Today's Favorite Verse: Micah 4:1-2 "But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."
I have done much thinking on wars and rumors of wars, of financial hardship, and possible shortages coming. The days look rather dark on the surface. But, one thing I know is that the Lord's hallmark temple in the tops of mountains rests in Salt Lake City Utah. After a seven year renovation it will be rededicated in 2027. Before that dedication there is planned an amazing six month open house that will run from April to October of that year. The church is expecting people to flow into it from many nations, to come and see. It is for that reason alone I am waiting and watching for what the Lord has in store for us. There cannot be a world-wide depression or shortages that would prevent people from coming to the house of the Lord.
Today's Favorite Verse: Micah 2:1-2 "Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage."
Interest thought that the evil man cannot sleep. He spends his time during the night plotting evil against others. I am reminded of the difference between wickedness and evil.
To be wicked you are morally wrong in a principle. To be evil you have a plan or passion to hurt someone. With sowing discord among brethren it sounds like you have a plan and are working it. Its incredible how much discord one evil person can sow. We were warned about supporting and giving them power.
"Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house."
As I pondered on this I realized it was saying "Trust not in the arm of flesh". Yes, I understand the prophesy that even families will be divided against each other, but it really boils down to where should your trust be. It should always be to God, for he will never forsake you if you remain faithful to Him.
"Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD."
(Jeremiah 17:5)
"Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost."
(2 Nephi 28:31)
"The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh—"
(Doctrine and Covenants 1:19)
When the days of these prophesies are fulfilled the only place of peace is Zion. If you haven't sought God long before that you wouldn't know where to find it.
"And it shall come to pass among the wicked, that every man that will not take his sword against his neighbor must needs flee unto Zion for safety.
And there shall be gathered unto it out of every nation under heaven; and it shall be the only people that shall not be at war one with another."
"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.
"But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."
Learned something new. The footnote to Bethlehem references this verse.
"Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet.
Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee?
Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?
So there was a division among the people because of him."
(John 7:40-43)
One of the reason people did not believe Jesus was the Christ is because they were waiting for him to come out of Bethlehem as Micah prophesied. They thought Jesus was from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth. His parents may have lived there, and that was were he was raised, but that wasn't where Jesus was born.
"And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)"
(Luke 2:4)
It shows that in order to understand truth you need to know all the facts. It makes you wonder if some even asked where he was born instead of assuming that they knew?
"For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever."
This made me think of the 11th Article of Faith.
"We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."
We can never enact laws that take away the agency of man to worship God as they see fit.
"We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.
We believe that rulers, states, and governments have a right, and are bound to enact laws for the protection of all citizens in the free exercise of their religious belief; but we do not believe that they have a right in justice to deprive citizens of this privilege, or proscribe them in their opinions, so long as a regard and reverence are shown to the laws and such religious opinions do not justify sedition nor conspiracy."
"Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.'
Micah is speaking about false prophets and teachers that cause the people to error. It reminded me of these verses.
"Behold, verily I say unto you, there are hypocrites among you, who have deceived some, which has given the adversary power; but behold such shall be reclaimed;
But the hypocrites shall be detected and shall be cut off, either in life or in death, even as I will; and wo unto them who are cut off from my church, for the same are overcome of the world."
(Doctrine and Covenants 50:7-8)
I am reminded that you can be deceived because you listened to a deceiver, but you can be reclaimed. Your eyes can be opened and you can repent and turn back to God. I think the difference is how far down the path are you going in the wrong direction? It's best to turn around and head back home when you realize you've gotten off course.
"Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.
If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people."
What Micah had a concern of in his day is what we see in our day. People will reject the prophet unless its something they like. It reminded me of how happy people were to go to two hour church. Then when more is required they reject him. This is something we witnessed this week, the words President Nelson spoke last general conference were ignored and proved deadly.
"If a friend on social media has strong political or social views that violate everything you believe in, an angry, cutting retort by you will not help. Building bridges of understanding will require much more of you, but that is exactly what your friend needs."
