Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 7:23
"But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you."
I love this covenant relationship and commandment. Obey God and in turn He will walk with us. What more can I ask for.
Today's Favorite Verse: Job 16:2, 4-5
"I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief."
Job calls his friends miserable comforters. It made me reflect on our baptismal covenant, to mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those in need of comfort.
"And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—"
(Mosiah18:8-9)
Today's Favorite Verse: Ezra 9:1-3
"Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonied."
Marrying outside of the faith was against God's law for the children of Israel. This was partly to preserve their faith and not to be lost to false gods other nations worshipped. Ezra is overwhelmed how prevalent this had become and and grieves. It was even among their princes and rulers. Ezra weeps and so do the people.
"Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore."
(Ezra 10:1)
They then covenant with God to put away their wives and children born of them. I can see why they would be so broken hearted. Seems in some ways so extreme to break up families. Yet, this was the consequences of their actions. As a people coming back from exile they wanted to be right with the Lord. Now they had to do what it took to repent and make restitution. As I was pondering over this situation in many ways it is exactly what we would face in the next life if we married outside of our faith, and not entered into an eternal covenant of marriage. Husband and wives and children would not have a sealing link to each other. There would also be much heartache over the choices made in this life.
Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 34:1-3
"Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years.
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left.
For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images."
I enjoyed reading about Josiah and what a righteous and good king he was. I was surprised at his youth. He was only 8 years old when he came to reign. Amazing considering Amon was his father, and he didn't learn to be righteous from him. When he's 16 years old he seeks after God and by 20 he's removing idolatry from among them. He's learning and cleansing Judah and Jerusalem. By 26 he's repairing the house of the Lord. When Hilkiah the priest finds the law of the Lord given to Moses and it is read to Josiah the king mourns that they have not worshipped as they should. Josiah has the book read to the people. Then he covenants to walk after the Lord, and the words written in the book. Not only was Josiah righteous he cared that his people were taught of the Lord and the served God. It made me think of the youth and what promise.
"And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book." (2 Chronicles 34:31)
Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 21:6-7, 19-20
"And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab: for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife: and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD.
Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.
And it came to pass, that in process of time, after the end of two years, his bowels fell out by reason of his sickness: so he died of sore diseases. And his people made no burning for him, like the burning of his fathers.
Thirty and two years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years, and departed without being desired. Howbeit they buried him in the city of David, but not in the sepulchres of the kings."
When Jehoram was made king he slew all his brethren with the sword. That is just so evil. The only reason God didn't destroy Jehoram was the covenant He made with David. It appears Jehoram was the last of that line. God made promises and would honor them, but the man that didn't honor God wouldn't escape punishment. Jehoram suffered an incurable disease that sounded very painful. Then when he dies there is no honor given him by the people, other than to be buried in the city of David.
I pondered how we don't always know why the wicked are allowed to remain as they are and not be destroyed. There is always the possibility they will repent, but there can also be greater purposes the Lord has for them, or for the people that support them.
Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 12:4
"And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the LORD spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the LORD gave them unto me."
Was I was remembering something wrong? For some reason I thought the tables that the Lord first wrote on contained more than what He wrote the second time. Where did I think that was true? First I went over the scriptures.
"And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them."
(Exodus 24:12)
"And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.
And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.
And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount."
(Exodus 32:15-16, 19)
"And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest."
(Exodus 34:1)
I still felt I was missing something I read earlier. That is when I turned to the Old Testament Student Manual and finally found this. There were words taken out.
(12-24) Exodus 34:1–4. Did Both Sets of Tablets Contain the Same Material?
...After their coming down Moses is again commanded to go up; and God promises to give him tables of stone, containing a law and precepts, ver. 12. This is the first place these tables of stone are mentioned; and thus it appears that the ten commandments, and several other precepts, were given to and accepted by the people, and the covenant sacrifice offered, [24:5], before the tables of stone were either written or mentioned.’ It is very likely that the commandments, laws, &c., were first published by the Lord in the hearing of the people; repeated afterwards by Moses; and the ten words or commandments, containing the sum and substance of the whole, afterwards written on the first tables of stone, to be kept for a record in the ark.” (Clarke, Bible Commentary, 1:474.)
