Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Peter 2:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Peter 2:9-10
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."

This made me want to go back and find President Nelson's talk where he explained what it meant to be a peculiar people. I thought it more recent than 1995, but couldn't find one after that.

"Peter used uplifting terms in a prophecy regarding our day. He identified members of the Church as “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.” The adjectives chosen, royal, and holy we recognize as elevating. But what about peculiar? A modern dictionary defines peculiar as “unusual,” “eccentric,” or “strange.” What kind of compliment is that?
But the term peculiar as used in the scriptures is quite different. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew term from which peculiar was translated is segullah, which means “valued property,” or “treasure.” In the New Testament, the Greek term from which peculiar was translated is peripoiesis, which means “possession,” or “an obtaining.”
Thus, we see that the scriptural term peculiar signifies “valued treasure,” “made” or “selected by God.” For us to be identified by servants of the Lord as his peculiar people is a compliment of the highest order..
(Russell M. Nelson, “Children of the Covenant" Apr 1995 General Conference)

"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:"
(Exodus 19:5)

"For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth."
(Deuteronomy 14:2)

Day 3312

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 26:17-19

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 26:17-19

"Thou hast avouched the LORD this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and to hearken unto his voice:

And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments;

And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made, in praise, and in name, and in honour; and that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as he hath spoken."

Avouched = declared, testified

I thought of the covenants and blessings here. I also thought of what President Nelson has counseled, to "Hear Him". To hearken unto His voice, is to Hear Him. Walking in His ways, keeping his statutes, judgment and commandments demonstrates that I Hear Him. He promises to make us a peculiar people. Meaning a valued treasure, made or selected by God. There is a refinement that takes place there. First, I must do my part to testify that the Lord is my God and I will follow Him. How grateful I am for a prophet of God that helps me Hear Him and points the way to Jesus Christ.

Day 2338

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 14:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 14:2

" For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth."

I found a wonderful explanation of what the word peculiar means by President Nelson. I didn't recall reading this General Conference talk before.

"Peter used uplifting terms in a prophecy regarding our day. He identified members of the Church as “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.”  The adjectives chosen, royal, and holy we recognize as elevating. But what about peculiar? A modern dictionary defines peculiar as “unusual,” “eccentric,” or “strange.”  What kind of compliment is that?

But the term peculiar as used in the scriptures is quite different. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew term from which peculiar was translated is segullah, which means “valued property,” or “treasure.” In the New Testament, the Greek term from which peculiar was translated is peripoiesis, which means “possession,” or “an obtaining.” 

Thus, we see that the scriptural term peculiar signifies “valued treasure,” “made” or “selected by God.”  For us to be identified by servants of the Lord as his peculiar people is a compliment of the highest order."

(Russell M. Nelson, "Children of the Covenant", Apr 1995 General Conference)

It really is uplifting to think of myself as a valued treasure, made or selected by God. There is much to try and live up to.

Day 2326