Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 12:19

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 12:19
"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

Wanting vengeance has created so much suffering in the world. I want no part of vengeance. I am sure the Lord knows who they are and will make them account for their actions. Interesting words from the First Presidency during World War II about those that sit in their places of power, and those that hate and lust for unrighteous power and dominion.

"In this terrible war now waging, thousands of our righteous young men in all parts of the world and in many countries are subject to a call into the military service of their own countries. Some of these, so serving, have already been called back to their heavenly home; others will almost surely be called to follow. But 'behold,' as Moroni said, the righteous of them who serve and are slain 'do enter into the rest of the Lord their God'  and of them the Lord has said "those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them". Their salvation and exaltation in the world to come will be secure. That in their work of destruction they will be striking at their brethren will not be held against them. That sin, as Moroni of old said, is to the condemnation of those who 'sit in their places of power in a state of thoughtless stupor' those rulers in the world who in a frenzy of hate and lust for unrighteous power and dominion over their fellow men, have put into motion eternal forces they do not comprehend and cannot control. God, in His own due time, will pass sentence upon them.
Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
(Heber J. Grant, "Message of the First Presidency", Apr 1942 General Conference)

Day 4182

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 120:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 120:1
"Verily, thus saith the Lord, the time is now come, that it shall be disposed of by a council, composed of the First Presidency of my Church, and of the bishop and his council, and by my high council; and by mine own voice unto them, saith the Lord. Even so. Amen."

I have never felt to counsel the Church on where the tithing money goes after I pay it. I didn't conditionally pay my tithing, I gave it to the Lord because He asked me to live that law. I have full confidence in how the Lord instructed the Church in this matter.

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained how tithing funds are administered in the Church:
“According to revelation, bishops are ordained to ‘keep the Lord’s storehouse; to receive the funds of the church’ [D&C 72:10]. Both bishops and clerks are expected to be full-tithe payers who have learned to live prudently within their means. Within hours of receiving tithing funds from members of their wards and branches, these local leaders transmit the funds directly to the headquarters of the Church.
“Then, as revealed by the Lord, the use of tithing is determined by a council comprised of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and the Presiding Bishopric. The Lord specifically states that the council’s work be directed ‘by mine own voice unto them’ [D&C 120:1)]. This council is called the Council on the Disposition of the Tithes.
“It is remarkable to witness this council heed the Lord’s voice. Each member is aware of and participates in all the council’s decisions. No decision is made until the council is unanimous. All tithing funds are spent for the purposes of the Church, including welfare—care for the poor and needy— temples, buildings and upkeep of meetinghouses, education, curriculum— in short, the work of the Lord. …
“To Church members and others throughout the world, I bear my testimony of the Council on the Disposition of the Tithes. I have sat on this council for 17 years, as the Presiding Bishop of the Church and now as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Without exception, the tithing funds of this Church have been used for His purposes” (“Tithing: A Test of Faith with Eternal Blessings,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2002, 28).
(Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, "Chapter 45: Doctrine and Covenants 115-20")

Day 3709

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 10:12-13

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 10:12-13
"They were a wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people, believing in the tradition of their fathers, which is this—Believing that they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem because of the iniquities of their fathers, and that they were wronged in the wilderness by their brethren, and they were also wronged while crossing the sea;
And again, that they were wronged while in the land of their first inheritance, after they had crossed the sea, and all this because that Nephi was more faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord—therefore he was favored of the Lord, for the Lord heard his prayers and answered them, and he took the lead of their journey in the wilderness."

I pondered on false traditions and how believing an incorrect narrative can lead us and future generations astray. The Lamanites had believed a false narrative handed down by their fathers, which gave their descendants an eternal hatred towards the children of Nephi. This reminded me of how a First Presidency letter made me look at my traditions and rethink what I was supporting.

“Merely voting a straight ticket or voting based on ‘tradition’ without careful study of the candidates and their positions on important issues is a threat to democracy and inconsistent with revealed standards,”
(The Church News, "First Presidency letter emphasizes Latter-day Saints’ participation in elections and civic affairs, reaffirms political neutrality", 6 Jun 2023)

Day 3425

Today's Favorite Verse: John 15:14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: John 15:14-15

"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you."

I know I can have a friend in Jesus, but does he consider me his friend? I hope so.

"And again I say unto you, my friends, for from henceforth I shall call you friends, it is expedient that I give unto you this commandment, that ye become even as my friends in days when I was with them, traveling to preach the gospel in my power;"

(Doctrine and Covenants 84:77)

When I saw this picture I immediately thought of friends.

Day 3171

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 7:16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 7:16-17

"Now therefore hear thou the word of the LORD: Thou sayest, Prophesy not against Israel, and drop not thy word against the house of Isaac.

Therefore thus saith the LORD; Thy wife shall be an harlot in the city, and thy sons and thy daughters shall fall by the sword, and thy land shall be divided by line; and thou shalt die in a polluted land: and Israel shall surely go into captivity forth of his land."

Rejecting prophets brings destruction. I keep thinking about the First Presidency June 1, 2023 letter about the coming elections. There was a reason for that letter and this specific part.

"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".

For me counsel and prophesy go hand in hand. There is a reason to be counseled to be so careful and not do what you've always done. We really need to look closely and study the matter wisely. This is the real test of what type of person to support.

"Members should also study candidates carefully and vote for those who have demonstrated integrity, compassion, and service to others, regardless of party affiliation."

