Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 15:4-6, 31-32

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 15:4-6, 31-32
"What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost."
"And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found."

As I was reading the parable of the lost sheep I kept thinking about the 99 left behind. Who was protecting those sheep? Then as I read the parable of the prodigal son I saw how they went hand in hand. The 99 and the faithful son are the same, they were true and ever faithful. They may for a moment hesitate to see such rejoicing and feasting over the lost, but the Father has not forgotten them. We are to learn to rejoice for the lost sheep returning in stead of feeling forgotten. The reward is to be with the Father again.

Day 4112

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 50:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 50:10
"Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God."

I pondered on this question and what I felt is there is no one that fears the Lord and obeys His servants and yet walks in darkness. It is not possible to be in darkness if you do those two things. You will walk in the light. You would remain faithful and trust in the Lord, and know that His authorized servants speak for Him. How grateful I am for the prophets.

Day 3986

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 1:5, 7

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 1:5, 7
"There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest."

I pondered on how the Lord is with His prophets. He was with Moses and is now with Joshua, as long as they follow Him. Don't veer to the right or to the left. I learned the importance of this as I read the Book of Mormon. I can apply it to so many areas in my life. Stay true, and stay the course, remain on the covenant path.

Day 3808

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 60:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 60:3
"And it shall come to pass, if they are not more faithful unto me, it shall be taken away, even that which they have."

This made me think of when the Lord has taken things away from me for a lack of faithfulness. Immediately, I thought of all the attempts over the years to read my scriptures daily. I would do good and then slip, and slip and slip, until I wasn't reading them at all. Over and over I had this pattern. Each time I restarted I had to learn all over again, because I failed to retain the knowledge previously learned. (It was taken away.) That was until almost 15 years ago. That is when I committed to reading my scriptures daily and have not missed a day. Doing this I was finally able to retain what I learned and build upon it. 

Day 3649

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 48:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 48:7
"Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God."

This made me ponder on two men in our day. One is trying to obtain power by fraud and deceit, the other is trying to prepare his people to be faithful to the Lord. The latter is Russell M. Nelson, a prophet of God. It's interesting that President Nelson even gave a general conference talk on Moroni.

"In that regard, we can learn a lot from Captain Moroni. As commander of the Nephite armies, he faced opposing forces that were stronger, greater in number, and meaner. So, Moroni prepared his people in three essential ways.
First, he helped them create areas where they would be safe—“places of security” he called them. Second, he prepared “the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord.” And third, he never stopped preparing his people—physically or spiritually. Let us consider these three principles.
Principle Number One: Create Places of Security
Principle Number Two: Prepare Your Mind to Be Faithful to God
Principle Number Three: Never Stop Preparing"
(Russell M. Nelson, "Embrace the Future with Faith", Oct 2020 General Conference)

Day 3492

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 45:14

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 45:14
"But whosoever remaineth, and is not destroyed in that great and dreadful day, shall be numbered among the Lamanites, and shall become like unto them, all, save it be a few who shall be called the disciples of the Lord; and them shall the Lamanites pursue even until they shall become extinct. And now, because of iniquity, this prophecy shall be fulfilled."

Alma is speaking to his son Helaman. First, its like a temple recommend interview. Alma makes sure the Helaman will be faithful and keep the commandments. Then he gives him a prophesy that Helaman is to record but not make known to the people. They are to be kept until the prophecy is fulfilled. He prophesied for what would happen 400 hundred years from then, when the Nephites would be destroyed. All destroyed except a few called the disciples of the Lord. Alma saw Moroni, he was the last prophet to record in the gold plates before hiding them up to the Lord. But, Moroni was not alone. There were three Nephite disciples that Jesus Christ blessed to remain on the earth, just like John the Beloved. I hadn't thought about that connection until now. Those disciples of the Lord remained until the wickedness of the people became to great.

"And there are none that do know the true God save it be the disciples of Jesus, who did tarry in the land until the wickedness of the people was so great that the Lord would not suffer them to remain with the people; and whether they be upon the face of the land no man knoweth.
But behold, my father and I have seen them, and they have ministered unto us.
And whoso receiveth this record, and shall not condemn it because of the imperfections which are in it, the same shall know of greater things than these. Behold, I am Moroni; and were it possible, I would make all things known unto you."
(Mormon 8:10-12)

Day 3489

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 44:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 44:4
"Now ye see that this is the true faith of God; yea, ye see that God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith."

