Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 8:9

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 8:9
"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."

Paul is speaking of the condescension of God. Where Jesus Christ voluntarily stepped down from His high, divine glory and status to enter human mortality and experience life, suffering and death with humility. Jesus descended to face the most extreme humiliation and suffering that mortality could inflict. He had the riches of the eternities yet he came to earth to be born of a women in a stable and lay in a manger. At the end he had nothing as in riches but he raised to eternal glory. His gifts of atonement and resurrection enabled us all to have eternal life.

Day 4210

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:40-41

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:40-41
"There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory."

There is knowledge of the degrees of glory in the New Testament. I've known this since childhood, I've read about it in the 76th section of the Doctrine and Covenants. Though it is a foreign concepts to other faiths. The highest degree of glory is the celestial glory, it is as the glory of the sun. Those that dwell there are in the presence of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. The sun has and gives off its own light. The next degree is terrestrial, which is the glory of the moon. The terrestrial glory is borrowed or reflected light from the sun. Those that reside there will enjoy the presence of the Son and the Holy Ghost. The only reason these individuals are not celestial is because they were not valiant in the testimony of Jesus.They were blinded by the craftiness of men. They receive glory but not the fulness of the Father. We cannot live on borrowed light we must have our own testimony of Jesus Christ and his gospel.

The last degree of glory that Paul doesn't give by name is telestial glory. It is the lessor glory, the glory of the stars. They didn't receive the gospel of Christ, nor a testimony of him. They will only receive the presence of the Holy Spirit through the ministering of those terrestrial. I think of telestial glory as those that receive the world as we live in, but with all the good people removed. They will have an eternity to try to find some comfort in the presence of the Holy Ghost. Something they could have learned while living in this world. That is not a place I want to be.

It isn't immediately after death that people receive their eternal glory. There is a time after death and before resurrection where those that had never heard of Jesus Christ can be taught. Everyone will have fair opportunity before they stand at final judgment before the Lord. It is only after this judgment that our fate is sealed and our eternal reward is given us.

Day 4201

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 1:3

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 1:3
"Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ."

I thought about how other faiths do not always look upon me, as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as being Christian. They say I don't worship the same Jesus. One big difference is they believe in the trinity, that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are three co-equal, eternal persons in one God. Where as I believe them separate beings. As I read this verse I thought about how Paul saw God the Father and Jesus Christ as separate persons. Yes, their purpose is the same, but they still in separate bodies.

Day 4187

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 6:4-5

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 6:4-5
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:"

Reading these verses I wondered how any other baptism than through immersion could be accepted? We are buried under the water in likeness of Jesus' death. Then raise from the water in the likeness of his resurrection. Baptism is a rebirth, we are born again and become alive in Christ, taking upon us His name and follow Him.

Day 4176

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 5:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 5:17
"For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)"

From Adam's fall all men would suffer death. It took one man to give the gift of resurrection to all mankind. That was Jesus Christ. He covered spiritual and physical death through his atonement, sacrifice and resurrection. I had never thought of it starting with one and ending with one.

Day 4175

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 23:11

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 23:11
"And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome."

There were certain Jews that vowed to neither eat or drink until they killed Paul. The chief captain had the soldiers bring him into the castle for his protection. It was that night that the Lord came to him. What must that have felt like for Paul to have confirmation from the Lord himself of how he had testified of Him? The last time the Lord visited him it was on the road to Damascus.

It reminded me of Alma the younger, and how the same angel appeared twice to him. First, when he was with the sons of Mosiah going about to destroy the church. The angel appeared and told him to stop trying to destroy the church or he would be cast off.

"Now I say unto thee: Go, and remember the captivity of thy fathers in the land of Helam, and in the land of Nephi; and remember how great things he has done for them; for they were in bondage, and he has delivered them. And now I say unto thee, Alma, go thy way, and seek to destroy the church no more, that their prayers may be answered, and this even if thou wilt of thyself be cast off.
And now it came to pass that these were the last words which the angel spake unto Alma, and he departed."
(Mosiah 27:16-17)

The second time the angel appeared it was when Alma was preaching in the city of Ammonihah and had been cast out. Interesting that the messages for both Paul and Alma are to have cheer, and rejoice there is more work to do.

