Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 23:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 23:6
"Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;"

I had several favorite verses that I pondered on, but when I asked myself which has the most meaning to share today, it is this one. It is something that has been reinforced to me these last two days. Don't turn to the right or to the left, stay in the middle. Stay the course. It is the only way to remain a peacemaker. Now with the laws of God you stay true, and that includes following the prophet. The message the prophet and the apostles are giving is to be a peacemaker. Elder Christofferson offered some inspired counsel yesterday morning that have played out to be so meaningful and true as the news later developed.

"The Lord expects us to be peacemakers.
There is much in today’s culture that focuses on retribution or revenge, but the Lord says, “Vengeance is mine” (Romans 12:19). We need to learn to leave judgment to Him.
Difficult as it may seem to be, we have the responsibility to pray for those who may persecute us, as Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount.
The Lord isn’t saying to us that we have to tolerate abuse or remain in circumstances or situations that are harmful; the Lord says to us that we can—even at times should—seek redress. But whether it comes or not, we forgive and move on.
God will care for those who turn to Him. He does not abandon us."
(Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Facebook post 10 Sep 2025)

Day 3815

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 21:43-44

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 21:43-44
"And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand."

As I pondered on how much land was promised to Abraham, all the cities and villages the children of Israel claimed and divided, I thought about timing. How you needed a very large number of people to fulfill all that was promised. It took many, many generations for Abraham's posterity to become large enough to come in and be given it. If they hadn't been captive in Egypt and allowed to grow, their small numbers would have been decimated over time if they had to tried to claim this land. You have to trust in the Lord's timing and what He has prepared before us.

Day 3814

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 17:12

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 17:12
"Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land."

As I'm reading these chapters I opened up to the bible maps. At first I was thinking why does Manasseh seem to have so much more land than the other tribes? It wasn't until I read this verse that I understood they weren't alone. The Canaanites remained with them.

Day 3813

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 13:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 13:1
"Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed."

I can't even imagine how Joshua must have felt. You're old, stricken in years and told there is much land to be possessed. Which isn't a simple matter of walking in, they have to fight for it. Basically there is no rest. It made me think of my birthday tomorrow, and how I feel like I've slowed down so much this past year. I can't even imagine turning 101 years old like President Nelson tomorrow. As I pondered on all this I thought of purpose. Even though I am older its the purpose and the need to get things done that keeps me going. You really can never stop. The difference is you focus on what's important and devote the energy you have to that. It reminded me of a story Elder Bednar related about Elder Robert D. Hales.

"Several years ago I spent a Sunday afternoon with Elder Hales in his home as he was recovering from a serious illness. We discussed our families, our quorum responsibilities, and important experiences.
At one point I asked Elder Hales, “You have been a successful husband, father, athlete, pilot, business executive, and Church leader. What lessons have you learned as you have grown older and been constrained by decreased physical capacity?”
Elder Hales paused for a moment and responded, “When you cannot do what you have always done, then you only do what matters most.”
I was struck by the simplicity and comprehensiveness of his answer. My beloved apostolic associate shared with me a lesson of a lifetime—a lesson learned through the crucible of physical suffering and spiritual searching."
(Elder David A. Bednar, "Chosen to Bear Testimony of My Name", Oct 2015 General Conference)

Day 3812

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 10:1

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

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

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

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

Day 3811

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 7:11-13

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 7:11-13
"Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you."

Israel was defeated in battle against Ai and Joshua is grieved. He doesn't understand why they were defeated. Then the Lord tells him that they had taken of the accursed thing and stolen. Joshua questions them and finds Achan had taken a Babylonish garment and silver and gold and hid it. For that Achan and his family, oxen, asses, sheep and tent are all taken to the valley and stoned and burned. That just seems so horrific. We don't see those things today. We are to live a higher law and I pondered on that. I pondered on the apostates and the damage they have done to the church. How the work of the Lord is at times frustrated because of them. What comes upon them instead of physical death is spiritual death. It made me think about how people can lie that they are temple worthy to go in, and how that really effects all of us. Can you imagine what we would see there if all that came into the House of the Lord was truly worthy?

"And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it;
Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God.
But if it be defiled I will not come into it, and my glory shall not be there; for I will not come into unholy temples."
(Doctrine and Covenants 97:15-17)

Day 3810

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 4:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 4:10
"For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over."

It was the word "hasted" that stood out to me. I pondered how even with miracles being performed we need to hasten. The passover meal was eaten in haste, and the shepherds came with haste to worship the new born king.

