Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 6:12-13

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 6:12-13
"Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father:
And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel."

I pondered how that same promise is made with ever House of the Lord.

"And in a manner that we may be found worthy, in thy sight, to secure a fulfilment of the promises which thou hast made unto us, thy people, in the revelations given unto us;
That thy glory may rest down upon thy people, and upon this thy house, which we now dedicate to thee, that it may be sanctified and consecrated to be holy, and that thy holy presence may be continually in this house;
And that all people who shall enter upon the threshold of the Lord’s house may feel thy power, and feel constrained to acknowledge that thou hast sanctified it, and that it is thy house, a place of thy holiness."
(Doctrine and Covenants 109:11-13

"The temple is literally the house of the Lord. I promise you as you come worthily and prayerfully to His holy house, you will be armed with His power, His name will be upon you, His angels will have charge over you, and you will grow up in the blessing of the Holy Ghost.
The Lord promised, “Every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am.” There are many different ways to see the face of Christ, and there is no better place than in His holy house.
In this day of confusion and commotion, I testify that the temple is His holy house and will help preserve us, protect us, and prepare us for the glorious day when, with all His holy angels, our Savior returns in majesty, power, and great glory. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."
(Elder Neil L. Andersen, "Temples, Houses of the Lord Dotting the Earth", Apr 2024 General Conference)

Day 3843

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 21:43-44

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 21:43-44
"And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand."

As I pondered on how much land was promised to Abraham, all the cities and villages the children of Israel claimed and divided, I thought about timing. How you needed a very large number of people to fulfill all that was promised. It took many, many generations for Abraham's posterity to become large enough to come in and be given it. If they hadn't been captive in Egypt and allowed to grow, their small numbers would have been decimated over time if they had to tried to claim this land. You have to trust in the Lord's timing and what He has prepared before us.

Day 3814

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 9:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 9:5
"Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."

I pondered on how very humbling those words are. The children of Israel were not possessing the lands of their inheritance due to any righteousness on their part. It was due to the promises the Lord made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in their righteousness. The other nations had a cause for their destruction. It was due to their own wickedness that had become fully ripe after many generations. The warning was also given to the children of Israel that they also would be scattered when they forgot their God. The timing of all things is in the hand of the Lord.

Day 3799

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 4:29-31

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 4:29-31
"But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them."

Moses is talking not only to the children of Israel then, but to us today. We are living in the latter days. Not only is God the same yesterday, today and forever, so is the natural man. We all need to seek the Lord. Seek and ye shall find. We are to love the Lord God with all our hearts, mind, and strength. Tribulations will come to all of us, it is especially prophesied for these latter days. God will remember His promises to us, if we remember our promises to Him.

"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God."
(Matthew 5:8)

Day 3798

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 122:9

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 122:9
"Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever."

I love this verse. "Hold on thy way", its saying stay the course, hold onto the iron rod. The priesthood will never be taken from the earth again. Joseph Smith and us will live until God calls us home and not a day shorter. Don't worry or think about what man can do to you. Nothing they can do can truly harm your soul. For God will be with you forever. So much promise and protection in this one verse.

Day 3711

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 90:24

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 90:24
"Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another."

This is one of my hope scriptures. When things look down and dreary I know all of it will work together for my good. That the Lord is in control. I need faith believing.

"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."
(Doctrine and Covenants 82:10)

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD."
(Isaiah 54:17)

Day 3679

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 32:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 32:3
"And Ziba Peterson also shall go with them; and I myself will go with them and be in their midst; and I am their advocate with the Father, and nothing shall prevail against them."

This made me think of the promise that when we are gathered together in the Lord's name he is there with us. I thought about how that happens every night in our home as we gather for family scriptures.

"For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."
(Matthew 18:20)

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples, where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there will I be in the midst of them—even so am I in the midst of you."
(Doctrine and Covenants 6:32)

"But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me;"
(Doctrine and Covenants 38:7)

"For the Lord shall be in their midst, and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver."
(Doctrine and Covenants 45:59)

"Behold, I will go before you and be your rearward; and I will be in your midst, and you shall not be confounded."
(Doctrine and Covenants 49:27)

"Whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.”
(Doctrine and Covenants 84:88)

Day 3621

Today's Favorite Verse: Ether 6:5

Today's Favorite Verse: Ether 6:5
"And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind."

I pondered on how we must often walk through fire to get where the Lord needs us to be. For the Jaredites it was being sealed up in a barge for 344 days. They didn't know where they were going, other than a promised land. They commended themselves unto the Lord their God. They sang praised to Him as they journeyed. This made me think of all the pioneers had to pass through to come to our promised land. Persecution was needed in order to drive them away from it and into a place of peace. I have seen the hand of the Lord in many things I have passed through. The lessons I learned, the place that it brings me, were all necessary. We must commend ourselves to the Lord, to be entrusted in His care. Having faith that we will be delivered.

