Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 2:19, 51

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 2:19, 51
"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart."

I pondered on the importance of pondering. Mary was capable of this and twice in this chapter it mentions her pondering things in her heart. Keeping them "in her heart" means she held them close to her. They were sacred experiences. She must have not gone into great details on her experiences with others. Otherwise, I imagine more would have been recorded on these events.

"Luke recorded that after the shepherds’ visit and after finding the 12-year-old Jesus in the temple, Mary pondered the events and sayings, and she kept them “in her heart” (Luke 2:19, 51). Her actions demonstrate the importance of treasuring sacred experiences. While it is vital that we share our testimonies with others, President Boyd K. Packer (1924–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that we should ponder our sacred experiences and share them only when we are prompted to do so:
“It is not wise to continually talk of unusual spiritual experiences. They are to be guarded with care and shared only when the Spirit itself prompts you to use them to the blessing of others. …
“I heard President Marion G. Romney once counsel mission presidents and their wives … , ‘I found out that if I talked too lightly of sacred things, thereafter the Lord would not trust" me.’
“We are, I believe, to keep these things and ponder them in our hearts, as Luke said Mary did of the supernal events that surrounded the birth of Jesus” (“The Candle of the Lord,” Ensign, Jan. 1983, 53).
(New Testament Student Manual, "Chapter 15: Luke 1-3")

Day 4099

Today's Favorite Verse: John 20:16

Today's Favorite Verse: John 20:16

"Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master."

I love how Mary sees two angels inside the tomb and she is not afraid. She answers their question. All she wanted to know is where Jesus was laid. Then she turns around and thinks she sees the gardener and asks where he has been laid. It was only when the Lord spoke her name that she recognized him. She had a personal relationship with the Lord and was actively seeking him, and found Him.

Day 3176

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 1:18, 20, 34, 38

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 1:18, 20, 34, 38

"And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?"

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

I wanted to compare the two different answers when the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias and Mary. Both events required faith to believe in the angel's message. Zacharias ask how he would know this? I can see how that answer shows doubt. At first I couldn't until I compared him to Mary. Gabriel told Zacharias he was an angel sent from the presence of God, and he was sent to speak to him. He told him by what authority he was there. What Zacharias didn't seem to grasp was he was speaking to an angel sent from God. God cannot lie so the message would be true. Seeing that Zacharias served in the temple it made me wonder if he didn't know how to test an angel? Because Zacharias doubted he was made dumb, being unable to speak.

Mary showed her faith by asking how it would be done. As I reflected on this I could see how that showed faith because she didn't doubt it could happen, she just wanted to know how it would take place. The angel then explained it to her.

This reminded me of other stories in the scriptures when God has spoken to his servants, and given them assignments.

"And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.

And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?

And it came to pass that the Lord told me whither I should go to find ore, that I might make tools."

(1 Nephi 17:8-10)

"And it came to pass that the brother of Jared cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, I have performed the work which thou hast commanded me, and I have made the barges according as thou hast directed me.

And behold, O Lord, in them there is no light; whither shall we steer? And also we shall perish, for in them we cannot breathe, save it is the air which is in them; therefore we shall perish.

And the Lord said unto the brother of Jared: Behold, thou shalt make a hole in the top, and also in the bottom; and when thou shalt suffer for air thou shalt unstop the hole and receive air. And if it be so that the water come in upon thee, behold, ye shall stop the hole, that ye may not perish in the flood."

(Ether 2:18-20)

This shows me that God does not mind if we ask how to do something. He will require at times that we study it out and come back to him with a plan. The important this is to ask if faith.

"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

(James 1:5)

Day 3133

Today's Favorite Verse: Nehemiah 13:22

Today's Favorite Verse: Nehemiah 13:22
"And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy."

This made me reflect on all that I do in preparation for the sabbath day, and to keep it holy. How important keeping the gates is to this day. For it is an effort to keep the world out. As I have tried to make all that I do on this day be a sign to God, that I love him, it has been a tender and sweet day to me. I learn so much as I ponder the scriptures on the sabbath day. It is the best day of the week, and my soul is filled. It makes me strong enough to face the remainder of my week. It often makes me think of Mary and Martha. How Martha was cumbered about with much serving, while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and heard his words. Martha asked the Lord to bid her help.

"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
(Luke 10-41-42)

On the sabbath day I sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to his words. I keep the gates to shut the world and its cares out. I am promised if I continue to do so it shall not be taken away from me. That is very important to me.


Day 1001