Today's Favorite Verse: Lamentations 3:24-26

Today's Favorite Verse: Lamentations 3:24-26
"The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD."

I was listening to a stake conference talk today. The mission president and his wife were speaking. She mentioned going to Ghana and South Africa and visiting the saints there. It is truly a marvelous work and a wonder in missionary work there. She spoke of how you never hear complaining of hardships over the pulpit. They were so joyous of what the Lord had done for them. They looked to Christ in all things. He was their hope and strength. I want to be more like them.

Day 4009

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 51:6, 45

Today's Favorite Verse: Jeremiah 51:6, 45
"Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; he will render unto her a recompence.
My people, go ye out of the midst of her, and deliver ye every man his soul from the fierce anger of the LORD."

What the Lord told Jeremiah is exactly what we are to do today, flee out of the midst of Babylon. Babylon represents the world and all its wickedness. We cannot serve two masters, the world and the Lord. We would hate the one and love the other. We are to flee, leave, come out of Babylon and turn to the Lord, and be healed. This is a decision only we can make for our own souls. It all comes down to where are hearts are and not our physical location.

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon."
(Matthew 6:24)

Day 4008

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 56:4-6

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 56:4-6
"In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.
Every day they wrest my words: all their thoughts are against me for evil.
They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps, when they wait for my soul."

I pondered on what type of person would wait to destroy the soul of another? They would have to be a very ill person with that objective. If you want to destroy someone for a belief in God, that makes them happy, why would you want to destroy their happiness? How would destroying their soul possibly benefit you? Is it because they want others to be as miserable as them? I just don't understand it. Just like I never could understand how Saul continually sought David's life. When all they want is to destroy another, then they're very ill indeed.

Day 3921

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 53:19

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 53:19
"And now behold, as they never had hitherto been a disadvantage to the Nephites, they became now at this period of time also a great support; for they took their weapons of war, and they would that Helaman should be their leader."

I was curious as to why the two thousand stripling warriors wanted Helaman as their leader? Why not Moroni who was a righteous Nephite military commander, firm in his faith in Christ .

"Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.
Behold, he was a man like unto Ammon, the son of Mosiah, yea, and even the other sons of Mosiah, yea, and also Alma and his sons, for they were all men of God."
(Alma 48:17-18)

I went back and read Alma 53:14-15.

"But behold, as they were about to take their weapons of war, they were overpowered by the persuasions of Helaman and his brethren, for they were about to break the oath which they had made.
And Helaman feared lest by so doing they should lose their souls; therefore all those who had entered into this covenant were compelled to behold their brethren wade through their afflictions, in their dangerous circumstances at this time."

Helaman, son of Alma the younger, was a spiritual leader to them. He feared that their fathers that made an oath to bury their weapons of war would lose their souls to take them up again. If I had to select someone that would care for my young sons it would be such a leader.

Day 3497

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 39:14

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 39:14
"Seek not after riches nor the vain things of this world; for behold, you cannot carry them with you."

President Oaks explains what vain things of the world are.
"The “vain things of [the] world” include every combination of that worldly quartet of property, pride, prominence, and power. As to all of these, the scriptures remind us that “you cannot carry them with you”  We should be seeking the kind of treasures the scriptures promise the faithful: “great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures”
(Dallin H. Oaks, "Focus and Priorities", Apr 2001 General Conference)

I have also been reflecting on President Nelson's General Conference talk.

"Come unto Christ and “offer your whole [soul]” to Him. This is the secret to a life of joy!
The best is yet to come, my dear brothers and sisters, because the Savior is coming again! The best is yet to come because the Lord is hastening His work. The best is yet to come as we fully turn our hearts and our lives to Jesus Christ."
(Russell M. Nelson, "The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again", Oct 2024 General Conference)

If one's focus is on the vain things of the world there is no way you could "offer your whole soul to Him". When we fully turn our hearts and lives to Jesus Christ that is something we truly can take with us.

Day 3483

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 31:24-25, 35

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 31:24-25, 35
Now when Alma saw this his heart was grieved; for he saw that they were a wicked and a perverse people; yea, he saw that their hearts were set upon gold, and upon silver, and upon all manner of fine goods.
Yea, and he also saw that their hearts were lifted up unto great boasting, in their pride.
Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee."

