Today's Favorite Verse: Ecclesiastes 8:11

Today's Favorite Verse: Ecclesiastes 8:11
"Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."

If man was immediately punished after committing sin or evil works then man would learn to not commit sin simply to not be punished. Instead there is time for justice to seek his work. Time is given for man to repent on his own. Time for remorse and a mighty change of heart. Time to come to know the Lord. Those that learn no lesson will find justice served one day.

Day 3965

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 102:15-18

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 102:15-18
"The accused, in all cases, has a right to one-half of the council, to prevent insult or injustice.
And the councilors appointed to speak before the council are to present the case, after the evidence is examined, in its true light before the council; and every man is to speak according to equity and justice.
Those councilors who draw even numbers, that is, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, are the individuals who are to stand up in behalf of the accused, and prevent insult and injustice.
In all cases the accuser and the accused shall have a privilege of speaking for themselves before the council, after the evidences are heard and the councilors who are appointed to speak on the case have finished their remarks."

This chapter is on the organization of the high council and their role is settling important difficulties which might arise in the church. I have never experienced this side of the church, but its organization and order is a comfort to me. If I was ever falsely accused of something serious and had to go before the high council I would be so happy to know 6 of the 12 were to speak for me and insure justice.

Day 3691

Today's Favorite Verse: Ether 8:13-14

Today's Favorite Verse: Ether 8:13-14
"And it came to pass that Akish gathered in unto the house of Jared all his kinsfolk, and said unto them: Will ye swear unto me that ye will be faithful unto me in the thing which I shall desire of you?
And it came to pass that they all sware unto him, by the God of heaven, and also by the heavens, and also by the earth, and by their heads, that whoso should vary from the assistance which Akish desired should lose his head; and whoso should divulge whatsoever thing Akish made known unto them, the same should lose his life."

I feel like we have a place like this in our land right now. Anyone that seems to visit comes back in allegiance with this man. They seek for power and gain and sell their souls. They are built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies, by their lies we know them. At this point I will be surprised if they come to justice in this life, certainly they will face the justice of God, it cannot be avoided. It's one of those stories we will probably learn all the details about at the end.

"Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up."
(Ether 8:24)

Day 3571

Today's Favorite Verse: Micah 6:8, 12

Today's Favorite Verse: Micah 6:8, 12

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth."

I pondered on how verse 12 doesn't change verse 8. No matter how how full of violence, lies and deceit someone is we are still required to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God. We never know when someone will change. We never know when we are called to forgive and let them start a new. Even if they never change we can't let them change us for the worse.

Day 3058

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 12:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 12:1

"Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?"

This made me ponder on why the wicked prosper and don't seem to come to face judgment or justice. I suppose that is a similar question to why do bad things happen to good people? In a "perfect" world the righteous would never suffer, and the wicked always would. Where would the trial of faith be in all that? If a man was punished immediately for his sins, then he would learn not to sin so he would not be punished. It would be a lesson totally avoid of abhorring sin because it was an offense to God. They would be compelled to selfishness in a self preservation and love of themselves, and not out of a love of God.

"But if it be not built upon my gospel, and is built upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you they have joy in their works for a season, and by and by the end cometh, and they are hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence there is no return."

(3 Nephi 27:11)

"At a meeting I attended one Sunday, a young woman asked something like the following: “My boyfriend and I recently broke up, and he chose to leave the Church. He tells me he has never been happier. How can this be?”

The Savior answered this question when He said to the Nephites, “But if [your life is] not built upon my gospel, and is built upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you [you will] have joy in [your] works for a season, and by and by the end cometh.” There simply is no enduring joy outside the gospel of Jesus Christ."

(Robert C. Gay, "Taking Upon Ourselves the Name of Jesus Christ", Oct 2018 General Conference)

Day 2916

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 10:24

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 10:24

"O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing."

I pondered on needing correction. There are times that I appreciated being corrected so I didn't continue is error or ignorance. I especially like to be corrected by someone not angry at me. If the Lord is correcting me I can see it with patience and loving kindness. His judgment is just and in righteousness. This would be something that is good for my soul. Yes, I could say "Lord, correct me."

"I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but I will destroy the fat and the strong; I will feed them with judgment."

(Ezekiel 34:16)

"And now I, Nephi, declare unto you, that this prophet of whom Moses spake was the Holy One of Israel; wherefore, he shall execute judgment in righteousness."

(1 Nephi 22:21)

Day 2914

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 1:25-31

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 1:25-31

"But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices."

I can't imagine the Lord laughing and mocking the wicked because they would not listen. I know I'm sensitive on that because I have someone I love that is facing jail time for their actions, and they just made things worse for themselves. There is no way I could laugh and mock them when the demands of justice fall on them. As I sat and pondered on this I realized the Lord's hands are tied in many ways. Just like mine are. That laugh and mock is not a cruel one. I could just picture His stretched out hands saying "Now you want me to save you?" It's that laugh of you're asking the impossible of me, because there are laws. You just don't get it, after all I warned you about. Sometimes, we don't receive answers to prayers because there are things we need to learn first. At some point the lesson time runs out and justice must be served. The doors to the ark are already closed and that boat isn't coming back.

Day 2788

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 12:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 12:8

"The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted."

I pondered on the purpose of bringing vile men and women to justice. When they are instead lifted up, praised and exalted, seeming to be above the law, the wickedness of the people increases. They become a cancer that pollutes the people. You cannot begin to reach the heart of the people, unless they come to see them for what they are, the vilest of men.

This made me go back to one of the first anti-Christ's mentioned in the Book of Mormon. Sherem flatters the people and has a following. Then he seeks out the prophet Jacob and contends with him. Sherem asks for a sign and the one God gives him is to smite him and he dies. On his death bed Sherem does confess to the people what he had done. But it was only through Sherem being removed that the people could recognize the power of God, repent and have peace restored to them again.

"And when the multitude had witnessed that he spake these things as he was about to give up the ghost, they were astonished exceedingly; insomuch that the power of God came down upon them, and they were overcome that they fell to the earth.

Now, this thing was pleasing unto me, Jacob, for I had requested it of my Father who was in heaven; for he had heard my cry and answered my prayer.

And it came to pass that peace and the love of God was restored again among the people; and they searched the scriptures, and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked man."

(Jacob 7:21-23)

Day 2649