Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 9:14

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 9:14
"And then cometh the judgment of the Holy One upon them; and then cometh the time that he that is filthy shall be filthy still; and he that is righteous shall be righteous still; he that is happy shall be happy still; and he that is unhappy shall be unhappy still."

We don't magically become happy when we cross over the veil, or when the Savior comes again. If we are in a state of unhappiness we will continue to be in that state. Wickedness was never happiness, no matter how fleeting it maybe. This is a resting state of peace or not. It's important to find it in this life, because to find it is walk with God.

"I say unto thee, my son, that the plan of restoration is requisite with the justice of God; for it is requisite that all things should be restored to their proper order. Behold, it is requisite and just, according to the power and resurrection of Christ, that the soul of man should be restored to its body, and that every part of the body should be restored to itself."
(Alma 41:2)

"Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world."
(Alma 34:34)

Day 3563

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 8:34-35

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 8:34-35
"Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you.
Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing."

I pondered on Moroni seeing Joseph Smith's time and our day. Moroni went on to make an abridgment of the Jaredite record, and what would become the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon for us later. He would see the growth of the world wide church in my day. What marvelous inventions he would see that furthered the gospel message. As he is talking about the condition of men walking in their pride, and suffering the needy, hungry, and sick to pass by, he was also seeing us. The church does wonderful humanitarian things, but the hearts of men can do far more. This year, more than ever, I have understood how well they saw our day.

"The second great reason why we must make the Book of Mormon a center focus of study is that it was written for our day. The Nephites never had the book; neither did the Lamanites of ancient times. It was meant for us. Mormon wrote near the end of the Nephite civilization. Under the inspiration of God, who sees all things from the beginning, he abridged centuries of records, choosing the stories, speeches, and events that would be most helpful to us.
Each of the major writers of the Book of Mormon testified that he wrote for future generations. Nephi said: “The Lord God promised unto me that these things which I write shall be kept and preserved, and handed down unto my seed, from generation to generation” (2 Ne. 25:21). His brother Jacob, who succeeded him, wrote similar words: “For [Nephi] said that the history of his people should be engraven upon his other plates, and that I should preserve these plates and hand them down unto my seed, from generation to generation” (Jacob 1:3). Enos and Jarom both indicated that they too were writing not for their own peoples but for future generations (see Enos 1:15–16, Jarom 1:2).
Mormon himself said, “Yea, I speak unto you, ye remnant of the house of Israel” (Morm. 7:1). And Moroni, the last of the inspired writers, actually saw our day and time.
“Behold,” he said, “the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you.“Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing” (Morm. 8:34–35).
If they saw our day and chose those things which would be of greatest worth to us, is not that how we should study the Book of Mormon? We should constantly ask ourselves, “Why did the Lord inspire Mormon (or Moroni or Alma) to include that in his record? What lesson can I learn from that to help me live in this day and age?”
(Ezra Taft Benson, "The Book of Mormon - Keystone of Our Religion", Oct 1986 General Conference)

I have asked myself this while studying the Book of Mormon with my family and personally this year. I have seen so many examples of why certain stories were included as a warning to us. Mormon and Moroni absolutely knew what needed to be included.

Day 3562

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 7:5, 10

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 7:5, 10
"Know ye that ye must come to the knowledge of your fathers, and repent of all your sins and iniquities, and believe in Jesus Christ, that he is the Son of God, and that he was slain by the Jews, and by the power of the Father he hath risen again, whereby he hath gained the victory over the grave; and also in him is the sting of death swallowed up.
And ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant; and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first with water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior, according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment. Amen."

These are the final words that Mormon finishes the Book of Mormon with. The plates that he abridged are then given to his son Moroni, and added to. Mormon listed several things we should know as his closing message. One was for the remanent of his people to know who they are, and to come unto Christ. This message is not just for them it's for me too. We will all meet at the judgment seat of God. I cannot wait to tell Mormon how grateful I am for his words. Through them I have come to know Jesus Christ as my Savior and his redeeming sacrifice for me. I have been baptized with water and fire and know through the Holy Ghost that these words are true.

