Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 4:5

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 4:5
"Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God."

We are not to judge others, we cannot always see what the Lord sees. I think there are different types of judgment. One that is very wrong is deciding what type of glory or lack of it the person deserves. Judging them wicked to be case down to hell or outer darkness, that we should never do. Only God can judge that. We cannot take away a person's ability to repent.

I have also found over the years that I cannot judge someone righteous either. I've seen some that were righteous go off on the wrong path. So we do have to be careful to not judge someone righteous, and put them on a pedal stool and accept everything they say. I found I have to be careful especially of those online and what they teach. We are to be careful in this regard. It's not calling the teacher evil, but having wisdom that not everything is always 100% correct that someone says. We need to learn, ponder and pray about what we listen to. How grateful I am for living prophets and the guidance their teachings have set as my standard.

Day 4190

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 13:27

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 13:27
"For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him."

The Jews had the scriptures, the words of the prophets, they had prophesy to tell them how to identify the Messiah. Yet, they could not recognize Him when he came. They had determined incorrectly what the Savior would be. They thought of physical salvation from their enemies, and not salvation for their souls.

I pondered on how we can also miss prophesy if we do not ponder the scriptures. We can picture the wrong course of events and even be deceived. We need the Holy Ghost as our guide and be willing to be taught. I have found that what I pictured decades ago as the last days is nothing that I imagined would be happening now.

Day 4155

Today's Favorite Verse: John 20:10-11

Today's Favorite Verse: John 20:10-11
"Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,"

Mary Magdalene came to the sepulcher early when it was still dark. She sees the stone has been taken away and Jesus was gone. She runs to tell the disciples. Peter and John run to the sepulcher. They also see it is empty and the placement of the linen clothes left behind. At this point Peter and John leave, but Mary stays behind weeping. When she looks into the sepulcher again she sees two angels and converses with them. Then she turns around and sees Jesus but doesn't know it is him at first. While reading this I picture the celestial room of the temple. How as the endowment session is over and people come into the room some immediately leave the room. Others will linger in quiet reflection, prayer and reading scriptures. They will leave at separate times. I thought about how if Mary had left with Peter and John she would had missed this private time with the Lord. Yes, there is a need to hurry about our Father's business, but there is also a need to quietly ponder and contemplate what we have seen, heard and felt.

Day 4141

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 2:19, 51

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 2:19, 51
"But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart."

I pondered on the importance of pondering. Mary was capable of this and twice in this chapter it mentions her pondering things in her heart. Keeping them "in her heart" means she held them close to her. They were sacred experiences. She must have not gone into great details on her experiences with others. Otherwise, I imagine more would have been recorded on these events.

"Luke recorded that after the shepherds’ visit and after finding the 12-year-old Jesus in the temple, Mary pondered the events and sayings, and she kept them “in her heart” (Luke 2:19, 51). Her actions demonstrate the importance of treasuring sacred experiences. While it is vital that we share our testimonies with others, President Boyd K. Packer (1924–2015) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that we should ponder our sacred experiences and share them only when we are prompted to do so:
“It is not wise to continually talk of unusual spiritual experiences. They are to be guarded with care and shared only when the Spirit itself prompts you to use them to the blessing of others. …
“I heard President Marion G. Romney once counsel mission presidents and their wives … , ‘I found out that if I talked too lightly of sacred things, thereafter the Lord would not trust" me.’
“We are, I believe, to keep these things and ponder them in our hearts, as Luke said Mary did of the supernal events that surrounded the birth of Jesus” (“The Candle of the Lord,” Ensign, Jan. 1983, 53).
(New Testament Student Manual, "Chapter 15: Luke 1-3")

Day 4099

Today's Favorite Verse: Moroni 4:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Moroni 4:3
"O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it; that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him, and keep his commandments which he hath given them, that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen."

This past Sunday one of our young priests was giving the sacrament prayer. It sounded like it was his first attempt, but I don't know for sure. I didn't look to see who it was because it didn't matter. These ordinances are written out and are to be read with exactness. Three times he had to repeat that prayer. I always love it when mistakes like this are made. It causes me to take greater care in listening. Then when it happened again I was ready to notice the mistake. A member of the bishopric came over to point out the spot he was missing. I hope that young man was not embarrassed, because it was such a meaningful sacrament to me. Sometimes when errors are made they emphasis words we need to ponder on more deeply, and that is exactly what I did.

Day 3582

Today's Favorite Verse: Ether 3:26

Today's Favorite Verse: Ether 3:26
"For he had said unto him in times before, that if he would believe in him that he could show unto him all things—it should be shown unto him; therefore the Lord could not withhold anything from him, for he knew that the Lord could show him all things."

