Today's Favorite Verse: Moses 6:5-6, 8, 46-47

Today's Favorite Verse: Moses 6:5-6, 8, 46-47
"And a book of remembrance was kept, in the which was recorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration;
And by them their children were taught to read and write, having a language which was pure and undefiled. 
Now this prophecy Adam spake, as he was moved upon by the Holy Ghost, and a genealogy was kept of the children of God. And this was the book of the generations of Adam, saying: In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him.
For a book of remembrance we have written among us, according to the pattern given by the finger of God; and it is given in our own language.
And as Enoch spake forth the words of God, the people trembled, and could not stand in his presence."

A book of remembrance was created in the beginning in the Adamic language. The pure language of God that was confounded at the Tower of Babel. It was preserved with Jared and his brother and those that came with them to their new land of inheritance. It was this land. They had the Adamic language, and their records would have been written in them. This is what Moroni said about the record left by Ether that would have been in this same language.

"And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them."
(Ether 12:24)

What must it be like to hear the words of God as Enoch spoke them, or read what Ether recorded?

Day 3735

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 129:1, 4-5

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 129:1, 4-5
"There are two kinds of beings in heaven, namely: Angels, who are resurrected personages, having bodies of flesh and bones—
When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God, offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you.
If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand."

The verses continue to explain - The spirit of a just man made perfect will not move to shake your hand, because it is contrary to the order of heaven to deceive. The devil as an angel will move to shake your hand and you will feel nothing.

Seriously, I have a question and I pondered on it after reading this verse. The question? If Jesus Christ was the first resurrected being how did angels appear to man and touch them before His death and resurrection?

Who were the three holy men that Abraham entertained? (Genesis 18) He fed them, they ate. We know the resurrected Lord could eat. These holy men also delivered a message from God, that Sarah shall have a son. Who did Jacob wrestle with until the breaking of day? (Genesis 32) He was given a message from God, and his name was called Israel. What angel touched Elijah and said to him, Arise and eat? (1 Kings 19) All these events happened before Jesus Christ was resurrected. They all had to have a physical body, yet were messengers from God.

I thought about this verse.

"I answer, Yes. But there are no angels who minister to this earth but those who do belong or have belonged to it.
The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth;
But they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord."
(Doctrine and Covenants 130:5-7)

If these messengers from God were not resurrected beings, or spirits what are they? They could only be those that belonged to this earth and now resided in his presence. Then I thought of translated beings like Elijah that was taken up in a whirlwind. (2 Kings 2:11-12) But, Elijah came after Abraham and Jacob, and someone else touched him. Then I remembered Enoch and the entire city of Enoch being translated. They are part of this earth, and people that never died. God received them into his bosom.

"Enoch was twenty-five years old when he was ordained under the hand of Adam; and he was sixty-five and Adam blessed him.
And he saw the Lord, and he walked with him, and was before his face continually; and he walked with God three hundred and sixty-five years, making him four hundred and thirty years old when he was translated."
(Doctrine and Covenants 107:48-49)

"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." (Hebrew 11:5)

"And Enoch and all his people walked with God, and he dwelt in the midst of Zion; and it came to pass that Zion was not, for God received it up into his own bosom; and from thence went forth the saying, ZION IS FLED."
(Moses 7:69)

Feeling like I was finally understanding, I looked for some confirmation that angels include translated beings of flesh and bones.

"There are two kinds of beings in heaven who are called angels: those who are spirits and those who have bodies of flesh and bone. Angels who are spirits have not yet obtained a body of flesh and bone, or they are spirits who have once had a mortal body and are awaiting resurrection. Angels who have bodies of flesh and bone have either been resurrected from the dead or translated."
(Bible Dictionary, Angels)

"He explained the difference between an angel and a ministering spirit; the one a resurrected or translated body, with its spirit ministering to embodied spirits—the other a disembodied spirit, visiting and ministering to disembodied spirits. Jesus Christ became a ministering spirit (while His body was lying in the sepulchre) to the spirits in prison, to fulfill an important part of His mission, without which He could not have perfected His work, or entered into His rest. After His resurrection He appeared as an angel to His disciples. Translated bodies cannot enter into rest until they have undergone a change equivalent to death. Translated bodies are designed for future missions. The angel that appeared to John on the Isle of Patmos was a translated or resurrected body [i.e., personage]. Jesus Christ went in body after His resurrection, to minister to resurrected bodies. There has been a chain of authority and power from Adam down to the present time."
(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 191)

Translated bodies are designed for future missions. That makes so much sense now on who God sent to prophets before Jesus Christ's death and resurrection.

Day 3718

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 49:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 49:8
"Wherefore, I will that all men shall repent, for all are under sin, except those which I have reserved unto myself, holy men that ye know not of."

I asked myself "Who are these holy men that God reserved unto himself?" I didn't find an answer to that. So I made my own list of possibilities. First, I identified who the Lord was addressing. This chapter is directed to the Shakers. This is some background found in the chapter header.

