and our children’s children’s [battles] … to the third and fourth generation”!"

(Russell M. Nelson, "Let God Prevail", Oct 2020 General Conference)

Day 2905

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 20:3-4, 14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 20:3-4, 14-15

"And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

And Judah gathered themselves together, to ask help of the LORD: even out of all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.

Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the LORD in the midst of the congregation;

And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s."

The children of Moab and the Ammonites come up against Jehoshaphat and Judah to battle. I observed how they let God prevail in their behalf. First, they gathered together in united prayer and fasting. In prayer Jehoshaphat brought to remembrance the promised blessings given to them. Then a prophet of God received revelation and instructed them. They are told not to fear, and trust God. They bowed down and worshipped God for the instructions and promises they had received. Then they follow the instructions on where to go and what to do. They put their trust in God to stand still and then began to sing and praise the Lord. Their enemies then slayed each other and none escaped.

This was a miracle and it made me think of this.

"Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."

(President Russell M. Nelson. "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives", April 2018 General Conference)

Day 2546

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 19:32, 34-35

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 19:32, 34-35

"Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the king of Assyria, He shall not come into this city, nor shoot an arrow there, nor come before it with shield, nor cast a bank against it.

For I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.

And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the LORD went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses."

Hezekiah had been a righteous king and when he sees Jerusalem is surrounded by the Assyrians he turned in prayer to God. The answer comes through the prophet Isaiah, that the Assyrians won't come into the city and do battle. How must it have felt in the morning to see 185,000 Assyrians lay dead. A humble, grateful king would feel even more so.

Day 2491

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 8:4-5, 7

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 8:4-5, 7

"And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:

And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,

Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand."

This made me think of the war chapters in the Book of Mormon and the stratagem used by Captain Moroni, Teancum, and Lehi and their armies. I read Alma 53 and the taking of the city Mulek using such a decoy. It made me wonder when I would need to use this stratagem over something? I think I'm going to watch for this because this can't just be a means for battle in time of war.

Day 2354

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 1:30

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 1:30

"The LORD your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you, according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes;"

As I thought about God going before I realize that he always is, but it might be me facing a different direction and not seeing it. If I'm not facing the direction the Lord is traveling, and following him, then he cannot fight my battles. I'm not where he is promised to help me.

Day 2313

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 3:19, 25

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 3:19, 25
"Now it was the custom among the Nephites to appoint for their chief captains, (save it were in their times of wickedness) some one that had the spirit of revelation and also prophecy; therefore, this Gidgiddoni was a great prophet among them, as also was the chief judge.
And they did fortify themselves against their enemies; and they did dwell in one land, and in one body, and they did fear the words which had been spoken by Lachoneus, insomuch that they did repent of their sins; and they did put up their prayers unto the Lord their God, that he would deliver them in the time that their enemies should come down against them to battle."

I pondered on the effect of having righteous leaders. He had the ability to receive revelation and plan for their defence, motive the people to come together, and most importantly have them repent. For no battle would be won against an enemy that sought to destroy them, if they were not a righteous people. I pondered on what drew their nation together, they were no longer separate Lamanites and Nephites, for they were united in defending themselves against the Gadianton robbers. These were terrible times, but yet good because the people did repent. I can imagine that brought peace to their hearts as they prepared to stand against their enemy. Having such a leader must have been such a source of strength to them, until they were spiritually strong enough to rely on the Lord.

Day 1940

Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 1:18, 31

Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 1:18, 31

"And it came to pass that because of so much contention and so much difficulty in the government, that they had not kept sufficient guards in the land of Zarahemla; for they had supposed that the Lamanites durst not come into the heart of their lands to attack that great city Zarahemla.

And now, behold, the Lamanites could not retreat either way, neither on the north, nor on the south, nor on the east, nor on the west, for they were surrounded on every hand by the Nephites"

This is a very interesting chapter. Pahoran the chief judge dies. Three of his sons contend for the judgment-seat. One son is elected by the voice of the people and another son united with their voice. But, the third son and his followers got mad and tried to overthrow the government. He was tried and condemned to death. Which then his followers go totally out of control and by the use of secret combinations kill the brother that is on the judgment seat. Seriously, I wonder on their rational because the rebellious brother is already condemned to death. Another example of people not thinking past the end of their noses.

