Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 15:13-14

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 15:13-14

"But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."

I saw this tonight in action. False prophets, lies and conspiracies that are blinding men. They blindly follow each other, even to the point they reject and throw stones at prophets. Yet they claim to be cleansing the church. Who are they to cleanse the Lord's church? He will cleanse the church himself and them with it. It is so sad to witness these days. There is great wisdom to leave them alone. First, because you do not want to be corrupted, and have them destroy your peace. Second, because those that are blind are also deaf.

The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “I will give you a key that will never rust, if you will stay with the majority of the Twelve Apostles, and the records of the Church, you will never be led astray."

(President Joseph Smith as quoted by President James E. Faust, "The Keys That Never Rust", Oct 1994 General Conference)

Heber C. Kimball, while serving as a counselor to President Brigham Young, reported: “I will give you a key which Brother Joseph Smith used to give in Nauvoo. He said that the very step of apostasy commenced with losing confidence in the leaders of this church and kingdom, and that whenever you discerned that spirit you might know that it would lead the possessor of it on the road to apostasy.

(Heber C. Kimball, Deseret News, Apr. 2, 1856, p. 26; spelling and capitalization modernized.)

(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith: Beware the Bitter Fruits of Apostasy)

“The authorities which the Lord has placed in his Church constitute for the people of the Church a harbor, a place of refuge, a hitching post, as it were. No one in this Church will ever go far astray who ties himself securely to the Church Authorities whom the Lord has placed in his Church. This Church will never go astray; the Quorum of the Twelve will never lead you into bypaths: it never has and never will. There could be individuals who would falter; there will never be a majority of the Council of the Twelve on the wrong side at any time The Lord has chosen them; he has given them specific responsibilities. And those people who stand close to them will be safe. And conversely, whenever one begins to go his own way in opposition to authority, he is in grave danger. I would not say that those leaders whom the Lord chooses are necessarily the most brilliant, nor the most highly trained, but they are the chosen, and when chosen of the Lord they are his recognized authority, and the people who stay close to them have safety.”

(President Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, Apr. 1951, Page 104)

(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball, "Chapter 23: Shepherds of the Flock", p. 256)

Day 3103

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 7:1

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 7:1

"Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria."

Elisha's prophecy is fulfilled. The Syrians that were camped around them heard the noise of chariots and horses and a great host coming upon them. They fled leaving all of their food and belongings behind. The noise pursued them along the way so they would lighten their load even more and leave things behind. When discovered the people of Samaria bring the items to market and they sell for less than ever thought possible, especially during a time of hunger. This reminded me of Heber C. Kimball's prophecy.

"If your heart is right you cannot speak without speaking what is right. The Spirit of Prophecy foresees future events. God does not bring to pass a thing because you say it shall be so, but because He designed it should be so, and it is the future purposes of the Almighty that the Prophet foresees. That is the way I prophesy; but I have predicted things I did not foresee, and did not believe anybody else did, but I have said it, and it came to pass even more abundantly than I predicted; and that was with regard to the future situation of the people who first came into this valley. Nearly every man was dressed in skins, and we were all poor, destitute, and distressed, yet we all felt well. I said, “It will be but a little while, brethren, before you shall have food and raiment in abundance, and shall buy it cheaper than can be bought in the cities of the United States.”  I did not know there were any Gentiles coming here, I never thought of such a thing; but after I spoke it I thought I must be mistaken this time. Brother Rich remarked at the time, “I do not believe a word of it.” And neither did I; but, to the astonishment and joy of the Saints, it came to pass just as I had spoken it, only more abundantly. The Lord led me right, but I did not know it.

I have heard Joseph say many times, that he was much tempted about the revelations the Lord gave through him—it seemed to be so impossible for them to be fulfilled. I do not profess to be a Prophet; but I know that every man and woman can be, if they live for it. To enjoy this blessing they must walk in the channel of the Priesthood, being subject to the order and government of heaven; then they are all revelation and they cannot predict anything that will not come to pass. All that hinders you from enjoying this blessing is because you are not obedient."

(JD: 3:105, Heber C. Kimball, Education, Resurrection, etc. March 19, 1854.)

Day 2479