Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 12:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 12:9-10
"And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."

It has only been more recently that I saw these verses a little differently. I used to think I would always stand with Israel, why would you not? Then with more recent events I realized what I think is happening is not always what is happening. There might be real reasons all the nations come against Jerusalem. Their leaders may behave politically really badly. They may be causing world wide unrest. Why would the Lord then destroy all those nations? Well it could be wickedness in them too. I think more likely though, that in the midst of Jerusalem being destroyed a miracle needs to happen. The Lord appears, showing mercy to them. They will recognize the hands, feet and side that were pierced because their fathers crucified the God of Israel. They will come to know Jesus is the Christ and mourn and repent.

Day 4051

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 10:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 10:1
"Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;"

I was actually fascinated at the thought of Joshua and the children of Israel taking Jerusalem. I had always thought of Jerusalem belonging to the Jews. I read up on the history of Jerusalem. It appears to be founded by the Jebusites, a Canaanite people. Before it was known as Jerusalem one of its names was Salem, which was ruled by Melchizedek, the great high priest and king of Salem. He is the one Abraham paid tithes to. Adoni-zedek was the king of Jerusalem and the footnote on his name says "Lord of righteousness". They must have carried on that title after Melchizedek, even if it was in name only.

"For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;"
(Hebrews 7:1-2)

"Now this Melchizedek was a king over the land of Salem; and his people had waxed strong in iniquity and abomination; yea, they had all gone astray; they were full of all manner of wickedness;
But Melchizedek having exercised mighty faith, and received the office of the high priesthood according to the holy order of God, did preach repentance unto his people. And behold, they did repent; and Melchizedek did establish peace in the land in his days; therefore he was called the prince of peace, for he was the king of Salem; and he did reign under his father."
(Alma 13:17-18)

Day 3811

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 12:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 12:9-10

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."

Zechariah is prophesying that when all nations come against Jerusalem the Messiah will come, but it will be for the second time. Then the Jews will mourn because they will realize the Holy Son of God was Jesus of Nazareth, whom their fathers rejected, pierced and crucified.

"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends."

(Zechariah 13:6)

Day 3082

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 15:2, 5

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 15:2, 5

"Son of man, What is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?

Behold, when it was whole, it was meet for no work: how much less shall it be meet yet for any work, when the fire hath devoured it, and it is burned?"

I think James E. Talmage describes this pretty clearly. Jerusalem was so worthless it hardly had value in being burned.

"The people at Jerusalem in Ezekiel’s day were similar to those referred to by Isaiah in his parable of a vineyard (see Isaiah 5:1–25). Though they had been set up as the Lord’s vineyard to produce fruit, they did not produce and were of little value.

“The worthlessness of a vine save only for its fruit was set forth by the Lord through His prophet Ezekiel (15:2–5); and truly it is so, that the wood of the grape plant is fit for nothing but burning; the whole vine as wood is inferior to a branch from a forest tree (verse 3). And Israel is represented as such a vine, precious if but fruitful, otherwise nothing but fuel and that of poor quality.”

(James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, p. 542.)

(Old Testament Student Manual Kings-Malachi, "Ezekiel: Watchman of Israel", (26-42) Inhabitants of Jerusalem Compared to a Useless Vine)

Day 2976

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 52:1, 10-11

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 52:1, 10-11

"Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes: he slew also all the princes of Judah in Riblah.

Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death. "

I didn't realize how young Zedekiah was. He was 21 years old when he began to reign as king. Eleven years later, at the age of 32 he was dead and also all his sons, or so all of them thought. There was one son that survived and was taken to the Americas. We read of this in the Book of Mormon. It was the discovery of the Mulekites that confirmed to the people in this land that Jerusalem had been destroy as prophesied.

"And behold, also Zenock, and also Ezias, and also Isaiah, and Jeremiah, (Jeremiah being that same prophet who testified of the destruction of Jerusalem) and now we know that Jerusalem was destroyed according to the words of Jeremiah. O then why not the Son of God come, according to his prophecy?