Day 3561

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 6:2, 6

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 6:2, 6
"And I, Mormon, wrote an epistle unto the king of the Lamanites, and desired of him that he would grant unto us that we might gather together our people unto the land of Cumorah, by a hill which was called Cumorah, and there we could give them battle.
And it came to pass that when we had gathered in all our people in one to the land of Cumorah, behold I, Mormon, began to be old; and knowing it to be the last struggle of my people, and having been commanded of the Lord that I should not suffer the records which had been handed down by our fathers, which were sacred, to fall into the hands of the Lamanites, (for the Lamanites would destroy them) therefore I made this record out of the plates of Nephi, and hid up in the hill Cumorah all the records which had been entrusted to me by the hand of the Lord, save it were these few plates which I gave unto my son Moroni."

The thought occurred to me, "Why would Mormon gather his people to the land of Cumorah for this final battle?" Why did he hid up all the sacred records into the hill Cumorah? Was it his way of being in a sacred or holy place? This was also the place of the last battle of the Jaredites, then it was call the hill Ramah.

"And it came to pass that the army of Coriantumr did pitch their tents by the hill Ramah; and it was that same hill where my father Mormon did hide up the records unto the Lord, which were sacred."
(Ether 15:11)

"Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen."
(Doctrine and Covenants 87:8)

Day 3560

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 5:16, 18

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 5:16, 18
"For behold, the Spirit of the Lord hath already ceased to strive with their fathers; and they are without Christ and God in the world; and they are driven about as chaff before the wind.
But now, behold, they are led about by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer her; and even as she is, so are they."

I pondered on how the "spirit ceased to strive with their fathers". When the parent has no faith to give to the next generation there is no foundation to build on. It is so important that we pass our faith on to our children. It is greater than all the money in the world. Without that anchor in their lives they were absolutely led by Satan. We cannot force faith on our children, but we do need to teach of Christ to them. Give them and anchor to build on.

"President Harold B. Lee (1899–1973) explained that the wicked people of Mormon’s time had lost not only the Holy Ghost, but the Spirit of Christ from their lives: “Mormon described some people, his people, from whom the spirit of the Lord had departed, and when I read that … it seems clear to me that what he was talking about was not merely the inability to have the companionship of or the gift of the Holy Ghost, but he was talking of that light of truth to which every one born into the world is entitled and will never cease to strive with the individual unless he loses it through his own sinning” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1956, 108).
(Book of Mormon Student Manual, "The Spirit "Ceased to Strive with Their Fathers", Chapter 48: Mormon 1-6)

Day 3559

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 4:23

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 4:23
"And now I, Mormon, seeing that the Lamanites were about to overthrow the land, therefore I did go to the hill Shim, and did take up all the records which Ammaron had hid up unto the Lord."

With all that is going on this was the most important thing Mormon could do, preserve the sacred records. These records would save souls. This reminded me of something President Nelson said in this last general conference.

"Brothers and sisters, now is the time for you and for me to prepare for the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. Now is the time for us to make our discipleship our highest priority. In a world filled with dizzying distractions, how can we do this?
Regular worship in the temple will help us."
(Russell M. Nelson, "The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again", Oct 2024 General Conference)

What is my highest priority? Is it temple worship? This question made me look at the project I just started. This week a memory of what started my obsession with family history came to me. I was a young child and whenever my siblings became to much, or I would get in trouble with my mother, I would go to the family cemeteries on either side of our home for solace and comfort. I found peace amongst the tombstones of my ancestors. I knew they were there for me and loved me. I started to bring a notebook and would write down their names and dates. I tried to figure out who was related to who and how I was related to them. I wish I still had that notebook. After reflecting on this I decided I would pick up the quest started over half a century ago. I am going through the cemetery transcriptions available online and piecing everyone in these old cemeteries together. I have already found two children that were never sealed to their parents. People that have been forgot over time. As I work on this there is so much peace that surrounds me. This is why in these latter-days the Lord has given us a charge of something so precious, that will strengthen us and save souls, and not overwhelm us by the evil the surrounds us.

Day 3558

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 3:9,14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 3:9,14-15
"And now, because of this great thing which my people, the Nephites, had done, they began to boast in their own strength, and began to swear before the heavens that they would avenge themselves of the blood of their brethren who had been slain by their enemies.
And when they had sworn by all that had been forbidden them by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that they would go up unto their enemies to battle, and avenge themselves of the blood of their brethren, behold the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying:
Vengeance is mine, and I will repay; and because this people repented not after I had delivered them, behold, they shall be cut off from the face of the earth."

Revenge, and vengeance when taken on by man is not of God. Anyone that feels vengeance and revenge is justified is also not of God. It is horrifying to think we have set up leaders out for revenge. This story will not end well for them.

