Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 14:8-9

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 14:8-9
Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein."

I pondered on conversion. Once you come to know the Lord, there is true repentance and conversion. We give up our idols and favorite sins. We will bare fruit by which people will know who we follow. By their fruits we will know them. The wise will continue to walk with the Lord. Those that are fair weather friends will fall. It's always by their fruits that we know.

"Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
(Matthew 7:20)

Day 4035

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 10:12

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 10:12
"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you."

Before reading in the Old Testament I was reading in the Book of Mormon, where Jesus Christ appears to the Nephites after his resurrection. He gives to them what was taught on the Sermon on the Mount. The part on mercy stood out to me, as it does now in reading Hosea. How grateful I am for mercy.

"And blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."
(3 Nephi 12:7)

“Mercy is not showered [indiscriminately] upon mankind, except in the general sense that it is manifest in the creation and peopling of the earth and in the granting of immortality to all men as a free gift. Rather, mercy is granted (because of the grace, love, and condescension of God), as it is with all blessings, to those who comply with the law upon which its receipt is predicated. That law is the law of righteousness; those who sow righteousness, reap mercy. There is no promise of mercy to the wicked; rather, as stated in the Ten Commandments, the Lord promises to show mercy unto thousands of them that love him and keep his commandments.” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 484.)
(Old Testament Student Manual Kings-Malachi, "The Ministry of Hosea: A Call to Faithfulness (Hosea)", (10-31)

"There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—
And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."
(Doctrine and Covenants 130:20-21)

"And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;"
(Daniel 9:4)

"Behold, I, the Lord, am merciful and will bless them, and they shall enter into the joy of these things. Even so. Amen."
(Doctrine and Covenants 70:18)

Day 4034

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 7:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 7:8
"Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned."

The descriptions in these chapters don't always show the best quality in the tribes. Ephraim being mixed among the people is speaking of them acquiring the cultures and worshipping of their idols around them. That is part of why they become scattered. But, what does a cake not turned mean? At first I pictured a birthday cake being baked in the oven. Then I realized you don't turn those. Then I thought of a pancake that you flip when it's half done. So, is Ephraim half-baked? What does that phrase really mean?

"Half-baked" describes ideas, plans, or schemes that are poorly developed, impractical, or not carefully thought out. It implies a lack of maturity, research, or foresight, often deemed foolish or unrealistic. Literally, it refers to food that is underdone. "

A poorly done, half-baked item would be burnt at the bottom and raw at the top. Not really useful until you get the timing right. Ephraim's timing is off, and that's because its mixed its identity all up. It must understand it's true identity before it can complete its mission.

Day 4033

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 5:15

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 5:15
"I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early."

When we forget the Lord he doesn't really leave us. He's waiting for us to repent and come to Him. He knows us very well. In our afflictions we will seek Him early. I remember when I used to do that. I would get really serious about repenting, and doing what I should be doing, when I needed Him. One day I remember being just sick of that cycle. I decided to seek the Lord even though I wasn't in a crises. It was the best decision I every made. Oh, the first thing I do in a trial or crises is reach out to the Lord, but that's more of our relationship now and not the "come to Jesus" moment. The solutions and answers are much clearer and peaceful, and not the anguish it used to be.

Day 4032

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 1:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 1:2
"The beginning of the word of the LORD by Hosea. And the LORD said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD."

I did wonder why a prophet would be told to take a sinful wife? As I read more I realized it's talking about the relationship between the children of Israel and the Lord. They have committed great whoredoms. The church is often referred to in the feminine. Hosea is being called as a prophet to lead them. In between that he does marry and have children.

Day 4031

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 14:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 14:2

"Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips."

I wondered what it meant to "render the calves of our lips"? The footnote scriptures didn't really clarify it.

"Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit."

(Doctrine and Covenants 59:8)

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."

(Psalms 51:17)

I still didn't understand how calves lips applied. Then I read this.

"This verse deals with one’s resolves to do better. To present the sincere prayers of one’s lips as an offering to the Lord was as precious as the best offerings in the Mosaic law, which were young oxen or bullocks; hence, “the calves of our lips.”

(Old Testament Student Manual Kings-Malachi, "The Ministry of Hosea: A Call of Faithfulness (Hosea)", (10-38) Hosea 14:2 "The Calves of Our Lips")

Day 3035

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 13:9

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 13:9

"O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help."

I was talking today with my son on how we saw the wicked destroying the wicked. It really is them destroying themselves. They dig a pit for another and then fall into it. If only we could stop playing these games that only hurt others, and rightfully ourselves. If we would turn to the Lord, repent, and follow Him how great would be our peace.

Day 3034

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 12:10, 13

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 12:10, 13

"I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.

And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved."

The ministry of Moses was a similitude of many things pointing to Christ. One of which was also the Lord being brought out of Egypt, where his parents had taken him to preserve his life from Herod.

"When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son."

(Matthew 2:14-15)

In the last couple of days I have been listening to some old general conference talks from the 1980's that I remembered. I was struck with how much we were warned about then has now come to full fruition. Fruit that is not always desirable. If only we had listened. I don't want to make the mistake now.

Day 3033

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 11:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 11:3

"I taught Ephraim also to go, taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them."

How would you not know the Lord healed you? The footnote verses remind us of the covenants made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. How fiery flying serpents over came them. Because of the ease of the way many didn't not look and live. It appears when the Lord performs a miracle we need to keep it in our hearts and acknowledge him.

Day 3032

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 10:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 10:2

"Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images."

This verse made me think of this.

"No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon."

(3 Nephi 13:24)

The footnote included this one.

"A double minded man is unstable in all his ways."

