Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 24:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: Exodus 24:9-10
"Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:
And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness."

Even though the children of Israel lost the privilege of seeing God, there were some found worthy. I had not noticed the seventy elders before. That must be where the calling of Seventy comes from. Just like the twelve apostles stood for the twelve tribes of Israel.

"After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."
(Luke 10:1, 17)

"The Seventy are also called to preach the gospel, and to be especial witnesses unto the Gentiles and in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling.
The Seventy are to act in the name of the Lord, under the direction of the Twelve or the traveling high council, in building up the church and regulating all the affairs of the same in all nations, first unto the Gentiles and then to the Jews—"
(Doctrine and Covenants 107:25, 34)

I do wonder on the difference of the pre-mortal Christ appearing on a paved work of sapphire, clear as the heavens. Then after the dedication of the Kirtland Temple he stood on a paved work of pure gold, like amber.

"We saw the Lord standing upon the breastwork of the pulpit, before us; and under his feet was a paved work of pure gold, in color like amber."
(Doctrine and Covenants 110:2)

Then I read Ezekiel's vision and realized sapphire can be amber, I was thinking blue.

"And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about."
(Ezekiel 1:26-27)

Day 3770

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 107:93-97

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 107:93-97
"And it is according to the vision showing the order of the Seventy, that they should have seven presidents to preside over them, chosen out of the number of the seventy;
And the seventh president of these presidents is to preside over the six;
And these seven presidents are to choose other seventy besides the first seventy to whom they belong, and are to preside over them;
And also other seventy, until seven times seventy, if the labor in the vineyard of necessity requires it.
And these seventy are to be traveling ministers, unto the Gentiles first and also unto the Jews."

This is a very long chapter on the priesthood. It explains the order of the Melchizedek and Aaronic priesthood. As I was reviewing this I thought about how I see the organization of the church runs like this now. At the time this revelation on the priesthood was received it must of seemed so vast to them. In May of 1835 there were approximately 8,835 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What must they have thought of the traveling Seventy? How there could be seven times seventy of them called, as much a needed. We have now twelve quorums of the Seventy, though they are not all completely full of seventy men.

I have wondered how many have been called over time as the Presidency of the Seventy, Quorum of the Seventies, and Area Seventies. I have watched these faithful men for I do not feel their role is a stretch to be the 144,000 the Lord spoke of.

"And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel."
(Revelation 7:4)

"Q. What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel—twelve thousand out of every tribe?
A. We are to understand that those who are sealed are high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn."
(Doctrine and Covenants 77:11)

Day 3696

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 14:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Revelation 14:1
"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads."

I pondered on the 144,000 and how it would be good to be one of them. I could do the part of having the Father's name written in my forehead. Yet, I know more has been revealed through the prophet Joseph Smith on them.

"Q. What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel—twelve thousand out of every tribe?
A. We are to understand that those who are sealed are high priests, ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn."
(Doctrine and Covenants 77:11)

If the number is to be High Priests and not just Elders then that isn't our missionary force. Where is there a big force of high priest? Then I though of the ever growing number of General Authority Seventies and Area Seventies. There are 12 quorums of seventies. They certainly cover every nation, kindred, tongue and people. The Lord didn't say the 144,000 had to all go out at once. Nor do I know if the number is symbolic or literal. I have no idea how many Seventies have been called since the church was restored.

There is one thing that is curious about our missionaries. If it possibly included them the last stats I saw there were 72,000 of them, and the numbers are growing. Double 72,000 and in one turn over you get 144,000 who have served.

When President Nelson was first called as prophet in 2018 he held a Worldwide Youth Devotional. He invited the youth ages 12-18 to enlist in the Lord's battalion. That was 6 years ago. This year the youngest of the youth at that event are now able to enlist. I wonder how many missionaries have served in these past 6 years?

“Would you like to be a big part of the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on the earth today?” President Nelson asked. “Would you like to gather Israel during these precious latter days? Would you, who are the elect, be willing to help find the elect who have not heard the message of the restored gospel?”
“My dear extraordinary youth, you were sent to earth at this precise time — this most crucial time in the history of the world — to help gather Israel,” he said. “There is nothing happening on this earth right now that is more important than that. … This is the mission for which you were sent to earth.”
“Those noble spirits — those finest players, those heroes — are you!” he said. “I testify that the gathering is now, and it is real.”
“So now, I am inviting every young woman and every young man between the ages of 12 and 18 in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to enlist in the youth battalion of the Lord to help gather Israel.”
(Russell M. Nelson, "President Nelson invites youth to enlist in the Lord's battalion by doing 5 things", Church News, Worldwide Youth Devotional, 3 June 2018)

When you think of all that the Lord's church is doing on the earth right now to find scattered Israel it doesn't take much to feel this is literally being fulfilled today.

Hmmm, (Revelation 14:3) now exactly when are those new hymns coming out?

Day 3340

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 11:25, 28-29

Today's Favorite Verse: Numbers 11:25, 28-29

"And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.

And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!"

These seventy men were called to help lift the heavy burden placed on Moses. In order to do their callings they needed the spirit and personal revelation. This is the way all of us are to fulfill our callings. I thought of these seventy men as no different that the general authority seventies and their callings. Anyone that serves needs the spirit to direct them. It never says in these verses that these seventy men over stepped their stewardship in prophesying for the whole church. That would still be received by the Lord's prophet.

Day 2287

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 6:3, 6

Today's Favorite Verse: Acts 6:3, 6
"Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them."

The widows and daily ministration were being neglected as the apostles preached the gospel. The spirit directed them to call seven to tend to this business of the church. They were set apart to their callings by the laying on of hands, by those in authority. Just like we do today.

Now, I wonder were these seven called Seventies in the primitive church or were they a Presiding Bishopric? Today we have seven presidents of the Seventies, but only three in the presiding bishopric. The reason I wonder is because the charge over widows seems to fit the role of a bishop. The footnote for the word business does refer to the office of a bishop. Then again I am not well versed on the specific duties of the Seventy. I have more reading to do.

"After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name."
(Luke 10:1, 17)

Day 1597