"And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord’s passover."
(Exodus 12:11)

"And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger."
(Luke 2:16)

"Behold, I will hasten my work in its time."
(Doctrine and Covenants 88:73)

"My dear brothers and sisters, do you see what is happening right before our eyes? I pray that we will not miss the majesty of this moment! The Lord is indeed hastening His work.
Why are we building temples at such an unprecedented pace? Why? Because the Lord has instructed us to do so. The blessings of the temple help to gather Israel on both sides of the veil. These blessings also help to prepare a people who will help prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord!
The best is yet to come, my dear brothers and sisters, because the Savior is coming again! The best is yet to come because the Lord is hastening His work. The best is yet to come as we fully turn our hearts and our lives to Jesus Christ."
(Russell M. Nelson, "The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again", Oct 2024 General Conference)

"President Russell M. Nelson said at our last conference: “Do you see what is happening right before our eyes? I pray that we will not miss the majesty of this moment! The Lord is indeed hastening His work.”
Hastening His work. “Hastening” is a word that matters. It suggests moving quickly, accelerating, and even urgency. In the growth of the Church and the plan of Christ, hastening is happening. And we are all a part of it."
(Ronald A. Rasband, "Right Before Our Eyes", Apr 2025 General Conference)

Day 3809

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 1:5, 7

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 1:5, 7
"There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest."

I pondered on how the Lord is with His prophets. He was with Moses and is now with Joshua, as long as they follow Him. Don't veer to the right or to the left. I learned the importance of this as I read the Book of Mormon. I can apply it to so many areas in my life. Stay true, and stay the course, remain on the covenant path.

Day 3808

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 27:20-23

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 27:20-23
"And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.
And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:
And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses."

Moses asked that the Lord set a man over the congregation, so they are not like sheep without a shepherd. The Lord called Joshua the son of Nun. Moses is then instructed to lay his hands upon Joshua and give him some of his honor. Which means a delegation of responsibility. He is also ordained and given authority by the laying on of hands. The congregation is to witness this, that allows them to know who has been called to leadership. I love that the use of the Urim and Thummim is described here.

Day 3793

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 24:23

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 24:23

"Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel."

This verse made me think of headline I saw today that said "Politics Is America's New Religion". I had remarked to my son that I believed that people have replaced God with politics. They have created their own god out of it. They worship the constitution, they worship political leaders, they pursue their politics with religious zeal. They are behaving very oddly. Now I even see this verse differently because of the usage of the phrase "strange gods". Yes, politics have become one of those strange gods that people are worshipping. Just like so many other worldly things. We are a world with an unlimited number of "strange gods", and there will be a price to pay for it. "If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good."

(Joshua 24:20)

Day 2370

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 23:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 23:6

"Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;"

One of the lessons I have learned during this pandemic is to stay the course. Follow the prophet and the mainstream of the church. Don't go right or left because either side will lead you astray. Stay the course right down the middle. That doesn't mean I straddle the fence. It means stay on the narrow path that is straight and sure. The Lord is there and will lighten the way through all that is ahead. I have to be like Peter and not get distracted by the storm going on around me, but keep my eyes on the Lord.

I have come to understand Lehi's dream of the tree of life with new eyes. The importance of staying on the strait and narrow path and not to take my hand off the rod of iron for a moment.

"And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world."

(1 Nephi 8:20)

That there will be others on the right and on the left that will mock at those that choose to follow the prophet.

"And I also cast my eyes round about, and beheld, on the other side of the river of water, a great and spacious building; and it stood as it were in the air, high above the earth.

And it was filled with people, both old and young, both male and female; and their manner of dress was exceedingly fine; and they were in the attitude of mocking and pointing their fingers towards those who had come at and were partaking of the fruit.

And great was the multitude that did enter into that strange building. And after they did enter into that building they did point the finger of scorn at me and those that were partaking of the fruit also; but we heeded them not."

(1 Nephi 8:26-27, 33)

Those that choose to not follow the prophet think they are wise, but sadly they will perish. Right now there is a real possibility they will perish physically, but more devastating is they are perishing spiritually.

"O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish."

(2 Nephi 9:28)

Sometimes, I wish I could literally shake people that say their "personal revelation" told them to set aside the counsel of a prophet of God. Can they not see who's plan they are following? They have become that verse.

"For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me."

(Doctrine and Covenants 132:22)

Day 2369

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 22:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 22:5

"But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul."

I pondered on how showing our love for God is by diligently heeding all his commandments and ways. Cleaving to Him and serving with all our heart and soul. There is pure allegiance to God and none other god put before Him. That can include not only idols but ideologies and doctrines of men. It would mean we don't justify for our own purposes why His laws do not pertain to us. It's doing His will and not seeking after our own. If that is being in bondage to the one free God then let me have him for my Master.

Day 2368

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 21:43-45

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 21:43-45

" And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.

And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.

There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass."

