Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 101:64-66

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 101:64-66
"That the work of the gathering together of my saints may continue, that I may build them up unto my name upon holy places; for the time of harvest is come, and my word must needs be fulfilled.
Therefore, I must gather together my people, according to the parable of the wheat and the tares, that the wheat may be secured in the garners to possess eternal life, and be crowned with celestial glory, when I shall come in the kingdom of my Father to reward every man according as his work shall be;
While the tares shall be bound in bundles, and their bands made strong, that they may be burned with unquenchable fire.

Most unfair chapter to pick a favorite. So may wonderful verses to ponder on. I selected this one because it gave me a new thought. As I pondered on the wheat being gathered and secured in the garners it made me think, "They are in the temples. They are in the House of the Lord." We must be a temple going people.

"Behold, it is my will, that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel, should gather together, and stand in holy places;
And prepare for the revelation which is to come, when the veil of the covering of my temple, in my tabernacle, which hideth the earth, shall be taken off, and all flesh shall see me together."
(Doctrine and Covenants 101:22-23)

Day 3690

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 6:2, 6

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 6:2, 6
"And I, Mormon, wrote an epistle unto the king of the Lamanites, and desired of him that he would grant unto us that we might gather together our people unto the land of Cumorah, by a hill which was called Cumorah, and there we could give them battle.
And it came to pass that when we had gathered in all our people in one to the land of Cumorah, behold I, Mormon, began to be old; and knowing it to be the last struggle of my people, and having been commanded of the Lord that I should not suffer the records which had been handed down by our fathers, which were sacred, to fall into the hands of the Lamanites, (for the Lamanites would destroy them) therefore I made this record out of the plates of Nephi, and hid up in the hill Cumorah all the records which had been entrusted to me by the hand of the Lord, save it were these few plates which I gave unto my son Moroni."

The thought occurred to me, "Why would Mormon gather his people to the land of Cumorah for this final battle?" Why did he hid up all the sacred records into the hill Cumorah? Was it his way of being in a sacred or holy place? This was also the place of the last battle of the Jaredites, then it was call the hill Ramah.

"And it came to pass that the army of Coriantumr did pitch their tents by the hill Ramah; and it was that same hill where my father Mormon did hide up the records unto the Lord, which were sacred."
(Ether 15:11)

"Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen."
(Doctrine and Covenants 87:8)

Day 3560

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 15:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 15:1-2
"And it came to pass that Alma and Amulek were commanded to depart out of that city; and they departed, and came out even into the land of Sidom; and behold, there they found all the people who had departed out of the land of Ammonihah, who had been cast out and stoned, because they believed in the words of Alma.
And they related unto them all that had happened unto their wives and children, and also concerning themselves, and of their power of deliverance."

They found "all the people" that had been cast out of the land of Ammonihah. I thought about how they were gathered in a safe place. Yes, terrible things had happened to their families, but the Lord gave them each other and Alma and Amulek to bring comfort and the word of God to them.

"Behold, it is my will, that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel, should gather together, and stand in holy places;"
(Doctrine and Covenants 101:22)

"In conclusion, Latter-day Saints should be gifted, covenant-keeping people. Nonetheless, it remains for each of us to seek to exercise our spiritual gifts and then to invite and learn to recognize promptings of the Spirit. Four guiding principles to assist us in this crucial spiritual endeavor are:
1. Stand in holy places.
2. Stand with holy people.
3. Testify of holy truths.
4. Listen to the Holy Spirit."
(Gary e. Stevenson, "Promptings of the Spirit", Oct 2023 General Conference)

"True disciples love to submit themselves to the Lord with peace in their heart. They are humble and submissive because they love Him. They have faith to fully accept His will, not only in what He does but also in how and when. True disciples know that the real blessings are not always what they want but rather what the Lord wants for them.
True disciples love the Lord more than the world and are steadfast and immovable in their faith. They stay strong and firm in a changing and confusing world. True disciples love to listen to the voice of the Spirit and of the prophets and are not confused by the voices of the world. True disciples love to “stand in holy places” and love to make holy the places where they stand. Wherever they go, they bring the love of the Lord and peace to the hearts of others. True disciples love to obey the Lord’s commandments, and they obey because they love the Lord. As they love and keep their covenants, their hearts are renewed and their very nature changes."
(Massimo De Feo, "Pure Love: The True Sign of Every True Disciple of Jesus Christ", Apr 2018 General Conference)

Day 3459

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 15:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 15:1-2
"And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God."

This chapter and the next one will speak of the seven last plagues of God's wrath poured out upon the wicked. This chapter tells me where the righteous are, standing on a sea of glass mingled with fire. Now the sea of glass is the celestial kingdom, and fire typifies the Spirit of God. I don't think this is referring to us being dead, because those worthy of a celestial and terrestrial glory will survive to live during the millennium. What this reminds me of is "stand in holy places". Those that are worthy of a celestial glory, that have overcome the world and all the Satan would throw at them, have the Holy Spirit as their guide and will be found in holy places praising God.