Alma having heard that the Zoramites were perverting the ways of the Lord, has his heart begin to sicken. His heart is sorrowful for them. He gathers others to go with him to preach to the Zoramites. What they witness of the Zoramites manner of worship astonished them beyond all measure. Even though their gross wickedness grieves Alma he prays for them. He looks upon them as children of our Heavenly Father. They need to be saved. Alma does all that he can. I think that is a good lesson. That even though some people's sins may sicken us to our cores, we still pray for them. We still try to be there to turn their hearts. We don't mock, belittle, make fun or condemn them. We pray for them, and try to do what the Lord would have us do for them. Truly every soul is precious.

Day 3475

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 23:5, 14

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 23:5, 14
"And thousands were brought to the knowledge of the Lord, yea, thousands were brought to believe in the traditions of the Nephites; and they were taught the records and prophecies which were handed down even to the present time.
And the Amalekites were not converted, save only one; neither were any of the Amulonites; but they did harden their hearts, and also the hearts of the Lamanites in that part of the land wheresoever they dwelt, yea, and all their villages and all their cities."

I could not help but think of that one Amalekite that joined the church. How precious one soul is.

"Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."
(Luke 15:10)

"Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;"
(Doctrine and Covenants 18:10)

And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!
(Doctrine and Covenants 18:15)

Day 3467

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 33:6

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 33:6
"I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell."

"I glory in my Jesus" touches me to my very soul.

Day 3404

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 6:10

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Corinthians 6:10

"As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things."

I pondered on the richness of the gospel and how your wants are satisfied. Not that you have every material thing, but you posses a fullness and are satisfied with what you have. I would much rather have sufficient for my needs then all the money in the world. When the soul is not filled your wants are not either. When you fill the soul you want for nothing.

Day 3243

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 8:36-37

Today's Favorite Verse: Mark 8:36-37

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"

I thought about these questions. It made me think of how fleeting everything in this world is. Mortal life is just a tiny dot compared to eternity. It's over in the blink of an eye. "You can't take it with you." What a horrifying thought to spend eternity in sorrow because you wanted something shinny that only lasted for a moment. I am again reminded of President Nelson's "Think Celestial".

Day 3124

Today's Favorite Verse: Haggai 1:4-7

Today's Favorite Verse: Haggai 1:4-7

"Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste?

Now therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways. "

The Jews had returned to Jerusalem but failed to rebuild the temple. Haggai warns them to consider their ways. They would not be blessed with prosperity in any endeavor until they heeded the command to rebuild the temple.

"I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise."

(Doctrine and Covenants 82:10)

This reminds me of something I learned when my life was out of balance. I had a running list of all these things that I wanted. As I obtain them, new things appeared on my list of wants. I was never satisfied with what I had. I kept looking for more. Then I found my list started to fade away. Then one day I realized it was gone. What changed? I certainly didn't have everything that was once on my list. The difference, I had started feeding my soul and it was now satisfied. You can never fill the soul with material things. Fill the soul and the temporal will be put in its proper place.

Day 3069

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 85:2

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 85:2

"Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah."

This verse made me think of what I pondered on during sacrament today. It was on our Lord's great atoning sacrifice for the remissions of our sins. How his atonement covered all sins. It was up to us if we accepted this offering and applied it in our lives. I pondered on how important forgiveness was, just as much for the forgiver as for the forgiven. How Christ's ability to forgive, even if there was shown ingratitude or unacceptance of his offering, was necessary to have a pure soul. How it is required of me to forgive, even when others show ingratitude for what I have done for them. Forgiveness doesn't mean the other earned anything unfairly, for it has no effect on them unless they apply it in their life. Being able to forgive means everything for me, to not poison my soul.

Day 2722

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 25:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 25:1

"Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul."

I ponder on times of being depressed, sad and weary and how turning to the Lord the burden was lifted. It did indeed "lift up my soul". All I had to do is ask.

Day 2662

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 23:1

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 23:1

"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."

I pondered on how I know when my life is out of balance when I start wanting things. I will buy one thing and no sooner do I have it then I have something else on my list of what I want to buy. I saw that pattern creeping up recently and then I immediately recognized it. This is what happens when I am trying to fill my soul. I had to ask myself, "How was I not keeping the Savior utmost in my mind?"

I recognized it in how I was using my spare time. Where I used to study gospel subjects I was spending more time reading the news stories or looking for some unknown movie to entertain me. I just keep scrolling and looking and never coming to anything that would satisfy me. Then with that dissatisfaction I turned to thinking I needed to buy things. With that realization I devised a plan on what I would look at in my downtime. Amazingly that list of things I wanted to buy left me overnight. I am so grateful that through pondering scriptures and watching patterns in my life that I can nip things like this in the bud when they appear. Truly when the Lord is my shepherd, and my soul if filled, I do not want.

