Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 12:19

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 12:19

"The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment."

I have learned no matter the situation its always best to tell the truth. There is a freedom in truth, that becomes a protection over you. The life of a liar would be very stressful. One lie builds upon another lie, and eventually you are exposed because your stories begin to not match up. That must be why a lying tongue is but for a moment. It's ever changing in its attempt to conceal itself from those that have eyes to see, and ears to hear.

Day 2799

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 6:24

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 6:24

" And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day."

I pondered on how keeping God's laws and commandments are always for our good. He is not trying to limit or restrict us. He is trying to keep us free from bondage that comes from the consequences of sin. The thief will land in jail. The law of chastity will protect from the destruction of family, or children out of wedlock. It made me think of the video "Blessed and Happy Are Those Who Keep the Commandments of God". It was from Elder Von G. Keetch's Oct 2015 General Conference talk.

Day 2318

Today's Favorite Verse: Ether 2:10, 12

Today's Favorite Verse: Ether 2:10, 12
"For behold, this is a land which is choice above all other lands; wherefore he that doth possess it shall serve God or shall be swept off; for it is the everlasting decree of God. And it is not until the fulness of iniquity among the children of the land, that they are swept off.
Behold, this is a choice land, and whatsoever nation shall possess it shall be free from bondage, and from captivity, and from all other nations under heaven, if they will but serve the God of the land, who is Jesus Christ, who hath been manifested by the things which we have written."

Many thoughts on this chapter but I don't know if I can express them. I reflected a lot on the condition of this wonderful land I live in and how iniquity is displayed all over the news. If it wasn't for the God-fearing people that still live here, I think we would have been swept off this land. It happened to the Jaredites. It happened to the Nephites. With an everlasting decree it means if we don't meet the condition of serving God in this land then we will be wiped off too. I can't change anyone else, but what I can do is serve God with all my heart. As I pondered on this, I think serving God is the most patriotic thing I could do for my country.

Day 1979

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 3:17

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 3:17
"Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

As I see our liberties being taken, so does wickedness gain momentum in our nation. The one builds upon the other.

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
(Romans 8:2)

"But where the Spirit of God is, there is union, harmony and liberty, and where it is not there is strife, confusion and bondage. Let us then seek to be one, honor our God, honor our religion, and keep the commandments of God, and seek to know His will, and then to do it"
(JD 22:38, John Taylor, The Organization of the First Presidency, Etc., Oct 1880 General Conference)

"Through our faith in Jesus Christ, believing in His Atonement, repenting of our sins, and being baptized, we may then receive the supernal gift of the Holy Ghost. This gift provides knowledge and understanding, guidance and strength to learn and gain a testimony, power, cleansing to overcome sin, and comfort and encouragement to be faithful in tribulation. These incomparable blessings of the Spirit increase our freedom and power to do what is right, for “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
As we walk the path of spiritual liberty in these last days, we must understand that the faithful use of our agency depends upon our having religious freedom. We already know that Satan does not want this freedom to be ours. He attempted to destroy moral agency in heaven, and now on earth he is fiercely undermining, opposing, and spreading confusion about religious freedom—what it is and why it is essential to our spiritual life and our very salvation.There are four cornerstones of religious freedom that we as Latter-day Saints must rely upon and protect.

The first is freedom to believe. No one should be criticized, persecuted, or attacked by individuals, or governments either, for what he or she believes about God. It is very personal and very important...
The second cornerstone of religious liberty is the freedom to share our faith and our beliefs with others...
The third cornerstone of religious liberty is the freedom to form a religious organization, a church, to worship peacefully with others...
The fourth cornerstone of religious liberty is the freedom to live our faith—free exercise of faith not just in the home and chapel but also in public places..."
(Elder Robert D. Hales, Preserving Agency, Protecting Religious Freedom, Apr 2015 General Conference)

Day 1654

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 112:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 112:1
"Praise ye the Lord. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments."

I sat and pondered on if I 'delighteth greatly in his commandments". What a long journey I have been in life. One only delights in something if they can keep them. As I have witnessed many things around me I can see the protection and wisdom in all of God's commandments. I do delight in the commandments for they have blessed me. I see the good that comes from them. The peace of mind, and the surety they bring me. The freedom that comes when not in bondage of sin. Oh, that society would see the need for them. I rejoice that one day when the Savior reigns, everyone around me will delight in keeping the commandments. What a wonderful day that will be.

Day 1165