"And it came to pass that while he was journeying thither, being weighed down with sorrow, wading through much tribulation and anguish of soul, because of the wickedness of the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, it came to pass while Alma was thus weighed down with sorrow, behold an angel of the Lord appeared unto him, saying:
Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; for thou hast been faithful in keeping the commandments of God from the time which thou receivedst thy first message from him. Behold, I am he that delivered it unto you."
(Alma 8:14-15)

Day 4165

Today's Favorite Verse: John 20:10-11

Today's Favorite Verse: John 20:10-11
"Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,"

Mary Magdalene came to the sepulcher early when it was still dark. She sees the stone has been taken away and Jesus was gone. She runs to tell the disciples. Peter and John run to the sepulcher. They also see it is empty and the placement of the linen clothes left behind. At this point Peter and John leave, but Mary stays behind weeping. When she looks into the sepulcher again she sees two angels and converses with them. Then she turns around and sees Jesus but doesn't know it is him at first. While reading this I picture the celestial room of the temple. How as the endowment session is over and people come into the room some immediately leave the room. Others will linger in quiet reflection, prayer and reading scriptures. They will leave at separate times. I thought about how if Mary had left with Peter and John she would had missed this private time with the Lord. Yes, there is a need to hurry about our Father's business, but there is also a need to quietly ponder and contemplate what we have seen, heard and felt.

Day 4141

Today's Favorite Verse: John 9:27-29

Today's Favorite Verse: John 9:27-29
"He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.
We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is."

Jesus healed the man born blind on the Sabbath. The Pharisees then question the man and his parents. When they asked the man a second time on how his eyes were opened he remarks on how they didn't listen the first time. Do you want to hear again and also be his disciples?

What gave me pause is how the Pharisees said they were Moses' disciples. Why didn't they say they were followers of the great "I Am" or Jehovah? I know prophets today speak to God but I'm not any prophet's disciple. I'm not a disciple of Joseph Smith, Jr. or President Dallin H. Oaks. I would call myself a disciple of Jesus Christ. That is who I follow. I know John the Baptist had disciples but he pointed them to Jesus when He made himself known.

"Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;
And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus."
(John 1:34-37)

Day 4130

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 3:21-22

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 3:21-22
"Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased."

These verses are a good example of why the Godhead are three separate beings. Jesus stood in the water after being baptized. The Holy Ghost came in the bodily shape of a dove. Then a voice came from heaven, which was God the Father declaring Jesus was his beloved Son, in whom he was well pleased. The Godhead is one in purpose, yet are three separate beings.

Day 4100

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 27:3-4

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 27:3-4
"Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that."

What did Judas think was going to happen when he turned Jesus over to the chief priests and elders? This is the first time I thought of Judas and his motivation. It wasn't until Judas saw Jesus was condemned that he appears to wake to his awful situation of having betrayed Him. Did he think he would get money for turning Jesus over and Jesus was going to provide a miracle to get out of the situation? Did the chief priests and elders tell Judas something that made him think turning Jesus over wouldn't mean his death? Judas had asked them to lead him away safely.

"And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely." (Mark 14:44)

It's all very curious and something the scriptures do not say. Only Judas could tell that story and he hanged himself before speaking to the other apostles. The chief priests and elders would never tell anyone if they had deceived Judas on their intent.

Thinking about it, it makes more sense why at the last super when Jesus said "that one of you shall betray me", that Judas asked "Master, is it I?" That makes me think Judas didn't think he was betraying Christ. So I ask myself what can we learn from Judas?

As I reflected on this I think Judas' words are the best to ask ourselves, "is it I?" We should never be so prideful to not think we could fall. We must ever be watchful. Don't associate with those that would destroy your faith in Christ. We should counsel with the Lord if the path does not see clear. When Jesus said one would betray him, how different the story would have been if Judas had recognize himself. There were warnings to be careful and opportunities for Judas to change direction.

Day 4080

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."

I find it interesting that the Jews did not recognize the prophesy and how crucifying Jesus Christ would give him these very wounds. Upon resurrection to a perfect glorified body Jesus retained these wounds in his hands and feet. The purpose is to testify that He is the Christ. The promised Messiah that would come into the world and redeem all mankind. He paid the price and earned every wound. When Jesus Christ appeared to his apostles after his resurrection he introduced himself and had them come and feel the wounds in his hand, feet and side. He did the same in the Book of Mormon when he appeared in the Americas. He will do the same when he appears to the Jews in Jerusalem. I am sure when I get to see Him he will also show me those wounds.

Day 4052

Today's Favorite Verse: Habakkuk 1:20

Today's Favorite Verse: Habakkuk 1:20
"But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him."

This reminded me of the words of President Nelson.