The Nephites were being attacked by the Lamanites that wanted to destroy them and have power over them. Yes, good people can die in battle, but the Lord's promise was they would not be destroyed as a whole until they fell into transgression and denied their faith. That is ultimately what did happen to the Nephite civilization.

This made me reflect upon the church, and the promise that we have that it will never be taken again from the earth. The safest place of protection both spiritually and physically is to be in the mainstream of the church. Not a wolf in sheep clothing, but a faithful, active member of Christ's church.

"Apostasy can occur at two basic levels—institutional and individual. At the institutional level, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will not be lost through apostasy or taken from the earth.
The Prophet Joseph Smith proclaimed: “The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing … ; the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.”
(David A. Bednar, "In the Space of Not Many Years", Oct 2024 General Conference)

Day 3488

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 18:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 18:10
"Now when king Lamoni heard that Ammon was preparing his horses and his chariots he was more astonished, because of the faithfulness of Ammon, saying: Surely there has not been any servant among all my servants that has been so faithful as this man; for even he doth remember all my commandments to execute them."

I pondered on how Ammon was a son of a king. Granted the Nephite king Mosiah was not as severe as the Lamanite king Lamoni was. The Nephites must have shown respect towards their king. Ammon would have known the greatest way to show respect and honor was to be faithful to the commands of a king. You cannot begin to teach someone if you do not show respect for them. Ammon showed great respect to king Lamoni by teaching him the gospel with an understanding and appreciation of what he already believed. He could then give him more.

Day 3462

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 21:3-4

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 21:3-4
"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away."

This is such a marvelous promise for the faithful to look forward to. I have no words. All do I know is that everything we go through will be worth it, if we remain faithful.

Day 3347

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 17:14

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 17:14
"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful."

I liked the part where we are with Him. The righteous are not waging war against the inhabitants of the earth. Oh, the world may war against us but, but the Lamb will overcome them. Those that are called, chosen and faithful we will stand on the side that wins. We can't lose faith in that.

Day 3343

Today's Favorite Verse: Ephesians 1:13

Today's Favorite Verse: Ephesians 1:13

"In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,"

It is one thing to have an ordinance performed. It is another to be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. The ordinances is then ratified, and you are sealed up to eternal life. Another name is having your "calling and election" made sure. I have many quotes on this subject, but the one that settled the matter for me, and gave me peace was this one.

"Everyone in the Church who is on the straight and narrow path, who is striving and struggling and desiring to do what is right, though is far from perfect in this life; if he passes out of this life while he's on the straight and narrow, he's going to go on to eternal reward in his Father's kingdom. We don't need to get a complex or get a feeling that you have to be perfect to be saved. You don't. There's only been one perfect person, and that's the Lord Jesus, but in order to be saved in the Kingdom of God and in order to pass the test of mortality, what you have to do is get on the straight and narrow path--thus charting a course leading to eternal life--and then, being on that path, pass out of this life in full fellowship. I'm not saying that you don't have to keep the commandments. I'm saying you don't have to be perfect to be saved. If you did, no one would be saved. The way it operates is this: you get on the path that's named the "straight and narrow." You do it by entering the gate of repentance and baptism. The straight and narrow path leads from the gate of repentance and baptism, a very great distance, to a reward that's called eternal life. If you're on that path and pressing forward, and you die, you'll never get off the path. There is no such thing as falling off the straight and narrow path in the life to come, and the reason is that this life is the time that is given to men to prepare for eternity. Now is the time and the day of your salvation, so if you're working zealously in this life-- though you haven't fully overcome the world and you haven't done all you hoped you might do--you're still going to be saved. You don't have to do what Jacob said, "Go beyond the mark." You don't have to live a life that's truer than true. You don't have to have an excessive zeal that becomes fanatical and becomes unbalancing. What you have to do is stay in the mainstream of the Church and live as upright and decent people live in the Church--keeping the commandments, paying your tithing, serving in the organizations of the Church, loving the Lord, staying on the straight and narrow path. If you're on that path when death comes--because this is the time and the day appointed, this the probationary estate--you'll never fall off from it, and, for all practical purposes, your calling and election is made sure." 

(Bruce R. McConkie, "The Probationary Test of Mortality," Address given at Univ. of Utah, 10 Jan 1982)

Sometime we make things harder then they really are. Our Heavenly Father wants us to succeed and one day live with him again. Stay true, stay faithful, stay on the covenant path and that promise is sure.

