Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 10:13-14

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 10:13-14
"And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the LORD brought an east wind upon the land all that day, and all that night; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.
And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt: very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such."

I pondered on how the Lord uses the laws of nature for his mighty works. Are they any less miraculous because it could be a natural phenomenon? What I cannot doubt is the timing of all these things. Nor how selective some of these plagues were. It made me reflect on being thankful in all things.

"Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things."
(Doctrine and Covenants 59:7)

"And he who receiveth all things with thankfulness shall be made glorious; and the things of this earth shall be added unto him, even an hundred fold, yea, more."
(Doctrine and Covenants 78:19)

Receiving all things in thankfulness doesn't exclude the bad that happens. I had a new understanding of this verse last week. I saw thankfulness in all things as recognizing no matter what the Lord is with me. He will be by my side come rain, hail or sunshine. If locust are devouring the earth I am thankful the Lord is with me as I pass through it. I am never alone. Receiving a hundred fold doesn't mean I will be rich in material things, but instead in spirit. I will come to know the Lord as I walk beside him.

Day 3766

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 9:19-21

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 9:19-21
"Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.
He that feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:
And he that regarded not the word of the LORD left his servants and his cattle in the field."

I'm a little confused on how in an earlier plague the cattle were destroyed, and then they are told the hail and fire will destroy them again. Did the Egyptians somehow take the children of Israel's cattle that were not destroyed? One thing is for sure the servants of Pharaoh that believed Moses moved their cattle into the houses. It made me ponder on faith. Even though Pharaoh hardened his heart his people were having their heart's softened. It made me think of the earlier chapter where the children of Israel were told on leaving to ask of their neighbors, the Egyptians, for their gold, silver, jewels and raiment. The reason they gave it willingly was because their hearts were softened. They knew there was a powerful God with Moses.

Day 3765

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 29:18

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 29:18
"Wherefore, I the Lord God will send forth flies upon the face of the earth, which shall take hold of the inhabitants thereof, and shall eat their flesh, and shall cause maggots to come in upon them;"

Probably one of the oddest verses to ponder on. It was the word flies that caught my eye. This chapter is speaking of the Second Coming and the signs, plagues and desolations that precede it. There was a footnote for flies that refers me to plagues. I pondered on if it means real flies or just plagues that fly through the air? It could be both. I do think we are seeing prophesy fulfilled with more plagues coming with greater occurrence among us. Just yesterday I started a new spreadsheet to track the numbers. I think one of the saddest parts is so much is preventable physically, and will even more so spiritually.

Some of the plagues mentioned are similar to what occurred to the Egyptians in order for the children of Israel to be released from bondage. Isn't the coming of the Lord the greatest release from bondage for the living and the dead? I have hope that some of these plagues will pass by the righteous in these end times. The key will be as it was for the children of Israel of old, to listen to the prophet.

"Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses: and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are.
And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flies shall be there; to the end thou mayest know that I am the LORD in the midst of the earth."
(Exodus 8:21-22)

Day 3618

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 2:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 2:7

"Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon."

I was curious about how we would deliver ourselves. The footnote for deliver leads to this verse.

"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

(Revelation 18:4)

I know there are and will be many plagues. Not all of them are physical diseases. Pornography was a plague of our day we were warned about for several years. It's interesting how in General Conference the discussion has moved on. I feel like if you weren't listening and following the counsel given by the prophet then, you would be even more lost day. So much emphasis has been on being able to receive personal revelation and guidance from the spirit. Something that is lost if you dwell in that plague.

The one physical plague that has been with us is Covid-19. I pondered on how many were and are lost because they believed the lies of the world and wisdom of men regarding it, and rejected the counsel given by the prophet of God. They may not feel they are lost today, but like those that never over came the plague of pornography, the cost of having the spirit as your guide will be evident in the years to come.

Day 3072

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 28:15

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 28:15

"Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:"

The mention of an 'overflowing scourge" made me think of this verse.

"And in that generation shall the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

And there shall be men standing in that generation, that shall not pass until they shall see an overflowing scourge; for a desolating sickness shall cover the land.

But my disciples shall stand in holy places, and shall not be moved; but among the wicked, men shall lift up their voices and curse God and die."

(Doctrine and Covenants 45:30-32)

I was reading in the Old Testament Institute manual and it said,

“The prophet confronts the rulers of Jerusalem with the assertion that their policy and behavior are bringing inevitable ruin. This time the fault is that they have deliberately entered into a covenant to serve, in return for protection, a god or gods other than their own. Death, maweth, is here the god of the underworld, Sheol or hell. Perhaps the Canaanite god of the underworld, Mot, is intended, or the reference may be to the Egyptian Osiris. It was customary for the prophets to speak of the alien deities as lies and falsehood. In contrast to this act of panic by the rulers, Isaiah declares that faith in God is the only secure foundation of Zion’s security, and that his justice and righteousness alone can erect a building that will stand. Those who in fright have sought to secure themselves by worshiping other gods as well, will experience in sheer terror the effects of Yahweh’s decree of destruction.”

