Today's Favorite Verse: Job 42:10-13

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 42:10-13
"And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one an earring of gold.
So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
He had also seven sons and three daughters."

I love the ending of the story of Job. Job prays for his friends that spoke wrong in the Lord's eyes. That is forgiveness. Then Job's brothers and sisters all gather around him and comfort him. They each give him some money and gold. Then Job is blessed in the end double the sheep, camels, oxen, and asses then before. As for children, his is blessed again with the same number. Now for the eternities Job has 14 sons and 6 daughters, for the ones that died as still his too.

Day 3902

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 38:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 38:4
"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding."

This made me think of our "Come, Follow Me: reading for this week. How President Joseph F. Smith saw in vision the redemption of the dead after the crucifixion of the Savior and his appearance in the spirit world. Christ organized from the righteous his forces, and appointed messengers with power and authority to preach the gospel to the dead.

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” (1 Peter 3:18—20.)
“For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1 Peter 4:6.)

It also goes on to state how some reserved for our day were chosen in the beginning. This would be when God laid the foundations of the earth, while we were in the pre-existence.

"The Prophet Joseph Smith, and my father, Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and other choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fulness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work,
Including the building of the temples and the performance of ordinances therein for the redemption of the dead, were also in the spirit world.
I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God.
Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men."
(Doctrine and Covenants 138:53-56)

Day 3901

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 34:35-37

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 34:35-37
"Job hath spoken without knowledge, and his words were without wisdom.
My desire is that Job may be tried unto the end because of his answers for wicked men.
For he addeth rebellion unto his sin, he clappeth his hands among us, and multiplieth his words against God."

I can't even imagine judging, much less saying these words to a good man that had suffered so much loss. No wonder the Lord spoke these words to Joseph Smith, while held prisoner in the Liberty jail.

"Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job."
(Doctrine and Covenants 121:10)

Day 3900

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 32:9

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 32:9
"But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding."

I pondered on how the spirit has taught me things I had no knowledge of before hand. As I reflected on several experiences I thought about many great inventions even just in my lifetime. I then thought of President Nelson and how he was instrumental in creating the first heart-lung machine, so they could perform surgery on the heart. Then he was instructed through inspiration on how to perform those surgeries.

"During the early pioneering days of surgery of the heart,” a stake patriarch from southern Utah suffered much because of a failing heart. He pleaded for help, thinking that his condition resulted from a damaged but repairable valve in his heart.
Extensive evaluation revealed that he had two faulty valves. While one could be helped surgically, the other could not. Thus, an operation was not advised. He received this news with deep disappointment.
Subsequent visits ended with the same advice. Finally, in desperation, he spoke to me with considerable emotion: “Dr. Nelson, I have prayed for help and have been directed to you. The Lord will not reveal to me how to repair that second valve, but He can reveal it to you. Your mind is so prepared. If you will operate upon me, the Lord will make it known to you what to do. Please perform the operation that I need, and pray for the help that you need.”
His great faith had a profound effect upon me. How could I turn him away again? Following a fervent prayer together, I agreed to try. In preparing for that fateful day, I prayed over and over again, but still did not know what to do for his leaking tricuspid valve. Even as the operation commenced, my assistant asked, “What are you going to do for that?”
I said, “I do not know.”
We began the operation. After relieving the obstruction of the first valve, we exposed the second valve. We found it to be intact but so badly dilated that it could no longer function as it should. While examining this valve, a message was distinctly impressed upon my mind: Reduce the circumference of the ring. I announced that message to my assistant. “The valve tissue will be sufficient if we can effectively reduce the ring toward its normal size.”
But how? We could not apply a belt as one would use to tighten the waist of oversized trousers. We could not squeeze with a strap as one would cinch a saddle on a horse. Then a picture came vividly to my mind, showing how stitches could be placed—to make a pleat here and a tuck there—to accomplish the desired objective. I still remember that mental image—complete with dotted lines where sutures should be placed. The repair was completed as diagrammed in my mind. We tested the valve and found the leak to be reduced remarkably. My assistant said, “It’s a miracle.”
I responded, “It’s an answer to prayer."
("Discovering a Surgical First, Russell M. Nelson and Tricuspid Valve Annuloplasty" by Austin A. Robinson and Curtis T. Hunter, BYU Studies)

Day 3899

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 29:16

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 29:16
"I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out."

