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: Doctrine & Covenants 53:2, 7

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 53:2, 7
"Behold, I, the Lord, who was crucified for the sins of the world, give unto you a commandment that you shall forsake the world.
And again, I would that ye should learn that he only is saved who endureth unto the end. Even so. Amen."

What does it mean to "forsake the world"? As I pondered on this I thought about how to forsake doesn't mean you just leave it behind. You must be filled with something in its place. That would be a heart turned to Jesus Christ and eternal life. The focus and heart's desire is for something better, and the things of the world will not stop you.

"Therefore, forsake the world and save your souls; for what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
(Matthew 16:29)

"What is the meaning of these scriptural cautions and commandments not to be “of the world” or the modern commandment to “forsake the world”? President Thomas S. Monson summarized these teachings: “We must be vigilant in a world which has moved so far from that which is spiritual. It is essential that we reject anything that does not conform to our standards, refusing in the process to surrender that which we desire most: eternal life in the kingdom of God."
(Dallin H. Oaks, "The Plan and the Proclamation", Oct 2017 General Conference)

"The Prophet said that if we would go where God is, we must be like him; that is, we must develop the characteristics and the attributes and the perfections which God has. The struggle which we face is whether we will overcome the world or whether we will be overcome by the world. All men forsake the world when they come into the Church; they then overcome the world if they continue in righteousness and in diligence in keeping the commandments of God.
No one has overcome the world, the world of carnality and corruption, until he has given his heart to Christ, until he uses all his talents, abilities, and strength in keeping the commandments of God, and in causing this great work to roll forth."
(Bruce R. McConkie, "Overcome the World", April 1955 General Conference)

"Elder M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained:
“In the Church, we often state the couplet: ‘Be in the world but not of the world.’ …
“Perhaps we should state the couplet … as two separate admonitions. First, ‘Be in the world.’ Be involved; be informed. Try to be understanding and tolerant and to appreciate diversity. Make meaningful contributions to society through service and involvement. Second, ‘Be not of the world.’ Do not follow wrong paths or bend to accommodate or accept what is not right.
“… In spite of all of the wickedness in the world, and in spite of all the opposition to good that we find on every hand, we should not try to take ourselves or our children out of the world. Jesus said, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven,’ or yeast. (Matt. 13:33.) We are to lift the world and help all to rise above the wickedness that surrounds us” (“The Effects of Television,” Ensign, May 1989, 80).
(Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual "Chapter 20: Doctrine and Covenants 51-56")

Day 3642

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 21:20

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 21:20
"For it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that at that day whosoever will not repent and come unto my Beloved Son, them will I cut off from among my people, O house of Israel;"

I pondered on how God works by natural means. The world thinks it must be spectacular to believe, yet if they see the spectacular that doesn't give them faith that endures. We see that time and time again in the scriptures when miracles are performed, but it does not bring enduring faith. Some would think God will take a sword and wipe the wicked out of his church. What that only shows is they do not know the nature of God. It's by natural means that people take themselves out of the house of Israel. It is through apostasy and embracing false doctrines that they fall away. How different it would be if they were truly humble and repentant, and knew that God was greater than them, and man's wisdom.

"The scriptures teach that the voice of the Holy Ghost is mild and still, like a whisper—not loud or noisy; it is simple, quiet, and plain; it can be piercing and burning; it affects both mind and heart; it brings peace, joy, and hope—not fear, anxiety, and worry; it invites us to do good—not evil; and it is enlightening and delicious—not mystifying."
(Dale G. Renlund, "A Framework for Personal Revelation", footnote #10, Oct 2022 General Conference)

Day 3544

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 22:2, 31

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 22:2, 31
"And I, Nephi, said unto them: Behold they were manifest unto the prophet by the voice of the Spirit; for by the Spirit are all things made known unto the prophets, which shall come upon the children of men according to the flesh.
Wherefore, ye need not suppose that I and my father are the only ones that have testified, and also taught them. Wherefore, if ye shall be obedient to the commandments, and endure to the end, ye shall be saved at the last day. And thus it is. Amen."

The words "And thus it is" really stood out to me. The gospel really is simple, listen to the Lord's prophets, listen to the Spirit, be obedient to God's commandments. Then endure to the end, the best part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Where you come to know Him, because you love him and need him, that is the only way to endure. Have faith believing all these words will come true and you will be saved at the last days. "And thus it is."