This analysis would answer a frequently asked question, How did the Lord put the whole law of Moses on two tablets? The tablets, it seems, contained only the divine summary called the Ten Commandments. Joseph Smith added additional information when he reworked the first two verses of this chapter:
“And the Lord said unto Moses, Hew thee two other tables of stone, like unto the first, and I will write upon them also, the words of the law, according as they were written at the first on the tables which thou brakest; but it shall not be according to the first, for I will take away the priesthood out of their midst; therefore my holy order, and the ordinances thereof, shall not go before them; for my presence shall not go up in their midst, lest I destroy them.
“But I will give unto them the law as at the first, but it shall be after the law of a carnal commandment; for I have sworn in my wrath, that they shall not enter into my presence, into my rest, in the days of their pilgrimage. Therefore do as I have commanded thee, and be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me, in the top of the mount.” (JST, Exodus 34:1–2.)
At first reading, this passage may sound contradictory. The Lord says He will write on the second tablets “according as they were written at the first on the tables which thou brakest” (v. 1) but then He says, “but it shall not be according to the first”. The problem lies in determining what “it” refers to: the writing on the tablets, or the new order of things introduced because of the rebellion of Israel. The information following the “it” seems to refer to the new order and not the new writings. But the Joseph Smith Translation of Deuteronomy 10:2 makes it clear that the two sets of plates contained the same thing, with one exception:
And I will write on the tables the words that were on the first tables, which thou brakest, save the words of the everlasting covenant of the holy priesthood, and thou shalt put them in the ark” (JST, Deuteronomy 10:2; emphasis added).
(Old Testament Student Manual, "Exodus 21-24; 31-35: The Mosaic Law: A Preparatory Gospel")
Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 30:2
"If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth."
I searched the footnotes for what a vow was. It took me to the Topical Guide to also see covenants, oath, pledge, promise, swearing. The Bible Dictionary tells me.
"These were of two kinds: (a) dedication—some person or thing was given to the Lord (Lev. 27:1–24); (b) abstinence—a promise made to abstain from some lawful act or enjoyment (Num. 6:3). No unnatural mutilation was permitted (Lev. 19:28; Deut. 14:1, etc.). Nothing already holy to the Lord, or intrinsically unholy, or blemished in the slightest degree, could be offered as a vow (Lev. 22:23; 27:26; Deut. 23:18). Provisions were made for ransoming such offerings when they could not be fitly sacrificed (Lev. 27:11). The vows of dependent women (wives or daughters) did not stand unless ratified explicitly or implicitly by the husband or father (Num. 30:3–16; see also Jer. 44:19). Vows often had an entreating character; they were offered in order to obtain some favor from Jehovah (Gen. 28:20; 2 Sam. 15:7–8)."
(Bible Dictionary: Vows)
This made me reflect on the different covenants I have entered into. None of this can be taken lightly. It also me be think of renewing my covenants, be it during the sacrament when I renew by baptismal covenant, or when I perform proxy ordinances in the House of the Lord for my deceased family members. I feel a strengthening in the covenants I entered into as I remember them by doing so for others.
Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 27:46
"And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me?"
I was drawn to understanding why Rebekah felt this way. I pondered on the covenant line. Abraham did not want Isaac to take a wife among the Canaanites, where they dwelt. He sent his servant to find a wife among Abraham's kindred.
"And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell:"
(Genesis 24:3)
Isaac and Rebekah experienced much sorrow and grief when Esau married outside of the covenant.
"And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:
Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah."
(Genesis 26:34-35)
I could just see their concern after Abraham being promised to be the father of many nations and then Isaac and Rebekah struggled to have children. If these children, especially the promised birthright son, marries outside of the covenant, what would be the purpose of her life. Not only have they been commanded to not marry outside of their faith, there was danger in their hearts being turned from God. It wasn't simply an issue with blood line, it was an issue of faith and belief in the one true God and protecting and honoring that.
"When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou;
And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them:
Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son.
For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly."
(Deuteronomy 7:1-4)
"But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;
Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.
And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.
For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.
For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.
And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father."
(1 Kings 11: 1-6)
Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 119:3-4
"And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people.
And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord."
