Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 13:30 "Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done."
I looked at the verses that are referenced in the footnotes.
"Verily, I say unto you, This generation, in which these things shall be shewn forth, shall not pass away until all I have told you shall be fulfilled." (JST Matthew 24:35 & Joseph Smith-Matthew 1:34))
"And it shall come to pass, that this generation of Jews shall not pass away until every desolation which I have told you concerning them shall come to pass." (Doctrine and Covenants 45:21)
I do believe this is the generation that will not all pass away before the Savior, Jesus Christ will come again. I remember being told this in my youth. Some say well they've been saying that for years. Well no one said we would be the youth of the day when it happens. Many generations are alive on the earth at the same time. Yet, I do feel the youth today are being prepared for the second coming for very good reason. They are the Lord's youth battalion, we are so close.
Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 45:17 "I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever."
The other evening during family scriptures I remarked how if Jesus was just a rabbi there is no way thousands of years later people would still speak of him. He was the Son of God.
Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 6:10 "And Johanan begat Azariah, (he it is that executed the priest’s office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:)"
Azariah the priest was of the tribe of Levi. I wondered how many generations there were from Israel to the time of Solomon. Looks like there were 19 generations. Azariah, Johanan, Azariah, Ahimaaz, Zadok, Ahitub, Amariah, Meraioth, Zerahiah, Uzzi, Bukki, Abishua, Phinehas, Eleazar, Aaron brother of Moses, sons of Amram, Kohath, Levi, son of Jacob (Israel).
There was only 13 generations from Solomon to Jacob (Israel) Solomon, David, Jesse, Obed, Boaz, Salmon, Nahshon, Amminadab, Ram, Hetzron, Peretz, Judah, Jacob (Israel)
It made me chuckle to see 6 generation gap between these genealogies. Isn't that so like doing genealogy. There can be lots of variables in the ages of when children were born. There can also be recording errors if those generations were written down from an oral tradition. I was interested in the difference and read a few things on the genealogies in the bible. Some suggested genealogies had been lengthened. With the opinion that only the line of David would be accurate.
Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 39:21 "For the time is at hand; the day or the hour no man knoweth; but it surely shall come."
I often hear people quoting this verse and the one in Matthew 24. That no man will know the day or hour of the Lord's coming. However, as I have pondered on these verses I note that He did not include the month or the year with that. We are promised to know the season. "Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled." (Matthew 24:32-33)
The Lord will do nothing but he revealeth it to his prophets. The following quote from Joseph Smith, Jr. confirms this.
"Of the Savior’s words that no man knows the day or the hour of the coming of the Son of Man (see Matt. 24:36), the Prophet asked: “Did Christ speak this as a general principle throughout all generations? Oh, no, He spoke in the present tense. No man that was then living upon the footstool of God knew the day or the hour. But He did not say that there was no man throughout all generations that should not know the day or the hour. No, for this would be in flat contradiction with other scripture. For the prophet says that God will do nothing but what He will reveal unto His servants the prophets. Consequently, if it is not made known to the prophets, it will not come to pass.” (Grant Underwood, "The Prophet Joseph Smith's Use of the Old Testament", Ensign, Aug 2002)
"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7)
Starting in my youth we were called the promised generation. We have witnessed many things in our day as we prepare for the second coming. After us every generation of youth have been told the same thing. I hear people say "Oh, I've heard that for ages and it hasn't happened yet." As if that means because it keeps being repeated its somehow void. My thought is "You're not dead yet!" I know this is still the generation, and every generation of youth after us are part of it. Here are some interesting quotes. The first one is particularly interesting given the current First Presidency, President Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring were all alive when it was written. Another point of interest is satellite communication hadn't been invented yet. It isn't until around 1966 when we start to see references to a particular generation.