"In prefacing this revelation, the Prophet wrote, “In order to have a more perfect understanding on the subject, I inquired of the Lord, and received the following.” The revelation refuted some of the basic concepts of the Shaker group. The aforementioned brethren took a copy of the revelation to the Shaker community (near Cleveland, Ohio) and read it to them in its entirety, but it was rejected."

Since this was being read to the Shakers they would be holy men they were not aware of. To start they would not have know that Joseph Smith, Jr. was a prophet of God and that is indeed a holy man. But, being still a mortal man he probably still needed repentance. I thought about those that were reserved then that never tasted death. The Shakers wouldn't have known about the Book of Mormon and the three Nephites. They were like John the Revelator and would never taste death. All would be holy men. Then I thought about the city of Enoch, which included Enoch and all his people that were taken up to heaven. They would certainly be holy men reserved to come to earth again. They possibly wouldn't know about Moses and Elijah also taken up. I suppose there could be more. Unless there has been some physical change that came upon us all will die and all are in need of repentance.

Day 3638

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 114:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 114:6

"Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs?"

This made me wonder how many times in the scriptures we have record of mountains being moved out of their place? I found two places, both mentioned in the Book of Mormon. One with the brother of Jared and the other with Enoch.

"For the brother of Jared said unto the mountain Zerin, Remove—and it was removed. And if he had not had faith it would not have moved; wherefore thou workest after men have faith."

(Ether 12:30)

"And so great was the faith of Enoch that he led the people of God, and their enemies came to battle against them; and he spake the word of the Lord, and the earth trembled, and the mountains fled, even according to his command; and the rivers of water were turned out of their course; and the roar of the lions was heard out of the wilderness; and all nations feared greatly, so powerful was the word of Enoch, and so great was the power of the language which God had given him."

(Moses 7:13)

I saw several places where it mentions faith can move mountains.

"And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you."

(Matthew 17:20)

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done."

(Matthew 21:21)

"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."

(Mark 11:23)

"For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee."

(Isaiah 54:10 & 3 Nephi 22:10)

"Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea."

(Jacob 4:6)

"And if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou cast down and become smooth, it shall be done."

(Helaman 10:9)

"Behold, if he say unto this mountain—Be thou raised up, and come over and fall upon that city, that it be buried up—behold it is done."

(Helaman 12:17)

I also read President Nelson's talk on moving mountains. This was about moving the mountains in our lives.

"Moving your mountains may require a miracle. Learn about miracles. Miracles come according to your faith in the Lord. Central to that faith is trusting His will and timetable—how and when He will bless you with the miraculous help you desire. Only your unbelief will keep God from blessing you with miracles to move the mountains in your life."

(Russell M. Nelson, "Christ is Risen; Faith in Him Will Move Mountains", April 2021, General Conference)

Yet, I do wonder if mountains being moved are some of the "mightiest works" and "greatest manifestations of the Savior's power" we are suppose to see in the coming days.

(Russell M. Nelson, "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives", Apr 2018 General Conference; "Overcome the World and Find Rest", Oct 2022 General Conference)

Day 2751

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 9:12-13, 16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 9:12-13, 16-17

"And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:

I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.

And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth."

The rainbow was a sign or token of God's covenant with Noah and every living creature that the earth would never again be covered with a flood. From the Joseph Smith Translation we also learn that the covenant included that Zion and the city of Enoch would return, and the Lord would come again to dwell on the earth.

"And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant, which I made unto thy father Enoch; that, when men should keep all my commandments, Zion should again come on the earth, the city of Enoch which I have caught up unto myself.

And this is mine everlasting covenant, that when thy posterity shall embrace the truth, and look upward, then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness, and the earth shall tremble with joy;

And the general assembly of the church of the firstborn shall come down out of heaven, and possess the earth, and shall have place until the end come. And this is mine everlasting covenant, which I made with thy father Enoch.

And the bow shall be in the cloud, and I will establish my covenant unto thee, which I have made between me and thee, for every living creature of all flesh that shall be upon the earth.

And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and thee; for all flesh that shall be upon the earth."

(JST, Genesis 9:21-25)

I noticed that the city of Enoch and the Savior's return does not happen until men keep all of God's commandments, embrace truth and look upward. Yet it seems man's focus is that the world has to reach a certain level of wickedness before that happens. The Lord isn't waiting for the world to become more wicked. I think there is more than enough wickedness if that is the case. The delay is there needs to be a Zion people ready to receive Him. Now is the time to prepare for the Lord's Second Coming, and that means to become the Zion people needed to receive Him. How else would it be the great and dreadful day of the Lord?

Day 2168

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: Moses 7:16,69

Today's Favorite Verse: Moses 7:16,69

"And from that time forth there was wars and bloodshed among them; but the Lord came and dwelt with his people, and they dwelt in righteousness.

