Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 20:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 20:3
"Son of man, speak unto the elders of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Are ye come to inquire of me? As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I will not be inquired of by you."

It took me back a little when the Lord said "I will not be inquired of by you." That seemed so harsh when they wanted to inquire of the Lord. As I read and pondered I realized these elders of Israel hadn't gone directly to the Lord, they asked Ezekiel to inquire. They were just like the children of Israel at the time of Moses. They lost an opportunity to know the Lord. When Ezekiel inquires of the Lord he is told, He won't listen or speak to them. They have rebelled in the abominations of their fathers. They have not listened or obeyed Him, would they listen now?

All this made me pondered on the recent Sunday class meeting schedule changes. It made me so sad to read the comments on various posts. So many finding fault, suggesting better plans, etc. Seriously, you're going to go into General Conference already finding fault with a new meeting schedule? You haven't even tried it yet. What's so hard about having a 25 min class? You're not capable of getting up from your pew and walking to a classroom in 5 minutes? I use a walker and know it doesn't even take me a minute to walk there. What if this announcement was a test to see how we would react? A test to see if we are ready to receive more?

I remember when Elder Renlund visited our stake. He had two members of the stake come up and bear their testimonies of Jesus Christ. I sat there just broken hearted because neither of them did what they were asked. They couldn't take 5 minutes to tell what the Savior meant to them. I watched Elder Renlund taking notes. I felt like Elder Renlund was taking the heart beat of our stake to see what we were ready to receive. His talk was wonderful, but I still wonder what else he could have told us if our heart beat was a little different.

Based on the majority of comments on the Sunday class meeting changes, I think we already failed that test.

Day 4017

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 108:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 108:1-2
"Verily thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Lyman: Your sins are forgiven you, because you have obeyed my voice in coming up hither this morning to receive counsel of him whom I have appointed.
Therefore, let your soul be at rest concerning your spiritual standing, and resist no more my voice."

I pondered on we can all know our standing before the Lord. We do not need a revelation to be received for us. We can inquire for ourselves at any time through honest and sincere prayer. This is one thing the Lord will tell the humble seeker. He will especially impress on us if there are things that need correction. If we have not received personal revelation then fasting and prayer is needed.

Day 3697

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 36:5, 7

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 36:5, 7

"And Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying, The tribe of the sons of Joseph hath said well.

So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe: for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers."

Once again I think of the order that comes when we listen to the instructions of the Lord. I also thought about how it is good to bring concerns before the Lord, it shows much thought had gone into this issue of inheritances. It also shows how God was into the details of their lives.

Day 2312

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 27:4-7

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 27:4-7

"Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.

And Moses brought their cause before the Lord.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father’s brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them."

This is a wonderful example of how an issue should be brought before the Lord. Zelophehad's posterity received no inheritance because he had no sons. His daughters spoke up and Moses then inquired of the Lord. Then the Lord spoke and established a new law among them regarding inheritances. We've seen this happened with other issues. Sometimes the answer is yes, and other times no, or not now. Though I am curious in this case how the daughters would have behaved if the answer was no.

Day 2303

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 14:10

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 14:10
"And David inquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand."

This verse reminded me of this scripture.
"Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.
Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day."
(Alma 37:36-37)

I then read other scripture verses on "inquiring of the Lord". I read many verses that gave wonderful examples of how inquiring of the Lord directed God's people in the path they should take. Following His counsel protected them. I know it will protect me too.


Day 927