Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 73:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 73:4
"And, inasmuch as it is practicable, to preach in the regions round about until conference; and after that it is expedient to continue the work of translation until it be finished."

This work of translation is the Bible. I've always wanted to read the Joseph Smith Translation (JST) of the Bible. It won't be that long before I will start studying the Old Testament again. I would like to read the JST Bible all the way through. I went looking to see where I could get a copy. I really don't want to buy it. Then I remembered the BYU Citation Index website has it. So it looks like a good possibility that this will be my year to start reading it.

"The Prophet Joseph Smith did not “translate” the Bible in the traditional sense of the word. He did not study ancient languages in order to make a new translation into English. Rather, he received the spiritual gift to make inspired revisions. While some of the revisions the Prophet made to the text restored original biblical passages that had been lost, other changes corrected, expanded, and supplemented existing biblical text. Overall, through revelation, Joseph revised passages to reflect the meaning God intended. The changes found today in the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible restore plain and precious truths and covenants once found in the Bible. The Lord explained that the inspired translation would do far more than provide information or even edification for the Saints. He said it was also given for “the salvation of mine own elect”. Furthermore, several revelations contained in the Doctrine and Covenants were received as a direct result of Joseph’s work of translation. The inspired translation of the Bible is further witness of the Prophet Joseph Smith’s divine calling and ministry."
(Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, Chapter 14: Doctrine and Covenants 35-36; 39-40, "Thou shalt write for him")

"The Prophet and Sidney Rigdon worked diligently on the Bible translation from this time until July 2, 1833, when the translators wrote to the brethren in Missouri that they had, that day, completed the translation of the Bible. Portions of Joseph Smith’s translation are now contained in the Pearl of Great Price (the book of Moses and Joseph Smith—Matthew) and in increasingly more languages in the Latter-day Saint edition of the Bible. The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible had “a significant influence on the Church in the way it shaped the content of the Doctrine and Covenants. More than half of the current Doctrine and Covenants consists of revelations received during the three-year period in which Joseph Smith labored over the Bible translation. Many revelations were received as direct answers to questions Joseph was inspired to ask as his understanding of the gospel expanded during the effort to restore plain and precious parts of the Bible” (Elizabeth Maki, “Joseph Smith’s Bible Translation,” in Revelations in Context, 103, or history.lds.org).
(Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, Chapter 26: Doctrine and Covenants 71-75, "It is expedient to translate again")

Day 3662

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 29:8, 12-13

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 29:8, 12-13
"Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.
For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it.
And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews."

Part of this is fulfilled today. We have the records of the Jews and the Nephites, the Bible and Book of Mormon. Now we wait for more records to come forth, including the lost tribes of Israel.

About 30 years ago I thought I had heard about them being found. I was serving at a family history center and the director came in looking out of sorts. He had just come back from a meeting in Salt Lake. He told me he had learned of a large collections of records that the Russian government had asked the church to microfilm. They were found in caves along the Caspian Sea. They were so fragile that when the Russians attempted to open these records they would disintegrate. They contacted The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because of their expertise in preserving and microfilming records. The arrangement was for the church to retain a copy of these records. There were so many records they were taken out by the truck loads. The church was in the process at that time of filming these records, and what they were finding was a history and genealogy of the lost tribes. This man was really in shock as he related to me what he had learned. I felt it to my core these were the records. I have waited nearly 30 years to learn any further news of these records but haven't.
 
Regardless if the records I heard about 30 years ago are truly them or not, I know somewhere the records of the lost tribes exist. Someday they will be restored to us, before the Lord's second coming. Someday I will read them and hold them and love them as I do all the scriptures I have today. I will continue to treasure and ponder and pray over the ones I have today. So when that day comes, that more records are given, I will thrill in the harmony and consistency of the Lord, as he speaks to his people. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Day 3400

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 13:38-40

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 13:38-40
"And it came to pass that I beheld the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the book of the Lamb of God, which had proceeded forth from the mouth of the Jew, that it came forth from the Gentiles unto the remnant of the seed of my brethren.
And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true.
And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved."

Prophesy fulfilled. First the gentiles brought the records of Jews in the form of the Bible to us. Granted many plain and precious things had been removed. God still prepared a way. The record Nephi began, which is the stick of Joseph and came to be known as the Book of Mormon, restored many plain and precious things that had been lost. The Bible and Book of Mormon go hand in hand in establishing the doctrine of Christ. I have come to know my Savior more by reading both. Other records have come, the Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. The restoration is ongoing and I look forward like President Holland to more sacred records being revealed.

