Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 15:24

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 15:24
"And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice."

This is the driving force that caused Saul to disobey the word of the Lord and do what he thought was right in his own eyes. It was a fear of the people and not God. He loved the adoration of the people and wanted to look big in their eyes. It was pride. It was pride that made him offer burnt offerings when he had no authority to do so. It was pride that made him keep the spoils of war against the Lord's command, and then try to justify it by giving them as offerings. It is because of pride and disobedience that the Lord rent the kingdom from him.

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
(Proverbs 16:18)

"Perhaps the greatest obstacle to our ability to hearken courageously to the word of the Lord involves our egos, vain ambitions, and pride. It seems that the proud find it burdensome to hear and accept the instruction of God. We are told in Proverbs that “pride goeth before destruction”. The proud are more anxious about man’s judgment than they are of God’s judgment."
(H. David Burton, "Courage to Hearken", Apr 1994 General Conference)

"And behold, how oft you have transgressed the commandments and the laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men.
For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God. Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words—"
(Doctrine and Covenants 3:6-7)

Day 3828

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 5:19

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 5:19

"For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

The one man's disobedience was Adam. We were all made sinners being subject to the law. As the second article of faith says: "We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression." Each man's sin is his own. It was only by Adam's fall that we came under the law. It is only little children under the age of accountability that do not sin. It is only through the obedience and perfection of our Savior, Jesus Christ that an infinite atonement could be made for all of us. He is the only one that could walk this earth in complete righteousness. It is through Jesus Christ that we can return back to Heavenly Father's presence where once Adam was cast out.

"President Boyd K. Packer (1924–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles affirmed: “Save for the exception of the very few who defect to perdition, there is no habit, no addiction, no rebellion, no transgression, no apostasy, no crime exempted from the promise of complete forgiveness. That is the promise of the atonement of Christ” (“The Brilliant Morning of Forgiveness,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 20).

(New Testament Student Manual, Chapter 36: Romans 4-8, "Much More")

Day 3210

Today's Favorite Verse: Jonah 3:4-5, 10

Today's Favorite Verse: Jonah 3:4-5, 10

"And Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not."

I love this story. Jonah prophesies that in 40 days Nineveh would be overthrown if they did not repent. AND, the people repented. They listened to the warning, humbled themselves, man and beast fasted and wore sackcloth and ashes, and cried mightily to the Lord for forgiveness. Then God said they were no longer worthy of that punishment. Judgment was reversed and the entire city was preserved. This is such a rare occurrence in the scriptures. So many times when people are told they will be destroyed they don't listen, and then they face that punishment. It shows that the fulfillment of God's warnings are based on our obedience or disobedience to His words. We can repent and be forgiven.

Day 3051

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 13:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 13:9-10

"And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.

And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God."

Why did Uzza have to die for touching the ark? It appears he had a righteous intent to save the ark from falling. But, in doing so he was disobedient, for they had been warned not to touch the ark. This is an example of the importance of strict obedience. Then I noticed something else in this chapter regarding the moving of the ark.

"And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we inquired not at it in the days of Saul.

And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people."

(1 Chronicles 13:3-4)

Was the even greater offense that they were moving the ark because it seemed right in the eyes of the people, and not because the Lord had commanded it? After Uzza is killed the ark is left with the family of Obed-edom and they are blessed for it. Later on when the ark is moved again it is when there was a place prepared for it and the Levites are the only ones allowed to carry it. It seems the death of Uzza was not just his obedience in touching the ark. It was the disobedience in the manner being handled and moved. If it had been moved correctly the oxen would have never stumbled which lead to this whole event taking place. When we are disobedient things can slide out of control to the point it can lead to our complete destruction.

Day 2510

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 33:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 33:8

"Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them."

I feel like I've been living like this for ages now. Even more so after the pandemic, and now the riots. I would be a very rich person, if I could have a penny for every time I have resisted commenting on something that has been posted online. Truly the spirit is indeed richer to take my concerns to the Lord and he comforts me. I am warned over and over again to stay out of it, say nothing. Rarely, am I impressed to comment. I am learning to be patient and wait for truth to come out which only time will tell. I am learning to let the spirit guide me over the muddy fast waters. I am learning the wisdom in obedience.

Day 1891

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 20:22

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 20:22
"And now let us pacify the king, and we fulfil the oath which we have made unto him; for it is better that we should be in bondage than that we should lose our lives; therefore, let us put a stop to the shedding of so much blood."

I had made a note on this verse about the removal of my dangerous old trees and having to go into debt to do so. I had read this verse shortly after the event and this left an impression on me. For those trees were rotted and limbs were coming down, one having fallen in the only perfect spot where it could do no damage. That was my final warning. My insurance would not have covered me if it had landed on the house because they were rotted and I had not maintained the trees. It was better to be in bondage financially then to have someone lose their life.

Now I think of the pandemic around us and how it is better to be in bondage, remaining safely in our homes, until the danger is lifted. In fact as I am reading these words in the Book of Mormon I see them as a clear direction on when to fight for liberty and when we need to stand still and preserve life.

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints put out a letter "Administrative Principle in Challenging Times", April 16, 2020 and reaffirmed us upholding the laws of the land, especially when rights are restricted to protect others. 

