Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 15:16

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 15:16
"Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased."

I pondered on being purchased and bought with a price.

"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s."
(1 Corinthians 6:20)

"Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men."
(1 Corinthians 7:23)

The Lord redeemed Israel by delivering them from Egypt. They were bought with a price. As are all of us, for the Lord has truly redeemed us from the fall. We will be released from the bondage of death. We can never pay Him back, the price it to great. It was bought with His precious blood. What is asked is to honor the gift by honoring and obeying Him, repenting and keeping his commandments.

Day 3767

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 111:5, 7-8

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 111:5, 7-8
"Concern not yourselves about your debts, for I will give you power to pay them.
Tarry in this place, and in the regions round about;
And the place where it is my will that you should tarry, for the main, shall be signalized unto you by the peace and power of my Spirit, that shall flow unto you."

This made me ponder on our move to Utah. It felt right but we were struggling financially. It wasn't until someone offered to buy our land that we decided to look for a different house. It felt right to stay in the city we were initially lead to. When I saw the house we now live in, I knew this was our forever home. This is our place of refuge from life's storms. This is were peace is and the spirit is burned into the walls. Our financial challenges became more manageable. Everything just fell right into place as we started over fresh. Making sure to honor our commitment to pay a full and honest tithe and offerings. Sometimes just starting over where the Lord will lead you is the best place to begin.

I found this wonderful talk from Elder L. Tom Perry where he speaks of his challenges and how he was told to stay in the very state we moved from.

"I remember a critical time in my life and how grateful I was when a still, small voice gave me direction to make an important decision. I had been with a retail firm for a number of years. We had enjoyed extraordinary success. We wanted to expand the business but needed a great deal of capital. In an attempt to raise the money, we contacted the best financial advisers we could find. They encouraged us to merge with a larger firm. The merger was successfully completed, and I was asked to sign a five-year contract to give continuity to management. Within a matter of months I found myself in a very difficult situation. The new owners wanted me to violate a trust that I felt I just could not do. After long discussions, they continued to insist and I continued to refuse. Seeing there was no way to break the deadlock, I agreed to leave the company. The timing for me was devastating. I had a wife who was seriously ill and required a lot of medical attention, a daughter away to college, and a son on a mission. I spent the next year just getting enough consulting work to pay my expenses.
After struggling for about one year, a company called me from California and invited me to come out and talk to them about working for them. I went out and negotiated a very good contract; I was delighted with the opportunity. I told them that I had to return home and discuss it with my family before I could give an answer. I returned home and after a careful discussion, I convinced my family that it was the right thing to do. In the process of calling the firm to accept the offer, a voice just as strong and powerful as I have ever heard came to me and said, “Say no to the offer.” I could not ignore the voice, so I turned the offer down, but I was distressed. I could not comprehend why I had been told to do such a thing. I went upstairs to my bedroom, sat on the bed, opened the scriptures, and they fell open to the Doctrine and Covenants, section 111. This was the only section given in the state of Massachusetts, where my home was at that particular time. These words literally jumped out of the page and met my eye:
“Concern not yourselves about your debts, … I will give you power to pay them. …
“Tarry in this place, and in the regions round about” 
A great peace came to my soul. Within just a few days I was offered a fine position in Boston. A few months later I had the great privilege of hosting a conference in which President Harold B. Lee, then First Counselor in the First Presidency, was the featured speaker. The conference was a glorious success as we feasted on the words of President Lee. The following July, President Joseph Fielding Smith passed away and President Lee became the prophet. Three months later I was asked to come to Salt Lake, where I received a call to leave my profession and join the General Authorities.
I have often wondered what would have happened if I had not heeded the Holy Spirit in its counseling me not to leave Boston."
(L. Tom Perry, "That Spirit Which Leadeth to Do Good", Apr 1997 General Conference)

Day 3700

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 104:78-80

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 104:78-80
"And again, verily I say unto you, concerning your debts—behold it is my will that you shall pay all your debts.
And it is my will that you shall humble yourselves before me, and obtain this blessing by your diligence and humility and the prayer of faith.
And inasmuch as you are diligent and humble, and exercise the prayer of faith, behold, I will soften the hearts of those to whom you are in debt, until I shall send means unto you for your deliverance."

I have heard this scripture misquoted. With some thinking the Lord is displeased if we are in debt. There are times, like when purchasing a home, that one cannot pay for it all in cash. The taking out of a loan is necessary for many. What I think displeases the Lord, and is the greatest of concerns, is when we have debt and do not pay it back. When we are not even current on the monthly repayment of a loan or bill. I know through prayer and fasting, and the paying of tithes and offerings we can receive inspiration on how to pay our debts. I also know He will give us inspiration to guide us in managing our affairs and helping to avoid unnecessary debt.

Day 3693

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 4:2-4

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 4:2-4

"And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few.

And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full."

Elisha shows himself as a mighty a prophet as Elijah. This one story reminds of Elijah and the widow of Zarephath.

The wife of one of the sons of the prophets speaks to Elisha. Her husband is dead and left them in debt. Now the creditors want to take her sons and sell them as slaves. Elisha first asks what she has in her home, which is a pot of oil. Then from what she has he works with that. He has her borrow all the vessels she can from her neighbors. Then close her door and pour the oil into the vessels. When she asks for another vessel and there is none left to fill, the pot of oil will remain full. Now she could sell the oil, pay her debts and live.