"Some now living may see Second Coming. The day of the coming of the Lord is near. I do not know when. I am not looking, however, upon the coming of the Son of Man as I looked once upon the day when men would speak from city to city and throughout the land without the aid of wires, and would be heard -- as something that may come in some far distant time — because I sincerely believe it will come in the very day when some of us who are here today [April 5, 1936] will be living upon the face of the earth. That day is close at hand. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie [1955], 3:2)
"You, our youth today, are among the most illustrious spirits to be born into mortality in any age of the world. Yours is a noble heritage and a wonderful opportunity. Dedicate your lives to a new resolve. Gird yourselves with the armor of righteousness, having as your weapons the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Be guided to fulfill your highest destiny. Be prepared to become leaders in that glorious millennial day when Christ himself will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords." (President Harold B. Lee, card given to all the youth of the church, 1973) (O. Leslie Stone, "Essentials for Success", BYU Speeches, June 26, 1973)
"Our duty is to raise up a generation of men and women worthy to receive the coming of the Lord. For he will come—to Jackson County, Missouri, to be sustained as King of Kings—and he will come also to Israel to be hailed as Lord of Lords. Then his millennial reign will be ushered in. You young, strong, and faithful men and women will bear the burden of the kingdom of God upon the earth as these days of destiny come." (Russell M. Nelson, “Four Lessons from One Life”, Brigham Young University devotional, May 14, 1974, speeches.byu.edu.)
"For the Strength of Youth was published almost two years ago, under the direction and approval of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. I announced this revision in the opening session of general conference in October 2022. President Russell M. Nelson, our dear prophet, whom we all love and admire, concluded his message with these words: "One crucial element of this gathering is preparing a people who are able, ready, and worthy to receive the Lord when He comes again, a people who have already chosen Jesus Christ over this fallen world, a people who rejoice in their agency to live the higher, holier laws of Jesus Christ." And then he added, "I call upon you, my dear brothers and sisters, to become this righteous people." My dear young friends [pause], I believe that For the Strength of Youth is an ideal resource to help us become that kind of people. This guide for making choices is a call to set aside negative worldly influences and let God prevail in your lives. (Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Devotional with Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf", 2024 Utah YSA Conference Aug. 4, 2024, broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ISH)
The most recent quote was Feb 13, 2025 with Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and Elder Clark G. Gilbert, of the Seventy, Commissioner of the Church Educational System.
Elder Gilbert: I’d just say, you know, to all of us who love and admire and work with young adults and youth, trust them. President [Russell M.] Nelson has told the young adults first, and then he told the whole Church, “Take charge of your testimony.” In fact, use the word “plead.” And we always pay attention when the Prophet says, “I plead with you.” And he said to the young adults in his worldwide message to them, “I plead with you to take charge of your testimony. Work for it. Own it. Feed it, and feed it. Nurture it so that it will grow.” And I have so much confidence in this generation. It is hard. What they're facing is hard. But the Lord is pouring out blessings, resources and His Spirit, in unprecedented ways. And we see that happening. And it's inspiring. The Lord's doing something powerful. He’s hastening the work, and one of the ways He's doing it is through the future of this Church, which are youth and are young adults. Elder Christofferson: Our time as general authorities, we are doing everything we can to invest in them, and to help them succeed. They have a crucial role to play in all that is happening in the Lord's plan in this dispensation. And as we are hastening toward the end, toward the conclusion of that, they are crucial. Their role is crucial. Individually, each one matters. We do all our ordinances one by one because everybody matters. And we don’t do a group baptism; we do one by one, name by name. Every person is infinitely valuable in the Lord's eyes. I know I speak for the First Presidency and the Twelve in saying this, that we pray for them, and in the name of Christ, we bless them. ("Trust the Youth," Church News, February 13, 2025, YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZBC1Y9hVlI)
"Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled."
With the signs of the second coming appearing I have no doubt it will be with this generation. I was just noticing there is another worldwide devotional for young adults tomorrow. It is for ages 18-30, single or married. We never had such things when I was in that age group. I am so glad they are helping to strengthen the youth and young adults of the church. They need to be strong for what is ahead of us, and upon us. I had a discussion with someone this week about what we are seeing happening in the world and how we don't feel any fear, only peace, knowing God is in control. Twenty or thirty years ago that would not have been my reaction. I've had time to prepare my heart and to become fully converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I work daily at keeping my faith strong. This is why I don't feel fear. This is why our youth and young adults need to be prepared, because they have to become spiritual stronger faster than I had a chance. This is a remarkable generation, I have every faith that they will do it.
"And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.
These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood."
The generations from Noah to Peleg are: Shem, Arphaxas, Salah, Ebner, Peleg. There is a strong indication that Peleg lived around the time of the Tower of Babel. When languages were confounded and families and nations divided. This is when the Jaredites came to the America's. It could also have been when the continents divided or at least they began to be populated after being broken up during the flood.
