Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 17:22-23

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 17:22-23
"Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you."

I was interested in the phrase "too superstitious" so I looked at the footnote, "GR most religious, i.e, careful in divine things." That wasn't what I imagined at all. They knew enough that there was a God, but didn't know him. This opened the door for Paul to preach to them of God and Jesus Christ. It reminded me of Ammon and king Lamoni. The importance of meeting the person you are teaching at their level.

"Now when the king had heard these words, he marveled again, for he beheld that Ammon could discern his thoughts; but notwithstanding this, king Lamoni did open his mouth, and said unto him: Who art thou? Art thou that Great Spirit, who knows all things?
Ammon answered and said unto him: I am not."
And Ammon began to speak unto him with boldness, and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God?
And he answered, and said unto him: I do not know what that meaneth.
And then Ammon said: Believest thou that there is a Great Spirit?
And he said, Yea.
And Ammon said: This is God. And Ammon said unto him again: Believest thou that this Great Spirit, who is God, created all things which are in heaven and in the earth?"
(Alma 18:18-19, 24-28)

Day 4159

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 9:24-25

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 9:24-25
"He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose."

This story of Jairus' daughter reminded me of the story of king Lamoni in the Book of Mormon. How true repentance and being over powdered by the spirit caused king Lamoni, the queen, Ammon and the servants to sink to the earth. Some thought they were dead. Yet the touch of hand made them rise.

"And thus the contention began to be exceedingly sharp among them. And while they were thus contending, the woman servant who had caused the multitude to be gathered together came, and when she saw the contention which was among the multitude she was exceedingly sorrowful, even unto tears.
And it came to pass that she went and took the queen by the hand, that perhaps she might raise her from the ground; and as soon as she touched her hand she arose and stood upon her feet, and cried with a loud voice, saying: O blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful hell! O blessed God, have mercy on this people!
And when she had said this, she clasped her hands, being filled with joy, speaking many words which were not understood; and when she had done this, she took the king, Lamoni, by the hand, and behold he arose and stood upon his feet."
(Alma 19:28-30)

I'm not sure what the parallel meaning is. I wonder if that is how resurrection will be by being raised up by the touch of a hand? Those these two examples would not be about resurrection, for the Lord himself was the first to be resurrected from the dead. They were only sleeping in the Lord. This feels like one of those things I will need to ponder on a while in order to understand.

Day 4062

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 19:4, 9-11

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 19:4, 9-11
"And she said unto him: The servants of my husband have made it known unto me that thou art a prophet of a holy God, and that thou hast power to do many mighty works in his name;
And Ammon said unto her: Believest thou this? And she said unto him: I have had no witness save thy word, and the word of our servants; nevertheless I believe that it shall be according as thou hast said.
And Ammon said unto her: Blessed art thou because of thy exceeding faith; I say unto thee, woman, there has not been such great faith among all the people of the Nephites.
And it came to pass that she watched over the bed of her husband, from that time even until that time on the morrow which Ammon had appointed that he should rise."

I reflected on the faith of king Lamoni's wife, the queen. How her faith came from believing the words of others, and acting on them. It made me think of the gifts of the spirit, and believing on the words of others is one of them.

"For all have not every gift given unto them; for there are many gifts, and to every man is given a gift by the Spirit of God.
To some is given one, and to some is given another, that all may be profited thereby.
To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that he was crucified for the sins of the world.
To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful."
(Doctrine and Covenants 46:11-14)

Day 3463

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 18:81, 24, 27

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 18:81, 24, 27

"And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they who have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."

This is another verse where more details are given in the Joseph Smith translation.

"And he said unto them, It is impossible for them who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God; but he who forsaketh the things which are of this world, it is possible with God that he should enter in."

(JST Luke 18:27)

The problem with the certain rich ruler was not that he was rich and couldn't give to the poor. It was that he trusted in his riches and things of the world more. He could not part with all that he had. He probably could have done a little but not all. That was actually the extreme test that Jesus had for him. It's the test we also go through. The love of riches was a sin, do we give up all our sins or want to hold onto some of them.

It made me think of the contrast between the rich ruler and the Lamanite king, father of king Lamoni

"And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.

And it came to pass that when Aaron had said these words, the king did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily, saying:

O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day. And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he were dead.

(Alma 22:15, 17-18)

Day 3150

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 4:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 4:5

"Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the LORD."

This reminded me of king Lamoni's father and giving up all his sins. We have to give them all up, even our favorite ones. That is the sacrifice we make in righteousness.

"O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day. And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he were dead."

(Alma 22:18)

Lamoni's father was not dead but he was under the power of God and it overcame his natural frame. Just like what happened to his son Lamoni.

"Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness—yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God"

(Alma 19:6)

The people of Ammon were so converted to the gospel that they never strayed. They instilled great faith in the Lord to their children. They were a people greatly bless of the Lord, because they gave up all the sins and were fully converted to God.

Day 2641

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 18:5, 24-28

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 18:5, 24-28
"Now this was the tradition of Lamoni, which he had received from his father, that there was a Great Spirit. Notwithstanding they believed in a Great Spirit, they supposed that whatsoever they did was right; nevertheless, Lamoni began to fear exceedingly, with fear lest he had done wrong in slaying his servants;
And Ammon began to speak unto him with boldness, and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God?
And he answered, and said unto him: I do not know what that meaneth.
And then Ammon said: Believest thou that there is a Great Spirit?
And he said, Yea.
And Ammon said: This is God. And Ammon said unto him again: Believest thou that this Great Spirit, who is God, created all things which are in Heaven and in the earth?"

I noticed in the first verse that king Lamoni believed in a Great Spirit but supposed whatever they did was right. Yet, now he fears thinking Ammon is the Great Spirit and that he had done wrong slaying his servants. I could see this as the light of Christ already working on king Lamoni. For the light of Christ will always testify of truth and by it man will always know right from wrong. It was making him receptive to hearing the message that Ammon would give and to feel the Holy Ghost as he speaks.

Then Ammon says the Great Spirit is God, which technically isn't true. For God does not believe that whatever we do is right. Ammon sets a wonderful teaching example. He taught Lamoni based on the knowledge he already had of a Supreme Being. He used that as common belief in the creator of the earth to then teach eternal truth. He did not destroy the knowledge Lamoni already had, but instead added to it. That is the invitation we need to extend to others.

In the words of President Gordon B. Hinckley.
"We say in a spirit of love, bring with you all that you have of good and truth which you have received from whatever source, and come and let us see if we may add to it. This invitation I extend to men and woman everywhere with my solemn testimony that this work is true, for I know the truth of it by the power of the Holy Ghost."
(President Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Marvelous Foundation of Our Faith", Oct 2002 General Conference)


Day 1876