Day 3371

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 2:5

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 2:5

"That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

This made me ponder on the importance of prayer. How such a simple act of praying to have the spirit to be with me really does make all the difference. Before I read the scriptures I pray to have the spirit and to know what He would have me learn. Otherwise, my eye would never catch that one verse to ponder on and have the spirit guide me in understanding it better. Faith is not built by reading others stories of it. It's build by the spirit guiding and testifying to you that it's true. You cannot endure on an intellectual testimony of the gospel. The enduring in faith comes by spiritual wisdom earned over time.

Day 3223

Today's Favorite Verse: John 3:3, 5

Today's Favorite Verse: John 3:3, 5

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Seeing and entering the kingdom of God are two separate things Jesus mentions. I wanted clarification on that.

"The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) taught about the Savior’s words in verses 3 and 5, which speak of “seeing” and “entering” the kingdom of God: “It is one thing to see the kingdom of God, and another thing to enter into it. We must have a change of heart to see the kingdom of God, and subscribe the articles of adoption to enter therein” (in History of the Church, 6:58). When a person “sees” the kingdom of God, the Holy Ghost has caused the person to have a mighty “change of heart” (see Alma 5:14). Then the person must participate in the ordinances of the gospel in order to “enter” the kingdom of God."

(New Testament Student Manual, Chapter 22: John 2-4)

It's not enough to only have a change a heart. Entering into ordinances and covenants are what admit us into His presence. Ordinances alone won't save us either, if the heart is not changed. We need both. Then we must live up to our privileges until the end.

Day 3159

Today's Favorite Verse: Nahum 1:6-7

Today's Favorite Verse: Nahum 1:6-7

"Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him."

Who can stand? Those that put their trust in the Lord. He knows you and will watch over you when all his indignation and anger is poured out. That is the great and dreadful day of the Lord. The time to practice and prepare for it is now. It's in those personal moments of trouble that we learn who is our strength and with us. This is the greatest part of the doctrine of Christ, to endure to the end. It is where we come to know the Savior. If our trials are not bringing us closer to Him, then we are hanging on our own cross suffering. He already did that for us. He lives, he loves us, he will be there to strengthen us, as we turn to him.

"And we know that all men must repent and believe on the name of Jesus Christ, and worship the Father in his name, and endure in faith on his name to the end, or they cannot be saved in the kingdom of God."

(Doctrine and Covenants 20:29)

"And whoso taketh upon him my name, and endureth to the end, the same shall be saved at the last day."

(3 Nephi 27:6)

"And now, behold, whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them."

(Doctrine and Covenants 10:69)

"Be patient in afflictions, for thou shalt have many; but endure them, for, lo, I am with thee, even unto the end of thy days."

(Doctrine and Covenants 24:8)

Day 3060

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 48:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 48:10

"Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."

I pondered on how you are not chosen because you suffered. People can suffer and turn away from God and curse him. The furnace of affliction is the refiner's fire. That is when you learn more about God because you turn to him during your suffering. This is my favorite part of the gospel, enduring to the end. Through it comes a personal relationship with the Lord, otherwise you cannot endure. He becomes your refuge and stay. That is truly when we have been chosen because we chose Him.

Day 2886

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 136:12

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 136:12

"With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever."

There are 26 verses and each one says "mercy endureth for ever". It made me think of faith, repentance, baptism and enduring to the end. How like Christ we need to endure. Enduring is a Christlike attribute. Enduring that is done well is done while relying on Christ. Enduring is my favorite part because it is how I come to know my Savior.

Day 2773

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 62:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 62:7

"In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God."

I pondered on how you could only say this, if you knew from your own experience how God works in your life. This is the purpose of trials and being made to endure. It's how we learn to turn to the Lord for strength and refuge.

Day 2699

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 9:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 9:9-10

"The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee."

This made me ponder on "enduring to the end". My favorite part of the doctrine of Christ. For this is how I come to know my Savior. I learn to turn to Him and seek refuge under His arm. He has always been there.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."

(Matthew 7:7-8)

Day 2646

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 23:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 23:10

"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."

I have to say there is some peace in knowing that the trials I go through are what's needed to refine me. I see the purpose in being made to enduring to the end. For that endurance can only come by turning to and relying on the Lord. I have also learned that patience is a godly attribute and to be embraced.