"He shall command the great deep, and it shall be driven back into the north countries, and the islands shall become one land;
And the land of Jerusalem and the land of Zion shall be turned back into their own place, and the earth shall be like as it was in the days before it was divided."
"And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah:
And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters:
And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him."
As I was reading the generations of Adam and his descendants it shows how old someone was when their child was born. Then how old they were when they died, or in the case of Enoch translated.
These verses made me think of something I mentioned during family scriptures tonight. I related how baptism and final judgment are like the dash on the gravestone between the birth and death date. The dash gives the life story, it's the best part. For us the dash between baptism and final judgment is called enduring to the end. That dash makes up the sum of our existence and what we became, and how we will be judged. When we endure it's also the best part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. For, this is how we come to know Him. This is where we learn to walk with God.
Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 6:10
"And Johanan begat Azariah, (he it is that executed the priest's office in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem:)"
I had to go back and count how many generations are listed for Levi. I'm not sure if some have been skipped. It was 21 generations from Levi to Azariah during the time of king Solomon and the first temple being built. It was only two generations from Levi to Moses, not sure if that's right. Probably why verse one says "the sons of Levi".
I sat and thought about how many years it would take for 21 generations to pass. Just picturing the passing of the mosiac law from generation to generation. I don't have anything passed down from my ancestors for 21 generations. What a blessing the written scriptures are to the children of mankind. I can know the fathers, with my heart turned to my Heavenly Father through them.
"Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
These are the generations of Shem: Shem was an hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood."
I sat and did some math and figured that Shem, the son of Noah, and witness to the flood was still alive when Abraham's grandson Jacob was alive. As I went through the generations listed in the chapter I see that the father's are younger when they had their sons. The youngest is 23 years old. It was interesting watching their life span get shorter through the generations. Shem was 600, and Nahor was 148.
Noah would have died before Abram or Abraham was born. I found that interesting because that is like what happened with Adam dying before Noah's birth. Then Shem dies before Jacob's son Joseph was born. For some reason being able to picture who was alive during these great prophet's lifetimes helps put it into context for me.
During Noah and Shem's lifetime the tower of Babel happened. I sat and pondered on why that needed to happen. Why would God see confounding their language, so they didn't understand each other, a good thing? Then I remembered that before the flood they all had a common language and grew so wicked that they needed to be destroyed. I'm thinking God must have saw the same thing beginning to happen again. That the confounding of language would actually prevent this increase in wickedness.
After the tower of Babel and the confounding of languages people scattered, separating into groups around the world. I cannot imagine what it would be like if I didn't have all the different flavors of people in the world. I feel that it is a blessing to me. Because of this I have been able to appreciate each race's beauty and uniqueness, along with seeing the commonality among us as God's children. I do not understand all the reasons, but I know when it looks like a hard thing God has done, it can if we let it be a blessing in the end.
"Crying repentance, saying: Save yourselves from this untoward generation, and come forth out of the fire, hating even the garments spotted with the flesh."
I had to pause and ponder on this verse so I could understand the meaning of some phrases. It's so interesting that when I sit and ponder the meaning will unravel to me. I remember in school we would have tests matching phrases to their meanings, such and such is to such and such. I have no idea what you call this exercise, I'm sure it has a name. I would never get it. My brain would just scream "I don't understand what this means!" So I find it so exciting my brain is able to finally grasp this when instructed by the spirit. I have no such ability on my own.
These are the phrases I wanted to understand:
"untoward generation"
"come forth out of the fire"
"garments spotted with the flesh"
I actually didn't get it until I went in reverse. I looked for any scripture reference to the phrase "garments spotted with the flesh". I found Jude 1:23 " And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh".
The word "by" help me understand that a little better. It's talking about taking on the sins of the flesh, that soil my garments and make me unclean from the world. The part "pulling them out of the fire" is similar to "come forth out of the fire". I know that I will be cast into an everlasting fire if I am found marked will the sins of this world in the end. So "come forth out of the fire" means to leave the world behind. This would mean then that the "untoward generation" would be those that do not come towards Christ. They will not come to his outstretched hands. They are moving away from him.
What I learned is I need to come to Christ, keep myself from the sins of the world, and have garments washed white in his blood.
