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: John 3:26, 30

Today's Favorite Verse: John 3:26, 30
"And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
He must increase, but I must decrease."

What absolute humility and wisdom of John the Baptist. He knew he was the forerunner to Christ. He prepared the way and even baptized Jesus. Now he knew he must fad into the background. That men were to follow Christ and not John. There would be no competition on who obtained the greater flock. John was there to prepare the way and point them to Christ.

Day 4124

Today's Favorite Verse: John 1:9, 33-

Today's Favorite Verse: John 1:9, 33-34
"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God."

I pondered on how everyone born on this earth received this light, the light of Christ, to guide them in their life. Man knows right from wrong inside his soul. They cannot deny this, even if they do not have any faith or religion. Those that do come to know Christ and are baptize will receive more, the gift of the Holy Ghost. To be their constant companion if they live worthy to receive it.

Day 4122

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 1:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 1:17
"And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

This reminded me of this verse known so well regarding family history work and the redemption of the dead.

"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:
And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
(Malachi 4:5-6)

John had the power of Elias to prepare the way of the Lord. Elijah also had a role to play in preparing for the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Did both of these roles include the redemption of the dead? We know they practiced this in the early church.

"Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?"
(1 Corinthians 15:29)

I wonder if John was the one to establish baptism for the living and the dead?

Day 4098

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 17:3, 10-13

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 17:3, 10-13
"And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.
And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist."

Does this mean that on the Mount of Transfiguration that it was Moses and John the Baptist with Jesus? That is who Peter, James and John saw? The footnotes also mention Ellijah but I don't see his name in the chapter. Who is Elias? I would make sense Elias is Elijah because of the sealing power.

The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) taught, “The Savior, Moses, and Elias [Elijah], gave the keys to Peter, James, and John, on the mount, when they were transfigured before him” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 105). Also on the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses conferred the keys of the gathering of Israel on Peter, James, and John, who, as the First Presidency, would soon be sending out missionaries to gather the righteous into the gospel. Elijah conferred the sealing power of the priesthood, which made it possible for ordinances performed on earth to be bound or loosed in heaven. Joseph Smith summarized the importance of Elijah’s mission as follows: “The spirit, power, and calling of Elijah is, that ye have power to hold the key of the revelation, ordinances, oracles, powers and endowments of the fullness of the Melchizedek Priesthood and of the kingdom of God on the earth; and to receive, obtain, and perform all the ordinances belonging to the kingdom of God” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 311).
President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) taught that Peter, James, and John did receive the sealing power, although they could not use it in behalf of the dead until after the Resurrection of the Savior:
“[The sealing power] was conferred upon Peter, James, and John. … We, therefore, conclude that the saints in that dispensation had the privilege of receiving all the keys and authorities that are necessary for the salvation and exaltation of man. However, these powers were exercised only for the living, until after the resurrection of Christ, when they were exercised also in behalf of the dead. …
“… These keys [for the salvation of the living and the dead] were given to Peter, James, and John on the mount when they received this power from Elias [Elijah] and Moses, the latter conferring the keys of the gathering of Israel. Christ told these three men, who I believe received their endowments on the mount, that they were not to mention this vision and what had taken place until after he was resurrected” (Doctrines of Salvation, 2:164–65). (New Testament Student Manual, "Chapter 6: Matthew 16–18")

Day 4070

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 11:2-3

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 11:2-3
"Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?"

I always wondered why John sent his disciples to ask if Jesus was the one they had been waiting for. Didn't John already baptize Jesus and have that witness and testimony? Wasn't John the prophesied fore-running that prepared the way for Him.

"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost."
(John 1:29, 32-33)

Why would John then need to find out is Jesus was the Christ? I realize now that he didn't. It was his followers that needed to become disciples of Jesus Christ. They needed to hear and see Jesus, witness the miracles he performed. Then as they bare witness to John what they saw they would understand too.

Day 4064

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Thessalonians 1:5

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Thessalonians 1:5
"For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake."

