Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 55:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 55:4
"And again, you shall be ordained to assist my servant Oliver Cowdery to do the work of printing, and of selecting and writing books for schools in this church, that little children also may receive instruction before me as is pleasing unto me."

Schools in Zion have fascinated me since home schooling my children. These first schools for children were not just religious training like "Come, Follow Me", for Sunday School and Primary as we have now. These schools were for the complete education including, reading, writing, arithmetic, science and history. These were church sponsored schools but now there are only the universities. I have felt that BYU Pathways is moving us along this path once again. I cannot imagine as the world grows darker that textbooks and curriculums for children are not coming. For now we are learning the basics of teaching our children in the home with "Come, Follow Me". I will continue to watch and see what develops with interest.

"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children."
(3 Nephi 22:13)

"Behold, I say unto you, concerning the school in Zion, I, the Lord, am well pleased that there should be a school in Zion, and also with my servant Parley P. Pratt, for he abideth in me."
(Doctrine and Covenants 97:3)

Day 3644

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 22:13

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 22:13
"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children."

I used to think of these scriptures when I read this verse.

"Behold, I say unto you, concerning the school in Zion, I, the Lord, am well pleased that there should be a school in Zion, and also with my servant Parley P. Pratt, for he abideth in me."
(Doctrine and Covenants 97:3)

"And again, you shall be ordained to assist my servant Oliver Cowdery to do the work of printing, and of selecting and writing books for schools in this church, that little children also may receive instruction before me as is pleasing unto me."
(Doctrine and Covenants 55:4)

When I heard of BYU Pathways I thought of the eventual schools the church may have for our children. That may or may not happen, but now I think of something else. I think of having "Come, Follow Me" in our homes with our children. The home is the greatest place to teach our children the gospel of Jesus Christ in purity. I know there is greater peace in our home since we began reading the scriptures together as a family.

"Our homes are fortresses against the evils of the world. In our homes we come unto Christ by learning to follow His commandments, by studying the scriptures and praying together, and by helping one another stay on the covenant path. The new emphasis on personal and family study in the home through the curriculum Come, Follow Me is designed “to deepen our conversion and help us become more like Jesus Christ.” In so doing we will become what Paul called “new creature[s]” with our hearts and souls in tune with God. We need that strength to face and deflect the assaults of the adversary."
(Ronald A. Rasband, "Build a Fortress of Spirituality and Protection", Apr 2019 General Conference)

Day 3545

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 22:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 22:6

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

I remember when I was younger you would hear people proudly say all their children have served missions, and married in the temple. So few now can say that. Those that once could say that are now seeing their adult children fall away from the church. Why is this happening? Is the promise gone? As I pondered on this I thought of all the teachers my children had in their life time, and as adults. They were not just under my influence. Children now have social media and the internet that present things I would have never taught them. Schools teach them things I would have never taught them. I cannot help but think its the compilation of all the influences that teach a child and that directs what path they will follow. What a blessing the "Come, Follow Me" program is to members of the church, if they would use it.

Day 2809

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 55:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 55:4

"And again, you shall be ordained to assist my servant Oliver Cowdery to do the work of printing, and of selecting and writing books for schools in this church, that little children also may receive instruction before me as is pleasing unto me."

As I've been watching the Church's BYU-Pathway Worldwide program expand I keep thinking on this verse. I do believe like in the early days of the church were we needed to education our children, that it will happen again. First the Pathways program was a prep for college and moved on to certificates and degrees, now there is a a new BYU Online High School for grades 7-12. I believe one day there will be a remote program for elementary age children. Maybe with the COVID-19 pandemic more parents will see the education of their children as their responsibility. I don't know how this scripture will be fulfilled again, but I do believe something is coming.

Day 2058

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 1:29

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 1:29
"And there was also a cause of much sorrow among the Lamanites; for behold, they had many children who did grow up and began to wax strong in years, that they became for themselves, and were led away by some who where Zoramites, by their lyings and their flattering words, to join those Gadianton robbers.
And thus were the Lamanites afflicted also, and began to decrease as to their faith and righteousness, because of the wickedness of the rising generation."

This chapter holds so much in the space of 4 years. They see signs and wonders increase as the time of Christ's birth approaches. The wicked plan to slay the righteous because the sign of Christ's birth hadn't appeared. It really did test the faith of the believers. The night of Christ's birth does arrive and some believe and others try to lie and deceive others on its meaning. Then they had to face those of the faith that wrested the scriptures and had to be corrected. After all this they face the rising generation being led away. All at the very time they knew Christ had been born into the world and it would not be many years before his death and resurrection and visitation to them. Those alive at that time, especially the rising generation would be there when it all happens.