"I, the Lord, am angry with the wicked; I am holding my Spirit from the inhabitants of the earth.
I have sworn in my wrath, and decreed wars upon the face of the earth, and the wicked shall slay the wicked, and fear shall come upon every man;
And the saints also shall hardly escape; nevertheless, I, the Lord, am with them, and will come down in heaven from the presence of my Father and consume the wicked with unquenchable fire."
(Doctrine and Covenants 63:32-34

Day 3557

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 2:26

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 2:26
"And it came to pass that when they had fled we did pursue them with our armies, and did meet them again, and did beat them; nevertheless the strength of the Lord was not with us; yea, we were left to ourselves, that the Spirit of the Lord did not abide in us; therefore we had become weak like unto our brethren."

To me one of the most frightening thoughts is to be "left to myself". I can do nothing without Christ.

"We may not recognize and appreciate how much Heavenly Father helps us in our daily lives as we try to live faithfully. Mormon wrote that when his people became wicked they lost the strength of the Lord that had previously protected them. While serving as a member of the Seventy, Elder Ray H. Wood explained: “When a person violates any of God’s commandments, if there is no repentance the Lord withdraws His protective and sustaining influence. When we lose power with God, we know of a certainty that the problem lies within us and not within God. ‘I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise’ (D&C 82:10). Our misdeeds bring despair. They sadden and extinguish the ‘perfect brightness of hope’ offered by Christ (2 Nephi 31:20). Without God’s help, we are left to ourselves” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1999, 54; or Ensign, May 1999, 40–41).
(Book of Mormon Student Manual, Chapter 48: Mormon 1-6, "We Were Left to Ourselves")

Day 3556

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 1:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 1:4
"And behold, ye shall take the plates of Nephi unto yourself, and the remainder shall ye leave in the place where they are; and ye shall engrave on the plates of Nephi all the things that ye have observed concerning this people."

Ammaron has all the sacred records and hid them up to the Lord in the hill called Shim, in the land of Antum. When Mormon was ten years old Ammaron gives him this charge that when he is 24 years old he is to go to where the records are deposited and only take the plates of Nephi. He is to record what he has observed of this people. I pondered on how this mission over time changed for Mormon, for eventually Mormon made an abridgement of the records. The Lord will give us instructions line upon line, here a little and there a little. It would have been to overwhelming a task to tell a ten year old boy that he was not only to record what he observed, but to also abridge the records stored in the hill called Shim. Mormon was inspired on what he was to include.

"And now, I speak somewhat concerning that which I have written; for after I had made an abridgment from the plates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king Benjamin, of whom Amaleki spake, I searched among the records which had been delivered into my hands, and I found these plates, which contained this small account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king Benjamin, and also many of the words of Nephi.
And the things which are upon these plates pleasing me, because of the prophecies of the coming of Christ; and my fathers knowing that many of them have been fulfilled; yea, and I also know that as many things as have been prophesied concerning us down to this day have been fulfilled, and as many as go beyond this day must surely come to pass—
Wherefore, I chose these things, to finish my record upon them, which remainder of my record I shall take from the plates of Nephi; and I cannot write the hundredth part of the things of my people.
But behold, I shall take these plates, which contain these prophesyings and revelations, and put them with the remainder of my record, for they are choice unto me; and I know they will be choice unto my brethren.
And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will."
(Words of Mormon 1: 3-7

"And also that a knowledge of these things must come unto the remnant of these people, and also unto the Gentiles, who the Lord hath said should scatter this people, and this people should be counted as naught among them—therefore I write a small abridgment, daring not to give a full account of the things which I have seen, because of the commandment which I have received, and also that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of this people."
(Mormon 5:9)

Day 3555

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 50:35

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 50:35
"And it came to pass that the army which was sent by Moroni, which was led by a man whose name was Teancum, did meet the people of Morianton; and so stubborn were the people of Morianton, (being inspired by his wickedness and his flattering words) that a battle commenced between them, in the which Teancum did slay Morianton and defeat his army, and took them prisoners, and returned to the camp of Moroni. And thus ended the twenty and fourth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi"

In this chapter is another character with traits we have to be aware of. This tells the story of Morianton. In the land of Morianton they started to have warm contentions over part of the land of Lehi. Morianton wanted it. The people of Lehi flee to the camp of Moroni because they were not in the wrong. Morianton put fear into the hearts of the people that the army of Moroni would come after them. They fled to take possession of land that was northward. That's when Morianton, a man with much passion, became angry and beat one of his maid servants. She also fled to the camp of Moroni. There was a concern that if the people of Morianton obtained the land northward they would overthrow their liberty. The army of Moroni and Teancum did meet the people of Morianton there. This is where we see the people of Morianton are stubborn, they are inspired by Morianton wickedness and flattering words. Why would you want to follow someone like that, that only causes trouble? That is an age old question. But, the important lesson is to not follow them in the first place.