"Here is my promise to you: Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find Him in the temple. You will feel His mercy. You will find answers to your most vexing questions. You will better comprehend the joy of His gospel."
(Russell M. Nelson, "The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again", Oct 2024 General Conference)

I've had the experience where I knew the Savior was visiting his temple. It was the second session of the newly dedicated Payson Temple. I knew that if I got up and left the endowment session I was in that I could find my way to Him. Yet, I understood that I was not to do that. He was overseeing the workings of the temple and accepting it. Where I was, was where I needed to be. I have wondered how we should react if the Savior revealed himself to us in the temple? I'm sure there would be silence and awe. Would we keep silent that he was there, or would the world need to know? When I think about Jesus' appearance to the Nephites after his resurrection, they spent the whole night spreading the word of His appearance, and that he would come again to the temple the next day. I have no doubt persecution would come to us if it was revealed.

"And now it came to pass that when Jesus had ascended into heaven, the multitude did disperse, and every man did take his wife and his children and did return to his own home.
And it was noised abroad among the people immediately, before it was yet dark, that the multitude had seen Jesus, and that he had ministered unto them, and that he would also show himself on the morrow unto the multitude.
Yea, and even all the night it was noised abroad concerning Jesus; and insomuch did they send forth unto the people that there were many, yea, an exceedingly great number, did labor exceedingly all that night, that they might be on the morrow in the place where Jesus should show himself unto the multitude."
(3 Nephi 19:1-3)

Day 4045

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 29:13

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 29:13
"Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:"

This makes me think of those that treat Jesus like a genie in a bottle. Someone to call out for when they need help, but stuffed back in the bottle and placed on a shelf afterwards. They love the concept of a Jesus, just not his words or commandments. We can profess our love for Jesus, but God can see if our hearts are far removed from Him. If we loved Him we would do what he says.

Day 3979

Today's Favorite Verse: Song of Solomon 4:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Song of Solomon 4:7
"Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee"

The one without spot or blemish was our Lord, Jesus Christ. Is that what this song is about?

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
(Hebrews 9:14)

"But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"
(1 Peter 1:19)

Day 3968

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 8:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 8:17
"I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me."

I reflected on my childhood and how I first learned about Jesus. It was at the Harrisena Community Church, down the road from my parents' home. I was probably 3 or 4 at the time. In Sunday School my teacher gave all of us a picture of Jesus at the door. She explained how there wasn't a door knob for him to open. That we needed to let Him in. The stuck with me and I have always treasured that picture. I was so blessed to know and love Jesus from my youth.

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. "
(Matthew 7:7-8)

"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."
(Jeremiah 29:13)

"Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."
(Doctrine and Covenants 88:63)

Day 3955

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 130:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 130:5
"I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope."

I pondered on how as the world is falling into chaos and growing darker I am waiting on the Lord's Second Coming. That is the hope in my heart that will heal this world. Hope that doesn't focus on the darkness, but rather on the light of the world, the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Day 3946

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 86:15

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 86:15
"But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth."

I reflected on how Jesus Christ embodied all of these characteristic when he came to earth. How He is the same same yesterday, today and forever.

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
(Hebrews 13:8)

"For he is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him."
(1 Nephi 10:18)

"For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith."
(2 Nephi 27:23)

"And I do this that I may prove unto many that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and that I speak forth my words according to mine own pleasure. And because that I have spoken one word ye need not suppose that I cannot speak another; for my work is not yet finished; neither shall it be until the end of man, neither from that time henceforth and forever."
(2 Nephi 29:9)

"For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing?"
(Mormon 9:9)

"And I would exhort you, my beloved brethren, that ye remember that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and that all these gifts of which I have spoken, which are spiritual, never will be done away, even as long as the world shall stand, only according to the unbelief of the children of men."
(Moroni 10:19)

Day 3931

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 69:21

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 69:21
"They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink."

In family scriptures tonight we were going over the "Types or Symbols of Christ". This verse made me think of how many verses in the Old Testament spoke of Christ and how they were to recognize the Messiah when he came.

"They gave him vinegar to drink mingled with gall: and when he had tasted thereof, he would not drink."
(Matthew 27:34)

"And one ran and filled a sponge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down."
(Mark 15:36)

"After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a sponge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.
When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost."
(John 19:28-30)

Day 3925

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 45:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 45:17
"I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever."

The other evening during family scriptures I remarked how if Jesus was just a rabbi there is no way thousands of years later people would still speak of him. He was the Son of God.

Day 3917

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 18:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 18:2
"The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower."

During our recent stake conference our visiting Area Seventy mentioned years before he was interviewed when they were looking for a new Stake Presidency. I forget what calling he had at the time. One question he was asked is to explain his relationship with the Lord. At the time he had a personal relationship with God in prayer, but was stumped on how to explain his relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ. He told them he would have to do more thinking on that. Since then I've thought of that and have had many different conversations with myself on how I would explain my personal relationship with the Savior. As I read this verse I see listed many of the areas I too would say.

Day 3908