Day 3569

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 24:1

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 24:1
"And it came to pass that he commanded them that they should write the words which the Father had given unto Malachi, which he should tell unto them. And it came to pass that after they were written he expounded them. And these are the words which he did tell unto them, saying: Thus said the Father unto Malachi—Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom ye seek shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of Hosts."

I was reflecting on how the Lord will suddenly come to his temple. He did this at the temple in the land of Bountiful, in the Book of Mormon. He also did this in the Kirtland temple in Ohio. If the members heard the Lord suddenly appeared to the saints in the latter-day temples, there would not be enough temples built for everyone that wanted to come and see.

This is the promise that President Nelson gave us.

"Regular worship in the temple will help us. In the house of the Lord, we focus on Jesus Christ. We learn of Him. We make covenants to follow Him. We come to know Him. As we keep our temple covenants, we gain greater access to the Lord’s strengthening power. In the temple, we receive protection from the buffetings of the world. We experience the pure love of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father in great abundance! We feel peace and spiritual reassurance, in contrast to the turbulence of the world.
Here is my promise to you: Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find Him in the temple. You will feel His mercy. You will find answers to your most vexing questions. You will better comprehend the joy of His gospel"
(Russell M. Nelson, "The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again", Oct 2024 General Conference)

Day 3547

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 20:22

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 20:22
"And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a New Jerusalem. And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you."

I pondered on this statement.

"While teaching the Nephites about Zion or the New Jerusalem, the Savior promised that He would “be in the midst” of His people (3 Nephi 20:22). The Lord used a similar phrase in the Doctrine and Covenants:
“But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me;
“But the day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am; for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not purified shall not abide the day.
“Wherefore, gird up your loins and be prepared” (D&C 38:7–9).
The promise that God will dwell in the midst of Zion can have reference to Him being in the temple in Zion (the New Jerusalem) and that “all the pure in heart that shall come into [the temple] shall see God”
(Book of Mormon Student Manual, Chapter 44: 3 Nephi 20-22, "God Will Dwell in Our Midst")

I have strongly felt there are multiple purposes for the house of the Lord to dot the earth. It prepares the saints of every kindred, tongue and people to see Christ in their midst.

"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."
(Doctrine and Covenants 97:16)

President Nelson recently gave us this promise.

"Regular worship in the temple will help us. In the house of the Lord, we focus on Jesus Christ. We learn of Him. We make covenants to follow Him. We come to know Him. As we keep our temple covenants, we gain greater access to the Lord’s strengthening power. In the temple, we receive protection from the buffetings of the world. We experience the pure love of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father in great abundance! We feel peace and spiritual reassurance, in contrast to the turbulence of the world.
Here is my promise to you: Every sincere seeker of Jesus Christ will find Him in the temple. You will feel His mercy. You will find answers to your most vexing questions. You will better comprehend the joy of His gospel"
(Russell M. Nelson, "The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again", Oct 2024 General Conference)

Ministry of Lorenzo Snow: A Vision of the Lord

Day 3543

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 54:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 54:17

"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD."

I love this promise. I have seen it in action. The Lord keeps his church and saints always one step ahead. Changes may look insignificant but later so vital to the mission of the church and our lives.

Day 2892

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 10:30-31

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Kings 10:30-31

And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing that which is right in mine eyes, and hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that was in mine heart, thy children of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel.

But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of the LORD God of Israel with all his heart: for he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam, which made Israel to sin.

Jehu may have brought about the Lord's will in the destruction of the house of Ahab, but it was not done out of a love for the Lord. Jehu was just wicked enough purely do it for himself. Jehu destroys Baal out of Israel, but practiced idolatry himself by worshipped the golden calves. Seems like a lot of contradictions. I notice that Jehu is promised to have his children sit on the throne of Israel for four generations, but that also means it ends after that. It more than likely has an end as punishment for Jehu's idolatry. Which would seem its a case for this...

"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."

(Doctrine and Covenants 82:10)

Day 2482

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 21:43-45

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 21:43-45

" And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.

And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.

There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass."

After reading this I thought, "Now that the promises are fulfilled, it is for them to be able to keep it. All the lessons learned along the way could bring them to Zion, if they were righteous and pure in heart. It is the people that will keep it or lose it.

Day 2367

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 14:6-7, 9, 13

Today's Favorite Verse: Joshua 14:6-7, 9, 13

"Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea.

Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.

And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.

And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance."

When Moses sent twelve spies to search the land of Canaan, ten brought back evil reports. It was only Joshua and Caleb that gave a good report, and full of faith that they could go in and possess the land. For the evil report the ten false spies died by plague, and all the adults of Israel were not allowed to enter the promised land. They wandered in the wilderness for 40 year until they all died off. Only Joshua and Caleb were to live to possess it. Caleb is now receiving the land he was promised.

"But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it."

(Numbers 14:24)

I pondered on how long Caleb and Joshua were made to wait because of the wickedness of others. The decisions of others can effect us and cause us to suffer. Though the Lord does keep his promises. If they cannot be received in this life we will be blessed for it in the next.

