Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 16:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 16:1-2
"I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also."

I had two thoughts as I read these verse. First, was what a wonderful memorial of Phebe. She sounds like a wonderful woman. Not only entrusted to carry Paul's letter but a noted woman of good standing, and succourer of many, including Paul. The members must have been pleased to receive her.

The second thought was Paul calling the members saints. It is no different than us today. As the saints in the area are counseled to receive her I thought of our welcoming new members into our wards, as their names are read from the pulpit on Sunday.

Day 4186

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 15:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 15:1-2
"LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart."

This made me think of temple recommend interviews. We do our best to make sure those that go into the tabernacle or the house of the Lord are upright, righteous and honest. Sadly, there will always be those that will lie and try to cover their sins. They are not deceiving the Lord though. I would not want to stand in their shoes on judgment day. For they will not abide the Lord's coming.

Day 3907

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 133:2, 10

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 133:2, 10
"The Lord who shall suddenly come to his temple; the Lord who shall come down upon the world with a curse to judgment; yea, upon all the nations that forget God, and upon all the ungodly among you."
"Yea, let the cry go forth among all people: Awake and arise and go forth to meet the Bridegroom; behold and lo, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Prepare yourselves for the great day of the Lord."

The parable of the ten virgins was a theme and focus this past general conference. The message being to prepare for the second coming. Whenever I see the Bridegroom mentioned it stands out to me now. When I read verse 10 the thought came, "Where do we go to meet Him?" Like in the parable of ten virgins the cry was made "Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him." (Matthew 25:6) Where would I go to meet the Lord? My answer, I cannot go wrong if I was at His House, the House of the Lord. The place where I am told he will suddenly come. Since general conference I have thought of the oil like a temple recommend. I can't share it with someone else. I cannot hurry and go get one when the call is made. Being prepared is also being ever ready to enter the House of the Lord.

Day 3722

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 99:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 99:2
"And who receiveth you receiveth me; and you shall have power to declare my word in the demonstration of my Holy Spirit."

I thought about honoring and sustaining the leaders of the church. It made me recall an incident several years ago where I heard others speak against the counsel given us by the Area Presidency. They thought they knew better than them. When leaders are speaking in the capacity of their callings we can't dismiss them. They weren't speaking as a man, they were speaking under the guidance of the Holy Ghost. This was their stewardship and calling, and it was good advice. Getting caught in those types of conversations makes me extremely uncomfortable. It's not my place to call them out, nor do I want to appear to be in agreement by remaining silent. I just have to excuse myself, or try to redirect the discussion. What is foremost in my mind is this temple recommend interview question.

4. Do you sustain the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the prophet, seer, and revelator and as the only person on the earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys?
Do you sustain the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators?
Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local leaders of the Church?

Day 3688

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 24:3-4

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 24:3-4

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully."

These verses made me think of momentum. How much effort it takes to get up a great hill. That when you get a fast head start it helps you to continue up the hill. This made me think about receiving a temple recommend. How once you have a temple recommend it gives you momentum to continue to live in a manner to keep a temple recommend.

Day 2661

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 95:5-6

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 95:5-6

"But behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many who have been ordained among you, whom I have called but few of them are chosen.

They who are not chosen have sinned a very grievous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day."

These verses made me reflect on what I have observed of late. There has been a lot of bad comments on posts that the church puts out. It has gotten to the point it doesn't even matter what the subject is. Recently something as innocent as congratulating President-elect Joe Biden on winning the election drove some members to tear up their temple recommends, and call church leaders corrupt over it. This simple statement by the church was nothing new or unique. It has been done after every election. It doesn't matter who the President is, it matters that we support the office of President of our nation. It was also something that President Oaks discussed in his recent general conference address.

"This does not mean that we agree with all that is done with the force of law. It means that we obey the current law and use peaceful means to change it. It also means that we peacefully accept the results of elections. We will not participate in the violence threatened by those disappointed with the outcome. In a democratic society we always have the opportunity and the duty to persist peacefully until the next election."

(President Dallin H. Oaks, "Love Your Enemies", Oct 2020 General Conference)

The whole situation was so sad. How could someone feel ripping up their temple recommend equates to who the president is or not? It seems fitting to apply "they are walking in darkness at noon-day". Truth can be right in front of you, but you can be so blinded by worldly agendas that you can no longer see where your passions are leading you.

Comment made on

Newsroom of the Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-day Saints

Facebook page posted 14 Dec 2020

Day 2098

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 72:24-26

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 72:24-26

"A few words in addition to the laws of the kingdom, respecting the members of the church - they that are appointed by the Holy Spirit to go up unto Zion, and they who are privileged to go up unto Zion -

Let them carry up unto the bishop a certificate from three elders of the church, or a certificate from the bishop;

Otherwise he who shall go up unto the land of Zion shall not be accounted as a wise steward. This is also an ensample. Amen."