And now will you dispute that Jerusalem was destroyed? Will ye say that the sons of Zedekiah were not slain, all except it were Mulek? Yea, and do ye not behold that the seed of Zedekiah are with us, and they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem? But behold, this is not all—"

(Helman 8:20-21)

Day 2956

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 38:2, 4

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 38:2, 4

"Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.

Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt."

I found it interesting that the reason the princes did not like Jeremiah, and wished him dead, was because the prophesies he gave was to leave Jerusalem and not stay and defend it. Politically and militarily he was a problem, in what they perceived was their ability to fight this war. They thought he was hurting the people, when in reality he cared more for their welfare, both spiritually and physically then they did.

It made me ponder on the Jews and how some did not receive Christ, and even had him killed, because they perceived the Messiah would be a might warrior and fight their battles and free them from Rome. When in reality the Lord was there to free them from eternal bondage. It's interesting how the adversary can use political means to turn people from the Lord toward him. I think we have that same mentality happening today. We can get so lost in our own battles that we go beyond the mark and miss the whole purpose and message on what we should be focusing on. I am so grateful for a prophet of God, and the scriptures. They keep me grounded and focused on what really matters.

Day 2942

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 31:1, 5

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 31:1, 5

"Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it."'

The fifth version made me think of the Iron Dome over Jerusalem and how it preserves their nation. I do believe that the Lord inspires man to use technology in wondrous way. The Iron Dome I believe is inspired and under the hand of God. Yet, the first verse reminds me that we are not to put our trust in horses, chariots and horsemen. This would be a warning that technology that was inspired is not to replace God. The moment a person or nation forgets that it will no longer be able to protect them.

Day 2869

Today's Favorite Verse: Esther 10:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Esther 10:3

"For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed."

I had to up the chronology of the Old Testament to see when Esther and king Ahasuerus lived. I found them in 486 BC. It wasn't until 444 BC that Nehemiah is appointed governor of Judea. That is when the return of the Jews and the temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt. I wonder if the story of Esther and with Mordecai being placed next to king Ahasuerus had anything to do with the favorable return of the Jews to Jerusalem. Seeing that the Old Testament books are not in chronological order I would have never know that the book of Nehemiah would have come after the book of Esther.

Day 2595

Today's Favorite Verse: Nehemiah 11:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Nehemiah 11:1-2

"And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.

And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem."

It doesn't sound like it was very desirable to live in Jerusalem. They had to cast lots for who was to live there, and blessing those that did it willingly. I would think as a holy city that the lots being cast would be because they all wanted to live there. There has to be some special challenges for living in Jerusalem. I pondered on what could be the issue.

Jerusalem was basically a ghost town. The walls were repaired but not necessarily the homes inside it. I could see the concern that if Jerusalem was overthrown once it could happen again. I would also think there was more freedom to use the land outside of the city walls. Maybe the concern was they didn't feel worthy to live there. It made me think of the different degrees of glory after this life. How those living a telestial law will never feel comfortable in the celestial kingdom. What they receive is what they are comfortable with. If they didn't feel they could represent and converse with others in Jerusalem then it would be a hard thing for them to live there.

Day 2583

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 15:63

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 15:63

"As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day."

I did a little digging on the history of Jebus and Jebusites. The Jebusites were a Canaanite tribe that inhabited what was later called Jerusalem. Before that it was called Salem, or Uru-Salem. Until then I didn't realize salem is the last part of the name Jerusalem. King David conquer Jerusalem from the Jebusites and established it as his capital.

Day 2361

Today's Favorite Verse: Ether 13:8, 10-11

Today's Favorite Verse: Ether 13:8, 10-11
"Wherefore, the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; and they shall no more be confounded, until the end come when the earth shall pass away.
And then cometh the New Jerusalem; and blessed are they who dwell therein, for it is they whose garments are white through the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of Israel.
And then also cometh the Jerusalem of old; and the inhabitants thereof, blessed are they, for they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb; and they are they who were scattered and gathered in from the four quarters of the earth, and from the north countries, and are partakers of the fulfilling of the covenant which God made with their father, Abraham."

