Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 2:4-5

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 2:4-5
"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

Conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ does not come from man's wisdom. It is only through the Holy Ghost that one can have a mighty change of heart and be born again. Witnessing miracles won't have any lasting effect. It is what's written on the heart, and must be constantly feed and nourished.

Day 4188

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 8:35, 38-39

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 8:35, 38-39
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

I pondered on being fully converted to Jesus Christ. This would be the only way, relying on Him, that you could endure all these things and not be separated from him. We can separate ourselves from God by sin. His love for us is always there, but we may have hid it. Enduring to the end is my favorite part of the gospel. It is how we come to know Jesus Christ.

"But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear."
(Isaiah 59:2)

Day 4178

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 14:11-12, 14

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 14:11-12, 14
"And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,"

The people believed having witnessed Paul healing a man with impotent feet since birth. The problem was they were idol worshippers and accredited it to their gods, and not Jesus Christ. They were ignorant and needed to be taught which Paul did. Then certain Jews persuaded the people to not believe and they stoned Paul and dragged his body out of the city. Thankfully he rose up again. I pondered on how witnessing miracles does not always convert. There must be a change of heart, and a true conversion to Jesus Christ. Repentance and receiving the Holy Ghost as our guide will keep us from being deceived by every wind of doctrine.

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;"
(Ephesians 4:11-14)

Day 4156

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 25:4, 16

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 25:4, 16
"But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents."

I focused on two parables in this chapter, the parable of the ten virgins and of the talents. I looked at them to see if there was a pattern. The wise virgins had oil in their lamps. In my notes I had written they had a testimony and conversion. Those that were foolish may have had a testimony but they were not converted. We cannot share our conversion for it is gained dropped by drop. So I asked myself what would the increase in the talents? Would it be those that received a testimony and were converted and then shared it with others? The increase being more converted followers of Jesus Christ. The servant with one talent just buried it. His testimony didn't grow from usery for himself or for others. Not only must we gain a testimony and be converted, we must in turn share the gospel with others to help them grown.

Day 4078

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 14:8-9

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 14:8-9
Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein."

I pondered on conversion. Once you come to know the Lord, there is true repentance and conversion. We give up our idols and favorite sins. We will bare fruit by which people will know who we follow. By their fruits we will know them. The wise will continue to walk with the Lord. Those that are fair weather friends will fall. It's always by their fruits that we know.

"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
(Matthew 7:20)

Day 4035

Today's Favorite Verse: 4 Nephi 1:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: 4 Nephi 1:1-2
"And it came to pass that the thirty and fourth year passed away, and also the thirty and fifth, and behold the disciples of Jesus had formed a church of Christ in all the lands round about. And as many as did come unto them, and did truly repent of their sins, were baptized in the name of Jesus; and they did also receive the Holy Ghost.
And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another."

I picture the beginning of the millennium to be like this. Missionary work will be alive and well at the start, until all are converted. Then with all baptized and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost there will be no contention or disputations among them. What a happy time this will be. It took three years for all of this to happen, and that was just on the American continent. When we are talking about the whole world I have no idea how long that will take. I imagine there are far more members of the church today then there was back then.

What is so sad, in the space of one chapter or 300 plus years, we see the path they took to willfully rebel and become exceedingly wicked. At this point there are still disciples of Jesus among them. For the millennium this period will stretch to 1,000 years.

Day 3554

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 7:21-22

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 7:21-22
"And it came to pass that the thirty and first year did pass away, and there were but few who were converted unto the Lord; but as many as were converted did truly signify unto the people that they had been visited by the power and Spirit of God, which was in Jesus Christ, in whom they believed.
And as many as had devils cast out from them, and were healed of their sicknesses and their infirmities, did truly manifest unto the people that they had been wrought upon by the Spirit of God, and had been healed; and they did show forth signs also and did do some miracles among the people."

I pondered on how this conversion was one by one. That conversion is a personal experience. Conversion includes sharing the gospel with others. So many times people were converted and then fell away. This group of believers would be those that remained when the Savior appears after his resurrection.

Day 3530

Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 5:47-48

Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 5:47-48
"Peace, peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation of the world.
And now, when they heard this they cast up their eyes as if to behold from whence the voice came; and behold, they saw the heavens open; and angels came down out of heaven and ministered unto them."

Helamen's sons Lehi and Nephi went to the land of Nephi to preach to the Lamanites. They were cast into prison and then a miraculous event takes place. They were encircled as if by fire and it hurt them not. The Lamanites were fearful to touch them. Then the earth shook and a cloud of darkness overshadowed the Lamanites and Nephite dissenters. A voice speaks from over the cloud of darkness. They are called to repentance. It was of perfect mildness and pierced their souls. Then a Nephite from birth tells them to turn around and look at Lehi and Nephite, their faces were glowing and talking with angels. The people see this and are told to repent and cry unto the voice until they have faith in Christ, which they did. The cloud disperses and they are all encircled by a pillar of fire and filled with joy. This is when God the Father speaks to all of them. There are only a few times we hear His voice in scriptures and this is one of them. Then angels came down and ministered to them. What a marvelous event took place. The 300 people that witness this go and declare what they saw and heard and minister to those around them.

"Insomuch that the more part of the Lamanites were convinced of them, because of the greatness of the evidence which they had received." (verse 50)

Events like this are what I think of when I heard President Nelson say 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."
(Russell M. Nelson, "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives", April 2018)

Day 3512

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 24:6, 19

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 24:6, 19
"Now there was not one soul among all the people who had been converted unto the Lord that would take up arms against their brethren; nay, they would not even make any preparations for war; yea, and also their king commanded them that they should not.
And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace."