When did the Lord tell the brother of Jared that he would show him all things, if he believed in Him? I went back in the two earlier chapters and didn't see this mentioned. Maybe it was during those 3 hours the Lord stood in a cloud and spoke to him. I pondered on how the Lord telling you something like that would certainly make me strive to be worthy. It was a promise the Lord knew the brother of Jared could obtain. The brother of Jared must have been pondering on this while he was preparing those 16 stones out of molten rock. That pondering on what he believed the Lord capable of increased the brother of Jared's faith. That is why he could say to the Lord, "Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this." (vs 5) When asked by the Lord, "Believest thou the words which I shall speak? (vs 11)

"And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.

This is why the Lord could minister unto the brother of Jared for "he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting." (vs 19)

The Lord will not appear to man if they doubt or want to consume it on their lusts. You need faith where it matters not if you see Him, for you already believe.

Day 3566

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 4:15

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 4:15
And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children.

I have profited and learned so much from reading the scriptures and in particular the Book of Mormon. I was reading in the Doctrine and Covenants to night and noticed this in the chapter header, "In introducing this revelation, Joseph Smith's history affirms that "the Lord...is ever ready to instruct such as diligently seek in faith."

"And the Book of Mormon and the holy scriptures are given of me for your instruction; and the power of my Spirit quickeneth all things."
(Doctrine and Covenants 33:16)

During family scriptures we discussed the peace that comes from reading the scriptures. My one son, that just started reading them on his own, said he went to bed listening to them. He slept well and then had so much peace throughout the day. Reading and pondering does quicken in all things, physically, mentally, and spiritually. It strengthen us.

Day 3375

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 15:8-9

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 15:8-9
"And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?
And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us."

While Nephi is receiving instruction from the Lord on the vision his father had, his brothers are disputing with each other over the meaning of the vision. He finds them in this condition and is overwhelmed with grief, after-all he had seen the destruction of his people by his brother's descendants. Nephi goes to be by himself until he receives enough strength to speak with his brothers. The first thing he asks them is if they had inquired of the Lord? They hadn't, because they didn't have faith that they would receive answers. What I noticed is that Nephi is willing to explain the answers to his brothers' questions, but he does not tell them all that he saw. In fact I'm not even sure he told his brothers about his vision only that he had asked and had the answers for them. He wrote about his vision for future generations to learn from.

A memory came back to me about my near-death experience. Something that is not found in the story that is recorded. Before I became gravely ill I had been pondering and praying on a particular matter. It was my gospel question that I could not understand. I still don't feel to share that question. But, after my near-death experience I totally understood the answer. I had never asked for a near-death experience, I had never asked to see a vision. I had only pondered and asked for understanding. It wasn't with doubt, it was done in faith believing that understanding would come. Yet, it was this act of pondering on a specific gospel question that lead to a uniquely personal answer.

Day 3364

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 11:1, 17

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 11:1, 17
"For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which I never had before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot.
And I said unto him: I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things."

I noticed some key things about Nephi and his ability to see the vision his father had. First, was his desire, and his belief that God could make it known to him. Then he pondered in his heart what he had heard. This pondering in his heart was key to being receptive to the Spirit and to be taught. Nephi was humble and teachable. He did not know the meaning of all things, and that was OK. As he sat pondering he was ready to be taught by the Spirit.

This made me think of another prophet, Joseph F. Smith and how he received a remarkable vision of the redemption of the dead after pondering the scriptures.
"On the third of October, in the year nineteen hundred and eighteen, I sat in my room pondering over the scriptures;"
(Doctrine and Covenants 138:1)

What does it mean to ponder?
"To meditate and think deeply, often upon the scriptures or other things of God. When combined with prayer, pondering the things of God may bring revelation and understanding."
(Guide to the scriptures, Ponder)

Day 3360

Today's Favorite Verse: Song of Solomon 3:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Song of Solomon 3:1

"By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth: I sought him, but I found him not."

I wasn't sure if it was just that I'm feeling incredibly tired today but I couldn't find anything in this chapter that caused me to ponder. Usually I have some impress and then look up what that thought leads to. Not this time. I just wanted to find out more about the "Song of Solomon". When I looked in the JST (Joseph Smith Translation) I was surprised to find this, "Note: the JST manuscript states that "The Songs of Solomon are not inspired writings". Then I looked at the Bible Dictionary and found this.