This reminded me of the principles of self-reliance and the humanitarian efforts of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is not enough to help the poor by feeding and clothing them. What is truly needed is a help up so they can provide for themselves, and in turn help others. I love how the "Light the World Giving Machines" have donations that do just that. Chickens are not for people eat. They are to raise and sell eggs, and continue to replenish their flocks. Goats are not to eat. They are to raise and start a business to sell milk and cheese. There are seeds to grow crops to feed themselves and begin a business. Helping people to sustain themselves and their families effects generations.

Find a location near you. 

Day 3898

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 27:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 27:6
"My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live."

This made me think of the iron rod, the word of God, and holding fast to it.

"And it came to pass that I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God."
(1 Nephi 11:25)

The love of God goes both ways. God's love for his children, and our love for God. The heart is in all of this. Our heart will know if we are steadfast and true.

"And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction."
(1 Nephi 15:24)

Day 3897

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 22:3,5, 21-23

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 22:3,5, 21-23
Is it any pleasure to the Almighty, that thou art righteous? or is it gain to him, that thou makest thy ways perfect?
Is not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?
Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.
Receive, I pray thee, the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart.
If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tabernacles.

Eliphaz the Temanite words to Job are rather shocking. Here Job is suffering the loss of children, and his great wealth and being told how wicked he is. That God doesn't take pleasure in our being righteous. Then he is told he needs to acquaint himself with God and his laws. Pray, read the scriptures, and put away iniquity. Talk about being judged unrighteously. I loved how in the next chapters Job is humble, and doesn't point at the wrong judgment being placed on him, but builds on what is true. For we can always do more to be acquainted with God. Prayer and repentance are a daily thing.

Day 3896

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 19:25-26

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 19:25-26
"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:"

I love how Job bears his testimony to his friends. They had not brought words of comfort and had judged him and his children as being wicked, but Job knew the truth. He knew through it all that his redeemer Jesus Christ was there for him. He believed in the resurrection to come. How comforting that though must have been, because that means he would see his children too. There was life after death. First and foremost was his desire to see God.

Day 3895

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 16:2, 4-5

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 16:2, 4-5
"I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are ye all.
I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief."

Job calls his friends miserable comforters. It made me reflect on our baptismal covenant, to mourn with those that mourn, and comfort those in need of comfort.

"And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—"
(Mosiah18:8-9)

Day 3894

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 14:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 14:4
"Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one."

Wish I had this verse a few days ago. I had a discussion with someone regarding an issue they were having with an elderly relative. The elderly person was very religious but with some dementia. The family member was trying to clean out their food storage of rotted and expired food. The elderly person thought they needed it all because the end of the world was any day now. The family member not being religious didn't know how to address this. I told them don't challenge them on the second coming being any day now. Distract them in preparing their very best for it instead. The Lord's house is a house of order.

Don't challenge their feelings that they need their food storage. Agree it's import, but distract them in offering their very best. I told them about the story of Elijah and widow of Zarephath. How God can multiple what we have with faith. The widow's flour was not rotted or spoiled, the oil was not rancid, both were whole and able to nourish Elijah, the widow, and her son throughout the famine. If the Lord was to multiple what you had, would you want to multiple something expired, or something eatable? We should offer and store our very best. Get them involved in setting up the guidelines. What is an acceptable time frame after the best buy and expiration date? What type of cans are acceptable to eat. Give them more control so they don't have to feel you will get rid of everything on them. Sometimes rotating is not eating but replacing what was bad with good, so make sure to bring in new items to take their place. If they won't let you throw out the bad then make a special area for expired items until they are ready to let it go. The Lord is not going to make something unclean into clean when we had stewardship over what was stored in that place. We need to be wise and faithful stewards and put our house in order.

Day 3893

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 12:12-13

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 12:12-13
"With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding."

