Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 7:10

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 7:10

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."

What is the difference between "Godly sorrow" and "worldly sorrow"?

Godly sorrow is repentance with an honest heart. It inspires us to change and have hope through the atonement of Jesus Christ. It leads to conversion. We will have a broken heart and contrite spirit willing to do anything that God asks of us.

Worldly sorrow is to be seen of the world because you were found out. Motivated by fear of people not of God. It pulls us down and extinguishes hope, and persuades us to give in to further temptation. The heart is not in it and we are not inspired to change for the better. We may mourn our mistakes but without true intent to mend them.

Day 3244

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 24:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 24:17

"Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:"

It has to be wickedness in the heart to rejoice when the someone falls. This made me think of Mormon as he witnessed the destruction of his civilization.

"And my heart did sorrow because of this the great calamity of my people, because of their wickedness and their abominations..."

(Mormon 2:27)

That is probably going to be the hardest thing we will endure in these final days, witnessing the destruction of the wicked, because they are still our brothers and sisters. We cannot harden our hearts and withhold love and charity. As with Mormon there were times he was told not to lead them, or preach to them. Other times he was counseled to do so. There is such a need to be close to the spirit during these times. Always Mormon spoke of his love for them and he mourned for them in the very end.

"O ye fair ones, how could ye have departed from the ways of the Lord! O ye fair ones, how could ye have rejected that Jesus, who stood with open arms to receive you!

Behold, if ye had not done this, ye would not have fallen. But behold, ye are fallen, and I mourn your loss."

Mormon 6:17-18)

"The second attitude adjustment is to not allow ourselves to find satisfaction in calamities of the last days. Sometimes we tend to take joy in seeing the natural consequences of sin unfold. We might feel some vindication for being ignored by most of the world and persecuted and berated by others. When we see earthquakes, wars, famines, disease, poverty, and heartbreak, we may be tempted to say, “Well, we warned them. We told them a thousand times not to engage in those activities.”

"Our forgiveness must be manifest by reaching out to help mend wounds even when they are the result of transgression. To react in any other way would be akin to setting up a lung cancer clinic for nonsmokers only. Whether the pain has come to someone who is completely innocent or is something of his own making is irrelevant. When a person has been hit by a truck, we don’t withhold our help even when it is obvious he didn’t stay in the pedestrian lane."

(Glenn L. Pace, "A Thousand Times", Oct 1990 General Conference)

Day 2811

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 39:1-2

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 39:1-2

"I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred."

Well that about sums up how I feel reading the news and social media. So many times I want to say something but am stopped. Bridled is a good word for it. Sadly, having learned this truth by error. Where once you could share you thoughts and opinions now it only incites contention. All you are left with is feeling really sad about the moral decay of society and where it will lead them.

Day 2676

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 5:7-8

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 5:7-8

"Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.

I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:"

That really is good advice. All of Adam's posterity have had to work hard for nothing comes easy to us. This is the nature of mortal life.

"And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;"

(Genesis 3:17)

I pondered on how hard it would be to turn to God and know him if sorrow and suffering never came to us. Maybe that's part of why we are so tried and tested here, so we gain that knowledge that will last for the eternities.

Day 2600

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 6:6-8

Today's Favorite Verse: Genesis 6:6-8

"And it repented the Lord that he made man on the earth, and it grieved him at this heart.

And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord."

This is what the Joseph Smith translation is on these verses.

"And it repented Noah, and his heart was pained, that the Lord had made man.

And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repented Noah that I have created them.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord."

From the inspired translation these verse make more sense and have important application for our day. Noah's heart was pained for what he was seeing among men. He felt sorry for them. Noah repents of his sins after seeing the sins of the world. From this Noah receives grace and the lives of his family and himself are preserved. The application for my day is to not lose compassion. We should feel bad when we see others sin. Because we understand what that is doing to them. It grieves our hearts. We must look even deeper at ourselves to make sure we are not accepting the sins of the world in our lives. There is a need for repenting every day. Through this the Lord will prepare and preserve us for the days ahead.

Day 2165

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 23:8

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 23:8
"And they shall be afraid; pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames."

I have had a great feeling of soberness come over me tonight. I've been giggling at different memes regarding the times we are living in. All of sudden I felt I need to be careful of "loud laughter". People seriously are afraid and with that rational things are not done. I've also see how the Lord has been preparing me for months, and in the past weeks and days to do specific things that have been a great blessing to our home. This chapter just extended my soberness for it speaks of the destruction before the Second Coming. We do live in extraordinary days. Today has been extraordinary.

I made some notes earlier on my impressions on this verse.

"They won't look to the Lord, but face one another. That is why they have pains and sorrow. They will not turn to the Lord to comfort or heal them. Those that turn to the Lord and face him during the end times will live. Just like Moses and the brass serpent, the children of Israel only needed to look towards it and live, and some perished because of the simpleness of the way. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace looked to Christ and he appeared to them. The flames touched them not. Those that face each other and not the Lord will be consumed by the flames."