Global Citizen Responsibility
"Members of the Church are grateful for the laws of many nations around the world that protect religious freedom and respect the sacred freedom of conscience.

The Church teaches that its members should sustain and uphold the laws where they reside. These governments enact such laws as in their own judgment are best calculated to secure the public interest. We acknowledge that in exceptional circumstances all individual rights may be reasonably restricted, for a time to protect the safety of the general public.

In times of pandemic or natural disaster the Church will respond to official orders to take needed actions such as cancelling or postponing meetings or other gatherings. The Church and its members are committed to being good citizens and good neighbors. The Church has a long history of reaching out and providing assistance to those in need.

Along with our commitment to be good global citizens, we respectfully assert that reasonable accommodations be extended to all people of faith as they strive to participate in rites, that are foundational to their faith."
(Tad Walch, "Church releases guidelines for weddings, funerals, ordinances during COVID-19 pandemic", Deseret News, Apr 17, 2020)

I feel that not only will we be temporarily blessed in being obedient, we will have spiritual blessings poured out to us for doing so. Those that are disobedient and press for their rights at the wrong time will suffer spiritually if not temporarily for their actions. 

Day 1849

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 4:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 4:6
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."

This may have happened in the past, but I pondered on how it does not need to happen now. For there is much access to wonderful gospel materials. We have more scriptures that clarify what was lost to humankind for ages. If parents follow the prophet and use the Come, Follow Me manual not only will they gain knowledge of God, but their children will also. It is only through willful disobedience to the council that has been given, and rejecting knowledge that people and their families will face what God has said. I would not want God to forget my children in the days ahead.

Sadly, I would have to say the world in general is more ignorant of the word of God then at any time. Families used to come together at the end of a day and read the scriptures. Now the entertainment of choice is Netflix. The moral compass that guided us for generations is no longer there. It has come by choice, willful contempt, or totally apathy, for the value of the word of God is gone.

So maybe we are back to where Hosea prophesied. But, it doesn't have to be. This is probably where we see the separation of the sheep and the goats.

Day 1441

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 5:14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 5:14-15
"Moreover I will make thee waste, and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee, in the sight of all that pass by.
So it shall be a reproach and a taunt, an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee, when I shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I the Lord have spoken it."

I pondered on how loving the Lord God is. How merciful he is to his children. Then why must he punish them? Then I thought about my parents having to punish me as a child. What I learned from it. I though of myself having to punish my children. Even when I didn't want to see them loose privileges and suffer loss. Sometimes one children's disobedience caused the whole family to suffer. Yet, it was for their good. It was also for the good of the other children. So they would learn by example the price of disobedience. It's hard to be a good parent and raise children in righteousness. It would take a God to handle this on such a massive scale.

Day 1382

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 20:13, 22, 28, 42

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 20:13, 22, 28, 42
"And, behold, there came a prophet unto Ahab king of Israel, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou seen all this great multitude? behold, I will deliver it into thine hand this day; and thou shalt know that I am the Lord.
And the prophet came to the king of Israel, and said unto him, Go, strengthen thyself, and mark, and see what thou doest: for at the return of the year the king of Syria will come up against thee.
And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, Thus saith the Lord, Because the Syrians have said, The Lord is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys, therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the Lord.
And he said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man whom I appointed to utter destruction, therefore thy life shall go for his life, and thy people for his people."

I couldn't find anything inspiring in this chapter. I decided to write down each time a prophet had come to the king of Israel. I see that three times they deliver the message the Lord will deliver Syria into their hands. Each time the king of Israel does as he is told. Then he is deceived by the king of Syria who dressed in sackcloth on their loins and ropes upon their heads asking for mercy. They didn't have a repentant or humble bone in their body. It was meant to take advantage and deceive. What they wanted was to live. For this the king of Israel makes a covenant with them. So I wondered what was wrong with this. Why later is the Lord displeased and says he will take his life instead?

Obviously there were prophets around the king of Israel. What the king of Israel never did is send for them. They always came to him on an errand from the Lord. So he was being warned that Syria would be delivered into his hands, so "ye shall know that I am the Lord". I guess the king of Israel never learned that lesson was for him to know the Lord too. When he was deceived and ready to covenant with Syria what he needed to do was first inquire of the Lord. Even to send for the prophets to know the Lord's council. He did none of that. That was probably an even greater offense to the Lord. The king of Israel never knew him.


Day 886

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 15:7, 11

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 15:7, 11
"And Samson said unto them, Though ye have done this, yet will I be avenged of you, and after that I will cease.
Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them."

I'm really trying to find some good in Samson. Sadly, I just feel like its a story of what goes horribly wrong when a nation does evil in the sight of God, and he begins the process of cleaning house. Samson had a purpose and probably some good moments, because he was a judge of Israel for twenty years. Though in honesty I would not want him as my judge. The people probably chose him because of his great physical strength. His presence offering them a sense of protection. It's possible they were even drawn to his prideful words and reckless ways. What is probably more likely is I'm missing parts of the story.  All I can sit here and do is relate what I am reading to the scenes that have been going on around me. This just doesn't look good.


Day 801