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: 2 Nephi 29:8, 12-13

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 29:8, 12-13
"Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.
For behold, I shall speak unto the Jews and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the Nephites and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto the other tribes of the house of Israel, which I have led away, and they shall write it; and I shall also speak unto all nations of the earth and they shall write it.
And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews."

Part of this is fulfilled today. We have the records of the Jews and the Nephites, the Bible and Book of Mormon. Now we wait for more records to come forth, including the lost tribes of Israel.

About 30 years ago I thought I had heard about them being found. I was serving at a family history center and the director came in looking out of sorts. He had just come back from a meeting in Salt Lake. He told me he had learned of a large collections of records that the Russian government had asked the church to microfilm. They were found in caves along the Caspian Sea. They were so fragile that when the Russians attempted to open these records they would disintegrate. They contacted The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints because of their expertise in preserving and microfilming records. The arrangement was for the church to retain a copy of these records. There were so many records they were taken out by the truck loads. The church was in the process at that time of filming these records, and what they were finding was a history and genealogy of the lost tribes. This man was really in shock as he related to me what he had learned. I felt it to my core these were the records. I have waited nearly 30 years to learn any further news of these records but haven't.
 
Regardless if the records I heard about 30 years ago are truly them or not, I know somewhere the records of the lost tribes exist. Someday they will be restored to us, before the Lord's second coming. Someday I will read them and hold them and love them as I do all the scriptures I have today. I will continue to treasure and ponder and pray over the ones I have today. So when that day comes, that more records are given, I will thrill in the harmony and consistency of the Lord, as he speaks to his people. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Day 3400

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 25:26

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 25:26

"Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write."

I learned something new in my study. King Agrippa was Jewish. I thought it was a curiosity that he wanted to hear Paul. Now I understand he had a more knowledge about the issue surrounding Paul, the Jews and Christians.

"Herod Agrippa II (also called Marcus Julius Agrippa) was the seventh and last king in the Jewish Herodian dynasty. He ruled the territory northeast of the Sea of Galilee from about A.D. 55 to 93. He was the son of Herod Agrippa I, who ordered the death of James and imprisoned Peter (see Acts 12:1–4); the grandson of Herod Antipas, who had John the Baptist beheaded (see Matthew 14:1–12); and the great-grandson of Herod the Great, who ordered the slaughter of the infants of Bethlehem (see Matthew 2:16).Agrippa’s kingdom lay to the north of Festus’s territory. Agrippa and his sister Bernice (whom some believed he was having an incestuous affair with) visited Festus in Caesarea while Paul was imprisoned there. Because Agrippa was a Jew and was therefore more familiar with Jewish affairs than Festus, who was a Roman, Festus hoped that Agrippa could help him understand the accusations against Paul and also help draft his letter to Caesar (see Acts 25:24–27; 26:3).."

(New Testament Study Manual, "Herod Agrippa II", Chapter 34: Acts 21-28)

Day 3202

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 20:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 20:7

"And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight."

I wondered if this was the first mention of holding the Sabbath on the first day of the week? I knew the change came in remembrance of the Lord's resurrection.

"Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognize Sunday as the Sabbath in commemoration of the fact that Christ came forth from the grave on Sunday, and the Apostles commenced meeting thereafter on the first day of the week."

(Earl C. Tingey, "The Sabbath Day and Sunday Shopping", Apr 1996)

I also know that not all members of our church observe the Sabbath on the first day of the week. This change was authorized by President Harold B. Lee in 1972 after visiting the Holy Land. Among Jews we will meet on Saturdays, and in Muslim lands on Friday. This is only with permission of the First Presidency that changes were made on the day of the week. Members observe the Sabbath designated for their area.

