Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 15:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 15:4
"For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope."

This verse made me reflect on all that it has taken me to read the scriptures. I have been writing "Today's Favorite Version" daily for 11 years, 5 months and 14 days, and the road to it was not easy. Five years prior in 2010 I committed to reading my scriptures every day. It took so much patience to begin because I had been very ill and lost my ability to read and comprehend. The doctor suggested that I read out loud to myself or listen to recordings and follow along. I needed the combination of visual and audio to make the connections in my brain. Listening to the scriptures and following along was the perfect combination. It took four years before I could read on my own without following a recording. That was such a great milestone. Once that was achieved writing my impressions are what came next. I have come so far and learned so much building daily on what I have read and the Spirit has taught me. Truly my weaknesses have become my strengthens. There is a price we pay to understand the scriptures and it takes patience with ourselves and a slow and steady pace. The reward is not only knowledge but a peace and comfort that comes into our lives that nothing else can bring.

During these 15-16 years I have read the Book of Mormon 21 times. The Doctrine and Covenants 8, Pearl of Great Price 8, Old Testament 3, New Testament 6, the Apocrypha once, and all the Topic Guide scriptures covering Jesus Christ once. In 2014 my daily scripture reading lead to inviting my family to read together. We've done it nightly ever since. Our home is a holy place because we speak of Christ together every day. It is burned into the walls of our home. Reading the scriptures is my place of refuge from the storms.

Day 4185

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 67:13

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 67:13
"Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected."

I really like the subject of patience. It is a divine attribute I wish to obtain. It is something I learned the hard way not to pray for, because working those patience muscles really hurt. Having your patience level tested can be really rough when you are not spiritually prepared for it. One thing I have come to appreciate is patience comes a little easier when you leave your will and pride behind you. Knowing things come in the Lord's time, and He knows best on a matter has really helped me to not fight things so hard.

"When the Lord advises us to “continue in patience until [we] are perfected,” He is acknowledging that it takes time and perseverance. Understanding the why of the gospel and the why of the priesthood will help us to see the divine purpose of all of this. It will give us motivation and strength to do the right things, even when they are hard. Staying focused on the basic principles of gospel living will bless us with clarity, wisdom, and direction."
(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "The Why of Priesthood Service", April 2012 General Conference)

"Patience is a process of perfection. The Savior Himself said that in your patience you possess your souls. Or, to use another translation of the Greek text, in your patience you win mastery of your souls.  Patience means to abide in faith, knowing that sometimes it is in the waiting rather than in the receiving that we grow the most. This was true in the time of the Savior. It is true in our time as well, for we are commanded in these latter days to “continue in patience until ye are perfected."
(Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Continue in Patience", April 2010 General Conference)

Day 3656

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 54:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 54:10
"And again, be patient in tribulation until I come; and, behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with me, and they who have sought me early shall find rest to their souls. Even so. Amen."

Patience is a divine attribute, and one of the hardest to achieve. For it is only through trials that we gain patience. Recently, I have been reflecting on the parable of the laborers in the vineyard found in Matthew 20. While I read this verse the thought of those that "sought me early" were like the laborers that were hired first. Now in the parable those that worked all day were upset that those hired in the last hour received the same wages. I think as this verse implies the benefit those that were hired early had was rest to their souls. They knew they were employed and receiving wages. Something those hired last did not enjoy throughout the long day. The Lord treated them all the same in the end, but I think I would prefer to have the rest to my soul for as long as possible.

Day 3643

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 7:23-24

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 7:23-24
"And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.
And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works."

This is a wonderful list of virtues to strive for, for they are Christlike attributes. The one that stood out to me this time was gentle.

Gentle = having or showing a mild, kind, or tender temperament or character. Make or become gentle; calm or pacify.

It reminded me of being a peacemaker.

Day 3451

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 24:16

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 24:16
"And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage."

I pondered on how sometimes we do not how we will be delivered from a situation we find ourselves in. Especially ones that are caused by others and beyond our control. Having faith and patience, with much prayer, is when the Lord will work miracles in our behalf. This is exactly what happened to the people of Alma.

Day 3439

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 23:21-22

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 23:21-22
"Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith.
Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people."

Patience is not the enemy it used to be to me. I see patience as a Christlike attribute. One worthy to have and can only be obtained through our relationship with him.

