Today's Favorite Verse: Hebrews 12:2, 6

Today's Favorite Verse: Hebrews 12:2, 6
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."

I pondered on how the Lord was intended to feel public shame while on the cross. Yet, he showed true obedience, humility and love for us. It made me see the connection to the Lord chastening those that he loves. How we also learn to show greater obedience, humility and love for the Lord as we endure and learn from it.

“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable”
(Elder Orson F. Whitney in Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle [1972], 98).

Day 3304

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 40:2-5

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 40:2-5

"Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further."

After all the Job suffers and remains faithful throughout, now the Lord tries and humbles him. This chastening makes Job teachable in preparation for what is to come.

"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."

(Hebrew 12:5-11

"Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you—"

(Doctrine and Covenants 95:1)

"Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son.

For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified."

(Doctrine and Covenants 101:4-5)

"My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom."

(Doctrine and Covenants 136:31)

Day 2635

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 136:16, 31

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 136:16, 31

"And let my servants that have been appointed go and teach this, my will, to the saints, that they may be ready to go to a land of peace.

My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom."

After the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum, President Brigham Young is now the leader of the saints. After having been pushed from Missouri and Illinois they are now gathered at Winter Quarters. Brigham Young has received and gives them the word and will of the Lord. The organization of the saints to travel west is given. These two verses stood out to me. The first because they were to make ready to go to a "land of peace". What comforting words that must have been for the saints. After having been driven so much, peace is what they needed. I know that would carry me through the difficult days ahead, knowing where I was going would bring needed peace.

The second verse is the mention that they are tried in all things, to prepare them to receive the glory the Lord has for them. That would make my suffering feel like there was divine purpose behind it. The last is bearing chastisements. Isn't that what refines and strengthens us if we humble ourselves to receive it. Chastisements can come from many sources, the greatest is our own. The hardest of times is when we are in the midst of a trial. Maybe that's the only time we will listen. As I reflect on all this, I think of them as diamonds in the rough being made ready to shine.

Day 2139

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 105:5-6

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 105:5-6

"And Zion cannot be built up unless it is by the principles of the law of the celestial kingdom; otherwise I cannot receive her unto myself.

And my people must needs be chastened until they learn obedience, if it must needs be, by the things which they suffer.

As I read about the saints being expelled from Missouri, and Zion's Camp, I thought about how this was no accident. The Lord knew more time was needed before the saints would be ready for all that they could be blessed with. What they didn't understand yet was the blessings that come from temple ordinances. There were many other things as a church and people that we needed to learn and go through. Nothing is an accident, the Lord knows best how to prepare His people. Even this pandemic has been a time of chastening and learning obedience. There is just so much for us to learn and suffering not only chastens but it teaches, and prepares.

Day 2108

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 3:11-12

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 3:11-12
"My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:
For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth."

I really want to do things right. Yet sometimes after the action I find correction, not by man, but by the spirit in how I did things. I feel really bad and sorrow that I didn't do it right. Then I saw this pattern that the things I didn't do right actually had no sin in them. I realized that as I earnestly prayed to be an instrument for good in the Lord's hands, corrections increased. In this I have came to understand that if I'm going to be used by the Lord, that he needs to mold me into what he needs me to be. I saw what a beautiful process this is, not that I was being rejected. It is the Lord's way of having me learn and grow, and become all that he wants me to be.

Day 1206

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 94:11-12, 19

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 94:11-12, 19
"The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.
Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law;
In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul."

I have to think of vanity as my pride. For it is often because of my pride that I am chastened by the Lord. I had to sit and ponder on what a blessing that truly is. Really what a miracle that whole process is. Simply because He loves me enough to stopped me before it has gotten out of hand. Pride truly is man's down fall. I've been through this cycle so many times that now I have started to  receive a warning before it even happens.

I will just get that feeling that I have to careful and watch myself, I am right on that edge and have to back off. It requires a lot of vigilance on my part to not fall into that trap. After much practice I am learning to spot the traps and maneuver around them. When I see that happen I am so grateful, for I truly hate to be chastened, because I do know better. I would much rather be warned and change my path instead. Even though having to be warned stings a little too. Having the ability to be warned is a comfort and protection to me. I am blessed when I listen and obey.

Day 1147

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 5:8-9, 17

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 5:8-9, 17
"I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number.
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:"

Eliphaz counsel is right in one sense and judgmental in another. I do agree the counsel right to seek God, but then the slap in the face is because he needed to be corrected that all this happened to Job. As I sit and ponder this I see myself in Eliphaz. I'm sure I must have left that impression at times, because I have felt people were being chastened and brought things upon themselves. If I've thought it I've probably said it. That is very eye opening to me and terribly painful to think about. I must be more careful to watch my thoughts, and especially my words.


Day 1016

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 16:7-9

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 16:7-9
"And at the time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horseman? yet, because thou didst rely on the Lord, he delivered them into thine hand.
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars."

I wonder what would have happened if Asa had repented of what he had done that displeased the Lord? Being able to take chastisements, humble yourself and repent will soften the Lord's heart. There are examples of that happening in the scriptures. It is so heartbreaking that instead Asa goes into a download spiral after receiving this chastisement. Being chastised doesn't mean the Lord doesn't love you.

"And inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent;" (Doctrine & Covenants 1:27)

"Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you -"
(Doctrine and Covenants 95:1)

"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
Now no chastening for present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."
(Hebrews 12:6, 11)


Day 958

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 9:56-57

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 9:56-57
"Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal."

This chapter was little to much after having a broken heart over the senseless murders and attacks upon the innocent going on throughout the world. Israel was living in trying times, and so do I. What is the root of the problem? It is abandoning God and worshiping evil.

"And thus we see that except the Lord doth chasten his people with many afflictions, yea, except he doth visit them with death and with terror, and with famine and with all manner of pestilence, they will not remember him."  (Helaman 12:3)

The wicked will pry upon the innocent, until they pry upon themselves. All I can do is leave justice in the hands of the Lord. I have no doubt he will revenge the innocent. His hand will protect his people if we only remember him.


Day 795