Day 3494

Today's Favorite Verse: Words of Mormon 1:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Words of Mormon 1:3
"And now, I speak somewhat concerning that which I have written; for after I had made an abridgment from the plates of Nephi, down to the reign of this king Benjamin, of whom Amaleki spake, I searched among the records which had been delivered into my hands, and I found these plates, which contained this small account of the prophets, from Jacob down to the reign of this king Benjamin, and also many of the words of Nephi."

I pondered on Mormon spending so much time and effort to abridge the plates of Nephi and then he finds these other plates of Nephi that cover the same time period. Yes, I know he includes them for a wise purpose that he doesn't at that time understand.

"But behold, I shall take these plates, which contain these prophesyings and revelations, and put them with the remainder of my record, for they are choice unto me; and I know they will be choice unto my brethren.
And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will."
(Words of Mormon 1:6-7)

I can't help but wonder if he felt in part that his earlier efforts were for nothing? When I've had to repeat or redo things it feels like such a waste of time. Why couldn't I have just done it right the first time? I pondered on what you learn along the way. When on the Lord's errand the time spend and the effort given is never wasted. There is always a purpose. Plan as we will the course can change, because it's not our will, it's His will.

Day 3415

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 24:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 24:5

"The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant."

I pondered on how this is not only talking about the apostasy of Israel, and the early Christian Church, but also about individual apostasy. It made me think of those in the restored church of Jesus Christ today that wish to have laws and ordinances, and even the everlasting covenant changed to fit their agendas. Apostasy will always be an issue until the second coming of Jesus Christ. This is why in general conference there has been so much emphasis on us keeping our covenants. It reminds me of a thought I had the other day while reading Moroni 8. Mormon was instructing his son Moroni regarding the false doctrine that had crept into the church on the need for infant baptism.

"For awful is the wickedness to suppose that God saveth one child because of baptism, and the other must perish because he hath no baptism.

Wo be unto them that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish except they repent. Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.

Little children cannot repent; wherefore, it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy."

(Moroni 8:15-16, 19)

It made me think of how false doctrine had crept into the church of God at the end of the Nephite civilization. This caused them to be ripe for destruction. The perversion of doctrine maybe different today, but the concept is the same. We are ripening for destruction when we desire to changed God's law to fit our will.

Day 2862

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 24:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 24:17

"Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:"

It has to be wickedness in the heart to rejoice when the someone falls. This made me think of Mormon as he witnessed the destruction of his civilization.

"And my heart did sorrow because of this the great calamity of my people, because of their wickedness and their abominations..."

(Mormon 2:27)

That is probably going to be the hardest thing we will endure in these final days, witnessing the destruction of the wicked, because they are still our brothers and sisters. We cannot harden our hearts and withhold love and charity. As with Mormon there were times he was told not to lead them, or preach to them. Other times he was counseled to do so. There is such a need to be close to the spirit during these times. Always Mormon spoke of his love for them and he mourned for them in the very end.

"O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you!

Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss."

Mormon 6:17-18)

"The second attitude adjustment is to not allow ourselves to find satisfaction in calamities of the last days. Sometimes we tend to take joy in seeing the natural consequences of sin unfold. We might feel some vindication for being ignored by most of the world and persecuted and berated by others. When we see earthquakes, wars, famines, disease, poverty, and heartbreak, we may be tempted to say, “Well, we warned them. We told them a thousand times not to engage in those activities.”

"Our forgiveness must be manifest by reaching out to help mend wounds even when they are the result of transgression. To react in any other way would be akin to setting up a lung cancer clinic for nonsmokers only. Whether the pain has come to someone who is completely innocent or is something of his own making is irrelevant. When a person has been hit by a truck, we don’t withhold our help even when it is obvious he didn’t stay in the pedestrian lane."

(Glenn L. Pace, "A Thousand Times", Oct 1990 General Conference)

Day 2811

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 14:2-4, 11

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 14:2-4, 11

"And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:

For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:

And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.