Day 3257

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 1:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 1:2

"The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD."

I couldn't understand why the Lord would tell Hosea to take a wife of whoredoms. Then I read the header and it says "Hosea and his family are a sign unto Israel". Hosea is the only prophet of the northern kingdom that left written prophecies. I imagine with the moral decay of the northern kingdom there wasn't many righteous women to pick from. The footnote for wife leads me to these verses.

"Then said the LORD unto me, Go yet, love a woman beloved of her friend, yet an adulteress, according to the love of the LORD toward the children of Israel, who look to other gods, and love flagons of wine.

So I bought her to me for fifteen pieces of silver, and for an homer of barley, and an half homer of barley:

And I said unto her, Thou shalt abide for me many days; thou shalt not play the harlot, and thou shalt not be for another man: so will I also be for thee."

(Hosea 3:1-3)

Hosea's wife was unfaithful by looking to other gods, but had a good heart. It appears he asks for fidelity in the marriage and to their God. That is what the Lord kept calling Israel back to do.

Day 3022

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 31:23

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 31:23

"O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer."

I was just talking about this today, on having to be obedient and walking in faith. Hoping to be preserved by divine protection when you have to do something you don't totally feel is in your best interest and safe.

"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it."

(Mosiah 2:41)

"If thou wilt do good, yea, and hold out faithful to the end, thou shalt be saved in the kingdom of God, which is the greatest of all the gifts of God; for there is no gift greater than the gift of salvation."

(Doctrine and Covenants 6:13)

"And inasmuch as they are faithful they shall be preserved, and I, the Lord, will be with them."

(Doctrine and Covenants 61:10)

This made me think of the pioneers having the cross the plains. That act also took obedience and faith. I cannot help but think of the hymn "Come, Come Ye Saints". The last verse showing it matters not if you live or die for all will be well.

"And should we die before our journey’s through,

Happy day! All is well!

We then are free from toil and sorrow, too;

With the just we shall dwell!

But if our lives are spared again

To see the Saints their rest obtain,

Oh, how we’ll make this chorus swell—

All is well! All is well!"

Day 2668

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 16:10, 14

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 16:10, 14

"And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Urijah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.

And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the LORD, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the LORD, and put it on the north side of the altar."

Ahaz has a priest build an altar like he saw in Damascus. Then when he returns he put aside the brasen altar of the Lord and replaces it with his own. He changes other things that had been established by the Lord. Not only is it sad to see the house of the Lord defiled, but it's sad that a priest would listen to a man and change these things. I suppose man can only serve one master and this group has chosen a different one than who's house it is. It made me ponder on how easily we can set aside the Lord and replace Him with things of the world. It takes effort and thought to be faithful. It shows where our heart is.

Day 2488

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 7:2-3, 7

Today's Favorite Verse: Judges 7:2-3, 7

"And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and depart early from mount Gilead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand; and there remained ten thousand.

And the LORD said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place."

I found it interesting that 32,000 men came to defend Israel, and it was too many. The Lord wanted to show that this was his work. Gideon was to tell anyone afraid to leave, so 22,000 men left, and 10,000 remained. Of the 10,000 remaining they were tested further to see who would lap like a dog to drink or bow the knee down to do so. Of that only 300 would lap like a dog. This is how the Lord chose who would fight this battle by pure inspiration.

I thought upon the 31,700 men that either left or were turned away. Were they guilty of anything? No, they were not. They were all faithful. They were doing what the Lord asked them to do. Thinking about this actually made me feel greater peace about the fact we are staying home from church and participating online during this pandemic. Just like those men that were fearful and needed to stay home, they were inspired for a reason to do so. When we are faithful in what we are doing, and it does not go against what is asked of us, there is a reason we are impressed to make the decisions that we do. Recognizing the Lord's hand in his work is part of it. It is just as important to stay as it is to go.

Day 2377

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 10:12, 21

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 10:12, 21

"And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,"

He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

I love these verses. It tells me to love God and be faithful only to him. In all that I do give God the praise for it is his.

Day 2322

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 3:4, 8

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 3:4, 8

"For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him.

Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you in every time of trouble."

These verses meant something to me tonight because of a scripture my husband showed me today..

"And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee.