The remaining brother is now appointed chief judge by the voice of the people. You would think things would settle down but instead their enemy the Lamanites find it the perfect time to attack them. This time they go for the heart of the land which is Zarahelma. Once there they kill the last brother. At first I am puzzled at how the Lamanites got to the center of the Nephite land when there were guards protecting their borders. I finally found out how, "their march was with such exceedingly great speed that there was no time for the Nephites to gather together their armies." (Helaman 1:19) Then they "cut down the watch by the entrance of the city" (verse 20), They then "did march forth, giving them no time to assemble themselves together save it were in small bodies" (verse 24).  

It doesn't take long for the army that is guarding the borders to head off the Lamanites from taking any more land. The Lamanites are finally defeated, but the cost was great. So now I try to apply this to my day, not so hard to do in a presidential election year with a pandemic, protests and lots of chaos going around. This is a perfect time for an enemy to attack us. But, instead what comes to mind is a quote from President Russell M. Nelson given a little over two years ago.

"In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."

(President Russell M. Nelson, "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives", April 2018 General Conference)

I think about the distractions that are all around me right now and if I am not careful the enemy (Satan) can attack me from within. To cut off the watch would mean I have reached a point that the spirit is no longer my guide. If I become to distracted by the contention and cares of the world all around me, I could think I am the one looking past the end of my nose, but in reality I have let my guard down and don't see what is on the north, south, east and west surrounding me. I have lost the warning voice of spiritual danger approaching. So in times like this I need to be a wise and not a foolish virgin with plenty of oil in my lamp, and never let it go out. 

Until the forces could gather together the people were left on their own. It was only in small bodies that any fight could be made against this adversary. The parallel of us gathering in our homes in small bodies is not lost on me. For this has been my refuge from the storm. Studying the scriptures in our home has been such a source of peace, comfort and blessing, and kept the oil filled in my lamp. As President Nelson warned us, to survive the coming days the spiritual preparation had to be made in advance. If a course correction is needed now is the time to make it, I am sure there a bigger battles still ahead. 

Day 1922

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 37:36

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 37:36
"Then the angel of the Lord went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses."

I pondered on what an amazing event this would have been. Just waking up and finding 185,000 men dead that morning. I pondered on how something like this would be reported in the news today. I think they would be hard pressed to acknowledge an angel smote them. That is was God that fought their battle for them. It would be blamed on poison gas or something like that. Did those living in the time of Isaiah during this event do that too? For man does not seem to change in the ways they behave. You have to be able to acknowledge God's hand in the little things in life, before you would ever believe he had a hand in the big things.

Day 1291

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 20:26-28

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 20:26-28
"Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
And the children of Israel inquired of the Lord, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the Lord said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand."

The husband of the women that was slain by the men in Gibeah of Benjamin told the chiefs of children of Israel what had happened. They were all united together that the men in Gibeah that had done this evil should be delivered up. When they went to the tribe of Benjamin to have this happen they refused to give the men up. What happened next is several sore battles and Benjamin was winning. After the battles the children of Israel gather and ask the Lord if they should still go up against their brothers in battle. The Lord tells them yes, and they went to battle and lost again. With more weeping and fasting they approach the Lord again and ask if they should go up to battle again. This time not only are they told yes, but that the Lord would deliver them into their hands. This time they have a plan on how to overtake them and it works.

So why didn't they succeed the first time the Lord told them to still go up to battle? I think it was to humble Israel and have them learn to rely completely on the Lord. I have experienced failures when I knew the Lord wanted me to do something. Only to find the lesson was in the failure and not the supposed thing I thought to be the outcome. Then with new understanding that thing could be done the Lord's way, if it was even still required at all.


Day 806

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 1:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 1:1-2
"Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the Lord, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?
And the Lord said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand."

In the chapter not all the cities are taken, The Canaanites remain in parts of the land. I wondered why?  What I think I am seeing is that when Judah went with a tribe to fight those in the land, they were successful. When the tribe went on their own they were not. What I pondered on is that even if I am told of the Lord to do something, if I don't do it in the manner he has said then it will come to naught. I must rely on the Lord for everything. Man's understanding is foolishness.


Day 787

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 28:63

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 28:63
"And it shall come to pass, that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiple you; so the Lord will rejoice over you to destroy you, and to bring you to nought; and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it."

This chapter starts with all these lovely blessings that God's holy people will be blessed with for keeping his commandments. Then it follows with the cursing if they stray from his commandments. It was rather to terrifying to contemplate. This made me think of the scriptures referring to a two-edged sword.

"Behold, I am God; give heed to my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore, give heed unto my word. (Doctrine & Covenants 12:2)

He can divide asunder my enemies but just as quickly swing that sword back at me if I forsake him. I think I know which side of that sword I want to be on. I want to be worthy of His promised blessings, and having him fight my battles for me.


Day 756