Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 9:34, 47

Today's Favorite Verse: 2 Nephi 9:34, 47
"Wo unto the liar, for he shall be thrust down to hell.
But behold, my brethren, is it expedient that I should awake you to an awful reality of these things? Would I harrow up your souls if your minds were pure? Would I be plain unto you according to the plainness of the truth if ye were freed from sin?"

My mind has pondered much on liars lately. In fact I woke early the other day with new understanding on the matter. My mind recalled this scripture.

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"
(Isaiah 5:20)

It takes a liar to call evil good, and good evil.

"Satan does rage in the hearts of some. Many he will lull away into carnal security; others he flattereth, or he says there is no hell. He has lured and enlisted many followers with enticements of fame, riches, and power. He forges a Rembrandt-quality representation by calling evil good and good evil. He has confused many people, even nations and leaders, to the point of an immoral approach to moral issues."
(Durrell A. Woolsey, "A Strategy for War", Oct 1995 General Conference)

As I pondered on this I recalled an aged man who appeared to be sleeping, but woke every time he heard a lie. I felt it was saying "Wake up to your awful situation."

"Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.
For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning."
(Ether 8:24-25)

I reflected then on age and how that is not to be feared over a man of lies. My mind then recalled stories of our prophets and how as they aged they would awaken when the call was needed.

"The call of a man to fill a vacancy in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles is the responsibility and prerogative of the president of the Church....During the months preceding [Apr 1983] conference, President Spencer W. Kimball’s health had become increasingly frail and his memory spotty.
Then on January 11, 1984, a year to the day after the passing of Elder Richards, Elder Mark E. Petersen passed away... President Kimball’s health had deteriorated even further, and his mind was less dependable. To make matters worse, those privy to the situation knew President Kimball was in no condition to receive the revelation to extend such calls.
One of those persons was Dr. Nelson. The week before the April 1984 general conference, Russell’s surgical nurse, Jan Curtis, mentioned how excited she was for the upcoming conference because two new apostles would be called. Russell tried to gently tell her that it wasn’t going to happen. “I was his doctor, and I knew it wasn’t feasible, that President Kimball was not well or coherent enough to do it. I explained to her that calling an apostle is the prerogative of the president of the Church and that President Kimball was simply in no condition to do that.
For months, President Gordon B. Hinckley, the only healthy member of the First Presidency at the time (President Marion G. Romney’s health had also deteriorated), had left standing instructions with President Kimball’s caregivers that if the prophet’s mind ever cleared, they were to call him immediately, regardless of the hour. Month after month passed with no call. From time to time, President Hinckley looked in on President Kimball, but an opportunity to discuss such a spiritually sensitive topic as calls to the Twelve never presented itself.
Then, at about 2:30 a.m. on the Wednesday morning prior to the April 1984 general conference, the phone rang at President Hinckley’s home. President Kimball was alert and wanted to talk to him. President Hinckley rushed downtown to President Kimball’s suite in the Hotel Utah, where the issue of vacancies in the Twelve was raised. President Kimball said simply, “Call Nelson and Oaks to the Quorum of the Twelve, in that order.”
(Sheri L. Dew, "The Miracle Behind President Nelson's Call as an Apostle" LDSLiving, 5 Oct 2019)

My mind was settled on the subject I will not fear an aged man that can recognize lies, if that is my choice today. Yet, overall the greater message is "awake to a sense of your awful situation". Since this experience I have only seen things grow even darker for us. Yet, I feel incredible peace that I can move forward in faith come what may.

Day 3380

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 16:17-18

Today's Favorite Verse: Romans 16:17-18

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

I like the advise to avoid those that cause division and offences. I can't tell you how many YouTube channels I have purged from my list over the years. They started out good and then just go off on some tangent and lose their way. If you stick with the scriptures, church resources, and the words of the prophet and apostles, in particular the living prophet, you can't go amiss. In Paul's day he knew there would be an apostasy. In our day we know the restored church will stand when Christ comes again. The church as a whole will not apostatize, but some members will. I work hard to not be among the apostate ranks. There is safety if you know where to look for it.

"In many other places Paul also warned us against the deceivers who would come even before his departing (Rom. 16:17-18) And they have continued to come, and they are among us today. The authorities which the Lord has placed in his Church constitute for the people of the Church a harbor, a place of refuge, a hitching post, as it were. No one in this Church will ever go far astray who ties himself securely to the Church Authorities whom the Lord has placed in his Church. This Church will never go astray; the Quorum of the Twelve will never lead you into bypaths: it never has and never will. There could be individuals who would falter; there will never be a majority of the Council of the Twelve on the wrong side at any time. The Lord has chosen them; he has given them specific responsibilities. And those people who stand close to them will be safe. And conversely, whenever one begins to go his own way in opposition to authority, he is in grave danger. I would not say that those leaders whom the Lord chooses are necessarily the most brilliant, nor the most highly trained, but they are the chosen, and when chosen of the Lord they are his recognized authority, and the people who stay close to them have safety."

(Spencer W. Kimball, "Be Valiant", Apr 1951 General Conference, pg. 104)

Day 3221

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 20:5-6, 19, 26

Today's Favorite Verse: Luke 20:5-6, 19, 26

"And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?

But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace."

I pondered on this pattern of the chief priests and scribes that tried so hard to trap Jesus in his words. Yet, they feared the people and what they would do to them. The fear was inspired of the adversary, it was also what stopped them in their cause. They had no power over Jesus until Jesus' time had come. It made me think of a talk by President Kimball.

