Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 12:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 12:10
"Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness."

Those many pastors are "false prophets". They have destroyed the word of God and carry people far away from Him. No one knowingly follows a false prophet. That is why we need to take care and be watchful all the time. The importance of reading the scriptures and understanding the doctrine of Christ is so important. I remember when I listened to "false prophets", as members they were truly wolves in sheep clothing. I thought what they spoke of was probably in the Old Testament because I was ignorant of what was really there. I had to go search for what they spoke of and found it wasn't in the scriptures or on the Church website. As I searched further I found what they spoke of was an occult practice. I was horrified. I vowed never again to be so deceived. I could have paid a terrible price out of ignorance. Now I pay a greater price to keep from being ignorant and deceived. I want to learn God's words and never fall in that trap again.

Day 3995

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 28:7-8

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 28:7-8
"And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.
And David inquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all."

The ephod was fastened to the Breastplate of Judgment. It had 12 precious stones and the Urim and Thummin. David asks the high priest to inquire of the Lord through it, and he immediately receives an answer. Saul had tried earlier and the Lord would not answer him through it.

"And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets."
(1 Samuel 28:6)

Being denied Saul seeks out a women with a familiar spirit. She pretends to see Samuel and tells Saul what he says. That doesn't mean Samuel was summoned by the witch of Endor. It means Satan can tell you things that are true but its the one percent that isn't that will lead to spiritual death. In this case for Saul it also lead to physical death.

Day 3833

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 18:16-17, 19-20

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 18:16-17, 19-20
"Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples.
And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him.
"And when they shall say unto you: Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep and mutter—should not a people seek unto their God for the living to hear from the dead?
To the law and to the testimony; and if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."

I pondered on the contrast of two different groups of people. One will have obtained a testimony, wait upon the Lord and look for Him. These would be the people preparing and found ready at Christ's Second Coming.

The other group are following the ways of the world. I think of them as people that seek conspiracies and run in fear. The world will heal me and I don't need a prophet. Ever learning and never coming to a knowledge of the truth. It's not surprising how much culture is referencing the occult and devil worship. It seems harmless, its just a movie or a book, but there is no light there. If you follow darkness and let it entertain you long enough the things of God seem boring and don't hold purpose or value anymore. Then you are deceived.

"Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
(2 Timothy 3:7

"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
(2 Thessalonians 2:10-12)

Day 3389

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Timothy 6:8-10

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Timothy 6:8-10
"And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

First, be content with what you have. That is true gratitude to the Lord and what he sees fit to bless you and make you steward over.

Second, is a very powerful warning to "they that WILL be rich". The snare and temptation comes when you seek your WILL to be rich. I have seen to many fall, sadly by using worldly practices like the law of attraction. They seek their will and not God's will, with hearts set on the things of this world. Oh, they will get what they are seeking, but the giver is the son of perdition and he is not one you want to be beholden too. Money is not a problem unless the love of it over takes you. You covet and seek after it and will grow to never have enough. It will lead to destruction and sorrow. I am not impressed by people with wealth. I have no idea how you sought it and where your heart is, nor is it mine to know. But, it does not impress or motivate me. I am so grateful to have sufficient for my needs and I prefer it that way. It is far better than having all the money in the world and never being satisfied.

The only safe thing is to do as Jacob counseled.
"But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.
And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted."
(Jacob 2:18-19)

Do not believe the lie that Satan will tell you, that once you obtain riches then you will share and help others. It's all backwards. You seek to help by sharing what you already have and then you have sufficient for your needs and theirs. It's done quietly with an honest heart that needs no glory, praise or for boasting, for that intent is of the world and will come to not.

Day 3284

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 13:17-18

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 13:17-18

"Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of thy people, which prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them,

And say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes, and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls! Will ye hunt the souls of my people, and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you?"