This made me think about temple recommends, and now important is to always have one. I also thought about Elder Ronald A. Rasband recent General Conference talk and reviewed it. Here are some highlights.

"I remember hearing President Howard W. Hunter in his first general conference address as the 14th President of the Church. He said: “It is the deepest desire of my heart to have every member of the Church worthy to enter the temple. It would please the Lord if every adult member would be worthy of—and carry—a current temple recommend.” I would add that a limited-use recommend will set a clear path for our precious youth.

We have been experiencing a time when temples have been closed or limited in use.....Being worthy to attend the temple, however, has not been suspended. Let me emphasize, whether you have access to a temple or not, you need a current temple recommend to stay firmly on the covenant path.

However, I felt prompted to encourage them to renew or receive temple recommends. Even though they could not present them at the temple, they would be presenting themselves before the Lord pure and prepared to serve Him. Being worthy to hold a current temple recommend is both a protection from the adversary, because you have made a firm commitment to the Lord about your life, and a promise that the Spirit will be with you."

(Elder Ronald A. Rasband, "Recommended to the Lord", Oct 2020 General Conference)

I don't ever want to be without a temple recommend. Even if I physically cannot go to temple I want a recommend for the moment I can go. Having a current temple recommend means I am a wise steward in what I am responsible for. I can just imagine when the pandemic is over and all the temples are fully open the mayhem that will ensue, with everyone with a lapsed temple recommend trying now to obtain one. I was thinking it would be just my lucky to having a normally expiring recommend at that time. So I marked my calendar to remind myself to try and renew my temple recommend a month prior. That way if there is a delay I don't have a lapse in my recommend being current.

Day 2075

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 44:5, 9

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 44:5, 9
"And the Lord said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the Lord, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary.
Thus saith the Lord God; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any stranger that is among the children of Israel."

This is why there is a temple recommend desk at the doors of the temple. You cannot proceed past that desk without showing a current active temple recommend and having it scanned. The recommend is obtain by first meeting with my local bishop and stake president or one of their counselors. I am interviewed and if found worthy the recommend is good for two years. If during that two year period I transgress to the point I should not access the temple, then it becomes invalid. If scanned at the temple access is denied. I am grateful they can do that, for if my recommend is ever stolen I can have access turned off and go get a new one. My temple recommend is my most cherished possession and I keep it with me always. No matter where I travel if there is a House of the Lord there I can enter. May it always be so.

Star Valley Temple

Day 1421

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 24:3-4

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 24:3-4
"Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully,"

I just pondered on how incredibly fortunate I am to be able to go to the temple on the hill as often as I do. What a source of strength and peace it has added to my life. I cannot imagine living in these last days without a temple of the Lord there for me.

It also made me think about the temple recommend questions asked, so I can be found worthy to go. Seems like recommends have been around a very long time. I judge my actions based upon those questions. They really are a guide for me and in what I say and do. The more I go to the temple the more I want to emulate what is good. I am incredibly blessed and I know it. I do not take it for granted because I have not always been so blessed to be able go. What must the world think of LDS people that do not go to the temple, when we profess it to be the Lord's House. Would not God's people want to be there? What I have should never be taken for granted or treated lightly. I pray I never do.

Day 1077

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 19:12, 21, 23

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 19:12, 21, 23

"And thou shalt set bound unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death:

And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish.

And Moses said unto the Lord, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it."

I try to likely the scriptures to my day, so as I read this chapter of the Lord coming to mount Sinai I pondered on how this is today. I know mountains are a reference to the temples. What are the bounds I am not to touch? I though of the quiet little temple recommend desk that none can pass in the temple without being worthy. That is the bounds set today. Maybe people don't physically die today if they go unworthy, but they most certainly will spiritually die.

Where Moses stood was the Holy of Holies. I have often wondered what the Holy of Holies looks like in the temple. I would love to just peek inside the door. I guess as this verse says I have wanted to gaze. I know where it is in the Salt Lake Temple. I have sat and looked on those doors and wondered, but I cannot even bring myself to go close and touch the door. After reading this I think that is a very wise thing for me not to do.

There is a photograph of the Holy of Holies taken in the early 1900's and released by the church in the book "The House of the Lord" by Elder James E. Talmage. It was in response to a blackmail attempt made against the church when someone snuck in during renovations and took photographs. The church in response took their own photos and released them. Now there are open houses and photographs taken prior to temple dedication so all that wish to know can see. 

Boyd K. Packer, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has stated that "hidden away in the central part of the temple is the Holy of Holies, where the President of the Church may retire when burdened down with heavy decisions to seek an interview with Him whose Church it is. The prophet holds the keys, the spiritual keys and the very literal key to this one door in that sacred edifice."

Just like in the Salt Lake Temple every temple around the world has a Holy of Holies. It would not be the Lord's house without one. The locations and size vary, but I know they are there. After pondering on these things I am not so curious to go see them. I am totally filled to know they are there. 

Day 644