Today is Thanksgiving and with it comes preparing a family dinner. I noticed in the last couple days I was telling my adult children things I took for granted and didn't realize they didn't know. Like putting a frozen turkey in a tub of cold water to defrost it. They were thinking it would need to go in hot water. It's little things that we gain time and experience in. That get handed down generation after generation if we are lucky. I always loved listening to older people's conversations when I was a kid. I have an old soul and love stories of days gone by. I also appreciated their wisdom and knowledge. Now I find my generation is the older generation.

Day 3892

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 8:4, 6

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 8:4, 6
"If thy children have sinned against him, and he have cast them away for their transgression;
If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous."

A different friend of Job's, Bildad the Shunhite, now shocks me with his words. How did I not see or understand before how terrible what he said was? Again Job is being told his children that died were wicked. Then I noticed another misconception that only the righteous are able to prosper. If you think being righteous will only bring you sunshine and roses you are sadly mistaken. Everyone has an equal opportunity for trials in their lives. Like somehow having lost everything proves Job was not a righteous man. The only promise I have in life is if I lean on the Lord he will walk beside me, and carry me, and not leave me alone. He will give me that peace that passeth understanding, even in the midst of the storm. I like how Job set the record straight.

"This is one thing, therefore I said it, He destroyeth the perfect and the wicked."
(Job 9:22)

Day 3891

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 6:14, 25

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 6:14, 25
"To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?"

As I am reading Job I want to learn what not to say to someone that is grieving and experiencing loss. I don't want to be like Job's friends, but sometimes at first glance I agree with them. I want to understand this. There is reason to not be like them.

"Thou art not yet as Job; thy friends do not contend against thee, neither charge thee with transgression, as they did Job."
(Doctrine and Covenants 121:10)

As I was looking at Eliphaz's words, to find what stung Job, this thought rather horrified me.

"Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed."
(Job 4:7-9)

Is Job's friend Eliphaz basically saying God killed Job's children because they were wicked? If you are innocent you never suffer trials in life? That though is pretty eye-opening. Wow, just Wow. 

Day 3890

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 1:12

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 1:12
"And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD."

As I was reading the conversation between the Lord and Job it made me think of the pre-existence, and council in Heaven. Satan or Lucifer knew the plan and would have been there before his rebellion. I wondered if some of these conversations happened before or after? One thing is for sure, we are all here on this earth to be tried and tested. We can do everything right and still have harm come upon us. The difference is who we turn to during the dark times of our lives. If we turn to God we will be embraced and comforted and given strength to endure. If we turn away from God we perish and do not have peace. All of us are Job. The challenge is being able to say "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord."

The other thing I pondered on was Satan does have power. The footnote to the word power says "Probation, Probationary". The fact that we are mortals upon this earth in a probationary state means we are allowed to be tried and tested. Satan has power on this earth only as the Lord permits and that we give to him by yielding to his temptations. The question is "Do we allow trials to draw us closer to God or further away?"

"And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;"
(Abraham 3:25)

Day 3889

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 49:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 49:17

"For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him."

In family scriptures tonight we finished the book of Job. I had the family compare what Job started with and what his increase was at the end. He received double the number of everything, but his children. This was because none of the things that were doubled could he take with him. Yet, his children that were lost previously were still his children. So in the next life he would have twice as many children around him. What we learn and the relationships sealed here on earth are all that we can take with us.

Day 2686

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 42:12-13

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 42:12-13

"So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

He had also seven sons and three daughters."

The Lord blesses Job and he is given double what he had at the beginning.

"And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.

His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east."

(Job 1:2-3)

Why did he receive the same number of children then? It is because the first group of children were not completely lost. They had died and would be his in the next life. Then with all his children around him he would have double. Material wealth and belongings are only for this life. That is what he could not take with him. It is also simply the how and when the Lord granted him.

I cannot help but ponder on how the Lord allowed all these loses and trials to come upon Job, not only so He could reveal himself to him, but also that He could bless him even greater. It may have seen unfair at first, but it was a blessing in the end.

