Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 7:10-11

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 7:10-11
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.
For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter."

Why would godly sorrow cause revenge? Out of everything Paul listed as being the result of repentance with godly sorrow, why would revenge be amongst them?

Today's definition: Revenge is the act of retaliating against a person or group to get even for a real or perceived wrong. A desire for retribution or vengeance, often driven by anger, a need to restore honor, or a "bitter desire to injure another".

That sure didn't sound like what Paul was referring to, nor praising the saint for. I could see restore honor, but now I wonder if it could be a translation issue? I decided to search online for the meaning of revenge and learned that the word translated as "revenge" in the King James Version (KJV) means vindication, justice, or the punishment of wrong, rather than personal malice or spite.

Vindication would show the church proved itself innocent and serious about following God's commands. It cleared its name through proper church discipline. Paul was commending them for taking serious action against unrepentant sin in the community. The church disciplined the wrongdoer, removed complicity, and restored moral and spiritual order. Now that I can understand.

Day 4209

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 102:15-18

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 102:15-18
"The accused, in all cases, has a right to one-half of the council, to prevent insult or injustice.
And the councilors appointed to speak before the council are to present the case, after the evidence is examined, in its true light before the council; and every man is to speak according to equity and justice.
Those councilors who draw even numbers, that is, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12, are the individuals who are to stand up in behalf of the accused, and prevent insult and injustice.
In all cases the accuser and the accused shall have a privilege of speaking for themselves before the council, after the evidences are heard and the councilors who are appointed to speak on the case have finished their remarks."

This chapter is on the organization of the high council and their role is settling important difficulties which might arise in the church. I have never experienced this side of the church, but its organization and order is a comfort to me. If I was ever falsely accused of something serious and had to go before the high council I would be so happy to know 6 of the 12 were to speak for me and insure justice.

Day 3691

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 14:33

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 14:33

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."

Paul speaks of the gifts of prophesy and tongues. There is an order to such things. How one would not speak in tongues if there was no one to interpret. Otherwise, no one would profit from it.

"But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God." (1 Corinthians 14:28)

When prophets speak, there is a time and place we also hold our peace.

"Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace."

(1 Corinthians 14:29-30)

It reminds me of how there is order is who received revelation and for whom. My stewardship is to my family and not receiving revelation for the church. There is order and I am grateful for these guidelines. It does bring peace in my life to know what voices I will listen to and when.

Day 3235

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 34:13, 18

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 34:13, 18

"And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe:

And ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance."

It made me think again of this verse.

"Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion."

(Doctrine and Covenants 132:8)

Day 2310

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 7:11-12

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 7:11-12

"And the Lord said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.

And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah."

I knew the order each tribe made their offering for the dedication of the altar had to be following some pattern. It wasn't the birth order of the tribes of Israel. After some pondering I finally figured out the order for each prince on his day. It's the same order given in chapter 2 where each tribe was to camp. The order went from east, south, west, and north. The tribe of Levi was in the middle and they were the ones that served. The order was given by the Lord in how they would setup camp, after each of the tribes were numbered. This reminded me of temple dedications and how different stakes have a set day and session they are to attend.

Day 2283

Today's Favorite Verse: Abraham 4:18

Today's Favorite Verse: Abraham 4:18

"And the Gods watched those things which they had ordered until they obeyed."

The Gods are God the Father and his son, Jesus Christ. What I noticed in this chapter is how many times the words organized (10), ordered (7), and obeyed (6) was mentioned. Each creation period has it at last once if not multiple times. From this I realized the progression to the next step in creation did not happen until God saw they were obeyed. I pondered on the cause and effect each creation had on the ability for the next creation to become organized, ordered and obeyed. Then I thought about how my obedience or lack of it, effects others around me. How the lack of obedience causes life to go into chaos. Truly out of all of God's creations man is the least obedient, and is less than the dust of the earth. For even dust is obedient.

"And they viewed themselves in the own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.

And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them."

(Mosiah 4:2-3).

I am grateful for a loving Father in Heaven and his beautiful plan. He knew out of all his creations that man would need a savior to sacrifice and atone for their sins. I am grateful for my Lord, Jesus Christ for doing that for me.

Day 2155

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 23:30

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 23:30
"And to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even."

As I read of the responsibility of the sons of Aaron it made me think of the scripture that has been on my mind a lot lately.

"Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God;"
(Doctrine & Covenants 88:119)

The Lord told the latter-day saint to prepare to build his temple. It too would be a house of prayer. After this perfect example I need to model my own home. When my house is in order light and knowledge of the Lord will fill it. That is what I am trying to do. I have found a pattern. As I establish my home to be a house of prayer, fasting, faith, learning, glory has filled it and enlightened our minds. Now we are purging and cleaning it and putting our things in order. We are becoming better organized. As the clutter is leaving light in taking its place. It feels so good to have this momentum going. I could not get my family on board to get it cleaned up until we established these other practices in our home first. I am so grateful for the temple and how it helps me find answers within the walls of my own home.


Day 936

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 136:1-3

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 136:1-3

"The Word and Will of the Lord concerning the Camp of Israel in their journeyings to the West:

Let all the people of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and those who journey with them, be organized into companies, with a covenant and promise to keep all the commandments and statutes of the Lord our God.

Let the companies be organized with captains of hundreds, captains of fifties, and captains of tens, with a president and his two counselors at their head, under the direction of the Twelve Apostles."

This chapter contains the direction Brigham Young was given at Winter Quarters (the camp of Israel), as they prepared to make their journey west. It reminds me of a conversation I had with one of my sons Saturday night. He and I were in the kitchen as his father and brother were watching the Priesthood Session of LDS General Conference in the living room. I wasn't paying attention so I don't know what prompted my son to remark. "One thing you have to say about the Church is that it's organized."  I told him that in the scriptures we are told that His house would be a house of order. We can see the order in the Church and that it testifies how indeed it is Christ's Church for there is order in it. Until that moment I hadn't really thought about that. What a sense of peace it must have given the saints as they were leaving to go west to see order in the manner they were to travel. Order in God's kingdom does bring comfort and peace, no matter what turmoil is around you.

Day 555

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 132:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 132:8

"Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion."

I had to ponder on the running of Christ's Church on the earth and the running of government by man. What a stark contrast that is. We have confusion in a proportion I have never witnessed before in my life. All I can say is the way man is acting is not of God. How grateful I am to belong to His church and how it anchors my soul for the order that is found there. My heart feels for people that have no God or church in their life. I cannot comprehend how it must feel to have no order but only feel confusion at this time. I do not know what I would do if I could not stand in Holy Places.

Day 551