Who are the Zoramites?  When I read Alma 31 that speaks of them they are apostates, that eventually joined the Lamanites. They have a false concept of election, errors in doctrine, and bowed down to idols. They had built unusual synagogues and worshiped in a manner never beheld before, with set prayers upon the Rameumptom stand. After all gave the same self prayer they return to their homes never speaking of their God again. They were a prideful and boastful people, wearing costly apparel. They refused entry of the poor to worship with them. 

The only way I can picture them is to think of college universities with Zoramites among their professors. In their position they gain the ears of the rising generation and pervert their ways. It is by the false teachings and indoctrination of the youth that the parents become corrupted too. This is the only way I can picture it because that is what has happened in our society, and continues to happen.

Now I am observing parents today struggling with decisions on the safest way to educate their children during the pandemic. I believe the Lord has a plan and is guiding many of them to homeschool their children. The decision maybe because of the coronavirus, but in the end it just might save the children from indoctrination by corrupt teachers once this is over. Parents will learn to be more watchful and careful about their children's education and what they are being taught and by whom. 

Day 1938

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 55:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 55:6
"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:"

My first thought was "where did the Lord go?"  Then I realize it wasn't Him that left it was me. As I distance myself from Him, I can no longer find or hear him.

I also thought about the terrible evil happening in the schools. Once there was prayer in schools and now it is not allowed. So sometimes the Lord cannot be found because people have cast him out. How can He bless and even be called to remembrance, when he is neither desired or wanted?  God didn't leave it was the people that cast him out.

I pondered on the beauty of a home-centered, church supported, gospel learning. How speaking and teaching of Christ within the home will mean he is always there. Ready to be found.

I read this beautiful verse today in the Book of Mormon. Christ is speaking to the people on the American continent after his resurrection.
"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."
(3 Nephi 17:3)

Home is where I am to ponder the words of Christ. Then He will bring more.

Day 1309

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 10:8-9

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 10:8-9
"He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.
He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net."

This chapter describes some of the behavior of the wicked. I could not help but think of the evil that has been done to the innocent in recent school shootings. It breaks my heart. Truly the issue at the heart of the matter is where the heart of the person is at. No matter the weapon of choice, it is the evil in the heart of the wicked that murders.

Day 1063

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 97:3, 5

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 97:3, 5

"Behold, I say unto you, concerning the school in Zion, I, the Lord, am well pleased that there should be a school in Zion, and also with my servant Parley P. Pratt, for he abideth in me.

And I will bless him with a multiplicity of blessings, in expounding all scriptures and mysteries to the edification of the school, and of the church in Zion."

I looked at the footnotes and not only does this speak of the school of the prophets, but also schools for children. Number one among this is to expound scriptures. It made me think of the conditions of our public schools today. You cannot read your scriptures there. I reflected on how important the opening of your mind is to learning. Reading the scriptures does that very thing. It gives you the mind to understand mysteries, which is anything you didn't earlier know. It really could be any type of subject, like sewing, arithmetic, or nuclear science. 

I pondered on how I went from an average high school student to a perfect 4.0 college graduate. What made the difference? I read my scriptures. Reading the scriptures prior to study opened my mind. I was able to put things in logical order in my brain and able to understand. Yes, mysteries were opened to my mind. As I have seen my children go to college I have encouraged them to read their scriptures and promised them the ability to understand would be there. Sadly, not all of them have tested the truthfulness of that concept. A mother can always hope, I can hear the Father echoing those same words. 

Day 516

Today's Favorite Verse: D&C 55:4

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 55:4

"And again, you shall be ordained to assist my servant Oliver Cowdery to do the work of printing, and of selecting and writing books for schools in this church, that little children also may receive instruction before me as is pleasing unto me."

I have reflected on this verse recently and then again tonight. If ever there is a time that children are not receiving an education pleasing to the Lord it is now. The politically correct environment, and the removal of any mention of Christianity from schools have left children open to the indoctrination of man. I can see the day that no Christian parent would let their child be taught in the public school system. What I find interesting is what the Lord told his saints at the beginning of this dispensation is starting to come around again to us today. All the preparation and instructions we need for establishing Zion are in the Doctrine and Covenants. 

Day 474