Song of Solomon

"Sometimes called Canticles (as in Latin) or Song of Songs (as in Hebrew). Whether Solomon is actually the author is doubtful. The composition has many beautiful phrases and lyrical prose, often quoted in nonreligious literature. The JST states that “the Songs of Solomon are not inspired writings.” Both Jews and Christians have at times been reluctant to accept it into the canon of scripture because of its romantic content but have permitted it on the basis of its being an allegory of God’s love for Israel and of the Church."

(Bible Dictionary, Song of Solomon)

I think it sufficient to have learned that today in my study. I'm sure as I read other parts of the Song of Solomon it will give me things to ponder on, but today it was just not there.

Day 2833

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 35:5-6

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Chronicles 35:5-6

"And stand in the holy place according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren the people, and after the division of the families of the Levites.

So kill the passover, and sanctify yourselves, and prepare your brethren, that they may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses."

This reminded me a General Conference talk I heard today from Mark L. Pace, the Sunday School general president, "Conversion is Our Goal". How "Come, Follow Me" and studying the scriptures will help to deepen our conversion to the gospel, and sanctify us. That it will become a protection to us and make our homes a sanctuary. To me this is standing in holy places. I don't have the transcript of the talk so I found scriptures that speak of standing in holy places.

"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 45:32)

"Wherefore, stand ye in holy places, and be not moved, until the day of the Lord come; for behold, it cometh quickly, saith the Lord. Amen."

(Doctrine and Covenants 87:8)

"Until the day cometh when there is found no more room for them; and then I have other places which I will appoint unto them, and they shall be called stakes, for the curtains or the strength of Zion.22 Behold, it is my will, that all they who call on my name, and worship me according to mine everlasting gospel, should gather together, and stand in holy places;"

(Doctrine and Covenants 101:21-22)

Day 2561

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 1:8

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 1:8

"This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."

I looked up the definition for meditate and found Satan's counterfeit right at the top.

1. think deeply or focus one's mind for a period of time, in silence or with the aid of chanting, for religious or spiritual purposes or as a method of relaxation.

2. think deeply or carefully about (something).

3. plan mentally; consider.

The Study Helps on the church website tells us meditate means this.

Meditation, Meditate: see also, Consider, Ponder; Prayer; Scriptures, Study of; Think

Ponder: To meditate and think deeply, often upon the scriptures or other things of God. When combined with prayer, pondering the things of God may bring revelation and understanding.

The English meditation is derived from Old French meditacioun, in turn from Latin meditatio from a verb meditari, meaning "to think, contemplate, devise, ponder".

The purpose of meditating and pondering is to understand the things of God. It is never to empty ones head to bring oneself into a form of relaxation. Yes, there is peace as you ponder the things of God, but there is always control of ones thought. To do otherwise, especially in combination with pagan practices, will destroy the soul.

This made me think of an excellent video that I watched. The women on it are not of my faith, but I was so impressed with how in keeping with the gospel their understanding was in following Jesus. Wonderful explanation of how followers of Christ would not participate in the practice of yoga, and how Satan will deceive in calling evil good. The scriptures they quote are not from the Kings James version of the Bible that I read, but the interpretation of what the chapters meant I was in agreement with. I just finished reading Deuteronomy that they referenced. We cannot serve two masters so we better make sure who we are following.

"Why I Stopped Teaching Yoga and Reiki, to Follow Jesus" - Jessica Smith interview.

Day 2347

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 97:12-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 97:12-17

"Behold, this is the tithing and the sacrifice which I, the Lord, require at their hands, that there may be a house built unto me for the salvation of Zion -

For a place of thanksgiving for all saints, and for a place of instruction for all those who are called to the work of the ministry in all their several callings and offices;

That they may be perfected in the understanding of their ministry, in theory, in principle, and in doctrine, in all things pertaining to the kingdom of God on the earth, the keys of which kingdom have been conferred upon you.

And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it;

Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God.

But if it be defiled I will not come into it, and my glory shall not be there; for I will not come into unholy temples."

Tonight is Monday, and before COVID-19 I would be going to bed early so I could wake up and attend the temple early Tuesday morning. Reading tonight about the temple made me feel so homesick. I haven't really felt homesick until now. Now I just sit and weep because I can't go to the temple. I used to gain so much going there. How long will it be before I can go back?

As I reflected on what I could do about this sadness and homesickness I thought about what I loved most while I was at the temple. I realized I wasn't getting the quiet time I needed. The time you reflect without any distracting noises. I used to spend several hours at the temple each week. I think I need more time to sit and reflect on this beautiful eternal plan, and the doctrine of Christ. There are things that I can do better. When I do get to go back to the temple I want to come a better person because I was made to wait.

