Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 3:23-24

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 3:23-24
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:"

How grateful I am for the plan of redemption. That through the grace of Christ I can be redeemed from my sins.

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
(Isaiah 1:18)

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles testified of the absolute necessity of divine grace in order to be justified:
“Just as death would doom us and render our agency meaningless but for the redemption of Christ, even so, without His grace, our sins and bad choices would leave us forever lost. There would be no way of fully recovering from our mistakes, and being unclean, we could never live again in the presence of the ‘Man of Holiness’
“We cannot look to the law to save us when we have broken the law.. We need a Savior, a Mediator who can overcome the effects of our sins and errors so that they are not necessarily fatal. It is because of the Atonement of Christ that we can recover from bad choices and be justified under the law as if we had not sinned” (“Moral Agency,” Ensign, June 2009, 50).
(New Testament Student Manual, Chapter 35: Romans 1-3)

Day 4173

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 38:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 38:4
"Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding."

This made me think of our "Come, Follow Me: reading for this week. How President Joseph F. Smith saw in vision the redemption of the dead after the crucifixion of the Savior and his appearance in the spirit world. Christ organized from the righteous his forces, and appointed messengers with power and authority to preach the gospel to the dead.

“For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
Which sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” (1 Peter 3:18—20.)
“For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1 Peter 4:6.)

It also goes on to state how some reserved for our day were chosen in the beginning. This would be when God laid the foundations of the earth, while we were in the pre-existence.

"The Prophet Joseph Smith, and my father, Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, and other choice spirits who were reserved to come forth in the fulness of times to take part in laying the foundations of the great latter-day work,
Including the building of the temples and the performance of ordinances therein for the redemption of the dead, were also in the spirit world.
I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God.
Even before they were born, they, with many others, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men."
(Doctrine and Covenants 138:53-56)

Day 3901

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 131:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 131:6
"It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance."

I thought upon this verse a little differently. I reflected on performing proxy baptisms and other ordinances for my kindred dead. If they are ignorant of that offering, or reject it out right, it has no saving grace upon them. Man must receive and accept ordinances to be in effect. This made me think of Joseph F. Smith vision of the redemption of the dead, regarding Jesus Christ's ministry between his crucifixion and resurrection. (1 Peter 3:18-20; 1 Peter 4:6)

"And I wondered at the words of Peter—wherein he said that the Son of God preached unto the spirits in prison, who sometime were disobedient, when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah—and how it was possible for him to preach to those spirits and perform the necessary labor among them in so short a time.
And as I wondered, my eyes were opened, and my understanding quickened, and I perceived that the Lord went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them;
But behold, from among the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead.
And the chosen messengers went forth to declare the acceptable day of the Lord and proclaim liberty to the captives who were bound, even unto all who would repent of their sins and receive the gospel.
Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets.
These were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands,
And all other principles of the gospel that were necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit."
(Doctrine and Covenants 138:28-34)

Day 3720

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 27:16, 30

Today's Favorite Verse: Mosiah 27:16, 30
"Now I say unto thee: Go, and remember the captivity of thy fathers in the land of Helam, and in the land of Nephi; and remember how great things he has done for them; for they were in bondage, and he has delivered them. And now I say unto thee, Alma, go thy way, and seek to destroy the church no more, that their prayers may be answered, and this even if thou wilt of thyself be cast off.
I rejected my Redeemer, and denied that which had been spoken of by our fathers; but now that they may foresee that he will come, and that he remembereth every creature of his creating, he will make himself manifest unto all."

I pondered on how an angel appeared to Alma after his father Alma prayed for him. Alma the younger was a great hinderment to the prosperity of the church of God. One thing the angel told Alma was to remember the captivity of his fathers. It wasn't to remember what the Lord did for Moses and the children of Israel, or even for Lehi's family. It was more recent, it was part of his family history. While Alma was laid upon his bed for two days and nights the people prayed for him. During that time he did reflect upon his fathers. The words of his own father and those before him. It made me reflect on the importance of family history work and how those beyond the veil can help in the redemption on this side.

Day 3442

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:29

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:29

"Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?"

I learned something new about baptism for the dead..

"No baptisms for the dead were performed before the Savior visited the spirit world and bridged the gulf between paradise and the spirit prison. Vicarious baptisms were performed only after Jesus was resurrected. The only Bible passage that mentions vicarious baptism for the dead is 1 Corinthians 15:29, although other ancient texts attest that baptism for the dead was practiced by early Christians."

(New Testament Student Manual, "Chapter 40: 1 Corinthians 15-16", Baptism for the Dead)

I had never really thought much on when vicarious baptism for the dead started. I know many scriptures are missing and just assumed mention is lost in the Old Testament. Turns out baptism for the dead could not take place until Jesus Christ was resurrected. It makes so much sense considering President Joseph F. Smith's vision of the redemption of the dead after reading 1 Peter 3:18-20, and 1 Peter 4:6. Where Christ preached to the spirits in prison in the brief time between his crucifixion and resurrection.

