Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 18:15, 18

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 18:15, 18
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him.
Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat."

I noticed that in verse 15 the Lord is speaking to his disciples. In verse 18 he says it a little differently to the saints gathered there. The disciples are warned they will be led captive, or in bondage to the devil. The people are warned that Satan desires to sift them as wheat. Similar to the warning the Lord gave to Simon Peter before he was given the keys to lead the church.

"And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:"
(Luke 22:31)

"Jesus cautioned that Satan desires to sift us like wheat which means to make us common like all those around us. But Jesus taught that we who follow Him should be precious and unique, “the salt of the and “the light of the world,” to shine forth to all men."
(Dallin H. Oaks, "Unselfish Service", Apr 2009 General Conference)

I pondered on what the difference meant between these verses? One thing that stands out to me is the Lord is first speaking to the priesthood leaders of His Church. Bondage would be a way Satan could stop the work. Amen to that man's priesthood if he knowingly gives into Satan's temptations. For they have a sure knowledge of the divinity of the Lord.

"All gifts and endowments given of the Lord to members of His church are not given to control the church; but they are under the control and guidance of the priesthood, and are judged of by it. Some have erred upon this point, and have been led captive by the devil"
(Brigham Young, "Summary of Instructions", JD 11:129)

Among the saints Satan will work to shift them as wheat. Remove what is unique and precious among them, the spirit. They will no longer be a light to others to lead them to Christ. Both the priesthood leaders and the saints are to watch and pray always so they are not tempted and fall.

Day 3541

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 9:9

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 9:9

"For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth."

This made me think of my husband, first generation American. His father is Polish and his mother is French, and somewhere he has Jewish blood on both sides. He is one of the sifted among all nations. That little grain did not fall. He is the only one to join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He holds the Melchizedek priesthood. Something that was probably held amongst his fathers eons ago, and lost over time. Now it is restored and will bless generations.

"Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:"

(Jeremiah 3:14)

Day 3047

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 6:5

Today's Favorite Verse: 1 Nephi 6:5
"Wherefore, the things which are pleasing unto the world I do not write, but the things which are pleasing unto God and unto those who are not of the world."

I was pondering on how much the Book of Mormon would be a great sifter. Those that are only interested in the things of the world would not desire it. Then I found this quote by President Ezra Taft Benson and he said it much better.

"The Book of Mormon is the great standard we are to use. It shows that Joseph Smith was a prophet. It contains the words of Christ, and its great mission is to bring men to Christ and all other things are secondary. The golden question of the Book of Mormon is “Do you want to learn more of Christ?” The Book of Mormon is the great finder of the golden contact. It does not contain things which are “pleasing unto the world” (1 Ne. 6:5) and so the worldly are not interested in it. It is a great sieve."
(1975–A:63, Ezra Taft Benson, The Book of Mormon Is the Word of God)

Day 1769

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 9:9, 14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Amos 9:9, 14-15
"For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.
And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God."

I pondered on how this could speak of the sifting and scattering of the Jews upon all the nations. Now they are being gathered back to their lands. It also made me think of the saints beings sifted.

It reminded me of the old sifter my mother had. When she was making cakes or popovers I could help by sifting the dry goods together. I was always fascinated in how the sifter would find these hard little clumps when I originally could not see them as I poured the ingredients in. The hard items left behind were good for nothing and simply tossed into the trash. Sifting is just like the Lord finding those with hardened hearts and removing them from his covenant people. If they remained, just like the cake, they would not become its perfect creation, as a Zion people should. It was through the sifting that each little flake became all that it could be.

Day 1463