Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 8:16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 8:16-17
"These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD."

I would love to live when this is true. If everyone would only speak the truth and be peaceful, then we would be a Zion people. One day that will come, because the Lord will come and reign over us. As I pondered on this further I thought about how we must be a Zion people before the Lord comes. This is to be lived today amongst God's people regardless. Truly to be honest and peaceful in all things, when you're in the midst of people that are not how much truer your conviction is.

Day 4050

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

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 15:1-2
"LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart."

This made me think of temple recommend interviews. We do our best to make sure those that go into the tabernacle or the house of the Lord are upright, righteous and honest. Sadly, there will always be those that will lie and try to cover their sins. They are not deceiving the Lord though. I would not want to stand in their shoes on judgment day. For they will not abide the Lord's coming.

Day 3907

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Timothy 3:7

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Timothy 3:7
"Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil."

Paul is speaking about the qualification of a bishop. I pondered on the importance of others outside of our faith to hold him in good report. I hadn't really thought of that need. Then I reflected on the great damage some bishops have done when they have fallen by the snare of the devil. Those events have done so much damage not only in the church by outside of it too. For we look like hypocrites when that happens.

Speaking to bishops, President Gordon B. Hinckley identified similar qualifications needed for priesthood leaders in our day:
“You must be men of integrity. You must stand as examples to the congregations over which you preside. You must stand on higher ground so that you can lift others. You must be absolutely honest, for you handle the funds of the Lord. …
“Your goodness must be as an ensign to your people. Your morals must be impeccable. The wiles of the adversary may be held before you because he knows that if he can destroy you, he can injure an entire ward. You must exercise wisdom in all of your relationships lest someone read into your observed actions some taint of moral sin. You cannot succumb to the temptation to read pornographic literature or even in the secrecy of your own chamber to view pornographic films. Your moral strength must be such that if ever you are called upon to sit in judgment on the questionable morals of others, you may do so without personal compromise or embarrassment” (Gordon B. Hinckley, “The Shepherds of Israel,” Oct 2003 General Conference). (New Testament Student Manual, Chapter 47: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon)

Day 3281

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 21:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 21:2

"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts."

This reminds me of the conversation we had tonight during family scripture reading. It was how all sins start out small. We need to correct them before they become a larger sin. I gave the example of being honest in our dealings. If you were not charged correctly for an item at the grocery store and you owe more, and don't say anything, isn't that in reality theft? Over time you begin to justify more and more being dishonest in your dealings, until it's not only acceptable we look for ways to be dishonest. Which could grow into larger crimes like embezzlement or grand theft.

My husband then told us of an experience he had the last time he went to the grocery store. He was buying Macintosh apples and the girl at the register rang them up as Gala apples. The gala apples were only .98¢ per pound. The Macintosh were $1.98 per pound. He stopped her and said no these are the Macintosh apples, they cost more. She then corrected the error with the higher price. He paid and thought nothing more of it.

We discussed having a free conscious when you are being honest in your dealings. If he had left knowing he got the apples at the wrong price he could have felt very smug about the money he "saved". The difference is what it does to the heart and soul of a person as you accept a little sin. You can justify your position all you want, but the Lord truly does know what's going on in our hearts. Was your intent to be honest, or to be clever and get ahead?

Day 2808

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: 1 Kings 9:4

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 9:4

"And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments:"

I pondered on "integrity of heart". That seems to be a foreign concept to some. I think of the person as being honest in all their dealings and trustworthy. I think nothing disappoints me more than someone that has no qualm about lying. It's amazing me how they think I cannot see right through it. I guess the adversary blinds them to that fact.

"I love both ancient and modern-day scriptures that use the phrase “integrity of heart” when describing a righteous person’s character. Integrity or the lack of integrity is a fundamental element of one’s character. Men who have “integrity of heart” are men to be trusted—because trust is built on integrity.Being a man of integrity simply means your intentions, as well as your actions, are pure and righteous in all aspects of your life, both in public and in private. With each decision we make, we either merit more of God’s trust or diminish His trust."

(Richard J. Maynes, "Earning the Trust of the Lord and Your Family", Oct 2017 General Conference)

Day 2459

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 5:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 5:3
"But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?"

I've always been fascinated with this story. Ananias and then his wife Sapphira both fell dead after having lied to Peter on the sale price of their land. Why did they even consecrate it if they didn't want to do that? Now I've understood the part of this story about honestly and spiritual death for lying but I thought there was more. I found this wonderful Oct. 1992 General Conference talk on consecration by Neal A. Maxwell, "Settle This in Your Hearts".

"Likewise it is only fair to warn that any determination to seek greater consecration will soon expose what we yet lack, a painful but necessary thing. Remember the rich, righteous young man who was told by Jesus, "One thing thou lackest"? Ananias and Sapphira, otherwise good members of the Church, "kept back" a portion instead of consecrating their all. Some would never sell Jesus for thirty pieces, but they would not give Him their all either!