This chapter in Ether makes Revelations and the New Jerusalem very clear on what it is and where it will be. There are two Jerusalem's, the old in Israel where the scattered Jews right now are gathering. The New Jerusalem which will be built in North America. The location was revealed to Joseph Smith in Doctrine and Covenants 57:2. It also speaks of the return of the City of Enoch that will come down from heaven.

The New Jerusalem:
It will be "the holy sanctuary of the Lord" (3)
It will be built on the American continent for the remnant of the seed of Joseph (4-6)
It will be a holy city like the Jerusalem built unto the Lord (8-9)
It will stand until the earth is celestialized (8)
It will be a city for the pure and righteous (10)

I pondered on how all of this will take shape when the saints are righteous and pure in heart, while the world is at its most wicked point. I know where I want to be found. 

Day 1990

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 13:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 13:6
"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends."

At the end when Jesus appears to the Jews in Jerusalem they will say these words, and cry because they will know their Lord. What a touching scene.

It reminded me of a video created with the April 14, 1981 BYU Devotional talk by Ezra Taft Benson about the last days, "Prepare Yourselves for the Great Day of the Lord". When he says this line as it reads in the Doctrine and Covenants, I cry.

President Ezra Taft Benson:
"Another appearance of the Lord will be to the Jews. To these beleaguered sons of Judah, surrounded by hostile Gentile armies, who again threaten to overrun Jerusalem, the Savior—their Messiah—will set his feet on the Mount of Olives,

and it shall cleave in twain, and the earth shall tremble, and reel to and fro, and the heavens also shall shake. [Doctrine & Covenants 45:47]

The Lord himself will then rout the Gentile armies, decimating their forces (see Ezekiel 38, 39). Judah will be spared, no longer to be persecuted and scattered. The Jews will then approach their Deliverer and ask, “What are these wounds in thine hands and in thy feet?”

I will say unto them: These wounds are the wounds with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. I am he who was lifted up. I am Jesus that was crucified. I am the Son of God.

And then shall they weep because of their iniquities; then shall they lament because they persecuted their king. [Doctrine & Covenants 45: 52–53]

What a touching drama this will be! Jesus—Prophet, Messiah, King—will be welcomed in his own country!

Jerusalem will become an eternal city of peace!"


Day 1499

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 12:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 12:3
"And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it."

I woke up this morning unsettled. The Red Alert app on my phone kept going off. That means Israel is under attack. Each alert makes me grieve and full of sorrow for them. I will see the alerts go off and then no mention in the news that Israel was attacked. It only appears on the main stream news when Israel finally fires back. I know this because I have been watching it. I have the same alert on my phone that is real time in Israel. I know the lies being told that distort the truth and make people angry with Israel.

So I get up to read my scriptures and have peace and this is what I read. It makes me think of this end time verse too.

"For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city."
(Zechariah 14:2)

As I sit here typing the Red Alert alarm has gone of numerous times, I've lost track now. It was 150 when I started. My stomach is just so ill and I cry for them. I know the prophecy and I know where we are in the time line before the Lord comes. Many things still have to happen, but how I wish there was peace.

The Nations Gather Against Israel

Day 1498

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 6:15

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 6:15
"And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the Lord, and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God."

The footnote references this.

"And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, but in my favour have I had mercy on thee."
(Isaiah 60:10)

Who will build the third temple in Jerusalem?  I have wondered on that. Will it be the latter-day saints who are temple building people, that build it for them?  Will the Jews build it? I don't have an answer but I find these verses interesting. When the day comes for the final temple to be built whomever does it, it will be known that the Lord sent them to do it. One thing is for sure as prophesy is fulfilled it is rarely the way I thought things would come about. I don't try to second guess it. I treasure up the scriptures and then when it is time for it to be fulfilled I will know it for what it is.

This made me look for a video I recently watched that spoke on a new theory of where the temple mount is. It is based on where Josephus placed the Fortress Antonia, and new excavation for the City of David. It doesn't place the temple mount where it is currently believed the Dome of the Rock sits. If that is true then the Dome of the Rock doesn't need to be removed to build the temple. Wherever it is I am sure when the Lord feels the time is right all will know that is where it is suppose to be. Like other prophesies it will be filled to the letter, but not as man thought it would happen.