I pondered on how this showed true conversion. The people of Ammon truly repented of all their sins. The honoring of the covenants they made, meant more to them than life itself. We should look at sin in the same way, for the death of the soul is greater than the death of the body.

Day 3468

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 9:5-6

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 9:5-6

"And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do."

That question "What wilt thou have me to do?" shows absolute conversion. Granted its not a typical conversion for it is rare indeed to have the Lord speak to you, especially when you have persecuted the saints. Saul knew who Jesus was because he was persecuting His followers. Now, being converted Saul would be a powerful follower. True conversion can happen to anyone. That is why we can never judge anyone. A mighty change can happen at any point in their lives. That is why we pray for them.

Day 3186

Today's Favorite Verse: Micah 1:3-4

Today's Favorite Verse: Micah 1:3-4

"For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.

And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place."

I was just reading in the Book of Mormon when Samuel, the Lamanite, prophesied of the signs of Christ's birth and death. This is reason Samuel was given for this.

"And the angel said unto me that many shall see greater things than these, to the intent that they might believe that these signs and these wonders should come to pass upon all the face of this land, to the intent that there should be no cause for unbelief among the children of men"

(Helaman 14:28)

This made me ponder on Christ's second coming and the ushering in of the millennium. Where there will be many good people remaining that will be converted.

Day 3053

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 36:26-28

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 36:26-28

"A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God."

I pondered on how one must have a mighty change of heart to be fully converted to the Lord. We must always have his Spirit to be with us. Then we will truly be His people.

"And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not."

(3 Nephi 9:20)

"And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all true.

And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved.

And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?"

(Alma 5:12-14)

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

(2 Corinthians 5:17)

Day 2997

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 49:39

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 49:39

"But it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring again the captivity of Elam, saith the LORD."

There was a similar verse in the last chapter that said it would bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days. I wanted to understand what the meant. In the Old Testament Student Manual it said it means their conversion. When I looked at other translations of the bible it refers to restoration or return. Some refer to that as being fortunes. Others that they are restored from captivity. Knowing that the gospel will be take to all the world in the latter days I would think it means it will be taken to their descendants too.

Day 2953

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 89:15

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 89:15

"Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance."

I pondered on walking "in the light of [His] countenance". It would seem where one was walking would be important. As I reflect on this I thought of missionary work and conversion. How through the light of Christ one recognizes the truthfulness of the gospel when they hear it. That would be such a joyful sound. They are walking on the covenant path with the spirit as their guide. Then I thought of how that is not a one time thing. We need to feel the joy of our conversion over and over again, as we stay on covenant path and #HearHim.

Day 2726

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 14:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 14:1

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good."

I could not help but think that we have more and more foolish people every day. Men's hearts are failing them. The only thing that can save this world is a true conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Day 2651

Today's Favorite Verse: Esther 8:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Esther 8:17

"And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them."

I pondered on how "many of the people of the land became Jews". Was that a permission to acknowledge their heritage or was it a conversion to the faith I wondered? If the "fear of the Jews fell upon them", then it wasn't a true conversion. As I reflected on this I thought of Ukraine being attacked by Russia. How when that day happened we all became Ukrainian in our hearts. How we supported and mourned for them and still do. As death was going to fall upon the Jews, I think the people around them had their hearts go out to them in support. They all became Jews.

Day 2593

Today's Favorite Verse: Ruth 2:11-12, 20

Today's Favorite Verse: Ruth 2:11-12, 20

"And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore.

The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.

And Naomi said unto her daughter in law, Blessed be he of the LORD, who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead. And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen."

As I read this story of Ruth and Boaz's kindness to her in gleaning the fields, I could not help but think of this great stock that Jesus Christ will come through on his mortal mother's side. It takes a good person to recognize the goodness found in others. He did not look upon material wealth, but looked upon Ruth's heart. He saw her goodness and faithfulness to her mother-in-law, desire to work and provide for them, and her dedication to the Israelite God.

Day 2393

Today's Favorite Verse: Ruth 1:16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Ruth 1:16-17

"And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me."

It is so refreshing to read the story of Ruth after reading of the wickedness in Israel in the book of Judges. What I love in these verses is Ruth's testimony. She has been converted to the Israelite God. She gave up her former gods, life and family. She wishes to remain with Naomi, and be in a household of faith and serve the God of Israel. I love thinking that David will be one of her descendants, as well as Jesus Christ.

Day 2392

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 49:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 49:7

"I, the Lord God, have spoken it; but the hour and the day no man knoweth, neither the angels in heaven, nor shall they know until he comes."

I always find it interesting when I have a conversation during the day and then find in the scriptures at night what I referenced. I think I will just record the comment and leave it at that.

"I know that we are in the latter part of the last days. No one knows the hour or the day when the Lord will come, but when he comes we want to be ready. The hardest part is seeing people being deceived and lost. Sometimes you just want to shake them and say wakeup don't you know what time it is? Don't you know how damaging what you are supporting is doing? But, truly the only thing that will change hearts and behaviors is the gospel of Jesus Christ. If you can convert people to living His gospel then the change in the inside will begin to show on the outside. That is the only true way to overcome evil."

Day 2052

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 6:14

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 6:14
"And thus there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord."

I pondered on what I might see when the churches fully open up again. The churches may have not been broken up, but the people have been. This pandemic has been hard, and it's not over yet. The true test of the followers of Christ is if they kept the faith when left on their own. The true test of conversion is remaining "firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord." Especially when no one has been looking.

Day 1943