"One of the first things we asked, in a simple way, was, “Can we meet on the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday) for worship services instead of Sunday?” And as we might have expected, he said no. He said there was no precedent for this, and clearly Sunday is the Lord’s day. But before he left, President Lee asked, “Would you please write a letter and address it to the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve and explain why you made that request?” President Lee continued, “I have felt in the course of our visit to this land that that question was too important to answer on the spur of the moment.” We explained to him that for investigators to come to church on a Sunday was nigh unto impossible because Sunday is a normal workday and they would have to miss work. To bring their children to Sunday School or Primary they would have to take them out of school. Also, we all had obligations on Sunday. It was a normal school day for us at the university or wherever we were engaged."

"It took a couple months to get a response to that letter, but it came back positive authorizing us to meet on Saturdays instead of Sundays and allowing the small Church community in Egypt and other Muslim lands to meet on Fridays at the same time, because they too were struggling with similar problems (Friday being the Muslim holy day). In the letter, President Lee referred us to Doctrine and Covenants 124:49, indicating that we were freed from the obligation to meet on Sunday. Even more to the point, he referred us to Romans 14, the entire chapter. That was exciting because it speaks of the Sabbath day and our dietary preferences and that we must not destroy someone’s faith over things that are not paramount to our personal righteousness. It is a nice way to look at ourselves. So we were formally authorized to worship on Saturday, and for us that authorization was a big thing."

(David B. Galbraith, "The Jerusalem Center for Near Eastern Studies: Reflections of a Modern Pioneer", Religious Educator Vol.9 No. 1-2008)

Day 3197

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 13:5, 14, 42, 46

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 13:5, 14, 42, 46

"And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister.

But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.

And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath.

Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles."

This reminds me of.

"So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen."

(Matthew 20:16)

Barnabas and Saul first went to preach the gospel in the synagogues to the Jews. For they are the first. When the Jews rejected them they preached to the Gentiles, who are last. This is a pattern Paul continues throughout his ministry. The gentiles were the first to receive the gospel when the church was restored. In time the gospel will be taken again to the Jews. They will be the last when Christ returns.

Day 3190

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 9:9

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 9:9

"For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth."

This made me think of my husband, first generation American. His father is Polish and his mother is French, and somewhere he has Jewish blood on both sides. He is one of the sifted among all nations. That little grain did not fall. He is the only one to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He holds the Melchizedek priesthood. Something that was probably held amongst his fathers eons ago, and lost over time. Now it is restored and will bless generations.

"Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:"

(Jeremiah 3:14)

Day 3047

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 50:4-5

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 50:4-5

"In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together, going and weeping: they shall go, and seek the LORD their God.

They shall ask the way to Zion with their faces thitherward, saying, Come, and let us join ourselves to the LORD in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten."

I pondered on how this is starting to be fulfilled. The Jews are gathering to Israel. Slowly they will seek the Lord and enter into a perpetual covenant. The time of the Jews is so close.

Day 2954

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 33:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 33:7

"And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first."

This made me think about the return of the Jews in the latter-days. May 14, 1948 the establishment of the State of Israel was proclaimed. The 75th anniversary of that event is this year. Almost two years after that event President Benson mentioned this in general conference.

"The gathering has three phases: the gathering of Israel to the land of Zion, the American hemisphere; the return of the Ten Tribes from the countries of the north: and the reestablishment of the Jews in Palestine as God's chosen people.

This miracle of the return of the Jews was to be one of the events to precede Christ's second coming, and the scriptures are very clear with reference to this fact. Isaiah said that they shall gather "the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth" and "set them in their own land," that they will "build the old waste," and "repair the waste cities" And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first."

(Ezra Taft Benson, "Jews Return to Palestine and Fulfill Prophecy", April 1950 General Conference)

Day 2937

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 80:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 80:1-2

" Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.

Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us."

This quote gave interesting insight into the meaning of these verses.

