Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 47:22-26

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 47:22-26
"But behold, as the king came out to meet him Amalickiah caused that his servants should go forth to meet the king. And they went and bowed themselves before the king, as if to reverence him because of his greatness.
And it came to pass that the king put forth his hand to raise them, as was the custom with the Lamanites, as a token of peace, which custom they had taken from the Nephites.
And it came to pass that when he had raised the first from the ground, behold he stabbed the king to the heart; and he fell to the earth.
Now the servants of the king fled; and the servants of Amalickiah raised a cry, saying:
Behold, the servants of the king have stabbed him to the heart, and he has fallen and they have fled; behold, come and see. "

This is such a fascinating story of how Amalickiah uses treachery, murder, intrigue and fraud to become king of the Lamanites. I think this is a warning for our day. That things are not always as they seem. The one warning sign of the dangers of Amalickiah was his conspiring heart. He was not a man to be trusted. At the root Amalickiah was bad, and obviously surrounded himself by others that would do his dirty deeds. We have to be ever watchful that we do not support anyone with the tendencies of Amalickiah. This is where the warning of President Nelson fits for us to survive this danger. It is only through the ability to receive personal revelation that can keep away from such people and identify lies when we hear them.

"But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.
My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation."
(Russell M. Nelson, "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives", Apr 2018 General Conference)

Day 3491

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 41:4, 8

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 41:4, 8
"And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it."
But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren."

This reminded me of what I was reading in the Book of Mormon this morning about secret combinations and the Gadianton robbers.

"Now behold, it is these secret oaths and covenants which Alma commanded his son should not go forth unto the world, lest they should be a means of bringing down the people unto destruction.
Now behold, those secret oats and covenants did not come forth unto Gadianton from the records which were delivered unto Helaman; but behold, they were put into the heart of Gadianton by that same being who did entice our first parents to partake of the forbidden fruit-"
(Helaman 6:25-26)

Murder for gain has been around since Cain killed his brother Abel. Satan has put this in the hearts of men from the beginning. This is the downfall of nations and civilizations. This is happening still today.

Day 1361

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 10:8-9

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 10:8-9
"He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.
He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net."

This chapter describes some of the behavior of the wicked. I could not help but think of the evil that has been done to the innocent in recent school shootings. It breaks my heart. Truly the issue at the heart of the matter is where the heart of the person is at. No matter the weapon of choice, it is the evil in the heart of the wicked that murders.

Day 1063

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 15:25, 30

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 15:25, 30
"But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.
And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah."

The word conspiracy stood out to me in the last chapter. In this chapter a form of this word is mentioned four times. I noticed that as conspiracy built so did the murders of their leaders, and eventually being made captive by a foreign land. Out of all the things I see happening in the world right now I sure hope that isn't something we begin to see next.

I searched the scriptures and read all the verses that mentioned conspiracy. Interestingly there was no mention of that word in the Book of Mormon. Instead it's called "secret combinations". There are more references to secret combinations in the Book of Mormon than the combined use of conspiracy in the Bible and Doctrine & Covenants. What an odd thing to ponder on today. Feels like a question for a board game on random scripture facts.


Day 903

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 4:10-11

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 4:10-11
"When one told me, saying, Behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:
How much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person in his own house upon his bed? shall I not therefore now require his blood of your hand, and take you away from the earth?

Once again someone tries to kill an "enemy" of David thinking to gain his favor. I pondered on how right David's response was to kill those that murdered, even more so when it was to get gain. For the peace of the land this needed to be done. I read several articles on the church's position of murderers. I couldn't help but reflect on that fact that this was something David himself eventually had an issue with.

"And it shall come to pass, that if any persons among you shall kill they shall be delivered up and dealt with according to the laws of the land; for remember that he hath no forgiveness; and it shall be proved according to the laws of the land.
(Doctrine & Covenants 42:79)

"We believe that the commission of crime should be punished according to the nature of the offense; that murder, treason, robbery, theft, and the breach of the general peace, in all respects, should be punished according to their criminality and their tendency to evil among men, by the laws of the government in which the offense is committed; and for the public peace and tranquility all men should step forward and use their ability in bringing offenders against good laws to punishment."
(Doctrine & Covenants 134:8 - declaration of belief regarding governments and laws)

Day 846


Reference: http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Murder

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 1:10, 14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Samuel 1:10, 14-15
"So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?
And David called on of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died."

I sat puzzled for a while and wondered why David had the young Amalekite killed that brought the news of Saul and Jonathan's death and the defeat of Israel to him. The Amalekite tells him that he slew Saul after Saul leaned upon his spear and was yet still alive. Well now it made sense to me why some parts of this story said Saul killed himself and others that he was slain. The slayer knew Saul was about to die.  So again why did this man have to also die?

I think it must be because the Amalekite did it for gain. I'm not sure one could ever slay another for mercy. He then took Saul's crown and bracelet and brought them to David. There must have been a motive thinking he would have favor with the next king. In looking at the footnotes I see my impressions were right.

"When one told me, saying, behold, Saul is dead, thinking to have brought good tidings, I took hold of him, and slew him in Ziklag, who thought that I would have given him a reward for his tidings:"  (2 Samuel 4:10)

Day 843