Day 2100

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 17:3

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 17:3
"Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again."

I love this chapter. So many beautiful things to ponder on. Jesus speaks of the lost tribes and he will leave to go visit them. He has them bring their sick and afflicted to him so he can heal them. He has the little children brought to him and he kneels upon the earth and prays for them. The multitude are over come and weep for joy. Christ's joy is full and he weeps several times. He then blesses the children one by one. Angels come down from heaven and circle the little children with fire and minister to them. There were 2,500 men, women and children that witnessed all this. They say "eye hath never seen, neither hath the ear heard, before, so great and marvelous things as we saw and heard Jesus speak unto the Father." (vs 16)  What a miraculous experience this must have been. I just weep reading it. 

As I looked for my verse to ponder on I am reminded of something I am seeing happening among the saints. The prophet told us to seek personal revelation, and that it is vitally important that we understand how the spirit speaks to us. It is that last part, the learning how the spirit speaks to us, that I see some not grasping it and being led astray. For when the spirit speaks it will never counsel you to go against the words of the prophet and those with priesthood authority over you. If you feel you are listening to Jesus over the prophet (as I've heard some refer to as man) then you are mistaken about what spirit you are receiving revelation from. I feel it is no accident that we are called to be in our homes at this time, and taught to ponder the scriptures. It is important that we understand and prepare ourselves for all things that will be restored. It is important to see that when Christ leaves he has his chosen apostles to watch over His sheep. That means listening to them. 

“Go ye unto your homes, and ponder” is the next step in taking to heart the words of prophets and Church leaders spoken in this sacred setting. Christ-centered homes are fortresses for the kingdom of God on earth in a day when, as prophesied, the devil “rage[s] in the hearts of the children of men, and stir[s] them up to anger against that which is good.
(Ronald A. Rasband, "Build a Fortress of Spirituality and Protection", April 2019, General Conference)

Day 1954

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 5:26-27

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 5:26-27
"And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?
Have ye walked, keeping yourselves blameless before God? Could ye say, if ye were called to die at this time, within yourselves, that ye have been sufficiently humble? That your garments have been cleansed and made white through the blood of Christ, who will come to redeem his people from their sins?"

So many wonderful verses in this chapter, which makes it so hard to choose what to ponder on. I asked myself which is my favorite? and it is these two. They are the verses that I ask of myself, to make sure I'm staying on track. Truly I hear the song of redeeming love and when it's missing I know things are not right. When I ponder on the second verse the spirit will let me know how I fair. How grateful I am for personal scripture study, especial now when the temple is closed and the passing of the sacrament is so much shorter at home. Those were places that I also did a lot of pondering on my condition before God. At least personal scripture reading is still there and I can nightly reflect on how I stand before the Lord and keep myself in remembrance of all He has done for me.

Day 1863

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 4:15-16

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 4:15-16
"And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children.
Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard."

I pondered on how it's not enough to simply read the scriptures. What must take place is a continual pondering. Connecting what I experience and see around me to what I learned in the scriptures. It is in the living of life that the deeper meaning of the scriptures come alive to me.

Day 1789

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Peter 1:20-21

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Peter 1:20-21
"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

I wrote this in my notes on this scripture a while ago and still feel this is true.

"Scripture study comes through the Holy Ghost and not through the private interpretation of others. This is why I don't read other people's book about the scriptures."

I have learned far more from prayerfully reading the scriptures on my own, with the spirit prompting me on what to ponder. Questions form and then understanding comes. I have yet to experience this while reading someone's else's book on the scriptures. Don't get me wrong there are good books out there, and I may use them as a reference. But what the spirit feels I am ready to learn that day comes from the scripture themselves, and I need to spend quality time there.

Day 1730

Today's Favorite Verse: John 5:25

Today's Favorite Verse: John 5:25
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live."

Jesus is speaking of not only his resurrection, but the resurrection of the dead waiting in spirit prison. I reflected on not only Doctrine and Covenants 138 and Joseph F. Smith's vision of the redemption of the dead, but also Doctrine and Covenants 76:15-23. When Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were translating this part of the New Testament and coming to the verses in this section they marveled.

"And while we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understanding and they were opened, and the glory of the Lord shone around about.
And we beheld the glory of the Son, on the right hand of the Father, and received of his fullness."

Then they beautifully testify.