Day 2660

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 56:17

Today's Favorite Verse: Doctrine & Covenants 56:17

"Wo unto you poor men, whose hearts are not broken, whose spirits are not contrite, and whose bellies are not satisfied, and whose hands are not stayed from laying hold upon other men's goods, whose eyes are full of greediness, and who will not labor with your own hands!"

The Lord left no doubt about how he feels when the poor behave is such manner. I pondered on how the greatest gift you can instill in a person is self-reliance and honest work. Even with that if the soul is not satisfied then their wants and desires will never be either. I remember how I always had a list of things that I wanted. I would no sooner get something when another thing would replace it on the list. One day I realized I no longer had that mental list. It wasn't that I now had everything I ever wanted. It was just that after years of reading my scriptures my soul was satisfied. I wasn't trying to buy things to fill the void that had been inside. It is amazing how satisfied you can be with less, when the soul is filled.

Day 2059

Today's Favorite Verse: Omni 1:26

Today's Favorite Verse: Omni 1:26
"And now, my beloved brethren, I would that ye should come unto Christ, who is the Holy One of Israel, and partake of his salvation, and the power of his redemption. Yea, come unto him, and offer your whole souls as an offering unto him, and continue in fasting and prayer, and endure to the end; and as the Lord liveth ye will be saved."

I love these words and it is my desire too. The words that stand out to me is "offer your whole souls". When I ponder on what that means to me, all I can think is my complete will. To submit my will to God and give up the natural man within. I turn to Christ with complete faith and devotion. It is asking a lot, but didn't Christ do more than this?  He was the sacrificial lamb on the altar for my sins. All that he sought was to do the Father's will, and I must follow his example. Now I must give up all my sins and lay them on the altar and let them be consumed and made clean. Having been given the gift of agency, my will really is the only thing totally mine that I can give back to God. Fasting and prayer helps to strengthen me. Enduring to the end is how I come to to have a personal relationship with Christ.

Day 1828

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 22:27

Today's Favorite Verse: Ezekiel 22:27
"Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain."

That just make me very sad. All I could think of was "they know not what they do." Sometimes for the selling of freedom you destroy your very soul.

Day 1399

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 21:23

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 21:23
"Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles."

This has been one of the greatest things I have been trying to learn. First learning to be quiet, then comes learning to have peace while being quiet. What a challenge, but what amazing rewards come from learning to do this. It is worth every effort to master this.

I have been pondering of late one part of my patriarchal blessing which says,  "Through you, peace, love and harmony will abide in your home." I realize after all these years, that it hasn't really been that because I could not hold my tongue. As I have come to understand that this is my sacred role in my home, I am striving to do better. I can see the fruits of my efforts. It's pretty humbling to know what power you hold, for things to go one way or another. Once coming to realizing this, I have felt a special strength to become a peacemaker. There is a closeness to the Lord that comes with this. His spirit is right by my side encouraging and guiding me along the way. I am so grateful for second chances.

Day 1224

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 13:25

Today's Favorite Verse: Proverbs 13:25
"The righteous eatheth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want."

I had one of those early morning scripture reading session where I was lead to ponder on stiffneckedness. This verse reminded me of this.

"Wo unto you poor men, whose hearts are not broken, whose spirits are not contrite, and whose bellies are not satisfied, and whose hands are not stayed from laying hold upon other men's goods, whose eyes are full of greediness, and who will not labor with your own hands!"
(Doctrine and Covenants 56:17)

It is so true that the wicked are never satisfied. They obtain one thing and then are onto the next thing they feel they deserve. It is only when you are feast upon righteousness the soul is finally satisfied. I found an amazing result from daily scripture reading. I no longer had the list of things I wanted to buy. I realized it was a direct result of feeding my soul and I was satisfied with what I had. The list of material wants was gone, and replaced with something better.

Day 1216

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 107:9

Today's Favorite Verse: Psalms 107:9
"For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness."

I pondered on how I never go away empty after reading and pondering on the things of the Lord. For 1,160 days I have been sharing my favorite verse found in my daily scripture reading. It amazes me what new things there are to learn and to see each day. There is no end to learning by the spirit. My soul is satisfied. Though I have to say I am hungry to learn more. I truly need to be feed every day with the word of God. I wonder what it would be like to just read and ponder the scriptures all day long? To have no interruptions or other obligations. To be able to do that would be my perfect day.

Day 1160