"And as I wondered, my eyes were opened, and my understanding quickened, and I perceived that the Lord went not in person among the wicked and the disobedient who had rejected the truth, to teach them;

But behold, from among the righteous, he organized his forces and appointed messengers, clothed with power and authority, and commissioned them to go forth and carry the light of the gospel to them that were in darkness, even to all the spirits of men; and thus was the gospel preached to the dead.

And the chosen messengers went forth to declare the acceptable day of the Lord and proclaim liberty to the captives who were bound, even unto all who would repent of their sins and receive the gospel.

Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets.

These were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands,

And all other principles of the gospel that were necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

And so it was made known among the dead, both small and great, the unrighteous as well as the faithful, that redemption had been wrought through the sacrifice of the Son of God upon the cross."

(Doctrine and Covenants 138:29-35)

Day 3236

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 9:11-12

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 9:11-12

"As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.

Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;"

I wondered what it meant by "prisoners of hope". Hope cannot be a bad thing to be a prisoner of? I found this great explanation in the Old Testament Student Manual.

"Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained: “It was of these that Zechariah prophesied when as part of a longer Messianic utterance, he spoke of ‘prisoners of hope’; it was of these that he gave assurance that ‘the Lord their God shall save them.’ He gives the Messianic message in these words: ‘By the blood of the covenant’—that is, because of the gospel covenant, which is efficacious because of the shedding of the blood of Christ—’I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water.’ (Zech. 9:11–16.) ‘Wherein is no water’—how aptly and succinctly this crystallizes the thought that the saving water, which is baptism, is an earthly ordinance and cannot be performed by spirit beings while they dwell in the spirit world. Did not Paul say in this same connection, ‘What shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?’ (1 Cor. 15:29.)” (The Promised Messiah, p. 241.)"

(The Old Testament Student Manual Kings-Malachi, "Preparations for the Lord's Return in Glory (Zechariah)", (33-32) Zechariah 9:11-12. Who Are the Prisoners?)

It made me ponder on the redemption of the dead and the temple work we do in their behalf. They are prisoners of hope, that wait for their temple work to be preformed by proxy in the house of the Lord.

Day 3079

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 138:57

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 138:57

"I beheld that the faithful elders of this dispensation, when they depart from mortal life, continue their labors in the preaching of the gospel of repentance and redemption, through the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God, among those who are in darkness and under the bondage of sin in the great world of the spirits of the dead."

I woke this morning to what would become a wonderful journey. I thought of Sister Julia White, one of the first members of the Glens Falls Branch. Her life and then death left a great impression on me. I thought of so many events and by the time sleep was from my eyes I determined I was going to see if I could find her. That lead me on a wonderful journey with the decision to fill out her information on FamilySearch as complete as I could. I found this lovely picture of her and thought I would like her as a friend. I learned that she was only 13 years old when she married. At 15 years of age she and her husband joined the church. By the time she was 38 she was a childless widow. She never did remarry. She was only 66 years old when she died. I was 14 years old when that happened and could have sworn she was in her 80's.

I had a time trying to pin down her husband. I have 4 men with the same name and death date but the birth dates I have not reconciled. I believe they are more than likely all the same man, but I won't merge the records just yet. Two of the records have the same baptism date as Julia. The others have no ordinance dates. I had never really heard anything about her husband but he was possibly 19 years older than her. He was a WWI veteran and died suddenly while at work. It was wonderful filling out the pieces of their lives and entering what I could on FamilySearch. They never had any posterity. Someone has to do it. The saddest thing of all is I cannot find a record of them being sealed. By the time the Washington temple was built she was already wheelchair bound, without a leg, living in a nursing home. I have a date in 1970 for her initiatory in the Provo Temple, but the endowment date is after her death. Is it possible they were never sealed? It seems unlikely she would travel from New York to Utah to receive her initiatory, but not complete her or her husband's temple work. I still have some investigating to do before I approach the church about having these members sealed together.

To sit and read tonight one of the greatest chapters in scriptures about the redemption of the dead, I cannot begin to tell what is in my heart. I thought of Brother White, a man I never knew, and how he has been faithfully serving on the other side of the veil all this time. The joy there must have been when Sister White could finally join him. What a great legacy and yet it was on the verge of being forgotten. Tonight I dedicate my favorite verse in memory of Christopher B. White and Julia Ann Fowler, they hold a special place in my heart and will not be forgotten.

Day 2141

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:12, 29

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:12, 29
"Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?"

What struck me in this chapter is how many questions Paul asks. These questions are all guided by the spirit and meant to instruct. How powerful it is to ask myself these questions so the spirit can testify the truth in them. Questions are so vital to the spirit teaching me I often forget I just had a question. That is because I can have one form and then the answer comes right after. Other times I will have a question in my mind and carry it for days, just pondering on it. I have learned to be patient for the spirit will instruct me as I am ready. In time I will be guided to another scripture, conference talk or have an experience that opens up what I had been pondering on. I rather rejoice in this whole path of discovery and instruction by the spirit. There are such eternal truths in questions and it is good to have them, when asked in faith. A spiritual question cannot be answered if one doubts or challenges God with it.

