Today's Favorite Verse: Nehemiah 1:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Nehemiah 1:5
"And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:"

This reminded me of this scripture.

"There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—
And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."
(Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21)

Consequences whether good or bad are predicated on the law we obey or chose not to. It is so much easier to obey God's law then to turn on backs on Him and do it on our own. One of the easiest laws to see the cause and effect is with tithing.

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."
(Malachi 3:10)

Day 3882

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 6:3, 6-7

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 6:3, 6-7
" And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.
And when they came to Nachon’s threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.
And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God."

Its hard to understand at first why steading the ark so it wouldn't fall was worthy of death. Then I thought of Adam and Eve being told to not eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Who would think eating something was worthy of being banished from the garden, and have to one day face mortal death. There are strict commands that God has given man, and with them consequences. Adam and Eve were warned about what would happen if they ate the fruit. This made me go back to find when God warned about touching the ark.

"And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation."
(Numbers 4:15)

God doesn't lie. He commandments are clear. There are times we need to just stand aside and let God do His work and not get in the way. The Lord or His angels could have come to steady the ark.

Day 3835

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 32:29

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 32:29
"O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!"

This is called not being able to see beyond the end of your nose. Being short sighted. One that is not wise does not consider the end from the beginning. Granted we cannot always see the end but there are conditions we know that will not end well for us. Primarily, its when we sin and break God's laws. The end will not be pretty in this life and the next.

Day 3807

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 37:3-4

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 37:3-4
"And again, a commandment I give unto the church, that it is expedient in me that they should assemble together at the Ohio, against the time that my servant Oliver Cowdery shall return unto them.
Behold, here is wisdom, and let every man choose for himself until I come. Even so. Amen."

The saints in New York and Pennsylvania are called to gather to the Ohio. Yet, they are told to choose for himself. I pondered on agency. Even though the Lord commands we are still free to choose. However there are consequences that come with our choices. I pondered on how the saints in Ohio were greatly blessed with more revelations, a temple, and the Lord himself came to accept it. That wasn't to be their final place to reside, but for a season it would be exactly where a faithful member would want to be, regardless of the persecution that followed them.

Day 3626

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 23:35

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 23:35

"Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms."

bear thou also = bear the consequences of

When we turn from God, and this case cast him behind our backs, we must bear the consequences of these actions. This chapter is the allegory of the two sisters. Jehovah is the husband and Israel is the wife. It relates to marriage (adultery) and worship (idolatry). There is so much here against being unfaithful, and turning to idols, and allowing our children to be devoured. It is a warning to us. Whatever in our lives takes us away from God, where we turn our backs on Him, is our idol. That time away, being unfaithful requires a price. There are consequences of our actions, with ripple effects felt for generations.

Day 2984

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 3:14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 3:14-15

"Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:

And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."

This made me think about the gathering of Israel. How not everyone in a city, or family accepts the gospel when they hear it. It's really interesting to see who was prepared to receive it and does. In a couple weeks the prophet will be speaking and some are now waiting to be feed spiritually with knowledge and understanding. There are others that just turn away. This is called free agency and the ability to choose. The difference is the eternal reward or consequences that follows.

Day 2907

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 1:25-31

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 1:25-31

"But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices."

I can't imagine the Lord laughing and mocking the wicked because they would not listen. I know I'm sensitive on that because I have someone I love that is facing jail time for their actions, and they just made things worse for themselves. There is no way I could laugh and mock them when the demands of justice fall on them. As I sat and pondered on this I realized the Lord's hands are tied in many ways. Just like mine are. That laugh and mock is not a cruel one. I could just picture His stretched out hands saying "Now you want me to save you?" It's that laugh of you're asking the impossible of me, because there are laws. You just don't get it, after all I warned you about. Sometimes, we don't receive answers to prayers because there are things we need to learn first. At some point the lesson time runs out and justice must be served. The doors to the ark are already closed and that boat isn't coming back.

Day 2788

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 146:3, 5

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 146:3, 5

"Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.

Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:"

I was reminded today about what sorry consequences can befall someone that has left the church. Once they separated themselves how even in their need they cannot bring themselves to ask for help. How do you ask for help when all you have done is talk against the very people and their God that would help you? Trusting in the arm of flesh will let you down.

Day 2783

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 18:12-13

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 18:12-13

" And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.

And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak."

Jehoshaphat king of Judah and Ahab king of Israel join to fight Syria. Before the battle Jehoshaphat asks Ahab to inquiry of the Lord. Ahab calls together four hundred prophets, but they are not prophets of God. Jehoshaphat then asks if there was not a prophet of the Lord there. Ahab says there is one but he hated him. He never prophesied any good to him. A messenger is then sent to fetch Micaiah who is a prophet of God. When the messenger arrives he tells Micaiah what the other "prophets" have said and asked him to be like them and speak good. Micaiah then says he can only speak what God saith.

As I ponder on it I see how man is no different even now. We want good things prophesied to us. When hard things are told us we hate the messenger. We analyze what a prophet says and judge for ourselves if he knows truth or not. Which of course is only our opinions. This is such a dangerous course to be taken. For what Micaiah spoke, king Ahab put him in prison. Both kings then go up to Ramoth-gilead to battle and Ahab dies. When you don't listen to a prophet of God and go counter to the counsel of the Lord there is no protection. A spiritual or physical death can both happen. We are left to face whatever consequences that follow on our own.