(Exodus 15:26)

I have felt throughout this pandemic that I needed to learn obedience, and faithfully follow through with exactness the impressions I am given. Listen to the Lord and sustain his servants by following their counsel and examples. I have been grateful for the apostolic blessing the Elder Bednar gave me, "to have eyes to see and ears that hear". Today was one of those days, and we listened. It feels good. This is not the time to fall and be without the protection of the Lord. But, just like another way was prepared in advance when Joseph fell the Lord will humble us and teach us. The important thing is to repent and learn from it.

Day 2006

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 6:14

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 6:14
"And thus there became a great inequality in all the land, insomuch that the church began to be broken up; yea, insomuch that in the thirtieth year the church was broken up in all the land save it were among a few of the Lamanites who were converted unto the true faith; and they would not depart from it, for they were firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord."

I pondered on what I might see when the churches fully open up again. The churches may have not been broken up, but the people have been. This pandemic has been hard, and it's not over yet. The true test of the followers of Christ is if they kept the faith when left on their own. The true test of conversion is remaining "firm, and steadfast, and immovable, willing with all diligence to keep the commandments of the Lord." Especially when no one has been looking.

Day 1943

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 5:1, 14

Today's favorite verse: 3 Nephi 5:1, 14
"And behold, there was not a living soul among all the people of the Nephites who did doubt in the least the words of all the holy prophets who had spoken; for they knew that it must needs be that they must be fulfilled.
And it hath become expedient that I, according to the will of God, that the prayers of those who have gone hence, who were the holy ones, should be fulfilled according to their faith, should make a record of these things which have been done."

Mormon is speaking to us in this chapter. I pondered on how it must have felt to know you were fulfilling prophecy by what you were doing. He was abridging the Nephite records as a promise the Lord had give to earlier generations and prophets. He was the means of their preservation.

Then I realized that I am living in days prophesied of too. I can either be one of the faithful followers of Christ, prepared for his second coming, or one that apostasizes and falls away. I know these are the days prophesied of long ago. I have no doubt of it. May I remain strong and faithful.

Day 1942

Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 3:33-35

Today's Favorite Verse: Helaman 3:33-35

"And in the fifty and first year of the reign of the judges there was a peace also, save it were the pride which began to enter into the church - not into the church of God, but into the hearts of the people who professed to belong to the church of God -

And they were lifted up in pride, even to the persecution of many of their brethren. Now this was a great evil, which did cause the more humble part of the people to suffer great persecutions, and to wade through much affliction.

Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God."

I like how Mormon said "the people who professed to belong to the church of God." These individuals were full of pride, which caused them to persecute those that were humble. I am reminded that there are two churches only, the church of God and the church of the devil. It is entirely possible to be a member of the true and living church, but your membership lies in the church of the devil, simply because of where your heart is. It is sad the damage people can do when they profess to belong to the church and then are a very bad example of what the faith is all about. 

Yet, in this we see the saints that are persecuted by fellow members are made more prayerful, humble and faithful. They turn to God and are purified and sanctified. It is an example of "..all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good." (Doctrine and Covenants 122:7) 

I had these notes on the verses. It is powerful to think of what the humble followers of Christ came to understand from all that they passed through.

"The Saints of Helaman’s day continued in good works and became stronger in spiritual qualities, which in turn resulted in sanctification. Elder D. Todd Christofferson explained that sanctification is a step in the path of striving toward perfection: “Personal persistence in the path of obedience is something different than achieving perfection in mortality. Perfection is not, as some suppose, a prerequisite for justification and sanctification. It is just the opposite: justification (being pardoned) and sanctification (being purified) are the prerequisites for perfection. We only become perfect ‘in Christ’ (see Moro. 10:32), not independently of Him. Thus, what is required of us in order to obtain mercy in the day of judgment is simple diligence” (“Justification and Sanctification,” Ensign, June 2001, 24–25). 

The development of humility is a strengthening factor that leads to greater faith and joy in the lives of faithful Church members then and now. 

“To be humble is to recognize gratefully your dependence on the Lord—to understand that you have constant need for His support. Humility is an acknowledgment that your talents and abilities are gifts from God. It is not a sign of weakness, timidity, or fear; it is an indication that you know where your true strength lies. You can be both humble and fearless. You can be both humble and courageous. … 

“The Lord will strengthen you as you humble yourself before Him” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 86).

Day 1924