"And I look forward with great anticipation to other records and other parts. Hundred - may 100 times as much that is contained in - that is contained in the book we have. If that much is available out there, the least we can do, the least we can do is read the book that we've got, because there's a lot of other good stuff coming."
(Jeffrey R. Holland, "I cannot Say the Smallest Part Which I Feel" Facebook, 28 Apr 2024)

Day 3362

Today's Favorite Verse: Moses 6:59

Today's Favorite Verse: Moses 6:59

"That by reason of transgression cometh the fall, which fall bringeth death, and inasmuch as ye were born into the world by water, and blood, and the spirit, which I have made, and so became of dust a living soul, even so ye must be born again into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye might be sanctified from all sin, and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come, even immortal glory;"

The part that caught my eye was "enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come". What I thought about is where a man puts his treasure that is where his heart is. To me the scriptures are the words of eternal life. There is this one part of the BYUtv series "Fires of Faith - The King James Bible" that stood out to me. They were interviewing people about when they had last read the bible. This one woman said she had read "probably 5-6 years ago, and I mean sadly to say you read the bible or watch your favorite show." The look on her face told you which had the greater pull. What we enjoy in this life is what we will find enjoyable in the next life. We will not pass to the other side and suddenly think scripture reading has a greater pull or meaning that it does now. We will be with those that have the same desires we do. The ability to change will probably become even harder. It won't be until final judgment that we understand completely where our treasure have lead us.

"But blessed are they who are faithful and endure, whether in life or in death, for they shall inherit eternal life."

(Doctrine and Covenants 50:5)

Day 2149

Today's Favorite Verse: Ether 1:38-39

Today's Favorite Verse: Ether 1:38-39
"And it came to pass that Jared spake again unto his brother, saying: Go and inquire of the Lord whether he will drive us out of the land, and if he will drive us out of the land, cry unto him whither we shall go. And who knoweth but the Lord will carry us forth into a land which is choice above all the earth? And if it so be, let us be faithful unto the Lord, that we may receive it for our inheritance.
And it came to pass that the brother of Jared did cry unto the Lord according to that which had been spoken by the mouth of Jared."

I am now into the book of Ether. The last prophet among the Jaredites. It begins with the genealogy of Ether a direct descendant of Jared. The Jaredites are led to this land after the languages were confounded at the Tower of Babel. The Jaredites language was not confounded so the book of Ether would have been a language no one else spoke. It had to be very pure and concise to only be 24 plates but contain the writing of the Old Testament up until the Tower of Babel, plus the history of the Jaredites until its end, covering at least 30 generations. We have just a small part of it translated in the Book of Mormon. More of it is contained in the two-thirds of the Book of Mormon that was not translated, but sealed to come forth later.

What really stands out to me in this chapter is how Jared, who is obviously the head of the family and leader defers to his brother in speaking to the Lord. He is not challenged like I see Laban and Lemuel are with their younger brother Nephi. How different the story of the Book of Mormon would have been if Laban and Lemuel would have looked to their younger brother Nephi in matters that required spiritual guidance from the Lord.

Day 1978

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 7:8-9

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 7:8-9
"Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you.
For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them."

I pondered on how much stronger my testimony of the Book of Mormon has increased, because I read both the Old and New Testaments before hand. The Bible and Book of Mormon support each other and help me come to Christ and love him. The more I study and ponder both I come to understand the doctrine of Christ and know of its truthfulness. I am grateful for what Mormon did to bring this book into my hands. He abridged the records and put in the book what I needed for my day. I am sad knowing these are his final words before handing the plates over to his son Moroni.

Mormon Abridging the Plates by Jon McNaughton

Day 1975

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 3:12

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 3:12
"Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write; and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together, unto the confounding of false doctrines and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord."

I love how this explains how the Bible, that goes from the fruit of Judah, and the Book of Mormon from the fruit of Joseph, together confound false doctrines, and lays down contention over their words. The doctrines and covenants of the Lord have been restored once again upon the earth. I am so blessed by having both.

Day 1788

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 13:42

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 13:42
"And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last."

This is what Jesus was referring to in Luke 13:30
"And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last."

The gospel was first given to the Jews and after the Savior's resurrection taken to the Gentiles. After a period of apostasy where plain and precious truth of the gospel were removed from the record of the Jews (bible) a restoration would come through the Gentiles. God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ did appear to the young boy, Joseph Smith in the sacred grove. The question deep in his heart was which church to join, and he was told to join none of them. "For they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: "they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for the doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof." (Joseph Smith History 1:19)

Joseph's humble prayer was answered and at a later time the gospel was restored, first through the records of the the tribe of Joseph, and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. With the Bible the Book of Mormon becomes another testament of Jesus Christ. With the stick of Judah and the stick of Joseph combined (Ezekiel 37:16-17) the plain and precious truths of the gospel are again restored. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized April 6, 1830 with only a handful of 6 members. Nearly 200 years later the restored gospel of Jesus Christ has been taken throughout the earth, with a membership of over 16 million. It is as Daniel saw a stone cut without hands that would fill the whole earth. This is the time of the Gentiles. One day it will become the time of the Jews, and those that were first will become the last, to come to a knowledge that Jesus is the Christ. Some day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ and that salvation can only come through Him.

