Today's Favorite Verse: Job 38:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 38:4
"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding."

This made me think of our "Come, Follow Me: reading for this week. How President Joseph F. Smith saw in vision the redemption of the dead after the crucifixion of the Savior and his appearance in the spirit world. Christ organized from the righteous his forces, and appointed messengers with power and authority to preach the gospel to the dead.

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” (1 Peter 3:18—20.)
“For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1 Peter 4:6.)

It also goes on to state how some reserved for our day were chosen in the beginning. This would be when God laid the foundations of the earth, while we were in the pre-existence.

"The Prophet Joseph Smith, and my father, Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and other choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fulness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work,
Including the building of the temples and the performance of ordinances therein for the redemption of the dead, were also in the spirit world.
I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God.
Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men."
(Doctrine and Covenants 138:53-56)

Day 3901

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 17:9

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 17:9
"Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee."

This is the story of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. There was drought and famine in the land. Elijah had hid by the brook Cherith and the ravens had feed him. When the brook dried up this verse is the word of the Lord that came to him. What I noticed is the Lord said He commanded the widow woman to sustain Elijah. Yet, when Elijah speaks to the widow to bring him a little water and a morsel of bread she says she was gathering stick to feed her and her son and then they would die. That does not sound like a women that had been waiting for a prophet of the Lord to come and she would feed him. It's very different than the story of Alma and Amulek. Amulek had been prepared to feed a prophet when he met him.

"And as he entered the city he was an hungered, and he said to a man: Will ye give to an humble servant of God something to eat?
And the man said unto him: I am a Nephite, and I know that thou art a holy prophet of God, for thou art the man whom an angel said in a vision: Thou shalt receive. Therefore, go with me into my house and I will impart unto thee of my food; and I know that thou wilt be a blessing unto me and my house.
And it came to pass that the man received him into his house; and the man was called Amulek; and he brought forth bread and meat and set before Alma."
(Alma 8:19-21)

Why is the widow of Zarephath so different? As I was pondering on this I wondered if the word "command" could have a different meaning? I found it could also mean ordained, chosen or appointed. Any of those words would make sense. The Lord hadn't told the widow of His will to feed Elijah, but being a faithful women she came to know His will when the request was made. She had been chose of the Lord and prepared to act in faith.

Day 3847

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 7:4-7

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 7:4-7
"And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.
So he brought down the people unto the water: and the LORD said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.
And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.
And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place."

Such a curiously interesting test on who amongst 32,000 men would be called to fight the Midianites. The Lord didn't want too many, because the concern was Israel would vaunt themselves and say they were saved by their own hands. First, anyone fearful or afraid was asked to leave and that was 22,000 men. There was 10,000 remaining and out of them it came down to how they drank water, lapping like a dog from a stream. There was only 300 men that fit that description. I pondered on how humbling a choice that would have been. How different God sees man than we do.

Day 3818

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 17:14

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 17:14
"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful."

I liked the part where we are with Him. The righteous are not waging war against the inhabitants of the earth. Oh, the world may war against us but, but the Lamb will overcome them. Those that are called, chosen and faithful we will stand on the side that wins. We can't lose faith in that.

Day 3343

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 22:14, 25, 28

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 22:14, 25, 28

"And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.

And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?

And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born."

I pondered on how not only was Paul chosen, he was placed in such a way to be a free born Roman citizen. This would bring him to places to preach the gospel that he never would have lived to see. It is no accident where any of us are placed.

Day 3199

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 17:6, 14

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 17:6, 14
"And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.
These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful."

Admiration = astonishment, wonder

The great message of Revelation is Jesus wins. Anyone on his side has eternal life. Though it might look dark and a losing battle at times, do not lose hope or faith. Whatever his saints are called and chosen to do at this time, to stand as a witness, the message is remain faithful. Just like Peter that tried to walk on water, don't take your eyes off Christ. Don't get overwhelmed by the darkened storms and waves, and fear the deep. Look towards Christ and live.

(Matthew 14:25-33)

Day 1757

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 22:14

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 22:14
"For many are called, but few are chosen."

When I read this verse it reminded me of a dream I had many, many years ago. I stopped my reading and tried to find my record of it. I knew I had written is somewhere. I searched my Personal Historian database (where I am compiling my journals and personal history), but couldn't find it. However, I was amazed how many times I recorded a dream in there. I had forgotten most, but interestingly this dream that has stayed with me over the years was not there. Over the years I will remember it at the most random moments. It's like my brain wants to make sure I don't forget it.

