Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 31:10-11

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 31:10-11

"Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast lifted up thyself in height, and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs, and his heart is lifted up in his height;

I have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen; he shall surely deal with him: I have driven him out for his wickedness."

The chapter speaks of Pharaoh's glory and fall. With a heart lifted up to his height, I see a very prideful man. We see people that distance themselves from being under his shadow. To me those are smart people with eyes now open, that leave while they can. The others that supported him and stay are delivered unto death and go down to the pit with him. Nations will shake at the sound of his fall. I cannot help but see parallels to events taking place today.

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

(Proverbs 16:18)

Reflecting on pride I had to go back and listen to Ezra Taft Benson's wonderful talk "Beware of Pride". This part gave me pause as I realized something I had not seen before.

"The Doctrine and Covenants tells us that the Book of Mormon is the “record of a fallen people.” (D&C 20:9.) Why did they fall? This is one of the major messages of the Book of Mormon. Mormon gives the answer in the closing chapters of the book in these words: “Behold, the pride of this nation, or the people of the Nephites, hath proven their destruction.” (Moro. 8:27.) And then, lest we miss that momentous Book of Mormon message from that fallen people, the Lord warns us in the Doctrine and Covenants, “Beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old.” (D&C 38:39.)"

(Ezra Taft Benson, "Beware of Pride", Apr 1989 General Conference)

Throughout the Book of Mormon the more righteous people had been the Nephites. It wasn't until pride overcame them that they fell and that was the downfall of that nation. This makes me take the warning in June 1, 2023 letter from the First Presidency all the more deeply.

"Merely voting a straight ticket or voting based on “tradition” without careful study of candidates and their positions on important issues is a threat to democracy and inconsistent with revealed standards."

We were encouraged to "vote for those who have demonstrated integrity, compassion, and service to others, regardless of party affiliation."

Times have absolutely changed, and we cannot become deceived by pride and tradition like the Nephites of old.

Day 2992

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 30:7

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 30:7
"And it shall come to pass that the Jews which are scattered also shall begin to believe in Christ; and they shall begin to gather in upon the face of the land; and as many as shall believe in Christ shall also become a delightsome people."

I had this note on this verse in my scriptures.

"But the great conversion of the Jews, their return to the truth as a nation, is destined to follow the Second Coming of their Messiah. Those able to abide the day, in their extremity and mourning, will ask: 'What are these wounds in thine hands and in thy feet? Then shall they know that I am the Lord; for I will say unto them: These wounds are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God."
(Bruce R. McConkie, see Doctrine and Covenants 45:51-52; Zechariah 12:8-14; 13:6)

What it also reminded me of was a video created from a talk by President Ezra Taft Benson. Which I had been thinking about as I experienced an earthquake on top of the COVID-19 virus today. These are extraordinary times. President Russell M. Nelson has recently been telling us to "Hear Him". Today, I hear his voice in the events happening around me. To "Hear Him" is to recognize his voice of warning. Now is the time we need to turn our hearts to Him, and he will bring peace to our souls in the midst of upheaval. How grateful I am for His peace.



Day 1815

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 13:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 13:6
"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends."

At the end when Jesus appears to the Jews in Jerusalem they will say these words, and cry because they will know their Lord. What a touching scene.

It reminded me of a video created with the April 14, 1981 BYU Devotional talk by Ezra Taft Benson about the last days, "Prepare Yourselves for the Great Day of the Lord". When he says this line as it reads in the Doctrine and Covenants, I cry.

President Ezra Taft Benson:
"Another appearance of the Lord will be to the Jews. To these beleaguered sons of Judah, surrounded by hostile Gentile armies, who again threaten to overrun Jerusalem, the Savior—their Messiah—will set his feet on the Mount of Olives,

and it shall cleave in twain, and the earth shall tremble, and reel to and fro, and the heavens also shall shake. [Doctrine & Covenants 45:47]

The Lord himself will then rout the Gentile armies, decimating their forces (see Ezekiel 38, 39). Judah will be spared, no longer to be persecuted and scattered. The Jews will then approach their Deliverer and ask, “What are these wounds in thine hands and in thy feet?”

I will say unto them: These wounds are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God.

And then shall they weep because of their iniquities; then shall they lament because they persecuted their king. [Doctrine & Covenants 45: 52–53]

What a touching drama this will be! Jesus—Prophet, Messiah, King—will be welcomed in his own country!

Jerusalem will become an eternal city of peace!"


Day 1499

Will This Generation Fail the Test?

I was reading the Oct 2017 conference talk by Dallin H. Oaks "The Plan and the Proclamation" and found this:

"Forty years ago, President Ezra Taft Benson taught that "every generation has its tests and its chance to stand and prove itself." I believe our attitude toward and use of the family proclamation is one of those tests for this generation. I pray for all Latter-day Saints to stand firm in that test."

I believe my generation for the most part failed the test given us by Ezra Taft Benson, that mothers stay in the home, and today I see the results of that failure and the bondage our daughters are in. For we moved the standard from one income supporting a household to two and most mothers are now forced to work. As a mother in Zion I implore the mothers today to not fail in the test for your generation. Teach your children the family proclamation. The coming generation will need it, or they to will find themselves left in bondage by their mothers.

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