"We can also tell that we are making progress by the attention we get from the adversary. Do not falter nor be distressed when others misrepresent us, sometimes deliberately and sometimes in ignorance. This has been the lot of the Lord’s people from the beginning, and it will be no different in our time.

Brothers and sisters, pray for the critics of the Church; love your enemies. Keep the faith and stay on the straight and narrow path. Use wisdom and judgment in what you say and do, so that we do not give cause to others to hold the Church or its people in disrepute. Do not be surprised or dismayed if trials and challenges come upon us. This work, which Satan seeks in vain to tear down, is that which God has placed on earth to lift mankind up!"

(Spencer W. Kimball, "No Unhallowed Hand Can Stop the Work", April 1980 General Conference)

"The standard of truth has been erected. No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done."

(Joseph Smith, "History of the Church", 4:540, 1842)

"For behold, the Lord hath said: I will not succor my people in the day of their transgression; but I will hedge up their ways that they prosper not; and their doings shall be as a stumbling block before them."

(Mosiah 7:29)

Day 3152

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 15:13-14

Today's Favorite Verse: Matthew 15:13-14

"But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."

I saw this tonight in action. False prophets, lies and conspiracies that are blinding men. They blindly follow each other, even to the point they reject and throw stones at prophets. Yet they claim to be cleansing the church. Who are they to cleanse the Lord's church? He will cleanse the church himself and them with it. It is so sad to witness these days. There is great wisdom to leave them alone. First, because you do not want to be corrupted, and have them destroy your peace. Second, because those that are blind are also deaf.

The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “I will give you a key that will never rust, if you will stay with the majority of the Twelve Apostles, and the records of the Church, you will never be led astray."

(President Joseph Smith as quoted by President James E. Faust, "The Keys That Never Rust", Oct 1994 General Conference)

Heber C. Kimball, while serving as a counselor to President Brigham Young, reported: “I will give you a key which Brother Joseph Smith used to give in Nauvoo. He said that the very step of apostasy commenced with losing confidence in the leaders of this church and kingdom, and that whenever you discerned that spirit you might know that it would lead the possessor of it on the road to apostasy.

(Heber C. Kimball, Deseret News, Apr. 2, 1856, p. 26; spelling and capitalization modernized.)

(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith: Beware the Bitter Fruits of Apostasy)

“The authorities which the Lord has placed in his Church constitute for the people of the Church a harbor, a place of refuge, a hitching post, as it were. No one in this Church will ever go far astray who ties himself securely to the Church Authorities whom the Lord has placed in his Church. This Church will never go astray; the Quorum of the Twelve will never lead you into bypaths: it never has and never will. There could be individuals who would falter; there will never be a majority of the Council of the Twelve on the wrong side at any time The Lord has chosen them; he has given them specific responsibilities. And those people who stand close to them will be safe. And conversely, whenever one begins to go his own way in opposition to authority, he is in grave danger. I would not say that those leaders whom the Lord chooses are necessarily the most brilliant, nor the most highly trained, but they are the chosen, and when chosen of the Lord they are his recognized authority, and the people who stay close to them have safety.”

(President Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, Apr. 1951, Page 104)

(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball, "Chapter 23: Shepherds of the Flock", p. 256)

Day 3103

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 26:3, 9

Today's Favorite Verse: 3 Nephi 26:3, 9
"And he did expound all things, even from the beginning until the time that he should come in his glory - yea, even all things which should come upon the face of the earth, even until the elements should melt with fervent heat, and the earth should be wrapt together as a scroll, and the heavens and the earth should pass away;
And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them."

Christ expounded all things to the Nephites, a greater part of it was recorded on the plates of Nephi. Moroni was going to write them all but was commanded not to. The Lord wanted to try our faith first before we would be ready to receive greater things.

I remember when this was said by President Spencer W. Kimball: 'When do you think we will get the balance of the Book of Mormon records?' And I have said, 'How many in the congregation would like to read the sealed portion of the plates?' And almost always there is a 100-percent response. And then I ask the same congregation, 'How many of you have read the part that has been opened to us?' And there are many who have not read the Book of Mormon, the unsealed portion. We are quite often looking for the spectacular, the unobtainable. I have found many people who want to live the higher laws when they do not live the lower laws." (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 531-32)

It was at that time that I bought a new set of scriptures and began to read the Book of Mormon, it was one of my many starts and stops in doing so. President Spencer W. Kimball died in 1985 and I wonder how many hands would be raised now saying they have read the Book of Mormon? With this year's "Come, Follow Me" focusing on the Book of Mormon all the hands should be raised.

The more I read the Book of Mormon the more I come to understand I have only begun to scratch the surface of what is contained in it. I am continually amazed at the new insight I see. During family scripture reading tonight I was struck by these words about the 2000 stripling warriors.

"..they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives..." (Alma 56:47

I realized that these young men probably between 12-16 years of age were willing to go through great personal sacrifice and discomfort for the well beings of their fathers. What does that even say about us when we do not want to be discomforted by wearing a simple mask in order to protect the lives of our parents. It is moments like these that I realize there is still so much to learn from the portion of the Book of Mormon I currently have. That if the saints truly had faith in its words it would be apparent by the actions in their lives. As much as I wish I could read the sealed portion, I know I am far from ready for it. Instead of dreaming of what I don't know I need to live and be what is already there.

Day 1963