That power comes from priesthood authority. Paul was an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those same keys were given to this dispensation.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie (1915–85) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:“The true gospel consists of two things: The Word, and The Power. Anyone can have the word; the books in which it is written are universally available. But the power must come from God; it is and must be dispensed according to his mind and his will to those who abide the law entitling them to receive it. The word of the gospel is the spoken or written account of what men must do to be saved. …“But actual salvation comes only when the power of God is received and used; and this power is the power of the priesthood and the power of the Holy Ghost. These must operate in the lives of men; otherwise their souls cannot be cleansed; they cannot be born again; they cannot become new creatures of the Holy Ghost; they cannot put off the natural man and become saints; they cannot be sanctified by the Spirit”
(Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1965–73], 3:42–43).
(New Testament Student Manual, "Chapter 46: 1 Thessalonians and 2 Thessalonians")

Those priesthood keys were restored by heavenly messengers to the prophet Joseph Smith. First, came John the Baptist and the restoration of the Aaronic priesthood. Then came Peter, James and Johns to restore the Melchizedek priesthood. Followed by Moses committing the keys of the gathering of Israel, Elias the dispensation of the gospel of Abraham, and Elijah with the sealing power. All I know is belonging to a church that holds these priesthood keys. I am so grateful for the blessing it has brought into my life.

Day 3271

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 3:12-13

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 3:12-13

"Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you."

There was something missing and the Joseph Smith Translation had it.

"For it is well known unto you, Theophilus, that after the manner of the Jews and according to the custom of their law in receiving money into the treasury, that out of the abundance which was received was appointed unto the poor, every man his portion;

And after this manner did the publicans also, wherefore, John said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you."

(JST Luke 3:19-20)

John had told them earlier "Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance.." (vs. 8). John could preach repentance and baptize them but the change had to come from within. John exposed where they erred and what sin could still overcome them. He gave the counsel that may have been hard to hear. It is interesting that publicans collected the tax under the Roman government. For this the Jews detested them and they were excommunicated. They also showed themselves ready to receive the gospel, ready to change. Matthew was one of them.

"Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him."

(Luke 15:1)

"Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him."

(Matthew 21:31-32)

Day 3135

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 3:16

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 3:16
"John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose sons I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:"

What struck me was how humble John is, he knows his mission, his role, and the authority that he has. He could baptize for the remission of sins but not bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost. For that comes by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood and John the Baptist only had the Aaronic Priesthood. Jesus Christ gave that authority to his apostles. In Acts 8:14-17 I find Peter and John using that authority. It was also Peter, James, and John that came to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to restore the Melchizedek priesthood, which included the authority to give the gift of the Holy Ghost. John the Baptist having coming earlier to restore the Aaronic Priesthood and baptism for the remission of sin. All these keys had to be restored by one that had authority. I am so grateful that I live at such a time. Having been both baptized and confirmed and given the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is such a precious gift for me. I am grateful that my deceased ancestors that had not this opportunity can be given it vicariously through proxy baptism and confirmation for the gift of the Holy Ghost in the temples of our Lord, if they so choose to accept it. 

Day 1551

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 1:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 1:17
"And he shall go before him in spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared fro the Lord."

I hadn't noticed before the part of "turn the hearts of the fathers to the children". I sounded like Elijah's mission. I looked at the footnote it even said "This is the Greek form of the Hebrew name, Elijah."  Yet, I knew John the Baptist was an Elias (preparer/forerunner) and not Elijah. So I turned to this wonderful April 1965 General Conference talk by Theodore M. Burton, "The Work of Elijah". I will just quote it.

"Because of a misunderstanding of Luke 1:17, which states that the child later to be named John the Baptist would come in the spirit and power of Elias to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children many persons have thought that John the Baptist who held the office of an Elias, or messenger, was the Elijah who was to return. This verse explains that John's work was a preparatory work to "make ready a people prepared for the Lord" and not the work of sealing or completion, which keys Elijah held. When John was bluntly asked the question, he said:"

. . . I am not the Christ.

"And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias [Elijah]? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No" 

This, of course, had to be true, for the prophecy stated that Elijah the Prophet should return before the second coming of the Lord, when Jesus was to come in great power, majesty, and glory as judge of all the earth. The mission of Elias held by John the Baptist comes first, and so just as John came before Elijah in the days of Jesus Christ, so John came before Elijah in these latter days to restore the preparatory Aaronic Priesthood before the greater power in the priesthood was given."

Day 1549