Pillows = HEB bands or coverings to the elbows (trappings for magical arts)

Why is it that woman are more apt to get into dark things? They play with things they should not. They are easily deceived into following false gods and play with the occult. I thought about the energy healers, tarot card readers and those that summon the law of attraction. They think they do good and help others with these devices of the devil, but instead they destroy their souls along with those they trap with them. When I would see once good members I knew fall into these things, I felt responsible to warn them. My rule was I would only mention it to them once. I found that warning never worked. Once they were promoting their priestcrafts to others my words meant nothing. I since learned to just hold my peace, and drift away. It may mean I stop following you on Facebook, because I don't want to watch your train wreck. The direction has been reinforced by President Nelson telling us to be peacemakers and not to contend. I figure if I hold my peace maybe someday when they are ready, they may seek me out with ears that will really hear. In the mean time I will pray for you.

Day 2974

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 47:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 47:2

"Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers."

From the footnotes I learn they are warned to prepare to become slaves. They are on the way to exile. Why is this? In verse 8 the reason is given.

"Therefore hear now this, thou that art given to pleasures, that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me; I shall not sit as a widow, neither shall I know the loss of children:"

I think this is why it bothers me when people preach "I am", affirmation statements, and occult practices like the law of attraction. They just don't see how offensive this is to God. None is greater than His Son who sought only to do the will of the Father. These false teachings are just so dangerous. At first they can seem so innocent, but they can go totally out of control fueling pride. Somethings being taught to our children in the end can be the spiritual downfall and loss of them.

Day 2885

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 1:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 1:8

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

I looked up the definition for meditate and found Satan's counterfeit right at the top.

1. think deeply or focus one's mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation.

2. think deeply or carefully about (something).

3. plan mentally; consider.

The Study Helps on the church website tells us meditate means this.

Meditation, Meditate: see also, Consider, Ponder; Prayer; Scriptures, Study of; Think

Ponder: To meditate and think deeply, often upon the scriptures or other things of God. When combined with prayer, pondering the things of God may bring revelation and understanding.

The English meditation is derived from Old French meditacioun, in turn from Latin meditatio from a verb meditari, meaning "to think, contemplate, devise, ponder".

The purpose of meditating and pondering is to understand the things of God. It is never to empty ones head to bring oneself into a form of relaxation. Yes, there is peace as you ponder the things of God, but there is always control of ones thought. To do otherwise, especially in combination with pagan practices, will destroy the soul.

This made me think of an excellent video that I watched. The women on it are not of my faith, but I was so impressed with how in keeping with the gospel their understanding was in following Jesus. Wonderful explanation of how followers of Christ would not participate in the practice of yoga, and how Satan will deceive in calling evil good. The scriptures they quote are not from the Kings James version of the Bible that I read, but the interpretation of what the chapters meant I was in agreement with. I just finished reading Deuteronomy that they referenced. We cannot serve two masters so we better make sure who we are following.

"Why I Stopped Teaching Yoga and Reiki, to Follow Jesus" - Jessica Smith interview.

Day 2347

Today's Favorite Verse: Leviticus 10:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Leviticus 10:1-2

"And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.

And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord."

This chapter actually answered a question I had, regarding those in apostasy that do things inside the temple that would pollute it. I wondered if the temple would have to be rededicated in such a case? In this, I see it is the offender that dies, at least spiritually. I have seen that happen so the cleansing is the removal of the person from the temple. Not that they had power to make the house of the Lord defiled and unusable for those that remain faithful. That actually gives me great peace.

Day 2259

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 26:12, 16

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 26:12, 16
"Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The Lord sent me to prophesy against his house and against this city all the words that ye have heard.
Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God."

Jeremiah is commanded of the Lord to speak to the people. Calling them to repentance or they would be destroyed. From this the priests and prophets seek to have him killed. Now the curious thing is they are priests and prophets. Yet, I know Jeremiah is the actual prophet of the Lord. So how do I or anyone else know which prophet is the true prophet of the Lord?

This scripture came to me.
"Wherefore, I the Lord ask you this question - unto what were ye ordained?"
(Doctrine and Covenants 50:13)

The key is by who's authority was the prophet called. He must hold the priesthood keys and be ordained. Jeremiah was called of the Lord. So who are these other priests and prophets called by? I had read about these prophets recently. I went back and read Jeremiah 23 where the Lord warned about these very priest and prophets. There is a lot them and they are not His. It made me realize that a big message that Jeremiah is warning about, especially for my day, is false prophets and being deceived.