Unfortunately, we tend to think of consecration only in terms of property and money. But there are so many ways of keeping back part. One might be giving of money and time and yet hold back a significant portion of himself. ..One might hold back from kneeling before God’s throne and yet bow to a particular gallery of peers. One might accept a Church calling but have his heart more set on maintaining a certain role in the world.

Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus! Consecration is the only surrender which is also a victory... Heavenly Father is only asking us to lose the old self in order to find the new and the real self. It is not a question of losing our identity but of finding our true identity!

Increased consecration is not so much a demand for more hours of Church work as it is for more awareness of Whose work this really is! For now, consecration may not require giving up worldly possessions so much as being less possessed by them."

Day 1596

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 142:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 142:1-2
"I cried unto the Lord with my voice; with my voice unto the Lord did I make my supplication.
I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble."

I am never alone. For God is always there when I pray to him. He will let me cast my troubles upon him. I feel a closeness to my Heavenly Father when I speak as my heart really is. I know I can't hide anything from Him. I have found that the more honest I am with my feelings the greater I come to understand them through His eyes. With an honest heart I am ready to be healed.

Day 1195

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

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 15:1-2
"Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart."

This made me think of one of the temple recommend questions. "Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?" This was the question that most troubled me. I didn't feel I was always honest with my fellowmen. What made the difference was first being honest with God. How God perceived me, had to become more important than how man saw me. I have been the better for it.

Day 1068

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 30:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 30:2
"If a man vow a vow unto the Lord, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth."

This made me ponder on how honor has left our society. Where once your word meant everything. I marvel at how Nephi could take Zoram at his oath to stay with them, and not run and tell others where they were. It seems all throughout history I read about people's honor being their bond. Now I simply cannot tell if what someone tells me is the truth or that they will hold to it. How sad that is. This is part of the world I do not want to be come part of. I pondered on how breaking your vow, or word, is the same as not being honest. I need to be honest in all my dealings. God's laws have not changed, it is only man. Though the world can become like that, I do not and should not do the same as them.  For there is a layer of protection over the honest and the man of integrity.

"Integrity is the light that shines from a disciplined conscience. It is the strength of duty within us." (James E. Faust, Integrity, The Mother of Many Virtues, Apr 1982 CT)

Day 722

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 12:11-13

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 12:11-13

"And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon:
Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.

Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee."

I sat here pondering on why it was ok for Abram to lie and say Sarai was his sister, instead of his wife? I went to the same story in the book of Abraham and the only difference I saw was that it clearly says the Lord told him to say this. I came back to the story in Genesis and could not wrap my head around this lie. Then as I read these verses again I could see this was a prophecy Abram was given. The Lord was truly trying to spare his life. They had to go into Egypt because of this famine. In so doing the beauty of Sarai would cost Abram his life. To say up front that she was his sister, I'm sure no one ever thought to ask if she was also his wife. I realized then that my husband could also refer to me as his sister. In the Church we call each other brother and sister. It would not be a lie to refer to me in such a way. What would be a lie is to deny that I was his wife. I'm sure that is why the Lord told Abram to have Sarai say she was his sister right up front. Then the other relationship would never to considered. This experience was also a test for Abram to see if he would be faithful in all things asked of him. For there were even greater tests to come.  

Day 587

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 3:1, 3, 7-8

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 3:1, 3, 7-8

"The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught.

Remember, remember that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men;

For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God. Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his words - 

Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you in every time of trouble."

The chapter contains revelation given to the Prophet Joseph Smith after losing the 116 pages of manuscript from the first part of the Book of Mormon. Joseph lost the power to translate and the gold plates and the Urim and Thummim were taken from him. He needed a season to repent, before the gift to translate and plates were restored to him.

The important lesson was to have Joseph and us, learn to put our trust in the Lord. God's ways cannot be frustrated, only mans. He will be with us in every trouble. The Lord had prepared away to recover from those lost 116 pages. Over 1400 years earlier he had Mormon add the small plates of Nephi, that told the most precious parts of those stories, to the gold plates. Those records could replace what was lost.

As I pondered on this I reviewed so many times I have seen the hand of God in my life. When I have been blessed by following the counsel he has given me, and when I have suffered because I have not. I have learned how important it is to trust God's plan, even when I don't know what that plan is. He has prepared a way if I will just follow him. I have been amazed at the miracles the Lord can perform if I let him.

When I had my Social Security Disability Review last year I knew the issues I had when I first received disability were not what my issues were today. As I filled out my paperwork the spirit was so strong that I needed to be completely honest, even if it meant I would lose my disability. I didn't know how I would survive financially, or physically having to try and work full time. But, the spirit told me "Be honest, and He will bless you." I was honest, and Ioss my disability. Yet I look back now six months from that event, and can tell you the Lord blessed me beyond measure. There are so many areas of my life that have improved because of being honest, and trusting the Lord. Yes, it's hard when you don't know how you will survive. But, if you trust the Lord you will not only survive the time of trouble, but will blossom. All the Lord ever wants to do is bless us, if we let him.

Day 422