"When Jesus comes to Zion as is here predicted, in the 59th chapter of Isaiah, he will come in the character of a great shepherd. Not in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory; but appearing in the midst of Zion and administering to the remnants of Joseph in the character of a shepherd. From thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel. Now we all know that Jesus sprang from Judah; but here is a declaration that from Joseph is the shepherd, the stone of Israel. That is, he will come the second time as a shepherd. He will gather his flock, or as the Psalmist David has said, “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; stir up thy strength, and come and save us.” He will come as a shepherd, he will stir up his strength and show forth his power and the remnant of Joseph will be led by their shepherd, long before the Jews are redeemed. “Arise, and shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” 

(Orson Pratt, "Zion", JD 14:343)

"Notice now, Jesus was not born of the tribe of Joseph, he was a descendant of Judah according to the flesh, but still the promise of a Shepherd or stone of Israel is from the house of Joseph. The same Jesus that was born of the tribe of Judah is to come, in the latter days, in the capacity of a Shepherd for the restoration of the remnants of the tribe of Joseph. This agrees with what is contained in one of the Psalms of David: “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock. Stir up thy strength and come and save us.” Yes he will come and save them, and he will come in the character of a Shepherd too. “I also will be in your midst.” The powers of heaven shall come down then, and be in the midst of this people. This agrees with what I have already quoted, only I did not quote it in full: “Blindness in part hath happened to Israel, until the times of the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, Behold the Deliverer shall come out of Sion, and turn away ungodliness from Jacob.” 

(Orson Pratt, "Nephite America, Etc.", JD 14:323)

I have been wondering lately if the times of Gentiles is coming to an end, and the time of Jews are beginning.

Day 2717

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: 3 Nephi 16:10-11

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 16:10-11
"And thus commandeth the Father that I should say unto you: At that day when the Gentiles shall sin against my gospel, and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, and shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth, and shall be filled with all manner of lyings, and of deceits, and of mischiefs, and all manner of hypocrisy, and murders and priestcrafts, and whoredoms, and of secret abominations; and if they shall do all those things and shall reject the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.
And then will I remember the covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them."

I was wondering if these verses were referring to the end of the time of the gentiles and the time of the Jews. I found a quote from Orson Pratt, that speaks of its fulfillment.

"I wish to state that when I read this in 1830, it was a great mystery to me. Recollect this was written and printed before there was any Latter-day Saint Church in existence, and yet here was a prophecy that the Lord would bring the fulness of his Gospel from among the Gentiles if they did not receive it. When the Lord commanded us to go up and settle in Jackson County I thought to myself—“Well, if we build up a great city here, according to that which is predicted in the Book of Mormon, we shall be right in the midst of the Gentiles, and how will it be possible for that prophecy ever to be fulfilled?” It was a mystery to me, I could not see it. I knew it was true, for God had given me a witness and evidence that I knew as well as I knew that I lived that that book was true; but yet I could not understand how the Lord would bring the fulness of his Gospel from among the Gentiles if we were going to be permitted to build up a city in Jackson County, Missouri, and stay there.

But some seventeen years after the rise of this Church circumstances rolled round by which the Lord fulfilled this prophecy in taking the main body of the people from among the Gentiles. Not voluntarily altogether, for we did not all feel perfectly willing to leave our houses. We had been driven four times before from lands and homes, and we did not really feel willing to leave; but still, rather than be shot down and mobbed, as many of our people had been, we concluded to move the fifth time, and we did so because we were obliged to, but little did we think then that we were fulfilling a prophecy in the Book of Mormon, such a thought had not entered into our hearts. But we were brought out west here to these mountains, and I do not know of another place on the face of this vast continent where we could have been so completely isolated from the Gentiles, the wicked who had rejected the Gospel, as we were by coming out en masse to this land.

“If the Gentiles shall sin against the fulness of my gospel, behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them.” 3 Ne. 16:10 It was done, the prediction was fulfilled to the very letter. You might have passed through the land there for hundreds and hundreds of miles, from city to city, and inquired for an Elder who had authority to baptize for the remission of sins and to build up the Church and kingdom of God, and the answer would have been—“There is no such person here.”