"Today other biographies of faith are being written—Saints who, like Job, suffer physical pain, emotional sorrow, and even disloyalty from friends—yet remain faithful; Saints who, like Jacob, see sons and daughters not so valiant as they should be, but who bless them for their potential; Saints who, like Paul, endure great ridicule and endure to the end; Saints who, like Nephi, must separate themselves from family because of their commitment to the gospel. There are those who know pain and sorrow because of loss of loved ones; who know spiritual sorrow because children go astray; who experience loss of health, financial reverses, and emotional distress, and yet, like Job, resolve, “When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold”  

(Howard W. Hunter, "God Will Have a Tried People". Apr 1980, General Conference) "The refiner's fire is real, and qualities of character and righteousness that are forged in the furnace of affliction perfect and purify us and prepare us to meet God." (Elder Quentin L. Cook, "The Songs They Could Not Sing", Oct 11, General Conference )

Day 2618

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 13:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 13:1

" Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed."

I pondered on how I would feel to be old and stricken in years and then told there was much land to still conquer and possess. Joshua must have needed to hear at that time that he was still called to the work. His time of rest was not yet. I thought about enduring to the end, and wearing yourself out in the service of the Lord.

Day 2359

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 22:25, 31-32

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 22:25, 31-32

"And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.

Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:"

I could not stop from thinking about my broken arm. The joy I felt in the morning, over making an appointment to go to the temple, was dashed to pieces by evening, when I fell while printing out my temple cards. I remember laying on the floor, knowing my arm was badly broken, and saying, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord". I knew my righteous desire to go to the temple was now placed on hold. Sometimes we can be on a good course, but it's not the road we are meant to travel. We just have to accept the course we are now on and know its the course God has in store for us. Having that knowledge makes enduring and having patience more attainable.

Day 2298

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 33:3, 20

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 33:3, 20

"Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.

And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me and live."

As I pondered on this verse I came to see this as not necessarily a punishment to the people, but the Lord being merciful. He knew they were not ready to endure his presence. For Him to be in their midst it would consume them, because no unclean thing can be in his presence and endure.

Day 2242

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 5:21-24

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 5:21-24

"And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:

And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:

And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:

And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him."

As I was reading the generations of Adam and his descendants it shows how old someone was when their child was born. Then how old they were when they died, or in the case of Enoch translated.

These verses made me think of something I mentioned during family scriptures tonight. I related how baptism and final judgment are like the dash on the gravestone between the birth and death date. The dash gives the life story, it's the best part. For us the dash between baptism and final judgment is called enduring to the end. That dash makes up the sum of our existence and what we became, and how we will be judged. When we endure it's also the best part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. For, this is how we come to know Him. This is where we learn to walk with God.

Day 2164

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 121:13, 45

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 121:13, 45

"Also because their hearts are corrupted, and the things which they are willing to bring upon others, and love to have others suffer, may come upon themselves to the very uttermost;

Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven."

I was struck with the contrast in where a person's focus and heart is between these two verses. We receive the blessing or cursings that we are willing to bestow upon others.

It made me wonder if the Lord said this to Joseph because he first asked:

"Let thine anger be kindled against our enemies; and, in the fury of thine heart, with they sword avenge us of our wrongs." (vs 5)

The saints were suffering terrible things, the prophet had already spent several months in the dungeon of Liberty Jail. Of course, they wanted to be avenged of their enemies. The Lord is reminding them that they must never lose their charity towards others. To do so would poison you. I think that is why one of the most beautiful chapters in the Book of Mormon is Moroni 7. It is given at the end of the Nephite civilization and it reminds us to have faith, hope and charity towards others. It is an important message for our day. We will not survive spiritually the days ahead if we lose our faith, hope and charity. In fact to have it, is to endure what comes. Revenge is not ours to ask.

Day 2124

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 101:38

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 101:38

"And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life."

Patience is something I have come to regard as one of the most Christlike attributes to be sought after. One of the greatest things I have learned from my trials is patience. Truly the only way to gain it is to exercise it. It is not gained by theory alone, it is through the practice of it. Because of this patience is something I am drawn to in discussions and ponder on often. It is something that I value a lot and want to understand it.

I was naturally drawn to this verse because of its reference to patience. I realized a truth I had not pondered on yet. That one cannot acquire patience if you are not seeking the Lord's face at the same time. When we lack patience we lack faith in our Savior and his ability to strengthen us, help us overcome and endure. Patience gives one the ability to possess your soul. That is a very powerful statement. This made me reflect on how when one has lost patience they are no longer in possession of their soul. That must mean something else would have power over it. That makes me think of losing patience and getting angry which only leads to giving the adversary control over the matter. No wonder one must be seeking the face of the Lord while exercising patience. There is a lot riding on our having the ability to gain patience. In fact in order to have eternal life one much possess patience. Patience is even more desirable now to me.

Day 2104