Day 1492

Today's Favorite Verse: Joel 3:16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Joel 3:16-17
"The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.
So shall ye know that I am the Lord your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more."

I pondered on how the Lord is in two very different places in this chapter. There is a difference between Zion and Jerusalem. Orson Pratt said, "Zion will be favored with the presence of the Lord before the Jews are permitted to behold him. The Lord will come to the Temple of Zion before he comes to the Temple at Jerusalem. Before he comes in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, he will manifest himself in the city and Temple of Zion; or in other words all the pure in heart who are permitted in those days to enter into the Lord's Temple in Zion, which will be built on this continent, the Lord will reveal his face unto them, they will see him and he will dwell in the midst of Zion." (Orson Pratt, "Latter-Day Judgments", JD 15:337b) (See Doctrine & Covenants 97)

Day 1454

Today's Favorite Verse: Nehemiah 11:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Nehemiah 11:1-2
"And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nice parts to dwell in other cities.
And the people blessed all the men, that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem."

This has me somewhat puzzled. Why did the people not want to live in Jerusalem?  That is the very place I would want to be. Sounds like they had to draw lots to select one tenth of them to live there. When I first read it I though the lots were to select who got to lived there, because they all wanted to. Then the next verse seems more clear that it was a sacrifice to live there. I guess I needed to see the surrounding areas to know why they would want to be outside of Jerusalem and not inside of it. If I look at what's happening in Jerusalem today, being divided into four religious sectors, I could see them fearing attack in that holy city. Was it like that back then too? I'm sure as I read on it will become more clear to me.

Day 999

Today's Favorite Verse: Nehemiah 3:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Nehemiah 3:1
"Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel."

This chapter lists all the people that are repairing Jerusalem. I wondered why their names and what they repaired would be listed? When a temple is built today do I see the names of all of those that worked on it? Then I realized that any work for the Lord is recorded in heaven. Every name is important and he won't forget them. Who am I to mock the importance of their work, for every contribution and effort is important to the Lord. This list became very holy seeing it with new eyes.


Day 991

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezra 7:27

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezra 7:27
"Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem:"

I have had some quiet reflection of the last few days events in the news. I'm seeing the president of my nation recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. I don't know all that it means, but I know it means something. Just like in these past few chapters God is putting it into the heart of kings and now a president to do something for His people. Will I see in my lifetime the house of the Lord once again in Jerusalem? The timing is all the Lord's, I do not know, but I am waiting and observing, knowing someday everything will click. I just plan on keeping the course of reading and pondering the scriptures daily in my heart, because at some point I know my heart will understand.


Day 985

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezra 1:2-3

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezra 1:2-3
"Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, The Lord God of heaven hath given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he hath charge me to build him an house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.
Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the Lord God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem."

I did some pondering on Cyrus and why someone that was not Jewish would receive a charge to build a temple in Jerusalem, liberating the Jews from captivity to do so? He must have been a good man capable of listening to the light of Christ within.

"...the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia..." (verse 1)

I found this quote by President Henry B. Eyring from the Oct 2010 conference talk "Trust in God, Then Go and Do".

"I have come to know that we can trust God to fulfill the promise of Alma that"behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that the should have".

God does not rule in nations, but He is mindful of them. He can and does place people in positions of influence who want what is best for the people and who trust in the Lord."

The more I pondered on this situation I could see it possible for a president of some nation, even mine, to one day help Jews that are still scattered to return home to Jerusalem and build their temple. Even giving them treasures to build it. A modern day Cyrus. My feelings turned from why to why not? This is something the Lord would do. I love how President Eyring says "God does not rule in nations, but He is mindful of them". I really pondered on that. Actually made me feel a little better about my changed feelings on politics and now much attention I give to it. I now give far more attention to the Lord. I know the leaders of our nations are exactly what the Lord feels we as a people deserve.


Day 979