"And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father."
(Doctrine and Covenants 76:15-23)

The thought came to me that it was pondering on these verses and the great work of the redemption of the dead that caused heavenly visions to come to each of them. This is an excellent thing for me to ponder on. Particularly, I had not reflected on this part of the ministry of the Savior during the partaking of the sacrament, and it would be an excellent thing to do.

Day 1575

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 8:16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 8:16-17
"And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?"

This reminded me of my favorite verse the other day, Mark 6:52. Where I pondered about pondering. I felt the apostles hearts were hardened because they did not ponder the miracle of the loaves. Here they are now told to ponder that miracle again, and because they didn't earlier they could not understand Jesus' other sayings.

This shows the importance of pondering and keeping up with what the Savior is doing. Could it not be a greater message to me today, when I know the restoration of gospel is not entirely complete. There is more to come. Just like Jesus was trying to prepare his disciples. 

So, the apostles were reasoning among themselves on what Jesus meant by beware of the leaven, not sure they caught the part of the Pharisees and Herod. (Which I think implies those with false doctrine and political leaders.) The apostles were still wondering if Jesus was upset that they had forgotten to take bread with them into the ship. So, I sat and pondered on how the apostle's reasoning may have went and there was a lot, but the point in the scripture was not to do what they were doing. For their hearts were hardened and that's not what I want to do.

So, what were the apostles missing that caused them not to understand what Jesus meant? What I came up with for now, is the importance of pondering multiple experiences and stories together. Not one isolated part. Don't I use the footnotes in the scriptures all the time? I learn so much when I read them and ponder these added verses with scriptures. I can also be reading and be reminded of other scripture stories and quotes from general conference talks. I have to look at things in one great whole, how the pieces fit together. Like a giant puzzle. I could look at an individual puzzle piece and never understand where it goes until I see how it fits with what I have already put together. I need to work on it piece by piece, adding to what I have already put together until one day that puzzle will be complete.

This must be why Jesus said "Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?" (Mark 8:18)

I have to take what I see and hear, and put it together with what is being brought to my remembrance, from what I learned before. Then my eyes will be opened to greater things.

Day 1540

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 6:52

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 6:52
"For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened."

Considered not = did not understand

What this verse is saying is the apostles consider not about the miracles that were happening. They didn't understand them because their hearts were hardened. It is pondering and considering the scriptures then that softens the heart so we can understand.

So what makes me understand or consider the gospel and the scriptures?  It is to ponder on them. It is an active participation by myself with myself, led by the spirit through a question and answer session. The favorite verse for me each day is the one that made me pause, because the spirit promoted me with a question. Since getting rid of the books about the scriptures, and just reading the scriptures, the spirit has taught me the scriptures by pondering on them. It's not just the scriptures it's any event that the spirit guides me to reflect upon. For the apostles it would have been pondering on the miracle of the loaves and the fishes.

I was just reading 3 Nephi 17:3 and was so struck by the Savior's request that they return home and ponder.

"Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again."

President Marion G. Romney said "As I have read the scriptures, I have been challenged by the word ponder, so frequently used in the Book of Mormon. The dictionary says that ponder means 'to weigh mentally, think deeply about, deliberate, meditate'… pondering is, in my feeling, a form of prayer. It has, at least, been an approach to the Spirit of the Lord on many occasions.

I love this, ponder being a form of prayer. It made me think about taking the sacrament. Where I can intently focus on my Savior, ponder and pray. They all go so hand in hand.

This week in my Pathway's Book of Mormon class my professor Brother A. made an interesting comment on pondering. I've reflected on it a lot since then.

"Several years ago, I had five children at home, small children. Our house was not quiet. It was not a place of "pondering". In fact it was kind a nuts and psychotic sometimes now that I think back on it. Why does he send you home then knowing that that will be the environment for many families? And the answer is, that is exactly what he wants. Pondering isn't just this quiet solitude. Pondering is also the ability to talk and to discuss and to think collectively about something. This is best done in a family unit. Family's that talk about the gospel, visit about it at dinner table and family home evening, and scripture study, and various points during the day, talk about the relevance of doctrine, application of it, and gospel living and things. There is a power and a majesty that comes with that and it's glorious. What it does is helps parents and children be better acquires of spiritual knowledge. I love the principle of the home and family unit connected to learning spiritual things."

That is exactly what I have experienced. One of my favorite times of the day is family scriptures study, we have such awesome discussions. We don't have to know what everything meant in the chapter. We just pick what stood out to us. And it is always from what stood out to someone that leads to a great gospel centered discussion. I love thinking now that the Come, Follow Me - gospel centered learning we are now doing is pondering the scriptures. As Christ invited us to "prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again."

Day 1538