Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 58:25-26

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 58:25-26
"And behold, it was night and they did pitch their tents, for the chief captains of the Lamanites had supposed that the Nephites were weary because of their march; and supposing that they had driven their whole army therefore they took no thought concerning the city of Manti.
Now it came to pass that when it was night, I caused that my men should not sleep, but that they should march forward by another way towards the land of Manti."

If the Nephites had stopped and rested they would not have had the advantage over the Nephites. By marching through the night they were able to arrive in the city of Manti before the Lamanites. I am sure they were inspired and strengthened by the Lord to achieve this. I pondered on how we can never sit back and rest and take a break from the church. Otherwise, you run the risk of the adversary overtaking you. We also need to move swiftly towards safety and security. There is a hastening now to do so before the Lord's Second Coming.

"Even when things went well, Captain Moroni continued to prepare his people. He never stopped. He never became complacent.
The adversary never stops attacking. So, we can never stop preparing! The more self-reliant we are—temporally, emotionally, and spiritually—the more prepared we are to thwart Satan’s relentless assaults.
Please, keep going! Your vigilance in safeguarding your homes and instilling faith in the hearts of your loved ones will reap rewards for generations to come."
(Russell M. Nelson, "Embrace the Future with Faith", Oct 2020 General Conference)

Day 3502

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 48:3

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 48:3

"God is known in her palaces for a refuge."

I had been thinking today of my home as a refuge, a place of security and protection. There is a peace here that could not absolutely reside here earlier. Now it's a welcome friend. I have to get my head wrapped around all my changes. In this chapter it speaks of mount Zion, or the temple. It is also a refuge. My home is becoming an extension of the temple. A place you have to be worthy to enter. That is not a bad thing. It's ok though to feel sorry for those that cannot enter in.

"Similarly, as turmoil rages around us, we need to create places where we are safe, both physically and spiritually. When your home becomes a personal sanctuary of faith—where the Spirit resides—your home becomes the first line of defense."

(Russell M. Nelson, "Embrace the Future with Faith", Oct 2020, General Conference)

Day 2685

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 7:4-5, 10, 16

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 7:4-5, 10, 16

"For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth.

And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him.

And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth.

And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in."

Somethings that stood out to me reading this story of the flood. The Lord prepared Noah well in advance to build the ark, but he told him 7 days before the flood came to go into the ark. He had a long warning, and then a relatively short warning. After Noah and his family went into the ark the Lord shut him in.

This made me think of food storage and preparedness. The earliest mention I could find of counsel from the church to have a food storage was in 1857, and that was for seven years.

“Brethren, go and build your storehouses before your grain is harvested, and lay it up, and let us never cease until we have got a seven year’s supply…we will lay up the grain for seven years.” (Heber C. Kimball, JD 4:336-339. June 7, 1857)

We are now given a goal of one year, but to start with a week and then 3 months and to never stop preparing.

Then I thought about the Lord shutting Noah and his family into the ark. This was their place of security. After all they could do the Lord would see to the rest, and that they were safe. It made me think of President Nelson's recent conference talk.

"I promise that as we create places of security, prepare our minds to be faithful to God, and never stop preparing, God will bless us. He will “deliver us; yea, insomuch that he [will] speak peace to our souls, and [will] grant unto us great faith, and … cause us that we [can] hope for our deliverance in him.”

(Russell M. Nelson, "Embrace the Future with Faith", Oct 2020 General Conference)

The greatest thing that blessed Noah and his family was he did as the Lord commanded. He was ready when the need came to turn to somewhere safe. I know if I listen to the prophet of the Lord, and do as the Lord commands me I will be ready for whatever comes.

"The revelation to store food may be as essential to our temporal salvation today as boarding the ark was to the people in the days of Noah."

(Ezra Taft Benson, "Prepare Ye" Ensign, Jan 1974)

The temporal preparation is essential, but it was the spiritual preparation that qualified who boarded the ark to begin with.

Day 2166

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 115:6

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 115:6

"And that the gathering together upon the land of Zion, and upon her stakes, may be for a defense, and for a refuge from the storm, and from wrath when it shall be poured out without mixture upon the whole earth."

This reminds me of the various discussions this week I've had with others on President Nelson's talk in general conference. At the time this talk was given the mention of having places of security stood out to me. Given what has taken place in the past week, and with more to come, there seems hardly any time to procrastinate doing as counseled by the prophet.

Principle Number One: Create Places of Security

"Similarly, as turmoil rages around us, we need to create places where we are safe, both physically and spiritually. When your home becomes a personal sanctuary of faith - where the Spirit resides - your home becomes the first line of defense.

Likewise, the stakes of Zion are "a refuge from the storm" because they are led by those who hold priesthood keys and exercise priesthood authority. As you continue to follow the counsel of those whom the Lord has authorized to guide you, you will feel greater safety.

The temple—the house of the Lord—is a place of security unlike any other. There, you sisters are endowed with priesthood power through the sacred priesthood covenants you make. There, your families are sealed for eternity. Even this year, when access to our temples has been seriously limited, your endowment has given you constant access to God’s power as you have honored your covenants with Him.

Simply said, a place of security is anywhere you can feel the presence of the Holy Ghost and be guided by Him. When the Holy Ghost is with you, you can teach truth, even when it runs counter to prevailing opinions. And you can ponder sincere questions about the gospel in an environment of revelation.

I invite you, my dear sisters, to create a home that is a place of security. And I renew my invitation for you to increase your understanding of priesthood power and of temple covenants and blessings. Having places of security to which you can retreat will help you embrace the future with faith."

(President Russell M. Nelson, "Embrace the Future with Faith", Oct 2020 General Conference)

Day 2118

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 20:5-6

Today's Favorite Verse: Isaiah 20:5-6
"And they shall be afraid and ashamed of Ethiopia their expectation, and of Egypt their glory.
And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such is our expectation, whither we flee for help to be delivered from the king of Assyria: and how shall we escape?"

I pondered on "How shall we escape?" There is no place of security for the children of God when they seek comfort or protection from other nations. If they do not turn to the Lord there will be no escape. This is the warning Isaiah gave to them in 711 BC. This is a warning for our day.

Day 1274