Here is the part that stood out to me, "this shall be a standing law unto them forever". I reflected on why I pay tithing. There were periods of time I was not always faithful in paying tithing. Then one day I had enough, and truly committed to be a full tithe payer. I realized now it has become a "standing law forever". I don't even think about "will I, won't I". It's the first thing taken out of my paycheck. I wonder if "standing law forever" means that's how we need to feel about paying tithing? Even the header to this chapter seems to apply we will go back to the law of consecration again at some point, because the Lord "withdrew it for a time". Consecration is an everlasting covenant, while tithing is forever. There is a difference there I'm not really sure about. I have to study that more.
"The Lord had previously given to the Church the law of consecration and stewardship of property, which members (chiefly the leading elders) entered into by a covenant that was to be everlasting. Because of failure on the part of many to abide by this covenant, the Lord withdrew it for a time, and gave instead the law of tithing to the whole Church."
(Doctrine and Covenants 119 Chapter Header)
Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 90:24
"Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another."
This is one of my hope scriptures. When things look down and dreary I know all of it will work together for my good. That the Lord is in control. I need faith believing.
"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."
(Doctrine and Covenants 82:10)
"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD."
(Isaiah 54:17)
Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 68:4
"And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation."
This is a very fitting chapter to read after watching three sessions of general conference today. I cannot wait to read the talks and study them, for they are scripture for truly the spirit testified of this. I also find it interesting that as this chapter discusses we were taught the same things in general conference. They spoke of missionaries preaching the gospel, testimonies, baptism, and even the signs of the coming of the Son of Man. We heard words of keeping our covenants, and repentance. Parents were instructed to teach their children the gospel and to walk uprightly before the Lord. It was a wonderful day of instruction and being taught of the spirit. I cannot wait to see what tomorrow brings.
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: Revelation 5:9-10
" And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."
Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, worthy to open the book with seven seals, which is to fulfill the work of God. I pondered on how we are preparing for that millennial day through our making and keeping covenants. In many ways we do not fully understand who we are and the important work we are here to do. If we did we would be like President Holland and feel a great urgency.
"Virtually all my experience in the hospital during that first period is lost to my memory. What is not lost is my memory of a journey outside the hospital, out to what seemed the edge of eternity. I cannot speak fully of that experience here, but I can say that part of what I received was an admonition to return to my ministry with more urgency, more consecration, more focus on the Savior, more faith in His word.
I bear witness that when Christ comes, He needs to recognize us—not as nominal members listed on a faded baptismal record but as thoroughly committed, faithfully believing, covenant-keeping disciples. This is an urgent matter for all of us, lest we ever hear with devastating regret: “I never knew you,” or, as Joseph Smith translated that phrase, “[You] never knew me.” "
(President Jeffrey R. Holland, "Motions of a Hidden Fire", Apr 2024 General Conference)
"That is, before the millennial era, before the time when Christ shall reign personally upon the earth, the elect of God among every kindred, the Saints who speak every tongue, the converts among all peoples and nations, having first believed the restored gospel, will go to the temples of God and receive the ordinances of exaltation whereby they qualify to become kings and priests."
(Bruce R. McConkie, "Go Ye Into All the World", Apr 1969 General Conference, Conference Report, pg. 143)
Today's Favorite Verse: Hebrews 10:16-17
"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more."
This is an amazing covenant and promised blessing. Repentance and that mighty change or heart is priceless.
"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)
Today's Favorite Verse: Hebrews 8:10
"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:"
I read this in the New Testament Student Manual.
"The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) noted that although Jews in New Testament times generally rejected this new covenant, it would again be offered to them at a later time: “Christ, in the days of His flesh, proposed to make a covenant with them, but they rejected Him and His proposals, and in consequence thereof, they were broken off, and no covenant was made with them at that time. But their unbelief has not rendered the promise of God of none effect: no, for there was another day limited in David, which was the day of His power; and then His people, Israel, should be a willing people;—and He would write His law in their hearts, and print it in their thoughts; their sins and their iniquities He would remember no more” (in History of the Church, 1:313)."
The early saint went into apostasy because they rejected the new covenant. It made me stop and ponder on how much emphasis we had in the past general conference on keeping our covenants. Now I understand those words, and the urgency in it. We must be a people that have written His laws on our hearts and minds, our thoughts and actions.
