Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 21:4-5

 Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 21:4-5

"Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;

For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith."

Joseph Smith, Jr was called as a seer, translator, prophet, and apostle of Jesus Christ. I pondered on how these same keys have been passed on to each succeeding president of the church. That Russell M. Nelson is today such prophet and seer. That I am under the same command to heed his words and counsel, as if the Lord said it himself, which he did. Prophets are inspired of the Lord.

In this chapter it also gives the blessings to those that will listen and obey.

The gates of hell shall not prevail against you.

Disperse the powers of darkness from before you.

Cause the heavens to shake for your good

Blessed with a mighty blessing

Day 2024

Today's Favorite Verse: Moroni 3:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Moroni 3:1
"The manner which the disciples, who were called the elders of the church, ordained priests and teachers-"

I had been following some news stories of false teachers and members that were deceived by them. One thing that stood out to me in this chapter is that deception would not have come if these individuals had understood priesthood authority. Priesthood keys have been restored and they pass by those that have authority. The prophet holds all the keys. Anyone else that tells you they have more outside of this has been deceived. 

Day 1995

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 12:28

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 12:28
"And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps governments, diversities of tongues."

I was rejoicing in knowing that Christ establish his church and showed us how we would recognize it again. Is there any religion other than "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" that has prophets and apostles?  I think not. Ask other faiths and they will say such things were done away with. But, I wonder who ever said that? It certainly didn't come from Christ. It certainly didn't come from Paul. The only way they were done away with was through apostasy, that is exactly why they needed to be restored, and have been.

As I was pondering on the beauty that The Church of Jesus Christ is once again upon the earth a thought came to me. Why are apostles first and prophets second? I always think of the prophet first and the apostles second. I sat and pondered on that for a good while. Then I realized the apostles hold all the priesthood keys. When the prophet dies the keys are never lost from the earth for the apostles as a quorum still hold them. Then the senior apostles is ordained as the prophet with all apostles holding the keys placing their hands upon his head. The prophet then acts as the mouth piece of the Lord. The reason apostles would be first is because of the priesthood keys they hold together, with them they will never be taken again from the earth.

Day 1647

Today's Favorite Verse: John 20:30

Today's Favorite Verse: John 20:30
"And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:"

Not sure why I hadn't spotted this verse before. Maybe it's because I was at the temple this morning. My mind is on the possible signs he could have given them. Now it would be very important that they have them, so no deceiving angel could mislead them as they guide His church. The same keys he gave his apostles are upon the earth today.

President Russell M. Nelson, Peter holding keys

Day 1590

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 1:9

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 1:9
"Then said I, O my lord, what are these? And the angel that talked with me said unto me, I will shew thee what these be."

Six times in this chapter it mentions speaking with an angel. There are many accounts of angels being sent as messengers from God throughout the scriptures. Just this past Sunday I was reading over the story of Jesus Christ's resurrection and how an angel rolled back the stone from the door of the sepulcher. He was the first to exclaim "He is not here: for He is risen" and other instructions to the women than came that morning to the garden tomb.

There are other accounts in the scriptures where people have been deceived by false angels of light. Pondering on all this made me turn to Doctrine and Covenants 129 and the three keys whereby messengers from beyond the veil can be identified. It all has to do with asking them to shake your hand.

"When a messenger comes saying he has a message from God,offer him your hand and request him to shake hands with you.
If he be an angel he will do so, and you will feel his hand.
If he be the spirit of a just man made perfect he will come in his glory; for that is the only way he can appear—
Ask him to shake hands with you, but he will not move, because it is contrary to the order of heaven for a just man to deceive; but he will still deliver his message.
If it be the devil as an angel of light, when you ask him to shake hands he will offer you his hand, and you will not feel anything; you may therefore detect him."

It is a comfort me to know there is a way not be deceived.


Day 1487

Today's Favorite Verse: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

Today's Favorite Verse: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
"I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.
A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Doctrine and Covenants 116 explains who the Ancient of Days is, and where this event will takes place.
"Revelation given to Joseph Smith the Prophet, near Wight's Ferry, at a place called Spring Hill, Daviess County, Missouri, May 19, 1838.
"Spring Hill is named by the Lord Adam-ondi-Ahman, because, said he, it is the place where Adam shall come to visit his people, or the Ancient of Days shall sit, as spoken of by Daniel the prophet."

Why is this significant?
“Three years previous to the death of Adam, he called Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, and Methuselah, who were all high priests, with the residue of his posterity who were righteous, into the valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman, and there bestowed upon them his last blessing.
And the Lord appeared unto them, and they rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel.”
(D&C 107:53–54)

Before Adam left this earth he blessed his posterity and predicted what would happen to them unto the last generation. It is recorded in the book of Enoch, which will come forth in due time. The Lord appeared there and will again appear when Ancient of days comes to sit over the council of his saints. There will be an accounting of the keys that have been held in every dispensation. The world at large won't know it, even the Church at large will not know it. Only those who have officially been called to this council will know it. It will proceed the coming of Jesus Christ as a thief in the night, unbeknown to all the world. I would love to be there but highly suspect, even with 100 million in attendance, I am of no significance to be at such a glorious event. For these are the righteous from all dispensations of time. Regardless, I will continue to live my life in a manner to be worthy to go, if I could.

Day 1432

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 9:1-3

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 9:1-3
"And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramoth-gilead:

Elisha gives this son of the prophets a charge to pour the box of oil on top of Jehu's head and says, "Thus saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel." I pondered on how Elisha didn't do it himself. Instead he sent one worthy to do it for him. Isn't that just like how priesthood keys are given today? The prophet holds all the priesthood keys on the earth today. He in turns sends others to set apart Stake Presidents and Bishops, and ordain others to their priesthood callings. The Lord's house is a house of order.


Day 897

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 27:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 27:5

"Behold, this is wisdom in me; wherefore, marvel not, for the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth, and with Moroni, whom I have sent unto you to reveal the Book of Mormon, containing the fulness of my everlasting gospel, to whom I have committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim;"

The chapter continues to list other great prophets and apostles that will be there with Christ when they drink of the fruit of the vine. It's a great list. What I saw differently this time and have been trying to work out in my mind is the part "committed the keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim". I didn't realize the Book of Mormon, which is the stick of Ephraim, had keys associated with it. 

If there is a key to it, what is its power? I pondered on this a while and was impressed to read Ezekiel 37:19

"Say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God, Behold I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and they shall be one in mine hand.

From this I gather it's the power to bring the stick of Joseph and the stick of Judah together. It is unifying them and making them one in our hand. It's bringing the fullness of the gospel together. It's fulfilling a prophecy made long ago. It's part of the gathering of Lord's elect throughout the world. I think there is more than even this. I love it when I read and things like this jump out at me. I had never heard of the "keys of the record of the stick of Ephraim" before. What a great role Moroni has played. I can't wait to understand this even more.

Day 446