Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 11:28

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 11:28
"And say unto him, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority to do these things?"

This is something the chief priests, scribes and elders asked of Jesus. Now in this chapter Jesus did not tell them by what authority, because he wanted them to answer him first on if the baptism of John was from heaven or men. The scribes could not say, because they feared either option. In doing so neither would Jesus tell them.

I pondered on how their question was a good one, and similar to a question the Lord would have us ask when faced with false spirits, false teachers, and hypocrites. It is important to know if those trying to lead us actually have the authority and have been ordained to do so.

"Wherefore, I the Lord ask you this question—unto what were ye ordained?"
(Doctrine and Covenants 50:13)

Day 4092

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 50:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 50:2
"Behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many spirits which are false spirits, which have gone forth in the earth, deceiving the world."

This reminded me how I used to love to watch paranormal shows were people hunted and tried to communicate with ghosts. They would put cameras up and make audio recordings. Some of their findings were pretty amazing. Hearing the recorded voices always disturbed my spirit, which is never a good sign. But, I was so curious as to what these ghosts were. I knew there were righteous angels and spirit that were sent from God for specific messages. But, what were these other spirits?

The light did not come on until I realized they were deceiving spirits. Mischievous spirits of deceased individuals or Satan's followers trying to deceive. That's why no one was able to catch these ghosts. They were playing with them. They were making people waste their time running after them. Deceiving spirits can appear as little children, famous people of the ages, anyone in history they want to be. A true spirit sent from God would not cause us to run around foolishly after them. When a true spirit has a message he will deliver it and be done. The power to discern spirits and their true source is a gift of the Holy Ghost. I vowed never to waste my time watching another show like those again. Why would you want to even play with this? This is not entertainment, it's evil. They truly have no lasting value and can only lead to deception.  

"‘For nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God’
(Joseph Smith, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", p. 205)

Day 3639

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 43:17-19

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 43:17-19
"Hearken ye, for, behold, the great day of the Lord is nigh at hand.
For the day cometh that the Lord shall utter his voice out of heaven; the heavens shall shake and the earth shall tremble, and the trump of God shall sound both long and loud, and shall say to the sleeping nations: Ye saints arise and live; ye sinners stay and sleep until I shall call again.
Wherefore gird up your loins lest ye be found among the wicked."

As I read this I thought how devastatingly horrible it would be to be found among the wicked. Especially if you thought you were righteous. The Lord comes and the saints are resurrected and you find you are to wait. I wouldn't want to wait. I love change, anything new and different. To be held back would be so hard. Then of course the realization that you failed to recognize you were off the path, and found unworthy and not ready and now made to wait. That would be even harder to face. Man, I just don't want to go through that.

“The Prophet Joseph Smith said that 'nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God' [Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 205]
(Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, "Chapter 19: Doctrine and Covenants 50")

Day 3632