People that reject the Lord's prophets, will blindly follow those that speak lies. That give them only what they want to hear. To the point they will set them up as the prophet of the people and follow him.
"Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:"
"For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.
And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place."
I was just reading in the Book of Mormon when Samuel, the Lamanite, prophesied of the signs of Christ's birth and death. This is reason Samuel was given for this.
"And the angel said unto me that many shall see greater things than these, to the intent that they might believe that these signs and these wonders should come to pass upon all the face of this land, to the intent that there should be no cause for unbelief among the children of men"
(Helaman 14:28)
This made me ponder on Christ's second coming and the ushering in of the millennium. Where there will be many good people remaining that will be converted.
Today's Favorite Verse: Micah 7:2
"The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net."
As I was reading the news this morning I thought about the privacy of the people in the stories. Some I was down right sad to see the sport over their situations. When I read this part of the verse, "they hunt every man his brother with a net" it made me think of the people being chased in order to sell sensational news stories. Mercy and forgiveness are foreign concepts now.
Then I reflected on my childhood and my attempts to catch little white butterflies with a net. The butterflies fluttered all over in an attempt to avoid being caught in my net. It was exhausting and I was often frustrated in my attempts. When one was finally caught it was placed in a jar with air holes poked into the top. Then I would sit quietly and watch the butterfly. The butterflies never lasted long once confined in that jar. I was always trying to find new ways to make the butterfly last. In my attempts I added all types of twigs and leaves for it to feed on. Basically dead food. But I never found something to make them last. Sadly those butterflies were my experiments, for nothing equaled them living free as they should have.
What is the net? It is a device used to take away the freedom or agency of another. They can be used against those that have given away their agency by their actions, or the innocent that are captured for the pleasure or gain of another. What it all boils down to is wanting to take away the agency of man. There are many means by which man has devised to capture his brother in a net.
Today's Favorite Verse: Micah 6:14
"Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword."
I had an interesting experience the other night and this verse reminded me of it. Someone that left my faith brought up religion to me. They gave me an earful's of all the "false doctrine" and scriptures I understand wrong. I think they unloaded on me because they thought this was their opportunity to do so. They raged and told me exactly where my faith was wrong for not believing what other Christians do. Now I know I can't talk religion to them because all they want to do is contend, and I won't participate in that. Loosing the spirit by contention is of more concern to me than winning any battle over scriptures. Even if I wanted to, this person would have never allowed me to rebut them anyways, so why start. I'm ok letting others believe whatever they want, just give me the same right to be left alone.
As they raged I just looked at them, because they left my faith to find another Christian religion. Now they think all religions are man made and stem from paganism. So, they proudly have no faith at all. They wanted me to believe something they didn't believe and were angry about it? Then as if reading my mind they said as they left the room. "Of course I don't believe any of that because religion is man made and I have no religion." How can they be angry with me over something they don't even believe and they know it?
Basically, they wanted me to eat of something that wouldn't fill me. They had nothing to deliver me. Yet they were angry when I wouldn't accept what they didn't believe was true. They were willing to pick up the sword to contend over something that didn't even fill them. Their only aim was to destroy my faith and leave me with nothing. I am just grateful I didn't pick up that sword and let them destroy my peace.
Today's Favorite Verse: Micah 5:2
"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel."
The prophesy of where Jesus would be born, even down to Mary and Joseph traveling to Bethlehem to be there. How must they have felt when they realized they needed to travel to Bethlehem due to being taxed? That this was according to prophecy. I pondered on how governments and nations can put things in place that fulfill prophesy without even realizing it. Sadly, even to fulfill end time prophecy. I should not fear any of it for God's hand it over it all. No one can frustrate his work. Door will open as they need to.
Today's Favorite Verse: Micah 4:1
"But in the last days it shall came to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it."