The other thing I noticed in questions is not everyone's questions are the same. We all have different gospel understanding. I can take for granted that people know the answer to Paul's question on baptism for the dead. Yet, there are untold Christians in the world that are lost to this practice and the whole concept of the redemption of the dead in the spirit world. Yet, if they prayerfully seek an answer and are receptive to being taught the answer will come.

"The two pillars, one sea, and twelve brasen bulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon had made in the house of the Lord: the brass of all these vessels was without weight."
(Jeremiah 52:20)

Baptismal Font

Memphis Tennessee Temple of 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Day 1650

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Corinthians 2:9-10
"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."

Spiritual discernment and revelation. Man cannot comprehend the things of God. But, through the Spirit with much searching and pondering on the deep things of God it will be made know. That is an amazing promise. It made me think of Joseph F. Smith's vision of the redemption of the death, found in Doctrine and Covenants 138. I took the time this Sabbath day to watch the video on BYUtv.org "I Saw the Hosts of the Dead".

Day 1637

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: Zechariah 3:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Zechariah 3:1
"And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him."

Resist = accuse

This made me think of this.

"And the great dragon was cast out, the old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night."
(Revelation 12:9-10)

Satan tactics in the pre-existence was to accuse the brethren, even Jesus Christ. The attacks were upon their characters. Leading a third of the host of heaven to believe lies that Jesus Christ couldn't live a perfect life and redeem us. That all would fall. For that they were cast out. What must they be thinking, now seeing that Jesus Christ came and did the Father's will as he said he would?

Actually, it has just made Satan and his angels angrier. That is why he does the same things now as he did before. He stands next to us and whispers lies into our ears day and night that we are unworthy of redemption. If he can not get us from within, he sends others to accuse us of the same. No wonder we see a prevalence of the airing of individual's long ago past sins in the news. They are attacks to accuse them of being unforgivable, having no chance of redemption. It's how they take their brother out, so they can gain an advantage over the situation. They are following Satan's plan to the very letter. It's only getting worse, it means Satan knows time is running out.

Day 1489

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 13:26

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 13:26
"For thou writest bitter things against me, and makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth."

Basically Job is saying people are holding prior sins from his youth over him. That is not what the Lord has promised. Once I repent of my sins He remembers them no more. As I witness the society I now live in, the people are saying the exact same things as Job's friends. You sin once and it is forever held against you. There is no redemption or forgiveness allowed. That goes against all the laws of heaven.

"Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O Lord."
(Psalm 25:7)

"Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more."
(Doctrine and Covenants 58:42)


Day 1024

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 138:12, 15-16, 18

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 138:12, 15-16, 18

"And there were gathered together in one place an innumerable company of the spirits of the just, who had been faithful in the testimony of Jesus while they lived in mortality;

I beheld that they were filled with joy and gladness, and were rejoicing together because the day of their deliverance was at hand.

They were assembled awaiting the advent of the Son of God into the spirit world, to declare their redemption from the bands of death.

While this vast multitude waited and conversed, rejoicing in the hour of their deliverance from the chains of death, the Son of God appeared, declaring liberty to the captives who had been faithful."

This chapter records a vision received by Joseph F. Smith, October 3, 1918. He was the son of Hyrum Smith, nephew to the Prophet Joseph Smith. At this time in his life he was the President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have always considered the 138th section of the Doctrine and Covenants mine. I have cherished it since the spirit told me to read it after my near-death experience. I was also told to go to the temple in order to understand what I saw. I have read it many time as the spirit has impressed upon me the need to do so once again. I have felt no need to endlessly pour over it. In fact I know I need distance so my eyes will see new things. For the past 24 years my reading has focused on the Redemption of the Dead. 

I had the tender mercy of the Lord to have my day to read this chapter also fall on my temple day. I was able to sit alone in the Celestial Room and read and ponder on it. In this holy place, having done work in behalf of my kindred dead, the spirit surprisingly had me focus on something other than doing family history work. 

What caused me deep reflection was how similar the day will be for the saints as we wait for the Savior's Second Coming. I reflected on what I could recall of President Russell M. Nelson, of the Quorum of the Twelve, recent General Conference talk about "Joy and Spiritual Survival". What we need to focus on is having joy in these last days. That joy comes as we focus on the Savior, regardless of our trials. The saints of God waiting in spirit prison, rejoiced and had joy as they waited for the Savior to appear. Releasing them from their bondage and captivity caused by death. I reflected on how important joy was in their preparation to meet the Savior. I feel that the saints prior to the Savior's return to the earth will be capable of experiencing that same joy, even if death is looking them in the face. In fact finding joy in the gospel plan is the only way to endure what is to come. There was so much more I pondered on. I am seeing this chapter with new eyes. I cannot wait to read Elder Nelson's conference talk again.

Day 557