After reading this I thought, "Now that the promises are fulfilled, it is for them to be able to keep it. All the lessons learned along the way could bring them to Zion, if they were righteous and pure in heart. It is the people that will keep it or lose it.

Day 2367

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 20:9

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 20:9

"These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation."

If your unintentional actions caused the death of another there was a place of refuge that you could flee. You were given protection until you stood before the congregation and were judged. As I am watching the news and seeing the story that is unfolding, I realize what a better plan the Lord has in handing these situations. The one that has caused the death of another can flee, but to a safe place. Justice can then be served, or protection given to the innocent. I really dislike how judgment is made in the courts of public opinion, through social media, before all the facts are known.

Day 2366

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 19:49-50

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 19:49-50

"When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them:

According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein."

Caleb and Joshua were the two faithful spies promised to live to enter the promised land, and inheritances. Caleb received land earlier, and now Joshua receives his. I imagine it must have been extremely difficult to divide all this land among those receiving an inheritance. Was there a lot of arguing among them? Then I thought they actually may have not seen all the land in order to argue about it. After-all, ten of the spies that gave bad reports, died and never got to receive inheritances. There was wisdom in that.

Day 2365

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 18:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 18:8

"And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the LORD in Shiloh."

This made me think about temple sites and how they are selected. How men are assigned first to look over the land and bring a report to the prophet on the best sites available. Then a member of the First Presidency will come and visit these sites. Afterwards they will prayerfully choose a precise spot on which to build. There are times that none of the locations are right and then a way opens up for just the right location. I love reading the stories of how our temple locations are selected. The story of the Hong Kong temple with President Gordon B. Hinckley has to be my favorite.

"The group was exhausted from the rigorous day of prayerfully reviewing the various properties. President Hinckley retired to his hotel room and requested that Elders Brough and Carmack come back the next morning to further discuss the matter. It was apparent that the Area Presidency had yet to find a solution President Hinckley could accept.

("How the Hong Kong Temple Came to Be", December 2006 Ensign)

[President Hinckley] referring to his experience.... "He went to bed...feeling unsettled about the decision he needed to make. Then the whisperings of the Spirit woke him up early the next morning.

Something very interesting came to my mind, he recorded in his journal. I did not hear a voice with my natural ears. But into my mind there came the voice of the Spirit. It said, Why are you worried about this? You have a wonderful piece of property where the mission home and the small chapel stand. They are in the very heart of Kowloon, in the location with the best transportation... Build a building of [several] stories. It can include a chapel and classrooms on the first two floors and a temple on the top two or three floors. Having received that revelation, President Hinckley said, I relaxed and went back to sleep."

("Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Gordon B. Hinckley", chapter 7, "The Whisperings of the Spirit")

Day 2364

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 17:17-18

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 17:17-18

" And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only:

But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong."

I pondered on how blessings often require work from our own hands. Even so such blessings still come from the Lord. It's important to remember it wasn't achieved by our own hands but because the Lord gave us the strength to achieve it.

Day 2363

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 16:1, 9

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 16:1, 9

"And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Beth-el,

And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages."

I thought about how the children of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, have among their descendants the Nephites and Lamanites. How the children of Lehi were from Manasseh and the children of Ishmael were from Ephraim. The tribe of Joseph was complete within their posterity. The Book of Mormon says that Lehi was "at Jerusalem" which was land the tribe of Judah inherited. Being "at Jerusalem" doesn't necessarily mean he lived in Jerusalem. The city of Gilgal is only 15 miles from Jerusalem and within the territory of Manasseh. When Lehi's sons went to Jerusalem to obtain the plates of brass from Laban they mention they went "down to the land of our inheritance" to gather their gold and silver and precious things to try and buy the brass plates. It's interesting to think that might be where they lived, but people can migrate to other lands. Both Lehi and Ishmael's ancestors could have moved enough in advance before the Assyrians took the Israelites captive stopping them from becoming part of the lost ten tribes.

Day 2362

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 15:63

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 15:63

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

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

Day 2361

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 14:6-7, 9, 13

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 14:6-7, 9, 13

"Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea.

Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.

And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.

And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance."

When Moses sent twelve spies to search the land of Canaan, ten brought back evil reports. It was only Joshua and Caleb that gave a good report, and full of faith that they could go in and possess the land. For the evil report the ten false spies died by plague, and all the adults of Israel were not allowed to enter the promised land. They wandered in the wilderness for 40 year until they all died off. Only Joshua and Caleb were to live to possess it. Caleb is now receiving the land he was promised.

"But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it."

(Numbers 14:24)

I pondered on how long Caleb and Joshua were made to wait because of the wickedness of others. The decisions of others can effect us and cause us to suffer. Though the Lord does keep his promises. If they cannot be received in this life we will be blessed for it in the next.

Day 2360