Today's Favorite Verse: Leviticus 12:6, 8

Today's Favorite Verse: Leviticus 12:6, 8

"And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest:

And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean."

This chapter discusses the law of purification for a woman after childbirth. It made me think of Mary's purification after the birth of Jesus. How she and Joseph took the infant Jesus to the temple. I find it interesting that they didn't offer a lamb, that represented the lamb of God, which he was. They offered turtledoves, the sign of the dove representing the Holy Ghost. While there Simeon and Anna were given by the Holy Ghost knowledge of who this baby was.

"And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

(As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."

(Luke 2:22-24)

Day 2261

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 34:37-38

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 34:37-38

"And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye should remember these things, and that ye should work out your salvation with fear before God, and that ye should no more deny the coming of Christ;

That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you."

Prior to reading my scriptures tonight I was chopping over 6 lbs of mushrooms to put into the dehydrator. With that time I did my favorite thing by listening to a talk I have never heard before. Tonight it was a BYU Devotional given on March 2, 1982 by Elder Bruce R. McConkie, "Our Relationship with the Lord". It was excellent and little did I know so fitting for this chapter in Alma where the role of the Savior, Jesus Christ is laid out. I love that in these two verses it speaks of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, 3 separate beings with three separate roles yet united in purpose. Like Amulek in this chapter, Elder McConkie gave pure doctrine. The gospel is so simple, and I am trying so hard not to complicate it, for these truths bring so much joy. 

Day 1892

Today's Favorite Verse: Titus 1:15

Today's Favorite Verse: Titus 1:15

"Unto the pure all things are pure; but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled."

Unless we have clean hands and a pure heart, in other words, that we are not blemished with sins unrepentant and have a sincere desire to know, we will not have access to the Spirit and the things of God will be as foolishness unto us.  It is so important that we repent daily and that when we study the words of Christ that we do so with real intent, hungering and thirsting after righteousness.  This is how we are able to know that these things are true and this is how we can be benefited by the gospel.

Day 1703

Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 1:10

Today's Favorite Verse: Philippians 1:10
"That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;"

Approved = prove, put to the test
Sincere = pure, spotless

The word offence or being offended takes on so much meaning in society today. I pondered on this verse and the meaning of offence. It can be either giving offence to others or taking offense. If you are pure, spotless and test things, to make sure you stand with God in all things, there are people that will become offended by that. Well, there are people period that take offence over everything. I can't control that. I can try to not sincerely offend, and there is a legitimate point in the sincerity of the actions. For there are "religious" people that will purposely flaunt it in your face. That is not righteousness and it does offend others. I cannot see Paul wanting the saints to every do that.

The other offence is the one taken by other's words and deeds, being "resentful, annoyed, typically as a result of a perceived insult". That part I have control over. That is why I have to so careful to not become part of this new culture of becoming socially offended. I would tend to think that the more pure and spotless one tries to become the less you would be offended. Yes, you're more sensitive to evil and stay away from it. But, offended as in "resentful, annoyed, with a perceived insult" it not any part of the equation. For none of these is an action becoming a saint. Interesting that Paul says "without offence till the day of Christ". Paul must have seen our day, before the Lord's second coming, for being offended is a plague among us that is quickly turning into an epidemic.

I watched again the new Book of Mormon video that came out today "Lehi's Family Sails to the Promised Land" (1 Nephi 18) and what a powerful example it is of the behavior of people that give or take offense or not.


Day 1677