"Even though the people who followed Alma had repented and been faithful, the Lord allowed them to be temporarily oppressed by the Lamanites in fulfillment of Abinadi’s prophecy (see Mosiah 12:1–5) and as a trial of their patience and faith. Elder Orson F. Whitney (1855–1931) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that everything we experience teaches us valuable lessons: “No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God … and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven” (cited in Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle [1972], 98)."
(Book of Mormon Student Manual, "Chapter 21: Mosiah 18-24")

Day 3438

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 31:13

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 31:13
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel."

We may follow the Lord with full purpose of heart, have real intent that we will always do so, but it is part of the plan that we will still slip and fall. The difference is we know it, and won't hide it. We will repent and try again. This is how we learn and grow, it truly shows our real intent to follow Him.

I learned this week that you can lose patience and get angry, mess things up and watch things go out of control. Yet, there was still a purpose for all that happened. Things moved quickly in a direction for my family's greater good than I could have ever realized. Yes, I needed to repent of my part, because I could have done better, even though the ultimate outcome wouldn't have changed. There is a reason why my slower plan wouldn't work, because it wasn't His. The Lord is letting me stumble and grow, and watching out for me at the same time. I marvel at how as I sincerely repented and grieved how he revealed things regarding the situation I had no insight on before hand. He brought confirmation and peace to my soul. As the greater picture has taken shape I stand so amazed on how protected we have been all this time.

Day 3402

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 13:8-10

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 13:8-10
"And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
If any man have an ear, let him hear.
He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints."

Over the years I've seen so many conspiracies and speculations on what 666 means. I think in many respects in this chapter it's a deflection on worldly things and not the true focus for a saint. I again asked "where am I in this chapter, or where are the righteous". I found they have their names written in the book of life of the Lamb of God. They have patience and faith. If I can develop and obtain all of these things I don't even need to begin to worry about what 666 means. I find it interesting needing to have "ears to hear" about those that lead others into captivity, or kill with the sword, which can be both physical and mental. They will have the same done to them. Then there is this connection to saints having faith and patience. It makes me think of the people that conspire to dig a pit for someone and then they fall into it. It's like it's saying don't fall into this worldly practice of trying to mislead, corrupt or overcome others. Don't join in their contentions, infighting and stand separate.

I reflected on what I recently learned about patience. It truly is a god-like attribute. I learned that patience requires forgiveness not only with yourself but with others. The One that had the greatest capacity to forgive also demonstrated godly patience. As I have worked on forgiveness of others, I found being able to forgive as they are doing wrong to me, not waiting until after, changes the way I react and speak to them. It brings a level of godly patience towards them into the whole situation. There is a protection that envelopes your spirit when you combine patience and forgiveness together.

Day 3339

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Peter 1:6

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Peter 1:6
"And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;"

I pondered on this is a path to godliness, prior to this it spoke of diligence, faith, virtue and knowledge. That before you can reach godliness, brotherly kindness and charity you must overcome temperance and patience. Patience always fascinates me because its such a divine Christlike attribute. Before you conquer patience you must first conquer yourself. Temperance is having self-restraint in actions, thoughts and feelings; with sobriety, and moderation. One definition of it says there are four types of temperance, with the character strengths of forgiveness, humility, prudence and self-regulation. Temperance is a wonderful virtue to have. If you want more patience then learn temperance.

"And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible."
(1 Corinthians 9:25)

"And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care."
(Doctrine and Covenants 12:8)

Day 3316

Today's Favorite Verse: Hebrews 12:2, 6

Today's Favorite Verse: Hebrews 12:2, 6
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth."

I pondered on how the Lord was intended to feel public shame while on the cross. Yet, he showed true obedience, humility and love for us. It made me see the connection to the Lord chastening those that he loves. How we also learn to show greater obedience, humility and love for the Lord as we endure and learn from it.

“No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable”
(Elder Orson F. Whitney in Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle [1972], 98).

Day 3304

Today's Favorite Verse: Hebrews 6:15

Today's Favorite Verse: Hebrews 6:15
"And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise."

Two of my most favorite combinations of words, patience and enduring. They were once feared. But, now I see them as my favorite part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must endure to the end, but it's only possible through Christ. This is when we are yoked together, for enduring well is not done alone. This is how we come to know Jesus Christ as our redeemer. Patience is a divine Christ-like attribute and can only be obtained again through Him. It is when we submit ourselves according to His will. We give up trying to take control and having things done our way. We understand He has a plan for our lives and we will work through this together. All that we pass through is for our good, for we become more like Him. The promise is eternal life.