And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee."

Judah once again has a righteous king. He removes the worshipping of strange gods from the land and commands them to seek the Lord and keep his commandments. Then when Judah is attacked Asa cried unto the Lord with words of great humility and dependence on Him. He knows where their strength will come from if they are to survive.

What a contrast this is to the words of Mormon I was just reading in the Book of Mormon this morning. This was at the ending of their civilization.

"And it came to pass that when I, Mormon, saw their lamentation and their mourning and their sorrow before the Lord, my heart did begin to rejoice within me, knowing the mercies and the long-suffering of the Lord, therefore supposing that he would be merciful unto them that they would again become a righteous people.

But behold this my joy was vain, for their sorrowing was not unto repentance, because of the goodness of God; but it was rather the sorrowing of the damned, because the Lord would not always suffer them to take happiness in sin.

And they did not come unto Jesus with broken hearts and contrite spirits, but they did curse God, and wish to die. Nevertheless they would struggle with the sword for their lives.

And it came to pass that my sorrow did return unto me again, and I saw that the day of grace was passed with them, both temporally and spiritually; for I saw thousands of them hewn down in open rebellion against their God, and heaped up as dung upon the face of the land. And thus three hundred and forty and four years had passed away."

(Mormon 2:12-15)

I added the following quote from the Book of Mormon Institute Manual to my scriptures regarding "the day of grace was passed with them".

"President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) described how we today might also remove ourselves from the cleansing grace of repentance: “It is true that the great principle of repentance is always available, but for the wicked and rebellious there are serious reservations to this statement. For instance, sin is intensely habit-forming and sometimes moves men to the tragic point of no return. … As the transgressor moves deeper and deeper in his sin, and the error is entrenched more deeply and the will to change is weakened, it becomes increasingly near-hopeless, and he skids down and down until either he does not want to climb back or he has lost the power to do so” (The Miracle of Forgiveness [1969], 117).

It reminds of flaxen cords. How by itself its nothing to break, but if one becomes bound in them there is no escape.

"And there are also secret combinations, even as in times of old, according to the combinations of the devil, for he is the founder of all these things; yea, the founder of murder, and works of darkness; yea, and he leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever."

(2 Nephi 26:22)

Day 2540

Today's Favorite Verse: Moroni 9:25

Today's Favorite Verse: Moroni 9:25

"My son, be faithful in Christ; and may not the things which I have written grieve thee, to weigh thee down unto death; but may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever."

It's not hard to find so many stories in the news that break my heart. Sometimes I am just so incredibly sad and tearful for the suffering that I see. I have found that when these times happen that I simply need to sit quiet and just read the scriptures. I feel strength come back to me, and peace within. Mormon speaks of some pretty horrible things that were happening among the people. I imagine he knew from his own experience that focusing on the Lord, all he had done for us, and the hope of eternal life was the only way to get through this. Moroni must have cherished this council from his father in order for him to save this letter and record it for us.

Day 2001

Today's Favorite Verse: Moroni 8:28

 Today's Favorite Verse: Moroni 8:28
"Pray for them, my son, that repentance may come unto them. But behold, I fear lest the Spirit hath ceased striving with them; and in this part of the land they are also seeking to put down all power and authority which cometh from God; and they are denying the Holy Ghost."

In this chapter Mormon inquires of the Lord about the baptism of little children that people had started to dispute over and practice. He was told it was an evil abomination. That the Lord came into the world to call the sinners to repentance and little children are whole, and not capable of committing sin. It is solemn mockery before God to baptize little children. 

What struck me about this set of instructions Mormon gave to his son Moroni is that members of the church have fallen into perversions and were accepting false doctrine. After preaching to them the truth we were to pray for them. That truly is all we can do, especially when the spirit has ceased to strive with them.

Day 2000

Today's Favorite Verse: Moroni 7:3, 34

Today's Favorite Verse: Moroni 7:3, 34

"Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, and that have obtained a sufficient hope by which ye can enter into the rest of the Lord, from this time henceforth until ye shall rest with him in heaven.

And he hath said: Repent all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, and have faith in me, that ye may be saved."

Moroni is writing the words his father Mormon spake in their synagogue. This is such an important chapter when you think that these followers of Christ would soon be hunted down and killed because they would not deny the Christ. What was the most important thing he could tell them?