It is when the voice of the people chose evil we are ripe for destruction.

"For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted.

Yea, and this was not all; they were a stiffnecked people, insomuch that they could not be governed by the law nor justice, save it were to their destruction."

(Helaman 5:2-3)

Day 3045

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 41:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 41:4

"So he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple: and he said unto me, This is the most holy place."

Having a temple and a most holy place has been restored and with us today.

"Therefore, verily I say unto you, that your anointings, and your washings, and your baptisms for the dead, and your solemn assemblies, and your memorials for your sacrifices by the sons of Levi, and for your oracles in your most holy places wherein you receive conversations, and your statutes and judgments, for the beginning of the revelations and foundation of Zion, and for the glory, honor, and endowment of all her municipals, are ordained by the ordinance of my holy house, which my people are always commanded to build unto my holy name."

(Doctrine and Covenants 124:39)

It made me wonder how many temples now dot the earth. The Helena Montana Temple was the 178th temple dedicated this past weekend. It was also the first modular temple to be built. From groundbreaking to dedication it took almost 2 years. Given the announcement this past week that there will no longer be any further cornerstone ceremonies as part of the temple dedications it must mean the modular temples are moving forward. What an exciting time to live.

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has issued the following statement: Construction techniques have advanced to the point that cornerstones are no longer included in large buildings. Therefore, temple cornerstone ceremonies will no longer be part of temple dedications.

(First Presidency, Official Statement 17 Jun 2023, Church Newsroom)

Day 3002

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 2:18-19, 20

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 2:18-19, 20

"Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee.

And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.

And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window. "

This is the story of Rahab that protects the two men that Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. She helps them escape by letting them down over the wall with a cord. In return for her help and silence she is to identify her window with a line of scarlet thread with a promise none will die within. She then has several things she needs to do. Gather her family into her home for safety, and none of them are to go outside the door. This made me ponder on obedience and how vital these instructions were to not only her but to the preservation of her family. Jericho was going to come under siege and the Israelites will kill anyone outside their door.

Talk about your freedoms and liberty being taken away in order to be obedient. For the people of Jericho it was because of their wickedness that the Lord was going to give their land to others. Is there not some parallels we can learn here from this pandemic. I am reminded of the First Presidency's August 12, 2021 letter and they said "We find ourselves fighting a war against the ravages of COVID-19 and its variants, an unrelenting pandemic." If I was told to put a line of scarlet thread around my window so protection would come to anyone inside my door and stay there, I would have done it. Just as I listen to the prophet's counsel on what I should do now.

Day 2348

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 27:1, 10, 14

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 27:1, 10, 14

"And Moses with the elders of Israel commanded the people, saying, Keep all the commandments which I command you this day.

Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.

And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice,"

The Lord commanded Moses on what they were to do when they passed over Jordan into the promised land. They were to set up great stones and plaster them. Then to write on them all the words of the law that he had received. Afterwards the Levites were to speak in a loud voice all the words of the law, and the people were to obey all the commandments and statutes.

It was the word statutes that caught by eye. I had to look up what exactly was a statute.

Here are some things I learned.

-Typically, statutes command or prohibit something or declare policy. 

-Statutory law within the legal order can appear in three different forms: (1) written formal law, (2) law for the community and (3) non-public law.

-Statute is (legal) (common law) legislated rule of society which has been given the force of law by those it governs.

The statutes appear to be the laws of the community or society, which makes sense because what is laid out in the rest of the chapter are exactly that. For example: "Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour’s landmark." These statues are telling them more plainly how to live the commandments in consideration for their society.

Obeying statutes would also be in keeping with the 12th Article of Faith: "We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law."

I pondered on how the Lord doesn't just give laws, he gives counsel to the prophet on how best to run His Church, and for his people to live together. This now has me wondering if the First Presidency letter of August 12, 2021 could be considered a statute? We were given specific things we could do to fight the war on this pandemic. It was written and sent to all the members, and then read again over the pulpits of our churches. We do not need to be commanded in all things but we are told by the Lord to obey his statutes, and that should not be dismissed.

Day 2339

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 17:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 17:6

"At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death."

This is the law of witnesses. It has always been a part of the Lord's work on the earth, and still is today.

"This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."

(2 Corinthians 13:1)

"And now, behold, I give unto you, and also unto my servant Joseph, the keys of this gift, which shall bring to light this ministry; and in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."

(Doctrine and Covenants 6:28)

Until I read this I hadn't realized the August 12, 2021 First Presidency letter came from three witnesses. When the pandemic first hit we heard from only one witness, the prophet President Russell M. Nelson. Now we are hearing from three. I would take the counsel given in that letter very seriously.

"The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sent the following message on Thursday, August 12, 2021, to Church members around the world:

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

We find ourselves fighting a war against the ravages of COVID-19 and its variants, an unrelenting pandemic. We want to do all we can to limit the spread of these viruses. We know that protection from the diseases they cause can only be achieved by immunizing a very high percentage of the population.

To limit exposure to these viruses, we urge the use of face masks in public meetings whenever social distancing is not possible. To provide personal protection from such severe infections, we urge individuals to be vaccinated. Available vaccines have proven to be both safe and effective.

We can win this war if everyone will follow the wise and thoughtful recommendations of medical experts and government leaders. Please know of our sincere love and great concern for all of God’s children."

The First Presidency

Russell M. Nelson

Dallin H. Oaks

Henry B. Eyring

Day 2329