Day 2360

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 7:12

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 7:12

"Wherefore it shall come to pass, if ye hearken to these judgments, and keep, and do them, that the LORD thy God shall keep unto thee the covenant and the mercy which he sware unto thy fathers:"

This reminded me of this.

"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."

(Doctrine and Covenants 82:10)

Day 2319

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 23:4, 16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 23:4, 16-17

"I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a burying place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.

And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant.

And the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was before Mare, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure."

Sarah died and even though God had promised Abraham the land of Canaan for an everlasting possession, he did not possess it. He was still a stranger there in his lifetime. He had to buy the land to bury his dead, and later he himself was buried.

"And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."

(Genesis 17:8)

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

(Hebrew 11:13)

I pondered on how promised blessings are not only for this life, but for the next. If Abraham could wait for blessings to be fulfilled than so can I.

Day 2182

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 5:5

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 5:5
"But behold, I have obtained a land of promise, in the which things I do rejoice; yea, and I know that the Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of Laban, and bring them down again unto us in the wilderness."

I love this verse. Lehi's "manner of language" is the language of faith. He speaks of having obtained a land of promise and they were still in the wilderness, far from the land of promise which he had never step foot on. Yet, he has faith in what the Lord has told, and promised him. So much so he speaks in the language of having already obtained it. He also knew his sons would come back from Jerusalem with the brass plates. He had absolute faith. There was no room for doubt. 

I also reflected on Satan's counterfeit doctrine, best described in the false doctrines, law of attraction and law of creation. Where he says you just need to act like you already have something, put it out in the universe and it will come to you. You have the ability to create your destiny. This is opposite of the Lord's plan. Satan will teach my will, not the Lord's will. This counterfeit "faith" leads you further from Christ, and fills one with pride and lusting after worldly things. Lehi gives the sure example of what faith is, believing and trusting in Christ, the creator of all things, and what his will is for me. Knowing his promises are sure and he cannot lie.

Day 1768

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 16:30-31

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 16:30-31
"And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."

Not long after my prodigal child returned they asked me to make a promise to them. That when I died I would come back and visit them. Now, I knew they had a couple motivations. One was they had left the church but were not reconciled to their loss of belief. The other was my having a near death experience, which they once believed. But, now they used science to explain it all away as some part of the brain being triggered by chemicals released causing hallucinations. What they really lacked was faith and wanted a sign. Nothing good comes from someone seeking a sign.

When they asked me that, the story of Lazarus and the rich man came to mind. I told them no I can't make that promise. The prodigal child was shocked that as a religious person I would not promise them this. The spirit had me teach them, that the condition of a spirit returning is not up to them. They can only return or appear to someone on assignment from God. I could not promise something that may be totally against God's will. That was something they had not expected to hear.

The other impressions I kept to myself, but I knew as Abraham told the rich man in the parable, seeing won't make them believe. If you can think someone that had a near-death experience is making it up due to some chemicals released in the brain, then you would not believe a spirit that came to you either. The other reason I would not promise is to prevent any opportunity for a demonic or mischievous spirit to come and deceive them as me. For me to promise something that could be contrary to God's will, would open them up to exactly that. The sin would be upon my head. What they had asked me was a spiritual trap, something I will not participate in.   

Day 1564

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 37:16-17

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 37:16-17
"Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions: then take another stick, and write upon it, For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions.
And join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand."

I always wonder what other religions think the stick of Judah and the stick of Joseph are? I would think they know the stick of Judah is the Holy Bible. I know the stick of Joseph is the Book of Mormon, but what do they think it is I wonder? If they do not know, then when do they think they will get it?

With the thinking about this I had to go find the documentary "That Promised Day: The Coming Forth of the Latter-day Saint Scriptures" and watch it. I just love how inspired it was to make this edition of the King James Holy Bible with footnotes and Topical Guide that cross reference into the Book of Mormon, making the one in my hand. It truly is the promised day that Ezekiel saw.


Day 1414

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 3:4-5, 15

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Kings 3:4-5, 15
"And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.
In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
And Solomon awoke; and, behold, it was a dream. And he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings, and offered peace offerings, and made a feast to all his servants."

In this chapter I was really struck by the large number of 1,000 burnt offerings Solomon gave to the Lord.  Then as I read that God said "Ask what I shall give thee", I pondered on what an amazing thing to be asked. What would I say?

In response Solomon asked for an understanding heart to judge the people, and he was promised this and more. When Solomon awoke he saw that is was a dream. Yet he then went and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and gave a feast to all his servants.

The promise in the dream is realized when two harlots come to him to judge who was the mother of the living child. Solomon showed great wisdom is discerning the true mother. This story is so familiar. Yet this time I saw something different. I think the reason Solomon was so blessed is due to the offerings he gave to the Lord before and after his dream. He gave before he was blessed and after the promise. He didn't just give a little, he gave a lot. This made me reflect on the widows mite. The size of the offering is relative to what would be a sacrifice for me.


Day 869