"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)

In this chapter the princes and people first followed the priest and prophets and wanted Jeremiah killed. Then they really listened to his warning and recalled what happened when other prophets of God had said similar things. Then they no longer sought to kill Jeremiah. These people are like those mentioned in the Doctrine and Covenants, they had been deceived but would be redeemed if they no longer followed the hypocrites.

It is important to realize that even members of Christ's church can be deceived. Even though they look like they could be the very elect, it doesn't mean they are. I really have to ask myself, whenever someone wants to pretty up the doctrine and feels they have secret knowledge to pass along, "unto what were ye ordained?" Why would you know this and teach it, and not the prophet?

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
(Matthew 7:21-23)

This is why I am so bothered as I see once faithful members fall into crooked paths, unknowingly following occult practices like the "law of attraction". Truly they are giving the adversary power, and for gain. They have been deceived, but can be redeemed if they so choose it.

Day 1346

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 21:6

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 21:6
"And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger."

As I began to read this verse it was very familiar, because several other kings had done the same thing. I was reading it rather quickly until I spotted those last few words "to provoke him to anger". Manasseh, Hezekiah's son what taught what was right from his father. Yet, he on purpose did what was wrong in the sight of God, to provoke him. He mocked God. He built up every evil thing and practice to provoke him.

I could picture people today that do that same thing. Mockingly saying "God will strike them dead with lightening", or something along those lines, for their crimes. This put a whole new level on the evil Manasseh was capable of, because he hated God enough to provoke him. I wonder if he "played" with things he shouldn't have because he didn't think they had any value either. Could it be like the foolish child that plays with a ouija board out of curiosity, or the adult that uses taro cards or fortune tellers, thinking it's just for entertainment? When God says don't touch such things there is a reason and warning for it. Mocking God never comes to a good end.


Day 909

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 28:15

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Samuel 28:15
"And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answered me no more, neither by prophet, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do."

I do not believe for a minute that it is Samuel speaking to Saul in this chapter. After pondering on this, this is some of what I see.

The Philistines come up to battle against Israel and when Saul saw them "he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled".  Fear is a tool of the adversary, so I can tell the condition of Saul's heart.  Samuel was now dead so Saul couldn't turn to him. He inquired of the Lord and He answered him not, neither by dreams, Urim or prophets. This is my first clue that if the Lord was going to speak to Saul he would have done it through the tools given for such communication.

So what does Saul do now? He looks for a woman with a familiar spirit. That is what led him to the witch of Endor, seeking a revelation from Samuel. Which is wrong on so many levels. This witch then calls up Samuel. She saw gods ascending out of the earth. I pondered on the times Heavenly Father, the Lord, and angels have appeared to men. They come from above, the heavens, I cannot recall any time they came from below. The only thing that crawls from the pit below is Lucifer or his followers. This is what the witch of Endor saw.

This witch of Endor was a follower of Satan. She had no power to bring Samuel from the grave for all that is there is a rotting corpse. Samuel was a righteous prophet of God and his spirit is residing in paradise awaiting the resurrection. She was not calling him down from heaven. She has no power or authority to do so. What she called from the pit was some being cast out into hell.

Then as I go over the words this false Samuel speaks I think about Satan's ability to quote scriptures. To give 99% truth and the 1% percent lie that leads us down to hell. Of course he knows what Saul has been told in the past by the Lord and Samuel. All that Satan is doing is leading Saul to absolute defeat and despair. Saul is so afraid at this point his strength is gone, and he is sore afraid. I thought again on great spiritual experiences, like Joseph Smith in the Sacred Grove and how afterwards he is left with no strength, but soon recovers. There was no despair but enlightenment. Saul had none of that.

So why did Satan appear to Saul as Samuel? I think it was a great desire to have Saul despair to the point he would take his own life. There was not one word of repentance and needing to turn his heart back to God. He wanted Saul to have no hope and just give up. If Samuel had been sent from God to speak to Saul there would have been chastisement, but also a call for repentance. Isn't that exactly what happened to Saul in the New Testament, that became a new man named Paul?  Seeking revelation through darkness will only brings darkness. If it was from God there would be hope.


Day 839