Day 1808

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 John 1:4

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 John 1:4
"I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."

I have three children and only one is faithful and true in the gospel. He is my joy. The others are my sorrow. But, what I pondered on is if my joy is conditional on all my children walking in truth? I determined that my joy is not conditional on others. It is conditional on my relationship with the Lord. For he settled the matter when I turned my grief and sorrow over the others to Him. I have left them in His care, and he will show me the way to be the mother I need to be for them. It is because I have been their mother that I have come to have such a deep and abiding love for the Lord as I needed to turn to Him. It's hard to explain but I am grateful. I have no loss of joy when I trust the Lord's plan is greater than my own. Yes, it would be a great joy if they were all on a covenant path, but I am not without joy because they are not. There is still hope.

Day 1739

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 7:9-10

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 7:9-10
"Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death."

I had written this in my notes on these verses.
"Godly sorrow - repentance with an honest heart.
Worldly sorrow - seen of the world because you were found out. Motivated by fear of people not of God."

As I pondered on this I realized godly sorrow makes one change for the better. The wordly sorrow does not change the man it punishes him into submission. God will never do that.

Day 1658

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 4:23

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 4:23
"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people."

Feeling rather sorry for myself today. I'm tired after seven months of pain and acceptance. The answer seems to be not to be healed but have more pain instead. I have had to rely greatly on the Lord for comfort. As I read these verses of the sick being healed how I wished I was there. But as I reflected on them I thought of those that may have been healed physically, but never recognizes the Lord for who he was, or thanked him.

I pondered on a question that came into my mind. Which would I rather have, to have been there to be healed or to have heard Jesus preach? My answer? I I would have much rathered heard Him preach. I would be willing to sit outside of His touch, but within His sight and voice to hear Him speak. What fills the soul is more than can hurt the body. Then I heard, there's your answer. How grateful I am for the moments of rest I find in the Lord. He does comfort me and know me. Periods of sorrow makes me appreciate the Lord's atonement all the more.



Wish I had the ability to combine both these videos. 

Day 1508

Today's Favorite Verse: Joel 1:14-15

Today's Favorite Verse: Joel 1:14-15
"Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord.
Atlas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come."

My heart is so sad for so many terrible and sad things I have read and saw the last few days. I need to fast for all the grief and sorrow I see others going through. I want to go to the temple, and pray for them. But, my time table is not my own, because I am dependent on others helping me right now. Two weeks of not being able to go to the temple makes the news happening around me even harder to bare.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Hamilton, New Zealand Temple

Day 1452

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 16:8, 11

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 16:8, 11
"I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

I have known sorrow and grief, and I have known joy. I have found with my eyes looking towards the Savior I can have joy even in the midst of sorrow. How is that even possible?  I don't know, only that He makes it so. He paid the price with his atonement to rescue me.

Day 1069

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 22:21

Today's Favorite Verse: Job 22:21
"Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee."

I do agree with Eliphaz words, but I think he means the good that comes is material wealth and a life without trouble. I know I am not immune to troubles, but with the Lord I have found a peace that passes understanding. He carries me through time of sorrow and pain. The spirit speaks to me on how to resolve my problems. My relationship with the Lord is the good that comes to me.


Day 1033

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 10:9, 20

Today's Favorite Verse: Deuteronomy 10:9, 20
"Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren; the Lord is his inheritance, according as the Lord thy God promised him.
Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name."

I was rather feeling a little sorry for myself. I was seeing and hearing others joyfully sharing about their travels and events they have attended. This is my sorrow, a desire to go and see things but never have the time or money to do so. I was feeling rather down, and tried very hard to cheer myself. I want to have joy for the blessings others have, and not sorrow on hearing their fortunes. They are good people and deserve all the blessings they receive. I would not want it, if it took it away from them.

Then I read this about the Levites. They received no inheritance while the other children of Israel did. Did some of them sit there like me and look at what others had and feel some sorrow?  I'm sure they did. The Lord was their inheritance, but he was also an inheritance available to the other children of Israel. Did some just get more than others? Then I pondered on my relationship with the Lord, how special that was to me. If that was to be dimmed so I could have "more" would I even want it? My answer would be no. I think I'm actually getting what I was promised before I even came here to earth. It was what mattered to me then, and what I wanted most while here. For me to have the shinny things, that bring me sorrow to look upon now, would probably bring me sorry later. Everyone has their temptations and they are not all the same. I have to trust that a wise and loving God knows what is best for me. I know in the end all things will be compensated for.

As I sat and pondered on my blessings I realized I have taken a trip that very few people ever have. It is a trip that money cannot buy. I visited the spirit world during my near-death experience. I have seen things that people that have traveled the globe would given everything to see.  What I saw and learned, and where I now stand is worth everything. What I sorrowed over would only cheapen it. I have been truly blessed beyond measure. How could I have forgotten what the Lord has done for me. What a gift that in my sorrow and pondering I now can put these two things together. I will turn to the trip I did take, that only comes by special invitation. I would not change a thing. I am so grateful to have pondered on these things today. I have found peace.


Day 738