“Where are they?” “They have gone away beyond the Rocky Mountains,” more than a thousand miles away from civilization as they called it. When we got here and again searched the prophecies we found that the Lord had been as good as his word, and had literally fulfilled that which he had spoken concerning taking his Gospel from the midst of those who had sinned against and rejected it.

There is one thing which I am now about to read which has not yet been fulfilled, and which we must fulfill before Zion is redeemed. I will read it—“Behold, saith the Father, I will bring the fulness of my gospel from among them. And then I will remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them.” 3 Ne. 16:10-11

Now then, we are here in this land, the house of Israel are scattered all around us, some in the great basin, some in Arizona, some in Idaho, some in Colorado, some in Montana, some in one place, some in another; I refer to the American Indians, all remnants of Joseph and belonging to the house of Israel. They have become very degraded in consequence of the apostasy and wickedness of their ancient fathers. This people—the Latter-day Saints, before they can ever return to build up the waste places of Zion and receive their inheritances in Jackson County, Missouri, have got to exert themselves to bring the remnants of Joseph to a knowledge of the truth. We have not made any very great exertions in this direction unto the present time. The Lord has given us time since he brought the fulness of the Gospel from among the Gentiles to lay a foundation so that we could commence this missionary work in behalf of and among the remnants of Joseph. We have got the foundation laid, we have succeeded in building many cities, towns, villages, &c., for some four hundred miles north and south; we have got our farms fenced and our water ditches dug, and we have begun to prosper in the land, so that now, I think, is the time for us to wake up our minds in relation to the scattered remnants of the house of Israel. “Behold, then I will remember my covenant which I have made unto my people, O house of Israel, and I will bring my gospel unto them.”
(JD 17:289, Orson Pratt, Redemption of Zion, etc.)

It would seem to me that to "bring the fulness of my gospel from among them" was when the saints had to flee to the rocky mountains. Then the "bring my gospel unto them" is what we are doing now with sharing the gospel to the world. The time of the gentiles will end and the fulness of the gospel will be taken to the Jews. This is a prophecy that I could say is fulfilled but the last part leads into another prophecy, or maybe it has layers to its fulfillment.

Day 1953

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 13:42

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 13:42
"And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last."

This is what Jesus was referring to in Luke 13:30
"And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last."

The gospel was first given to the Jews and after the Savior's resurrection taken to the Gentiles. After a period of apostasy where plain and precious truth of the gospel were removed from the record of the Jews (bible) a restoration would come through the Gentiles. God the Father and his Son, Jesus Christ did appear to the young boy, Joseph Smith in the sacred grove. The question deep in his heart was which church to join, and he was told to join none of them. "For they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: "they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for the doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof." (Joseph Smith History 1:19)

Joseph's humble prayer was answered and at a later time the gospel was restored, first through the records of the the tribe of Joseph, and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. With the Bible the Book of Mormon becomes another testament of Jesus Christ. With the stick of Judah and the stick of Joseph combined (Ezekiel 37:16-17) the plain and precious truths of the gospel are again restored. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized April 6, 1830 with only a handful of 6 members. Nearly 200 years later the restored gospel of Jesus Christ has been taken throughout the earth, with a membership of over 16 million. It is as Daniel saw a stone cut without hands that would fill the whole earth. This is the time of the Gentiles. One day it will become the time of the Jews, and those that were first will become the last, to come to a knowledge that Jesus is the Christ. Some day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ and that salvation can only come through Him.

Day 1776

Today's Favorite Verse: Galatians 3:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Galatians 3:8
"And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed."

What I realized for the first time is that even in Abraham's day a way was prepared for the gospel to be preached to the gentiles. I can't describe what I just put together because I always knew the gentiles were adoption into the house of Israel when converted. I guess what I didn't appreciate is how far back the knowledge of this went. So why was it a new concept to the apostles that the gospel was to be taken to the gentiles? I guess it's like today, we don't do certain things until we are told the time is now to do so. When the time of the gentiles is fulfilled then the gospel will be preached to the Jews.