This story reminded me of the self-reliance course on building a small business. The inventory first comes from what you have, be it goods or services. I thought about how many lives have been blessed starting these small businesses, even it if was a few chickens and selling eggs to begin with. I pondered on why she was to close her door for the miracle to happen? I guess the answer is it wasn't to be questioned, just done with obedience. There are blessings that come by being obedient and following the counsel of the prophet with exactness.

Day 2476

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 104:80-81

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 104:80-81

"And inasmuch as you are diligent and humble, and exercise the prayer of faith, behold, I will soften the hearts of those to whom you are in debt, until I shall send means unto you for your deliverance.

Therefore write speedily to New York and write according to that which shall be dictated by my Spirit; and I will soften the hearts of those to whom you are in debt, that it shall be taken away out of their minds to bring affliction upon you."

When I read this chapter it always stings a little when I read "behold it is my will that you shall pay all your debts." I feel bad that I am not out of debt and that I have debts. This time when I read it I saw things just a little differently. Yes, it would be best to be out of debt, but it's the paying of my debts that is at the heart of this. It is good to be honestly working to pay off your debts. The sin isn't in the having of debts, its in the not paying of the debts. As we turn humbly to God in prayer asking for help and deliverance, hearts will be softened and doors will be opened for us to pay our debts. That is a huge blessing! Instead of feeling really guilty about my debts, I sat here so very grateful for the Lord's help in providing a way that I can honorably be paying my debts. I am so blessed.

Day 2107

Today's Favorite Verse: Nehemiah 5:1, 4

Today's Favorite Verse: Nehemiah 5:1, 4
"And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards."

The borrowing of money or mortgaging their lands brought the Jews into bondage. It was a great financial burden. I can understand financial bondage and the tears that come from it. I pondered on the council of the prophets to get out of debt. I must do better with this.


Day 993

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 4:2-3

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 4:2-3
"And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.
The he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few."

What a faith promoting chapter. When times are tough this is one where I can stop and ponder on the miracles and power of God. How following the living prophet will protect me not only spiritually but temporally also. I love this story of the women who's husband dies and the creditors are coming to take her sons to be bondmen. All she has is pot of oil and the faith to follow the living prophet. She inquires what she is to do and then follows his council to gather and borrow all the empty vessels she can together.

Then she shuts her door with her sons and her inside and pours out the oil into the vessels. As she faithful does so, all the pots are filled and the oil still remains in the pot of oil that she has. Once she does this she turns again to Elisha and is told to now go and sell the oil to pay her debts. Then she and her children can live upon the rest. I know this happened. I am sure this will happen again. It totally made me think of the Self-Reliance class I just completed. The Lord is prepare us for great things. It made me think of my mason jars and how fruitful my the little plants in my garden are. They are filling my jars as the Lord has promised me he would.


Day 892

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 10:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 10:1 

"Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood."

I read that first verse and though "Ahh, then that means they did have sons before the flood too." I thought about Adam having Seth at the age of 130, after Cain killed Abel. How the first man had to start over in a sense, and the first family after the flood had to do the same thing. It made me think of Job too. For he lost his family and the Lord bless him again with more. The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, but if we remain righteous more is added upon our heads. I will be forever in debt to the Lord.

Day 585

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 119:1-4

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 119:1-4

Verily, thus saith the Lord, I require all their surplus property to be put into the hands of the bishop of my church in Zion,

For the building of mine house, and for the laying of the foundation of Zion and for the priesthood, and for the debts of the Presidency of my Church.

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."

This revelation was given to Joseph Smith after he inquired of the Lord on how much tithing was required. Before that the saints had lived the law of consecration and stewardship of property. As I pondered on this I saw that what was required before paying one-tenth tithing was the giving of all our surplus property. That isn't something I was ever asked to do. I wondered why we don't do that anymore?

Then I read what the surplus was for. It for building the House of the Lord, laying the foundation of Zion, and the paying of debts. Well the foundation has already been laid now. Temples are dotting the earth, and the church has paid all its debts and has a surplus. That would be why it is no longer required of us. I remembered back when younger how it was required of us to provide part of the funds for our chapel when it was built. It was a lot of hours and hard work as a ward to raise that money. There was even a building fund allotment per family. Now those are no longer required. It is the blessing of many faithful saints paying their tithing, that takes care of all the needs of the church. I had such a sense of gratitude for the saints prior to me and their sacrifices. How they helped lay a foundation that blessed the lives of those that followed. 

Day 538

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 111:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 111:5

"Concern not yourself about your debts, for I will give you power to pay them."

I know this isn't to say get in all the debt you want and don't worry about the payment. The Lord councils not to get into debt with our enemies. So I think when debt is acquired after all I could do, I can turn to the Lord for help. He can provide the inspiration and means for me to repay them. That would seem to be why he said "I will give YOU power to pay them". In faith follow him. Take the concern and the worry, that constant talking in my head out, placing them at the Lord's feet to carry that burden for me. Then with trust in the Lord, my mind is free to hear the promptings by the spirit in the direction or course needed to solve the matter. In faith the way to get out of debt will open up. 

Day 530

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 48:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 48:4

"It must needs be necessary that ye save all the money that ye can, and that ye obtain all that ye can in righteousness, that in time ye may be enabled to purchase land for an inheritance, even the city."

This revelation was regarding the procuring of land for the saints that were gathering to Kirtland, Ohio. What I see fitting is the same principle of sound fiscal management applies today. Save money, be out of debt, and don't purchase on time. The Church has used this counsel since the beginning. All chapels, temples and any Church undertaking is paid up front. I need to live this same counsel.

Day 467