And Enoch and all his people walked with God, and he dwelt in the midst of Zion; and it came to pass that Zion was not, for God received it up into his own bosom; and from thence went forth the saying, Zion is fled."

I learned something new about the city of Enoch reading this chapter. I didn't realized that the Lord actually dwelt with them there until Zion was taken up.

Day 2150

Today's Favorite Verse: Ether 13:8, 10-11

Today's Favorite Verse: Ether 13:8, 10-11
"Wherefore, the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come when the earth shall pass away.
And then cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of Israel.
And then also cometh the Jerusalem of old; and the inhabitants thereof, blessed are they, for they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who were scattered and gathered in from the four quarters of the earth, and from the north countries, and are partakers of the fulfilling of the covenant which God made with their father, Abraham."

This chapter in Ether makes Revelations and the New Jerusalem very clear on what it is and where it will be. There are two Jerusalem's, the old in Israel where the scattered Jews right now are gathering. The New Jerusalem which will be built in North America. The location was revealed to Joseph Smith in Doctrine and Covenants 57:2. It also speaks of the return of the City of Enoch that will come down from heaven.

The New Jerusalem:
It will be "the holy sanctuary of the Lord" (3)
It will be built on the American continent for the remnant of the seed of Joseph (4-6)
It will be a holy city like the Jerusalem built unto the Lord (8-9)
It will stand until the earth is celestialized (8)
It will be a city for the pure and righteous (10)

I pondered on how all of this will take shape when the saints are righteous and pure in heart, while the world is at its most wicked point. I know where I want to be found. 

Day 1990

Today's Favorite Verse: Jude 1:14

Today's Favorite Verse: Jude 1:14
"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints."

I have always been fascinated with the idea of Enoch and the city of Enoch. I like to look up scriptures that reference him and the Zion people. On this one there is a reference to "Scriptures, Lost". I sure wish these scriptures could be found. Obviously they were around when Jude wrote this. After reading all the standards works I can only say I want more. 

Day 1740

Today's Favorite Verse: Moses 8:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Moses 8:2

"And it came to pass that Methuselah, the son of Enoch, was not taken, that the covenants of the Lord might be fulfilled, which he made to Enoch; for he truly covenanted with Enoch that Noah should be of the fruit of his loins."

The City of Enoch, with Enoch and the saints were taken up to heaven, leaving behind his son Methuselah. If my math is right Methuselah and his son Lamech both witnessed the testimony and death of Adam, along with the City of Enoch being taken up. Lamech's son is Noah, and his grandson's are Shem, Ham and Japhath. Noah was born just a few years after Enoch and his city were taken up to heaven. Noah and his sons were also born after Adam's death so they could not witness his testimony face to face. The witness they received was from their grandfathers.

Jewish tradition says Methuselah died 7 days before the great flood. Lamech died 6 years prior.  I just sat and pondered on these great men Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japhath all being together. Grandfathers, sons, and great-grandsons. They survived the most wickedness of times together. They were together to prepare for the great flood that would cover the earth. I thought on the importance of family and our witness of the truthfulness of the gospel to our children. What an important role grandparents and great-grandparents play. Noah needed the witness of Methuselah to fulfill his mission on this earth. The church may flee, but the basic family unit will remain for the eternities. The basic family unit is where the essence of the gospel should be taught. 

Day 567

Today's Favorite Verse: Moses 7:61-63

Today's Favorite Verse: Moses 7:61-63

"And the day shall come that the earth shall rest, but before that day the heavens shall be darkened, and a veil of darkness shall cover the earth; and the heavens shall shake, and also the earth; and great tribulations shall be among the children of men, but my people will I preserve;

And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth; to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten; his resurrection from the dead; yea, and also the resurrection of all men; and the righteousness and truth will I cause to sweep the earth as with a flood, to gather out mine elect from the four quarters of the earth, unto a place which I shall prepare, an Holy City, that my people may gird up their loins, and be looking forth for the time of my coming; for there shall be my tabernacle, and it shall be called Zion, a New Jerusalem.

And the Lord said unto Enoch: Then shall thou and all thy city meet them there, and we will receive them into our bosom, and they shall see us; and we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other;"

My wish would be to live to see the return of the City of Enoch to the earth. I want to fall upon their necks and kiss them, and hold them very, very tight. It has been such a desire of my heart my whole life. Though I don't know if I will ever live to see that day in the flesh.

As I was reading this, and pondering on how glorious a scene it would be, a thought came to me. During family scripture reading we talk about the days event, and the increasing wickedness in the world. We say all the time "I can't believe what we are seeing. It's like we are in some type of dream." I realized I have thought upon the return of the City of Enoch also like some type of dream. You know it will happen, but doesn't seem real. I don't know why I exactly had to think of this future event in quite that parallel, but there must be something to it. I do not feel I will see this tomorrow, once again no knowledge I will live to see it. But, what was once unreal in this world is now becoming real. We really do live in particular times.

Day 566