"If we let Him, Jesus Christ will consecrate the unfairness for our gain. He will not just console us and restore what was lost; He will use the unfairness for our benefit. When it comes to how and when, we need to recognize and accept, as did Alma, that “it mattereth not; for God knoweth all these things; and it sufficeth me to know that this is the case.”

"We can try to hold our questions about how and when for later and focus on developing faith in Jesus Christ, that He has both the power to make everything right and yearns to do so. For us to insist on knowing how or when is unproductive and, after all, myopic."

(Elder Dale G. Renlund, "Infuriating Unfairness", April 2021, General Conference)

Some of Job's unfairness is restored doubled in this life. The others he realizes the increase in the next.

Day 2637

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 41:1, 34

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 41:1, 34

"Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?

He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride."

What is a leviathan?

"Any great sea or land monster, such as the crocodile, either as an actual creature (Job 41:1) or as symbolic of a nation (Ps. 74:14); a large serpent (Isa. 27:1)."

(Bible Dictionary)

In Psalm the leviathan has multiple heads.

"Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness."

(Psalm 74:14)

In Isaiah the Lord slays it.

"In that day the Lord with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea."

(Isaiah 27:1)

"When Israel is restored, she “shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit” (Isaiah 27:6). That fruit is the gospel of peace (see v. 5–6). At the same time the Lord “shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, … and he shall slay the dragon” (v. 1). Both dragon and serpent are scriptural terms for Satan, the common enemy of God and all mankind (see Revelation 12:9). Thus, leviathan probably includes not only Satan personally but all who serve him. In other words, what Isaiah saw is the necessary destruction of Babylon, or the world, before Zion can be fully established. Here again, as in chapter 26, Isaiah is so taken with the joy of that future day that he couches his words in a hymn of praise."

(Old Testament Student Manual Kings-Malachi, "Prophecies of the Dispensation of the fullness of Times", 15-7)

If the leviathan is not only Satan but also those that serve him, it makes sense why in Job we are told he is king over all the children of pride. Pride is the downfall and enemy of every man. Pride is the one tool that can be used against the righteous and crack the armor of God around them. For Satan will tell them they are so righteous and that will go to their head. This is probably why the Lord mentions the leviathan and pride to Job. As righteous as Job was he was capable of falling due to pride.

Day 2636

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 40:2-5

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 40:2-5

"Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

Then Job answered the LORD, and said,

Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.

Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further."

After all the Job suffers and remains faithful throughout, now the Lord tries and humbles him. This chastening makes Job teachable in preparation for what is to come.

"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."

(Hebrew 12:5-11

"Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you—"

(Doctrine and Covenants 95:1)

"Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son.

For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified."

(Doctrine and Covenants 101:4-5)

"My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom."

(Doctrine and Covenants 136:31)

Day 2635

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 39:26-27

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 39:26-27

"Doth the hawk fly by thy wisdom, and stretch her wings toward the south?

Doth the eagle mount up at thy command, and make her nest on high?"

The chapter headers says "Man's weakness and ignorance are compared with God's mighty works - Does man even know how the laws of nature operate?"

Man cannot control nature, but he foolishly thinks he can. I shake my head at those that think they can control the weather through climate change initiatives. Man fears the melting ice caps and rising tides but never thinks for a minute about what is exposed under the retreating ice. Showing earth had a different climate at one time, where plants and animals and sometimes humans called home. Where I sit at the moment I would be 980 ft under ancient Lake Bonneville. Now I sit in what is called a desert. None of these climate changes were caused by man, yet man foolishly thinks he can control it. Man does not even know what the true climate of this earth should be. The only way man can have any influence on the weather is through his obedience to God's laws. God will temper the weather to bless us or curse according to what we deserve. Right now that voice of warning just keeps getting louder and louder. The God that created this earth is in control.

Day 2634

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 38:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 38:3

"Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me."

As I was reading this chapter it struck me how many times God asked Job a question. In fact I counted 40 of them. It made me think of the question and answer sessions I have had while being taught by the spirit. When the spirit prompts you to ask a question in faith the answer will follow. Job right now is being instructed by God by these questions. The nature of the questions are to instruction on the character and majesty of God. I notice the plan of salvation is also taught.

Day 2633