Day 1667

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 13:42, 46

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 13:42, 46
"And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that the words might be preached to them the next sabbath.
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judged yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles."

I had wondered why the apostles and disciples of Jesus Christ were preaching in the synagogues of the Jews when obviously it upset many of them. They were rejecting Christ.  Now I realize it was what they had to do. The gospel had to be preached to the Jews first. Then when the Jews fully rejected it the prophesy would be fulfilled. The word now went to the gentiles.

Day 1604

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 11:16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 11:16-17
"Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
Forasmuch then as God gave them the gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?"

I think it such an amazing thing how the gospel went from the Jews to the Gentile. What a learning curve to put away customs and traditions and the law of Moses being fulfilled. With the gospel being received by the gentiles they went from calling themselves Jews to Christians. It made me think about how strange it will feel when the time of the Gentiles end and the gospel once again is taken to the Jews. The first shall be last and last shall be first.

"And the time cometh that he shall manifest himself unto all nations, both unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles; and after he has manifested himself unto the Jews and also unto the Gentiles, then he shall manifest himself unto the Gentiles and also unto the Jews, and the last shall be first, and the first shall be last."
(1 Nephi 14:42)

Day 1602

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 9:9, 14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 9:9, 14-15
"For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.
And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God."

I pondered on how this could speak of the sifting and scattering of the Jews upon all the nations. Now they are being gathered back to their lands. It also made me think of the saints beings sifted.

It reminded me of the old sifter my mother had. When she was making cakes or popovers I could help by sifting the dry goods together. I was always fascinated in how the sifter would find these hard little clumps when I originally could not see them as I poured the ingredients in. The hard items left behind were good for nothing and simply tossed into the trash. Sifting is just like the Lord finding those with hardened hearts and removing them from his covenant people. If they remained, just like the cake, they would not become its perfect creation, as a Zion people should. It was through the sifting that each little flake became all that it could be.

Day 1463

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 28:25-26

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 28:25-26
"Thus saith the Lord God; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.
And they shall dwell safely therein, and shall build houses, and plant vineyards; yea, they shall dwell with confidence, when I have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them; and they shall know that I am the Lord their God."

At first I thought of the Jews around the world gathering to Israel. Then I thought of the gathering taking place throughout the world to the stakes of Zion. Then I thought of the saints gathering in their homes to be taught of the Lord. There is safety within our homes as we dwell in confidence before the Lord. We are His people, he is gathering his sheep. 

"And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth."
(Doctrine and Covenants 115:6)

Day 1405

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 17:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 17:6
"Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the Lord God of Israel."

I pondered on how Israel was scattered and just a remnant remained. I reflected even on what happened to the Jews after World War II. Too many died, some families completely wiped out or only a small number remained. Yet the seed of Abraham has covered the whole earth and are being gathered. I think DNA very fascinating for people that never knew they had Jewish blood find that they have it.

Day 1271

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

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 8:16-17
"Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him."

I think this is speaking of the end of the time of the Gentiles, where they have rejected the gospel and it is no longer preached to them. Then we enter the time of the Jews. When Christ's disciples will search out and take the gospel to the Jews and they will receive their Messiah and King. How did I come to that conclusion I don't know. It's just what came into my mind. Now I guess I have to figure out who said that's what it means because the spirit never gives me original thought. I always find a second witness to it.

When Nephi is explaining parts of Isaiah I think these verses are covered in 2 Nephi 25:15-18.

A quote that did come to me while pondering it was what President Nelson said in the April 2018 General Conference talk "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for our Lives".

"But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."

I must have a firm testimony of the gospel for the days ahead. The law of the gospel must be sealed upon my heart. Loving and honoring my God and his laws must mean more to me than life itself.

Day 1262