I found the dream among my other records and added it to my Personal Historian. It really, really, really needed to be put there. This dream has been so important to me. I will share it only if those reading this put themselves in my place in the dream. 

"I dreamed I was in the temple. It was a temple I do not ever remember being in before, only in my dreams. I was walking along with a crowd of people. I didn't seem to notice if I knew anyone there. I believe I was on my way to an endowment room.

A small elderly man slowly walked over to us. He motioned to me and whispered; "Excuse me Sister could you come with me for a minute?" I agreed and followed him. He hadn't called me by name so I felt no reason to believe he had singled me out. I thought possibly they needed another sister for a sealing. 

We rode on the elevator going up. I don't know which floor we arrived at. There was a waiting area, like you find outside of sealing rooms, with at least three doors coming off of it. A small crowd of people sat on chairs, couches, or stood off to a side. It was very quiet. Several people whispered quietly to each other. As I stood waiting I saw a man come out of a room. I didn't pay attention to which one. I was attracted to him and wondered at him. He seemed lost and just stood off to a side. 

The elderly man quietly came to my side, he whispered to me, "You are to chose which one of these doors you would like to go in." This statement rather surprised me. I looked around and saw no one paying any attention to me. I stood off to a side and wondered which of the three doors in front of me I should go in. I asked myself, "Am I on Let's Make a Deal?" I knew that wasn't it. The thought entered my mind. The Savior is behind one of these doors. I wondered which one to choose. I don't know which one I did choose. I walked to a door, opened it and went in for a period of time. In the next part of my dream I came out of the door. I looked around, I didn't know what to do.

The thought came to me. I had been told to not tell anyone what had happened. I moved to the side of the room. Trying to gather my thoughts, to know what to do now. I watched the elderly man as he quietly went about this same process with other people. I saw people choosing doors and coming out of doors and seem lost as they came out. It was a very busy scene, when you realized what was taking place. The thing was no one could speak of what was behind those doors. I felt very humble, small and quiet inside. I felt a deeper sense of the spirit with me from this experience.

I was just standing there thinking, when a group of people came to me. I recognized them, all people I had admired or been in some way involved with them in church callings. I recognized a former bishop. He was a bishop who was very prideful in nature. If I had to pick someone in my life who was prideful and ruled unrighteous dominion, I would pick him. 

He was leading this group of people. He much too loudly asks of me; "Where have you been? We've been hunting for you. What is this place? I've never been up in this floor of the temple. What have you been doing here?" I was very quiet and lost as to what to say. As he spoke I sadly realized they were so full of themselves they missed completely that something of a sacred nature was occurring right beside them.

I told them; "Well they needed a sister and I came to help. I can leave now." The group of us left, they were very much enjoying any attention someone paid to them. I walked thinking of this scene.

When I awoke, I had the impression this was the scripture, "Many are called but few are chosen." It is a scripture I had known previously and had wondered about. But I now pondered it's meaning anew. I realized - everyone was called, all of us as members of the church. In the temple anyone could be chosen, but we were the one's to choose. It was really our choice if we were "chosen".

How pride and honors of men can in reality keep us from being "chosen". It's us who unlocks, or turns the knob on the door we chose to enter. It's having the Holy Spirit as our guide that makes us know which way to go. We stop ourselves. The Savior is waiting, always, for us to come to him. We are the ones to choose, in this sense we are thus chosen.

I have a new understanding and appreciation of these scriptures from the
Doctrine and Covenants.."
D&C 95:5 - "But behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many who have
been ordained among you, whom I have called but few of them are chosen."
D&C 105:35 - "There has been a day of calling, but the time has come for a day of choosing; and let those be chosen that are worthy."
D&C 121:34, 35, 40 - "Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen, Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men... Hence many are called, but few are chosen."

After having re-read this powerful dream, it would appear the I have more thinking to do on how it applies to me today. I'm not the same person, as when I had this dream. The issue of pride though is always there.

St. George Temple, Celestial Room rendering

Day 1526

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 7:6-7

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 7:6-7
"For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people."

This made me think of Ether 12:27
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I will give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for it they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

I pondered on how God loves the underdog, and to fight our battles when we turn to him. That to me makes me feel very, very special, and extremely humbled.  


Day 735