Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 4:16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 4:16-17

"And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended."

I pondered on the seed sown on stony ground. These individuals accepted the word of God with gladness. That is such a good thing. Yet they are in danger and oblivious to the condition they are in. They were planted on stony ground preventing their roots from going deep. They were members only on the surface. They were not spiritually feeding themselves to grow deep roots in the gospel. This made me think of something that has be germinating in my mind since general conference.

This quote of President Nelson's has stayed with me since he first became prophet. This last general conference three apostles also quoted it. It's a warning.

"But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."

(Russell M. Nelson, "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives", April 2018 General Conference)

Then when President Nelson spoke he told us to "Think Celestial".

"As you think celestial, you will view trials and opposition in a new light. When someone you love attacks truth, think celestial, and don’t question your testimony. The Apostle Paul prophesied that “in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”

"There is no end to the adversary’s deceptions. Please be prepared. Never take counsel from those who do not believe. Seek guidance from voices you can trust—from prophets, seers, and revelators and from the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, who “will show unto you all things what ye should do.” Please do the spiritual work to increase your capacity to receive personal revelation."

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

He's telling us our roots have to be deep or we will not survive the conditions we find ourselves in. It takes time for roots to grow deep. The need for deep roots in now.

Day 3120

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 22:5, 14, 16

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Chronicles 22:5, 14, 16

"And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.

Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.

Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee."

David wasn't allowed to build the house of the Lord, but was promised his son would. I love how David prepared many things in abundance for when his son Solomon would build it. Then he charges his son to be up and doing, and the Lord would be with him. It made me think of how many times the Lord has had people lay the foundation work for others to build upon it. The pioneers had a history of planting crops for others to harvest as they crossed the plains. Planting seeds they would never benefit from. Another example is the Salt Lake temple and the 40 years it took to build. President Brigham Young began it and it wasn't until Wilford Woodruff was prophet that it was dedicated. This made me think of another quote attributed to President Woodruff. "In a general conference address in April 1950, Elder Richard L. Evans of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “I recall a reported statement, attributed, as I remember it, to President Wilford Woodruff. Some of the brethren of his time are said to have approached him … and to have inquired of him as to when he felt the end would be—when would be the coming of the Master? These, I think, are not his exact words, but they convey the spirit of his reported reply: ‘I would live as if it were to be tomorrow—but I am still planting cherry trees!’” (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Wilford Woodruff, Chapter 24, "Preparing for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ")

Day 2519

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 24:10-11

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 24:10-11
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house; and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the fields, saith the Lord of Hosts."

This last verse meant something to me today, because of the fields in the mid-west that lost their crops yesterday. Literally, the storm "cast her fruit before the time of the fields". In the first verse it mentions that the paying of tithes would have prevented this. So did the farmers not pay tithing? I have no idea who even knows or understands this principle now. What I do know is there are some that do, and I'm sure there are even some that paid tithing and lost their crops.

As I reflected on this I realized the farmers crops are not just his crops, they are mine too. I count on their crops and buy from them. In a way they are my crops too. This situation was not just a reflection of a farmer paying tithing or not, its upon a nation that has left God behind them. When God gives the voice of warning all feel the affects of it.

The difference is those that put God first by paying their tithes, and love him with all their hearts, will have eyes that see and ears that hear because the windows of heaven are opened to them. The blessings come when you are inspired in how to protect yourself and loved ones from the suffering that will come. Even with that I sure hope I get a chance to read a story about some farmer that paid his tithing and his crops survived. It's not that I have to see it to believe it, its just that I know it had to have happened and somehow the story has to make its way to me.

Day 1961

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 31:28

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 31:28
"And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the Lord"

This is my comfort. For as hard as the winding up scene will be before the coming of the Lord, he will watch over his people. A great work will be taking place to receive our Lord and King

It reminds me of what I read in the Doctrine and Covenants today.

"And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed; and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people;"
(Doctrine and covenants 1:14)

To be "cut off" references Alma 50:20 & Doctrine and Covenants 50:8, being cut off from the presence of the Lord, and overcome by the world. It made me think of Elder Cook's statement. How important it is to follow the council of the Lord, given through his prophets.

"He spoke about some of the history of the areas. However, a common theme to the members was that those who follow the new prophetic home-centered teaching will be blessed. He prophesied that 20 years from now those families that have listened to the prophet will weather the coming storms."
("The 'powerful witness of the Savior' that Elder Cook gave Church members in Europe"; Deseret News, Church News, 19 Nov 2018)

Something is being planted now. This is where the Lord wants his people to be. If we fail to do it we will be overcome by the world and cut off.

Day 1351

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 61:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 61:3
"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified."

I cannot read the phrase "beauty for ashes" and not think of the devastating fire that destroyed the beloved historic Provo Tabernacle, and how we mourned. Then it raised from the ashes as a magnificent House of the Lord. Truly it was beauty for ashes. I have from that event looked at my trials differently. As painful as they have been I would not change any of it, for the beauty they have added to the fabric of my life. Like the tabernacle that is now a temple, my life has more purpose having lost and been healed. The Lord never takes away without giving more in return. I have been planted in a most beautiful part of his vineyard, for it's exactly where He knows I should be.



Day 1315

Today's Favorite Verse: Ecclesiastes 11:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Ecclesiastes 11:1
"Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days."

Another way of looking at this is planting seeds that others in turn harvest. One day I will see the effect my life has had on others. Its pleasing when it happens in this life, but even a greater pleasure in the next.

Day 1245

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 92:13

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 92:13
"Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God."

I love the house of the Lord. I can see myself spending a thousand years during the millennium there. It will be happy and joyful days for sure. I yearn for it now. I do wondered at times how people that do not find joy in going to the temple now, doing family history work or sharing the gospel, think they will suddenly find joy in it during the millennium? It is better to dip the toe now and become acclimated to it. They are missing out on so very many blessings in this life. I totally plan on flourishing by planting deep roots today.

Day 1145

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 19:7

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 19:7
"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple."

I have rejoiced in the simplicity and beauty of the gospel. I have found I was making it much harder than it is. The most beautiful of things to ponder on is faith, and how easily it is over looked.

A young man gave an excellent talk in sacrament last week that has stuck with me. He gave the analogy of faith and testimony. In seminary his teacher had given each of them a little seed to plant, of faith and testimony, and they got to bury it. The seminary teacher told them to be really careful not to go to deep. If you go to deep it won't get enough sunlight, water, etc. and won't grown. It is like our testimonies if you go to deep, and try to get into really deep doctrine, it won't do as much for us, it could choke and die. It is best to start out shallow and let our roots grow deep. We need to plant our testimony, it is basic for it to grown.

I am finding all the little primary answers are the most important things I need to understand. I can stay in primary forever, because there is just so much to learn there. There is much treasure in the simple things of the gospel. It is through them my eyes are made open to see what I never would have seen any other way. The simple does make me wise.

Day 1072