"You are here on earth for a divine purpose. It is not to be endlessly entertained or to be constantly in full pursuit of pleasure. You are here to be tried, to prove yourself so that you can receive the additional blessings God has for you. The tempering effect of patience is required. Some blessings will be delivered here in this life; others will come beyond the veil. The Lord is intent on your personal growth and development. That progress is accelerated when you willingly allow Him to lead you through every growth experience you encounter, whether initially it be to your individual liking or not. When you trust in the Lord, when you are willing to let your heart and your mind be centered in His will, when you ask to be led by the Spirit to do His will, you are assured of the greatest happiness along the way and the most fulfilling attainment from this mortal experience. If you question everything you are asked to do, or dig in your heels at every unpleasant challenge, you make it harder for the Lord to bless you."
(Richard G. Scott, "Finding Joy in Life", Apr 1996 General Conference)

"In your patience possess ye your souls."
(Luke 21: 19)

Day 3298

Today's Favorite Verse: Colossians 1:11

Today's Favorite Verse: Colossians 1:11
"Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;"

Needing patience and being longsuffering does not sound like a recipe for joyfulness. What is joyful is knowing and relying on the source of strength that gets us through it. It is recognizing the Lord's hand in our lives and the miracles he performs in our behalf. Knowing He walks the path beside me, strengthen me to be patient and longsuffering. The yoke that joins us together brings sweet relief and joy.

Day 3267

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

I can appreciate what Paul is saying but I cannot go to the depths of glorying or taking pleasure in my infirmities. Maybe in time I can, but for now I am satisfied to appreciate my trials and what I have learned from them. I have come to see "enduring to the end" as the best part of the gospel. Where we come to have a personal relationship with the Lord as we walk with him through the fire. How he makes me strong when I am weak. How He teaches me patience and trust that all will be overcome through His mercy, and according to His will and time.

Day 3249

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 2:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 2:7

"To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:"

Patience = the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.

I pondered on patience. I know that it is a divine Christlike attribute, and very desirable. I know I have made progress in this area, where once the lack of it was my agony and made me suffer. What has made the difference I wondered? I don't think age has anything to do with it. Then I remembered what President Nelson said to "Think Celestial!" It is looking at things through an eternal perspective. It changes your perspective on everything. How you value things. How you look at trials you face. How you put faith in the Lord to get you through what needs to be endured. How you can appreciate the agency of others, and accept their choice. In the eternities things will be made right.

"Consider the Lord’s response to Joseph Smith when he pleaded for relief in Liberty Jail. The Lord taught the Prophet that his inhumane treatment would give him experience and be for his good. “If thou endure it well,” the Lord promised, “God shall exalt thee on high.” The Lord was teaching Joseph to think celestial and to envision an eternal reward rather than focus on the excruciating difficulties of the day."

"As you think celestial, you will view trials and opposition in a new light."

(Russell M. Nelson, "Think Celestial!", Oct 2023 General Conference)

Day 3207

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 26:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 26:3

"Especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews: wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently."

Paul is speaking to king Agrippa and ask that he be patient with him. Paul tell his conversion story in a manner that king Agrippa could understand. What stood out to me was patience. How important it is to have patience so we can come to a full understanding with someone. Patience truly is a Christlike attribute.

Day 3204

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 123:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 123:2

"Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us."

I pondered on what it means to "wait upon the Lord". To me it means to have patience for His timing. To move when the spirit says its the right time to do so. To stand near by waiting for that call. It's always waiting to #HearHim.

While we are waiting we are not twiddling our thumbs. As a good servant we are always watching and doing that which needs to be done without being told. We continue to learn and growth, ponder and prepare so we are ready to proceed when mercy comes and we seek to do according to His will.

While I pondered and reasoned what I thought it meant, I decided to follow up and see what others have said about it. I liked this talk given by Elder Hales.

"What, then, does it mean to wait upon the Lord? In the scriptures, the word wait means to hope, to anticipate, and to trust. To hope and trust in the Lord requires faith, patience, humility, meekness, long-suffering, keeping the commandments, and enduring to the end.

To wait upon the Lord means planting the seed of faith and nourishing it “with great diligence, and … patience.”

It means praying as the Savior did—to God, our Heavenly Father—saying: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.” It is a prayer we offer with our whole souls in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Waiting upon the Lord means pondering in our hearts and “receiv[ing] the Holy Ghost” so that we can know “all things what [we] should do.” As we follow the promptings of the Spirit, we discover that “tribulation worketh patience” and we learn to “continue in patience until [we] are perfected.”

Waiting upon the Lord means to “stand fast” and “press forward” in faith, “having a perfect brightness of hope.”