This week in family scripture study we have been reading about the people in the land of Nephi and it struck me how different the experiences were for people that lived in the same location. Depending on their ability to repent and keep the commandments they were led in different ways to safety. When they were slow to repent their experiences were much harder. When they were quick to repent their burdens were lifted and shortened. I think it will be no different for us in these later parts of the last days.

"Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.
My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. Let this Easter Sunday be a defining moment in your life. Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly."
(Russell M. Nelson, "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives", Apr 2018 General Conference)

Day 3341

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 8:2-4

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 8:2-4
"And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.
And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.
And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand."

It took a while to find where I would be in this chapter of Revelations. I poured over the seven angels and the destruction that followed and could not see where the righteous would be among them. Would everyone suffer the wrath of God alone? Then I went back to the beginning and noticed this separate angel that was not part of the seven. This angel was over the prayers of the saints. This made me think of the prayers being offered upon the temple altars. This is what my role would be. I will stand in holy places and worship my God.

Day 3334

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 20:6-7

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 20:6-7

"And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive."

When the master of the house hired laborers he went out early in the morning to the marketplace and hired them. Then he went back the third hour and saw more idle in the marketplace and hired them. At the sixth and ninth hour the same. Then at the eleventh hour he found more standing idle and hired them. They all receive a penny for their labors. What I pondered on this time was the mention of all those hired after the first group being idle. They said they were idle because no one hired them. Yet, if the master of the household was looking for laborers wouldn't he have found them waiting with the first group that got hired? It looked like he was not picky about who was hired as a worker, but instead hired all the workers as he could find. Why were these men that wanted to work not in the marketplace where people looked for workers?

I would think it was because they weren't in the marketplace, but off somewhere else. Each of them had something in their life that kept them from the marketplace. Once their life was in order they stood in the right place and could answer the call to work. It made me think of how import it is to be worthy to stand in holy places.

"Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen."

(Doctrine and Covenants 87:8)

The eleventh hour workers were just as needed and valued as the first hour workers. I couldn't help but think of the people that never made it to the marketplace in time.

Day 3108

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 28:15

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 28:15

"Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:"

The mention of an 'overflowing scourge" made me think of this verse.

"And in that generation shall the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

And there shall be men standing in that generation, that shall not pass until they shall see an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the land.

But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God and die."

(Doctrine and Covenants 45:30-32)

I was reading in the Old Testament Institute manual and it said,

“The prophet confronts the rulers of Jerusalem with the assertion that their policy and behavior are bringing inevitable ruin. This time the fault is that they have deliberately entered into a covenant to serve, in return for protection, a god or gods other than their own. Death, maweth, is here the god of the underworld, Sheol or hell. Perhaps the Canaanite god of the underworld, Mot, is intended, or the reference may be to the Egyptian Osiris. It was customary for the prophets to speak of the alien deities as lies and falsehood. In contrast to this act of panic by the rulers, Isaiah declares that faith in God is the only secure foundation of Zion’s security, and that his justice and righteousness alone can erect a building that will stand. Those who in fright have sought to secure themselves by worshiping other gods as well, will experience in sheer terror the effects of Yahweh’s decree of destruction.”

(The Interpreter's Bible, 5:317)

This made me ponder on how worshipping anything but the one true God would be worshipping a false god. The worship can come in may forms like thinking you have power over the environment, or enough money or stores will save you from calamities. It is a comfort to me to know worshipping God and standing in holy places we will not be moved.

Day 2866

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 13:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 13:3

"I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness."

It's pretty much terrible to think of the destruction of Babylon at the Second Coming. As I'm reading this I kept think where would I be. Where are the people that love the Lord and worship him?

The footnotes says "sanctified ones" and "saints" are synonymously translated from either of two Hebrew words in the Old Testament." OK, so I'm going to take it that I'm one of the saints.

The footnote for "mighty" references Joel 3:11

"Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy might ones to come down, O LORD."

Ah, so come down from where? The verse before tells me where.

"Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles."

(Isaiah 13:2)

The saints are standing in holy places. Exactly where we are told to be right now. There has to be a place of refuge for those that want to flee Babylon before it is to late.

"Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen."

(Doctrine and Covenants 87:8)

Day 2851

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 35:5-6

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 35:5-6

"And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites.

So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses."

This reminded me a General Conference talk I heard today from Mark L. Pace, the Sunday School general president, "Conversion is Our Goal". How "Come, Follow Me" and studying the scriptures will help to deepen our conversion to the gospel, and sanctify us. That it will become a protection to us and make our homes a sanctuary. To me this is standing in holy places. I don't have the transcript of the talk so I found scriptures that speak of standing in holy places.

"But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God and die."

(Doctrine and Covenants 45:32)

"Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen."

(Doctrine and Covenants 87:8)

"Until the day cometh when there is found no more room for them; and then I have other places which I will appoint unto them, and they shall be called stakes, for the curtains or the strength of Zion.22 Behold, it is my will, that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel, should gather together, and stand in holy places;"

(Doctrine and Covenants 101:21-22)

Day 2561

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 11:14-16

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 11:14-16

"For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest’s office unto the LORD:

And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers."