Day 1776

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 11:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 11:4
"And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil."

I read the King James version of the Holy Bible, printed by "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints".  What I love about this version is not only the impressive chapter headers that explain things, and the expansive footnotes, but the inclusions of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. This was a project the prophet was called to work on after translating the Book of Mormon. I check the references all the time and I love how this verse was translated.

JST Luke 11:4 "...And let us not be led unto temptation; but deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom and power. Amen."

What is so interesting about this is the recent changes another faith's leader made to this verse in the Lord's Prayer, that expresses a similar view as the Joseph Smith Translation. For it is not possible for God to led us into temptation. It is when we turn from God that others, ourselves, even the devil and his angels can do so. For when we are led by God we are led away from temptation. Otherwise we are left to ourselves and of our own choice will go there.

Day 1559

Today's Favorite Verse: Jonah 3:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Jonah 3:10
"And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not."

It is beautiful that the city of Nineveh listened to Jonah and repented. That is exactly what a prophet's voice of warning is for, for us to repent and change our way. The wording of this verse threw me a little so I turned to the Joseph Smith Translation (JST Jonah 3:10) for clarification.

"And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way and repented; and God turned away from the evil that he had said that he would upon them."

This felt right for it to be worded this way.

This reminded me of the 8th Article of Faith
"We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God."

Day 1467

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 7:14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 7:14-15
"Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet's son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:
And the Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel."

Amos was called of God as a prophet when he was just a humble herdman. I pondered on how the Lord has used that pattern in the past and continued in this dispensation. Joseph Smith was called when a humble farm boy of fourteen.

It made me think of William Tyndale who was strangulated and burned at the stake for the offense of translating the bible into English.

"I defie the Pope and all his laws. If God spare my life, ere many years I wyl cause a boy that driveth the plough to know more of the Scripture, than he doust." Another variant of the quote is "I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the scriptures than thou doest."

Even after Tyndale's death his prophetic words came to fulfillment. His translation efforts were used by noted scholars for the majority of the Kings James version of the English Bible. It was that version of the bible that a humble farm boy read in James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Never had any passage of the scripture struck Joseph's heart as this did. This lead to him deciding to ask God which of all church's he should join. The heavens were opened and God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ appeared to the young Joseph to answer that humble prayer. Prophets don't decide to be prophets, it is the Lord that calls them to be.

Day 1461

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 37:16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 37:16-17
"Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions.
And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand."

I always wonder what other religions think the stick of Judah and the stick of Joseph are? I would think they know the stick of Judah is the Holy Bible. I know the stick of Joseph is the Book of Mormon, but what do they think it is I wonder? If they do not know, then when do they think they will get it?

With the thinking about this I had to go find the documentary "That Promised Day: The Coming Forth of the Latter-day Saint Scriptures" and watch it. I just love how inspired it was to make this edition of the King James Holy Bible with footnotes and Topical Guide that cross reference into the Book of Mormon, making the one in my hand. It truly is the promised day that Ezekiel saw.


Day 1414

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 105:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 105:1
"O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people."

This chapter continues with a review of many wonderful bible stories. Stories I have heard from my youth. I sadly pondered on how the memory of these stories are fading from the knowledge of the world. I took a bible quiz once and it was really long but all the stories were familiar, a primary child would have known them. The score I received was bible scholar and that only made me very sad. Sad because of the simplicity of the test. I know  me, I am not a bible scholar. I simply read and ponder the scriptures. I thought about what I alone could do to not make the stories fade. I was reminded of people that shared bible stories with me and applied them to my life. These are lessons that will stay with me forever. If people will not read them for themselves, I can still apply it to what they are going through in our conversations. There is strength and wisdom found in these stories, that the world is sorely missing.

Day 1158

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 33:13, 16

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 33:13, 16
"And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,
And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren."

Moses blessed the children of Israel. He pronounces blessings on each of the twelve tribes. I pondered on the blessing Joseph received. These verses are only part. What stands out to me "blessed of the Lord be his land", and "him that was separated from his brethren". The fulfillment of this took place when Lehi left Jerusalem with his family, and was joined by Ishmael and his family. Together the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh of Joseph's line, came to their promised land. The land in which I live. Where I find the "precious things of the lasting hills". Moses blessing was the same blessing Jacob gave Joseph too.

"Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:"  (Genesis 49:22

How grateful I am for the Book of Mormon and how I can read of the "stick of Joseph". Today as I read the bible the stick of Judah and the stick of Joseph are one in my hand.

"Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:
Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in mine hand."  (Ezekiel 37:16, 19)

I have come to find as I am reading the Bible that I need to also read from the Book of Mormon daily. I do not know how to describe it, but it's like a light or energy that allows inspiration to come through to lighten the eyes of my understanding.


Day 761