(James 1:8)

"President Marion G. Romney observed "Now there are individuals who try to serve the Lord without offending the devil."

(Marion G. Romney, "The Price of Peace" Ensign, Oct 1983, 6)

Day 3031

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 9:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 9:7

"The days of visitation are come, the days of recompence are come; Israel shall know it: the prophet is a fool, the spiritual man is mad, for the multitude of thine iniquity, and the great hatred."

When you call the prophet fools it makes me wonder which prophet they speak of? The footnote takes me here.

"Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!"

(Ezekiel 13:3)

"Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark."

(2 Nephi 28:9)

"O ye wicked and ye perverse generation; ye hardened and ye stiffnecked people, how long will ye suppose that the Lord will suffer you? Yea, how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by foolish and blind guides? Yea, how long will ye choose darkness rather than light?"

(Helaman 13:29)

These prophet had all apostatized from the word of God. The taught their own doctrines and were blind guides. We better make sure we are listening to a true prophet of God.

Day 3030

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 8:12

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 8:12

"I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing."

This reminded me of going to the temple the first time. How strange I thought it was. It took many years before I did not find it such and came to love it. I pondered on how many of God's laws seem strange. Surely, the law of chastity is considered foreign and strange to many. The word of wisdom and tithing would seem oppressive to some. All of these things I have come to embrace for the blessing that they are.

Day 3029

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 7:2, 14

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 7:2, 14

"And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness: now their own doings have beset them about; they are before my face.

And they have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds: they assemble themselves for corn and wine, and they rebel against me."

This reminded me of repentance and the need to continually repent. When we repent are sins are forgiven and remembered no more.

"And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."

(Jeremiah 31:34)

"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."

(Hebrew 8:10-12)

"Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more."

(Doctrine and Covenants 58:42)

Day 3028

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 6:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 6:6

"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."

Instead of going through the motions, with covenants, ordinances, etc. We need to understand them and love them. We need a knowledge of who God is and why he asks that of us. We need hearts that are willing to make that type of sacrifice.

"In ancient days, sacrifice meant to make something or someone holy. It has now come to mean to give up or suffer the loss of worldly things for the Lord and His kingdom. Members of the Lord’s Church should be willing to sacrifice all things for the Lord. Joseph Smith taught that “a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has the power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.” In the eternal perspective, the blessings obtained by sacrifice are greater than anything that is given up."

(Guide to the Scriptures, "Sacrifice")

Day 3027

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 5:15

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 5:15

"I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early."

"Seek my face" has this footnote.

"In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but, in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me."

(Doctrine and Covenants 101:8)

It is a sad but true condition of the natural man. I remember going through that cycle, over and over again. Until I got very tired of it and much wiser for it. I had the brilliant idea "Why don't I turn to the Lord BEFORE I have troubles." Greatest piece of inspiration I ever received.

Day 3026

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 4:1, 6

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 4:1, 6

"Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."

I remember watching this video were the interviewer was asking people if they had ever read the bible. It was so disheartening to hear their responses in the negative. A few weeks ago it made the news that three Jeopardy contestants where stumped by a question on the Lord's prayer. What was once common knowledge is not so common anymore. The knowledge of God is fading in our land. When that fades even the moral guidance from God's laws is forgotten. We are in such a sad condition.

The power to over turn this comes one by one. I dedicated myself to reading the scriptures daily 13 years ago. Once I had my habit in place I invited my family to read scriptures together. It was not easy to find a time that worked for all of us. It required sacrifice. Most things worth it have that price. We settled on 11:30 at night, after my husband came home from his second shift job. It was past my bedtime, so it required I have two. I would go to bed and then get up again when he came home. It was hard but it quickly became the highlight of our day. We would talk and discuss the scriptures and how they applied to us for hours. Since my husband has retired we have a more realistic time before dinner at 5:00 pm. After dinner I read my personal scriptures. We are not special people, anyone can make the decision to read the scriptures. When you pay the price to know God you will find Him, and great will be the peace of your children. A knowledge of God is the greatest legacy you can leave them.

Day 3025

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 3:4-5

Today's Favorite Verse: Hosea 3:4-5

"For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim:

Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their king; and shall fear the LORD and his goodness in the latter days."

I knew what the ephod was, it was worn by a high priest and prophets. This colorful waistcoat with shoulder pieces and girdle contained stones engraved with the names of the 12 tribes. Inside the ephod was placed the Urim and Thummim. Which was prepared by the Lord to assist man in obtaining revelation and in translating languages. David describes asking questions and receiving answers through it. I didn't know what the teraphim was so I looked that up in the Bible Dictionary.

"Teraphim - Images of the size and form of a man used from patriarchal times and onwards in worship and for magical purposes both in Israel and in Babylon. To use teraphim was probably not to worship strange gods but to worship the true God in a corrupt manner."

I went back and read in the Bible Dictionary about the ephod and found "The ephod at one time became the object of idolatrous worship." So basically both the ephod and teraphim were possibly religious items that were perverted and corrupted and used in a manner not intended. Until the point the Lord removed them from the people.

This reminded me of what was said in the Book of Mormon about what is called seer stones, interpreters, or the Urim and Thummim.

"Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer."

(Mosiah 8:13)

The Urim and Thummim was returned in the latter-days. They were used by Joseph Smith in translating the Book of Mormon from the gold plates, and receiving revelation for our day.

"Also, that there were two stones in silver bows—and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim—deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted “seers” in ancient or former times; and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book."

(Joseph Smith - History 1:35)

After Joseph's translation was completed the Urim and Thummim was returned to the angel Moroni along with the Gold Plates. They will come forth again when the sealed two-third portion of the plates are translated. I hope I live to see that day.

Day 3024