It means “relying alone upon the merits of Christ” and “with [His] grace assisting [us, saying]: Thy will be done, O Lord, and not ours.”

As we wait upon the Lord, we are “immovable in keeping the commandments,” knowing that we will “one day rest from all [our] afflictions.”

And we “cast not away … [our] confidence” that “all things wherewith [we] have been afflicted shall work together for [our] good.”

(Robert D. Hales, "Waiting upon the Lord: Thy Will Be Done", Oct 1971 General Conference)

Day 2760

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 115:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 115:4

"Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands."

This made me think of what I have been pondering on all day. Not letting the things of this world overtake me, but to overcome the world as President Nelson mentioned in General Conference.

"What does it mean to overcome the world? It means overcoming the temptation to care more about the things of this world than the things of God. It means trusting the doctrine of Christ more than the philosophies of men. It means delighting in truth, denouncing deception, and becoming “humble followers of Christ.” It means choosing to refrain from anything that drives the Spirit away. It means being willing to “give away” even our favorite sins.

Now, overcoming the world certainly does not mean becoming perfect in this life, nor does it mean that your problems will magically evaporate—because they won’t. And it does not mean that you won’t still make mistakes. But overcoming the world does mean that your resistance to sin will increase. Your heart will soften as your faith in Jesus Christ increases. Overcoming the world means growing to love God and His Beloved Son more than you love anyone or anything else."

(Russell M. Nelson, "Overcome the World and Find Rest", Oct 2022 General Conference)

I got upset today and I didn't want to be upset. The first thought was how this was making the spirit flee and destroying my peace. It is amazing how a prayer for help to get the spirit back can be answered so quickly. I've had to monitor myself because it so easy to let the world just sweep you up. It was a real struggle but in between I had some glimpses of things that made me understand the situation better. The Lord placed people in my path that could show me how He was taking care of things. With the ability to see things with different eyes I can have patience and wait for when the situation is resolved. There truly is nothing I can do on my end. I just have to turn it over to Him.

Day 2752

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 23:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 23:10

"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold."

I have to say there is some peace in knowing that the trials I go through are what's needed to refine me. I see the purpose in being made to enduring to the end. For that endurance can only come by turning to and relying on the Lord. I have also learned that patience is a godly attribute and to be embraced.

"Today other biographies of faith are being written—Saints who, like Job, suffer physical pain, emotional sorrow, and even disloyalty from friends—yet remain faithful; Saints who, like Jacob, see sons and daughters not so valiant as they should be, but who bless them for their potential; Saints who, like Paul, endure great ridicule and endure to the end; Saints who, like Nephi, must separate themselves from family because of their commitment to the gospel. There are those who know pain and sorrow because of loss of loved ones; who know spiritual sorrow because children go astray; who experience loss of health, financial reverses, and emotional distress, and yet, like Job, resolve, “When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold”  

(Howard W. Hunter, "God Will Have a Tried People". Apr 1980, General Conference) "The refiner's fire is real, and qualities of character and righteousness that are forged in the furnace of affliction perfect and purify us and prepare us to meet God." (Elder Quentin L. Cook, "The Songs They Could Not Sing", Oct 11, General Conference )

Day 2618

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 22:25, 31-32

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 22:25, 31-32

"And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall: and he smote her again.

Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head, and fell flat on his face.

And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times? behold, I went out to withstand thee, because thy way is perverse before me:"

I could not stop from thinking about my broken arm. The joy I felt in the morning, over making an appointment to go to the temple, was dashed to pieces by evening, when I fell while printing out my temple cards. I remember laying on the floor, knowing my arm was badly broken, and saying, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord". I knew my righteous desire to go to the temple was now placed on hold. Sometimes we can be on a good course, but it's not the road we are meant to travel. We just have to accept the course we are now on and know its the course God has in store for us. Having that knowledge makes enduring and having patience more attainable.

Day 2298

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 32:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 32:1

"And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him."

Because the children of Israel felt Moses delayed in coming down from the mount, they gave up and wanted Aaron to make them gods to worship. It made me think of patience and how it is a divine attribute. How the lack of patience shows we are going on a time table of our own making, and not according to God's will. I thought about this one person I know that left the church. Why? Because they prayed to have their calling and election made sure, and nothing happened. To them it meant the church was not true. The logic blows my mind in how flawed it is, and how unprepared they were for such a thing. But to begin to explain it to them is like talking to the wind. Sometimes people smash their own tablets before God gets to reveal greater truths to them. What could the children of Israel have received from the Lord if they were only patient about waiting upon Him.

Day 2241