This is prophecy fulfilled. Temples around the world and people are flowing into them. I pondered on all the temples I have seen exalted about the hills. I remember as a young teenager when our family traveled to the Washington D.C. to attend the temple dedication. It was stunning to travel on the Beltway and watch as the temple appeared to rise up from the ground in front of us. They had to reduce the speed limit in the area, because of accidents caused from people slowing down to look at it. I'm not there to get the effect again so I turned to YouTube to see if someone had recorded it.
As stunning and beautiful as our temples are from the outside, it doesn't even begin to compare with the spirit I find inside it. It is what's contained inside that caused people to flow inside it, for they are the House of the Lord.
Today's Favorite Verse: Micah 3:8
"But truly I am full of the power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin."
"Recently I have found myself draw to the Lord's instruction given through the prophet Joseph Smith. "Say nothing but repentance unto this generation."
Too many people consider repentance as punishment, something to be avoided, except in the most serious circumstances. But, this feeling of being penalized in engendered by Satan. He tries to block us from looking to Jesus Christ who stands with open arms hoping and willing to heal, forgive, cleanse, strengthen, purity and sanctify us.
When Jesus asks you and me to repent he inviting us to change our minds, our knowledge, our spirit even the way we breath. He's asking us to change the way we love, think, server, spend our time, treat our wives, teach our children, and even care for our bodies."
Repentance is a daily focused effort needed for my spiritual progression. I want to do it.
Today's Favorite Verse: Micah 2:9
"The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever."
This reminded me of a talk by President Ezra Taft Benson in 1987 speaking "To the Mothers in Zion" in a fireside for parents. At the time I was a young mother at home raising two small children. It was the most shocking thing I ever experienced. He dared to tell mothers to come home to their children and not work outside of the home. Here are some of the quotes.
"The Lord clearly defined the roles of mothers and fathers in providing for and rearing a righteous posterity. In the beginning, Adam--not Eve--was instructed to earn the bread by the sweat of his brow. Contrary to conventional wisdom, a mother's calling is in the home, not in the market place.
Again, in the Doctrine and Covenants, we read: "Women have claim on their husbands for their maintenance, until their husbands are taken" (D&C 83:2). This is the divine right of a wife and mother. She cares for and nourishes her children at home. Her husband earns the living for the family, which makes this nourishing possible. With that claim on their husbands for their financial support, the counsel of the Church has always been for mothers to spend their full time in the home in rearing and caring for their children.
We realize also that some of our choice sisters are widowed and divorced and that others find themselves in unusual circumstances where, out of necessity, they are required to work for a period of time. But these instances are the exception, not the rule.
He quoted President Kimball and said: "Too many mothers work away from home to furnish sweaters and music lessons and trips and fun for their children. Too many women spend their time in socializing, in politicking, in public services when they should be home to teach and train and receive and love their children into security" (Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 319)."
Now the reason this talk was so shocking to me was not at all what he said. I agreed with him. It was instead the reaction of the mothers in attendance. They were angry at the words coming from the prophet. I remember the women in our meeting later saying how the prophet didn't understand the reality of life. That they needed to work to help develop their children's talents and such things. I sat there as a young mother looking at these older sisters and wanted to cry. To me these were words of apostasy. I left that meeting trembling and have thought of it often over the years.
I have witnessed what became of my generation not heeding the prophet's counsel and warning. With two parents working we raised the standard of living and with that the cost of housing, etc increased. Now instead of two parents working providing luxuries in the home, it has become a sad fact of life that the majority must work. We are in bondage now, and the mother's in Zion that were in opposition to the prophet did it. This is the legacy from my generation and it still makes me upset.
Today's Favorite Verse: Micah 1:3-4
"For, behold, the Lord cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.
And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place."
Really interesting thought came to me while I was reading this. I was not even scared of what will happen to the earth. I was just so focused on the mention of the Savior's coming in the verse before. It actually gave me pause that I felt no fear, when years ago the thought would have given me great anxiety. Then I realized why I felt no fear. It was because my eyes were still focused on the Savior. That is how it should be.