What a contrast between Israel ruled by Jerobaom and Judah ruled by Rehoboam. It was best that the priest's left otherwise they would have been forced into idolatry. I pondered on the need to stand in holy places. Even if we have to leave where we are to get there.

"Behold, it is my will, that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel, should gather together, and stand in holy places;"

(Doctrine and Covenants 101:22)

Day 2537

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 87:6, 8

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 87:6, 8

"And thus, with the sword and by bloodshed the inhabitants of the earth shall mourn; and with famine, and plague, and earthquake, and the thunder of heaven, and the fierce and vivid lightning also, shall the inhabitants of the earth be made to feel the wrath, and indignation, and chastening hand of an Almighty God, until the consumption decreed hath made a full end of all nations;

Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen."

I cannot help but think of what the world is going through right now. How there is a plague upon the earth. There is cause to mourn. I also thought about standing in holy places. The holiest of places are the temples, and I can't go there right now. The next holy place is my home. It's interesting that my home is the best place for me to be during the plague all around me. It gives me comfort to know that when the wrath of God is poured out there are places of refuge prepared for us.

Day 2090

Today's Favorite Verse: Haggai 2:6-7, 9

Today's Favorite Verse: Haggai 2:6-7, 9
"For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land;
And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.
The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts."

These verses made me think of how the house of the Lord is a place of refuge. That as trying times come that shake men's soul the temple is my peace. As I leave it, I am given a strength from a light within, that fortifies me for the times I live in. There are times I have gone to the temple by myself and not left alone. 

"But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall life up their voices and curse God and die."
(Doctrine and Covenants 45:32)

Day 1486

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 24:3-4

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 24:3-4
"Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully,"

I just pondered on how incredibly fortunate I am to be able to go to the temple on the hill as often as I do. What a source of strength and peace it has added to my life. I cannot imagine living in these last days without a temple of the Lord there for me.

It also made me think about the temple recommend questions asked, so I can be found worthy to go. Seems like recommends have been around a very long time. I judge my actions based upon those questions. They really are a guide for me and in what I say and do. The more I go to the temple the more I want to emulate what is good. I am incredibly blessed and I know it. I do not take it for granted because I have not always been so blessed to be able go. What must the world think of LDS people that do not go to the temple, when we profess it to be the Lord's House. Would not God's people want to be there? What I have should never be taken for granted or treated lightly. I pray I never do.

Day 1077

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 15:13, 17

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 15:13, 17

"Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in they strength unto thy holy habitation.

Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established."

As I sat in the celestial room of the temple reading this, I realized the same work is happening today. As the Lord gathered in the children of Israel in Moses time, he does the same in my day. No wonder Moses appeared in the Kirtland Temple to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on April 3, 1836. Which was both Easter Sunday and the Jewish Passover. He came to restore the keys of the gathering.

"After this vision closed, the heavens were again opened unto us; and Moses appeared before us, and committed unto us the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth, and the leading of the ten tribes from the land of the north."

(Doctrine & Covenants 110:11)

The gathering is to ultimately lead to temple blessings for all of God's children. This is where Moses and Israel were headed. This is where those gathered today are headed. God's people are a temple covenant people.

Day 640

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 3:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 3:5

"And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground."

I want to stand in holy places. The holiest of place for me is the House of the Lord, His Holy Temples. Every time I am there I am reminded of this verse. I love the action and the symbolism. I am told "stand ye in holy places, and be not moved". I sat and pondered on this and realized, every place I stand could be holy, if I remove the dust of the world from me. Dust is so small you cannot see it. It's only when there is a lot of it together can you notice it on a person or a thing. I thought on how becoming clean and free from dust would take constant effort. It's like my furniture. I can dust and the very next morning see dust once again. Removing dust and the things of the world is an effort that can never stop. It takes constant action like prayer, studying the scriptures, taking the sacrament, repenting, and striving to keep the commandments. Dust can be so tiny that the natural eye cannot see it. It would take spiritual eyes to see it and remove it. I need spiritual eyes.

Day 628

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 87:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 87:8

"Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen."

At this time of my life this is my favorite scripture verse. I thought I didn't have one, it would be like picking a favorite child. But, this is it. I hear these words echo in my mind all the time. It is where I continually seek to be.

As I ponder on the command "stand ye in holy places, and be not moved". I have come to know that obvious holy places like the temple, church or my home is not where I can be every minute of the day. I need to shop, go to the doctors, work, and run untold errands so I can care for needful things. I have wondered how I could possibly "be not moved" from holy places, and still move about?

Then I understood, I have to take it with me. Sorta like the Israelites did with the tabernacle as they wondered in the wilderness. The only thing that can make a place holy is the presence of the spirit of the Lord. If the Holy Ghost is my constant companion it would be possible to stand in holy places, and be not moved, while actually moving about. I could be locked in the darkest of dungeons and still it could be a holy place, if that is where my mind and heart seeks to dwell. No wonder Joseph Smith, Paul and John the Revelator were all capable of receiving beautiful revelations while being in such a place. I need obvious holy places to put the oil in my lamp. Then as I move about with the light of the Holy Ghost as my constant companion, the holy place remains in my heart. Only then would I truly not be moved.

Day 506