Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 63:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 63:7
"Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice."

This imagery feels so safe. It reminded me of all the scriptures when Christ says he is as a hen that would gather her chickens under her wings. Sadly, it's often phrased that they would not. There is safety if we allow ourselves to be gathered and protected.

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"
(Matthew 23:37) (see Luke 13:34)

"O ye people of these great cities which have fallen, who are descendants of Jacob, yea, who are of the house of Israel, how oft have I gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and have nourished you.
And again, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, who have fallen; yea, O ye people of the house of Israel, ye that dwell at Jerusalem, as ye that have fallen; yea, how oft would I have gathered you as a hen gathereth her chickens, and ye would not.
O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart."
(3 Nephi 10:4-6)

"Who will gather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, even as many as will hearken to my voice and humble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer."
(Doctrine and Covenants 29:2)

Day 3923

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 32:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 32:3
"And Ziba Peterson also shall go with them; and I myself will go with them and be in their midst; and I am their advocate with the Father, and nothing shall prevail against them."

This made me think of the promise that when we are gathered together in the Lord's name he is there with us. I thought about how that happens every night in our home as we gather for family scriptures.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
(Matthew 18:20)

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples, where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there will I be in the midst of them—even so am I in the midst of you."
(Doctrine and Covenants 6:32)

"But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me;"
(Doctrine and Covenants 38:7)

"For the Lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver."
(Doctrine and Covenants 45:59)

"Behold, I will go before you and be your rearward; and I will be in your midst, and you shall not be confounded."
(Doctrine and Covenants 49:27)

"Whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.”
(Doctrine and Covenants 84:88)

Day 3621

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 27:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 27:5

"Behold, this is wisdom in me; wherefore, marvel not, for the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth, and with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel, to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim;"

The chapter continues to list other great prophets and apostles that will be there with Christ when they drink of the fruit of the vine. It's a great list. What I saw differently this time and have been trying to work out in my mind is the part "committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim". I didn't realize the Book of Mormon, which is the stick of Ephraim, had keys associated with it. 

If there is a key to it, what is its power? I pondered on this a while and was impressed to read Ezekiel 37:19

"Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God, Behold I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and they shall be one in mine hand.

From this I gather it's the power to bring the stick of Joseph and the stick of Judah together. It is unifying them and making them one in our hand. It's bringing the fullness of the gospel together. It's fulfilling a prophecy made long ago. It's part of the gathering of Lord's elect throughout the world. I think there is more than even this. I love it when I read and things like this jump out at me. I had never heard of the "keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim" before. What a great role Moroni has played. I can't wait to understand this even more.

Day 446