He prepared them to enter into the rest of the Lord. To have peace in the midst of trial. To have faith and hope and charity, the pure love of Christ. He taught them to judge good from evil and be guided by the Holy Ghost. He taught them of the ministering of angels, and the doctrine of Christ. He taught them the very message the prophets speak today, and that we need to give to a world that is ever becoming darker.

The only thing that can bring peace and the softening of hearts is a testimony that Jesus is the Christ. That is the only message that a darkening world needs. It's not the battle or fight for freedom or that they are called to arms. In fact today I realized that in the book of Revelations the saints are never in any of the battles. Their job is to flee Babylon (repent), gather Israel through the preaching of the gospel; perfect the saints, redeem the dead, and build Zion. It is amazing to me how Satan deceives the saints today in thinking they are fighting a different battle, and that somehow that will overcome evil. Which it cannot, because it's Satan's plan. I guess that is why Mormon tells us...

"For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.

But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil.."

(Moroni 7:15, 17)

I think the easiest one that Satan can trip up the saints is "serve not God". For, he will use pride to have them serve themselves and their own agendas. We have to be ever watchful that we are serving God and not following and serving the false doctrine of men.

Day 1999

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 9:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 9:8
"Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does not understand them."

I have this note in my scriptures.

"Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained the connection between scriptures and personal revelation: "What makes [Latter-day Saints] different from most other Christians in the way we read and use the Bible and other scriptures is our belief in continuing revelation. For us, the scriptures are not the ultimate source of knowledge, but what precedes the ultimate source. The ultimate knowledge comes by revelation. With Moroni we affirm that he who denieth revelation 'knoweth not the gospel of Christ' (Mormon 9:8). The word of the Lord in the scriptures is like a lamp to guide our feet (see Ps. 119:105), and revelation is like a mighty force that increases the lamp's illumination manyfold. We encourage everyone to make careful study of the scriptures and of the prophetic teachings concerning them and to prayerfully seek personal revelation to know their meaning for themselves."
("Scripture Reading and Revelation", Ensign, Jan 1995, 7)

I have come to find that personal revelation that comes when pondering the scriptures may teach new things to me, but it is never an original thought. There is always another witness. I will find a second and third witness by other scriptures, words of the prophets, and general conference talks. I can know that the personal revelation I receive is true when it supports these other witnesses. If it does not and is counter to the counsel given by the prophets, then I know that revelation is from the wrong source. Reading and storing up the words of God in my mind is so important in this process. How else can the spirit bring to remembrance other witnesses if I have nothing for it to work from?

Day 1977

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 8:2-3, 35

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 8:2-3, 35
"And now it came to pass that after the great and tremendous battle at Cumorah, behold, the Nephites who had escaped into the country southward were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all destroyed.
And my father also was killed by them, and I even remain alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people. But behold, they are gone, and I fulfil the commandment of my father. And whether they will slay me, I know not.
Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing."

Mormon has died and Moroni finishes the plates for his father. He will then hide up the records in the earth to be brought forth when the Lord sees fit. I was struck while reading this that Mormon knows nothing about his remaining days. 

He says "whither I go it mattereth not." (vs 4), I am alone..how long the Lord will suffer that I may live I know not (vs 5), no one knoweth the end of the war (vs 8), regarding the disciples of Jesus who tarried in the land... whether they be upon the face of the land no man knoweth (vs 10), they have ministered unto us (vs 11).

What he does know is our days. Moroni still had to live by faith for his day to day existence. Yet, by faith he could see our day. I realized that is exactly how we live now. We don't know how things will go for us, and it really doesn't matter. For all things are in the hands of the Lord, if we let him hold it. No matter how dark things may be there is still hope to hold onto that all will be well in the end. 

Day 1976

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 7:8-9

Today's Favorite Verse: Mormon 7:8-9
"Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ, which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record which shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews, which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you.
For behold, this is written for the intent that ye may believe that; and if ye believe that ye will believe this also; and if ye believe this ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them."

I pondered on how much stronger my testimony of the Book of Mormon has increased, because I read both the Old and New Testaments before hand. The Bible and Book of Mormon support each other and help me come to Christ and love him. The more I study and ponder both I come to understand the doctrine of Christ and know of its truthfulness. I am grateful for what Mormon did to bring this book into my hands. He abridged the records and put in the book what I needed for my day. I am sad knowing these are his final words before handing the plates over to his son Moroni.

Mormon Abridging the Plates by Jon McNaughton

Day 1975