Day 2544

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 10:13-14

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 10:13-14

"Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.

Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation."

I pondered on free agency and how God has given us the choice on who we will follow. We also face the consequences of that decision.

Day 2380

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 32:29

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 32:29

"O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!"

This made me think of our family's saying. "Can't see further than the end of their nose." When your thoughts are on the here and now, or fulfilling your immediate wants regardless of the end results, the vision is clouded on what consequences you face later down the road. The price we pay can be both mortal and eternal.

This made me think of President Nelson's general conference talk were he spoke of a granddaughter-in-law being myopic = near sighted. How her pondering on that changed her eternal perspective.

"After Jill’s father passed on, the word myopic kept coming to her mind. She opened her heart to understand even more deeply that myopic meant “nearsighted.” And her thinking began to shift. Jill then said, “Myopic caused me to stop, think, and heal. That word now fills me with peace. It reminds me to expand my perspective and seek the eternal. It reminds me that there is a divine plan and that my dad still lives and loves and looks out for me. Myopic has led me to God.”

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

Day 2344

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants Official Declarations 1

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants Official Declarations 1

"One case has been reported, in which the parties allege that the marriage was performed in the Endowment House, in Salt Lake City, in the Spring of 1889, but I have not been able to learn who performed the ceremony; whatever was done in this matter was without my knowledge. In consequence of this alleged occurrence the Endowment House was, by my instructions, taken down without delay."

Any member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can tell you that we do not practice polygamy. We have not done so for over 130 years. To be found doing so will lead to excommunication. Yet there is a reason why this manifesto against the practice of polygamy is included in the Doctrine and Covenants as an Official Declaration. Reading this now in the light of our day I can see a warning.

The Endowment House was were the saints could receive temple ordinances while waiting for the completion of the Salt Lake Temple. In consequence of the actions of a few misguided members, that went against the direction of the president of the church and laws of the land, the Endowment House was immediately taken down. This happened in Oct 1890 and the Salt Lake Temple was not dedicated until 1893. So for a period of time the saints could not receive the blessings of temple ordinances because of the actions of a few.

As I reflected on this situation, and the slow and cautious reopening of our temples from this pandemic, I thought of the careful videos made in preparation for what to expect when we return. As clear and peaceful as these videos are I am sure there must be a concern that misguided individuals may challenge and refuse to follow these guidelines. I hope they do not, for to do so could rightfully justify the First Presidency in closing our temples again. The actions of a few have consequences for many. I do not want to see history repeat itself. It's one thing for a temple to close due to a pandemic. It's another if it's because of our own actions. I would not want to be on the wrong side of this. Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants Official Declarations 1

"One case has been reported, in which the parties allege that the marriage was performed in the Endowment House, in Salt Lake City, in the Spring of 1889, but I have not been able to learn who performed the ceremony; whatever was done in this matter was without my knowledge. In consequence of this alleged occurrence the Endowment House was, by my instructions, taken down without delay."

Any member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can tell you that we do not practice polygamy. We have not done so for over 130 years. To be found doing so will lead to excommunication. Yet there is a reason why this manifesto against the practice of polygamy is included in the Doctrine and Covenants as an Official Declaration. Reading this now in the light of our day I can see a warning.

The Endowment House was were the saints could receive temple ordinances while waiting for the completion of the Salt Lake Temple. In consequence of the actions of a few misguided members, that went against the direction of the president of the church and laws of the land, the Endowment House was immediately taken down. This happened in Oct 1890 and the Salt Lake Temple was not dedicated until 1893. So for a period of time the saints could not receive the blessings of temple ordinances because of the actions of a few.

As I reflected on this situation, and the slow and cautious reopening of our temples from this pandemic, I thought of the careful videos made in preparation of what we are to expect when we return. One of the requirements is to wear masks. I sure hope we do not have misguided members that will challenge and refuse to wear them. To do so would justify the First Presidency in closing our temples again. The actions of a few have consequences for many. I do not want to see history repeat itself. It's one thing for a temple to close due to a pandemic. It's another if it's because of our own actions. I would not want to be on the wrong side of this.

Day 2142

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 23:35

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 23:35
"Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast forgotten me, and cast me behind thy back, therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms."

This chapter would be a good one ponder for anyone caught in the trap of pornography or moral sin. It also shows the consequences of any sin, for one sin will lead to another, and greater sins fall upon their heads. The JST translation of Ezekiel 23:17 reads "...and her mind was alienated from me by them." That is the great snare, having our idols alienate us from God. Then consequences are our making and something they must bear. For Christ will not save them in their sins. They must forsake them and come unto Him.

Day 1400

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 21:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 21:2
"Thou hast given him his heart's desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips. Selah."

This made me this of Matthew 6:21
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

I pondered on the beautiful gift of free agency, the freedom to choose eternal life or not. Where my heart's desire lay, is what I will be given. It doesn't mean God is a genie that will grant my every wish for material items. He lets me choose which direction I want to take, and the consequences that go with it.

"I ought not to harrow up in my desires the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction."
(Alma 29:4)

Day 1074