Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 29:2, 7

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 29:2, 7
"When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it."

In the chapters I read tonight considering or caring for the poor was mentioned so many times. I think you can know the heart of a man in the way he treats the poor and needy. It's not just to feed and cloth the naked and hungry, it's important to know what is causing the poverty and help lift them out of it. I pondered on the "Perpetual Education Fund" that is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

President Gordon B. Hinckley called it a "bold initiative".
“But we believe in the need for it and in the success that it will enjoy,” he said. “Where there is widespread poverty among our people, we must do all we can to help them to lift themselves, to establish their lives upon a foundation of self-reliance that can come of training. Education is the key to opportunity.”
("25 years later, 130,000 students have benefited from the Church’s Perpetual Education Fund loans", Church News, 3 Feb 2026)

Over 130,000 students in 76 countries have been blessed because of it. The effect blesses generations.

Day 3962

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 136:31

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 136:31
"My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom."

Why do bad things happen to good people? We must be tried in all things. As I reflect on my trials I can see how much growth came from them. They led me down paths I never would have chosen on my own. What I learned through these experiences, and through relying on the Lord, have become the most valuable education I could ever receive. I don't seek out trials or suffering, but I've come to appreciate the strength and insight they bring. They have brought me closer to the Lord. It's even more rewarding when I can help others through the wisdom that was gained.

Day 3725

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 11:12

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 11:12

"Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble."

This made me think of our favorite sins, and how hard they are to give up. That idols and false gods would be the same way. I thought of different things that people worship, that take them away from God. It doesn't have to be false religions it can be so many material things. Things that fill us with pride, and give us a sense of superiority over others. Things of man that we put our trust into, and feel will save us. I pondered on how Satan has his hands is so many facets of life. He is spread throughout social, educational, political and philosophical doctrines which run counter to the gospel. The key is to not be deceived. Come unto Christ, is our only hope.

Day 2915

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 53:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 53:2

"God looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, that did seek God."

When I think of God looking at me I want to be found as one that understands and seeks Him. That won't happen without a valiant effort on my part to do both. This is a lifetime pursuit. In all the history of man I marvel at all the tools available to me to do this. Not only is there instruction at church and through temple attendance, there are so many scriptures to read. In addition to the Bible there is the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. They all help me in this quest. Then I have all the General Conference talks and reference materials on the church website to come to a knowledge of truth. The problem isn't finding ways to understand, the problem is not seeking.

I remember when I went to school for accounting and I struggled to understand my accounting textbook. I went to DI and bought a different college accounting textbook, so I could gain a different perspective on the concepts I was struggling with. As I read from both books I came to what was common between them and could grasp the concepts. Reading the scriptures is a lot like that. You need all the scriptures and their perspectives to come to an understanding about God and his laws. Reading builds precept upon precept, its an investment that pays off over time. God didn't say we needed a perfect understanding. He will take us wherever we are on the path of understanding and seeking Him. Simply as long as we are on that path.

Day 2690

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 29:16

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 29:16

"I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out."

This made me think of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its mission to help the poor and needy. We don't just give someone money or provide everything for them. The need is accessed and with knowledge of the cause a way to lift the person out of it is the best approach in recovering their self-reliance.

It reminds me of the cyclone that hit Tonga in 2019. The church could have sent materials or money to rebuild the homes. Instead it sent a mini-sawmill to let the Tonjan's help themselves. With the saw they could cut up the blown over coconut trees for lumber to rebuild their homes. It's the same principle as "Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." (Chinese proverb) With the sawmill in the hands of the Tongan saints, a vocational carpentry training program and additional tools were put in place. Helping them learn skills that would later generate additional income for them after the pressing need is relieved. That is a true hand-up and not just a hand-out.

Day 2624

Today's Favorite Verse: Zephaniah 3:8-9

Today's Favorite Verse: Zephaniah 3:8-9
"Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent."

These verses reminded me of preparation. The Lord will come when his people are prepared. There is much preparation still needed to become a Zion people. I think the new home-centered gospel learning, along with the Self-Reliance initiatives are part of that preparation. Looking at this quote from President Wilford Woodruff seems to support that.

"The hand of God is in all the operations we are trying to carry out. We have to build up Zion independent of the wicked; we have got to become self-sustaining, and the Lord is inspiring His prophets to preach to us to lay the foundation for the accomplishment of this work. The day is not far distant when we shall have to take care of ourselves. Great Babylon is going to fall, judgment is coming on the wicked, the Lord is about to pour upon the nations of the earth the great calamities which He has spoken of by the mouths of His prophets; and no power can stay these things. It is wisdom that we should lay the foundation to provide for ourselves."
(Wilford Woodruff, Improvement in the South, JD 12:11)

The last verse about a pure language reminded me of the PathwayConnect program I am taking. It is the church's world-wide low-cost education program that helps people start or return to college.  It is connected to BYU-Idaho and the Learning Model is to Prepare, Teach One Another, and Ponder and Prove. Teaching and serving are important in the learning process. Learning by the spirit is emphasized. Giving you the ability to learn greater than your own.

At the end of my first semester I discovered that people attending world-wide are required to learn English. All the classes are in English. My gathering meeting had a break-out session for those learning English. Now I'm not saying that English is the pure language spoken of in verse 9, but I can see the importance of a common language among the people. When the Lord returns we will have the language of angels, the language of God the Father, and will all understand one another and will have no need for the gift of tongues. The ability for us to learn and to serve will increase.

Day 1484