Today's Favorite Verse: Abraham 2:6, 12, 19

Today's Favorite Verse: Abraham 2:6, 12, 19
"But I, Abraham, and Lot, my brother’s son, prayed unto the Lord, and the Lord appeared unto me, and said unto me: Arise, and take Lot with thee; for I have purposed to take thee away out of Haran, and to make of thee a minister to bear my name in a strange land which I will give unto thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession, when they hearken to my voice.
Now, after the Lord had withdrawn from speaking to me, and withdrawn his face from me, I said in my heart: Thy servant has sought thee earnestly; now I have found thee;
And the Lord appeared unto me in answer to my prayers, and said unto me: Unto thy seed will I give this land."

The Lord appeared to Abraham at least twice in this chapter. Abraham prayed in Haran and the Lord appeared to him there. Built an altar in the land of Jershon and made offerings and prayed. Came to Sechem in the plains of Moreh and offered sacrifice and called on the Lord devoutly, and the Lord appeared to him. Then between Bethel and Hai he built another altar and called on the Lord. As I was counting all the times Abraham stopped to built an altar, make offerings and prayed it made me think of all the temples that dot the earth right now. We can be like Abraham and seek the Lord earnestly and we will find him.

"Here is my promise to you: Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find Him in the temple. You will feel His mercy. You will find answers to your most vexing questions. You will better comprehend the joy of His gospel."
(Russell M. Nelson, "The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again", Oct 2024 General Conference)

Day 3739

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 101:64-66

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 101:64-66
"That the work of the gathering together of my saints may continue, that I may build them up unto my name upon holy places; for the time of harvest is come, and my word must needs be fulfilled.
Therefore, I must gather together my people, according to the parable of the wheat and the tares, that the wheat may be secured in the garners to possess eternal life, and be crowned with celestial glory, when I shall come in the kingdom of my Father to reward every man according as his work shall be;
While the tares shall be bound in bundles, and their bands made strong, that they may be burned with unquenchable fire.

Most unfair chapter to pick a favorite. So may wonderful verses to ponder on. I selected this one because it gave me a new thought. As I pondered on the wheat being gathered and secured in the garners it made me think, "They are in the temples. They are in the House of the Lord." We must be a temple going people.

"Behold, it is my will, that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel, should gather together, and stand in holy places;
And prepare for the revelation which is to come, when the veil of the covering of my temple, in my tabernacle, which hideth the earth, shall be taken off, and all flesh shall see me together."
(Doctrine and Covenants 101:22-23)

Day 3690

Today's Favorite Verse: Hebrews 3:18-19

Today's Favorite Verse: Hebrews 3:18-19
" And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."

More is told of this in the Doctrine and Covenants.

"Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God;
But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory."
(Doctrine and Covenants 84:23-24)

I feel like this general conference had multiple talks that tried to teach plainly like Moses how to behold the face of God and enter into his rest. Through faith, obedience, honoring our covenants, and serving in the house of the Lord, it will strengthen us to do so. This theme was repeated over and over again. I can't wait to get the transcripts of the general conference talks and find all those quotes.

“The ancient prophets speak of ‘entering into God’s rest’; what does it mean? To my mind, it means entering into the knowledge and love of God, having faith in his purpose and in his plan, to such an extent that we know we are right, and that we are not hunting for something else, we are not disturbed by every wind of doctrine, or by the cunning and craftiness of men who lie in wait to deceive. … The man who has reached that degree of faith in God that all doubt and fear have been cast from him, he has entered into ‘God’s rest.’ … I pray that we may all enter into God’s rest—rest from doubt, from fear, from apprehension of danger, rest from the religious turmoil of the world”
(Joseph F. Smith, "Gospel Doctrine", 5th ed. [1939], 58).

Day 3295