(The Interpreter's Bible, 5:317)

This made me ponder on how worshipping anything but the one true God would be worshipping a false god. The worship can come in may forms like thinking you have power over the environment, or enough money or stores will save you from calamities. It is a comfort to me to know worshipping God and standing in holy places we will not be moved.

Day 2866

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 26:20-21

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 26:20-21

"Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain."

I read several quotes where Brigham Young, John Taylor and Wilford Woodruff were all referring to the saints in Utah being safely in the chambers of the mountain. I pondered on how it is no longer possible for saints worldwide to gather in the valley of these everlasting mountains.

"And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."

(Revelation 18:4)

Our places of refuge are now the stakes of Zion, temples, and our homes. We really did shut our doors when the pandemic first began. These events may have been for "a little moment", but all of it has been for our profit and learning, to be guided by a prophet of God.

"And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth."

(Doctrine and Covenants 115:6)

Day 2864

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 14:7, 32

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 14:7, 32

"The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing.

What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it."

trust in it = OR seek refuge in it.

I remember when Covid-19 was first spreading around the globe. This first verse came to mind and warmed my heart when I heard people in lock down singing. By the time in reached my area people were fighting each other. There was no singing only protests. What comes after in this chapter is where we are all headed. I love this last verse. It gives me hope that there will be a place of refuge as I trust in the Lord.

Day 2852

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 134:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 134:1-2

"Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.

Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD."

This reminded me of the two times that I am aware of the temples being opened day and night, so saints could receive their endowments. The first was prior to the saints leaving Nauvoo, and the second before the temples closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Elder Bednar's spoke at a BYU Devotional of the miracles of temples being open day and night to accommodate the saints before they needed to close. The full talk is even better than these quotes from the article.

"Elder Bednar pointed to miracles experienced by Latter-day Saints in the second week of November 2020 in several temples in North America. On November 10, government officials in a large jurisdiction announced a new wave of pandemic-induced restrictions that would be implemented three days later and would suspend religious gatherings for a minimum of three weeks.

Wanting to give as many people as possible the opportunity to worship in temples before they closed, these temple leaders prayerfully decided to keep their temples operating — doors open, lights on, night and day, nonstop — until they would close on Friday, November 13, at midnight. Making this around-the-clock operation a reality would require meticulous planning and ample volunteers from local Latter-day Saints.

Elder Bednar shared comments from eight Church members that give insight into what they viewed as the miraculous nature of that 72-hour period inside these temples.

Some described miracles in making appointments for so many people in so little time. “When I started calling patrons … I completely expected to leave messages,” one person said. “Almost everyone answered their phone. To me, [this was] a miracle. Almost all available time slots were filled in less than a day and a half.”

“There was miracle after miracle,” another said, “miracles in scheduling, miracles in obtaining necessary paperwork to have ordinances [rites and ceremonies] completed, miracles in having one available appointment time precisely at the only time a patron was able to come.”

Others spoke of the look reflected on the faces of those who, instead of being weary from serving all night and morning, were miraculously full of joy and light.“

As I arrived at the temple on Thursday morning around 5:00 a.m., I saw ordinance workers who had served all night long still smiling as they served,” one person said. “One brother stayed at the temple day and night, not going home for three days. His service was invaluable and needed in so many ways.”

(David A. Bednar, "Elder Bednar Tells of Temple Miracles During Covid-19", Church Newsroom, 19 Jan 2021)

Day 2771

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 28:61-62

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 28:61-62

" Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the LORD bring upon thee, until thou be destroyed.

And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God."

This was not cheery to read, given where we are in this pandemic. These verses are mild compared to others. Simply put if we do not obey the voice of the Lord, we will be left to stand alone, and without His blessing, and left with a curse. It would seem that as a nation, and the world, obedience to the Lord is not our strong point. The days ahead aren't going to be pretty if we stay on the current course.

"...God had decreed that all who will not obey His voice shall not escape the damnation of hell. What is the damnation of hell? To go with that society who have not obeyed His commands."

(Joseph Smith, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", p.198)

Day 2340

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 9:34-35

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 9:34-35

"And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart, he and his servants.

And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, neither would he let the children of Israel go; as the Lord had spoken by Moses."

Three more plagues that destroy the cattle, boils, hail and fire all come upon the Egyptians but not Israel. I see the magicians are not even attempting to recreate what Moses has done. Pharaoh once again promises to let the children of Israel go, and then his heart is hardened and he doesn't. I thought about how people can witness miracles and yet not receive a testimony of the power of God. They can deny what is right in front of them or the truth of it does not endure. We can not build our testimonies chasing after the specular or the continual reading and telling of faith promoting stories. It is through the quiet still small voice of the Spirit that we come to know God.

Day 2218